God-sized Dream = A desire in your heart for more of what God has for you.
We’re opening the door to God-sized dreams in 2013. So every week we get together to encourage each other {because don’t we all need it? yes, ma’am.}. This week Stefanie Brown is here to share about God-sized dreams with you…
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I longed for His dreams to become my dreams. What is it, Father? What have you purposed in your heart and mind for me? My life? — Stefanie Brown, Today’s Guest Poster
Dreams.
I’m not speaking of gingerbreads dancing around in our heads, nor am I referring to personal pursuits, self-serving goals designed to make our names famous. The dreams in which I refer are His dreams for us, the Jeremiah 29:11 plans He designed for us before the beginning of us.
For the longest time, dreaming was just a fantasyland where I wasn’t in control, a place where I aimlessly wondered around guided by and at the mercy of my subconscious. It wasn’t a belief that a best-laid plan was already in place, a blueprint of a life especially created for me. I thought that if I’m really good and well behaved, I might find a blessing or two along the way. Surely God smiled on those of us who worked hard to live a descent life. Surely.
Sadly, my misguided, unfortunate idea of dreaming limited who God was to me. I encapsulated Him, the limitless Creator. I boxed Him up tightly, sealing the container with doubt and fear. I doubted He had a true purpose for my life and, if He did, I feared my inadequacies would cause Him to reject me, opting to pass my purpose onto someone else.
Life took a raging turn when Psalm 139:14 came alive in my heart and life. Through the inspired words of the Psalmist, I learned I was “fearfully and wonderfully made”. Fearfully? Wonderfully? What? It was in that moment my ears perked to the whisper of the Holy Spirit, shutting out the self-deprecating words, which I had become accustomed. Instead of listening to me, I started listening to Him.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made, especially designed for a purpose, and created to fulfill a plan He has specifically crafted for me.
Stunned silence.
Monumental moment.
Life-altering thought.
Once Psalm 139:14 burst forth in my life, Jeremiah 29:11 changed shape. In believing I was carefully crafted, divinely designed, I began trusting that God did dream for me and when He dreams, He dreams BIG! (Just look at the creation account in Genesis.) It was then, I longed for His dreams to become my dreams. What is it, Father? What have you purposed in your heart and mind for me? My life?
He answered on a Tuesday night in July of 2010. I was listening to a message, one inspired by the Holy Spirit, overflowing with His power. The speaker kept asking what is God calling you to do? Where do you feel His Spirit is leading you? In the midst of the moment, in nearly audible form, He spoke directly into my heart. He spoke His call. He spoke my call. Here’s what I heard:
“You are a nurse by profession, but a writer by call.”
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever believe I would be called to deliver written words ~ any written word other than a thank you note or a birthday wish. His plan, His dream surprised me at first. Now, thanks to His transforming hand I see it, I feel it. He calls out to me, inspiring me. There’s a word just for me, a word He wants me to write, share. He speaks it into my heart, escorting me to my keyboard. It is there He releases me to use 26 letters, forming words, His words to impart His truths with those in which I’m called to minister. He direction and equipping are simply beautiful!
Please allow me to moment to encourage.
- Believe Jesus ~ believe in Him and on Him
- Believe what He says about you ~ you are fearfully and wonderfully made, especially designed for His will
- Believe He will equip you to complete your call
Jump in and dream big! God is bigger than your wildest dreams and has a dream awaiting you.
{Stefanie Brown is the wife of Dan Brown, Executive Director of LIFT Ministries. Stefanie began Zero2Three Pediatric Rehab Services which provides therapy services to children ages birth to 3 with developmental delays, however she passed the company on when she and her husband relocated to Texas. She is a blogger at UpLIFTing Words and you can also connect with her on Twitter @stefanieybrown and Facebook, Stefanie Young Brown.}
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Now it’s your turn!
Last week your challenge was to choose what you would decrease in your life so that your God-sized dream can increase. Share what you chose by linking up your post below {or telling us in the comments if you don’t have a blog}.
So we can all find each other, please include this God-sized Dreams button in your post. Also, love on your fellow God-sized dreamin’ sisters by leaving a comment on the post before yours.
