DREAMS REQUIRE KNOWING YOURSELF

What Fills you, Thrills you, Calls to you?After you've identified some of your spiritual gifts, strengths and passions, the next question to ask yourself is: Where and how can I incorporate them in my life?As a follower of Jesus, what you fill your life with needs to reflect His values and calling.A friend struggled with this because she wanted to own a flower shop. She was passionate about flowers but wondered if this was "serious" enough. But isn't this a reflection of "being made in God's image"? She revels in her love of beauty and nature which God created for our pleasure.Anything that expresses our joy and delight in His handiwork: flowers, art, creative acts, loving people, encouraging them, making money to support your family and to share with others in need: all these and many other careers and callings are worthy ways to use your life.

• If your passion is caring for people: look into the helping professions or a field that connects you with supplying the needs of people. If you can't do it full-time, look for part-time or volunteer involvement. Your heart's longing to touch others' lives can be met whatever your age. Pray for creativity and direction to add this element to your life.
• If your passion is caring for children: be a teacher at some level, run a home daycare or share child-care, volunteer at a school to teach gym, or art, or mentor a child or teen. You could be a foster parent, or involved in protecting children from harm.  Again, pray for direction and be willing to risk something new and stretching.
• Whatever your passion, take a step toward incorporating it into your life.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles (fear, laziness, our own agenda?) and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."Look at what stirs your heart with excitement and pray about moving forward. Obstacles of all sorts will inevitably appear, so watch for the next blog which will deal with overcoming both external and internal objections to following your dreams. Be sure and forward or recommend this blog to friends who would benefit.Here's my question for you: What would you like to do with your life?  What obstacles lie in your path?  Share your comments in the box below.Love to you in the Name of Jesus, the One who came to give us life abundant.Poppy