I Dreamed a Dream

I Dreamed A Dream

As I quickly approach my 44^th birthday, I sometimes think it may be time to pack it up, leave the road and settle down doing something others describe as useful.  Many people would say I am to old to be ripping up the roads, singing across the nations, dragging my husband and 2 doggies along for the ride.  But the truth of the matter is, we can’t think of anything else we’d rather do.  It seems as if the Lord has given us a special grace to do the work we’re doing.  It’s never too late.  It isn’t over until the Lord says so.

One of the things I hear from people is that they think it’s too late for them to achieve their God given dream.  But I believe that as long as there is breath in your body there is time to achieve some part of the dream God has placed in your heart for the advancement of the Kingdom.  It may be modified, it may not grow to be exactly what you thought it would be, but if you still have strength, you still have time.

I always think of Abraham and the promise that the Lord gave him and Sarah, the promise became Abraham’s dream and although he saw only some of it come to pass, he didn’t see it all come into fruition. But he did what God called him to do after getting hemmed up in Egypt, messing around with his nephew Lot and having a child with the handmaid.   Delays, these were delays, but they did not take the Lord by surprise!  God still brought forth His promise to Abraham, his dream of being a father.  In essence Abraham set the foundation for a dream that would belong to the entire world.  A dream that would turn into a blessing for the whole world.

So the past does not matter, the time to start is today.  What if the dream in your heart, is simply this, the foundation of a bigger dream that will meet the needs of millions of others? 

Get Moving!  Don’t wait another minute, the Bible tells us… If you wait for perfect conditions you will never get anything done. (Ecclesiastes 11 Verse 4) NLB

Ask yourself, what does your dream entail that you feel is limited by time?  For example, what if you felt you were suppose to be a champion figure skater, you love ice skating, but now in your 40’s you’re too old to pursue that dream.  But you know the Lord has placed that passion in your heart.  After much prayer, you could found a ministry that reaches out to figure skaters, or arranges free lessons to children who can’t afford lessons while also training them in the truths of the Word of God.  Or maybe you could become a coach’s assistant and win a future world champion to the Lord, who will then share the gospel with millions through their athletic efforts.  Time does not diminish the promise of God!  Answer the following questions:

List the limitations you feel you’re facing because you feel it’s too late.

Spend some serious time in prayer asking the Lord to reveal to you how your original dream should look now.  Journal those answers, then make a commitment to do one thing everyday to achieve the dream.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about fear, your dreams, God’s provision and overcoming the thought that it is to late!  Leave me a comment here on the blog or at www.facebook.com/ministryofnaima

God Will Provide!

The summer is upon us and I know many of us are thankful that the snow and cold are gone and new life is blooming.  As we move quickly towards the end of the year, I don’t want another moment to pass without you being prepared to achieve your God Given Dream.  Last month we talked about facing our fears, this month we’ll address the issue of lack.  We must remember there is no lack in God, He has it all in hand and He has made provision for you.

Have you ever felt that you could not achieve your God given dreams because you didn’t have what you needed to make it all come together?  You feel you can’t go forward because you don’t have the proper resources to do what you know you’ve been called to do.  But God is great and there is no lack in Him!  There is always a way to get started even if you don’t have a million bucks in your hand.  If God called you to do it, then you have what you need in your hand – Read Judges Chapter 6 and use Gideon as role model, I do!

There is one simple fact that cannot be denied when you are facing a lack of resources to move forward in your God given dream.  You know someone, somewhere who has what you need or you know someone who knows someone who has what you need.  All you have to do is pray and then ask.  I’ve gotten more stuff that I’ve needed in the last few months from folks simply by asking!  Staff volunteers, recording equipment, financial donations, assistance in booking just to name a few, just from asking.  The Word tells us to ask and we shall receive, so get to asking.  And remember the universal law of reaping and sowing, if someone asks you, be sure to give it if you got it! Get yourself some paper and answer the following questions:

What are your biggest needs to get started?

