Today marks the beginning of the Implementation phase of your DREAM-pursuit. You've been making strong forward movement all along - but all that has transpired up to this moment has been preparatory and planning. Now you fire up the "machine" you've created and see how it runs!
ENGAGING THOUGHT
Do you remember back to the beginning of the 60 Days of Dreaming challenge? You were at the edge of the cliff and peering over the side, wondering what was down below. Here we are, over half-the-way through the 60 days, and you should be wondering a lot less about what lies over that edge - you know it will be somewhat different than you've envisioned and planned - but you also know that you've taken a high degree of ownership and control over the "fall." Put simply: you now have a pretty-good idea what awaits you over that edge.
So, let's pause here for a moment. Take a brief look around and consider what you are about to do: you are about to jump off a cliff and begin falling headlong into the full-on pursuit of God's DREAM for your life. This is truly a moment where everything changes from here-on-out. All your planning and strategizing; praying and wondering; recruiting and resourcing is about to come into play as you move forward into the most obviously active phase of the pursuit.
Are you really going to do it? Will you really jump into an entirely new definition for your life? Maye this is a good time for a dash of realism. Be very careful here, however. This is one of those moments when your old tendencies to shrink back from the edge will try, once again, to get you to back off and compromise in the pursuit of your DREAM. You want to be smart and understanding of what you are about to do and jumping off this cliff-edge is about more then just rational understanding - it is also a leap of faith that God has created you for this very pursuit.
St. Irenaeus of Lyons, a 2nd-Century teacher in the Christian Church, wrote to this end: "Life in man is the glory of God; the life of man is the vision of God." Another translation of Irenaeus' famous quote reads, "the glory of God is man fully alive." Consider that statement for a moment: when we pursue and live all that we were designed for - the fullest expression of our humanity - we bring the greatest glory to our Creator. We fulfill the purpose for which He designed us and for which He carefully crafted the plan of our days.
We were created for the pursuit and fulfillment of God's DREAM for our lives. To some that may seem a fanciful and unreal approach to life. They could not be more mistaken. Spending our lives in pursuit of God's DREAM is the most complete expression of our humanity; the most honoring to Him and the most edifying to all around us. That is reality.
Now, JUMP!
So, let's pause here for a moment. Take a brief look around and consider what you are about to do: you are about to jump off a cliff and begin falling headlong into the full-on pursuit of God's DREAM for your life. This is truly a moment where everything changes from here-on-out. All your planning and strategizing; praying and wondering; recruiting and resourcing is about to come into play as you move forward into the most obviously active phase of the pursuit.
Are you really going to do it? Will you really jump into an entirely new definition for your life? Maye this is a good time for a dash of realism. Be very careful here, however. This is one of those moments when your old tendencies to shrink back from the edge will try, once again, to get you to back off and compromise in the pursuit of your DREAM. You want to be smart and understanding of what you are about to do and jumping off this cliff-edge is about more then just rational understanding - it is also a leap of faith that God has created you for this very pursuit.
St. Irenaeus of Lyons, a 2nd-Century teacher in the Christian Church, wrote to this end: "Life in man is the glory of God; the life of man is the vision of God." Another translation of Irenaeus' famous quote reads, "the glory of God is man fully alive." Consider that statement for a moment: when we pursue and live all that we were designed for - the fullest expression of our humanity - we bring the greatest glory to our Creator. We fulfill the purpose for which He designed us and for which He carefully crafted the plan of our days.
We were created for the pursuit and fulfillment of God's DREAM for our lives. To some that may seem a fanciful and unreal approach to life. They could not be more mistaken. Spending our lives in pursuit of God's DREAM is the most complete expression of our humanity; the most honoring to Him and the most edifying to all around us. That is reality.
Now, JUMP!
ACTION STEP
Today's ACTION STEP is somewhat like that last pause before the rush of adrenaline kicks in...as you jump over the cliff-edge and begin to fall into the full-on pursuit of the DREAM!
Take a few minutes to write out your thoughts and feelings at this stage of the pursuit. You'll return to this page later on and be glad to have a record of your thoughts.
Take a few minutes to write out your thoughts and feelings at this stage of the pursuit. You'll return to this page later on and be glad to have a record of your thoughts.
Tomorrow we begin the active phase of our DREAM strategy.
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