Raising your Dream...

Greetings in Jesus' wonderful Name!

I realize it's been quite some time since I've last written anything; frankly, one of the main reasons is because I have felt "what's the use?" Various thoughts have come at me, some of which I'm sure you have shared from time to time. Thoughts like "since it's obvious that my ministry is not appreciated, I think it's time to quit"; or, "I'm tired of this pressure"; or things like that. Maybe even thoughts such as "I deserve better than what I'm experiencing"; there are so many thoughts I've been dealing with it's hard to keep them straight some time. Ever had times like that? Like, just when you think you're getting a handle on things, another blow comes at you...for instance, you hear you are losing valuable members of your ministry team. It's like you just want to throw your hands up and say "I've had it!" You know it as well as I that when you've had a dream and have worked to see the dream accomplished and have shared the dream with others...then to see the dream seem to lay down and die...

Of course, much of this has been happening since I wrote my last note entitled "Have you done all to stand?".

This isn't a "boo-hoo" word, but a word to let you know that even if the dream seems to be lifeless, as long as there is God then there is still hope. Romans 15:13 - "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

There are a couple of points I want share with you to encourage you (and myself). I'll use Luke 8:40-42, 49-55 as my text.

40. So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.
41. And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come to his house,
42. for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.
49. While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter has died. Do not trouble the Teacher.''
50. But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.''
51. When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the .
52. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she has not died, but is sleeping.''
53. And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she had died.
54. But He put them all out, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Daughter, arise!''
55. Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

1. This 12 year old daughter was the dream of her parents. Apparently, it was the only dream they had. They had invested at least 12 years of their lives, pouring into their dream with love and sacrifice, thoughts of her future and her family. Their dream was far reaching; just like many of ours. We don't see just how far out our dreams can reach...but we pour ourselves into them.

2. The "dream" is worth fighting for, if it's worth anything at all. You know, maybe you're not all that interested in Jesus. I don't know that Jairus was UNTIL he found he was losing his only daughter. The scriptures mention nothing about Jairus walking everyday with Jesus. No, "there CAME a man...". Maybe you haven't been that stellar of a person. Maybe you're not a "religious" person at all. Jairus was just a guy who's dream was about to die and he was going to do something about it. Jesus might have been his last resort; but notice Jesus made no mention of it. Jesus simply went with him because he asked Him to.

3. Twelve years old - too young for a dream to die. Dreams, the ones that God gets involved in, are to grow, develop, mature, and come to the place where they can "reproduce after their own kind". What about the dream in your life or ministry? Is it really time for it to die or are you just "pulling the plug" for your own convenience? After all, who wants to baby sit a "dream" that has "no chance in hell" of ever being more than a nuisance. Aren't you glad we don't have to base our life, or our God-given dreams, on chance - either on earth or in hell. Oh, one quick thing here - the Bible says that children are a gift from God. That's why I believe I can use this illustration to talk about God-given dreams.

4. I've noticed something about people, and I hope I remember this the next time people "introduce" their dream to me. People who haven't carried the dream in their heart, haven't spent sleepless nights walking the floor over it, or who haven't participated in the dream with their finances, are a lot quicker to say, "just leave the Master alone; it's too late, the dream has died". Can you imagine what you would think if you were in the hospital room, sitting with a dying child, and some stranger walks in the room and says to you, "don't bother, this life isn't worth it. After all, there are more important things that you can do". You may find yourself in jail, after a comment like that!

5. As long as Jesus is with you and I, walking with us to minister to our "dream", we must keep believing. As long as Jesus still has a word for our dream, a word that will cause its spirit to return and raise it off the bed, then we must keep on believing. Even if Jesus gets interrupted on the way to our house, we must keep on believing. Why? Because the dream isn't just about us. It's about God's plan for it and His ability to reveal His Glory through the dream He gave us in the first place!

Remember, He IS the RESURRECTION and the LIFE!

Pastor Jan