Deborah Spooner
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • My Work
  • Contact

I want to
get out and see the world.
I want to
experience what it's like to get lost in a big city and
lose track of time on spontaneous adventures.
I want to
feel the excitement and exhilarating frustration
of stepping on ground where few people step and
of entering lands where the melodic words are foreign to my ears.

I want to
feel people's pain,
hear their stories,
see the mud caked on their feet that's reflecting the mud caked on their soul from living.
I want to
hear how people think,
see how they face adversary and rise to moral dilemmas.
I want to see people
become something
they didn't know they could be 
as they create something
that wasn't before.

I want to see the sunrise and feel the ocean at my feet
as I dance all my days and sing through the stormy nights.
I want to
run faster
than I knew I could,
sing louder
than what's allowed
and be the change in the places where people don't even know it's needed.

I want to be immersed in life,
for Christ is my goal, my strength, my purpose, my fuel.

for now
i need to be diligent until
more of that is realized
as character is built
and tested before
the fulfillment
of dreams



© 2014 Deborah Hope Shining

Hello there!

A few months ago, I submitted a blog post that I'd written here on HopeShining to "The Rebelution" - a blog started by Alex and Brett Harris, the authors of "Do Hard Things."  Well, I heard back from Brett and was blessed to be asked to regularly contribute to the Rebelution Blog.  I am so excited to be a part of what God is doing through their blog!  Their site really is an incredible place to be challenged and encouraged, and it is specifically geared towards young people (which I really love!) although it is definitely applicable to many different people at many different ages.

Earlier this month an article I originally posted here (<<<click that word "here" to see the original post) was posted on their site.  You can see it - "3 Things You Should Know: From One Teenager to Another" - on The Rebelution by clicking here!

In August my first article was published on their blog.  You can see the original Hope Shining post by clicking here.  To see it - "College Applications: If God is For Us, Who Can Be Against" - on The Rebelution Blog, click here!

Please keep the readers of The Rebelution in your prayers; it is such a birthplace of amazing works for the Kingdom! 

© 2014 Deborah Hope Shining

Photo credit to Sarah Helen Photography and Design


Have you ever wondered if you're just missing God's plan?
The frantic hope that you are doing right-
The incessant trying, trying to do right to find right to be right to have right to want right-
I've been there. (Actually, I am there now).
It's a mess, right?

Have you questioned whether you're making the right decisions about... well,  basically anything?
The nagging guilt that you should be doing something else-
The constant worry that you are messing something up big time-
The hatred toward your weakness as, even though you're not exactly sure what right always looks like, you know what your doing for sure isn't even related (nope, not even a second cousin twice removed).
I've been there.  (Actually, I am there now).

The trying.
The self-put pressure.
The exhaustion.
The dread of having to try to do it all right another day-
The dread of knowing that you should stop your crazy trying to do it right 
And trying your hardest to try to stop trying.

Yeah.
Not so good. 

I have one word for you, reader, on the other side of this screen here where my fingers, tired after another day of trying, type on this teal-silicone covered keyboard:

doubt.

We're fearing - fearing that we're messing up, fearing that we shouldn't be fearing but fearing that we actually are.  We fear that we are weak and that we'll never be strong.  We fear that we'll always be striving and never arriving.  We fear that we will only fall and be incapable of getting up.  We fear that we are missing where we are supposed to be walking in the first place.

What is that fear?

It's a doubting - a doubting that God really is who He said He is and that He. is. enough.

He says that there is just no fear in love and that perfect love drives that fear straight outta here (1 John 4:18).  
Our weakness is actually beautiful, for He says that when we are weak, (oh yeah!), then, we are strong because His power is made perfect in that weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Where does this strength come from, anyway?  From Him who gives us all the strength we need (Philippians 4:13).

Maybe what's really at the root of our issues, of our trying, of our fear is this:

We need more of Jesus.

Maybe it's not more full-force trying in our own strength that we need;
maybe we really need more of falling into His faithful arms even as we fail.  

For He. is. God.

Maybe we should be still and remember that more often (Psalm 46:10).

Maybe we need less of the details and more of Him.

Maybe we need to have more faith - faith not only in the promises God has for us but faith in who He Himself is.

He is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
He is a Might Warrior (Zephaniah 3:17).
He is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24).
He is unchangeable (Numbers 23:19).

What more could we need?

Just give us more of Jesus.

© 2014 Deborah Hope Shining



I once knew a dream chaser.
There was no mountain that was too high to climb. 
There was no valley that didn't hold within it the spark of light. 
There was no storm that wouldn't let the rain touch her face and wash her soul. 

The was no dream she would not dream, 
and there was not a space she went that did not see dreams become a little more of reality. 

But dreams get buried, sometimes. 
Dreams get loaded down with fear that suffocates the life from us.
Dreams drown in doubt that takes the ignitable spark straight out of our eyes.

Reality is hostile to our dreams. 
Maybe that's because our dreams are hostile to reality. 

