God-sized Dream = A desire in your heart for more of what God has for you.
photo by Putneypics
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 Teske Drake is here to share about God-sized dreams with you…
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I never could’ve imagined that my worst nightmare would be the beginnings of a God-sized dream. The nightmare came in the form of tremendous loss. My first daughter, Chloe, went to be with Jesus shortly after birth. Our pregnancy revealed that this would be the case, but we carried her as long as possible. She arrived a few weeks earlier than expected, just 3 days before Mother’s Day in 2006.
Her life and death brought life back to me, and life to my husband for the very first time. Read the whole story here…
Fast forward a few short years and you find me here today; wide awake from the nightmare of my grief, living out the God-sized dream placed in my heart. A dream centered on His will, planted soul deep, rooted in His promises. Promises exposed while trudging through the trenches of my grief; grief that’s forever a part of me, yet viewed now with eyes wide open to how it can be used by God.
A ministry born out of loss, yet bringing forth hope. Mommies with Hope, reaching women for Christ, who is our hope.
Upon fully embracing the dream, I’ve learned that obedience quickly follows. Yet mere obedience wasn’t enough.
Sacrifice would be required to fully live this God-sized dream. It doesn’t sound so glamorous, I know. But following God isn’t about glamour. It’s about being His servant.
And isn’t that why Jesus came? Mark 10:45 clearly states, “ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus gave it all…the ultimate sacrifice.
My heart and mind have been parked in this place of sacrifice for several months. And it hasn’t been easy. Shortly after the release of my first book, my Pastor lovingly challenged me in this area. He was right…I had been “giving out of my giftedness.” My time. My gifts. My abilities.
All at the expense of my most important ministry of all ~ my family.
And isn’t it all God given? I was clearly being called into ministry full-time. But certainly not at the expense of my family. Something had to give. So, at the end of this past year, I resigned my full-time job [where I actually received a paycheck], making sacrifices all along the way.
Only God could make something so beautiful from the ugly reality of deep grief.
Only God could mend the pieces of a mother’s broken heart to the fullness He intended.
Only God could dare plant a dream so big into the tattered soul of an ordinary, sinful woman.
That’s the thing about God-sized dreams; they are so monumental that only God can bring them to fruition through the willingness of a humble servant. Are you willing to sacrifice?
“Truly I am your servant, Lord…you have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.”
Psalm 116:16-17
Teske Drake is a mommy to three babies in heaven, mother to two on earth, and wife to her one and only, Justin. Inspired by her own loss experiences, Teske serves as co-founder and President of Mommies with Hope, a biblically-based support group ministry for women who have experienced the loss of a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. Teske is the author of Hope for Today, Promises for Tomorrow: Finding Light Beyond the Shadow of Miscarriage or Infant Loss (Kregel, 2012) and she leads women to live in hope at www.mommieswithhope.com.
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Now it’s your turn!
Teske shared with us the how tears can be part of our God-sized dreams journey and yet she and I both have learned laughter can be too…
“Fear hangs out right next to whatever it is you’re most called to do. That means the closer you get to your calling, the louder fear sounds. Keep going–fear is a chihuahua that sounds like a Doberman.” — You’re Made for a God-sized Dream, Chapter Five
Your prompt from last week: It’s time to have a little talk with the fear in your life. Write a letter that starts out, “Dear Chihuahua of Fear, I have some things I’d like to say to you…” {Is this kinda silly? Um, yes, but that’s the point. Fear always tries to make us take it more seriously than we should.} Link up your letter below. Extra credit if you can make us laugh out loud.
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: “Sometimes we feel alone not because we need to be with others but because God wants to be with us. Our lives are busy–especially when we’re pursuing a dream–and God may want to pull us aside for a bit” {You’re Made for a God-sized Dream, Chapter Six}. The most important part of any God-sized dream is the Giver of it. Set aside a particular time this week to be with Him–to pray, journal, take a walk or simply sit quietly and listen. Write a post sharing what your heart hears or receives then link it up next week.
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