For next week take this “do what you can” step for your God-sized dream: The most dangerous word for a God-sized dream is “someday.” How can you start implementing your God-sized dream {even in a small way} right where you are? You’ve just opened up some space in your life and you’ll need a proactive plan or that space will get claimed by something other than your God-sized dream–guaranteed. Write a post about what you can stop delaying and start doing then link it up here next week. {If you don’t have a blog, you can share what you did in the comments.} And if you’re thinking you’ll do this later, well…
Not sure what to do next? Start with The “Do What You Can” Plan: 21 Days to Making Any Area of Your Life Better
Want more encouragement? You’ll find it in You’re Made for a God-sized Dream: Opening the Door to All God Has for You
Hi Holley, thank you for Stephanie Brown’s wonderful blog, truly inspirational. I’ve been allowing the Lord to speak to me through the Scriptures nowadays. The word of God is alive and it truly speaks to your heart as it speaks to mine as well. We are all created for fellowship with Him through our Lord Jesus. As God and His word become central in my life, He makes me understand more and more that it’s Jesus who is my Lord and Savior that will make things possible for all the people and needs we are praying for. I’ve been called by the Lord to spread and preach His word as an 18 year old may years ago. I still have this calling to this day. Mike and I watched a documentary show on ABC Australian TV last night, depicting the homelessness and poverty occurring in America, It is so sad to look at it. These are young mothers and children chosen to live in their cars as they don’t have a place they can call a home. Mike and I felt led by the Holy Spirit last night to pray for the homeless in America. i found myself crying to God to help them and give them a home and I prayed for their salvation as well. I felt so much compassion for these young mothers and young families. May the love of the Lord and His mercy reach out to them. ~ God bless you and your husband dear Holley.
Thank you for sharing, Maria!
Stefanie,
So wonderful to see you here.
And what an encouragement your story is to us all. To be assured that God leads us when He has called us. And your heart of surrender to His will, just beautiful. I love you friend.
Thank you, Michele-Lyn! Your words always encourage my spirit and bring a smile to my face. I appreciate you tremendously and look forward to the next time HE brings us together IRL.
Love you, sweet friend!
I was changed as well by the scripture ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’. It made me stop and weep for awhile to realize God really loves ME that much? After all, who am I? Now, I await His word to my heart as to my purpose. I listen with all my heart and want to stay in His will for my life. I love just knowing Him and that His love is unfailing. He loves me in spite of what I’ve done and I want to be a light of His love wherever I stand. Thank you for this opportunity to say these things ‘out loud’ to other believers. It’s wonderful to know so many women whose hearts are filled with God’s love and purpose. Rock on!!!
Oh, the thought -> He loves me in spirt of (fill in the blank)… His love is measureless, so difficult to truly comprehend. So thankful He doesn’t ask us to understand the vastness of His love. He just longs for us to accept it.
What a great Father!
Thank you for sharing Sue…
I long to be as the woman who profusely and lavishly poured the
costly fragrance on the Body of the Messiah, Yahshua.
I long to desire that intimacy, that utter abandon to the things and
cares of this world, that allows me to focus on Him and His desires.
Then, I will get my desires, for they will truly be His and He owns
them all!
So, that is my Dream ~ to lavishly and profusely love the Body of
Messiah, with no bars or holds. May I discern His Body, today.
Thanks for letting me share this and thank you, Stefanie, for sharing
your heart and desire and Great Awakening to all He has for you!
Love, Karen
Wow! What passion, Karen! As I read your comment, it was as though I could smell the scent of the fragrance you long to pour over Jesus. Beautiful love, my friend!
Thank you for sharing…
One of the greatest awakenings I experienced was when I discovered I was NOT my profession. It opened doors to LETTING G-d’s plan unfold.
What a wonderful share, Stefanie!
Yes, Mel!! What a life-changing moment for the both of us!!
Thank you for letting me have a peak into your heart and life:)
I’m not sure what my dream looks like but I know it’s about my husband and myself along with our family helping the hurt and broken people of this world.
What a glorious dream, Michelle! They are everywhere ~ the broken, brokenhearted, hurt and abandoned. Your dream will certain change and impact lives for eternity’s sake.
