Monday, March 28, 2011

I am a dreamer





I am so thankful I married my husband Jonathan.

He knows me like no other person in the world.

The other day we were driving around and I started to tell him some of the dreams that have been spinning around in my head lately, of the things I aspire to be, and of my heart's deepest desires. I am passionate about so many things, but I've been having trouble figuring out what the main thing that I'm suppose to focus on in life. It is so easy for me to get caught up in my dreams and ignore the here and now. I love to think about "the big picture."

I love to write music and lead worship, thus I dream about being a worship leader at events like Passion or recording a worship CD.

I love to write about life, love and the pursuit of Christ (familiar?), thus I dream about publishing a book.

I love photography, thus I am dreaming about a nice camera and a photography business.

I love world missions, thus I dream about traveling the world, sharing Christ and coming back to tell the stories.

I love helping people, thus I dream about creating a non-profit organization that helps millions of people across the globe.

I love children, thus I dream about having 4 kids and homeschooling them with all the creativity and passion in these bones.

I love to create and craft, thus I dream about opening my own etsy shop.

I automaticly think large scale when it comes to the things I love. I'm a dreamer - it's what I'm good at. My husband is a dreamer too. We have so many aspirations. As I was sharing some of the things on my heart he said, "Jen, you're a dreamer. I am too. We both think big, but what if God is calling us to small things right now? We're married, and that means we need to focus on the main purpose God has for our lives...together." I'm so glad I have him to keep my dreams in check. Sure, I know that God has stirred some things in my heart lately. I know some of these dreams are from Him, but some of them are not.

Sometimes my view of Him becomes clouded by all my dreams. I cannot have that. Even if none of these things come to fruition, I can be content in small things becase I have HIM! And knowing Him is far better than any dream of mine. Is it hard to accept crushed dreams sometimes? You bet. But at the same time, I have so many that I can spare a few to be crushed!

So for now, for today, I will seek Him and His purpose for me. My heart can be so deceptive. I dare not trust any heart but His.


Say the word...


O God I want to please You
To serve You with all my life
I long to follow Your perfect will
To give all as a living sacrifice

But what do I do with my desires?
Do I need to let them go?
Will they fit in to Your plan?
Should I even want to know?

I give them all to You now
I can only rest my heart in You
I trust that You will guide me
And show me what to do

Should I crucify my dreams?
Say the word and it is done
Do want them burnt on Your alter?
O not my will but Yours be done

I cannot do anything less
Than give You all of my heart
So I offer up all that I am
You are in control of every part

Can You question now my soul?
Will you doubt Your LORD?
Will you trust in His unfailing love?
For nothing else can you afford

Say the word, Lord, say the word
Speak and I will obey Your call
I give back to You the life I owe
Take it, O Lord, take it all


40 comments:

Brooke T said...

oh my goodness I needed this. I have so many dreams that I'm all over the place and really need to focus on one thing!! :) You married a great man!

leigh ann said...

Amen sister :) :) I am a dreamer & my husband definitely grounds me too. What an awesome guy you married & what a great combination of people -- God definitely knows what he's doing when he puts people together!
<3 leigh

Jenna Griffin | Gold & Bloom said...

I love this! so inspiring.

Petchie said...

wonderful post, so inspiring, and love the picture, beautiful!

xoxo
Petchie

Unknown said...

Excellent post! I agree with Jenna - it's definitely inspiring!!

Whim Wham Life said...

Preach it sister:-) I have and will always be a dreamer. My stud hubs is the perfect balance for me.
You and your hubby are just great. Such an example of love:-) xoxo

Lauren Thomas said...

Just found your blog...have to say I love it!

Brittany said...

so great!! lovely photo

Callie said...

Wonderful post! You're right - I think it's a good thing to be a dreamer, but it's also so important to be faithful with the small things. :-)

Samantha said...

Beautiful! :D

Emily said...

Thank you very much for this wonderful reminder. I, too, get caught up in the big dreams and it's so essential that we focus on the little pieces of the puzzle as well. Without them, the picture would never be able to be complete :)

Cassidy Robinson said...

Funny how I share some of those same similar dreams... maybe that's why God had us be friends? ;) Josh and I have started to dream together about the things we can do with our gifts as a team. Sounds like you guys are doing the same! God is already using you guys together in worship, can't wait to see what the future holds. :)

Emily said...

beautiful. my future husband and i write music and lead worship too :) i would love to hear some of your stuff! email me and ill give you our youtube usernames!

texas.newjersey@yahoo.com

Stephanie said...

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:10

Maybe you're supposed to do it all...eventually.

: )

melissa said...

You married a wonderful man my friend. Very blessed! I needed this though. I feel like I'm not doing much in life and it's very discouraging but have to trust that God is preparing me for something, whatever it is. Thanks for this, I hope you had a great Monday! xoxo

Megan said...

I am so with you right now. I am confused at where my "main purpose" in life is...there is so much that I want to do. Praying for you! You are blessed with a great husband!

Alexis Kaye said...

you are beautiful! inside and out! I love all your dreams! make them happen!

Emily said...

Nicely put! I'm all discombobulated with what I'm to do next as well. Here's to resting in Him.

