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Feeling Lonely While Pursuing Your God-Sized Dreams?

March 26, 2018 By Elise Daly Parker 22 Comments

 

“Was just talking to God and I realize I get bored and lonely when not collaborating in some way. I have wonderful stuff I’m doing. I like my editing work. And I’m enjoying writing content for The Mom Mentor. So I’m thinking…do I just need to get over myself or is there something I’m missing that I’m made for? Just a minor question for a Tuesday…”

This was a text I sent to Kimberly Amici, one of the co-hosts on our Slices of Life podcast. I was relieved to hear that she also struggled with working alone. She had already been talking to another member of the Slices of Life team, Noelle Rhodes, about the same thing.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Sometimes, while pursuing my God-sized dreams, I feel lonely and alone in my work.” quote=”Sometimes, while pursuing my God-sized dreams, I feel lonely and alone in my work.”]

I think there are a number of reasons why this is so, some of which you just might identify with.

  1. We live in a digital world – So while the Slices of Life podcast, for example, is collaborative because it’s at least three people having a conversation about real faith, real life, real community – we can do the work of taping over Skype. The upside is we can be in our own homes in sweats with no makeup on. The downside is we are not really in the company of one another. We do catch up a little, pray, tape, and chat for a few more minutes every time we tape, but there’s just no substitute for being in a room together.
  2. Some of us just don’t like being alone so often – Most of my work as a writer and editor requires me to be quiet (obviously not the case when I’m life coaching). I’m also easily distracted. So I need to be by myself. I’m likely to get the most done most efficiently alone in my own home office. No music. No talking. Just me and my computer. But after days and days of that, I’ve got to get out. I’ve got to engage with other people. I am an extrovert and being alone can drain me after a while.
  3. Isolation can lead to “stinkin’ thinkin’” – When I’m alone for too long, I can start to feel discouraged. Is this really what I’m called to? My imagination can get the best of me. Comparison can creep in. In my boredom, I can start to look for ways to fill my loneliness – like eating things that aren’t good for me but feel like comfort, or going off on a social media bender for an hour…anybody?
  4. We can feel like we’re in a vacuum – I’m an idea person, many dreamers are! We just can’t help ourselves. An entrepreneurial spirit is often part of the makeup of a God-sized dreamer. So we have ideas…All. The. Time. And by talking to others we can figure out if the idea might be worth pursuing. We process verbally. Sometimes writing can help, but sometimes we just need to share ideas with an understanding or like-minded friend out loud.

[clickToTweet tweet=”So what’s the solution for a God-sized dreamer who needs to be alone to pursue her dream, but craves the company in collaboration? ” quote=”So what’s the solution for a God-sized dreamer who needs to be alone to pursue her dream, but craves the company in collaboration?”]

Here are a few ideas:

  1. Meet regularly with a friend or two – Since Kimberly and Noelle were feeling similarly, the three of us are going to meet together in one of our homes on a regular basis. We’ll be intentional about our time with an agenda that includes collaborative talk time, a lunch break, independent work with headphones on, then we’ll end our time together with a little additional sharing.
  2. Consider a Meetup – You can join a Meetup group, start your own through Meetup, or gather a like-minded group regularly on your own, much like a book group. What’s Meetup? According to their About, “Getting together with real people in real life makes powerful things happen. Side hustles become careers, ideas become movements, and chance encounters become lifelong connections. Meetup brings people together to create thriving communities.” Groups of people are getting together to share writing, cooking, decluttering, and so much more through Meetup all over the world.
  3. Try Coworking – Yes…it’s a real thing. Ideal for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and freelancers, these are flexible shared office spaces. There are at least two spaces I know of right in my own town. You can agree to meet with friends a few times a week. You can buy a Day Pass, Monthly Pass, even a Monthly Dedicated Desk that allows you to use this space with a desk reserved just for you every day if you wish.

As Holley Gerth says in You Were Made for a God-Sized Dream, “Sometimes we feel alone not because we need to be with others but because God wants to be with us…Sometimes the feeling that we are alone is actually an invitation to stop and recognize his presence with us.”

You’ll definitely want to discern the difference between when you’re called to be alone so God can meet you in the quiet…and when you’re feeling lonely and need to connect with others.

When you need to step out and be with others…go ahead and find a way to do it. I’m cheering you on!

Shared by Elise Daly Parker

                                  

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An InLinkz Link-up


Filed Under: Book Club, Community, Making time to work on your dream, The Dream Journey, The Ups and Downs of Dreaming, When Your Dream Includes Writing

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5 Practical Secrets to Realizing Your God-Sized Dreams

July 19, 2017 By Elise Daly Parker 6 Comments

Does the word “practical” sound weird to you when talking about dreams? Like realizing your dreams shouldn’t be practical? I sometimes think my dreams have to be so lofty and a little bit wild in order to be dreams. Like if they seem attainable in some practical step-by-step sort of way, they’re not “dreamy” enough.

Well, I’m here to tell you. Yes, God can make any dream come true…even the craziest, way-beyond-me-est, most impractical dreams. But a lot of times, [clickToTweet tweet=”There are down-to-earth steps to fulfill our dreams-that doesn’t make them less #Godsized. @EliseDalyParker” quote=”there are some very down-to-earth steps we can take to fulfill our dreams. And that doesn’t make them any less God-sized. “]

God plants dreams in our hearts, often in the way He’s made us from the beginning, even before we were knit together in our mother’s womb. And He puts us in places, connects us to people, and opens God-sized doors and windows of opportunity that develop our dreams. He is an amazing orchestrator when it comes to our dreams.

But we are absolutely positively invited to participate! God is a God of order and intention. Just look at Genesis to see how He step-by-step created the world. He had a plan for each day. He has made us in His image.

And this brings me to the first of 5 Practical Secrets to Realizing Your God-Sized Dream…

1.Define Your Dream – No vague, lofty ideas invited here. Who are you? What do you want? What is your dream? Really…Do you want to write and publish a book? What is the book about? Do you know about the process of writing and publishing? Know your options? Or, do you dream of running a successful coaching business (yes!)? How are you qualified? Who will you serve? What are you uniquely gifted to offer people as a coach?

Coaching Challenge – Don’t leave your dream hanging “out there.” Define it concretely!

2. Set SMART Goals – Okay, so now that you’ve defined your dream, how will you move toward the fulfillment of your dream? You’ve got to set goals, so you can move forward and track your progress, which is very motivating. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.

Coaching Challenge – [clickToTweet tweet=”Set 5 SMART goals-#Specific #Measurable #Achievable #Realistic #Timely 2 help achieve your dream. @EliseDalyParker ” quote=”Set five SMART goals that will help you achieve your dreams. “]

3. Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail – You know, I’m a creative, dreamer type from way back. I love to “go with the flow.” And while that can make me at times easygoing, chill, whatever will be will be…it can also make me unproductive. Because if I don’t have a plan to reach my dreams, well how am I going to get there? One day will flow into the other. One minute on the Internet will flow into hours. And at the end of the day, week, month, year, I will have done little without a plan.

Coaching Challenge – What is your plan for achieving your goal? How many hours will you give your dream each week? Put this on your calendar…and if you’re not using a calendar, start now.

4. Focus on Your Dream Tasks – Oh there are so many things vying for our attention, turning our thoughts right and left, bunny trails that take us far off our road of intention. What will you do to remain focused despite all the distraction and noise in the world? Will you turn off the alerts on your computer that literally pump adrenaline through your system begging you to respond? Can you silence your phone and all the alarms for a designated period of time…maybe even move it to another room so you can concentrate?

Coaching Challenge – What tempts you away from focusing on your dream? Commit to removing the distractions you’ve identified.

5. Celebrate Your Progress – I used to be a certified birth instructor. After our class was complete and babies were born, we always had a reunion. My new-mom students often expressed their frustration about “not getting ANYTHING done.” I suggested, instead of writing a To Do list, they could write a Got Done list. I challenge you to do the same. Instead of lamenting about what you haven’t done, learn to appreciate your progress.

Coaching Challenge – When you take a step toward your dream, write it down. Track your progress and you’ll quickly see that each step adds up.

No matter how lofty your dream is, no matter how far out of reach fulfillment may seem, there is no substitute for hard work, determination, and perseverance. Do the next thing, and the next, and then the next and before you know it, you will have a dream come true.

Put these 5 Secrets into practice and share your Got Done list with me. I’d love to celebrate your progress!

Shared by Elise Daly Parker

 

Filed Under: Making time to work on your dream, Organizing Your Dream, When Your Dream Includes Writing

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We Are All Gifted

March 27, 2017 By Kathy Cheek 12 Comments

We Are All Gifted

Each one of us is gifted by God.

We all have talent that God has placed in us. From one individual to another it will look different. It always amazes me to hear one person express how they love to work with teenagers in their church group, and someone else will say they could never work with teenagers but love teaching the little ones in preschool. Then, someone else admits they don’t work well with either age group, but they enjoy helping to plan a ministry event and making sure all those details come together.

I once heard a lady sadly declare that she didn’t think she had much talent, but when we pursued the subject, she admitted that she loved coming up with the ideas for the centerpieces for various women’s ministry events and other church wide functions. Together, we recalled the different centerpieces we had seen and assured her that she, indeed, did have a gift, and we helped her to see herself as an artist.

She had not ever seen herself that way before, but her face brightened when she realized that she had something special to offer.

