Stars in the City

This past Sunday at church the gentleman teaching the Sunday School class I attended made a comment about how beautiful the stars are in the country, and then he said "They just don't have that in the city!"

I beg to differ.

I was raised in the suburbs. I love the suburbs. In fact, I will probably end up back there someday raising my own family. Someday most likely being a long time from now seeing as I am perpetually single, but that's not important right now. The point is I grew up in a suburb that also happened to be the highest point in Dallas County. Why, you ask, is that extremely random fact so important? Because since we were the highest point in the county we had all the radio and television towers in our town. At my last count I believe there were 14.

See all the red dots in the sky? Those are the towers.
Aren't they beautiful?
No?
Well, they are to me. They're like my own personal lighthouse, showing me the way home. Like my own personal set of constellations.

I know that people love to marvel at the beauty of a country sky. And here in Texas we are oh so proud of our Texas sky. And I agree, there is nothing like it. My grandparents used to have a farm out in the middle of Nowhere, Texas, and you can't find a more beautiful piece of sky that displays God's handiwork more perfectly. But here's the thing:
We were made in His image.
He created us to be creators.
So we created our own version of His magnificent stars.

City Lights.

Some people prefer one over the other, and that is valid and fair. But personally I think they are all beautiful and I think they all show the greatness of our God. Not only did He create this magnificent universe and all the stars that make up our sky, but he created a being in His image that strives to be like Him.

Who Are You to Think You can Succeed in Hollywood?

I am a daughter of the Most High King.

When we're little kids we dream of being princesses, astronauts, the President, and dragon slayers. Our parents, our teachers, the world all encourage us to dream. They say we can do whatever we want. The sky is the limit. And a million other poster worthy phrases. But somewhere along the way the message changes from "Dream Big! Reach for the Stars!" to "Think realistically. Be reasonable." So we change our dreams to more everyday things. We settle on things like teacher, mechanic, dentist, or mom. All of which are great dreams, if you are called to them!

Christ says to go out and make disciples of every nation. He calls us all to the life of a missionary. That doesn't mean we all move to Africa or South America; it means we live out the life of Christ where God has called us. If you're a mom, you minister to your kids, to their friends and their families, to the ladies on the PTA and your neighbors. If you're a mechanic, you minister to your customers, to your employees or your boss and co-workers. If you're still a student, you minister to your peers, your teachers; we are all called to minister to the people God has placed around us, no matter where that is.

If you can accept that, why can't you accept that God called someone to minister to actors, to singers? He has called us to speak truth into the lives of celebrities who influence the lives of so many, to be a public example who kids and teens can look up to. Why is it so outrageous that he dreams to be President someday? God has called him to lead our nation and influence the world. God has called us to minister to everyone, to help the less fortunate, to be His hands and feet. Well, God is omnipresent, which means His hands and feet need to be in Africa and South America, in our schools and doctors' offices, and in the media and the White House.

You may not see how that could be God's calling for me or him, or her, but that's not what matters. I can feel it, I can hear Him asking me to serve, and I have faith that "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." In 1 Samuel 17, a small boy everyone thought would fail took down a giant. Not because he had some secret power or hidden strength, but because the Lord was on his side. That kid went on to become king. I may not look like much now, or have the skill set to make it in the industry, but I have faith that He will equip me with all the tools I need to do His work.

 "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty"