About Katie Reid

Katie Reid is a tightly wound woman, a recovering perfectionist, who fumbles to receive and extend grace in everyday moments. She delights in her hubby, four children, and their life in ministry. Studying God’s Word, singing/songwriting, speaking, writing, photography and cut-to-the-chase conversations are a few of her favorite things. Katie has many God-sized Dreams and loves to encourage others to take the next steps towards their dreams. Katie would love to connect with you via the Tightly Wound Community on her blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Making Room for a Miracle & The #DreamTogether Linkup

December 19, 2016 By Katie Reid 13 Comments

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This season can be packed to the brim, with celebrations and obligations. To-do lists fill and the weather chills, and we sometimes lose our footing on slippery ground.

The soul longs for quiet by a warm fire, to see twinkling lights overhead—in sky and tree.

We sip the simple and remember to breathe, to fill the lungs that God has laced together. We look into cupped glass and see a glimpse of artistry—woven together in secret place.

We are tempted to see only lack and frailty, yet as we lean in, we hear the faint tune from above—echoes of mercy and whispers of love.

Soon the demands pull us away as we strap on boots and scramble for coat. We face the cold and brace ourselves for the trek.

We long for restoration, like creation longs for its coming redemption—we contract and moan as we face the barren.

We ache for fresh life, birthed in mystery and majesty, contrasting dark night.

We cry out for intervention as we find ourselves in transition. We are unsure if we can take the next step. It feels too much—weighty, tense.

We push and we pull and we hold on with the strength that remains.

Then, right before the point of losing our grip completely, the voice of Love cuts through chaos.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks, a new and glorious mourn.

There at the breaking point, Hope is delivered, and the tears fall. Relief and gratitude wash over weary frame as we rest, deep within. Renewed.

The journey made room for the miracle.

Had we rushed, we would have missed it. Had we given up, we would have abandoned Glory.

Here in the midst of mess, and the less-than-ideal, Gift if given, and we are never the same.

New. Whole.

We rise in freedom. We turn, we spin, we twirl as we did when we were young. Hands lifted, face to sun, we unstop the joy as it pours out. Laughter swells, morning dawns.

All is well.

Sometimes we live so crammed and planned that we miss the sacred beauty around us. What if today, we made room for a miracle?

What if we pressed pause for a little while and carved out some breathing room and soul space?

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Dreamers can hurry and scurry as they try to make way for the fruition of plans. But sometimes we miss the greater than, the more that we can imagine, when we prematurely push our way through doors.

The wait is long yet necessary. Dreams take time to shape and form. As we make room for Majesty, we grow in thankfulness, faithfulness, and wisdom.

It will be worth it. He is worth it.

Don’t lose sight of the Who and the why as you take the next steps of what, where, and when. Look to God to answer the how as you follow the Light of His Son and the Wind of His Holy Spirit.

Rest in His Sovereignty. Stand upon His Promises. Be washed with the Word.

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All is well.

Shared by: Katie M. Reid

An InLinkz Link-up

Not Giving Up In Changing Times & The #DreamTogether Linkup

September 26, 2016 By Katie Reid 4 Comments

It can be difficult to stay the course when you find yourself in transition. The dream, idea, or exciting endeavor that God once whispered to your soul can dull with time as you face obstacles and delays. Seasons of change can leave you off-balance, as you try to find your footing and make your way back to level ground.

Before our fifth child was born, I found myself in a productive season of creativity. I finished my manuscript about finding grace in the unraveling of life, I helped others with social media and book proposals, and I set-up the nursery—complete with a gallery wall.

Being creative invigorates me—when I don’t have a creative outlet I feel empty and lost.

After our sweet daughter was born, I found myself unsure if I’d ever have enough time and energy to write again. It was such a joy to have an infant in the house again but this time of transition sent my usual routine packing on the wings of sleep deprivation.

When we find ourselves in a season of change it can be tempting to try and rush our way through it. Or we might feel like giving up on the goals we had before we encountered this season.

How do we find grace and peace when what we’ve once known is no longer a reality?