Some of us are good at crunching numbers while others are good at nursing or photography, teaching, leading, cooking, counseling…and the list of varied skills goes on. All are God-given, and the wide range of diversity is reflected as soon as you talk to a group of people and discover their talents and interests.

God made us unique, and the gifts He gives us are part of His design to bring our lives purpose and satisfaction.

They are also the evidence that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

God-sized Dreams is a place where we can help each other develop and grow our gifts. Our stories and encouragement provide ongoing support through the ups and downs, the open and the closed doors, the stumbles and the successes.

But the most important truth we need to remember is this:

We are each individually gifted because we are wonderfully made by God.

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I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)

I am a writer. In fact, I am one of the new additions to the team this year. I want to encourage others to see themselves as God sees them and to walk by faith as they live out a daily relationship with the Lord. I will admit, my writing journey has looked like the sentence above…open and closed doors, stumbles and successes.

How about you?

Are you like the lady who didn’t think she had much to offer, yet she did; or, are you living out your God-sized dream in real time?

Are you just getting started or are you stuck trying to get started?

Are you weary from the journey or celebrating a joyous victory?

Whatever your answer, I hope you believe you are gifted because you do have much to offer!

Shared by: Kathy Cheek 

                                                      

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An InLinkz Link-up


Filed Under: Growing Your Dream, The Ups and Downs of Dreaming, When Your Dream Includes Writing

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5 Ways Intentional Community Can Foster Your God-Sized Dreams

March 6, 2017 By Elise Daly Parker 17 Comments

Every year, for over 10 years now, we gather as a supportive, caring, listening, praying, laughing, loving community in our friend’s seaside home the last weekend in January. We call it the Wonderfully Not Normal Weekend. There are about 15 of us, give or take one or two who regrettably can’t make it because something, though very few things, take precedence over this unique and precious time together.

The goal is always to get there Friday evening for our first community meal. The menu plan is really no longer a plan at all. It just flows organically. Everyone brings their specialty, along with lots of snacks – nuts, fruit, granola bars, and of course, lots of chocolate!

And, while the conversation could easily flow organically too the whole weekend long, there is purpose in this weekend – to connect, to know one another, to hold a sacred space for one another, to pray for one another.

Community-to connect, know one another, hold a sacred space for one another, pray for one another.

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Because nowadays, time and space, full-time and part-time jobs and ministry separate us. The years of being home with our kids have mostly long passed.

When we first began this holy weekend we allowed time to drift along, with a few non-negotiables. We always gathered in the wide-open living room, the fire crackling in the big stone fireplace for most of our time together. And we listened to one another. Trials, triumphs, tragedies…all mixed up in one weekend.

One had a crisis with a child. Another’s marriage was on rocky ground. Still another had finally lost some weight. One just had her first daughter’s wedding…and then a grandchild. We recapped life together.

Now we’re more intentional with this sacred community time. Each of us is invited to share for 10 minutes about whatever they like or need, as the case may be, to talk about.

Then we, the listeners, get 5 minutes to affirm the designated speaker, ask a question for greater understanding, reflect back what we’ve heard. But we are not allowed to try to solve our speaker’s problem, or fix or advise. The point is to listen…to hear. Finally, the one who has just shared sits in a chair, and we gather round and lay hands on her and pray for 5 minutes. It’s a powerful prayer circle full of love, sometimes tears, even sobs, and lots of laughter and joy too.

Everyone gets her turn over the course of the weekend. And everyone returns year after year to hear, to love, to learn, to grow in community.

What do we do for one another as a band of community?

  1. We affirm – Listening so intently validates our worth as a sister and friend, our lives – lumpy, bumpy, and imperfect as they are, our struggles and our triumphs, it all matters.
  2. We care – The timing of this weekend is perfect – far away enough from the holidays but near enough that the New Year still feels new. We have an opportunity to reflect back on our year. Doesn’t each year deserve that? And then we start to dream, map out, envision the next year amongst people who we know care.
  3. We are present – In the middle of all the busyness of life, we stop. We set aside our plans, our thoughts, ourselves as we listen. We think, we feel, we are present for one another.
  4. We remember – A year can be a long time. As we listen and share, we are reminded of our dreams from the past. And sometimes we see progress we hadn’t seen before.
  5. We inspire – I have a dream to write a book. Truth be told, several books. And so, I’m sure like many of the God-sized Dreamers who show up here on this site, I collect my thoughts, ideas, notes all the time. This past January, when my dear friend shared, I was struck by how her words were in complete harmony with an idea I’ve been feverishly writing notes on. Coincidence? I think not! I am inspired and propelled to move forward.
Our lives – lumpy, bumpy, and imperfect as they are, our struggles and our triumphs, it all matters.

