Meet the New Sailors

July 18, 2014 By Christine Wright 15 Comments

Dreaming friends, we have exciting news today! As our vision of a God-sized dream website has grown, so has our team of writers. We are delighted to be adding six additional sailors to our team. We first met these dreamers in the same way the current team met – as part of Holley Gerth’s God-sized Dream Team. Each one of our new sailors is an inspiring God-sized dreamer. They step out and trust God in big and small ways and believe for the impossible. We know their words will encourage you to do the same! We just cannot wait for their posts to begin in August!

Crystal Stine is a full-time working mom, married to her high school sweetheart, with a cutie pie daughter! She is the Editorial and Marketing Manager at (in)courage. Oh, and her tweets will make you snort. Catch up with Crystal here: Website Twitter

Genny Heikka recently survived a BIG move to Idaho with her family! She’s a busy, brave mama, author, and speaker. Her latest book is Finding Mommy Bliss (Hello! Don’t we all want that?). You can connect with Genny here: Website, Twitter, Facebook

Kim Hyland is the founder of Winsome retreat for women and Five-Fifteen, which fights human sex trafficking, through corporate prayer. Kim is a mama to six, a mother-in-law to three and a grandma to one (awwwww!). You can find Kim here: Website, Facebook

Kristin Hill Taylor is a God-sized dreamer if ever there was one! She has been through the storms of life (infertility) and watched as God showed her the beauty on the other side. You can check out more of her story at her Website as well as connect with her on Twitter and Facebook

Laurie Wallin’s first book was just released and if there were prizes for best titles, “Why Your Weirdness is Wonderful” would surely win! Laurie is a life coach, speaker, wife, and mama as well as a writer. Catch up with Laurie here: Website, Twitter, Facebook

Melissa Aldrich is a photographer, wife and mama to three kids (all born within 25 months! Yes, there was a set of twins!). Her maternity and newborn photos are just gorgeous and she is living proof that no matter what is going on in your life, you always have time to dream. Find Melissa here: Website, Instagram, Facebook

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Full bios on each author can be found here.

The Heart Shaped Stone

May 30, 2014 By Christine Wright 13 Comments

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You call me out upon the waters. The great unknown where feet may fail.
And there I find You in the mystery. In oceans deep My faith will stand.

Walking on the rock strewn Caribbean beach, I bend low to investigate an unusual stone. The shape catches my eye. Polished smooth and finely shaped into a heart, it looks to be handcrafted. I can’t believe God would place this souvenir in my path.

We’ve come to this Caribbean island on a mission trip. We are to build a home for a man nicknamed Pigeon, who is without one.It’s a 10×10 foot structure, with two windows, and a metal roof. No bathroom, no kitchen. Plywood sides. It is both beautiful and heart rendering at the same time.

The second day we’re on the building site, Pigeon is there. He is wearing a black cap with a skull and crossbones and the number 13. A team member comments on his cap. He answers matter of factly, “It’s the devil king.” She questions if she heard right. He explains, “You know, the devil king.” She is freaked out. As she tells me the story, I am freaked out. But thankfully there is no time to be freaked out, because we have a home to build for the man in the devil king hat.

And I will call upon Your name. And keep my eyes above the waves.
When oceans rise. My soul will rest in Your embrace. For I am Yours and You are mine.

A little bit later, I’m overcome with the feeling that I need to get to know Pigeon. I’m not sure what we’ll talk about, but I know I can’t just keep smiling and walking by. God is good. He opens doors and builds bridges and next thing I know, we are talking about all manner of things. I truly enjoy our brief time together. I ask him if he would like prayer for anything. We end up holding hands and praying right there.

A little while later, Pigeon is speaking and it sounds like he’s saying he’s not a Christian.

Mercy.

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It’s the morning of the last day on the work site. We are about to turn over the house to the man in the devil king hat, who may or may not be a Christian. A friend and I are praying for him before we head to the site. We are reminded of Revelation 2:17, which is part of our Bible reading for that day:

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.

We pray into that. God reminds me of the time, two years earlier, when a white dove landed in my backyard. Not even sure of what I had seen, I Googled, “white pigeon”. Up popped the most amazing thing:

A pigeon and a dove are the basically the same. Just different names.

Lord, could it be that the world sees this homeless man in the devil king hat as a pigeon, but You see him as a dove?

It’s then I know. The heart stone was meant for Pigeon. God put it on the beach for him, not as a souvenir paperweight for me to take home. I know what I need to do.

