When I was a little girl, I knew that I could achieve whatever I truly set my heart, head and hand to do. I did not know when or how; I just knew deep down inside that it would happen. For example:
- When I was a little girl, I used to dream I could drive. I could see me at the steering wheel of a car and the lines in the middle of the street whizzing by. I did it so much in my sleep, once I was a teenager, it was easy.
- As a young woman, watching movies of exotic places, I dreamed of traveling to Europe. Back then, nobody I knew had such dreams. I have been several times.
- I was told a teen-aged marriage could not last, but we were happily married for thirty-eight years until his death.
I have always refused to be limited by others’ evaluation of my ability to attain my dreams. However, all my life there have been nay-sayers offering me advise. I was told I could not major in Speech-Language Pathology because I had four young children, was poor, black, lived in East St. Louis, AND did not speak King James English. I was told I could not pastor a church because I was a woman. I was told I could not earn a Doctor of Ministry degree because I was 62 years old. But there has always been an inner voice saying, “Yes, I can!”
My latest dream is to be a freelance writer and author. I am now in my seventies. Every book on writing I have read so far states one should start writing in college to have time to develop the craft. According to the latest literature, the odds of me becoming a published writer are slim. But I know I will.
Why do I think I beat the odds in the past, and will do it again? Because as I look back over my life, I know that God put those desires in my heart when no one in my world had such thoughts. Yes, I had to study, work hard, and be a responsible person. Yes, there were nay-sayers and people who intentionally put barriers in my way. But what God has for me is for me! God opened doors I could not see and provided divine connections I knew not of.
Even as a child, before I consciously accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, I sensed his presence in my life. As a little girl I read the Bible, trying to understand what it meant. I have made some mistakes along the way, but God’s plan for me has been revealed through the desires He places in my heart.
I draw strength from Jeremiah 29:11:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I will not yield to the nay-sayers, in person or in books on the writing craft. Yes, I will have to work hard, but God has never failed me. And He is not about to start now.
Do you have a dream? Is there a desire God has laid on your heart? Embrace your dream! Do your part and believe God to open doors and to give you divine connections. I am interested to hear them. Share your God-given desires with us so that we can encourage you and praise God with you. #Jointheconversation. #dreambig #dreambelieveachieve
I have realized that my dreams must be aligned with the purpose God has for my life. I believe I will publish a book the journey begins with the first step. Intentional and deliberate in 2020!
Neva, that book will inspire others to dream. Great title: The Journey Begins with the First Step. Awesome!
Thanks Dr. Haire for reminding us to look back over the things God has done in our lives. Also for what He will continue to place in our hearts.
One of my dreams Is when I was in high school. I dreamed that I would marriage a minister. When I married my husband he was not a minister but God called him later in our marriage. I’m so grateful to God to have seen that desire come to past.
Katherine, thank you for sharing. God is still planting dreams into our hearts. It is not over. Keep listening. He love you and wants more for you than you can imagine.
Thank you for the reminder, my dreams will become reality, I believe so I will move forward, no more procrastination. I believe, therefore i receive, with renewed commitment. Bless you, thanks for reminding us to dream again.
Alberta, I celebrate your accomplishments in advance. You go, girl!
Looking back over my life I had dreams. I wanted a bigger house, so I could entertain family.The first agent I went to she told me, I couldn’t afford the house I was looking at.I got up said thank you and went to another agent in her office. To date I have been in my home for 17 years.God didn’t say no He said yes. So, I dont put my faith and trust in man…
What a wonderful story of tenacity. You were determined to realize your dream even though the first real estate agent couldn’t see it. Thank you for sharing.
Dr Haire
I always enjoy reading your blogs. It’s amazing what you’ve accomplished with the help of God. My dreams are very personal so sharing them publicly is risky. I am encouraged though, through reading your accomplishments, that with God all things are possible.
Monica, you are absolutely correct. With God all things in His will are possible. I know your dreams will come to pass as you trust the One who can make it happen.
Dr. Haire, With tears in my eyes, I write this comment. I know that I have nay-sayers but their voice is not as loud as my inner voice. God has indeed given me dreams/ideas of working in his kingdom. I have shut-both the mouths of the nay-sayers as well as my inner critics. when I graduate from college, I received two master’s degrees, married my husband, and began our ministry. Here I am now, with the biggest dream ever-its too big for me to accomplish by myself but with God all things are possible. We dream big because my God is big. Some dreams are indeed from God. My dream of traveling to various nations preaching the Gospel. I wrestle with speaking proper English and various other things that could impede my effectiveness. I solicit prayers as I do my part of believing and living out this dream that I know will die if the Holy Spirit does not intercede.
-Blessings
Lady Kenney, you are absolutely correct. Your big God gives big dreams so that He can show the world who He is. What God has for you – it is for you! – regardless of ANYTHING you might consider an impediment. I am so exited about your future.