I love that your husband brought you back down from the dreams in such a loving way. Can definitely see the love and respect you have for each other.

Amanda said...

Well said Jen. I totally feel your pain. It's hard to know what to do with your life when you have so many different dreams. It's possible that God created you to do all of them....or just a few....or something completely different. Walker told me once to take life day by day. Ask God what he has for you today. Maybe an opportunity will arise to write articles for a magazine...or to lead worship somewhere. Seize it! Ask God what he has for you tomorrow. Maybe it will be making crafts with kids at VBS or taking pictures on a missions trip. The important thing is to see the opportunities God gives you each day and seize them one at a time. If an opportunity arises that forces you to put God or your husband on the back burner, than it's probably not a good one to take....at least that's what I've learned in life thus far. haha ;)

♥ CheChe said...

i get caught up in soooo many DREAMS and DESIRES. Theatre, B.A in Psychology, Bible College in Murrieta, Traveling to Ireland/Italy/SPAIN/GERMANY... I want to have adopted kids from AFRICA. I want to write a book some day about the healing love of JESUS and share my testimony with young women who struggle with eating disorders. I want to counsel in the love of Christ for a living. I want to be COMPLETELY SET FREE in our LORD.

We are so thankful to know that all of these desires are to be filtered first and foremost through HIS WORD and to surrender each thought we have to HIM. Taking each one captive and leaving it in HIS hands makes the life of a dreamer much less anxious doesn't it?

p.s. One of my dreams/desires was to go to AFRICA. Now I'm fundraising and involved with a group of 5 women all desperate to get there! God truly gives us the desires of our hearts when we commit our ways purposefully to HIS will.

LOVE YOU GIRLY!

♥cheche

SophieAnna said...

nice post.you are really beautiful girl.Good luck

Jennifer Rod said...

This is so beautiful Jennifer! I was really encouraged by this, especially since I was thinking about the dreams I am currently living now and how I wouldnt want to overshadow their blessing, their beauty, by worrying about other dreams that may come later or may not come. It all depends on Him. Your husband's words were wise and loving and even encouraged my heart to enjoy now and live now... pleasing Him while waiting for His next step or His next dream for me.

....sorry to just go on, but I was really inspired by your words. Blessings to you today! :)

meig said...

What a fantastic post. I needed this today. Thanks!

Nikki said...

Oh...I love this...ultimately our desires and passions are to reflect HIS desires and passions for us. Thanks for the truth this morning!

Marli said...

what a great post and pretty picture! what amazing words of wisdom from your husband. my dad's a dreamer too. :)
*MeMoRy

Amy @ AGirlCalledBeloved said...

I can definitely relate. Wonderful post! I love that God has a plan for us!

Jhen.Stark said...

so.very.much.the.same... it's unreal!

Rylie said...

i love this post. it's great.

a girl with a smile said...

Such an inspiring post.... thank you

Unknown said...

amen girl, and god is so good to us.

thanks for sharing your heart.

xoxo

Kristy said...

Such a lovely post. I always get caught up in my dreams as well and I always find myself wondering where and when I will get the time to try it all out! You are so lucky to have found your husband. You two sound perfect for eachother x

myheartstumbles.blogspot.com

Kelsey said...

thank you for your sweet comment. i love your header. the typography and the simplicity. it looks awesome :) also i gave you an award on my blog, you should check it out. xoxo

kelseyannesmith.blogspot.com

Wida said...

You're so gorgeous!

Wida
Missing Amsie Blog

Gertrude said...

Great post!! It's really good to have a lot of dreams, but stay realistic and true to yourself at the same time! And oh, you got married on my Dad's birthday :) xo

choose to be happy blog said...

you are so adorable. i just stumbled on your blog and really love it :)

Mrs. Wright said...

this is great Jenn! so encouraging!

Krysta said...

Aww, I love your blog! Thanks for checking me out as well. I'm following you back!

Courtney K. said...

Beautiful post! And such a gorgeous photo. I loved learning a little bit more about you. :)I am a dreamer, too. I dream really big and wide when I dream, and I love your husband's thoughts on taking small steps. Maybe those small steps are meant to lead you toward the leaps and bounds of the bigger ones. :)

Anonymous said...

I can understand your feelings.
I can relate to you in this post on so many levels its unreal.
I was JUST talking about this last night to a friend.
I was talking about how Im a dreamer.
And I was talking about a specific dream Ive been dreaming.
I dream in large scale, big picture...and Im thinking that God is downsizing MY dreams to fit HIS plans. Not always the easiest thing to swallow after we 'KNOW' what we want, but HIS plan is always the better one, eh?
I cant wait to see what kind of things God does through you sweet Jennifer! <3 ANd never stop dreaming!!

Haley said...

what an inspiring, yet grounded post! :) You have such a lovely heart...I loved reading about your dreams. I smiled because I have many similar to some of those you wrote about :) And your words from your sweetheart are so true! Focusing on what God wants will bring the most happiness and purpose to our lives, and the lives we love the most (our family). Thank you for this Jennifer :)

PS - that photo of you is gorgeous...could be a cover for a worship CD you produce!! :)

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