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Our dreams do not exist apart from us. They are in us, an extension of us, a piece of all that makes up each one of us. A dream shared, expressed, acknowledged, accounted for takes shape in community…and sometimes that’s actually where our dream comes true.

What’s your dream? Share it with us today so we can cheer you on!

Want more on girlfriend getaways and friendship? Check out this podcast…

Shared by Elise Daly Parker

                                                                   

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An InLinkz Link-up


Filed Under: Community, Growing Your Dream, When Your Dream Includes Writing

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What To Do After The Harvest And The #DreamTogether Linkup

October 24, 2016 By Karen Sipps Leave a Comment

What To Do After The Harvest

what to do after the harvest

When I worked as a leader in direct sales, we had an exercise called “dream boarding.” Dream boards held visual pictures of our dreams and goals on poster boards, along with dates we wanted to achieve the dreams by. I encouraged my team to not just have a photo of each dream they wanted, but to make a plan to get there… to break the goal or dream down by the necessary action items we needed to take to get there. I even conducted a company-wide training event for all consultants on visioning, explaining the three parts of the brain that were engaged when dream boarding was invoked.

As far as dream board creation goes, I could dream like nobody’s business. I called it visioning, because in my eyes dreaming was passive, while visioning was active, hard work. It was the things you did to make the dream come to life. The great thing about each goal and dream, is that as they were whittled down one by one, a bigger, better dream was put in its place.

Make Senior Consultant? Check! Next goal: Director!

Make Director? Check! Next goal: Develop my team members and help them meet their goals! Check, check, aaaaand check! Next goal? You get the idea.

On one hand, it was amazing to see my list of goals and dreams whittled down one by one, as I pushed myself to do the next hard thing.

God-dreaming, however, was… different.

I’ve had this list of God-sized dreams forever. I’d done the work. Put in the hours. Put in the years. One by one, I watched God bring the harvest I’d desired for so long and answer my prayers to achieve each goal.

Published magazine articles? Check!

Published book? Check!

God-Sized Dreamer? Check!

Women’s event speaker? Check!

Each dream and goal that God allowed me to achieve was so humbling – that He would care about even the fine details of the passions I’d held so close to my heart for long. At the same time, as this list of dreams I’d held so close for so long dwindled down to just a few dreams left unchecked, I couldn’t bring myself to put new things on the list.

Instead of replacing the achieved dreams with new ones as I did so easily in direct sales, I found myself looking at a crossed out list with no idea what to do next. Because sales goals were easy to achieve, and the next step in the plan was easy to see, I could pick them off one by one like the petals of a daisy.

But these God-sized dreams were lifelong. They were precious. I considered myself blessed that God would bring the harvest after the working season, but didn’t dare ask Him for more harvest seasons, because He’d already given me more than I’d even imagined. And if there were no more harvests… if there were no more dreams on my list, I’d count myself blessed. At the same time, I worried if my “usefulness” was complete, as if God would somehow decide that the talents He’d given me had an expiration date.

I had no idea what to add to the list — if anything — because what He’d already given me was of epic proportions. Asking for more seemed selfish. Self-serving. Self-promoting. Ungrateful. I even had a friend ask me why I wasn’t promoting my Facebook page.

“Because I don’t want to promote myself. If He wants to grow it, He will,” I said, believing on 1 Corinthians 3:7.

“But if the topics you cover on your page bring light to others, isn’t that promoting Him?”

So I looked at harvest cycles. I needed to know what to do now that my list was almost complete. I needed to know what farmers do after the harvest.

You see, farmers expect harvest. Not just one harvest. If God gives them the skills and desire to be a farmer, they’d need to, well… farm routinely. It’d need to be a cycle, not a one-time gig. And to have a successful harvest cycle, they spend the time after the last harvest, preparing for the next harvest. They don’t just run right into planting with no preparation.

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They analyze their crops. Identify what worked well. Identify what didn’t. They clean up their machines. Perform needed maintenance. Prep the fields for upcoming planting. They know that it’ll be awhile before the next harvest, that there’ll be plenty of hard work before the harvest, and that the better they prepare for the harvest, the better that harvest will be.

I think sometimes as dreamers, when God allows us the gift of harvest, we forget that it’s not really our harvest. Oh, we receive the blessing of the harvest. But the results we have using the gifts, talents, and abilities He’s provided are a yield for Him! I looked at the harvest as God’s gift to me. In a sense, it absolutely was. At the same time, our harvest is a love offering we can lay at His feet! But I don’t want to bring Him just one season’s worth of harvest. I want season after season, to lay crowns of obedience and fruitful harvest at His feet. 

Our harvest is a love offering we can lay at His feet.

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So farm on, dreamer. If you’ve seen your harvest and are wondering what on earth to plant next, remember the cycle the farmer follows. Before the next planting season, analyze what worked and what didn’t, perform needed maintenance and prep the fields by spending time in the Word. When your fields are ready, He’ll tell you exactly what to plant and when.

