2016 has come and gone and to say that this year has been incredible is a complete understatement. In January 2016 I was a 4th grade teacher to 23 students, living in a cozy apartment in Birmingham, AL with my adorable puppy, Koda just trying to figure out how to ‘adult’ when I heard about The World Race.
After reading more about the race, it quickly became a dream – something that I thought was amazing but it was too far-fetched and more than likely wouldn’t happen. I applied and was accepted all in less than a week. This dream that I had, became a reality in 6 short days.
Everything happened so fast… and now I had to resign from a job that I had gone to school for, find someone to take over my apartment lease, move all of my furniture somewhere, and say many unwanted goodbyes.
But it was going to be okay…because this was a big dream which was taking steps into becoming a reality.
This year the Lord has taught me how to dream with Him. In the past I always viewed the word ‘dream’ as something along the lines of fairies and pixie dust, ya know Tinker Bell flying around waving her wand and sprinkling purple pixie dust everywhere. Dreams were something to fantasize over but would never actually happen. For example, my dream guy? I used to think, “The list I have is way too long, I’ll never meet someone who meets these standards.” I now know that’s a BIG FAT LIE. God has someone for me that is not only going to meet those standards but exceed them as well.
How do I know that? Because I have learned that when you dream with God, anything is possible – even things beyond your dreams. This year I began to dream big dreams with God. God wants you to dream with Him. He has such big dreams for us that we probably wouldn’t believe Him if He told us. He wants us to ask Him what His dreams are for us.
In November when my team and I were in Vietnam, we were teaching conversational English to some high schoolers. I wrote the question on the board, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The students took turns expressing their dreams for the future. I grinned as I heard their shy and timid voices express their dreams to us. They spoke of dreams to be a soccer player, a lawyer, and a singer. After the last boy uttered that he wanted to be a translator of the Bible I began to erase the board to write a new question, but he stopped me. “Ms. HB, what do you want to be when you grow up?”
I froze. What did I want to be? I went to school to be a teacher… so I guess I was going to be a teacher for the rest of my life. But was that what I wanted to be? Just because I went to school for Early Childhood and Elementary Education didn’t mean that’s what God’s plan is for me for the rest of my life. Was that my dream? Was that God’s dream for me? Maybe it is, maybe it’s not.
I wake up most mornings on the race thinking to myself, “HB, you are living the dream!!” But what happens after I wake up from this dream? That, I couldn’t tell you because I genuinely don’t know. What I do know, is that I must continue dreaming with God and circling prayers around those dreams that He places in my heart.
What does ‘circling prayers’ mean? PRAY DAILY for where and what the Lord has for you. Where He has you living, your relationships, your career path, your family… all of it! Circle it all in prayer!
Starting month 6 here in Thailand, I am almost half way through this dream that He gave me a year ago. It was hard to think it would happen at the time, but with continued prayer, trust, and faith, here I am – living the dream. As thoughts begin to surface about, “What’s next?” … all I know is that I’m dreaming BIG. If that means going back to my charming classroom and helping to educate children – I’ll do it. If that means living at home with my parents and working at a coffee shop – I’ll do it. If that means moving across the world to share the Good News – I’ll do it. If that means going to grad school at Duke University and wearing Duke blue – I’ll have to talk to God about that one (haha).
DREAM BIG – no matter if you are 13 years old or 82 years old. No matter how old you are, never stop dreaming. You are still alive and Jesus has the power to work in and through you. God isn’t offended by the BIG dreams you dream; He’s offended by anything less.
So I ask you, what are your dreams?
***Read “The Circle Maker” by Mark Batterson***
Matt, Cara and I at Angkor Wat – one of the 7 wonders of the world!
[Siem Reap, Cambodia]
