Dream Big!

I remember my aunt Barbara once tried to amaze me with her magical abilities. She asked me to go outside and pick a leaf off of a tree…then she put it in her hand and wadded it up—when she opened her hand there were pieces of the leaf…and a one dollar bill! At the time I was six years old—and to have a dollar was amazing.

A few days later my mother informed me that she was coming to visit us that afternoon. When she arrived I was waiting on her—with a five gallon bucket full of leaves. I figured if she did it once…she could do it again! I guess I have always thought big.

Something I have realized that saddens me is that big dreams are often discouraged…especially in the Christian community. When a young person shares that they aspire to do some great deed, to accomplish a significant task for the kingdom, to grow a great church, to move to another country and dedicate their life to reaching people who have never heard the gospel…it seems that many times they are met with resistance from people who seem to say, “Yeah, that’s great—but I just don’t think…”

Since becoming a Christ Follower in 1990 and continually asking God to enlarge my view of Him, since dedicating my life to Him and reading the Bible daily I have discovered something about Him—He wants His children to think big! We have a big God—and so we should have big dreams.

When starting Newspring I always dreamed that we would have a church where thousands attended every weekend, where children would LOVE coming…and they would actually invite their parents, where teenagers could feel comfortable inviting their friends, where people who were not in church would come and feel welcomed and challenged. And thank God for the core group of people around me who loved and encouraged me…because there were plenty of people who told me that the dream God had placed in my heart would never work.

My advice to you…especially if you are a Christ Follower is DREAM BIG!!! I do not believe God is honored when our biggest desire is to maintain the status quo—to guard what has always been. I believe God is honored when we push the limits, when we take large steps of faith, when we listen and obey. When we dream big.

One of the practices I have began over the past six months is asking God to put His dreams for my life into my heart…and it is amazing what He has been doing in my life. I just thought I used to dream big—but I would say the past six months have been revolutionary to me. We serve a BIG God who can do BIG things…yes, even through you. (I figure if He can use me then anyone is usable!)

So dream big! Answer the question asked of me before deciding to begin New Spring, “What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail?” I answered that I would begin a church. For some it might mean a career change. For others it could be finally saying “yes” to a call into the ministry. For some it might be finally deciding to invite certain people to church. Whatever it is—dream big!

And if people begin to tell you that you can not accomplish your dream you need to ask one question, “Is this person currently doing something great for the Kingdom…or are they sitting on their “Blessed Assurance” and doing nothing.” I have made it a habit to listen to who I consider to be the “movers and shakers.” I listen to those who are on the front lines. I listen to those who are where I desire to be…and by doing so I have been protected from making some very stupid mistakes.

However, I do not listen to people who have criticism but no solutions. I do not listen to people who have never attempted to dream big. I do not listen to people who are always negative. I can’t—this life is too short and God is to HUGE to let those people and their opinions dominate my life. I have learned…and am still learning that if we want to live a life that honors God…DREAM BIG!

So how about it—what would you attempt for God if you knew you could not fail? Find the answer to this and pursue it with every ounce of passion inside of you…DREAM BIG!