Dream BIG

We had a "dreaming session" last week in our small group -- to dream for the new year and beyond.  Was really good and thought I'd share.

Intro/follow up to what we'd discussed previously:

• Vulnerability (along with community) is a non-negotiable with Jesus.
• Why do we avoid being vulnerable? 
• Why is vulnerability worth it?
• How does this affect your relationship with Jesus?
• Vulnerability is scary but even when you get hurt, you can take it to the Lord.
• Will you let disappointments/frustrations/circumstances affect how you see God?
• Hardship can make God seem really small.  

HOPE SHINES BRIGHT IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.

Read the introduction to Jesus Today.

Found a short synopsis of that here: http://jmcgrathart.blogspot.com/2012/11/just-read-this-article-about-gal-who.html.

• Painful process leads us to healing.
• Where is your hope?
• Where is your dream?
• Are you afraid to verbalize your dream?
• When you're hurt out of vulnerability and lose hope because of circumstances, you get away from the calling God has on your life.
• Moses had a calling.  He got side tracked.  But in the end, God worked it out.
• We have to take steps, but God does the Work.

A lot of this came from the book, The Dream Giver; I just finished reading it last night.  

Rennie asked us these questions:

1. WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?
   Questions to help you figure this out:
   What did you want to be when you grew up?  Who do you admire most?  What do you love to do the most?  Who do you love the most?  What do you feel the most called to do?  When do you feel the most fulfilled?  If money wasn't an issue, what would you do?
2. WHAT ARE THE THINGS GETTING IN THE WAY OF YOUR DREAMS?
   Is it money, fear, getting out of your comfort zone, playing it safe, feel unqualified, feel alone, etc?
3. IF FEAR WAS A PART OF YOUR REASONS, WHAT YOU THINK ARE YOUR LIMITS ARE OFTEN JUST THE STARTING POINTS.
4. WHO ARE THE BULLIES TO YOUR DREAM?
5. WHO ARE YOUR LIFE-GIVERS/SUPPORTERS?
6. WHO HELPS YOU PURSUE YOUR DREAM?
   Who will really walk beside you and help make this dream become a reality?
7. THINK ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY SO FAR...HAS IT FELT LENGTHY?
   When you're in the desert, what are you learning?  What have you learned?  
8. ARE YOU WILLING TO SURRENDER YOUR DREAM BACK TO GOD?
   Sometimes we take what the Lord gives us and morph it into something else, something we want/think we want.
   Red flags to that: seems selfish, builds your reputation and dishonors God, gets corrupted, etc.
   Root of an un-surrendered dream: you don't believe God will give you good things or you don't believe He'll make your dream come true.  Therefore, you hold on tightly to something -- accepting something smaller than what the Lord has in store for you.

For me, it was really good to think through these things and jot them down. Hope it will be for you, too!