The Dream Challenge

I’ve got a writing assignment due soon for a 6-week class that I’m taking at church. This class is for women only, and our first week’s assignment is to journal or creatively express how we can empower other women.

A few things came to mind, but I eventually settled on this: One of the ways I can empower women is to encourage them to dream.

What do I mean by dream?

I’m not talking ‘head in the clouds’ mind-wandering daydreaming.

I’m talking about constantly keeping before you an idea or inspired goal that God has planted in your heart and refusing to let go of it. A dream you have become increasingly passionate about and know you must pursue. I’m talking about bold focus. A healthy attachment to something you want to see done in this world and knowing God has called you to do it.

One thing I’ve noticed is that many women have simply stopped dreaming. Some of us are stretched terribly thin or burned completely out. Overwhelmed by life’s battles or simply bored by the ho-hums of the day, many women are simply existing and have lost their desire or ability to believe they are capable of achieving great things. We’ve either lost our ‘spark’ or gotten so far away from who we really are that the dreams we once had can no longer be identified.

As women, we can carry so much and feel responsible for so many, that sometimes our dreams  – some we’ve held since childhood – lose steam, grow weak and eventually become scattered thoughts.

We wear many hats and we get bogged down a lot. When life gets rough or becomes routine, our dreams can fade out or get buried under a heap of burdens.

Even worse, we never attempt to dream at all, because someone told us our gender comes with a ready-made box that we should never think outside of.

Truth is, God gives dreams to women, regardless of our past mistakes or insecurities, because we are invaluable to Him. He chooses to inspire us with ideas and goals to achieve that will bless us and those around us. We are not ‘merely’ this or ‘simply’ that. We are made in His image in a wonderful way, and He believes each one of us has limitless potential.

Dreams can be big or small, supported or misunderstood. At the end of the day, all that matters is that your dream never dies.

If I can empower women, I will do so by encouraging them to dream. And for some, to dream again.

 

 

 

 

 

Walk a mile in my shoes

Have you ever tried to comfort or encourage someone and, maybe because you said the wrong thing at the wrong time, they responded “Walk a mile in my shoes…”?

It’s another way of saying you couldn’t possibly understand their situation, their anger, their pain, their shame, their (fill in the blank)… And they’re right. No one, no matter how similar your experiences, has walked in someone else’s “shoes.”

For some reason, I started thinking about this while driving to work one morning this week. And the thought came…Jesus has walked a mile in my shoes.

In fact, He’s walked out my entire life. He knows everything I will ever encounter or experience.  He knows all the joys and all the pains, all the successes and all the failures, that will make up my life. He’s the only person who has ever walked and will ever walk in my shoes.

But not only did He walk in my shoes, he exchanged my worn out, battered and torn ones for His victorious ones. So now I walk in His. And the best part is because He’s walked in my shoes, I can trust He knows exactly what I need.

 Hebrews 4:15-16

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

 

New Features: Love Stories, Choosing Life, Fighting for Life

HCM readers,

I’m starting a few new features on the He Created Me blog that will spotlight more personal stories of people and families that have been affected by the gift of adoption or the tragedy of abortion. Check out the details of each category below and if you’d like to submit a story or encourage someone else to share their experience, please do! I’d love to hear from you!

Love Stories

Have you been personally touched by adoption in some way? If you were adopted or have placed a child for adoption, or walked closely with someone or a family on this journey, please send in a short story about your experience.

Choosing LIFE

Did you decide to have an abortion, but realized you couldn’t follow through with it and are now glad you chose LIFE for your child? You can encourage our readers with your story. Due to the nature of this topic, you may request to remain anonymous.

Fighting for LIFE

Are you involved in a pro-life ministry that is fighting for LIFE in your community? Tell us about the work you’re doing and some of the creative ways you’re doing it, as well as the lives you are affecting.

Please send all stories and photos to hecreatedme@hotmail.com. 

Thanks so much and I look forward to hearing from you!