Thursday, May 9

Realizing my God-sized Dream may be Smaller than I Thought (and that's okay)

Dreaming, I'm supposed to write and post about dreaming on Tuesdays... but I like to do everything late... even three of my pregnancy delivery dates were off by 10 days, 7 days, and 5 days... those girls needed more primping time.

I'm a procrastinator, I say that I do better at the last moment, but the truth is, I'm sure that I would turn out better work if I started earlier. I just need to give myself earlier deadlines.

Problem is, I have so much brewing around in my head, I can't get it out in 10, 15, or even 30 minute increments here and there. I feel like if I don't have a 3 hour block to sit down and write and dream and blog and plan, that I shouldn't even bother starting. I'm working to change this! ---Ya know, the Do What You Can Plan!

So today I have less than an hour and we are going to see what I can plink out on these keys...


When I started this God-Sized Dreaming, I thought I would be the Lisa Leonard or Gussy Sews of handmade notecards. That I would be so successful, I would need a whole team to make my card designs for me. But honestly, that scares me just a little too much... and I kinda like making my own cards, it's therapeutic for me.

I also thought that maybe I could be a Lisa-Jo Baker and write inspiring posts that would be turned into inspiring videos, or Ann Voskamp and write inspiring blog posts that could be turned into best selling books.  So I went back to school for a Communications/Writing degree... but I don't treat writing like a professional. I don't write every day... I barely even write every week.

And then I thought, well maybe I can be a Kristen Welch and start a life-changing ministry in Africa... except that I'm kind of a homebody and chances are I will never leave this country... unless Canada counts.

And then I remembered (and still need to be reminded every day), God didn't call me to be any of those people... He's got them for that! He called me to be ME. Now if only I could figure out who ME is.

This past week I read this post from World Magazine. I'm not saying that I believe everything it says, but I am saying that THIS is what I needed to hear.

"Today’s millennial generation is being fed the message that if they don’t do something extraordinary in this life they are wasting their gifts and potential."

"No shame, no pressure to be awesome, no expectations of fame but simply following the call to be men and women of virtue and inviting their friends and neighbors to do the same in every area of life."


1 Thessalonians 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.


Maybe my "missional" and my "radical" is ... being a better wife and mom, writing as God gives me words to say, and crafting and creating cards, writing notes of encouragement to others.

I am so thankful for the freedom to be who God made ME to be!


I am also super thankful for all the ladies listed above (who have all had an impact on my life, whether they know it or not) and for Holley Gerth, who has been telling me for months through her book, You're Made for a God-Sized Dream that no dream is too big and no dream is too small.



This week was supposed to be about paying it forward, I'm not sure I've done that well. It's hard to do when you are still figuring out your own dream. But I have encouraged one friend to keep dreaming about her desire to be a teacher, and another friend who is feeling lost like me, and I continue to spend time investing in the lives of my kids as the next generation of dreamers...



Community Conversation: Where are you in your dreaming? Do you know what God is calling you to do? How are you encouraging others to follow the dreams God has given them?





19 comments:

  1. I so needed to hear this! Especially this:"No shame, no pressure to be awesome, no expectations of fame but simply following the call to be men and women of virtue and inviting their friends and neighbors to do the same in every area of life."
    And I just read that verse in Thessalonians this morning! I've been struggling with trying to do so much that I don't do anything well! I'm so glad you posted... you are amazing! (Happy Mother's Day!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I think maybe I should post this verse on my fridge to see every day! :)

      and a happy Mother's Day to you, too!!

      Delete
  2. Wow, Julie this is exactly what I needed to hear today! Thanks for sharing it! I too so often go through that process of trying to figure out just what God made me for. So glad I'm not alone in this journey! Keep dreaming, beautiful sister :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So delighted that this encouraged you! We are not made to dream alone! Keep dreaming with me, friend!

      Delete
  3. Julie - I love this post! You are so right! I have been struggling with this as well. Dream on, friend and keep making a difference =) ((Hugs))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's something we all struggle with... big or small!

