Across the room from where I’m sitting, my friend Melissa is encouraging and speaking life into young Quinn Collie. They are talking about her passion for making jewelry and bar soap, and Melissa is quite literally helping her with her business plan. Bars + Beads she calls it. I can see Quinn’s demeanor change as Melissa takes genuine interest in the things that interest Quinn.
we all have dreams don’t we?
or at least we used to dream, when we were kids.
we dreamed of being lawyers, doctors, teachers, or if you were like me at one point you dreamed of driving a red jeep around in Montana by night + environmental lawyer by day {what??}.
when did we stop dreaming?
why did we stop?
Today as I sat next to my new friend Barbara overlooking the beautiful Ugandan hills, I listened to her share her dream of being an engineer. We talked about the way God had wired her mind to be an engineer and it gave me great joy to encourage her in her dream. I talked about my passion for photography and how God had wired my mind for my dream too.
Looking in every beautiful bright eyed pre-teen I encountered at Amazima today, I heard all sorts of dreams. I love seeing the connection between their favorite subject in school and the dream they have for themselves. Every single time I speak life into their dreams, they respond confidently.
lawyer
airline pilot
doctor
teacher
driver
accountant
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” – Henry Thoreau
How easy would it be for us to think their dreams either aren’t adequate, or are too far reaching, and to decide instead of building up, to tear down? how easy would it be hear the dream but not see a connection to a career and again, decide to shoot it down?
why do we do this?
I have to believe it starts with us not living our dream, not dreaming our own dreams, or not have reached for the dreams we dreamed as a child.
when did we just decide we had to “grow up”?
why can’t we dream dreams for ourselves, and encourage the next generation to do the same? this trip, for me? living. my. dream.
I want to challenge us with this.
let’s speak life and encouragement into the next generation.
let’s dream with them.
let’s dream ourselves.
let us never forget that NOTHING is impossible with god
God is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine. [Ephesians 3:20]
we were created for a purpose.
let’s realize how unique, valuable, and one-of-a-kind we are to God.
let’s know it AND believe it
let’s speak it over the next generation.
“With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.“
1 Corinthians 15:58, the Message
Mo | Logan | Cara | Melissa | Erika | Carey
be sure to follow all the other amazing gals on our trip by clicking this link: #bloghope
thank you Katie + team at Amazima for allowing us to come love on + play with your beautiful children today! We pray that God continues to bless your ministry and give you vision for what’s to come!
Hey, I'm Wynne!
Hi, friend! First, I truly am so giddy that you are here. I want you to know I believe in you and all the ways you are growing towards living a more intentional life. I genuinely hope you are encouraged from our time together here.
A little about me, I’m a type 7 on the enneagram, a total extrovert + people lover, entrepreneur, connector, storyteller, people gatherer, and passionate wife, mama + friend. I feel most alive when I’m exploring new places and surrounded by people I love. Give me a day in the outdoors disconnected from wifi, and I am a happy girl. I run on oat milk lattes, Jesus, gratitude journaling and kitchen dance parties with my four kids.
Welcome, come on in!
Dreaming BIG for myself, and for you all as you love Big for God! Keep it up, sounds like it’s been a good time of refreshment for you. Remember that circumcision of the heart is messy, bloody and painful, but when we’ve healed and rested God will move us into our next place of promise! ! He did it with Moses and the Israelites before they could enter the land, every male had to be circumcised because it was the sign of the covenant He made with Abraham! He has done circumcision of the heart with everyone who he has called as his chosen servants. Often requiring a painful time of preparation. We shouldn’t think it will be any different with us. We lose our focus on the Lord, allowing the ways and things of this world to embed in our lives, and so often the only way to remove it, is to get his needle and start gently digging through the layers to get the infestation out. Just like the jiggers you are removing from their feet. Painful yes! But so worth being freed from the things that weigh us down, causing us pain, and keeping us from being fully used by God, in the places of promise he has for each of us!
beautiful!!! wholeheartedly agree.
yes!! speaking it into the next generation!! my heart is all excited just reading this! love you!
reading Restless right now. this hits home. with dreaming. oh, i’m dreaming so big right now. but also scared. but God has conquered fear and death, and with Him, I can too. yes, let’s encourage the next generation to dream! [i’m thinking a shirt design about dreaming needs to happen for Little Loves Clothing!]