Who can you ask for assistance to get moving?  List those folks:

Select a concrete date on when you’ll ask them for what you need:

Remember!

-          Always remember, the first person to ask is the Lord, He has everything you need!

-          Don’t be afraid to ask them for suggestions if they don’t have what you need

-          Take what they are willing to give, God can do much with a little

-          Apply the 2 Step Approach, “Pray and Then Ask!”

How have you been working to overcome your fear?  After you ask for something you need, please share the praise reports as well!  I’d love to hear more about it.  Please leave me comment on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ministryofnaima or here on the blog!

To learn more get the training manual, Go With What You Got!To Learn More Purchase The Book - Go With What You Got!

Fear, Lack, Faith, Trust

Grace and Peace Loved Ones!

There are some words that most people would not use to describe me, painfully shy and fearful.  These two words have dictated my existence so strongly that on occasion I have not been able to function.  How can that possibly be?  I travel hundreds of miles singing for the Lord for a handful or a few hundred. And me, shy?  I have learned to make myself talk to people I don’t know.  Why?  Because I know that I am called to do a greater work, to introduce the Lord to those who don’t know Him and to encourage those who feel lost and broken.

From the moment I was born, singing has been my life’s dream.  I cut my teeth on the arts, acting, dancing, music and writing and I have longed to use these artistic gifts for the glory of God since I became a Christian in my mid-twenties.  But even before I became a Christian, I was so fearful to pursue my dreams that I missed opportunities, never took chances and stayed silent when I should have spoken out.  Before I was even called to sing for the Lord, the devil worked to destroy my confidence so that by the time I came to know the Lord I still was fearful to pursue my artistic dreams for His glory.

But not anymore! I’ve spent the last year doing all types of things that I would never do because it made me fearful.  I recently auditioned to sing the National Anthem for the Jacksonville Suns, I was so scared, I made myself sick, but by the power of the Lord I did it anyway.  Last year I entered a showcase sponsored by the Christian Women in Media, I didn’t win the grand prize, but I did make the top ten!  And this year, I have decided I won’t hold back, anything and everything that I’ve dreamed of doing, that the Lord gives me the go ahead to do, I am going to do.  Fear will have no place, because God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.

So many times we let fear, or lack, or age or doubt keep us from the victory that the Lord has in store.  I’ve had to develop the tools to break past these limitations and truly trust in the Almighty God who believes in me more then I believe in myself.  Come on over to the blog on May 20^th, June 1^st, June 16^th and July 1^st and check out my series on the 4 Things That Keep You From Achieving Your God Given Dream.  There is much work to do, let’s not let our selves get in the way of God’s perfect will for our lives!

Don’t forget to visit the blog at www.naimajohnston.blogspot.com to follow a special series on 4 Things That Keep Your From Achieving Your God Given Dreams!

How You Can Support Us!
As you know we are in ministry fulltime and we are always seeking ways to grow the ministry, meet the needs of others and be of service to the world.  Each month we are going to offer a special product for a special price for our newsletter readers!  This month, we are offering my book, Confessions of a Big Girl for only $12.00 including shipping!  If you'd like an autographed copy, send $12.00 viawww.paypal.com to naimasbrokenbox@yahoo.com!  Or give the office a call at 937-367-4303 and we can take your order over the phone!

We Need Your Shoes!
We are collecting shoes for the Haitians that live in abject poverty on the sugar cane plantations in the Dominican Republic.  Want to donate a pair of shoes? Email me at naima@ministryofnaima.com for instructions on how you can donate.

How Can I Serve You?
Planning a women’s ministry event?  Interested in a house concert or special music for your church event?  Need a guest worship leader?  Please contact me, I’m now taking requests for bookings for July through December 2015 and I would love to be of service to you.  Send me an email atnaima@ministryofnaima.com for more info or to discuss details.

Many Blessings!  Now go out and achieve your calling! 

Naima