*
How to Find and Live God's Dream for your Life

by Dr R H. Schuller

"I'd rather attempt to do something great and fail than attempt to do
nothing and succeed."
- Dr NV Peale

In this article we are talking about finding a purpose, a passion and
following ones dreams in life ...and not the dreams we have when we
are asleep.

The human being is a unique creature designed by God with unbelievable
talents, possibilities, and challenges. Without a challenge, without a
project, without a problem to solve, without a dream to pursue, you
are not a wholesome, healthy, true human person. You're going to be
less than the healthy human you are designed to be. What were your
dreams as a child? Have they been extinguished by the need to earn a
living or perhaps by the ups and downs, the storms of life? I believe
most people need a PURPOSE, a "grand" dream to pursue, to be fully
satisfied and to experience self-fulfilment in their lives. This sense
of significance helps people lead full happier lives, free of
emotional and mental problems.

John Henry Newman once wrote: "God has created me to do
for Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me,
which He has not committed to another." It is always related to the
good, the well-being of others. Often it is 'a new thing I want to do with you'.

Where our passions are, lie our "spiritual gifts". VISION + a PLAN +
massive ACTION will ensure ultimate success. It will require COURAGE ,
FAITH and DETERMINATION in large doses to pursue your dream. We don't
know where the area of our future blessings may lie (whether
financial, material or spiritual, or just peace of mind); however I
believe that God, the Spirit of the Universe blesses us where we need
it most.

Great dreams of great dreamers are never fulfilled; they're always
transcended (in another, bigger dimension or realm). "I'd rather
attempt to do something great and fail than attempt to do nothing and
succeed."

Get the dream. God dreams it. He delivers it to you. You make a
commitment to it, then "run with it".

Now how and where to find it, your personal dream? Where do our
"great" dreams come from?
The great inventor, Thomas Edison once said that his ideas and visions
came from "outer space".
Simply ASK your Creator in prayer and meditation, then just BELIEVE
you WILL somehow find a way to realise them. The dream doesn't start
with you. It catches you. It starts in the mind of something far
Greater than ourselves. We just have to ask and we'll find it ("Seek
and you will find").
"An answer cannot be received, until first we ask."
- anon

Dreams start in the mind of a Higher Power, 'Infinite Intelligence',
or what we usually call God. It's another dimension, a different
level of consciousness to the normal physical level (of rationality
and logic) we operate in daily - another realm of the intuitive, the
imagination (right brained thinking as opposed to left brain - thanks,
Andy), mysterious, that's the spiritual... but a realm that if we tap
into with sincere BELIEF, you'll get unbelievable wisdom and clarity
of thought. It works through a focus, like a lasar-beam (or a
magnifying glass focussing bright sunlight, so creating intense heat,
which sparks into a roaring flame). It's a channel (an amazing "tool"
open to EVERY ONE of us humans) to communicate and be in contact with
a Higher Self, a Supreme Being. So powerful ALL of us can achieve
unbelievable results. In the words of Jesus Christ, "If you have faith
as a grain of mustard seed, you can say to your mountain 'move' and it
will move." It may take a lot of time, but the principle definitely
works, as it's a natural law of the universe. The key ingredient is
BELIEF. Just BELIEVE, take some ACTION (even regular small actions
daily), then have "large dollops" of patience and persistence. And
faith, of course. Then see what happens in your life (I've lived
these principles down my "rocky" path and they DO work!).

And that's why every human being alive on planet earth has a PURPOSE
for being here. God, our Creator has a plan for every life.
Everything has a plan and that is why there is order in nature and
throughout the universe. The sun rises daily, the planets orbit. The
sky doesn't fall in (as with 'Chickn Lickn'). Every part of creation
has a plan: plants, animals, humans, etc. There is an amazing
equilibrium with the forces of nature. A Grand Designer of the
Universe at work! You can be amazingly creative, you can be
"inspirationally imaginative". There is awesome power in the human
imagination, with which we are ALL created. Find a human need - in
some way helping others (that is my dream - through my words, because
I'm rather impractical - trypical writer!). God will show you how to
meet that human need - the way. DISCOVER God's plan for your life:
What Infinite Spirit "wants you to do", what the Grand Designer of
Life, wants you to be. * The dream starts in the mind of God, the
'Ground of All Being' .
Dream a great dream.

* Submitter's Note: As I rewrite this, I'm not quite sure on that
point. It could be that it's up to us to take the decision, to make
the choice of who and what we want to be (as long as it's for GOOD
purposes)... as we all have FREE WILL (and that is why we are
spiritual creatures on an earthly existence). Perhaps they overlap -
ie. God's will is OUR will. Yes, I think that is the truth (the answer
came to me just then, as I wrote). So DECLARE it and God, the Universe
will help you achieve it.
What do YOU think on this point?


Back to the message from Dr Schuller...

Then the Source of Life puts the dream into the brain, the vast mind
of someone like you (if you merely ask for guidance and wisdom). Into
a person that your Creator, knowing you best (intimately - all your
strengths, talents, gifts...and weaknesses), believes will carry your
vision to fruition and not abort it, just because the dream appears to
be impossible initially. (Most dreams appear impossible at first).
Someone who believes enough to fully embrace and "run with" the
vision! Someone "crazy" enough to trust their intuition, by following
a "voiceless voice".

FACE YOUR FUTURE WITH POSITIVE ACTION.
Don't wait till you have all the skills to do something. Take that
first step in faith and the next step will fall into place naturally.
Because that is the way God, the Universe works!
Dr Martin Luther King, Jr stated, "Faith is taking the first step,
even when you don't see the whole staircase."

