Crazy God-Given Dreams
There’s a movie called, “The Gods Must Be Crazy.” I can’t say I have ever watched the movie, but there are times I feel that way about my God.
Have you ever really looked at the things God asked people to do?
He told Noah to build a huge boat because He was going to send rain from heaven (something that had never happened before) to flood the earth.
He told Abraham to leave his home land and strike out across a foreign land, simply trusting God to lead him. Then He promised to make him a father of many nations, even though he and his wife were well beyond child-bearing age. And after He fulfilled His promise to give them a son, God instructed Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice.
He gave Joseph a dream, a dream that one day his older brothers would bow down to him, an unrealistic expectation in a culture that valued birth order.
He called Moses from the obscurity of the fields in Midian to lead His people out of their bondage in Egypt.
He led the Israelites to certain death, trapping them between the Red Sea and the approaching army of Egyptians.
He instructed Joshua to march around the impenetrable walls of Jericho, the strangest battle plan ever known to man.
He led David to face a giant known as Goliath with nothing but a slingshot and his faith in God.
He told Elijah to face down the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, calling down fire from heaven to consume the offering placed on the altar.
We could go on and on about the crazy dreams and instructions God gave His people in scripture, and yet we have to follow up with the truth He always came through, He was always faithful to fulfill the God-given dreams. .
But what about today? Does God still place crazy dreams on the hearts of men? Does He still faithfully fulfill promises when He gives crazy ideas to His people?
Have you read The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson? God has planted dreams in Batterson’s heart. Batterson has committed to praying circles around those dreams and watching as God brings crazy to life. Just look at Ebenezer’s coffee house.
Or read the story of Youth With a Mission in the book Is That Really You, God? See the story of how a ministry was built to send out waves of youth to foreign countries, taking the message of Christ to the world through some of the most amazing and unbelievable circumstances.
My very own church, Life.Church, started twenty years ago with forty people meeting in a garage. Today, it is a multi-site church with over twenty locations and 100,000 in attendance every week.
All around the world are examples of God planting crazy dreams in the hearts of His people…and then, through supernatural circumstances, He makes those dreams a reality.
And now He is planting a dream in my heart.
I am currently participating in the BLAST mentoring program with author Shannon Ethridge. As I’ve been reading the assigned books and watching the videos, God has been stirring within my heart. My dreams are growing. My vision of what God has for me is blowing my mind.
And I find myself feeling as if God must be crazy.
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27
For as long as I can remember, I’ve longed to be a writer. Over the last few years, I’ve begged God to open doors for me to write and speak full-time. And I believe He will do that in His time.
But what He is showing me is so much bigger. It’s not about money. It’s not about fame. It’s not about being on a stage in front of people.
It’s about meeting the needs of single moms, about caring for the orphans and widows of this century.
Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? James 2:15-16
I long to give hope and encouragement. I long to walk with people through the toughest days of their lives. I long to offer wisdom and direction from someone who has been down the long, hard road.
But I want to do more. I want to provide physical care for those thrust into this journey.
When I was walking through my divorce, my parents were living two hours away from me with my then 98 year-old grandfather. They made the decision to move closer to me, to be available to support me and my kids. And they brought my grandfather with them.
Rather than move into an assisted living center as my parents suggested, Grandpa decided to buy a new home. A brand new home. Sold his home he had lived in for 40 years and used the cash to buy a house.
Shortly after moving into the house, Grandpa became ill. It wasn’t long before he passed away…and his house sat empty.
Can you see where God was preparing the situation for me? When I could barely afford to put food on the table, Grandpa left a brand new house. No mortgage. No rent. A perfect place for me and my kids, right next to my parents.
And that’s my heart’s desire.
I want more than anything to be able to buy houses, to allow single moms and their children to have a place to live rent and mortgage free. I want to provide a nice place to call home in a good neighborhood where the kids can run and play and be kids. I want to give what God has given me.
I want to be a friend, a mentor, a life coach to each family chosen to live in these houses. I want to help them navigate the tumultuous waters of death and divorce. I want to help them learn parenting skills, how to help their children process their grief. I want to help them learn to manage their finances, build a financial future for themselves and their kids.
It’s a crazy dream. I used to dream of writing and speaking and traveling the world. Now my dreams are about pouring myself out, being used to help others. My heart longs to show my faith by what I do.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
I don’t know how or when, but I know God is faithful. I know when He plants a dream, He fulfills it. I know it’s a dream WAY bigger than anything I can accomplish on my own, a dream only He can make happen.
And what about you? What crazy dreams has God planted in your heart? Are you seeking Him, seeking His vision? Are you listening for His directions? Are you positioning yourself so He can make those dreams unfold? Our God IS crazy. He’s crazy for you. He’s crazy about His glory. He’s crazy about finding ways to point the world back to Him. Will you be a mirror to reflect His glory by letting Him do His crazy work through you?
Exciting days are ahead! Let’s watch in anticipation as God allows His plans to unfold!
God absolutely gives crazy awesome dreams and He will absolutely fulfill them as we move forward in faith. I experienced this at a whole new level on a trip to Africa and it changed my life. Great post, God bless.
I can’t wait to see how He comes through! Living by faith is the most exciting way to live!
This is fantastic stuff! Excited to see how God builds your dreams and then makes it happen!