Cheering for you,

Karen

Shared by: Karen Sipps

                                                                             

dreamtogether-linkup

An InLinkz Link-up

I joined @GodsizeDreams for their #DreamTogether linkup!

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Filed Under: When Your Dream Comes True, When Your Dream Includes Writing

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Harvest, Praising In Advance, And Knowing There Is More To Come & The #DreamTogether Linkup

October 3, 2016 By Chelle Wilson 5 Comments

"You know what I learned about fig trees? The roots are tenacious, even invasive. They do not give up. There's a testimony there."

“You know what I learned about fig trees? The roots are tenacious, even invasive. They do not give up. There’s a testimony there.”

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)

It’s been nearly 10 years. When I walked away (involuntarily) from the job I believed was my dream, I hadn’t any idea what my “next” would be. Often, we Christians tell ourselves quoting Philippians 4:13 that we “can do all things through Christ…” You’re certainly familiar with this scripture. Research tells us that it is among the most popularly quoted scriptures in modern religion. According to at least one writer, “It has been used as a motivating rallying cry for those who want to believe that God will help them do whatever they want.” That’s not exactly the point. Once again, it’s not about what we want. That’s part of what it took me 10 years to learn. Stay tuned, I promise this is the story of a dream realized.

According to Rev. Bill Sullivan, pastor of Tulsa Christian Fellowship, “We often live our lives thinking “If Only,” and this attitude foils the contentment God wants us to live in daily.” I think we’re on serious Disney overload. Rather than wishing upon stars, the lesson in Philippians is about praising Him in advance. Instead of musing about what’s next…

With Christ as the secret to our serenity, we are already triumphant.

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We are already arrived.

Hold on, because we’re going back to go forward, as in 700 years earlier to the prophet Habakkuk’s teaching of the very same lesson. Despite his current reality, Habakkuk encouraged his people then and us today to rejoice in the Lord and be joyful. When we praise Him through all of our circumstances, we’ve mastered the most difficult challenges life can put before us, not because we’re smart or resilient, but because our strength is not our own. We are triumphant because the battles are not ours. Take my advice, and Habakkuk’s and Paul’s….get out of the way.

A consistent practice of surrender and praise puts you out of God’s way.

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So that’s what I spent 10 years doing. I was resigned to give up on the career I’d built that seemed DOA anyway. During endless days with time on my hands and the habit, borne of years at work, to be busy rather than idle, I began writing. I wrote as therapy. I wrote seeking answers to questions about life, faith, routinely writing myself through the scariest and most uncertain places of my own life, lighting candles in my darkness. Like Dory in “Finding Nemo,” with little else to do, I just kept swimming.

I mostly wrote to keep busy, not thinking about or being capable of seeing God’s Plan. He was refining me, stripping away all that was non-essential, in order to usher me into my dream. I wrote to write. I received positive feedback and a steady stream of encouragement from friends and family; that’s what they’re supposed to do. I started receiving invitations to write and then speak from people who didn’t necessarily owe me kind words and opportunities. Doors kept opening. I grew increasingly prolific and brave.

I was the fig tree that did not bud. I grew anyway. There were no grapes, at least none I could see, on my vines and no oil being pressed from my olives. I didn’t care. I couldn’t help myself. I only knew how to continue, putting one word beside the next, keeping busy, creating, even if no one saw, read, or cared, because by continuing to push myself forward, I was praising God in advance. I was doing the thing, through Christ. Doing.

The scripture in Philippians is not a key to success, but rather a key to sustainability. Do through Christ.

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Though there was no harvest, at least that I could see, despite any yield, no sheep in the pen, no cattle, no job, no check, I persevered. I rejoiced. I was joyful.

I now get paid to write. When my job went away, I craved validation. I made my first declaration filing taxes the first year I didn’t have a job, completing the form by indicating my profession as writer. I wanted to mean it, but honestly, I simply could not see writing that all I was was “unemployed.”

Even today, in writing this testimony, I am praising God in advance. I am awaiting a possible offer for full-time employment AS A WRITER, and am interviewing furiously because employers actively seek out the words I have to offer. I had a speaking engagement last week, and look forward to encouraging other women to share their words and offer up their stories. There’s one more thing. I just submitted a piece for consideration to the New York Times Opinion section on life and career re-invention, faith and gratitude. It is the single biggest leap of faith I have ever taken as a writer. It will be awesome, marvelous, and glorious if it gets published. It is awesome, marvelous, and all Glory and Honor-attributable to God that I did it at all. It’s harvest time.

According to one biblical commentary, Habakkuk teaches us that those “who, when full, enjoyed God in all, when emptied and poor, can enjoy all in God. They can sit down upon the heap of the ruins of their creature-comforts, and even then praise the Lord, as the God of their salvation (from www.christianity.com).