Dreams won't let the past not give fuel for the future. 
Dreams won't let the present not be the stage for change. 
Dreams won't let the current reality remain for the future, even when reality wished we only dreamed in our sleep. 

Dreams demand to give life- 
Life to you. 
Life to those you touch. 

Dreams demand to give life, or suck away life;
The spark in your eye,
The laughter bubbling from within,
The determination like fire in your soul.  

Dreaming is not just meant for sleeping. 
Dreaming is meant for giving you wings and setting you leaping. 

The dreams are waiting to be chased while urging you to not let go of the beauty in each moment. 

Dream-filled thoughts are waiting to be discovered while warning you to not get lost in your thoughts. 

Dreams let you aim at greatness for this world while urging you to not miss the greatness of everyday moments of love, laughter, and sharing life with others.

Dreams won't let you lose sight of their vision but need you to choose to step away from the big sometimes
and delight in God in the here.  in the now.

Dreams need your biggest dream to be living out His dreams. 

Here's to dreaming while we're awake.    

© 2014 Deborah Hope Shining

He stands.
The mountain is tearing apart.
The rocks are breaking into pieces.
The ground is being split by an earthquake.
A fire is blazing.
He stands,
and a whisper drifts through.

Only then, does He put his shirt over his face and leave.

The whisper.

Elijah had waited.  
He had known God's presence was not in any of the previous things,
so he had waited. 
Only the whisper caused Him to move.

The whisper.

We stand.
The big, powerful, prominent is staring us in the face.
The flashy is so appealing.
Surely, God must be leading by what's "so big and important"
Surely, God is at least leading to what's "so big and important"
Surely, God is leading through what is appealing to us,
what makes sense, 
what seems to give us the most happiness and opportunities.
Surely, God wants what we find appealing.

Yet, the whisper.

Maybe it's sometimes that through the whispers 
resonating deep in our heart
that we are being led.

Maybe we more often need to be more concerned with where God's presence is that we are willing to wait till we know it's Him - 

willing to wait through the big, the flashy, the prominent, the seemingly perfect opportunities
willing to wait until we know it's Him, until we know He's telling us to move.

For I would rather have the power of the presence in the place I know He's whispering for me to be in than to have the power of my own self-will forcing me into places I know He's not bringing me.

We may have to wait through the excessive displays of power that seem so right (but where God isn't).
We may have to wait through this continually, doubting whether He is ever going to show up and lead at all.
We may have to wade through our own tendencies to get stuck on seeking "the big,"
yet in the process may we learn 
to turn from our own will and understanding 
to seeking the whisper He planted within us
and acknowledge where He is wanting us to go.

May we be so humble to lose our control of our grip on where our lives are headed
and to stop pursuing the places where we know He is not,
but instead be
be found while finding Him.

May we not ignore the voice of the Almighty,
for He is the Great I AM. 

© 2014 Deborah Hope Shining
Newer Posts Older Posts

ABOUT ME

I could look back at my life and get a good story out of it. It's a picture of somebody trying to figure things out.

SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW

POPULAR POSTS

  • easier
  • To See Stars
  • Desiring the Corner
  • Loving, Walking, and Holding Fast: Part 3
  • A Desperate Cry
  • Pandora's Box: Take Two
  • Hypocritical High-Chair
  • Beautiful Tears
  • Waiting for Life to Start
  • What Life Really Is || The Power of Making

Categories

  • (over) think 10
  • A Challenge 22
  • Babysitting 1
  • backup 1
  • Books 2
  • Broken 21
  • Busyness 13
  • change 2
  • Choices 24
  • college 10
  • come 4
  • complete 4
  • confessions 15
  • Contentment 17
  • Culture 20
  • delight 3
  • depression 2
  • desire 4
  • Devotions 5
  • do it 8
  • doubt 9
  • Dreams 13
  • Encouragement 8
  • Enough 13
  • faithful 5
  • Fame 2
  • Fear 5
  • Finding Strength 24
  • focus 9
  • Friendship 6
  • Future 18
  • Grace 4
  • Grief 3
  • Growing Up 22
  • growth 10
  • His Love 5
  • ideas 1
  • Identity 8
  • Insecurity 5
  • interview 3
  • It's Me 17
  • Jealousy 2
  • Jesus 20
  • just deb 1
  • Learning to Learn 17
  • life 9
  • Loneliness 6
  • Look Back 9
  • love 4
  • meaning 5
  • mentor 1
  • mind 5
  • My Generation 10
  • obedience 7
  • Original Videos 1
  • people 1
  • Poetry 9
  • Presence 4
  • purpose 2
  • questions 8
  • reality 12
  • repentance 4
  • satisfied 7
  • simple 5
  • start 4
  • Stories 14
  • TFIOS 1
  • The Good Life 11
  • The Struggle 13
  • time 5
  • Tips 8
  • Trust 10
  • truth 5
  • video telling 2
  • Waiting 9
  • Want to Smile? 3
  • When It's Hard 11
  • Worship 2
  • Writing Life 6

Advertisement

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *

Design by Britt Lauren Designs. Powered by Blogger.
facebook google twitter tumblr instagram linkedin