I’m trying to wrap my mind around the heart stone not being mine (hey, I really liked it!), when I feel certain God is prompting me to go even further. To say the very things that were said to me just before I decided to give my life to Christ, at age 19.

And that’s when I freak out. We are here with the Pastor, the Assistant Pastor, one of the Youth Pastors, and not to mention EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THE TEAM IS ABOUT 1000% MORE QUALIFIED THAN I AM TO DO THIS. Lord, Pigeon is probably already a Christian with bad taste in hats! Who am I to assume? Not to mention, if there is a way, I will mess it up. God, we both know this!

I beg Jesus to lead me.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters. Your sovereign hand will be my guide. (<== Click to tweet)
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me You’ve never failed and You won’t start now.

When we arrive, Pigeon is sitting alone. God gives me the words and I explain the heart stone. (At my friend’s suggestion I had written “Dove” on it.) I tell him God put it on the beach for him. It’s a gift from God. He cups it in his hand, and tells me no one has ever given him a gift like that before. That he will never lose it. That he will put it in his house today.

I explain to Pigeon we will be leaving soon, and while I don’t know that I’ll see him again, I’d love to know he has accepted Christ into his heart and that I will see him again in heaven. He says he would like to do that too. So, once again, we hold hands, and with Jesus leading us, we pray. And I smile, fully believing with God all things are possible, and knowing I’ll see my friend again one day. (<==== Click to tweet)

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters. Wherever You would call me.
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander. And my faith will be made stronger. In the presence of my Savior.

Shared by: Christine Wright

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As we close this series, I ask for your prayers. In talking with Pigeon, he described what I truly feel is a God-sized dream. He explained he’s always wanted to see other places, outside of his country, but it has never been possible. I’m a pretty big dreamer, but this one seems almost too big. Yet, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if this is a dream God has placed in Pigeon’s heart, He will see it through. Would you mind lifting Pigeon and this God-sized dream up in prayer? Thank you, friends.

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Here at God-sized Dreams, we are partial to the song Oceans, by Hillsong United. It encapsulates the ideas of facing big struggles, turning to Jesus, and the freedom of resting in His embrace. Each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout this month of May, we’re going to explore these issues as presented through the lyrics of the song.

All posts in the series can be found on the Oceans page.

An Ebenezer, If You Will

April 25, 2014 By Christine Wright 6 Comments

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There are days when I’m blown away by what God orchestrates and today is one such day. This morning, the team will be making it’s way to Houston, to plan for the upcoming year and simply celebrate the way God’s sovereign hand has led us. It’s a weekend made possible only because of His grace.

So this post is a sort of ebenezer, if you will. For those unfamiliar with that word, it means “stone of help.” In the Bible, sometimes a stone was set down to mark the place where God had provided help. To remind themselves, and those coming after, what happened there. And in this place, I lay one down. To never forget the help God has provided this team.

There will be one thing missing this weekend and that is you. Please know we will be in prayer for all of our dreaming sisters. Praying big for you and the dream God has for you. And if you think of it, would you mind praying for us this weekend? For travel mercies, discernment, and simply whatever it is that God puts on your heart. Thank you, sweet friend.

Praise be to the Lord
    for He has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise Him.
Psalm 28:6-7 (NIV)

The Call of the Sea

March 28, 2014 By Christine Wright 21 Comments

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“The call of God is like the call of the sea,
no one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him.”
Oswald Chambers

On the sand, alone but for an occasional beach walker, I could feel Jesus sitting next to me. Praying a stilted prayer through my tears, I told Him I trusted Him.

I knew His Word could be believed. At a time in my life when there wasn’t much I knew for sure, this I clung to.

God was making good on His promises to me, in His time. I understood it was taking a while to gather the pieces and place them just so, and that when He did, He would move mighty and in a way I could see. Of that I had no doubt.

His promises were big and my requests were too. My faith, a match for both.

I laid it out there for Him. My heart knew that if I could pull back the curtain into the unseen, I’d be amazed at all He was doing. His dreams for me were being built, but as Hebrews 12:11-13 describes, my arms were getting feeble and my knees, weak.

I asked Him for His promise of restoration, His promise of Joel 2:25, to begin that very day. I didn’t think I had even one more day in me.

It was only hours later I felt my life collapse.

And that’s when I knew for a fact He’d heard. I could almost see with my eyes His actual Hand in it. This was no coincidence.

I knew, positively knew, my prayers made it to the throne room.

“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”
Psalm 141:2 NIV

I’d never felt such conflicting emotions.

Awe that the God of the universe had been there. I didn’t imagine His presence. I knew for certain He lives and walks with us. Sits on the beach with us.