Thank you for sharing…
Decreased my schedule in order to increase my dream! I cannot thank you enough for these posts. I am also a nurse by profession, mommy of twins by call for the last 4 1/2 years, and heading into a new season as those two head off to Kindergarten. AHHHH! The last year has completely taken me for a loop. I started to mentor some friends online that were in the midst of some very choppy waters. Through their encouragement and a kick in the you know where, I attended Allume. I still cannot put into words how strongly I heard His voice and calling to a new path and journey of writing. SCARY. It never even crossed my mind or fit into any plan or road I thought my life might be heading. I just assumed I would join the nursing force again once the girls started school. The other detail is that I have notebooks filled with “devotions” He has given me for years! Hmmm. My husband has been working on a blog page for me since December. What is taking so long? The courage to hit publish, and the fact that I am CLUELESS in this realm. He has poured hours into designing it, and its beautiful to me. The fact that he is so supportive is also a nudge that God is definitely in this. I know my God is big. I know he has wonderful plans for me. My prayer is that I approach this humbly, trusting He will lead me step by step into the God-sized dream, that is His very best for me, and that I will be used to share his love as I am called to do.
Stephanie, the nurse, from Stefanie, the nurse
I love that!!
I, too, thought I’d retire from nursing, serving my time in a variety of settings. Although I loved my time caring for people who needed me, living this God-Sized dream has brought more joy and contentment than I even imagined. I can’t ever remember being this satisfied working the ICU or in home health. I simply put it time, there. It wasn’t for naught, but it wasn’t the fulfillment of my story. It was only a part.
I’m super excited for you, your dream and your blog!! If I can encourage you in any way, JUST ASK!! I’ve been there. We’ve all been there. Take the step, my friend! It takes your breath, at first, but boy is it worth it!
Thank you for sharing…
The Lord said that He opens a door than no man can shut…. that door is an Exit door from the Old Law. I want to spend more intimate time with Him as He shows me His unlimited love and blessings — so that I can then lead others out of that door.
On my walk yesterday, I thought about John 4:13-14 “Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” For so long I stayed in “religion” which taught that our receiving from our Father depended on our works— by what we do. Now I exited that door of the Old Law and entered in the New Covenant of Grace which says that my receiving has to do with His doing, His perfect, finished work at the cross.
As I thought on this, I recalled reading where someone compared it to our striving to get that living water by pumping a well where the water merely trickled out… and sometimes, during a “dry spell”, it dried up. His blessings are compared to taking a drink from Niagara Falls. As I thought on this, the Holy Spirit said, “Why limit Me by comparing My love for you to Niagara Falls? The Falls is merely a trickle to all that I have already been made available to you!” OMG! I want everyone to know this for themselves… leave that door of the Old Covenant and step into His marvelous Grace— it’s free! Thank You, Jesus!
Oh, my, goodness… Dorothy, you’ve given us a beautiful picture inside your heart: “The Lord said that He opens a door than no man can shut…. that door is an Exit door from the Old Law. I want to spend more intimate time with Him as He shows me His unlimited love and blessings — so that I can then lead others out of that door.” I’m believing this God-Sized dream is yours for the taking.
Thank you for sharing…
Great post Stephanie! It’s nice to get to know you better through your words.
Thank you, Alecia:)
Awwww….the God-sized dream that He is the author of….oh, how I long for that! To be so in tune with what He is doing in and through me that there is NO room for doubt! He is working this plan in me even now as I write this. I was just layed off from my job where I “careered” as a Payroll professional. My prayer has been “Lord, please don’t LET me take a job just to be taking another job…I want to do what You have purposed me to do…to Your glory! Please be in prayer for me as I seek His will and plan for my life! Blessings to you all!
I want you to know, Carol, I paused to pray specifically for your request. Nothing happens by accident and God is not caught off guard. He has a God-Sized dream for you and I can’t wait to see how He reveals and unfolds it for you.
Than you for sharing…
AMEN!!!!
Thank you for speaking my heart! My struggle, the words on my heart during the past year or so have been “Lord, what else do you have in store for me?” I’ve truly sensed that tugging in my heart that He has something deeper, something more; however, I’ve been in the waiting mode for many moons. Daily in His word, in prayer, being still listening for His still small voice. And, of course, my own words often drown Him out!