Discover 4 ways to stay the course in times of transition…

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Be patient with yourself and others. When life changes choose to receive and extend grace to yourself and others. Change is not easy and you will need time to adjust to different dynamics and challenges. Don’t expect to find your way immediately. Take a deep breath (or ten) and ask God to help you navigate this season.
Choose thankfulness in the midst of uncertainty. If we continually try and go back to how things were or rush through the season we find ourselves in, we can get worn out and discouraged. Look for the big or small blessings in the midst of change and thank God for them. Gratitude is a proven way to improve our outlook and it can uplift those around us as well.
Trust that God knows what He is doing. God is unchanging. He has promised to be with us as we walk this road of faith—through all the hills and valleys. Even when life feels out of control, we can trust His heart. God is Sovereign and able to do the impossible. He is with us in the midst of change. May His Presence comfort us and the Holy Spirit guide us as we find ourselves in transition.
You can’t go back but it can get get better. Do you longingly look back at the past or the good old days, when you felt more secure and sure of yourself? We can spend a lot of time wishing for, or trying to get back to, the way things were, but that can cause frustration and waste a lot of energy. While things may never be the same, they can get better over time. Choose to let go of what used to be and look for the special blessings in this current season.

As we are patient with ourselves, choose thankfulness, and trust God, we can find peace and grace in times of transition.

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Dear God:

Help us not to give up when things feel upside down. Thank You that You don’t change. Thank You that we can trust You even in times of uncertainty. It can feel unsettling, and sometimes downright scary, when we encounter change. Help us not to put our confidence in our feelings but in Your unchanging and timeless Word, found in the Bible. Thank You that You are with us and for us. Help us to navigate each season of life with Your Holy Spirit as our counselor and Your Truth as our anchor. May we receive and extend grace to ourselves and others as we rest in Your ability to uphold us in times of transition. We entrust ourselves to Your keeping. Please show us how to adjust our thinking and our activity to align with Your time table. May we not fret and fear but rest and trust. Thank You for being patient with us. Thank You for You unfading love.

Amen.

Shared by: Katie M. Reid

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An InLinkz Link-up

A Freedom Prayer for the Dreamer

July 4, 2016 By Katie Reid Leave a Comment

Dear God:

Thank You for the freedom that You have given us. Too often we live chained to insecurities, hurts, and fears. Would You help us move forward today? You hold the keys to set us free from that which holds us back.

You have given us the gifts of breath, time, and creativity. May we be good stewards and use these gifts for Your glory and fame. May we follow Your lead—not running ahead nor lagging behind. May we keep in step with Your Spirit.

Thank You for the ideas that You have placed within us. Thank You for the talents that You have given.

Please forgive us for operating independently of You. We have no good thing apart from You. We are in desperate need of You.

There are wonderful aspects to being a dreamer. Help us not be prideful when things are going well. There are challenging things about being a dreamer. Help us not to give up when we face obstacles. Whether we find ourselves on the heights, depths, or somewhere in between, may we stay the course as You lead the way.

Thank You that we are not alone on this journey. Help us to reach out to others and encourage them as they move forward. May we not minimize nor idolize the dreams of others, but encourage them to be faithful to the path set before them.

On this Independence Day, may we remember all the dreamers that have gone before us. May we honor their sacrifice by being faithful with both the little and the big. Forgive us for minimizing the ordinary and the small. Help us to remember that small might be the new big.

May we depend on You to help us when we feel like giving up.

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You are Trustworthy even when life unfolds differently than expected. You can do the impossible. Nothing is too hard for You. Help us to release the results of our dreams to you. You can do more than we can even imagine.

You know the things than can destroy and You can see our blind spots. Help us to stay close to You, our Creator. You are the inventor of creativity, help us to magnify You above the works of our hands. Forgive us for making more of the gift than You, the Giver.

Lord, we want to produce sweet fruit. We desire our work to be pleasing to You. Help us to remain close to You, grounded in Your Word, and loyal to Your lead. Keep us from acting independently of You. We need You. You are the Master Artist and the Author of our stories. May we fix our eyes on You, incline our ears to hear from You, and use our feet to fully follow You.

May we use this life to make You known.

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We offer You our minds, our hearts, our time, our lives for Your purposes Lord.

