About Joanne Viola

Joanne will soon be celebrating her 38th wedding anniversary. She is a mom to two adult married children and “Mimi” to two precious granddaughters.
She loves to read and write and began blogging so that her family would always know her thoughts as she processed this journey of life.
She writes on her blog, Days and Thoughts. She would also love to connect with you on Facebook, andTwitter.

Move Forward With Uncertainty

January 29, 2018 By Joanne Viola 25 Comments

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How do we move forward with our dreams even when we have uncertainty?

Dreams are the aspirations or goals we hope to achieve in, with, or through our lives. They often start out strong, seemingly attainable and somewhere along the way, we begin to doubt, fear, and question.

We tend to look at heroes of the faith as just that – heroes. Yet if we were to look into Scripture, most of these heroes of the faith were just like us. In the beginning, they struggled with fear and doubt.

They were heroes because they forged ahead anyway.

Although God gives us the dream, we don’t always know the all the details. God called Moses to lead the people. Moses knew he was to take them to the Promised Land, but he still had a few unknowns:

“One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor.”
Exodus 33:12-13 (NLT)

Moses implored the Lord for more information. He wanted to know more about the details.

God often reveals part of the dream, the full dream remaining a mystery. Every now and then, He pulls the curtain back a bit, letting us in on another piece to the puzzle. We learn along the way that His thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are not like ours (Isaiah 55:8).

Holley Gerth gives us this insight:

I believe God lets it be that way, even makes it that way, because it draws us closer to him. Our dreams may be elusive, but he is ever-present. Our dreams may challenge our sense of safety, but he is our ultimate security. Our dreams may catch our interest, but he’s the One who relentlessly chases our hearts.

(from “You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream, page 47)

As much as we would like to know it all and be in control, we can release control to the Giver and Keeper of all our dreams. God gave Moses this assurance:

“The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest – everything will be fine for you.”
Exodus 33:14 (NLT)

And He assures us as well that He will go with us and be with us always.

We move forward with uncertainty, certain of the One leading us forward.

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You may just have a God-sized dream if it is leading you to greater dependence on God. Your dream will bring you joy in time. But the primary goal of your dream is to bring you into a deeper and more intimate relationship with God.

“This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”
Habakkuk 2:3 (NLT)

So keep moving forward. Wait patiently. The dream will come to be and it will be right on time.

Shared by: Joanne Viola

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Overcoming Fear On The Journey

October 25, 2017 By Joanne Viola 16 Comments

Fear is a well-known emotion for me. It has held me back many a time and combined with an active imagination, almost anything can become overwhelming.

Public speaking does not come easily or comfortably. Even while in school, given the opportunity to give an oral report or a more extensive project instead, the choice was hands down the project. The company of a close friend was much preferred over the larger group or party.

There were also bouts of fear with failure which held me back from even trying. Only when the pull to do more became greater than the fear did I begin to ask the question, “How does one overcome fear while on the dream journey?”

Moses was a man, called by God to do the incredible – lead God’s people out of Egypt and their captivity. Even though God speaks with him, assuring Moses that He Himself would be with him, Moses was filled with fear and self-doubt.

Moses raises question after question:

“Who am I to appear before Pharaoh?”
“Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
“What should I tell the people when they ask who has sent me?”
“What if they won’t believe me or listen to me?”

Then the final straw …

“O Lord, I’m not very good with words; I never have been, and I’m not even now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled” (Exodus 4:10, NLT).

Moses let his fear and self-doubt get to the point they overshadowed the very One to whom he was speaking. And God responds:

“Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say” (verse 11-12).

These conversations are recorded for us as examples, for we will face the same fears and obstacles as those who have gone before us. These fears are not new to us.

I love that God did not pat Moses on the back. God did not affirm Moses, nor brag on his abilities, his strength, or his gifts. God did not look to boost Moses’ opinion of himself nor did He try to make Moses confident in himself.

See, the story was never about Moses at all. It was truly all about what God was about to do through a single man, an imperfect and flawed man at that.

In many ways, I think God even confirmed that Moses was correct in his assessment of himself and in every argument he raised. Moses had every reason to believe the people would not listen to him, nor would he know what to say to the Pharaoh.

In the middle of all he feared, God assured Moses of one thing – Himself.

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And so it is with us as well.

Our dreams may pull us to do that which we know we cannot. We may lack ability, understanding, talent, or the know how. But our God lacks nothing. He is enough and all we need to overcome our fears and do the thing He has put before us.

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13: 20-21, NIV)

In her book, Free of Me, Sharon Hodde Miller brought this powerful truth:

The one true God responds to our insecurities with reassurances about himself. In doing so, he releases us from the source of our paralysis, shifting our gaze from the “can’ts” to the One who can.” (page 47)

To overcome our fears, we must lift our focus above our fears.

