Dream Big, God does…
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. You have NO IDEA how excited I am to be able to share with you today about DREAMS!!! I have always had a firm belief in my heart and soul that God gives each and every one of us DREAMS that He has prepared just for US!
Now, I don’t know about you but that is just as scary as it is exhilarating. I mean, think about it…the God of Heaven and Earth created you and I for a specific purpose. So, it would reason that if we are here for a reason, a purpose, a master plan, then why would we have DREAMS and them not be part of God’s divine plan for our lives.
Think about it.
No, really…think about it.
When you were growing up you had DREAMS, didn’t you? All kids do…but something happens when we grow up that tells us its foolish, unwise, silly, not right, (whatever word that you have heard for years can be inserted here ___ ) for you to have DREAMS. We are told to “Grow Up” and get on with our lives. Some of us are laughed at, mocked, and even ridiculed for having DREAMS. But you know what…”so what”. Seriously…so what.
Look at what Joseph’s brothers said about him in
Genesis 37:19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other.
And then they plotted against him in the very next verse
Genesis 37:20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
Did you know that in the Bible there are almost one hundred (yep 100) references to DREAMS. Let’s take a walk through some of the people that God spoke to in their DREAMS…
God spoke to Jacob – Genesis 31:11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’
Joseph certainly had DREAMS – Genesis 37:5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.
Pharaoh had DREAMS – Genesis 41:1 [ Pharaoh’s Dreams ] When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:
The LORD spoke to Solomon in DREAMS – 1 Kings 3:5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Nebuchadnezzar had DREAMS – Daniel 2:16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
An Angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph – Matthew 1:20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Pilate’s wife – Matthew 27:19 – While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
These are just a few examples of how God spoke to and through people in their DREAMS. It is not silly to have DREAMS. It is not naïve to believe that God gave us our DREAMS for a reason or that we could and should be able to go after them. I firmly believe what the Bible says in Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. These are not just words to me, they are truth. So it goes to say that if I believe these words to be TRUE then I should believe that the DREAMS that God has laid on my heart are FROM HIM to ME!
And to YOU too!
Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.
-Langston Hughes
Oh my goodness! I could stand on my chair and shout from the rooftops right about now…I know that I know that I know ladies that God has given EACH and EVERY one of you a DREAM too. I just know it…but why are so many of us listening to the lies of the evil one. Why do we believe that we can’t do it?
-Arthur C. Clarke
A WORD of CAUTION – Here me on this friends…when you chase your DREAM it never means you abandon the blessings of family (husband, kids, etc.) that God has given you…it does mean that 1) if you haven’t thought about your DREAMS in a long time then it is time for you to unpack them from your “hope chest”, and 2) if you have Big DREAMS start giving them over to God and asking Him what you should do next.
The only way to reach your DREAMS is to go after them ~Melissa Mashburn
Chasing the DREAM,
PS – Tonight as a family we sat down and watched the movie, Astronaut Farmer . If you have never seen this movie (it was our first time) I would highly recommend that you do (it’s rated PG). It was a great way for us as a family to start talking about the DREAMS that God has laid on our hearts.
Here’s a couple of quotes from the movie –
Charles Farmer: When I was a kid, they used to tell me that I could be anything I wanted to be, no matter what… and maybe I am insane, I don’t know, but I still believe that.————————————————
Charles Farmer: Hey kid you know what you want to do when you grow up?
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great post!
did I tell you that i was chosen(by lottery drawing) to start the night and weekend program in nursing THIS FALL. this has been a drean of mine for many years.
Love It!! Believe in your dreams!!
Yes God does give us the desires of our hearts, Yes we all need to Dream BIG!! Take God out of the box!!
Amen Sister!! Have a Blessed Sunday:)
Deb
Hi Mel,
You have stopped by my blog a time or two and I need your help, in playing along, I have been tagged and need you to write a 6 word memoir about life, post it to your blog then tag 5 others by leaving then a comment (invitation) to play. Please stop by my blog and read about my memoir, Nickers & Neighs
Wow, I am so glad I found your blog, I have a feeling, okay I KNOW, I was led to your blog. Every time I visit, you have posted something about my recent thoughts, feelings, and struggles. I graduate in a year, but I am starting to get that where do I go from here…because there is so much I want to do and accomplish. Sometimes when I list it out to other people, they are quick to shoot them down and discourage me. I am so thankful for your post today!