What do you do with that? How can anything ever look the same?

And yet, His blessings were coming through gifts that didn’t seem too celebratory.

I was faced with this question, how do you celebrate the joy of His gift when it is washed in grief? (<==== Click to tweet)

I answered the only way I knew.

Praise.

He showed me how it was possible to praise Him through it all. I praised Him from the floor of my closet, in tears, but also in song that came from a depth I didn’t know was in me.

It is when we praise God, we realize the nature of the sea is in us. The thunder of the waves are heard and we know it is Him who stirs the water and calms it again.

It was through prayer and praise that I was able to hear it. It was through faith I was able to see it.

I recall that day, and realize, indeed, I had the nature of the sea in me all along.

Have you ever had to praise through the pain? Click here to share your story in the comments.

Shared by: Christine Wright

Photo Credit: Edgar Barany via Compfight cc

You Are A Trailblazer

February 28, 2014 By Christine Wright 27 Comments

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“I want to go, but what if I’m the only girl?” my sweet eight year old asks me. She is debating going hunting – pink duck boots and all – with Daddy.

“Well, you’ll be a trailblazer.” I offer.

I can tell she doesn’t quite understand, so I explain, “You’ll be the one to lead the way. Cutting out a trail for those who come after. Who knows? Maybe other girls are waiting for someone to go first.”

(And I try to muffle my sigh. Because I never thought I’d be encouraging my daughter to go hunting. Oh, the things we do.)

And weeks later, I still can’t get the word out of my mind…

Trailblazer.

Every time the word comes up, I think of this community of dreamers. And those who are going first.

Risking it all to say, “Yes,” to God’s call. Getting sideways glances, because it’s OK to love Jesus, but not OK to talk about Him.

Perhaps the first one in their family to take God at His word and truly trust He can do anything.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

And those who are blazing trails among their non-believing friends.

You, friend, are a game changer. (<==== Click to tweet)

The girl who often feels misunderstood in her God-sized dream. So different.

Brave trailblazer, you might not be imagining it.

You could simply be different. Given a different spirit, even.

A lot like Caleb.

Back in the days of Moses, after God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He had them send twelve men to check out the land of Canaan and report back. It was discovered the land was plentiful – milk and honey flowed, and there was fruit. But it was well protected by a group of people so large, they made the spies look like grasshoppers.

Caleb believed they should still go in and take possession of the land. He felt they could, “certainly do it.”

The other spies didn’t agree.

Caleb didn’t just have a different view, Numbers 14:24 says this:

“But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows Me wholeheartedly,
I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”
Numbers 14:24 (NIV, emphasis mine)

A different spirit.

Not one that follows the world, but one that trusts in the unseen power of God. To believe Him and to take Him at His word. Knowing that when He says you can go against giants, you move forward. Having faith the world would call crazy.

You have a different spirit as well – you have the power of the Holy Spirit in you, friend. (<==== Click to tweet)

Carve that path. Keep moving forward and listening to His voice. Keep praying.

One day you’ll look behind and see an amazing sight, on the very trail you blazed. God will use it to lead others to Christ.

“ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

How can I be in prayer for you this weekend, trailblazer?

Shared by: Christine Wright

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Let’s Do This Thing

January 29, 2014 By Christine Wright 43 Comments

I had a post for today. I did. And then, in an odd twist of events, over the past 24 hours, I began to see ways that the enemy has been trying to advance. In my life and in the lives of those around me. If I’m guessing right, he may be messing with you too.

So that post, about God’s timing and my son’s birth {today is his birthday!}, I’m posting on my blog. Because sometimes you have to set your plans down and take the hand of the person next to you and say, “The enemy should have known not to mess with a woman with PMS. Let’s do this thing, sister.”

{Ok, maybe not the part about PMS…}

Here’s the deal. I’m afraid. Always. Of everything. Of confrontations. Of losing. Of looking dumb. Of looking smart. Of math. Of my thighs. And sometimes, even of the enemy.

I’ve noticed as I stepped out more into this God-sized dream, the target on my back has grown. And somewhere along the way, I began to slowly lower my head and try to shrink down. Scared to take any big hits.

Here was one of the red flags: I stopped praying BIG prayers. I got wimpy.

Maybe you’re doing it too. Or it might be showing itself in different ways, but you can tell you’ve gotten afraid. Afraid of calling too much attention to the good work that Jesus is doing in you. Because then the enemy will come a callin’.

