Whimsy

Saturday, February 23, 2013

God-Sized Dreaming

Dear Girls,

I am reading a book about Dreams, but not just any dreams. This book is all about the God-Sized Dreams of our hearts. The book is, "You're Made for a God-Sized Dream" by Holley Gerth. I'd like to share with you all what I've learned so far, having read only 1 chapter!

What did you dream when you were little? I'll share with you some of my little kid dreams.

1. PRINCESS!

2. BAKER!

3. BALLERINA!

Those were my dreams, but somewhere along my journey the paper crowns came off, I stopped winding my ballerina music box, and the thought of being a professional creator of yummies became all too "silly." I thought about a career as a fairy too; however, that became a problem when I realized no matter how long and hard I prayed my Creator wasn't giving me wings.

In fact, He gave me two legs, two arms, and all the rest of me to do something quite different than fly around granting wishes.

So, where did that leave me? About 12 years old, and I had a better idea! "I'll be an actress and a singer. That way I can be any of those things whenever I want to!" A storyteller. I loved stories, and Jesus did too. Perfect plan.

Time went on, I changed, I grew, and those dreams were called "stupid," "unrealistic," "childish." They didn't know it, but when people talked about careers I listened hard to hear what they said about mine. Few people told me to my face that it wouldn't work out. That I didn't have the talent. That I should choose a different path. But the few who did stuck in my head. Sometimes people just wanted to help me, to direct my God-Sized Dreams in a better direction. But sometimes people spoke out of turn, and I heard lies.

Suddenly innocent dreams of being an actress and a singer seemed impossible, and the very word, DREAM seemed about as silly as praying for fairy wings when I was 5.

Holley addresses this in her book:

The lies don't ever go away. Every step of your dream, they will chase you. It doesn't mean that you're not spiritual enough or you're on the wrong path. It just means that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12) You are in a battle-expect opposition.

Now, we have more than just spiritual opposition, some of us are also young. For some reason a number of people believe you need experience before you live boldly for the truth, and God tells us just what we need to know about that:

Do not let others look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

A longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

To act, to sing, to dance, to tell a story...to fulfill a longing, a God-Sized Dream, was a good thing. A God-given thing. But I didn't know it yet.

At 16, I began making big decisions that would "change my life forever," or so I thought.

God doesn't depend on us to make all the right decisions, or go through all the right doors. He knows we are human, and we will mess up. But He has promised us:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Dreams are from Him. Chasing those dreams draws us closer to our Heavenly Father, and you living your dream is just as important as claiming to be His child. A child of God gets all the benefits of having the Creator of the Universe as her Father, and one of those benefits is pursuing the longing He put in your heart.

I am living proof that God fulfills dreams, God-Sized Dreams, and I am excited to go through this book with you all! Holley goes on to discuss why dreams are worth it, overcoming lies and fears, and many other wonderful truths we will cover together!

You can check out Holley's book and buy it here.

So, tell me! What is your God-Sized Dream? (leave your answer in the comment box below)

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Courage

Dear Girls,

You are courageous. No matter who you are or who your friends are or what kinds of clothes you have or whether you wear makeup or get good grades or play sports or not, you can be courageous in your social circle. Every day you can be bold and courageous in the way you love the people in your life, particularly other girls, maybe the ones who make you feel smaller than a mouse on the night before Christmas.

To realize this truth, lets start off with a story!

*Ahem*

"Twas the night before Christmas"...whoops, wrong story!

"Frosty the snowman..."

No.

"Buddy the Elf..."

Goodness!

Okay, this story does have to do with Christmas, however, it's not one of the classics. This story is about a young ballerina in the Royal Academy of Dance.

Once upon a time....

....point shoes flew, glitter sparkled, booming orchestras blasted, and critical teachers looked on with unenthusiastic stares. Amidst it all, a young ballerina was pushed and poked as she was fitted into her beautiful, long-awaited "Snowflakes Waltz" costume for the Nutcracker ballet. She had been to many studios but never one like this. Here she had some friends, she had talent and promise, and sometimes the cool girls talked to her. I don't mean the chilly ones who had to wear two sweaters, I mean the girls who lived at the studio, wore designer clothes, and drank Starbucks coffee from the time they were 3. These girls were not only the best dancers at the studio, they were the COOLEST. They laughed at the same jokes, listened to the newest music, and always seemed to be ahead of everyone else in some way. Well, our little snowflake wanted more than anything to be their friend. Little Snowflake knew if she was their friend her teachers would smile at her, she'd go out to lunch between breaks, and most of all every other girl would recognize her as COOL. One day she decided to try her stuff and talk to them.

Little Snowflake: "Hey, those were some intense workouts in there!"

Cool Girls: *Blank stares.

Little Snowflake: "Umm...do you all know what parts you got for the Nutcracker?"

Cool Girls: *Little chuckles and giggles.

Then one girl replied, "Yes, we all got principle roles. How about you?"

Cool Girls: *Bursts of laughter from all of the girls.

I looked at my toes as they walked away. If you hadn't guessed by now, Little Snowflake was me, and they all knew I was one of many girls who got a normal role. No solos for me. I'd been dancing for a long time but never been to a studio where it mattered that much to be cool, to be the best, or at least to be friends with the best. I tried hard every day to win their approval, but every conversation went something like that.

About the time of our first performance, one of the girls had a birthday. She was turning 15, and she was the one who'd talked to me about my role. I wanted to do something for her, even though she'd been mean. Since that conversation, I'd had a talk with my mom and told her how hard it was, how the girls always laughed, and how I felt like a failure every time I went into that "stupid, fake studio."

She asked me a hard question, "Em, do you want to be these girls' friends because you want to be their friend or because you want to be their friend?" What she meant was, did I really care about them, or did I just want to be popular by hanging out with them.

After that talk, I prayed and asked God to change my heart toward the girls. I wanted to care about their hearts. Once I did that, I actually realized how silly their games were, that they were scared all the time of losing popularity, and would do anything to keep their status even backstab one another.

So, this girl had a birthday and I gave her a Starbucks gift card. Her big blue eyes popped and widened like I'd never seen before, as I handed her the card and said, "Happy Birthday, Molly!" We weren't best friends after that, but the girls never bothered me quite the same, and more importantly I learned to be COURAGEOUS. Even this little snowflake could do something for God's kingdom.

I also learned to be a friend, look beyond silly games, and use my influence for good. Since then I've encountered many other COOL girls, women and men, both young and old. God has called me into an industry that is all about COOL. Whether I'm working on a movie set, interviewing with a modeling agency, or serving coffee at my job, I'm not scared of COOL people, because I know the truth about myself and them. I am a COURAGEOUS, loved, chosen child of God. They are scared, unhappy, seeking approval anywhere they can find it, and desperately in need of God's love.

You can show them the joy and the boldness in your heart.

You can be COURAGEOUS.

You can live this verse:

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be in fear or dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6

Please share your own story of courage in the comment box below!

We Are Here!

Dear Girls,

We are here! You are here, I am here, our Heavenly Father is here. The bible says, "where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." (Matthew 18:20) That does not exclude this page, right now, right here, however your day is going, even if you're still in bed, Jesus is here with us, in the midst of these comments, blog posts, and keyboards! He is always here, loving us and "knocking on the doors of our hearts." (Revelation 3:20)

God meets us always, and when we come together to encourage one another wonderful things can happen. This is a place to be encouraged and fill our minds and hearts with truth.