According to Mr. Webster, to dream means to think about something that you wish would happen or something that you want to do or be.
Sounds exciting, right? But for me (and I think a lot of us), they are scary. Intimidating. Impossible. Untouchable. Outlandish. Too big. Many of us talk about our dreams but get no further than the talking stage. Over time, we ignore them. Sidestep them. Try to forget about them.
Yet, on the race, God has been showing me how much He wants me to dream. And dream big. He’s told me to leave the negative self-talk behind, the doubters that we all have in our lives and claim our dreams as dreams not from thin air, but from Him. He is the maker and creator of all things, and He birthed the dreams we have inside us for a reason. The world tells us to “be real”, and because of this I think life crushes a lot of our dreams. Because if they’re big dreams, they are going to feel impossible and intimidating and scary, but that is where He steps in. Through consistent prayer and His guidance, these dreams start to be not so impossible. He’s completely in them. He walks alongside us and is our cheerleader, miracle worker, biggest fan.
So, more than ever before, I am excited about my dreams. I have dreams that go in different directions because I have different passions, and over time I hope that I am able to pursue all of them, but the one He has been showing me the most as I travel our beautiful world is the creative, artistic side of me. I have seen new designs in my mind’s eye of tables and lampshades and curtains and coffee tables and women’s skirts and tops and dresses and necklaces and bracelets, inspired by a plethora of things: trees, seeds, wood, flowers, bus decorations, purses, fabric, hats, lamps, homes, advertisements, baskets, antiques, photographs, pillows, kites. I’ve been inspired to create new things out of what already is, and God has given me a desire to use my love for fashion and interiors to bless the nations. My hope: to connect with artists and craftsmen around the globe and make beautiful clothing, accessories and home products to provide respectable, long-term jobs for women and families around the world. By doing so, it also would allow families in the USA to be a direct participant in poverty alleviation, Kingdom culture and social justice issues internationally because they are simply shopping with intentionality!
Yes, I’m not the first person to think something like this up. But there is no doubt that it is a dream given to me by Him. I’m not yet sure how this will happen… if I will partner with a company already doing this or start something, but I am choosing to risk. To dream.
Bill Johnson of Bethel Church said “anxiety and fear as it pertains to money actually kills creativity, but God uses creativity to bring prosperity into our lives.” For a long time, by choosing to let fear and comfort reign, I’d become deaf to the creativity He has blessed me with. This trip has revived creativity in me, and I can’t help but ask….
Are you listening to your God given creative side, or have you let fear deafen this side of you? If you can relate to me in this, I encourage you to come alongside me and say…
NO MORE!
“I won’t be afraid because I’ve got resurrection in my veins! I was made to fly. I was made to walk on this water! I’m remembering who I am and whose inside of me! I’ve got resurrection in my veins!” (from Jonathan and Melissa Helser’s song “Resurrection in my Veins”)!
