NEW YEAR'S BIG DREAMS

Every person I meet who is not actively pursuing a Big Dream can identify with one.  Those who think Dreams only happen to someone else carry a Dream hidden deep in their heart.  When someone puts a finger on that hidden Dream, the person almost always becomes emotional. 

Gen 37:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

 You have a Big Dream, too.  GOD has put a driving passion in you to do something special.  You are created in His image—the only person exactly like you in the universe.  No one else can do your Dream.  The journey toward your Big Dream changes you.  In fact, the journey itself is what prepares you to succeed at what you were born to do. 

Num 10:13 And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

Until you decide to pursue your Dream, you are never going to LOVE your life the way you were meant to.  YET, millions of people never take that first step.  Tragically, a whole lifetime can pass without a person ever accomplishing the Great Things he or she was born to do and wants to do.  For example, look at what happened to Moses.  GOD showed him his dream, but because of Moses disobedience, he never saw it come to pass. 

Num 27:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.   13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. 14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

 There are five common but deadly misconceptions that inhibit people from embracing and pursuing their dream.  They are:

•  “I don’t have a Dream”

•  “I have to invent my Dream”

•  “I have a Dream; but it’s not that important”

•  “I have a Dream, but it’s up to God to make it happen”

•  “I had a Dream, but it’s too late”

These misconceptions are a trap, and your Big Dream is what GOD has laid hold of you to do.  Here are three insights into every GOD-given Big Dream that we can glean from the story of Moses: 

1.     A Big Dream always seems overwhelming at first.

2.     Ultimately, a Big Dream is aimed at meeting a Big Need in the world.

3.     While you still have a breath, it’s never too late to act on your Dream!

Most of us don’t see our dream all at once.  We start with an inkling, a cluster of interests, a longing that won’t go away.  If we start there and set out, we give GOD a chance to show us more.  Your Big Dream is already in you, it’s already who you are. Your opportunity is to discover it.  Look at GOD’s dream for David:

2Sam 2:4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.

 Think back to what you wanted to do while you were growing up.  Observe your life and write down your conclusions.  Good questions to ask yourself are:

1.     What have you always been good at?

2.     What needs do I care about most?

3.     Who do I admire most?

4.     What makes me feel most fulfilled?

5.     What do I love to do most?

6.     What have I felt called to do?

A lot of people feel like present circumstances make your Dream out of the question. 

But nearly always, the truth is that if you want to pursue your Dream, you CAN come up with a plan that makes a beginning possible.  Of course, there is usually a price attached—a sacrifice, and often several.  We need to rethink our priorities, and if you are willing to make the sacrifices, you are ALREADY in pursuit of your dream.

If your afraid of your dream, you are simply in the cozy trap.  My selfish desire for comfort (my comfort zone), is the enemy of my Dream.  A comfort zone is hard to break through because we’ve spent so much time building it.  Outside our comfort zone lies the great unknown—danger—uncertainty.  Think of David pushing past his comfort zone and overcoming his fear in smiting the Giant.

1Sa 17:49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

No one signs up for discomfort.  But our Big Dream lies outside our comfort zone.  BREAK THROUGH!!!…and KNOW there’s always a new Comfort Zone waiting in your future.  When your Dream expands, it will come with a whole new set of challenges.  A dreamer is a person whose life is in motion.  Stepping through fear is a small price to pay for a Big Dream.  Never run away from the wall of fear, at the edge of your Comfort Zone.  You will even sometimes encounter “Border Bullies” – an actual enemy—A Pharaoh who decrees “I will not let you go!”.  

Saul actually became an enemy and tried to kill David because he was jealous of David.

1Sam 18:9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.  10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. 11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

Some of them are people you know and love.  They have NO written all over them.  Should you agree with them and turn back?  When you enter the Border Land, you must confront their words and beliefs.  The reason they’ve suddenly appeared is now you’re disturbing THEIR Comfort Zone.  The web of relationships and expectations in our land of “Familiar” is shaking wildly because someone has moved ---YOU!  If your facing Bullies today, be encouraged.  The very fact that they’re standing in front of you means you’re on the move toward your dream!  You will also come across the “Border Buddy”.  This person who affirms and support you, to get you across your Border to your Big Dream.  Then you will have the “Border Buster’s” who will help you pursue your dream. 

