Don't give up.  Don't let go of that dream that's so hard to shake, so real that you can see yourself in it doing what you've been created to do, so big that you cannot imagine how it's going to manifest. Well... if it's bigger than you, then GOOD!!! That means that you will have to lean on, trust in, and rely on God to bring it to pass as you listen and obey concerning what your role is in it.

If He promised, He'll do it. If He said it, it WILL come to pass. Whatever your dream is, remember our God is BIGGER than that! And when it comes to pass, though we might be right in the middle of it, God is the one who will get ALL the glory. Allow Him to use you to make a difference. Decide that you will indeed be a mighty instrument in the hands of God. Your dream, when it manifests, will impact others and provide a platform for you to boast of your God. How awesome is that?!

Be encouraged... Be encouraged! 

I wrote this ten years ago as a note to a friend and she published it in Nikao News Online in February 2002.  When I read it I thought it might be good to share it again.  Hope it ministers to and encourages you!  (It sure has helped me to read it again!)

You know that the devil gets angry, down right mad…. Has to put things in motion to try to distract us, to make us take our eyes off of the goals we have before us, to make us not see that what we are doing is working…. to make us grow weary in well doing….

He’s a liar… he’s the father of lies…. he’s the construction manager of the great smoke screens that are erected in front of us to deceive us into thinking things aren’t going well, that things are totally different than what they really are… Pastor Davis talked about it the other day…. When we are right on the brink of our breakthrough the devil paints a picture, creates a situation that is TOTALLY unrelated to everything else to get us off our focus….

DON’T FALL FOR IT!!!!

When we are broken, God can put us together after a fashion that is unique to His plan for us.  Hop  back on the potter’s wheel and get the pieces put together and the rough edges smoothed out.

As you navigated your way through the first month of 2012, were there any changes made in the way you view things, in your expectations, in your strategy to make it closer to your goals?  If not, what will make 2012 any different from previous years?  Make sure you don't set yourself up for failure; that is, don't just keep hoping things will get better and doing things the way you've always done them.  Some changes will require uncomfortable adjustments that you will need to make.  Some will require gaining more knowledge in a certain subject area.  Other changes will require becoming accountable to someone, a group, or an organization.  And still others will require stepping out of the comfort zone that has become your safe haven.  

How bad do you want to see things change?  How bad do you want to accomplish those goals?  How bad do you want to gain ground and get closer to the goal, the vision, the dream,  and/or the destiny that God has for you?  

Ask God for the wisdom you need to begin making the changes, embracing the process, and finding joy on the journey.  He knows the purpose for which you were created.  He knows what it takes to for you to get there and He has an individualized plan already prepared just for you.  As you seek His face and the relationship you have with Him becomes even stronger, then wisdom, guidance, direction, and insight will begin to spring forth from within.  You will find yourself in the middle of His will for your life.

Yes, we can expect great things.  We can confess that we are going to achieve great things.  But until we posture ourselves before Him, allowing Him to take His rightful place in our lives, we will never realize the full benefit of that great plan that God has for our lives.  Let's throw away our preconceived notions and allow the Father to take our hand and lead us into that destiny that He has prepared for us.  And let's enjoy the journey as we embrace change.  

No matter how many setbacks, obstacles, diversions, distractions, or detours you've experienced or encountered, it is imperative that you embrace the fact that you can and will reach your destination if you stay on course.  Rather than agonize over the various experiences and upsets, begin to use them as tools to catapult you into your destiny.  Learn from the mistakes.  Become stronger because of the battles you've endured and won.  Always remember where your ultimate source of strength comes from; God has not created you to be an ultimate failure, but rather, He has created you to be His shining trophy, a testimony of His faithfulness towards those who rely upon His Word -- His ultimate victor!.  Today is a new day.  Get up, dust yourself off, get back in the game. It's just about time for the buzzer to sound for the next round.  See yourself as victorious and go and get what belongs to you!

Don't allow yourself to be overwhelmed by how big your vision appears to be.  Instead, step back, make an assessment, and begin to make your list(s) of what steps are involved to get to where you are going.  Make short-term goals so that you can enjoy a sense of accomplishment along the way as you journey towards the end result.  You can become paralyzed with fear and even dread if you only look at how far you have to go to get where you are going.  Don't do that.  Don't allow yourself to stay in your comfort zone because of fear.  Break out of where you are -- in your mind.  It starts there.  Renew your mind.  Refresh your thinking.  Allow the creativity of God to come in and help you accomplish what seems to be impossible.  There is a distinct, unique plan for your life.  Why not get on your path and start taking those steps towards your goal?

What are you doing while you're waiting for your vision, your dreams, your expectations to manifest?  Get busy being about your Father's business.  Find yourself being faithful where you are.  Use what you have available to you to use for Him.  How can you expect more when you are discounting what you already have?  There are many people waiting for you on the other side of your obedience.  Don't make them wait too long. 

Make sure that you are doing something today that will take you steps closer to your destiny.  Discover your purpose, embrace your uniqueness, and celebrate the gifts that lie within you.  Cultivate those gifts and get clear direction from God concerning how to go about utilizing the tools He's given you so that you will fulfill your purpose and your destiny, thus realize your vision.