Disclaimers
Disclaimers.
That’s the title of the Chapter 6 in our Fabulous Book study that we are doing on God Sized Dreams by Holley Gerth.
Loved that title for some reason.. it just really caught my attention. Loved the chapter even more.. this may have been my favorite chapter by FAR. I have so many delightful quotes that I could type up and disclaimer there is not much of anything I felt I needed to add because it is so stinking good. But I don’t think I can re-type the whole chapter in this blog post… I will sum it up for you– that the whole chapter is disclaimers
Holly’s disclaimers for our God sized dreams:
1) You will never feel ready
2) You will not like your dream sometimes
3)You will sometimes feel alone
4)success will look different then you think
5) One day this dream will be your new normal
So here are some Jenn disclaimers for your amusement:
1) Good thing this post is not a scratch and sniff– I just finished a bike ride and I stink.
2) on said Bike ride it was very peaceful. Except for swallowing a lightning bug and accidentally driving me and my bike into a pond while trying to avoid a stroller
3) In my mind I am an athlete
4) In reality I am the girl driving her bike in a pond.
p115 Holley says, ” Success is not about result. It’s about a relationship. God is not all that interested in getting things done. If He made the world in 7 days there’s nothing He can’t check off his to do list without your help! What HE wans on this journey to your dream is intimacy with you.”
bolded print emphasis mine.
I had “experienced success” in my dream to be a career missionary. I had raised support as a single girl in a short 6 months, left everything I knew and loved to pursue my dream to be a missionary. To be completely honest, the more I traveled to churches and raised support, the more my heart swelled with pride.
People see missionaries as “those people” the elite– the I have reached super status as a Christian and in my mind they were going to name an offering after me someday (like Lottie Moon herself!)
I had a view of what success should look like to in this God sized dream.
It was me loving the people, the language, the culture and them hearing about Jesus through me and loving him.
Then I went to the village for a month. I was so prideful and thought I am made for this– I was so excited to fly around the village in my super missionary cape.
and then it was hard. .. and I was struggling.. and I was missing home.. and struggling to love the people, the language, the food.. and I. … felt.. like.. a ..failure.. I was not liking my “dream” and i was feeling alone.
One night on the dirt floor of a village house God spoke.
I was on my knees nose to the ground and I said Lord you must be disappointed in me.
And God said back. .. Jenn I don’t need you.. I want you!
See that’s the awesome thing about my God sized dreams..and yours.
The God of the universe doesn’t need us but HE WANTS intimacy with us. I love it!
So wanted to remind you today God is with you on this dreaming journey.
He is taking you from strength to strength (psalms 84:7) even if sometimes that has to take you through the valley of weeping.
” Each new dream is another step on the journey, another piece of the promised land God is calling you to possess. He may have you stay there a while or move on more quickly then you imagined! the More you are looking for is the “dream giver”
Heartwork
I love how Holley says stop and look around you for a moment. Wherever you are, there’s probably a piece of a God-sized dream. Would you take a moment and do that. What pieces of your God sized dream do you see?
Soak in and mediate on Psalms 84. verse 6 describes the valley of Baca. That actually means the valley of weeping. How has God taken valley’s of weeping you have been through and turned them into places of spring?
What aspect of God’s character do you think He is revealing to you as you dream this God sized dream?
What Get to’s are you experiencing in life on the journey to your dream? For example: I get to reach my goal of getting healthy so I can bring glory to God by living free.
Would love to hear your heart. How has God continued to surprise you on this journey?
Oh, you know, this is what I needed to hear — that God doesn't need me, but He wants me. Oh, I'm just going to soak in this for awhile.
These made me smile:
"3) In my mind I am an athlete
4) In reality I am the girl driving her bike in a pond."
I relate. I'm awesome in my mind until I look in the mirror. ha.
I "get to" go to choir practice and meet lovely new people there!
Many years ago my husband and I had a shift in perspective….we started saying that we "get to" instead of we "have to". What a change that does in our perspective. I don't have to go to work, I get to. Praise God. I don't have to take care of my family I get to. It helps me to see life as a gift instead of a burden. Which I so easily forget!! 🙂
Dear Jen
I totally agree that our dreams might not at all be God's dream for us. God doesn't need us, like you have said, and that is such a relief for I know that I don't have anything to give. All that is truly mine, is my love and my heart and that I give with so much gratefulness.
Much love XX
Mia
I'm so thankful for a God that doesn't need us {or ANYONE}, but wants us enough to sacrifice all for us. That blows me away!
Thanks so much for this!
Blessings to you ~ Mary