The past few days these posts via Holley have helped me to hear Him! I can see (and think) a little bit more clearly now. Now I can take the first step in anticipation of the next door He will open…. Thank you for your encouragement, reassurance, putting pen to paper and sharing. Oh, great name, by the way…! ;oD
Yes, STEPHANIE:)
As a word of encouragement, the time you’ve spent waiting haven’t been wasted. Each time you’ve prayed, been in His word and listened, He’s grown and refined you more for the God-Sized dream ahead. I look back on time when I felt like a wondering soul, questioning whether or not HE had an especially designed call for my life. Now, with 20/20 vision, I see each moment was permitted to prepare me for the season my God-Sized dream would blossom. Waiting is an action verb and the action you are taking while waiting, is investment.
Thank you for sharing, STEPHANIE:)
Loved reading about your journey, Stefanie…God is so good to call, and I love how you obeyed Him, and how you bless us
Thank you for the encouragement, Dolly:)
I’m choosing to ignore the auto-play tapes in my head that tell me I can’t…
Love that, Joni:)
Me, …
Thank you so much for sharing about God-sized dreams! It encouraged me a lot!
Blessings,
Jenny
Couldn’t have said it better myself!
Awesome, Jenny and Monica:)
Thank you…
I am so excited! I just started reading this blog a couple weeks ago and finally figured out how to leave a comment! (Technology is not my gift). I absolutely love it! God has been showing me this week how to focus on Him, and when I do He effortlessly brings into my life what He has for me. Just as Peter walked on water and when he took his eyes off of Jesus he fell. I am learning that as long as my eyes stay on Him He will most definitely get me to the God-sized dreams HE has for me! Praying I can keep on doing this by His power that is at work within me.
First of all, Monica, I’m so thankful you didn’t give up!! You kept going until you figured out this piece of the technological world. Awesome!
Secondly, keeping our eyes on HIM is a must!! He has the God-Sized dream for us. If we shift our eyes elsewhere, we’ll miss it.
Thank you for sharing:) I enjoyed reading your thoughts…
I want to decrease the amount of time I spend watching TV – even good, Christian TV. I think 1/2 hr a day is enough. I am home recuperating from being hit in a car crash, so the temptation is always around. What I need to be doing with the extra time is working my upper body; less fun for me than my lower body. But I figured out a fun way with my husband’s help. So I’ll let you know how I’m doing next week!
Blessings on you and healing.
Oh, Joyce… This is the first year I’ve ever celebrated Lent and the Lord asked me to relinquish TV for the 40 days. Prior to that, we decided as a family, we’d cut down on the amount of TV we watch daily. It can easily consume hours upon end. I enjoy a variety of TV programs (especially sports), but don’t want my days lost in it. I understand where you are! We can do this!
Praying for your quick healing, my friend!
Thank you Stefanie for sharing your story! Yes, He does have a plan. Yes, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And while I think I know what He is calling me to, and what is my calling, I love the questions you pose and I think we can and should ask them from time to time. “What is it, Father? What have you purposed in your heart and mind for me? My life?” Bless you!!
Thank you, Elise!
We’re on an exciting journey, my friend:)
MAKES ME THINK OF THE SONG BY FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI. “UNPREDICTABLE”
Hi, Holley!
I am so happy to have found your website! It was such a blessing to me today! Thank you for sharing what God has placed upon your heart and for encouraging us to not settle for less than what God intends. Please visit my blog, if you’d like at: http://www.cherylsmithministries.blogspot.com.
May God’s peace be with you, and may His love light your path!
In His Grip,
Cheryl Smith
Thank you for sharing, Cheryl…
Thank you, Stefanie, for your wonderful post! It blessed me so much! God’s peace be with you,
Cheryl
Hi Holley and all the ladies,
I just wanted to share something with you all. I have been reading Holley’s book, You’re Already Amazing, along with the God-Size Dreams devotional. I was reading my book the other night, and thought about a chance I took in 2007 to step out and run a catering business full time. Well, I was not quite financially prepared for the downfalls that came our way with the downturn of the economy, and I had to close the business. I moved to another state to go to culinary school I thought, but it did not work out. So I asked God to take away the desire to do catering anymore, and the desire to be a chef. I would give of my time to cook for friends or events for my daughter, but otherwise, I did not care to cook—God answered my prayer. I started at that point to ask God to let me finish my Bachelors. I did not know in what field, but I wanted a degree. He open a door for me in a program that fits me and my current job, and I should have my degree in about a year and a half more. By the way, I have made the Deans List twice.
