God-sized Dream = A desire in your heart for more of what God has for you.
photo by Public Domain Photos
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 Jennifer Dukes Lee is here to share about God-sized dreams with you…
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My role is obedience to the call; God handles the rest. He measures success differently than our world does. — Jennifer Dukes Lee
When I was a girl, I had this one recurring dream. Even now, at 40 years old, it’s crystal-clear on the playback —
I’m wearing Strawberry Shortcake pajamas, standing barefoot in the long grass, down by the lilac tree. My tiny heart understands instinctively that I was made to fly. So I try.
I stretch out my arms, and suddenly this liberating weightlessness buoys me. I effortlessly fly around my yard. The air is perfumed with lilacs.
In the dream, the euphoria never lasts long. Within moments, I am scared I’ll lose control, veer off course, or tangle my little self in the power lines.
There’s more danger below: Some faceless, growling person is grabbing for my feet, trying to pull me down.
In my dream, I talk back to my fears because I want to believe that my first instinct was the right one. I want to believe that I was made to soar. And before long, I’m stretching out my arms more defiantly than ever before, to fly right over shingled rooftops, the church spire and the water tower.
But then – screech – the dream ends. I wake up.
Many of us are living life in the screech. We’ve “woken up” from dreams, falsely believing that a person can only dream if her eyes are closed. We forget what we were made for, or we fear that the enemy might bring us down if we try. Sometimes it feels safer not to dream.
As grown-ups, we’ve seen too often how the dreams for our own life or for our loved ones can fall apart. Your book manuscript has been rejected again and again. You are repeatedly overlooked for your dream job. Your most fervent hopes for your children are shattered, and you can’t put back any of the pieces.
So we conveniently forget that we were wired to dream, and even perhaps, to soar. We forget that God has us precisely where He wants us, in this moment of history on this specific spot on the globe. (Acts 17:26)
He has a calling for you right where you are, a dream for you to dream. It’s true: Dreams are the God-stories we were made to live with our eyes wide open.
And friend, God has given you the spiritual batteries that you need to dream His dreams for you:
“For God did not give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
I have only begun to know that dreams really can come true. Even more, I’ve begun to learn that even if my dreams don’t pan out the way I thought they would, they needed to be dreamed anyway.
My role is obedience to the call; God handles the rest. He measures success differently than our world does.
So do the planet a favor: Dream with your eyes open. We need your story, your hands, your song, your wisdom.
Don’t bury your calling. Don’t dismiss your gifts. Don’t muzzle your voice, or enslave yourself to gravity when you were made to soar for His glory. Stretch out your arms, lift your face heavenward, and let yourself fly high in His strength. Talk back to your fears if you have to, and don’t forget to smell the lilacs.
I see you up there, darling, and you look stunning and courageous. Your dreams might just change the world, and they might just change you.
{BIO: A journalist, Jennifer Dukes Lee used to cover crime, politics, and natural disasters. Now she uses her reporting skills to chase after the biggest story in history: the redemptive story of Christ. That’s front-page news. Jennifer clings to the hope of a cross, and she’s passionate about sharing the Good News through story. She believes in miracles; she is one. She tells stories at her blog, www.JenniferDukesLee.com, and she’s writing a book with Tyndale Momentum. She’d love to connect with you on Twitter (https://twitter.com/dukeslee) or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JenniferDukesLee.}
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Now it’s your turn!
Your “do what you can” step toward your God-sized dream for last week was this: think back to another time when you took positive action in your life. {Unless you’re still eating baby food, crawling and wearing onesies you’ve already come a long way!} What’s one thing that helped you move forward that you could apply again now and someone else could benefit from hearing too? Share what you discovered from your life by linking up your blog post below.
So we can all find each other, please include this God-sized Dreams button in your post {you can get the code in the sidebar}. 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: What’s one fear you’ve faced when it comes to your God-sized dream? And what’s the truth that’s bigger than that fear? Write a post sharing your response. Then link it up here next week. {If you don’t have a blog, you can share what you did in the comments.}
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
