Dreams Realized

One year ago I wrote my first post on my new website, it was entitled “From the Heart.” At the end, I shared the words that I believed God was speaking over my 2017, that it would be a year of dreams realized. I thought I was starting strong with launching my website, I would at least see one dream would come to pass.  In my mind this would be a forced start to a new season.  It only took a couple of days to realize this wasn’t true.  Over the next several of months I watched as my parents separated and my job transitioned.  These were not my dreams.  My life was shaken once again, and I started loosing myself in the rubble.  This time I was being buried by new emotions like anger, resentment, and jealousy.  

“When I thought I lost me

You knew where I left me. 

You reintroduced me to Your love. 

You picked up all my pieces

Put me back together

You are the defender of my heart.” 

“Defender” by Rita Springer.

During one of the times I felt most alone, Papa God transformed everything.  I have written previously about His miraculous provision for the ministry school I wanted to attend.  I saw then, that in one moment He can come in and change everything.  This is the second greatest lesson I took away from 2017.  The first is what defined the rest of my year. Papa is so full of love, that he can come into the hardest situations and turn them around for our good.  So much so, that the pain can be barely recognizable.  I see now, that the hardest moments of 2017 bore the most blessings. I don’t say this in a light hearted or fluffy way.  I made a chart. The areas of heartache that were the most painful had the most blessings flow out of them. 

“There’s no shadow You won’t light up

Mountain You won’t climb up

Coming after me

There’s no wall You won’t kick down

Lie You won’t tear down

Coming after me.”

 “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury

Every week since September 10 I can tell you of a breakthrough in my heart.  A place that Papa’s healing love came in and touched my brokenness.  I can tell you without a doubt, that I am a completely different person than I was four months ago.  I am more assured than ever about who I am, how Papa sees me, and what I am called to next.  I have found hope again.  Not only have I realized my dreams, but I am pulling them from my heart and bringing them into the world. The best part is, I believe that Papa has qualified me to do them.  I don’t have to discount myself, because He doesn’t.  He has provision for my every dream.  I have come to understand that my 2017 dreams realized include destiny dreams, but are not exclusive to them. Perhaps my favorite dreams realized this year, were the dreams of valuing myself, my voice, and my heart.

This year could have been marked by division, instead it has been marked by relationship.  It could have been marked by the end of a job, instead it has been marked by pursuing dreams.  It could have been marked by exhaustion, instead it was marked by rest. It could have been marked by emotional lows, instead it was marked by inner healing.  I am so thankful for 2017 and everything it held, but mostly I am thankful for a Father that will not stop at any cost to bring love to His children.