Remember the lottery ticket conversation I had with my missions pastor? The one where he said he would make people’s dreams come true if he won the million dollar cash out? It turns out he didn’t need the 51 million to help people dream big dreams after all.
Last night around circular tables and well-designed road maps for life, Matt lead a group of 75 people on a journey to dream God-sized dreams for their life. I was asked to be a table facilitator—and as the worst wife of the year I couldn’t pass on this opportunity to earn some extra credit in the spouse department.
The people in my group were awesome! One girl was a storyteller of brokenness, another was determined to translate the bible by creating videos for the deaf and hearing impaired, and all of us were excited about dreaming new and big dreams again. In hearing their stories I realized our dreams are broken by our own insecurities, fears, and past failures.
The system we grew up with is a mess. It’s falling apart at the seams and many people I care about are in pain because the things we thought would work, don’t. Every day I meet people who have so much to give but have been bullied enough or frightened enough to hold it back. They have become victims, pawns in a senseless system that uses them up and undervalues their potential.
It’s about a choice and it’s about your life. This choice doesn’t require you to quit your job, though it challenges you to rethink how you do your job. It’s time to stop complying with the system and draw your own map.
Stop settling for what’s good enough and start creating art that matters. Stop asking for what’s in it for you and start giving gifts that will change people. Then, and only then, will you have achieved your potential. —Seth Godin
For hundreds of years, we have been seduced, scammed, and brainwashed into fitting in, following instructions, and exchanging a day’s work for a day’s pay. That era has come to an end, and just in time.
You have brilliance in you, your contribution is valuable, and the art you create is precious. Only you can do it, and you must. As I say this to you, I’m saying it to myself. Dream big dreams. The missions pastor who wants to make dreams come true gave you permission. In the words of Matt the Dreammaker, your dreams aren’t dead. They may be buried deep down inside, but they aren’t dead.
What are your dreams? Matt and I are committed to praying for you, your hopes, and your dreams. But you must speak it out, write it down, and share it with other. Do yo’ thang!
My dream has been evolving lately as I’ve been apart of some new ministry opportunities. My dream is to work with inner-city children and youth; a combination of World Vision & Focus on the Family, but in the streets of America. These kids are sooo in need! I hope to be able to minister to them as God leads:)
Seriously, thanks for the encouragement to dream. You and Matt are awesome! I will be praying for you both too.
We will be praying for YOU too 🙂
I’m thankful to be working in my dream job-teaching. But because we live in a fallen world, no job is perfect and I’m the only female on staff. The true measure of a servant is how you respond when you’re treated like one. I dream of responding like Christ and reminding those around me of Him.
I don’t know if I want to post my dream here on the worldwide web! lol. Seriously!
Can I e-mail you?
Our dream is to launch a Church unlike any church in our area. We are in the begning stages. Planning and preparing. We are believing God to send us a slamming Worship team. Creative people to help us reach people that never thought they could do this “church thing” and all while not compromising the values and beliefs of the word of God. Appreciate the prayers.
P.S. I’ve already booked my first womens conf guest speaker.. now i just need a womens ministry 🙂
my dream is to follow the plan God has for my life. be a world changer if it is only one person’s world that i change along the way. to finish school accomplish the degree i am working to achieve. get married and raise a Godly family. all while never failing to remember the one who got me this far!
I love you Bianca – the Lord uses you so much in my life and you don’t even know it! 🙂
My dream is to preach the Gospel without fear and that many would be saved not because of me but because of the Holy Spitrit. All glory to God!!
Bianca,
This just got me SO pumped up. Gosh, I hate that I still doubt what it is I’m doing or why I’m doing it, but God is always so faithful to remind me. Today, He used this post from you…and I thank you.
Yes, you are doing EXACTLY what God has called you to do. Any you’re great at it! You’ve been on my mind lately and I’m so glad this forced me to let you know that I’m thinking of you and your two gorgeous babies. Hope the home church is going well! Much love…
this is so great! and something the Lord has really been challenging me with lately. thank you so so much for sharing!
my biggest dream right now is to build a successful photography business. i absolutely love it and am working towards making it a career. it’s scary but I’m so grateful to have a hubby that sees my desires and pushes me to do what’s in my heart.
XOXO
I just wanted to thank you and Matt for the Frontline April 25 event. I have followed that voice inside me, ever since I can remember. I’ve known without tanglible proof that God has always been with me. Still is. Always will be. As I deal with my “Friday” – a loss of a long-time job – I know my “Sunday” of resurrection is coming, and I thank you for the inspiration and encouragement and prayer.
Peace,
Paolina
Hello my new friend! I’m so glad you were able to join the night. I have a great book for you about building platform (from Michael Hyatt). It’s not even released yet but I have a prerelease copy! Let me know where I can send it.
My dream is to one day be a teacher in an urban school district. I pray God will use me as a vessel to shine His light and encourage and equip students for success. I want every single student to know that they have a unique, powerful purpose in life and every discouraging word spoken over them is such a lie! I also really want to be married and have babies! I’m in college and I’ve never had a boyfriend or dated or anything, just trying to keep myself pure for God and my future hubby. But one day when God hooks me up with my boo I want to tell girls all over the world to wait for that man that the Lord has for them because staying physically, emotionally, and mentally pure is SOO worth it and God does reward that!!!!
Hello Bianca,
I just discovered your blog today. I started following you on Instagram as I see you pop up here and there in connection to Jasmine. I know of her from her creativeLIVE workshops.
Anyway, this post is especially meaningful to me because I am at a point in my life where I seeking a new career path. I have been working for a long time at jobs that offer little more than a paycheck. I have felt for a long time that I need to make a change and find something more meaningful. My opportunity to do so appeared when I lost my job in Seattle in January. Through a chain of events, we relocated to San Francisco and I am working with a career/life coach to define where my strengths, creativity & passions. An best help others.
All this change has been emotionally taxing but I have learned that it’s okay to ask others for help (something that has been a HUGE challenge for me) and I feel relief that I am on my way to reaching my full potential and doing work that matters to myself and others.
Thanks for doing he work you do supporting others!
You’re so welcome! It’s my honor 🙂 Thanks for reading!
My dream is to use my worship/ prophetic art to minister to people on individual basis but also in a large scale audience. Also, to gain more confidence in speaking to large audiences so that when asked to share the message behind each piece, I wont be so nervous and anxious.
Praying for you 🙂
I dream of being a photographer. For so long I brushed off my dream. I felt inadequate and like my dream was not tangible. I took the plunge fearlessly fearful, as my bff says it. Last week I finally had the courage to do something about it. Thank you. This inspired me so much.
Love it! So glad it did 🙂
My dream is to use my gift of choreography in dance and performance and use it to create dance works based on and inspired by the Lord and just use it as another way of communicating a message or encouragement or a story through the art of dance. Also, in doing this, using these to perform at big events or conferences and raising awareness for A21 campaign (my heart has grown a desire for A21 and just a burden for the victims). We’ll see! maybe one day I could meet up with your team to set something up!