Lady Traveler Found her Faith For Forgotten Dreams...have you?

I had a dream to travel the world...

Perhaps because it's Sunday that I find myself thinking on the subject of faith.

Finding Faith For Forgotten Dreams is one of the main themes of my book, Lady and the Sea, so I thought we'd chat about it today.  We all dream.  We all have dreamed (past tense).  We often lay those dreams aside, thinking that our circumstances govern where our dreams will end up ... tucked away in a closet, or tossed away in the trash.  When I was young my dream was to travel the world, but after two failed marriages and two children to raise, I threw that dream aside.  My mistake.  But through the years I have found that by activating these few simple steps, dreams can actually come true ... in God's perfect timing ... not ours.  So here's our little Sunday School lesson:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him...  Hebrews  11:6a

Faith is a combination of several things:

TRUST:  It causes us to say by our actions, "Lord, I trust you.  Your Word says You can be trusted and I believe it."  Faith in God is trust in God.

CONFIDENCE:  Our confidence is not in the abilities or cleverness of man -- but of God.  Faith is confidence that God will keep His promises.

ASSURANCE:  Assurance tells us that God is everything His Word says He is.  It tells us that He is intervening on our behalf.  Faith is assurance.

COURAGE:  Faith is the courage needed to approach God with a list of needs and know He hears our prayers and answers them for His glory and honor ... not ours.  It's the courage to look to the Lord in any time of need and not allow our circumstances to intimidate or dictate to us.

ACTION:  Faith has a passive side.  It can be received as a gift of God, but it also has an active side.  Faith prompts action.  Hebrews 11:33 tells us that faith subdued, faith worked, faith obtained, and faith even stopped the mouth of lions.

Until I put my faith into action in my own life, these were only words not understood in my mind.  Faith in action allows your heart and mind to see the fullness of the Lord working in your behalf.  How exciting is that?  The living God hears us, listens to us, and answers us ... all in His perfect timing.  My life is a testimony of God's faithfulness ... my dream of traveling the world for God came true and you can read my story in my novel, Lady and the Sea.

In the days ahead, let's all begin to live by faith in a more alive, exciting way!  Until next time...

Istanbul, Turkey 2008

I wish you smooth sailing and 
oceans of faith for those forgotten dreams!

On board Restoration 1995
Stockholm, Sweden

Lady Traveler sight-sees in Savannah

Oldest oak tree in Savannah

I can hear Ray Charles singing that old sweet song, "Georgia" as we make our way down Interstate-95, heading for Savannah.  This is our second visit since moving to South Carolina seven years ago, and I make a mental note that we must return every year.  Savannah is my favorite southern town, so I couldn't think of a better place to celebrate our twenty-fifth anniversary.  If you have been to Savannah, then you know what I'm talkin' about.

Rob and I feasted on scrumptious shrimp and grits, low country boil, prime rib ... well, you get the picture.

Crab-filled sauteed mushroomies

We took a carriage ride at dusk, strolled the river front at twilight...

My new friends

We dined overlooking the river and lighted bridge

and walked on the beach at Tybee Island and Edisto Island.

Tybee Island, GA

Edisto Island, SC

We had a wonderfully fabulous anniversary, but what made it so special for me is that I was with my prince charming, the man who God sent to me at just the right time in my life.  Together, we have made a wonderful life together.  Whether we're on the other side of the world, or relaxing in our cottage-style home on the golf course, we are two happy Leafs, blowing in the wind, wondering where we will land next.  

Until next time, I wish you a smooth sailing 4th of July and oceans of blessings.

May your footsteps set you upon a lifetime journey of love.  

May you wake each day with His blessings and sleep each night in His keeping.  

And may you always walk in His tender care.