I wish I could honestly say that I was always joyful in my praise, and that I was always content in my state, but that would be untrue. My praise was often grudging, petulant, false and half-hearted. Thank God for Grace. According to Pastor and author John Piper, “Grace is the pleasure of God to magnify the worth of God by giving sinners the right and power to delight in God without obscuring the glory of God.” Over the last 10 years, I’ve benefited from more than my fair share. You know what I learned about fig trees? The roots are tenacious, even invasive. They do not give up. There’s a testimony there.

I can’t know where you are in your dreaming journey now, but I can testify to you from a little way down the road. I know what it is to feel defeated. I remember the sting of discouragement. I can still taste the bitterness of another failed attempt and another closed door. That is when we are closest to God, and closest to our own harvests.

God calls us far beyond our comfort zones, whispering that we have always had within us the seeds of Great Harvest.

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He is always waiting for us to be completely broken, yielded, surrendered, and available to grow in the ways He always intended. We are already triumphant, even though our victories may look nothing like the happy endings or dreams we imagined.

Surrender and trust Him, because His plans are better, and I am grateful. I’m learning to stay out of the way, praising Him in advance, knowing while this dream has been achieved, there is so much more in God’s Plan for me, for us all.

What’s your dream? I’d love to hear it.

Shared by: Chelle Wilson

 

                                                                       

dreamtogether-linkup

An InLinkz Link-up

I joined @Godsizedreams for their #DreamTogether Linkup!

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Filed Under: Living Your Dream, When Your Dream Includes Writing

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God-sized Dreams Require Confidence In Our God

May 30, 2016 By Lanette Haskins 2 Comments

God-sized Dreams Require Confidence In God

YGFM POST

I can hardly believe that it’s already May! It seems as though we were just braving the cold and snow, although this is Michigan and we could still have a snowstorm tomorrow and 80 degrees the next day.

But typically May means warmer weather, spring showers, flowers sprouting, trees budding and grass growing greener (and longer) by the minute.

May also means Mother’s Day — a time to celebrate our moms and to be celebrated.

As a mom I know how blessed and how busy that day can be and this year was no different. My children and grandchildren visited, brought me gifts, cooked me dinner and loved on me — it was a beautiful day. I’m also blessed to have my husband’s mom living next door and was able to spend time with her and some extended family too.

But this year I was missing my mom. About a year ago she remarried and made a big move south and although she recently flew home for a visit, those trips are few and far between. Looking back I know now that I took for granted when she lived nearby and I could see her whenever I wanted.

But life was always busy and although I would attempt to squeeze in a little “extra” time to spend with her it wasn’t enough.

Isn’t it so easy to get caught up in busyness and forget to be present with the ones we love?

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My mom always encouraged me in whatever my dreams were. She was of course, my biggest fan and my greatest cheerleader and even had dreams of her own for me. In my late teens she insisted that I could be the local Free Fair Queen which I concluded would probably require grace, poise and some sort of talent — all of which I was sure that I didn’t possess. She had much more confidence in me than I did!

She worked harder than anyone I knew but was harder on herself than anyone too. She criticized and judged herself for all that she was and all that she wasn’t. I’ve adopted some of those same habits along the way but as I pursue my God-sized dreams I realize that I need some of the same confidence that my mom had in my gifts and abilities and also some of the same grace she extended to me too.

On her last trip home we were discussing my writing and as I began sharing some of my doubts (unsure whether I could measure up with other writers) she said “I don’t think you realize what a great writer you are.”

Sometimes we just need our mom’s approval.

And sometimes we just need our moms…

When I think about my thoughts towards my own children they are not unlike my mom’s thoughts towards me. I believe they possess so much talent , that they are so gifted and have so much potential. I believe in their God-sized dreams whatever they may be because I believe in the God who planted those dreams in their hearts and minds.

And if we, with all our flaws and failures, have those thoughts toward our children how much greater are God’s thoughts towards us?

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Psalm 40:5 (NASB)

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.

Shouldn’t that give us all the confidence we need?

Friends I hope that you are encouraged to pursue your God-sized dreams and remember that you are being cheered on!!

Shared by: Lanette Haskins

Filed Under: Community, Dreaming Big, Growing Your Dream, Starting Your Dream, When Your Dream Includes Writing

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My Mommy Wrote This Blog (or, sometimes someone else sees your dream before you do)

May 9, 2016 By Chelle Wilson 4 Comments

To My Mommy

Vigil, by Michael B, used under Flikr CC license

May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!
Proverbs 23:25 (NIV)

My mommy wrote this blog. She just doesn’t realize it yet…

I proudly declare my mom a fan of my blog. Recently, she reminded me that when I was little, I yammered on incessantly about becoming a writer; something I’d completely forgotten. I remembered it not at all until she spoke the words, and then, mommy bestowed upon me the blessing that called me home. That’s who she is in my life, the one who calls my blessings by name. Thanks, mom.