Thank You for creating us to be dreamers. May we light up our community with Your light.

Amen.

Shared by: Katie M. Reid

3 Steps to Help You Get Unstuck

April 27, 2016 By Katie Reid 4 Comments

For over two years I’ve been writing a memoir of sorts about my journey with control and how God has met me with grace in tightly-wound moments. Right now, I’m currently in the revision process and I’ve been battling discouragement.

Self-doubt, comparison, and the demands of the project have all contributed to how I’ve been feeling.

I am not a quitter, I am a finisher, but there usually comes a point in a project when I’m tempted to stop short of completing it.

As we pursue our God-given dreams we may get stuck throughout the process for a variety of reasons.

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Here are 3 steps to help you get unstuck:

Write down the “why” and refer to it frequently:

Why did you start this project in the first place? Make a pretty piece of word art (or just jot it down on a piece of paper) to answer this question. Put your answer in a prominent place so you don’t forget your motivation for completing the project. For example mine might say this:

I am writing this book to help free myself and others from tightly-wound tendencies. I desire for others to grow closer to the Lord and to receive and extend grace in everyday moments.

When we answer the “why” and refer back to it often, it keeps us going. When we get bogged down by the details or the magnitude of our project, our mission statement can help us stay focused and press on.

Tell your support network how you’re feeling:

I hope you have a few friends or family members that are supportive of your endeavor. Be honest with them and ask for help if needed. Set a deadline to finish your project (if you haven’t already) and ask them to hold you accountable to it.

I confessed to my husband how discouraged I’d been feeling at this stage in my project. He then went out of his way to encourage me. He said, “You can’t give up. You can do this. Keep going!” He provided extra space for me to get things done, since this particular part of my project requires additional thought and time.

Do one thing each day to move your project forward:

It is biblical and wise to have a day of rest. When we are recharged we are more likely to be creative. But, all the other days, do at least one thing on your project.

I’d been trying to take on two or three chapter revisions a day and it was too much, so I scaled back to one chapter a day and felt more successful. It may take longer to get my project done but I’m tackling it in more bite-size pieces.

Be realistic with what you can do each day and then follow through.

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This will help energize you vs. feeling overwhelmed by all that still needs to be done.

Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” -Galatians 6:9

The God-sized Dreams Community is committed to encouraging you as you pursue your dreams. We know the journey is not easy and that there are all sorts of detours and delays that can impact your progress. However, we hope these three steps will help motivate you to keep going and not give up.

What are some steps that keep you moving forward? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page.

Shared by: Katie M. Reid

P.S. We just launched our Spring t-shirt campaign! There are two designs and a variety of colors and styles to choose from. Don’t miss this sale…it won’t last long!

For Dream Chaser, click this link ==>https://teespring.com/GSD-dream-Chaser

For Dreamers Gonna Dream, click this link ==>https://teespring.com/GSD-dreamers-gonna-dream

Loving the Naysayers While Pursuing Your God-given Purpose

February 22, 2016 By Katie Reid 6 Comments

During our adoption journey, one of my sister-in-laws said something like this, “Keep doing what God has called you to, even if you don’t get approval from others.”

It’s natural to crave confetti, fanfare and wild cheers when we are pursuing God-sized Dreams—at the very least a thumbs up, heart and like.

What happens when others don’t give us the response or the approval that we are hoping for?

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Do we hold it against them? Do we stop being interested in their dreams because they seem to have done that to us? Worse yet, do we withhold love because we feel unloved?

The other day I read the following passage:

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” –Matthew 5:46-47

I was convicted.

The Nature of His Heart:

Do I just love those who love me in return? Do I withhold who I am from those who misunderstand me?

I am not talking about entertaining toxic relationships or usurping healthy boundaries but I am referring to living more like Christ did.

He loved the lowly. He had compassion on those who had gone astray. He invested in those who did not understand His mission.

Jesus could have ignored those by the side of the road. He could have sent the crowds away. He could have written off those who were slow to grasp His calling. Yet, He stopped, He taught, He kept communicating. He served, He led by example, He stayed true to the mission that His Father had clearly given to Him.

