Dream Big
Some months ago I had a series of dreams. The dreams were somewhat interesting in that they were very vivid, symbolic, and speaking of something going on inside me. These dreams, I think are wisely treated like emotions - a necessary compass in life to guide and protect me. Sometimes they are better at posing why? and other questions and answering anything. I believe that God speaks through the myriad encounters of daily life: dreams, untimely wit, during prayer, through counsel of (hopefully) wise friends, and the greatest of all the word of Christ himself. My friend HCWB reminded me of the dream I had some time ago about a carrier and waiting for wisdom near the dawn of summer. What a great reminder, for now is certainly a time to search ever closer to God’s grace and drink of His wisdom concerning life.
I am near making some very important decisions, may God provide wisdom and grace! But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Oh, God, please do, save me from my perceived strength and real weakness in my own understanding.
Lately, God has been challenging me to dream in a different way: the dreams of the heart, placed there by God.
Children are knitted in a mother’s womb by the hand of God. Who is to say when a few knots finally become a finished sweater: when it lacks a sleeve or when the collar is finished? This is too much for me. God has been showing me the futility of trying to understand what is good or bad, but instead simply search for what is holy, what is pure in His delight and will. (Note that I say search for what is holy, I dare not even try to differentiate the profane and carnal - my focus ought be on Him alone). Someday I hope to loose understanding of “Good” and “Bad” in my practical walk with God; to move simply as I see him move. To see evil, as he sees evil: the adversary of His purposes.
Oh - why the side-discourse on children? Hm. I think I am equating the knitting of a child in a mother’s womb to the growing of purpose and excitement that I feel as I search after God’s will. Here though the dream is more than a compass - it is alive and growing. In Christ I am compelled to live out a purpose in Him. Over the last few weeks I have wondered about what I should do in God and I keep hearing, “dream big” and “don’t be afraid”, when I begin to back off in doubt over all this (seems like so many improbable things need to come together). Then I take courage and in faith “dream big” for what could do through me and my family.
Tonight I flipped open my Bible and happened upon this passage, which gives me hope.
The Message writes
Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns.
Don't hoard your goods; spread them around.
Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night.
When the clouds are full of water, it rains.
When the wind blows down a tree, it lies where it falls.
Don't sit there watching the wind. Do your own work.
Don't stare at the clouds. Get on with your life.
Just as you'll never understand
the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman,
So you'll never understand
the mystery at work in all that God does.
Go to work in the morning
and stick to it until evening without watching the clock.
You never know from moment to moment
how your work will turn out in the end.
Oh, how sweet the light of day,
And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
Even if you live a long time, don't take a single day for granted.
Take delight in each light-filled hour,
Remembering that there will also be many dark days
And that most of what comes your way is smoke.
You who are young, make the most of your youth.
Relish your youthful vigor.
Follow the impulses of your heart.
If something looks good to you, pursue it.
But know also that not just anything goes;
You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.
Live footloose and fancy-free—
You won't be young forever.
Youth lasts about as long as smoke.
The NET Bible Translates
Send your grain overseas, for after many days you will get a return.
Divide your merchandise among seven or even eight investments, for you do not know what calamity may happen on earth.
If the clouds are full of rain, they will empty themselves on the earth, and whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will lie wherever it falls. He who watches the wind will not sow,and he who observes the clouds will not reap.
Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones form in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
Sow your seed in the morning,and do not stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed -- whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally.
Life Should Be Savored Because Death is Imminent
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun.
So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all,but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many -- all that is about to come is obscure.
Enjoy Life to the Fullest under the Fear of God
Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.
Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.
By: J. Hampton Keathley, III , Th.M. writes this in this examination of Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. 5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. 6 Sow your seed in the morning, and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.
Contrary to how man typically thinks, these verses and the conditions they describe are designed to promote bountiful sowing, not the opposite which is stinginess. These verses warn about the dangers of being overly cautious which hinders generous sowing.
The uncertainties of life are one of the things that keep most people from giving and ministering to others when they have the opportunity. They are afraid their giving will be their lack. Who knows what the future holds. If I give, I might not be able to meet the needs of my family. But these verses are given in a context that calls for casting our bread upon the waters, for generous giving knowing that our gifts will return to us later.
The point here is don’t try to second guess the sovereignty of God. Just trust the Lord. We can’t wait for conditions to be perfect. Nor can we wait for things to be free of all risks—absolutely free, absolutely safe. Instead of protecting ourselves, we have to take what appears to us as risks and live by faith.
Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. 4 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. 5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. 6 Sow your seed in the morning, and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.
/s/ B. /
I am near making some very important decisions, may God provide wisdom and grace! But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Oh, God, please do, save me from my perceived strength and real weakness in my own understanding.