“Chrisssstine,” He hisses, “Whatcha got going on over there? You wouldn’t mind if I just take a little look around would you?” I can almost hear him, as he starts to root around in all that I hold precious.

Chilling.

I have looked evil in the eye and he is real. Dressed up to look normal. Like someone out of everyday life. You have probably seen him too. He moves and interacts around us. By laying low and shrinking down, we give him control. Let him run rampant. With the very things we are terrified we’ll lose if we do step out any farther with God.

If we don’t stand up and accept the calling we’ve been given, I can assure you, he will run clear through our lives. It’s just a matter of when we will finally notice.

How bad will it get? How much damage will be done by the time we say, “Enough.”

I don’t want you to look around and think, “I wish I’d have stood up and fought before now.” You don’t want to catch it when standing in the ruins.

I read this in a Bible Gateway devotional by Paul Estabrooks of Open Doors International:

“First Satan concentrates on the life and name of Jesus which each and every believer bears as the Lord’s representative. I believe it is important for Christians undergoing persecution to realize the attack they are under is actually directed not at them, but at the life of Jesus in them, a life which they have power to transmit to others.

Satan will make every effort to discredit you, to frighten you and to silence your witness in order that the new life in you stops with you.”

As creatives, dreamers, sisters, we pose quite a threat to Satan. It’s no wonder he seeks to silence our witness. (<====Click to tweet.) When we stand up, united, we form quite an impressive battle front. But here’s the best part: with the power of Jesus, we are absolutely unstoppable. We can defeat any foe. By His Blood and by the power of the Cross, we are the most elite of fighters.

Us!

Even the chickens. The non-marathoners. The donut eaters. We form an elite force. For Him. Because Jesus didn’t just come because it would make a good story. He came to bring us life. In abundance. So we could be free and not to fear. So we could shed the guilt and the sin and leave it behind us. And with those now-free arms, let’s pick up our sword and fight, knowing the God of Angel Armies has our backs.

It might not be easy or pretty. You might get battered. But if not us, then who?

The enemy operates best under a cover of darkness, in secrecy. Because as long as he can keep everyone separated and ashamed and thinking they are the only one withstanding these attacks, the more harm he can do.

You are not alone. Let’s blow his cover and shine the light on what he’s doing, not just to us, but to so many other sisters. Let’s pull together, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. (<====Click to tweet.) Let’s also pray bold prayers for each other, proclaim the name of Jesus, and walk boldly in our calling.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you,
as though something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,
so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV)

Shared by: Christine Wright

Photo Credit: Jp, Creative Commons

Linking up with Holley Gerth’s Coffee for Your Heart Series today!

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Dear Dreamer

December 30, 2013 By Christine Wright 57 Comments

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Dear Dreamer,

Hi, friend! You may be reading this in your kitchen, at your desk, or on your phone. The background noise may be Clifford the Big Red Dog, your co-workers, or the beeps of a cash register.

If you’re anything like me, you’re reading in quick glances, in between calling out things like, “Get out of the dog’s water THIS MINUTE. And please go wash your hands!” and “No. Stuffing everything under your bed is not actually cleaning your room. And for crying out loud, what is that wiped on your wall?”

Maybe you’ve stumbled on this site, but deep down you’re thinking, “A God-sized dream? No, thank you. Not for me.”

Maybe you’ve stopped by because God has placed a dream in your heart so scary, you can’t breathe a word of it to anyone.

You might even be wondering, “What in the world is a God-sized dream?”

First, I want to welcome you. And assure you, no matter why you’re here, I truly believe God has a purpose for your visit. It is not on accident.

As Mark Batterson says In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: “God is in the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time.”

In fact, to take it a step further, you are here, in the world at this point in history, for such as time as this.

And God has good plans for you.

And a purpose only you can fulfill.

For anyone who is doubting any part of that, I want to let you know you’re not alone. I felt this way too. For nearly 40 years, I didn’t have much of a dream. I had an odd restlessness, but nothing I could have called a God-sized dream.

Until God started to change that.

As I grew closer to Him, spent time in His word and in prayer, something amazing happened. A dream began to surface. And I noticed the ways my strengths fit right with it. The things I had long thought were weird, odd, or random — He had a good plan for! I was amazed!

I had counted myself out for so long because I’d mistakenly believed it was only people who could sing beautifully, or paint, or write books that could have a God-sized dream!

If the thought of God-sized dreams raises any of the same doubts, I just want to say there is a special place for you here. We can scoot our deck chairs together, ok?

We have a wonderful team of dreamers who are writing for this site. And between them all, they are at every stage of dreaming. With dreams of all sizes.

