Dream Small

I've been hearing another great song on the radio lately.  "Dream Small" by Josh Wilson has a message that I think we really need to hear.  I especially like the line, "Don’t buy the lie you’ve got to do it all."  So often we think if we aren't doing something great (i.e. for all the world to see) we aren't doing anything worthwhile. 

I did a quick Google search on "dream small" and then looked at images hoping for something inspirational I could put with this post.  There were many "inspirational" quotes about how to dream, but not how to dream small.  A few examples:

"People who dream small dreams continue to live as small people."
"Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men."
"They say I dream too big.  I say they think too small."
"Don't tell your big dreams to small minded people."
"You're too big to dream small."

It seems that dreams must be big or they aren't worthwhile.  I believe it is this type of thinking that stops a lot of good from being accomplished.  Josh Wilson had this to say about his song:

"'Dream Small' is an anthem for the unsung heroes in this world. It's for moms and dads, students and teachers, secretaries, caregivers, social workers, church staff members and anyone else who is living out God's love and kindness daily.  No matter who we are or where we come from, we all have a part to play. And if we're faithful in those little things, as the song says, we can 'add up the small things and watch them grow bigger, the God who does all things makes oceans from rivers.'"

The Bible has many examples of people doing the small things.  Zechariah 4:10 says, "For who hath despised the day of small things?"  Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible said this: "The day of small things - is especially God’s day, whose strength is made perfect in weakness; who raised Joseph from the prison, David from the sheepfold, Daniel from slavery, and converted the world by the fishermen and the tentmaker, having Himself first become the Carpenter."

Don't be afraid to dream big, but don't put your dreams away because you think they're too small!

Dream Small

It’s a mama singing songs about the Lord
It’s a daddy spending family time the world says he cannot afford
These simple moments change the world
It’s a pastor at a tiny little church
40 years of loving on the broken and the hurt
These simple moments change the world

Dream small
Don’t buy the lie you’ve got to do it all
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time
Live well
Loving God and others as yourself
Find little ways where only you can help
With His great love
A tiny rock can make a giant fall
Dream small

It’s visiting the widow down the street
Or dancing on a Friday with your friend with special needs
These simple moments change the world
Of course there’s nothing wrong with bigger dreams
Just don’t miss the minutes on your way to bigger things
Cause these simple moments change the world

Keep loving, keep serving, keep listening, keep learning
Keep praying, keep hoping, keep seeking, keep searching
Add up the small things and watch them grow bigger
The God who does all things makes oceans from rivers

Dream small
Don’t buy the lie you’ve got to do it all
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time
Live well
Loving God and others as yourself
Find little ways where only you can help
With His great love
A tiny rock can make a giant fall
Yeah five loaves and two fish can feed them all
So dream small

When the Dream Never Dies

While studying Elizabeth this week, a song from the Christmas musical "Child of the Promise" has been on repeat in my brain.  Before the song, Elizabeth speaks to Zacharias:

Zacharias! What is the matter?
What is this strange new look in your eyes?
Don’t you know it’s me, Elizabeth, your wife?
Why don’t you speak? What have you seen?
A letter for me, from you, Zacharias?
What does all this mean?
A son, Zacharias? For us?
But we are so… well… we are old

I’ve dreamed of giving you a son, Zacharias
I saw what I thought was the death of that dream
I trust what you’ve heard
And I know what you’ve seen
Are from God...

WHEN THE DREAM NEVER DIES
(Omartian/Omartian, 2000)

Deep in my heart was an ember of longing
Kept warm by the flame of desire
A dream held in secret I yearned to hold openly
Fanned by my hope into fire

It burned to such heat I could touch it no more
So I put it away and then closed up the door
Forever extinguishing all that would keep it alive
But the dream never died

The Lord has done this for me
He has looked on me kindly
He has heard all my cries
He's given me back what I laid at His feet
It must be God
When the dream never dies

Isn't it just like the Lord to invite me
To put all my dreams in His hands
Forever releasing the grip that once held them
Forever surrendering my plans?

And then when He's certain it's not born of men
He calls for the fire to rekindle again
And He asks me to know in my heart
What's not seen with my eyes
So the dream never dies

The Lord has done this for me
He has looked on me kindly
He has heard all my cries
He has given me back what I laid at His feet
It must be God
When the dream never dies

It must be God
When the dream never dies

Do you have a dream that refuses to die?  Have you laid it at God's feet?  Don't give up, it just might be God when the dream never dies.

Monday Motivation

I saw this the other day and loved it!

Go chase your dreams and create memories!

Wordy Wednesday ~ Dreams

My in-laws brought be a little book last week called "101 Words that Matter Most for Women."  Each page has a single word, it's meaning, several Bible verses and a quote.  I'll be sharing those here from time to time.

I thought the word "dreams" was a great way to start 2013.  Resolutions are good and goals are worthwhile, but don't forget to dream along the way.

Dreams:  a cherished ambition, hope, aspiration or ideal.

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Psalm 37:4 

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us...  Ephesians 3:20

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.  II Corinthians 5:9

You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.
~C.S. Lewis

Psalm 37:4 is one of my favorite verses, but there's more to life than just receiving the desires of our heart.  Delighting in the Lord is the first order of business, the dreams will follow.  May God give you the desires and dreams of your heart in 2013!

Preparation

I receive a "Quote of the Day" from Runner's World every morning in my email. This morning's was:

"If you want to be a better runner, you've got to run more. It's as simple as that."

So if I want to be a healthier eater, I just need to eat healthier? If I want to have more friends, I need to be friendlier? If I want to be a better musician, I need to practice more? If I want to have a stronger prayer life, I need to pray more? Although I'm not sure if you want to dream bigger that you need to sleep more...

Life takes preparation. Sometimes the preparing is on our part, other times we have to leave the preparing in God's hands...

Our evangelist, Bro. Mena, made an interesting observation on Sunday night. He was talking about Jonah and the fish that swallowed him. We don't know of any fish that is large enough to swallow a man. But Jonah 1:17 says, "Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah." The Lord prepared a fish - it could have been the only one of its kind ever created. I had never thought of it that way. Of course God is capable of that!


There are other times in the Bible when God did something just one time - we only know of one burning bush that was not consumed, one barrel of meal that did not run out, one time when the sun stood still.

So do everything you can to prepare for today's journey and trust God to prepare the rest!