My mother is an extraordinary woman. I channel her unwavering calm, her unrelenting faith, and her limitless wisdom for my entire life; at least I try. I have always wanted to be like her. As an adult with my own husband and family, I still seek to please her.

My mother is every bit the “steel magnolia”…Austin, Texas’ finest

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Mommy offers feedback on my writing in the form of an email dialog we share. Despite being in different time zones, we also pray and talk daily. Her notes, although she is not a writer, speak directly to what I have put on the page. She knows the backstories, even when I do not share them with you, dear readers. She inspires me in ways you cannot imagine. Mommy wrote today’s blog…and she’s about to read about it.

I subscribed mom to my blog via email to make it easy for her to read them. She’s a bit of a latecomer to technology, but she gets it done. She is no critic; it’s all love and support from her corner, and while a part of me wishes she’d post her comments publicly, the wiser part of me knows that her comments are just for me…except maybe this one. In reply to a piece I sent her years ago, she gave me these words.

“Again, Wow. Baby…where does it all come from? Mom”

“Mom, this was all God. I was thinking about it after it happened, then came home to write. It just flowed. I’m asking God to let me be His vessel. I trust that when He finds me worthy to be used, I’ll be ready. Just keep praying. Love you.”

“In my opinion, you are ready. Love, Mom”

It is often impossible for you to see your own forward progress in this dreaming journey.

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We need the eyes, the ears, and certainly the prayers of the righteous to light our way, keep us going, and guide us through rough times and deep waters. My mom is editor, coach, confidant, prayer warrior and encourager, bar none. She inspires me to be better. She inspires me to be like her.

If mommy says I’m ready, she must be right. My mom is always right, even when it takes me awhile to catch up to things she sees so far beyond my sightline. A woman of God, my mom hears and sees.

Mom was my first gift from God, and among the best blessings. Find your encouragers. Listen to them. Be honest with them. Hear their harshest critiques. Honor their desires to make you letter. Let them tend to your garden, even when weeding is required.

Shared by: Chelle Wilson
Image Source: Flikr Commons

Filed Under: The Dream Journey, The Ups and Downs of Dreaming, When Your Dream Includes Writing

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5 More Tips to Help You Be a Better Writer

November 30, 2015 By Elise Daly Parker 1 Comment

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Back in October I shared 5 Tips to Improve Your Writing, and since so many of us God-sized Dreamers have dreams that include writing, I thought I’d give you 5 more tips.

You’ll find exercises where applicable because with writing, as with many other skills, practicing is the key to improvement.

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Read Your Copy Out Loud – I promise you, if you do this one simple thing before you hit publish, your writing will improve. When we read in our heads, we tend to fill in blanks where a word is missing or even transpose a word or letter automatically. Reading out loud helps you pick up on typos, missing words, and clumsy sentences.

Exercise: Slow down. Read your story or article out loud. Do you trip over any words? Is there one sentence that is so long you’ve run out of breath at the end of it? Could this sentence be broken into two? Is your writing clear and concise? Are you stumbling over a sentence? How about those prepositions at the end of your sentences (at, of, for)? While it is acceptable nowadays to leave prepositions hanging…you should at least know you’ve done so and make a conscious decision to leave it in or take it out.

  1. Avoid Vague Words – These are words that don’t express much of anything. They are vague, boring, and overused. Here are some examples: some, interesting, favorite, important, finally, very, great. When you use these words, you are not painting a clear picture. Oftentimes, you are using unnecessary words that end up as filler, adding little to your story.

Exercise: Read through a blog post or article you’ve written and look for words you’ve included from the sample list above. Replace them with descriptive vibrant language and watch your copy come to life on the page. Instead of interesting, use a descriptive word, or a few, that more specifically define your experience.

  • The book was interesting.
    • The book was hilarious, insightful, life-changing,
  • I was very hungry!
    • I was famished.
  1. Write Tight – Even with esoteric and creative writing, sentences and descriptions that go on and on can bore our readers and leave them confused…unable to follow your storyline. Writing tight means we’ve got a clear central message, our copy supports that message without going off on a tangent, we aren’t adding unnecessary information, and we aren’t repeating ourselves.

Exercise: Try reading one of your favorite pieces of your copy – a story, blog post, article. And ask yourself: Is my one central point clear? Have I supported that point? Did I go off topic? Is there any information I could eliminate? Did I repeat myself?

  1. Show Don’t Tell – Have you ever had the experience of reading a book that takes you away? A well-written book can literally transport you to a garden, on the frontlines, to a castle, to a village in Calcutta. That’s showing. Showing requires you to bring your characters and scenes to life with specific details and clearly painted images and the use of similes, metaphors and vivid verbs.