We met on Holley Gerth’s God-sized dream team last year, and felt, first-hand, the effect community can have when you’re stepping out into the unknown.

That is what we long to offer here. To support you, through our words, prayers, and friendship. To give you a safe refuge when the winds blow and seas get choppy (which it will at times). A place where people will genuinely cheer over your successes!

Tell us your story…your God-sized dream…ways we can pray for you. We long to hear what’s on your heart and hope this site will become a place of conversation and support for all of us.

And most of all, we pray that through every single God-sized dream ignited, that God would be glorified and the good news of the kingdom spread ever further.

You are a God-sized dreamer, friend. And you are here for such a time as this.

Love, Christine
P.S. Tomorrow we’ll be hosting a God-sized dreams link up! Tell us about your dream. Where you are with it – how it’s changed in the last year.

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Every day this week, we’ll be featuring a special God-sized dreamer giveaway!!

Today we’re featuring You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream, by Holley Gerth!! Wooo-hoo!!

You can enter via the PunchTab link below.
We’ll keep all the giveaways open until Friday, 1/03/2014 at 11pm, to give everyone lots of time to enter!
Make sure to use a valid email because that’s how we’ll get in touch with you if you win!
You’ll have 48 hours to respond, or a new winner will be drawn.

Would you pretty please help us share this website with other God-sized dreamers? We’ve made it super quick and easy! Click here.

Photo Credit: Andrew Braithwaite

When You’re Too Scared To Set Sail

December 2, 2013 By Christine Wright 4 Comments

I’ve long wanted to sail. You should see the beautiful view stashed away in my mind. It’s complete with the words “Martha’s Vineyard”, madras plaid, and details like a clambake on the beach. (Never mind I can’t so much as spell the state Martha’s Vineyard is in, never worn madras without having it rip, and detest clams.)

From the land, I can see it – the canvas sails filling with air, the perfectly aged boat, the sun on the ocean.

The details of the dream seem to stop once I’m on board. Not too sure about that – the actual sailing part.

About five years ago, a kind family member, meaning well, asked me if I knew much about the way sailboats worked. I confessed, aside from “sailing” on the Banana River while at Girl Scout camp, I knew nothing. She shared something interesting. When the sails catch the wind, and the boat begins to really move, it tips to the side…and at times it feels as though you’re nearly sideways. Sailboats were made to do that she explained, but it can seem like you are a second away from flipping over. If you aren’t expecting such motion, it can be terrifying.

My relaxing vision changed. I could feel my throat tighten. I quickly told her I take the dream back. I had no desire to sail sideways and almost fall in. No, thank you! Not for me. She is known for her adventuresome spirit, so I knew it was bad when she said it even scared her a bit. I am a long-time worry-wart, with a constant stomachache, always convinced the best way is the safe way. Once I heard her confession, I buried that dream as fast as I could.

Until this year.

Maybe it’s because I went too long without the beach. Lately, though I’ve been feeling that pull. Because for years now, this sailing dream has not left. I tried my best to keep it buried. I’ve ignored it. Shoved it aside, until I’d drive over a bridge, and see those sailboats in the water.

Finally, the pull grew stronger than the fear. Pretty soon, it was clear. These knocking knees? They were pointing me in the exact direction I needed to go.

Never did I think my dream would change and grow into what it has. At times I start to get a little glimpse of the how this wild puzzle is coming together and I am convinced there is no possible way I could be used like that.

And that’s when it hits me, I’m struggling against becoming something God already knows me to be.

God knows all my days, down to the very last one, He already knows I can do it.

Click To Tweet

That’s the very reason He’s calling me.

It’s requiring a faith, that is honestly hard at times. I’ve seen Him move in incredible ways in the last few years. I know He can restore the years the locusts have eaten. I know He still parts the sea for His people. I know He still speaks and I know He can change situations in unimaginable ways. But this…oh, this! That sailboat is calling, but part of me is wondering just how far over it I will lean as it glides through the ocean. Will I fall in?

But God. He encourages me. Reminds me, every single thing that has happened in my life, is being used for good. Even those swimming lessons I screamed and cried through when I was little. The ones that allowed me to finally fall in love with the water.

Those once painful, early lessons – the ones I was certain were killing me – are the very things that help me trust I won’t drown even if I do fall in.

He’s not sending us forward unprepared. Or alone. He promises to be with us all. All the time. And to go ahead of us. And to be our rear guard.

Has your God-sized dream changed?

Shared by: Christine Wright

Photo Credit: Rodtuk