Jonathan became David’s Border Buster:

1Sam 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

Border Buster’s recognize your GOD-given dream, choose to pro-actively pursue it.  They’re nearly always experienced dreamers that have been where you are.  They are your Dream champion—allowing you to be trained in their greenhouse for the ministry GOD has prepared for you.  They pour courage into your heart.  It’s not easy to stand up against those we care about; our desire to be well liked and admired is deeply rooted.  Almost every Dream is rejected in the early stages.  We will face a choice.  We must decide who we want to please more—your Border Bullies, or GOD!  When you give the right of approval of your Dream to others, you give them the right to control it.  Are you willing to stand up and protect your Dream?  You know you’re ready to move past your Border Bullies when you realize their objections belong to the land of “Familiar” world.  Make your crossing Dreamer…your wonderful future is waiting, and the Dreamgiver (GOD) is ready to help you find it!

Every Dream chaser eventually winds up having a desert experience.  

Deut 32:10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led

him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. {led: or, compassed}

GOD’s motive and plan in the wasteland is to prepare you to become the person who can succeed at your Dream.  The outcome is up to us and how we respond depends on how we answer two important questions: 1. How much do you want your dream to come true? 2. Do you believe in GOD (the Dreamgiver) enough to trust His purpose and accept His plan of preparation, even if you don’t understand or agree with it? 

HE wants to make us perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  When your “lack” is finished, your “wasteland” is finished.  After your wasteland, then turn your heart back to your Dream!  Step into HIS Sanctuary!  GOD will invite you to stand in his presence, to come closer to HIM.  Our spirit needs time away for comfort, restoration and transformation.  Sanctuary is an Oasis.  A peaceful pause where you’re invited to meet with GOD, to be renewed and to make decisions that will radically affect the rest of your journey.  Will you choose to love GOD and place him first in your heart or not?  This choice is at the heart of each of the three encounters waiting for a Dreamer in Sanctuary.  These encounters last different lengths of time and occur in a specific order.  Each encounter is a pre-requisite for the life-changing event that follows.  This invitation is optional.  What you do determines the future of your Dream. 

1^st Call – “Come to the Water”—Invites you to leave behind the dirt and hurt of the wasteland.  Water is a universal symbol of refreshment and new life.

2^nd Call – “Come into the Light” – Felt drawn by GOD’s love but exposed.  Your sins and flaws will seem so ugly.  It’s a wonderful and humbling experience.  Ask for and accept HIS love, forgiveness and healing.

3^rd Call—“Come Higher”—GOD will ask you to consecrate yourself to HIM…and surrender your Dream. 

Num 31:23 Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water. 

Ps 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 

1Cor 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

If Sanctuary describes where you’re at now, your facing one of three (3) specific invitations:

1.     Will I allow GOD’s love to bring rest and restoration to my body, mind and soul?

2.     Will I allow GOD’s light to shine in my heart and then move forward from

cleansing?

3.     Will I give my Big Dream back to the Dream Giver – no strings attached?  Surrendered dreams come throughout our lifetime.  You’ll be asked to take a step to seal your decision. You have a choice.  If you don’t surrender your dream, you will be placing it higher on your priority list than GOD.  Your dream will become your idol.  Don’t let your Dream become a Dreamer-Owned Dream.  A GOD-Given Dream brings you together with what GOD wants to do in HIS world through you!  Put your Dream in his hands and walk away.  What GOD wants most with you is a thriving relationship.  As you spend more time communing with GOD, you can do more FOR HIM!

You will encounter overwhelming obstacles on the road to your Dream….Giants!  You will need GOD’s power to overcome a Giant, sometimes you’ll need one miracle after another!  Some Giants encountered will be:

• Lack of Resources

•  Immovable System

• Opposing Group or Individual

• Intimidating Circumstance

•  Crushing Physical or Spiritual Burden

A step of Faith moves you toward your Dream.  GOD is eager to show himself strong toward Dreamers who take risks to do what HE wants done.  HE will do with it what HE wants for HIS GLORY!!!

If you feel like a nobody, unremarkable and unnoticed in your life, I want you to know that GOD especially LOVES nobodies!!  

1Cor 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 

One of my favorite nobodies was Agnes Bojaxhiu of Albania.  She never went to college, never married or owned a car.  BUT she had a huge Dream:… to live out her faith by caring for the dying and the poorest of the poor.  Most of us know Agnes as Mother Teresa, Nobel Prize winner and one of the most admired people of our time.  She spent most of her life caring for the poor and dying in Calcutta.  But through her Sisters of Charity, her Dream is still touching millions of people around the world.

You were made to be Someone Special, someone with a Big Dream beating brightly in your heart.  Once you decide to pursue your Dream, you’ll be amazed at how much your life changes.  Don’t wait another day.  Tell someone you trust today.  The first time you say your Dream aloud, you will hear your heart say, “You were born for this”! 

Quotes of Mother Teresa 

"Keep the joy of loving God in your heart and share this joy with all you meet especially your family. Be holy – let us pray."

 © Dream Giver - Bruce Wilkinson