Follow Us

  • facebookFollow
  • twitterFollow
  • googleFollow
  • youtubeFollow
  • pinterestFollow
  • InstagramFollow

Workspace

Instagram
  • Home
  • Features
  • _post format
  • _error page
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Contact
  • Buy now
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact

Blog Archive

  • ►  2022 (5)
    • ►  April (1)
    • ►  March (1)
    • ►  February (2)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2021 (4)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  April (1)
    • ►  March (1)
  • ►  2020 (2)
    • ►  January (2)
  • ►  2019 (18)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  July (5)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (3)
    • ►  March (2)
    • ►  February (3)
    • ►  January (2)
  • ►  2018 (7)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (3)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2017 (9)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  July (5)
    • ►  June (1)
  • ►  2016 (16)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  November (3)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  July (3)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  March (2)
    • ►  January (4)
  • ►  2015 (27)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  September (2)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (4)
    • ►  June (2)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (1)
    • ►  March (4)
    • ►  February (2)
    • ►  January (6)
  • ▼  2014 (33)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ▼  October (5)
      • For Now || Of Wanting, Mud-Caked Souls, and Change
      • HopeShining on The Rebelution
      • Just More of Jesus || To The Try-Harders and Doubters
      • The Dream Chaser
      • By Whispering Led
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (8)
    • ►  June (6)
    • ►  May (3)
    • ►  March (2)
    • ►  February (2)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2013 (15)
    • ►  December (5)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ►  October (2)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  April (1)
    • ►  March (2)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2012 (11)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  May (2)
    • ►  April (1)
    • ►  March (2)
    • ►  February (2)
    • ►  January (1)

Home Ads

Instagram

FOLLOW ME @INSTAGRAM

Tags

  • (over) think
  • A Challenge
  • Babysitting
  • backup
  • Books
  • Broken
  • Busyness
  • change
  • Choices
  • college
  • come
  • complete
  • confessions
  • Contentment
  • Culture
  • delight
  • depression
  • desire
  • Devotions
  • do it
  • doubt
  • Dreams
  • Encouragement
  • Enough
  • faithful
  • Fame
  • Fear
  • Finding Strength
  • focus
  • Friendship
  • Future
  • Grace
  • Grief
  • Growing Up
  • growth
  • His Love
  • ideas
  • Identity
  • Insecurity
  • interview
  • It's Me
  • Jealousy
  • Jesus
  • just deb
  • Learning to Learn
  • life
  • Loneliness
  • Look Back
  • love
  • meaning
  • mentor
  • mind
  • My Generation
  • obedience
  • Original Videos
  • people
  • Poetry
  • Presence
  • purpose
  • questions
  • reality
  • repentance
  • satisfied
  • simple
  • start
  • Stories
  • TFIOS
  • The Good Life
  • The Struggle
  • time
  • Tips
  • Trust
  • truth
  • video telling
  • Waiting
  • Want to Smile?
  • When It's Hard
  • Worship
  • Writing Life

Advertisement

Facebook

Get in Touch

Freebies

Popular Posts

  • mine
    I'm afraid to turn twenty-six. This isn't new , but it's been freshly rolling around inside, deflating other hopes and hollowing...
  • A Desperate Cry
    Slavery.  It is brutal.  It wretches families apart and creates broken hearts.  It has caused mass destruction around and insid...
  • breaking basic
    "People may teach what they know, but they reproduce what they are" ( j o h n   c   m a x w e l l ) We all have a role in each o...

Labels Cloud

(over) think A Challenge Babysitting backup Books Broken Busyness change Choices college come complete confessions Contentment Culture delight depression desire Devotions do it doubt Dreams Encouragement Enough faithful Fame Fear Finding Strength focus Friendship Future Grace Grief Growing Up growth His Love ideas Identity Insecurity interview It's Me Jealousy Jesus just deb Learning to Learn life Loneliness Look Back love meaning mentor mind My Generation obedience Original Videos people Poetry Presence purpose questions reality repentance satisfied simple start Stories TFIOS The Good Life The Struggle time Tips Trust truth video telling Waiting Want to Smile? When It's Hard Worship Writing Life

Also Seen On

See More >>




Snapshots from Instagram




About Me

Deborah Spooner is an analytical creative enamored by ideas and addicted to dripping words in candor. Serving as a Marketing Strategist for LifeWay’s Adults Ministry, she loves all things big-dreaming, difference-making, and Jesus-pointing. A pastor’s daughter with a background in communications and theology, you can find her at her local church with her students (and probably way too excited about the color yellow) as she seeks to know Christ more and make Him known.

Popular Posts

  • easier
  • To See Stars
  • Desiring the Corner

Just Don't (But Do)

The content of this website (including pictures) is solely property of Deborah. Using and/or duplicating this material without clear and full credit is prohibited.

Please, just don't do it.

But please, do share the site and anything within! (Just give credit where credit is due).

© 2012-2021 Deborah Spooner

Designed by OddThemes | Distributed by Gooyaabi Templates