Jesus does not withhold His love for us when He feels unloved by us.

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How many times have I been unloving and unresponsive to Christ’s heart?

What about you?

Getting to the Heart:

Do you have someone in your life that is hard to love?

Do your inner thoughts and big dreams feel unsafe with some of your treasured ones?

Do you withhold love from those who disagree with your convictions and disapprove of your decisions?

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” –Matthew 5:43-45a

A Change of Heart:

Dear God:
Help us to love as you love us. Forgive us for choosing to withhold love from others based on our need for approval. If we are in You, through Christ, then we are approved, and we can rest in that assurance.

It is hard to love those who disagree with us, especially enemies. But, we thank You for Your example to love the unlovable and to pray for those who persecute. Help us to be more like You and to grow in grace and godliness, for Your Glory.

Thank You for entrusting us with purposes to exalt Your Name. May we be faithful to take the next step with these God-given dreams, even when there are naysayers and negative feedback.

Expand our hearts to love as You do.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Shared by: Katie M. Reid

The Way of the Wise

December 7, 2015 By Katie Reid 1 Comment

Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).

Sometimes I lose sight of the main objective of the creative process.

The main point is not the fulfillment of a dream, but the connection to the Creator along the way. I am God’s creation and He has things for me to create. But when I start bowing to the creation, instead of the Creator, I trip.

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” Romans 1:25

I lose sight of His love when I start loving the work of my hands more than the One who formed these hands. (<===Click to Tweet)

I am no better than Herod—full of insecurity, fuming with jealousy and fixed on hate—when I insist on sitting on the throne and calling the shots (see Matthew 2:1-12 and 2:16).

I want to be like the wise men. They knew who they were yet also sought to know the One that was greater than they.

They didn’t lose sight of the end goal.

They journeyed long to reach Him. They traveled together and stayed the course even when they faced unforeseen obstacles. They followed the light and were led to Him. They laid down lavish gifts at His feet. They emptied their hands in order to lift them to the Long, Awaited One. They surrendered their treasure to His Kingship.

Let’s follow the example of the wise that have gone before us as we make our way to the All Wise One:

Let’s continue to travel on this bumpy road of faith and not stop short of His Majesty,
Let’s encourage each other to stay the course even when the way is difficult,
Let’s bring what we have in hand and lay it willingly at His feet—knowing He’s worthy of our offering,
Let’s come near to the King and kneel in reference.

There is blessing found in obedience,
even when we’d rather run ahead and forge our own way.

There is wisdom found in surrender,
even when we think we know it all, we yield to listen.

There is joy found in communion,
even when we aren’t sure how it will all turn out.

There is hope in the dark,
even when we can’t see the way through.

There is peace in submission,
even when we don’t know the end of our story.

You matter to the King.
He came for you.

He has placed dreams within you to be used as worship. (<===Click to Tweet)

Remember the gift is not greater than the Giver but it is a tool to bring Him glory.
Remember the wise men and follow their lead as we honor the King of Kings.

I bring an offering
Of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves
The praises that I sing

Jesus, may You receive
The honor that You’re due
O Lord, I bring an offering to You.”

Lyrics from Offering by Paul Baloche

Shared by: Katie M. Reid

Detours Aren’t Dead End Dreams

October 9, 2015 By Katie Reid 13 Comments

I usually don’t allow a lot of extra time to get places. I do as much as possible before leaving and underestimate how long it will take to get to my destination.

Once on the road, I clip along, and then I see it: ROAD WORK AHEAD. FOLLOW DETOUR.

When I see “road closed” signs I usually look beyond the barrier to see if I can still drive that way. I view the sign as a suggestion not a rule.

I don’t like to take detours. But, if I plow through the barricade it could prove reckless, illegal and might do a lot of damage—or even destroy me and those in my charge.

Detours feel like a nuisance, an unexpected redirection. I don’t have time for them because I’m already cutting it close and will most likely be late because of the delay.

Do you ever run into detours as you journey towards your God-sized dreams? You put the pedal to the metal to make good time but are rerouted when you least expect it.

It feels like a waste of time as we take the long way around. It could have been how the Israelites felt as they wandered in the desert for forty years.

