Dream Big

These words describe my goal for this year.  I did not start off this year with many resolutions or a "Word of the Year".  Instead of coming up with a goal, the goal found me. 

         dream BIG

I have heard it from several different people... a friend who joined the army wrote a letter to our Bible study group - he said, "Dream big.  God can do big things through you.  You have to have a dream."  He recommended we listen to this song:

 

 

And my other friend, who is off in university, told me, "Don't be afraid to dream big.  God can to more than you think." 

 

It's true.  Look at Amy Carmichael, who went to India with a desire to spread the gospel and ended up founding a community that rescued children from temples.  Look at George Muller, who rented a house to make a home for a few orphans - eventually he had several large buildings, and helped thousands of children.  God can take your little dream and grow it beyond what you can imagine.  He is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think." (Ephesians 3) 

Here's another song I think of when I think of dreaming big:

 



 

So this year, I am dreaming big.  I am refusing to be held back by fear; fear of failing, fear of my life not working out, fear of what people will think.  I am daring to think that if God wants me to go to the Philippines, He will get me there in His time.  I am daring to dream that He can use even me to make someone's life better.  I am daring to dream that my passion will be for Him, and when I wander, He will bring me back, and that because of Him, my life has a purpose.  And I will dream.  I won't give up.

 

(Note:  I do not in general listen to Christian rap.  and I do not condone country music, though I must say I enjoy it.  However, the Lecrae song was recommended by a friend, and the Eli Young Band song is one I heard many times while I was working in the restaurant.  Both are ones that have sort of shaped this "Dream Big" goal of mine.  So don't you worry about me degenerating. :P) 

 

 

 

Words on a Wednesday Afternoon

The other night I heard someone reading a text on the radio. It said, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." John 10:11. Then I knew that if He laid down His life for His sheep, there is no way He will ever let one of them go. If one of the sheep strays, He will search him or her out until he or she is found, just like in the parable in Luke 15, when the one sheep strayed and the shepherd left the ninety-nine to search it out. Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am persuaded that neither life nor death, angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor life nor death, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." There is great comfort in this.
You should listen to this song. There is so much simple joy and praise in it. :)
Justine

What I'm Listening To:

A Link

My mom posted a youtube video of a beautiful performance of the Hallelujah Chorus. You can see it here.