After reading last week, I thought about what my dream had been with the catering and kinda shrugged it off, but I read in there how if God put a dream in our hearts, that it is not gone, but just dormant sometimes. Well, later that day, one of my dear friends called to tell my her sister is getting married, and they wanted me to cater the engagement party, and if I was open to it, the wedding. She said that they knew that I knew what foods they enjoyed, and that they enjoyed my cooking. I thought, God has a sense of humor, and I agreed to do the engagement party, and we will see about the wedding.
I wrote this to encourage other ladies, the dream is not gone, just dormant.
Thanks
What an awesome story, Shirley! As Holley says, there are seasons when our dreams may be in the forefront of our lives, but they are still there. I love how your story is a beautiful picture of that.
Thank you for sharing…
Thank you Stephanie for sharing your story. You have given me both scriptures that I live by, and yet my God-sized dreams, don’t seem to be coming together. I actually love to encourage people, for I am a Pastor’s wife, and have been so abused in ministry, and because God has delivered me, I love to give help to my fellow team mates, most of it I would love to send little post scripts that I call “15 minutes of coffee” I am praying that God shows me how to go about it all. Thanks again, you and Holley are such an inspiration to me.
From one broken, wounded Pastor’s wife to another, do what you feel He’s prepared and equipped you to do. There are more of “us” out there than either of us know. The ministry is a tough field and no amount of schooling and mentoring can prepare you for how rough it can be. You and I have walked through waters we never imagined, but neither of our paths caught HIM off guard. Now, the question is “What do we do with what we’ve learned along the way?” We encourage, inspire, motivate, counsel, love, comfort, give, serve, etc… I choose to believe your God-Sized Dream is within reach.
Thank you for sharing!
So we are supposed to share what we will give up to make more time for our God-sized dreams. I need to spend less time reading emails and reduce the number of blogs I follow, so I have more time for writing.
Following our God-Sized Dreams sometimes means letting go of things we enjoy to pursue what we’re called to do. It’s tough, but worth it!
Thank you for sharing, Janet.
“You are a nurse by profession, but a writer by call.”
Gasp! God just pierced my heart with those words!
Thank you, Sandra:) I can’t tell you how liberating that statement is:)
I appreciate you and your ministry so much.
Thank you for taking the time to encourage me.
I shared my blog on the linky tool but wanted to mention that I know it talks about One Little Word but my God-sized dream is to understand and appreciate how I am “enough.” The OLW study is how I’m going about that. http://jamiesthots.com/2013/02/16/a-12-month-plan-for-enough
Thanks, Jamie! I’m hopping over there right now!
I left a comment above, but I had to write again to let you know how much your challenge “to choose what you would decrease in your life so that your God-sized dream can increase” has inspired me. I have been through a very difficult two years, and at the end, have been left in a state of complete brokenness before God. Last week, He absolutely opened my eyes to SO many things…about me. I have gone down to the Potter’s house, and I am now upon the wheel. My answer to your challenge is this…the SELF part of me must decrease so that my God-sized dream can increase. I see that now. How can God fill me with more of Himself, if there isn’t less of me on board? I feel that God has taken the marred vessel that used to be me, and He is now remaking me, remolding me, recreating me…upon His potter’s wheel. I am sharing my conversations with the Potter on my devotional blog at http://www.cherylsmithministries.blogspot.com, if anyone is interested in reading about my time in the Potter’s house. (The Potter’s house devotionals begin with one entitled, “My Trip To The Potter’s House” on 2/14/2013, and they continue from there.) I am learning much. Most of what I am seeing in God’s mirror is not pretty, but I am facing the truth. The ugliness of self has never been more real to me than it is right now. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for encouraging me to face up to myself….the very hindrance to the God-sized dreams He has planned for my life!
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