      Thanks for visiting and leaving a note.

      Delete
  4. Your post really spoke to me, Julie. What freeing thoughts. I don't think any of us feel we've reaching exactly where we're meant to be, but when we're following the call to be men and women of God, we're already in the right place. I wrote a little about this in my blog today too. We're God's dream girls whether we go for the big dreams or not. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the note! I'm so glad it encouraged you... heading over to your blog post now!

      Delete
  5. I love this post - I so feel the pressure to do something big with my life and I just have no idea what I'm doing. I do my best to work and work well and be faithful, but some days are tougher than others. Love that verse - going to highlight it now :) xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, God only asks us to be faithful! Glad this verse could encourage you like it did me!

      Delete
  6. I needed to read this- 1thess 4:11- and your thoughts on- that's what my heart needed to hear. First time on your blog tonight!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks for stopping by my blog! This verse is a good one to focus on! Praying God's blessing on you today!

      Delete
  7. This year God has reminded me of this same thing. I am not others... I am me. I, too, thought of Ann, I thought of speakers like Beth Moore and others with their great hair and perky step as they move from one end of a stage to another, inspiring women, teaching women. I don't have great hair... I have long, heavy, dark hair. I wear awkward glasses (contacts hurt my eyes) but I speak the words God gives me in the settings he calls me to speak in. I am not them... I am me. And I am so grateful for your words in this post, confirming what God showed me: I am wife, mom, woman of God first. I am content being the best I can at those things... being Who I am In Him at those things first and all else... if those dreams ever come... is all else and it will be me... not them. Wow, your post really just busted that out of me!!! Thank you :-) I pray you realize God size dreams as you rise to all the small and big places He calls you to!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for joining the conversation! Speaking is one area I have no desire to enter! :) Just keep listening to God's direction and be YOU!

      Delete
  8. Your hand being on these cards is what makes them so special to me and they are only going to someone else I treasure. You are a constant inspiration to me - whether you know it or not. (Which I hope you do by now.) Keep going!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, thank you friend! I so miss spending time in my card-making room! I have an appointment there next week... hopefully! :)

      Delete
  9. This is the 2nd post I've read today that talks about being who God made you to be... I think that perhaps I sit where you are Julie Anne - in the space of trying to be perfect and "like" everyone else - and you know what ends up happening with that? Nothing! I need to step back and really begin to search the heart that God has for me. Marvel in the wonder of His plans which are immeasurably more than I could ever imagine - Thank you sweet friend for these words of confirmation!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This was really inspiring to me. I loved this paragraph: "And then I remembered (and still need to be reminded every day), God didn't call me to be any of those people... He's got them for that! He called me to be ME. Now if only I could figure out who ME is."
    1. Because I feel like I am trying to accept the fact that He called me to be ME and
    2. Because I also don't even know who ME is!
    That bit alone is super frustrating to me. Perhaps my dream is 'smaller' than I thought as well--just learn to be a good mommy!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Can I just say that I just came across this entry this morning and so needed to hear it! I am a stay at home mom to three babies under 4! My husband is a wonderful fire fighter which translates into me often feeling like a single parent going it alone because of his so busy, often away, career. I've struggled so often to feel like I'm contributing and making a difference. I've written most of my life, but too often make excuses to not pursue it further because of a lack of time in this season of my life. However, you just reminded me that God uses the Big and the Small. I too am a fan of the women you listed above and long to feel like I'm doing more, but like you said, God wants me to be me! If that means spending my days covered in spit up but still putting on a smile when my sweet man walks through the door, then so be it. Thank you for pursuing your passions and dreams to encourage us on our journey to pursuing our God given passions and dreams. Mine has always been to write and to me a wife and mom. Well guess what, two of them are covered! The rest is about doing what I can when I can, and letting God do the rest. Have a fabulous day!

    ReplyDelete

I would love to reply to your comments, but I can't unless you have an email available in your profile!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...