We just want to get where we’re going. We want to arrive at the Promised Land, yesterday.

But, detours can be life-giving.

As you cover unfamiliar ground you take in new views that can make all the difference as you move towards your destination. A detour can be an exciting change of scenery.

Sometimes the alternative route is breathtaking, with open spaces and room to breathe deeply. Other times the detour is bumpy and unpredictable. Whatever the circumstances of our dream-detour let’s remember that it is an important part of our journey.

This month I’m learning to unwind through rest and prayer. I am not good at either of these things but as I experience delays in the fruition of my dreams, I think these two beauties are excellent traveling companions.

Let’s rest in His ability to get us to the next step—even if it takes much longer than we anticipated. (<===Click to Tweet)

Let’s pray and ask Him to help bring life to these God-given desires in His timing and way.

Detours redirect us at crucial times.

Detours can protect us from pending danger.
Delays can reveal something crucial for the next leg of the journey.
Detours might enrich us in ways that we never expected.
Delays might be just what is needed to slow us down.

When God called the Israelites out of Egypt I’ll bet they didn’t know what was in store. But as they wandered they learned important lessons about the One who led them by cloud and by fire (see Exodus 13:21).

As the Israelites approached the Red Sea, I’ll bet they saw a dead end. But God took them on a detour—right through the sea! He brought them through in a supernatural way, one they would never forget.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” -Exodus 14:21-22

Detours are not dead ends.

Are you facing a detour or delay in regards to your God-sized dream? Does it feel like a dead end?

Let’s choose to believe the Sea-parting, Manna-providing, Nation-building, Land-Preserving God who is able to bring us through in His timing and His way. (<===Click to Tweet)

Let’s take a deep breath and rest in the fact that God is not surprised by the detour and that He can use it to show us His faithfulness in trying times.

Detours slow.
Dead ends stop.

If God has given you a dream then I believe that somehow, someway He will fulfill it. It might end up looking much different than you expected. It might morph and change. You might miss it because you are determined to see it play out in a specific way.

Often what seems like a dead-end, is just a detour as we drive towards our dreams.

Don’t dread the detours.

Life has turned out differently, than I once had planned. But through the hills and valleys, I can clearly see Your hand.”

P.S. As a special gift for all you dreamers, head on over here for some free music. The song, Waitin’ on Someday, is a reminder to keep hoping in the Lord, even when we can’t see around the bend.

Shared by: Katie M. Reid

When Your Journey Keeps You on Shore

August 14, 2015 By Katie Reid 6 Comments

The ship is departing. Its sails unfurl and catch the wind as it takes off towards an exotic destination. You wave from shore—excited for the adventure that awaits those who have embarked on the voyage.

As the ship leaves port and reaches the open seas you’re left with conflicting emotions—elation mixed with emptiness. A few salty tears escape as you swallow hard to keep your hurt at bay.

You remain.

Maybe it’s because you weren’t invited, or couldn’t afford the passage, maybe it was a timing issue, or maybe you get seasick.

Whatever the reasons, you feel left behind, less-than and lonely (<====Click To Tweet).

You go back to collecting shells near the shore. You slowly dip one foot into the cool water as you gaze at the vast sea before you.

A rush of melancholy musings starts to rise until your attention is drawn back to the beach at the sound of a noisy gull.

You stop for a moment and watch the determined gull search for leftover morsels to satisfy its hunger.

You start to see beauty there in the sand as your gaze is turned from open waters to the treasures found at your feet. You stoop down to retrieve a piece of sea glass. As you place it carefully into your bucket your heart is uplifted.

It took decades for this broken piece of glass to transform into treasure—smoothed and shaped by the tumbling and grounding of the sea. Yet it emerges, altered and improved, after years of refinement. This slow and steady process has added value to this one-of-a-kind darling. It didn’t fight the waves but allowed their pressure to bring forth a deeper glory.

You stand now, a little taller than before. The ship is gone but you are finding renewed purpose on the seashore. There is grace to be found here, hidden beneath grains of sand.

