You Have to Give Up Some Things to Let Your Dreams Come True
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
My dream
for so many years was to find a place where women could gather and grow by
exchanging their faith stories.
Through my
women’s fellowship group, ministry, and church retreats, I clearly saw the
power of sharing stories. Our stories can minister to a deeply hurting
sister. Bring hope to a despairing friend. Shed Light on a darkened heart.
Speak the truth to the whispered lies that say, “You are alone.” “You have
done the unforgivable.” “You are not welcome here.”
And so I
journaled my ideas. Brainstormed with trusted friends. Prayed that God would
guide me to His plan.
When I
started dreaming back in the 90s, there really was no world wide web to speak
of. If people were blogging, I knew nothing about it. No, the only way I
could imagine making my dream come true was through a print magazine. That
was a no-brainer. I had worked in magazines all my life.
But…I
didn’t have money for creating a magazine. What’s more, as the web grew, many
print publications were beginning to fold.
So I had to give up the idea that my
dream was a magazine.
Eventually,
the web evolved and the dream of a community contributor website, a forum for
lots of story sharing, was conceived. It seemed like my dream was being
fulfilled. But how could I do all this work, pour hours every week into this
dream, if I couldn’t make money doing it?
A few
fellow dreamers and I started to work on a 5-Year Business Plan. The plan got
so focused on money that I felt we were leaving God out. And I knew that
wasn’t what I was called to do!
I had to give up the idea of monetizing
to allow my dream to unfold.
Then, for
legitimate reasons, our team of five was reduced to two. (Well, three, if you
include God, as my Cofounder Kimberly reminded me.) I’m a big group
concensus/group hug kind of gal. I didn’t think we could do it without
everyone.
But I had to give up my dream team of
five or give up my dream.
Thankfully,
Kimberly and I shared the same dream. Both of us felt certain that God was
calling us to fulfill it together.
And so www.CirclesOfFaith.org, Where Faith,
Life, and Community Intersect, was born on September 21, 2012.
Oh I’ve had to give up some things along
the dream journey, including lots of free time.
But my
God-sized dream has come true.
Now I
know, you have to give up some
things to make your dream come true.
What's your story?
What are
you dreaming of? Is there something you might have to give up to make your
dream come true?
Oh it can be so hard to let go of our ideas to allow a dream to bloom. When things don't turn out as we envisioned its tempting to give up all together. I am so glad you didn't give up p. your dream!
ReplyDeleteSo glad too Kimberly...and truly so blessed to work with you!!
DeleteI also am so glad you didn't give up!.. I am sitting here weeping as am in the midst of the battle of similar thoughts and realities... and for the last few months questioning my value and direction, while I continue to battle for my life with life-threatening disease...
ReplyDeleteSo very blessed you and your followers are so gifted in expression of thoughts and prayer! You are each gifts to my life!
Cathy B*****y pbprojecthope at yahoo dot com
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Cathy so happy to have you here. Sometimes our dreams take a new shape, they change. But God is not finished with us yet. I'm praying for you, sister!
DeleteIsn't it amazing all that God has for us when we put down our dreams and pick up His? I love this post! All the beauty that came out of surrendered dreams! : )
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Christine, We can trust God, right! You are such a gift to the dreamers, such an authentic woman with an encouraging huge heart. God bless you!!!
DeleteI had to give up my dream of being a writer and speaker to homeschool my children. But then it turned out that I was able to live my dream and homeschool, too. The funny thing is homeschooling was my REAL dream. I just didn't know it. I would give up my writing and speaking before I would give up being home to teach my kids.
ReplyDeleteI can also understand how you might have felt about giving up the idea of a magazine. I have had a tough adjustment from writing for print to writing online. But I know it's all for His glory and that makes it OK. :-)
A classic picture of how the good could have robbed from the best. But you listened to God and got His best for your life. Awesome!
DeleteI still keep the idea of a magazine in my back pocket...and I work for a print publication. Something about that paper!!
It so amizing how things chan change over time, isn't it? But God's by you side the whole time. Love it.
ReplyDeleteSo true Jenny...What would it be like if we really lived like we knew it would work out because God is on our side. Far less worrying!!
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ReplyDeleteI love this post! God sure is amazing! I love how He watches over us and truly has our best interest at heart, especially when we put our dreams into His hands :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lisa...Father knows best, right? Yes, we have to trust God with our dreams. They are His in us!
ReplyDelete