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Where will you look today? May we each vow to look to Him and overcome our fear.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2, NIV)

Shared by: Joanne Viola

What Next?

June 19, 2017 By Joanne Viola 23 Comments

Dreams. They begin to formulate in us from a young age with every relationship, emotion, and experience playing a part in bringing them to fruition.

David, Jessie’s youngest son, was a simple shepherd, tending to his father’s sheep. His dreams may have been of becoming a landowner and one day tending to his own sheep. But Samuel came looking for the man of God’s choosing and upon finding him, anointed him with oil. From that day on, the Spirit of the Lord was powerfully upon David although he did not take his rightful place as “king” for several more years.

He came to reign through servanthood – tending his father’s sheep, fighting giants, and playing music for a crazed king who needed to be mellowed from time to time. The fulfillment of his dreams did not come easily. Some battles came through his own sin and flaws; others through the sins and flaws of those around him.

Yet God still said, “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22, NLT).

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a young virgin, who dreamed of marrying Joseph, a good man. Her dream may have included a beautiful wedding day, hopes for a home, and children in the days ahead. The one thing she probably never dreamed was of finding herself pregnant before her wedding day. Her picture perfect plan did not go perfectly.

So what happens when our dreams change or we finally achieve our dream? What is it we are to do next?

We keep on going. We do the next thing.

God is always looking to make us stronger, grow us deeper, and take us further than we ever could dream.

His plans exceed what our finite and feeble minds can imagine and handle, so He unfolds them a bit at a time. All through our lives, He will continually be at work, revealing His plans piece by piece, much like a puzzle forms a work of art.

God always follows through on His plans and does not abandon the work of His hands. We only see a part as if through a mirror dimly, but one day we will see clearly:

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, NLT)

[clickToTweet tweet=”God wants to make us stronger & take us further than we’ve ever been.” quote=”God wants to make us stronger and take us further than we’ve ever been. “]

“And I am certain that God who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6, NLT)

So what do we do when we have achieved our dreams?

Shared by: Joanne Viola

An InLinkz Link-up

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He Plants & Cultivates Our Dreams

February 1, 2017 By Joanne Viola 14 Comments

The dreams may lay hidden for a long time.

In looking back, I am not sure where I read that applications were being taken for the the God Sized Dream Team. It may have been on either Facebook or Twitter or in an email. The one thing I am certain is that I opened it and read it multiple times over the course of a few weeks.

No matter how I tried to push it out of my head, I kept returning to read it once again.

During a difficult transition in our lives several years ago, I felt led to start a journal – a blog – so that my children would one day know their mother’s thoughts and manner of processing. At first, I resisted the idea as I have always held my thoughts and feelings close.

Transparency and vulnerability, while my heart was yet raw, was a frightening thought.

One Sunday morning, the sermon was on Peter being called out of the boat to walk on water. I knew Jesus was always in the proverbial boat with me, stilling the storm and bringing His peace.

But me, out on the water with Jesus would require me to muster up a whole lot more courage.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
(Matthew 14: 29, NLT)

The writing was private as no one knew I was even doing so, but over the course of time, connections began. Connections that brought meaning to my writing, bringing a love of writing and for those who would read and comment.

It did not matter if the words would be read by only one as it was for the One that I was writing.

We do for the one because all that we do is for The One.

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In following this urge to show up each morning and write, God has opened opportunities that were unknown and unexpected. I am discovering He knows the desires of our hearts even more so than we do.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you. (Psalm 37:4-5, NLT)

As I sat looking at the message to submit my name for consideration, something began to stir in my heart once again. Would I dig deep and go even further out on the water with Jesus? Could I follow Him where I had not ever been before?

The word which had been coming before me for several weeks was “Audacious” … “to be bold, brave, fearless, extremely original, without restriction to prior ideas, lively” (as I learned from dictionary.com).

Peter did not wait for perfect weather conditions to walk out to Jesus. He had to put one leg over the side, and then the other, while the rain was pelting, the wind blowing, and the waves were slapping against him.

But when Jesus bid him “Come”, he went and was able to do what he had not ever done before.

Here I am doing something I have not ever done before with a group of new friends. This is the unimaginable to me and yet, He had bid me, “Come.”

God knows the desires of our hearts for He Himself fashioned our hearts.

There are dreams He has planted, watered, and cultivated so that they will bear fruit in our lives.

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“Come, He bids. ” Listen carefully and you may find, He is uncovering the dream He knew was there from the beginning.

Shared by: Joanne Viola