Here’s an example of telling:

About 12 years ago, my family and I set out on a 40-day trip across the country. We stopped along the way at major landmarks, which made the trip so interesting.

Here’s the same information, using tools of showing:

On July 5, 2002, we buzzed with excitement as we set out on a cross-country adventure of a lifetime. The mini-van was filled to bursting with pillows, coloring books, stories on tape, a few favorite outfits for each of us—my husband and I, plus three daughters, ages 13, 11, and 6. Off we went…the breathtaking majesty of the Grand Canyon, rich red clay formations of the Badlands, the predictable glory of the Old Faithful Geyser beckoned.

Now your turn…

Exercise: Try your hand at showing using these telling sentences.

  • I went on a trip to Thailand. The people are different and fascinating. I learned a lot about their culture.

 

  • Ice cream is one of my very favorite foods. I tend to go for an ice cream sundae with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge.

 

  • Recently, I was invited to go bungee jumping. I was so scared. To my surprise, I did it!

 

  1. Don’t Assume – While we’re aiming for writing tight, we also don’t want to leave holes in our copy. We have to be sure to include the basic elements of Who, What, Why, When, Where, and How, even if we’re writing a first-person narrative. We can weave these elements into our story so our readers aren’t left wondering.

Exercise:   Use this simple handy worksheet to make sure your story includes the basic five Ws and How. http://www.studenthandouts.com/3web/fivewsandhow.pdf

Writing is a skill that can be developed. All of us can improve.

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The best way to do that is write, write, write. These tips can keep us on our writing toes! Let me know if you have any writing questions and I’ll try to answer. I’d love to hear your writing tips too. Please share in the comments.

Shared by Elise Daly Parker. 

Filed Under: Living Your Dream, When Your Dream Includes Writing

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5 Steps to Improve Your Writing

October 2, 2015 By Elise Daly Parker 8 Comments

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Do your dreams include writing a book, a blog post, or articles? Well, if they do, I have a few tips for you.

I’ve been a writer and editor for over 30 years and I’ve learned a few things along the way. Of course that doesn’t mean I don’t need to pay attention to my own list of tips. I do! The fact is writing is hard work. It takes time, effort, and skills that you can develop. The most important tip that overrides all others, however, is this…

If you have dreams of being a writer, you have to write, write, and write some more. There is no substitute for practice! <==Click to Tweet

Here is a list of fairly easy tips that will make your writing stronger and I hope a little easier:

  1. Make one point – Ask yourself a few questions before you begin. What do you want the reader to take away? What is your story in one sentence? Make sure everything else you write supports your one point.

Exercise: Come up with one strong sentence that conveys one clear point you want to get across in a story or essay.

  1. Make sure you have a beginning, middle, and end to your story – This is a logical way to write…it’s what your reader expects. You can start your story in the middle as a writing technique, but ultimately every story has a beginning, middle, and end, even if you don’t always tell it in that order.

Exercise: Map out a beginning, middle, and end to a story you’d like to tell, whether fiction or non-fiction.

  1. Include lots of details – Don’t assume your reader knows anything about what you are writing about. At the same time, a good story is a delicate balance between too little and just enough information. Regardless, I see many writers err on the side of not using enough details. In order to take your reader with you and to engage your reader, you have to paint a picture in your reader’s mind. Which leads me to the next point…
  1. Use Your Senses – The 5 Senses – sight, taste, smell, touch, and sound – make your writing come alive. So include descriptions that allow your reader to “see” what you see. Describe the “feel” or “touch” of something. Can taste come into play in your story? Was there a crash? A bang? A trickle? Sound is part of setting the tone of your story as well. And one of the most powerful senses to use is smell, because it evokes memory.

Exercise: Try writing one sentence that uses all five senses. You can have some fun with this one; you’ll still get the idea.

  1. Kill Your Darlings – Have you ever written a beautiful sentence that you just love? You love the cadence, the tone, the insight, the beauty of words and thought. The only problem is, it doesn’t serve the story you’re telling. In fact, it might even take the reader off course with a bit of unnecessary information. Be willing to cut that beautiful line or many lines, that are not absolutely necessary to getting your story across well. Yes, this can be a little painful, but in the end, your writing will benefit and so will your reader. <–Click to Tweet

Exercise: Go back over something you’ve written recently and see if there is sentence or phrase that has little to do with your main point. Take out your editing knife and cut it out!

If you have any writing or editing questions, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. I’ll do my best to provide an answer. And I’ll be back again next time to give you a few more writing tips that can help you go from good to great.

Shared by Elise Daly Parker

Filed Under: Living Your Dream, When Your Dream Includes Writing

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