As you walk slowly you start to see your reason for being here. Your mission is to find those gathered at your feet, to pick up the broken and discover the beautiful, to take the pieces and see how they fit together—a colorful mosaic of His doing.

The mundane feels more meaningful as you let go of your hunger to sail and determine to comb the beach for hidden gems. The longing to sail lingers yet fresh resolve to stay swells from within. You stop fighting the coming tide and let it wash over your feet, like sea glass.

True peace surfaces as you follow the steps of the Savior. He might surprise you by calling you out on the waters. Or He might ask you to remain on shore and feed those gathered there. He might tell you to throw your net overboard again, even though you’ve caught nothing for a long time. Or He might let the storm rage as you learn to trust Him in the midst of it.

Your path might look different than you thought it would, but don’t lose valuable time longing for another journey. Each path comes with its own set of trials and triumphs, tailored-made to transform you (<====Click to Tweet).

Set your gaze on the steps before you and wholeheartedly follow the One who gives you a hope and a future (see Proverbs 23:18).

Whether you are sailing the seas or collecting sea glass on the shore you can rest in His ability to get you from Point A to Point B. Embarking on a new adventure is often exciting and scary, and the ending is often surprising and fulfilling, but the uncertainty of the middle can wear on us.

Don’t despise the mundane parts of your journey; don’t get sidetracked. Steadily follow the One who knows how it will all turn out. Enjoy His Presence as you spend time together, whether on shore or at sea.

God meets you in the middle and, I dare say, that is where the magic happens—right there, in the mundane and the messy, you encounter the Majestic.

Stay the course, even when your journey looks different from what you expected.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. –Proverbs 3:5-6, The Message

-Are you missing the sea glass because you hunger for the thrill of the open seas?

-What is God teaching you in the midst of the mundane parts of your journey?

Shared by: Katie M. Reid

Stay the Course: Space and Place for Your Dreams to Fly

May 13, 2015 By Katie Reid 19 Comments

We are excited to offer you a new monthly series entitled, Stay the Course. This series will run on the second Wednesday of the month and will showcase various books, products, and ideas to help you stay on course as you pursue your God-given dreams. This series is designed to encourage you to keep going as you are introduced to, or reacquainted with, some helpful tools. The Chart Your Course page (found under the Archives tab) is another great place to find practical resources for your journey.

Space and Place For Your Dreams to Fly

Do you ever feel alone as a “dreamer”? Do you have ideas that fill up both your brain and heart but no safe place to pour them out?

I understand.

Misunderstanding, rejection and pain often follow closely behind us “idea people”. Our vision and excitement grow quickly only to be met by blank stares, indifference, or less-than-enthusiast responses.

Or maybe we are the ones who ground our ideas before they take flight? Doubts, fears and insecurities clip our wings and keep us hovering low.

What then?

How do we keep the ideas flowing like a warm, gentle breeze upon which to fly? How do we dare to dream when dreaming hurts and the future is uncertain?

I went through a stagnant season with my ideas. However, prior to this time, I had so many ideas it hurt. They fluttered within ready to leap out from under the nest of my heart, but there was no safe place for them to land; it felt like I would either burst or be dashed on the hard ground below.

The vision was clear but I had not been given the territory to see my dreams leap into a stunning display of creativity.

God-given territory, training and timing are key elements in seeing your dreams take flight. (<====Click To Tweet)

So what do you do when God gives the ideas but it is not yet time to act?

Instead of resolving to stop dreaming I suggest writing down your ideas. I know, I know, this can be annoying advice when you really just want to act on the ideas—but stay with me.

I think the most painful thing you can do is to stop dreaming. Our ideas keep us moving forward. Every idea isn’t necessarily a great one but, as we give ourselves room to dream, we are doing important preparatory work.

I want you to know that you matter. Your God-given ideas, dreams and hopes are important. He cares about your thoughts.

It is my prayer that you have a few friends that are dreamers too. Consider getting together with them (or calling or skyping) every so often so that you don’t forget what it’s like let your ideas fly.

If you don’t have some friends like this I am praying right now that God will bring you one. This God-sized Dreams community is a great place to connect with other dreams too, but it doesn’t trump that face-to-face, see-the-wild-enthusiasm-in-their-eyes, kind of experience.

