Daring to dream is brave.  And I have to admit – writing this blog and simply taking the action of “putting this out there”, so to speak, is brave too.  Confession time: Even as I type this I am asking myself if I’ll be hitting the “save draft” or “publish” button.  As in, “what happens when I put it out there and then the dreams don’t come true?”  Am I a fraud?  Am I being arrogant?  Am I foolish for this thinking?  Am I delusional?

And yet, I am extremely encouraged in reading about God’s provisions to those who have gone before me when they have dared to dream HUGE dreams (I’m not talking about daydreams here) … seemingly impossible things happened!  (Not impossible for God of course… but these dreams WOULD be impossible without God’s direction, wisdom, and blessing!)

 

I don’t know how to explain this except to just say it –

I KNOW this within the deepest part of my soul: I’m a world changer because of listening to and acting on God’s direction.

 

He told me I would be.  I have known this since I was a child.  (Can you just hear the personal / inward pep talk underway?!)  My old soul has always felt rather comfortable plowing ahead into moments of bravery because deep inside I know it’s just the right thing to do.  And when it’s the right thing to do He’s either already given me what I need to do it or He’s going to show me how to do it.  I rest in that knowledge.  There’s this saying “He doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”  And on my own, I’m certainly unqualified.  But with Him – “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

 

Still I find myself struggling to describe the feeling with words – it’s almost as if He was willing the deepest part of me to “just do it”, as the saying goes.  And yet, on the other side of the coin, when there’s a single doubt or “catch” in that spot of my soul I know it just as strongly.  Again, words cannot express the “why” or purpose behind it.  It just is… and who am I to question God’s direction.  And so I find that words don’t need to express it… and yet I often feel obligated to explain it away.

 

So in a further glimpse of brave authenticity –

A book I have read a number of times by John Maxwell is called “Dare to Dream – Then do It“.  Because of the truth bombs in that book I have moved those dreams back to the “front burner”.  They were once veiled by the muck & mire of life – but it’s also easy to set them aside and instead focus on the things that society says is “healthy” or “normal” or “right”.  No matter the reason for setting them aside, remember:   “You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.”  C.S. Lewis

The “Dare to Dream” book really helped me absorb that truth.  And because of that, dreams from 20 years ago are still bubbling to the surface for me!   That’s downright exciting!!!

You see, out of fear, I got caught at a cross-roads … I got caught somewhere between blind faith in God’s provisions and my own worries, plans and schemes.  Oh, if I could only get back all the time I have wasted worrying.  But there’s not time for that…

 

And then, in true God form, He made Himself evident in my situation.  I was asked to provide a devotion at an upcoming women’s breakfast… and you know what God did?  In true God form He did a number on me – in His loving, fatherly, caring way of course.  I committed to time in prayer over the topic and asked Him to make it evident what He’d like me to share.  The Holy Spirit made it clear to me that I was to share about God’s provisions.

But it wasn’t until I dug into The Word and prayed even further on the topic, and chatted it over with wise counsel, did my heart know it…  a light bulb came on and it was evident that my own internal struggle needed to come to an end.  I was facing a hurdle that I needed to get over.

The time spent in study for the upcoming breakfast devotion was as much for me as it would be for His glory and the women at the upcoming breakfast.

 

See what God did there?!  He just has a way of working that way!  Why am I even surprised by these things anymore?!

Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality.  If you can dream it you can make is so.  – Belva Davis

 

Here’s the reality of it – it takes guts to dream.  Further, it takes guts to share those dreams with others.  And yet, there is power in sharing those dreams with others!   It takes guts but it’s also way more fun to celebrate those victories with others who have been cheering you on.  Can you remember the last time you sat across the table from someone and shared a dream with them?  I can – I remember the chills that ran up my arms and the gulp in my throat and the tears welling up in my eyes…  while simply TALKING about it with someone!  How much more fulfilling will it be to celebrate as those dreams come to fruition?!

 

God has a promise I need to hang on to!  And it makes me want to shout it from the rooftops!  He told me that He’s going to use me in powerful ways to bring glory to His name – and I believe Him.  And the joy of it is I’m going to be fulfilling my dreams at the same time.  After all – He birthed those dreams in my soul.  He has gifted me in various ways for a reason – for His very specific reasons.  I want to declare His goodness in my life and count His promises.

Some of these dreams were birthed more than 25 years ago!  As I’ve allowed myself to dream again they have resurfaced, much to my surprise and glee!

 

For a couple of years now these dreams have been held close to my heart but I’m just going to leave them right here, if you care to read on…

• The Diamond Dream Lodge WILL happen
• An education foundation
• Leadership summits
• My dream truck and camping trailer for solo escapes
• World travel
• Leaving a legacy the Lori-way
• The books, all the books (meaning, mine being published)
• … and that’s a good start!

 

I also have some goals set for myself… but goals are a bit different from dreams.  Kinda vague – but I know what they mean.  And if you want to know more – I can’t wait tell you all about them!  In a few years I’ll look back on this post and we’ll take inventory.

I’d love to know what YOUR dreams are!