Dreaming of James

Stress. If anyone wants me to sum up my life right now in one word that's all I can offer. Between work, preparing for travel, preparing for Natalee Grace, still finishing TY notes (sorry if you haven't received it yet!) and 100 other "to do's" I feel very overwhelmed. Not anything out of the normal for any expecting mom though :)

Lack of sleep is usually hand in hand with stress. Mine comes in just waking up several times with important issues on my brain. For instance the other night I awoke worrying about the visit to the orphanage. I even woke Jeremy because I just had to discuss it right then! He is SO good to me, willing to listen, and make me feel better in the middle of the night. Many of these thoughts come in the form of dreams. Sounds weird but just wait.

Well...last night I was dreaming. In my dream a friend walked up and said, "look I went back to where it all started with us at church camp!" I'm thinking huh? Then she showed me her purse with a scripture from the book of James embroidered on it. When I awoke from the dream (just a little while ago) it hit me. My first church camp we studied the book of James. I fell in love. It soon became a book that I could fall back on, feel comfort, and reel me back in. Apparently I had lost that though. Through my dream God was screaming "Sarah, go back to James for comfort!!"

I'm telling you this through my tears, friends. Conviction hurts but it feels oh so good. Sometimes stress, heartache, and worry consume us. We lose track of where we should be and the path planned for us. Listen to Him, seek Him, reach for Him, He is always there and NEVER far away.

My lesson: I wasn't allowing myself to truly have faith in Him. I was trying way too hard to control situations when all He wants to do is share the burden. He wants to hold my hand not walk behind me picking up my pieces.

When I awoke I immediately read James to listen to what God was telling me. If you aren't familiar with the book, it's short with only 5 chapters. Believe me... You WILL be spoken to in your readings! James will bring you to your knees!

I will leave you with this....

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. (James 5:13 NLT)

By the way- keep Jeremy's family in your prayers. His uncle passed away yesterday.

Much love,

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