We spent most of the weekend with long time friends of ours, Mark and Tammy Griffin. When I say "long time", I mean "30 years - long time". That's a long time. We have been through just about everything together.
What quickly became the talk point for the weekend was the length of time we have all spent pursuing dreams in our lives.
I had invited Mark to speak at our church, Freedom House, so they were in town for the weekend. We booked them at the Best Western Hotel - the same hotel we were all at 16 years ago when God had originally spoken to them about the dream of a Ministry Training Centre.
Interestingly, Tammy "confessed" to me that when they originally shared their idea of the training centre with us that weekend 16 years ago, my response was something like, "well, you better settle in for a vision like that - you'll be a couple of years before that can happen" AND SHE WAS TICKED that I would suggest it could take a "couple of years". There is a big difference between a couple and 16.
Don't skip by the timing I just mentioned... 16 years... read it again... 16 years... ok, one more time... 16 years.
Most people don't keep anything for 16 years... not a pet, not a car, not a spouse, not anything - let alone something as intangible as a dream.
Yesterday at church, Mark masterfully wove the picture for us of what happens in the the process of the dream. He took us from dream... to development... to delay... to destination - brilliantly weaving in Biblical characters such as David, Joel, Peter and Joseph (and his technicolour dream coat).
As Mark spoke to the church he also unfolded the tangible outflow of the dream by showing us pictures of the Hotel and restaurant they had just purchased in Germany, to use for their training centre.
Now for me, the potential here is to write a huge list of applications we should walk away with from this, but I will refrain. I do, however, want to encourage you to do your own soul searching for a few minutes today.
Do you have dreams that perhaps you have laid aside too soon?
Have you given up on the dream altogether or perhaps even the Dream-giver?
Don't give up on your dream - the One who gave it to you is patiently waiting to help you fulfill it.
Let me leave you with the Biblical passage that Mark used as his text yesterday for your consideration as you start this week off.
Psalm 126 1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion we were like those who dreamed.2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
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