Lately, God has been challenging me to dream in a different way: the dreams of the heart, placed there by God.
Children are knitted in a mother’s womb by the hand of God. Who is to say when a few knots finally become a finished sweater: when it lacks a sleeve or when the collar is finished? This is too much for me. God has been showing me the futility of trying to understand what is good or bad, but instead simply search for what is holy, what is pure in His delight and will. (Note that I say search for what is holy, I dare not even try to differentiate the profane and carnal - my focus ought be on Him alone). Someday I hope to loose understanding of “Good” and “Bad” in my practical walk with God; to move simply as I see him move. To see evil, as he sees evil: the adversary of His purposes.
Oh - why the side-discourse on children? Hm. I think I am equating the knitting of a child in a mother’s womb to the growing of purpose and excitement that I feel as I search after God’s will. Here though the dream is more than a compass - it is alive and growing. In Christ I am compelled to live out a purpose in Him. Over the last few weeks I have wondered about what I should do in God and I keep hearing, “dream big” and “don’t be afraid”, when I begin to back off in doubt over all this (seems like so many improbable things need to come together). Then I take courage and in faith “dream big” for what could do through me and my family.
Tonight I flipped open my Bible and happened upon this passage, which gives me hope.
The Message writes
Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns.
Don't hoard your goods; spread them around.
Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night.
When the clouds are full of water, it rains.
When the wind blows down a tree, it lies where it falls.
Don't sit there watching the wind. Do your own work.
Don't stare at the clouds. Get on with your life.
Just as you'll never understand
the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman,
So you'll never understand
the mystery at work in all that God does.
Go to work in the morning
and stick to it until evening without watching the clock.
You never know from moment to moment
how your work will turn out in the end.
Oh, how sweet the light of day,
And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
Even if you live a long time, don't take a single day for granted.
Take delight in each light-filled hour,
Remembering that there will also be many dark days
And that most of what comes your way is smoke.
You who are young, make the most of your youth.
Relish your youthful vigor.
Follow the impulses of your heart.
If something looks good to you, pursue it.
But know also that not just anything goes;
You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.
Live footloose and fancy-free—
You won't be young forever.
Youth lasts about as long as smoke.
The NET Bible Translates
Send your grain overseas, for after many days you will get a return.
Divide your merchandise among seven or even eight investments, for you do not know what calamity may happen on earth.
If the clouds are full of rain, they will empty themselves on the earth, and whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will lie wherever it falls. He who watches the wind will not sow,and he who observes the clouds will not reap.
Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones form in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
Sow your seed in the morning,and do not stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed -- whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally.
Life Should Be Savored Because Death is Imminent
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun.
So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all,but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many -- all that is about to come is obscure.
Enjoy Life to the Fullest under the Fear of God
Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.
Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.
By: J. Hampton Keathley, III , Th.M. writes this in this examination of Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. 5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. 6 Sow your seed in the morning, and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.
Contrary to how man typically thinks, these verses and the conditions they describe are designed to promote bountiful sowing, not the opposite which is stinginess. These verses warn about the dangers of being overly cautious which hinders generous sowing.
The uncertainties of life are one of the things that keep most people from giving and ministering to others when they have the opportunity. They are afraid their giving will be their lack. Who knows what the future holds. If I give, I might not be able to meet the needs of my family. But these verses are given in a context that calls for casting our bread upon the waters, for generous giving knowing that our gifts will return to us later.
The point here is don’t try to second guess the sovereignty of God. Just trust the Lord. We can’t wait for conditions to be perfect. Nor can we wait for things to be free of all risks—absolutely free, absolutely safe. Instead of protecting ourselves, we have to take what appears to us as risks and live by faith.
Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. 4 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. 5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. 6 Sow your seed in the morning, and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.
/s/ B. /
posted by B. | 11:39 PM
3 Comments:
Thanks for the msg. pastor B. A timely word. I feel a heart stirring lately, which will continue to stir. But I also feel a creative stirring that requires action, I start to think small, but then God reminds me to dream big too. A while back, a friend reminded me: God's dreams are way bigger than I can dream. His dreams are huge. Thanks for this timely reminder. Time to start living 'footloose and fancy free'... Ha-rah!
Dream big!!!! Really Really Big!!!
Wow, bro.
God has been showing me the futility of trying to understand what is good or bad, but instead simply search for what is holy, what is pure in His delight and will. (Note that I say search for what is holy, I dare not even try to differentiate the profane and carnal - my focus ought be on Him alone). Someday I hope to lose understanding of “Good” and “Bad” in my practical walk with God; to move simply as I see him move. To see evil, as he sees evil: the adversary of His purposes.
I *love* that. Words to live by. Thanks for the seed. I'll be mulling this one over for a while. Thanks for pulling me out of work-computer-land and making me consider things more valuable.
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