"Be bold and unseen forces come to your aid".

Get the BIG dream. God dreams it. He (or She or It - depending on
your perspective of Infinite Spirit, the ESsence of Life) delivers it
to you. You make a commitment to it. That's the next level of a
dream. Commitment means you put wings (via ideas) under the dream.
Perhaps it demands a big commitment in terms of your finances, time or
energy. You may even speak publicly and tell people what your dream
is. And because it still appears to be impossible to achieve, you run
the risk of being ignored and not taken seriously. Perhaps even
ridiculed, like many "pioneer spirits". And of course, you run the
risk of failure. (This has happened to all dreamers). The dream is now
taking over. And you can't get out of it, like an obsession, like
consumes you.
NB: A word of caution. Remember to strive for balance in all areas of your life.
Don't neglect family - most important!

"He that has begun a good work in you will complete it." "Be
confident of this one thing that God who has begun a good work in
you," God, your Creator, the "Essence of Life" gave you a dream to
fulfil your purpose in life. You would never be given the insight and
vision without your having the capacity to one day see your dream come
to pass (that is the way of our Creator). Just as God created life and
the Universe, you are creating the dream of your unique life.
And it lies in doing good and helping others (without being a too
boring "Mr Goody-goody two shoes, please). In so doing you honour,
edify and glorify your Creator (as God, the "Ground of all Being"
being Spirit, cannot edify Itself) . However, others can see the
Spirit in us, when we reflect it, as we go down the "river of life".

Dream the dream. Then "LIVE God's Dream for Your Life." It'll become
possible, step by step… and one day you'll look back and see how far
you've come. A true miracle! That's what God's grace and love for you
will do. What is your dream? What do you have? Whatever profession or
career you choose, from the most humble to the most glamorous or
glorious, take ownership of your dream. Make a resolution. Set
goals. A challenge is an opportunity to work miracles. Try to achieve
the impossible. I find it 'kinda' fun trying to do "impossible" things
(what I and others think is "out of our trees"). You'll learn a lot
about yourself along the way. Take the DECISION to follow it, the
"road less travelled", come what may. You'll astound yourself. It IS
possible.

Everyone is a Child of God, the Source of all Good and 'Infinite
Spirit', the Life Force wants what is best for your life. The Spirit
of the Universe uses our greatest difficulties, the most impossible
situations to work the most amazing things in our lives. (In fact,
what I'm doing is a direct result of being "placed" in a perilous and
"impossible" situation).

Saint Paul once said these words: "Fan into flame the gift of God,
which is in you. For God did not give you a spirit of fear, but a
Spirit of power, a Spirit of love and a Spirit of self discipline."

You too can discover the power of God, the Creator of the universe in
a new, dramatic powerful way. When you THINK RIGHT, when you focus
your mind on your desired goal (or preferably goals), when you focus
your mind on the spark that God has given to you and you allow the
spirit of God's power to enflame that spark, and fuel the embers with
love, you WILL discover that the sparks can set the "tinder-box of the
vision" alight, and turn it into a passion that drives you - a flame
that may roar across the "dry prairie of your life". It may even
become the "core of who you are" as a 'human bean'. Because there's
nothing you can't do with God. Absolutely nothing is impossible to you
and God working in unison!

Never give up hope that you are a special creation with unique gifts
and talents and that things will work out for you. Your Maker loves
you infinitely. So connect with God closely by TRUSTING tomorrow…and
ENJOY the journey.

Be all that you are capable of being...and
have great FUN being ALL that your Creator intended you to become.

Dr Robert H. Schuller
http://www.hourofpower.org and http://www.chrystalcathedral.com

(submitted and slightly adapted by Craig Lock,
"Incorrigible Encourager, Information and Inspiration Distributor")

'It's kinda fun doing the impossible."
- was that Walt Disney who said those words?

P.S: You are a unique creation and your life is a unique creation. You
have within you the spark of God, as well as the unique gifts that
your Maker has given you. Fuel that small flame with goodness and
especially Love, and let the light of your uniqueness shine brightly
on the world.

"Our talents are our gifts from God; but what we do with our talents
are our gift TO God".

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

I am sharing the contents of this most uplifting and inspiring adress
to help and encourage others to find and follow the dream (s) for
their lives.

God somewhere, somehow fit my 'little dream' into Your Big Plan for
the world. Lord, enlarge my heart, extend my territory, broaden my
horizons for all the rich promises you have in store for me.
- craig

About the submitter:
Craig believes in sharing information and insights to make a difference in
this world: to help and especially encourage people along life's magical
journey to live their dreams and be all they can be... and that brings
him the greatest joy.

"When faced with a mountain, I will not quit
I'll keep on striving until I climb over,
Find a path through, tunnel underneath,
Or simply stay and with God's help turn
my mountain into a gold mine.
I will not quit."
- Rev Robert Schuller, a great inspiration and "mentor" to me in
following my personal dream (no-one could believe the journey)!

"Life is about finding, then following the dream... and
one's dream/vision comes to reality through believing in
yourself, making the commitment and then creating it."

"Deep within us there is a flame that burns, and that flame is the
spark of God. In some it burns brightly, in others it is barely
distinguishable; but always it burns...and with love and acceptance
the flame gets higher and brighter. We can help others to kindle this
flame by seeing the good in them, even if they don't see it
themselves."
- anon

"We have it all within, but we get from without."
- Craig Lock
-
"You are as great as your thoughts, as big as your heart and as vast
as your imagination."
- my good friend, Dr Andy Eastcott, Gisborne, New Zealand

"Inspirational Books" are available at: http://www.soulful-writer.com and
http://www.craiglock.com/books.html