I have a small nest egg from selling the marital home last August. We got less than we hoped because we bought at the height of the market (’09) and sold in a crummy market in KY. Still, I know God is good and I am thankful to be rid of it. I am praying about buying a home for me and my kids this year – adding to my nest egg from any tax return I may receive and trying to save a little more besides that. I am in a safe rental but I think having our own place would be good for continued healing!
Getting a place of your own is such a healing thing! Establishing “my” place and ridding myself of “our” stuff was unbelievably healing! Praying you find the same!
Dena I will be praying for you! God bless you! I have been reading your post for a couple of months now. My husband of 38 yrs divorced me & it has been devistating. I look forward to your words of encouragement with excitement! I know God placed you in my life for His glory. Your sister in Christ, Elsa
Yea! So glad to have you on this journey despite the devastating circumstances that bring us together. Praying God brings joy and healing!
I’m rooting..and praying for you. I’m kind of breathless with anticipation for you! Keep us posted, please. Lord, I pray for your blessing on Dena. May your plans work through Dena. Help her to trust and obey in the midst of fear or uncertainty. Lord, please give Dena the way to bless mom and children with homes. Let this blessing leave no question that this is God breathed. Encourage and love Dena and her children. Glory and praise to You.
Thank you so much!
Dena, I have never commented on your blog but I have been carried through my recent divorce by your encouragement that a friend of mine sends regularly to me. Today I read this. Today would have been our 7th anniversary but it is instead the first anniversary that I am free from an abusive man. When I read your post I got tears as I could have written this as it has been my hearts desire as well to speak and minister and I wait on God too. I just finally had to reply and tell you how deep your impact has been on my life. As Paul said, I thank God every time I remember you. I will pray for you and watch what God continues to do and have hope for both our hearts desires.
Oh, such joy your words bring! Every pain has been worth it just to encourage others through their own pain. I’m glad to be part of your healing! Cling to those dreams, friend! You never know how God might use you! Praying He does more than you could ever ask or imagine!
I was married 30 years, a stay at home mother to three. My older two children caused so many problems between me and my husband that we separated. Then he decided we need to divorce. That was 2 years ago. I went back to school and I work part time at a daycare. My children are 29, 28, and 17. The last one was a blessing after 10 years of struggling with infertility due to Diabetes. I’m 51 my husband is 57. My older children have absolutely nothing to do with me or their sister. Yet we both have prayed for our family to come back together for 2 years now. In a span of a week, I had my husband take me to the hospital with excruciating pain in my right side to find out I have 7 cysts on my right ovary. I have no insurance, I’m still in classes, I homeschool our daughter, and my only source of income is alimony, child support, and working 2-3 days a month at the daycare. New years Eve would have been out 32 anniversary. Then he comes over yesterday and informs us he’s found someone special that he loves and for us to not contact him. I have depended on this man since I was 18. I’m possibly facing cancer, financial hardship, a house falling down due to his neglect over the years and yet I still pray for him and my children to get back in God’s will. How do I handle giving them over to God completely to focus on my own relationship with God? I am beyond scared, devastated and completely depressed.
Oh, Judy! My heart breaks for you. I wish there were easy answers. I think it’s a daily choice, daily handing it all to God. May even be a minute by minute choice in the beginning. It may sound hard and calloused, but I’d also say not to pray for Him. Instead, ask God to heal you, to do a work in you. Ask Him to make you keenly aware of His voice, of His direction. Ask Him to guide your every step, to make your heart completely His. I’ve found that when I’m clinging to a promise, I fail to cling to God.
I think I may just have to do a full blog post on this topic…
Dena…this is AWESOME!!!
Thank you!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ????Gods crazy is just what the Doctor ordered for 2017 ?????????
Absolutely! Happy new year!
I came across your blog when I Googled divorced and Christian. Thank you so much for your honesty and for sharing your life, your struggles, your pain. I have been divorced for a year and am encouraged by your writings. Keep dog what your doing. I’m sure you’re inspiring and helping more people than you know!
Awww…thank you! Most definitely my pleasure. Glad to have you on this journey!
That sounds like a awesome plan! I was parked outside my attorneys office the other day. I was going into another store. Going by that office brings back such bad memories. That day thought my daughter & I went in the store. I felt these people watching us. I looked at them & they smiled. When I was leaving I noticed the couple going into the attorneys office with a young girl. All I could think was this women was going into the office with her parents. I broke down in tears. It made me have flash backs of me & my father going into the office. I have thought about this girl many times this week. Even if you could also be there for women during court appearances. It was very hard for me. I never missed work. Because my bosses husband was my attorney & she came to court with me & it made me feel better. I would love to do something like you have wrote about & give back.
Absolutely! Great idea! I never had to appear in court, thank goodness, but I know many who have been wrongfully accused in so many ways. It’s such an ugly, ugly situation. I just want to meet the needs of those walking through single motherhood…meeting whatever needs I can. It will be fun to see what God does!
beautiful!!!
Thanks!
I will pray that God will give you direction for this “crazy dream” you have. He is faithful to guide us, when we ask. I am seeking my own “crazy dream”. Please, in turn, pray for me. God’s will be done.
Woohoo! Praying with you for crazy God size dreams!