The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Saturday, 10 November 2018 "Dream Big" by Linawati Santoso (East Java, Indonesia)
(Image: Pixabay)
Everything is possible for one who believes. (Mark 9:23 (NIV))
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In 2015, when I told my friend Andrey that I often sent my devotional writings to The Upper Room, he said, “Sister, I am waiting for you to write your first book for publication.” I thought he was kidding me, but he wasn’t. Encouraged by his words, I started to write a Christian book. When I finally finished it, I sent it to a publisher.
The publisher rejected my work, but I decided not to give up. I sent it to another publisher. Finally, in December 2016, my book was published. At first, writing a book seemed like too big a dream. While I was waiting for an answer from the second publisher, I remember asking myself, Am I talented enough? Am I dreaming too big?
When God shows us something seemingly impossible we are to do, like Sarah we may laugh and say to ourselves, “Stop hoping for it. You can’t realize such a dream.” But we can remember that nothing is impossible for God. The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I can do all things through [God] who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13, NRSV). And so can we.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Thank you, God, that with you we can follow our dreams — because we know that for you, nothing is impossible. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: Genesis 18:1-15 Genesis 18:1 Adonai appeared to Avraham by the oaks of Mamre as he sat at the entrance to the tent during the heat of the day. 2 He raised his eyes and looked, and there in front of him stood three men. On seeing them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, prostrated himself on the ground, 3 and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please don’t leave your servant. 4 Please let me send for some water, so that you can wash your feet; then rest under the tree, 5 and I will bring a piece of bread. Now that you have come to your servant, refresh yourselves before going on.” “Very well,” they replied, “do what you have said.”
6 Avraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, three measures of the best flour! Knead it and make cakes.” 7 Avraham ran to the herd, took a good, tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds, milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it all before the men; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. 9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.” 10 He said, “I will certainly return to you around this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard him from the entrance of the tent, behind him. 11 Avraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years; Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “I am old, and so is my lord; am I to have pleasure again?” 13 Adonai said to Avraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and ask, ‘Am I really going to bear a child when I am so old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for Adonai? At the time set for it, at this season next year, I will return to you; and Sarah will have a son.” (ii)15 Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t either laugh,” because she was afraid. He said, “Not so — you did laugh.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
In 2015, when I told my friend Andrey that I often sent my devotional writings to The Upper Room, he said, “Sister, I am waiting for you to write your first book for publication.” I thought he was kidding me, but he wasn’t. Encouraged by his words, I started to write a Christian book. When I finally finished it, I sent it to a publisher.
The publisher rejected my work, but I decided not to give up. I sent it to another publisher. Finally, in December 2016, my book was published. At first, writing a book seemed like too big a dream. While I was waiting for an answer from the second publisher, I remember asking myself, Am I talented enough? Am I dreaming too big?
When God shows us something seemingly impossible we are to do, like Sarah we may laugh and say to ourselves, “Stop hoping for it. You can’t realize such a dream.” But we can remember that nothing is impossible for God. The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I can do all things through [God] who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13, NRSV). And so can we.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Thank you, God, that with you we can follow our dreams — because we know that for you, nothing is impossible. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: Genesis 18:1-15 Genesis 18:1 Adonai appeared to Avraham by the oaks of Mamre as he sat at the entrance to the tent during the heat of the day. 2 He raised his eyes and looked, and there in front of him stood three men. On seeing them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, prostrated himself on the ground, 3 and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please don’t leave your servant. 4 Please let me send for some water, so that you can wash your feet; then rest under the tree, 5 and I will bring a piece of bread. Now that you have come to your servant, refresh yourselves before going on.” “Very well,” they replied, “do what you have said.”
6 Avraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, three measures of the best flour! Knead it and make cakes.” 7 Avraham ran to the herd, took a good, tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds, milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it all before the men; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. 9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.” 10 He said, “I will certainly return to you around this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard him from the entrance of the tent, behind him. 11 Avraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years; Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “I am old, and so is my lord; am I to have pleasure again?” 13 Adonai said to Avraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and ask, ‘Am I really going to bear a child when I am so old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for Adonai? At the time set for it, at this season next year, I will return to you; and Sarah will have a son.” (ii)15 Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t either laugh,” because she was afraid. He said, “Not so — you did laugh.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: What seems impossible for me is very possible for God.
PRAYER FOCUS: Writers
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Linawati and her friend AndreyRELATED DEVOTIONALS: DREAM BIG
“Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23, NIV)
On July 2nd, after completing education in China, Andrey returned to Indonesia. On July 8th, we met up at church. After the church’ service I asked him to take a picture together in order to send it to the blog of The Upper Room.
As usual, Andrey was excited when he knew the picture we were taking on that day was to be sent to The Upper Room. His excitement increased when I gave him a book as a gift. While we took the picture, he held the book. The book Andrey is holding in the picture is a book I wrote. Amazingly, it is not my first book, but my second. After my first book was published in December 2016, I start writing another book. Praise the Lord! My second book, entitled 6 Virus Berbahaya Yang Harus Diwaspadai Pemberita Firman, was published in April 2018. In English, the title means 6 Dangerous Viruses That God’s Word Deliverers Must Watch Out For.
In Bethesda, when Jesus saw a man lying there and had been in this condition for a long time, Jesus asked him: “Do you want to get well?” I would expect the man to reply: “Yes, Lord, I do.” But instead of saying yes, he said: “Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” (See John. 5:1-9). I thought the man was similar to me. I longed to write books. But when God asked me to ‘do it now,’ instead of saying ‘I am ready,’ in doubt I said: “Am I talented enough? Am I dreaming too much?” Praise the Lord for sending Andrey to encourage me that I could do it.
Instead of answering with doubt, I would like to learn from the faith of the two blind men who were sitting by the roadside. When they heard Jesus was going by, they shouted: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Even though the crowd rebuked them, they never gave up, and they shouted even louder. Finally Jesus called to them and asked: “What do you want me to do for you?” Amazingly, they answered Jesus full of faith: “Lord, we want our sight.” Even though the request seem impossible, they still asked it because they knew that in front of them stood the God Almighty. (See Matthew 20:29-34). Today by the grace of God I have become a Christian writer. Besides writing for The Upper Room, I also write for many Indonesian daily devotionals. I thank God for the opportunity to become a writer.
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May God continued to bless you, your family, and Andrey.
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