Play Beyond Your Limitations

How often have you dreamed of doing something and thought, "but I just don't have what it takes." You dream of doing something great for God and immediately your mind goes to the reasons you can't.
Today I want to encourage you to take the limits off. Don't let the dream that God drops into your heart come to a screeching halt at the thought of what you don't have. Consider this most basic of examples. The song, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, was written to be performed with a full choir, orchestra and band. Whether you're a fan or not, you've no doubt heard it and would have to admit it's a moving piece of music. Now consider Jake Shimabukuro who plays this intricate and complex song on a 4 string ukulele. Impossible? Listen...



I want to challenge you (and myself) to no longer allow dreams and visions to be stalled with, "it can't be done." Instead of surrendering to what we don't have, let's respond with courage by offering the little that we do have to the One who makes something from nothing. With some inspiration and creativity, that thing that we never thought could happen may just turn out to be the performance of our lifetime. Remember, God's words to you...

"My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9

To God be the glory.

Longshots

Let's face it. In America, we love an underdog who gets their day. Hoosiers, Seabiscuit, Rudy, Rocky...the list goes on and on. These are movies that cause otherwise rational and reserved people to cry, applaud and cheer in public. I am not ashamed to admit that I am one of these people.  And so it was, as I was watching the Disney movie, Dreamer, that I had an epiphany. Every amazing "longshot" tale begins with a situation that looks utterly hopeless. 

Think about it. Before there can be the cheers of victory there has to be a very real threat of defeat. After all, if there were nothing to overcome in the first place, the experience would have no element of struggle. And it's in the struggle, uncomfortable though it be, that the victory is being shaped. Indeed, the struggle is directly proportionate to the potential outcome. Simply stated, small obstacles lead to small victories, but giant obstacles can precede tales of glory.

Every great thing that has been done had the potential to end very badly. And the trick of it is that people who do great things seldom know they are doing great things. They are simply going through it. 

We all want that amazing moment of victory, but every such moment begins with a decision to look seemingly insurmountable odds in the face and continue to move forward. The journey from a time of difficulty to that triumphant moment when everyone cheers begins with a decision to risk catastrophic failure. When we are willing to risk it all we stand to gain more than we have imagined.