About a month ago a fellow dreamer, Celeste guest posted here. I am delighted to introduce you to a great resource that she has written to help you keep dreaming.

Be Your Best Brave is a focused journal by Celeste Barnard. It contains verses and quotes about bravery and lots of inviting space to pour out your hopes. This journal is an inviting landing place for those dreams that keep you up at night (no, it’s not water-proof for those shower epiphanies but you can put it next to your bed for the 3am revelations). Celeste encourages the dreamers in all of us to move forward, one brave step at a time.

Be Your Best Brave is available for purchase on Amazon. Would you consider leaving an honest review of the journal after you receive it? I know that would be helpful to Celeste and those who are looking for a resource like this.

It does my heart good to look back on the dreams I have already recorded in this book. It keeps them fresh in my mind and heart. It will be interesting to go back and see which ideas unfolded and which ones just folded over time.

I am praying for pockets of time in your day to dream, not to walk around with your head in the clouds but to look up at those clouds and dare to take the next step towards flight.

Celeste is giving away 2 of her Be Your Best Brave journals to God-sized Dreams readers! Enter the giveaway below:

Be Your Best Brave Giveaway

Shared by: Katie M. Reid

When Your Dreams Feel Small and Ordinary

April 20, 2015 By Katie Reid 27 Comments

As we walked down the overgrown path, batting at flies and trying to keep our kids in tow, my friend told me about a book she was reading, The Dream Giver, by Bruce Wilkinson. She piqued my interest with her summation and we spent the rest of the walk identifying the dreams of other people we know.

I am a dreamer. I dream big dreams and delight in helping others take the next steps in their God-given purposes and passions, so, naturally, I asked my friend what her dream was.

“I’m not sure,” she replied.

Years have passed since that conversation but I think she would still answer in the same way.

My friend lives a simple life, yet, as she does seemingly ordinary things, like laundry, listening, and loving those around her, I think she is making a world of difference—at least she is for this dreamer.

Her prayers, her timely words, and her listening ear have been wind that my sails needed so that I don’t remain stagnant or abandon ship altogether.

My brother is an example of someone who lives a “small” life in the world’s eyes. He has Down Syndrome and his dreams of marriage, having children, and playing football for Notre Dame remain unfulfilled, yet he lives life large as he quietly goes about his daily business. He brings us joy by offering an arm around the shoulder on a hard day, selecting the perfect birthday card to lift spirits, and making us laugh as he piles clothes (and sometimes undies) atop his head for comedic relief.

My brother’s simple life makes a big difference to those around him.

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

Several years ago I watched a televised event in which a well-known talk show host received gushing accolades as she retired from her current position. There were speeches, glitz, and lots of gratitude poured out as this woman was elevated higher than the dome’s arched ceiling.

As I watched this celebration unfold, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, she is sure getting praised, almost worshiped, from the masses for her successes.”

And I wonder if we have it all wrong?

Maybe at the end of this voyage, God is going to throw the confetti all over the ones who faithfully lived out their small and ordinary lives, like my friend and my brother. Their dreams may not have changed the world, but they affected one life at a time, steadily and humbly; and that made all the difference.

We often receive earthly praise for pursuing big dreams, but being faithful with the small things is often harder, and I think, even more important in the end.

The hard work of being a loyal friend, a devoted spouse, an attentive parent or a trustworthy co-worker doesn’t always feel like we are living a dream; it can sometimes feel like a nightmare as we struggle to stay on course. However, as we follow God’s path, we are leaving a light trail that points straight to Him.

Don’t get me wrong, I love it when people dream big. But don’t stress if your dream feels small and ordinary or if you don’t even know what your God-sized dream is.

If we make much of Jesus and love Him with all we have, we are living a fulfilling life that can impact eternity; and that is something big and extraordinary.

It isn’t the size of your dream that matters in the end, what matters it that you faithfully followed His course. I think one day we will be surprised by the greatness that was found in these ordinary days.

When your dream feels small or ordinary it just might be the fertile ground needed to make much of the Dream Giver. (<====Click to Tweet)

Shared By: Katie Reid