'Please dream for those who've given up, for those who've never tried
Please use your dreams to make new dreams for all the dreams that died'
I was introduced to Dallas Clayton's books this past December as my sister gifted a few of them to our boys. The above, and what will be below, is from his book An Awesome Book! His books are creative, cute, and have a big message-somewhat out of reach for Caden's mind, but I do believe impacting even if just currently in a smaller way at this age.
He has one about love, An Awesome Book of Love, I dare you to try and get through reading without the build up of tears.
But, what brought me to want to share and tie in this particular book today was a message regarding hope. It's a part of a Newspring series, this one was about change agents and going over the part in Ruth's story where she stood against the normal and took a step towards positive change.
Throughout this sermon the following points were brought up...
-There is no hope without change, and no change without a change agent...How to be a change agent?
>Sense that normal isn't right. We gage normal by what we know best, basically what we grow up knowing or was a constant in our life growing up, and to make change you must step out of your normal-business as usual-and see where things are wrong
>Step into the difficulty. You can run way, stay a safe distance and offer opinion, OR get into the arena and take action
>Take the first available right step. The first right step may not give you a straight glimpse to the finish line you are working towards--but this also goes back to the message of taking each day as it comes. Take the step that is right and that is now, instead of dwelling and worrying about how it will play out to your ideal future imagery
And, to start to bring a connection...
>Dream things that never were. Optimists are contagious.
'Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not?' George Bernard Shaw
If your marriage, if your relationship with your kids, if your future outlook, if your relationship with God----if it isn't working. If it feels broken. If you can't get it right---then GO.
Take the time to acknowledge the broken normal. Take the step into the arena to fight for better. Take the first right step that comes your way. Take the risk, and DREAM.
'Dream a dream as big as big could ever dream to be. Then dream a dream ten times as big as that one dream you see. And once you've got that dream in mind please dream a million more, and not a million quiet dreams, a million dreams that ROAR'
What would you do if you could pursue your dream? What seems out of reach? What could you fix if you take the time to be a change agent and make a change?
Why did Ruth believe in things she hadn't seen? She was raised in a horrible place, but it was her normal. BUT SHE DID NOT SETTLE. She stepped away and she dreamed big and she acted on it.
Ruth 1:16 '...your God will be my God.'
Ruth believed in things she hadn't seen, because she chose God. She chose to have a viewpoint as big as He is-and in that there are no boundaries to His capabilities.If you step out of your normal-if you acknowledge what isn't working and change the culture in which it is broken you will find hope.
Make way for the change. Take the first right step, even if you don't see the finish line within it. Trust in God and His capabilities. Quit limiting Him, and quit limiting what He can do within you.
Let Him fill you to the max in your strength to be the best you for yourself, for your family, for His purpose. If there is something that you've dreamt of, step out of your normal and GO. Get it. Carve out the time for yourself to follow your dreams and let God work through you.
He has bigger plans for you than your normal has made you believe. If only we would all shake loose of our normal, robotic mindset...if only I would listen better to my own words.
Today-how can you start to reform an area of broken normal culture that you are holding onto?
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