Oh Mel, I can actually feel your enthusiasm and joy in sharing this with us! Yes ma’am I can! What a great post and so true! I haven’t seen the movie, but I’ve wanted to, so I’m gonna make a point of picking it up this week.
Happy Sunday!
Hugs!
Kat
Awesome post my friend.
Great post !
I’m wondering about the movie. Would it be ok for a 6 and 4 year old ? I always wonder about PG movies. We have pizza and movie night on Friday nights and so we all watch the movie together …
I’m at a new blog address … it is http://simplebeautybybon.blogspot.com
just in case you couldn’t find me.
Again, powerful words and a reminder. I loved that movie too (despite the cheesy storyline – we were glued to the ultimat message)!
Hey Mel
Excellent post that challenges and stirs me … perhaps one of the things that we struggle with in our dreams is wondering if it is just something we want or if its a dream God has placed in our heart … can you speak to that one for me and let me know what you think?
Thanks
sassiekiwi
What if you don’t have any dreams? You just get up each day, do what you have to and fall into bed exhausted at the end of the day. And then you’re looking at the calender saying how can it already be the end of April? I don’t have the passion you have. I don’t have the great family you have. No one belives in me. I don’t really even think God would trust me with a dream. What then?
Astronaut Farmer is one of my favorite movies. It reminds me, just as your post has, to dream and follow. Noone else will understand, but don’t listen. Just dream and follow God’s path. Thanks for reminding me of all the dreamers and dreams in the Bible. Blessings.
SassieKiwi,
GREAT question!!! I too have wrestled with this thought SO many times. I am a “get it done” kind of girl, and so I have often struggled with am I doing this or dreaming this because I can OR because God wants me to.
I would have to say that confirmation can come in several different forms…for me, I felt God talking to me (not audibly…wow, that would be scary) and then confirming it by books I would read, emails I would get, comments from friends, and also just a peace about it from my soul.
I knew if it was FROM me that I would be disobedient from what God wanted FOR me and that has helped me immensely just give it over to God and ask for HIS confirmation.
Plus…if it is just a really stinkin’ BIG dream that you know there is absolutely NO way that would happen without God then that is another great indication that it is from Him.
Hope that helps…
Melissa
Dear Annonymous Friend,
OH BOY can I relate to what you mentioned in your post. It sounds like your life is a whirlwind right now and the only thing you can see is life flying by you. Am I right?
I have been there…no, really, I have!
Deep down inside of each and every one of us God has placed a special DREAM just for you. It IS there, I know it is, but life, time, and the evil one steal it away (John 10:10 says the enemy came to kill, steal, and destroy).
It’s not about the family you have, and yes, I have been blessed to have a great one (but that too comes with time, love, prayer, and struggle) or the passion you have (yep, I have lots of it, but that is because I am completely SOLD OUT to living my life each and every day for the glory of God (that SOOOO did not happen over night).
You also said that no one believes in you and that’s not true…GOD DOES!!! He has never left or forsaken you, as a matter of fact it says in His Word that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are a child of the Most High God, that you are lovely in His sight. You can not believe the lies any more…God believes in you and so do I. You are not unworthy of a DREAM…you have one, you just have to take some time unpacking your “hope chest” that’s hidden deep in your heart and seek what God has planned for you.
I once heard it said that God doesn’t called the equipped, HE equips the called! Believe it dear one, believe!
I will be praying for you as you unpack your hope chest!
Much Love and Prayers,
Melissa
Hi Mel, like always..that was a great post. We all have to keep our heads up and keep dreaming, moving forward. We could get our dreams shattered by the evil ones, but with God all is possible.
You’re right; we do have to dream big. I love your quote at the end.
Thanks also for the info. on the movie. I always thought it looked good but never rented it. Now I’ve got something to look for when I visit the video store!
AMEN!! You said it! Now if only I could decide which dream to pursue….
I am dreaming big. Through God all things are possible.
great post Mel.
Love this post! I know God is dealing with me about dreams this year. It has been a recurring theme in many ways, since January.
LOVE the Astronaut Farmer – I second everything you said.
This pic of the hope chest with butterflies coming out, sweet, so sweet! And this quote “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.
-Langston Hughes”
…I may have to borrow that – it is so poignant to me…
Thank you Melissa for all you do to exhort the Body & keep us moving forward on the right track!
xoxo,
Maria
We saw the Astronaut Farmer recently and loved it.
What I love about dreams is that they don’t need to be big. There are an awful lot of small dreams that are exciting to fulfill also.