When I was a little girl about 8 years old, and out of 11 children, I realized that I could sing. I told my oldest sister about it. All she said was “ok”. From then I’ve always spent time alone singing or doing something with music. Later on at the age of 10 years old still in my room listening and playing music. I would take two tape recorders and over dub my voice so that I could sing with background vocals. No one taught me this. It just t was part of the gift. On the inside there was this feeling of something great with this special attribute that I have. I sang and played instruments in high school and jointed musical bands as lead singer. After high school I met my now husband of 35 years and who’s birthday we share on the same day. In our earlier days he was quite a sales person and there was a connection that I couldn’t describe at that time I said to myself that this man is going to be very important one day. As time passed on. I received salvation. Two years later so did he. My Husband was called into ministry. Things are starting to manifest purpose of our gifts and abilities together doing ministry. Pastor/Evangelist/Singer. Changing lives is the goal. It all makes sense now how God creates us for His good pleasure! Hallelujah! We are excited for this journey each and every day! Praise God! That we are destined for greatness! If we faint not! Amen! God bless you!
Charlene McDowell, you said something so profound: “Changing lives is the goal.” and “God created us for His good pleasure.” If only the Body of Christ could grasp these truths, its impact in this evil world would be tremendous. Thank you for sharing how our dreams ( when followed) bring us to our purpose.
Dr Haire I so admire you and your knowledge of God’s Word, and I believe what Im sharing with you will help me as I move forward in obedience to God, and following Gods divine direction in doing what he has assigned for me to do. I use to struggle and fight about the gift that God have given me in laying hands. I have done it a number of times and the people that I laid hands on were healed and God have given me instance healing when I laid hands on myself. I know its nothing that I’m doing, but God working through me. Then I allowed self to get in the way, by no doing it being concerned about what people would say. The Lord spoke to me and said that I can do all things through Him. Now I believe this is what I should be doing regardless of what people say are think. I know now that God gives gifts in the body of Christ to do specific things and that I can not allow what I think about it, are what people may say. I did share this with my Pastor that this is what I need to find myself doing, her advice is if God told me this then I should be doing it, and not just do it when I think its needed, but to be led by the Holy Spirit. So my dream is to continue to be obedient regardless. My dream is to be obedient to GOD in every area of my life. I’m still a work in progress and I believe God is still working on me, but laying hands is in my spirit to move forward. Since I know you will give me direction, if ‘ led to lay hands on someone, what do I say to that person that God is leading me to when I approach them? Thank you for the opportunity to share my dream with you. I will definitely be looking for your response. God Bless!!
Yvonne Thomas, thank you for joining the conversation. “Laying on of hands” is practiced for ordination, after believer’s baptism, receiving of the Holy Spirit, and during prayers for faith healing. You seem confident that God anointed you to lay hands on the sick and you have seen results. Your pastor has released you to use your gift. Your question is, “What do I say to that person that God is leading me to when I approach them?” First, be sure God is leading you and not your emotions or the circumstances. Then you say, “May I pray for you and lay my hands on you while I pray?” Wait for their answer. Trust God for the results. Keep being obedient Yvonne. God bless you!
Thank you Dr Haire. I appreciate your response. Yes I do want to make sure that God is leading me when I lay hands on anyone, and not my emotions. Thank you for guiding me in what to say. I so appreciate it and I do want to be obedient to God.
Very Inspiring. Gave me hope and made me want to keep pushing.
A Taylor, keep moving forward in the name of Jesus. He will not let you down!
Dr. Haire, thank you for the reminder of my dream. Although portions of my dream of it has come to fruition; there is is still more to go. Again I say thank you.
Welcome.
Thank you for sharing. This gives me so much encouragement to keep following my dreams. I’m sure this will inspire so many people to keep pushing forward and never give up!
Blessing to you ❤
Leandra
Blessings to you also, Leandra.
Thank you for sharing your dreams with us. Hearing your accomplishments and your ability to move beyond the nay-sayers to follow God’s Will is encouraging. It’s also a reminder to count the blessings we have been given in order to truly see and appreciate God’s work in our lives. I am working on my dream to be a book published author in all this. We’ll see what happens. Thank you again.
Tammika, you can do it! I look forward to reading it. God bless you!!!
This reading was so inspiring. Initially, I dreamed of being married and having a family. That was accomplished but mostly God ordered my steps. He placed His desires in me and I obeyed His instructions and it has been amazing. I was working at an insurance company and the spirit of God said for me to go into counseling, school counselor. I‘ll try to make this brief but God is so amazing. He caused me to do things I’ve never dreamed of. I became a school counselor (currently 21 years) without having to teach, the state laws changed right after I received my Master’s and certification. I’ve never written a song and He told me to record and I have a CD with 13 songs that I’ve written. In the early 90’s, He audibly called me into the ministry. I was ordained in 2013. I never knew I’ll have my own nonprofit (ministry) and currently will build. I am currently writing a book that will be published soon. Nothing I could imagine in my wildest dream has come to pass. It just keeps coming. I left out a lot of miraculous details but God. I guess I could sum it all up by saying that one of my biggest dreams as a little girl is that I always wanted to fly. God has granted me that wish.
Deborah, thank you for sharing. You let us know that God is still doing extraordinary things in the lives of ordinary people.