Dreaming Never Hurt Anyone – What’s your Dream for 2013?

By Lori Kempton –

As we are nearing the end of one year and heading towards the beginning of a new one, many will find themselves taking the time to reflect on this past year. Have we followed our passions and dreams or did we allow life to get in the way and crowd them out? Do we still even have the fire and passion to pursue some of those dreams we once had in our younger years? Perhaps you feel that you have no choice right now other than to just survive and stay above water; let alone be able to pursue a dream right now.

One of the courses I took in college was designed to help us find our passion and/or purpose in life. I found the process fascinating and when I finished the course I was inspired once again to write a book.  I have always wanted to write and be an inspirational speaker but it just seemed that every time I tried to write nothing happened.

That all changed a couple of years ago when I sat down and tried again.  All of a sudden the stories and lessons I had learned in my life just started to flow onto the pages and before I knew it, it was done!  I had my first book!  Have you had an ongoing dream like me that seemed like it was never going to become reality?

Knowing my book was in publishing, I started asking people on Linked-In what worked best for them when it came to promoting their writings. One man told me I should get a copy of a book from John Maxwell called Putting your Dreams to the Test. In that book, John talks about some who are only dreamers while others actually do what it takes to make their dreams reality.

That made me stop and think about how committed I am at this point to make my dreams reality.

I no longer want to talk about them; I want to be living them. I love the fact that the book is now published and available. I’m even more excited that I am also finally getting the opportunity to share as a speaker! It’s only been a 25 year old dream that is finally becoming a reality now!

God says in His Word, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” in Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV). He made each one of us with purpose and with passion. Have you ever met one of those people who from the minute they could talk, knew what their purpose in life was and followed it out from that point every breathing moment of their life? I stand back and am amazed each time I encounter one of those people. As a person with A.D.D., God knew He couldn’t give me one purpose that long ago and expect me to stick to it throughout my entire lifetime.

First of all, if he gave me this purpose at a young age, by the time I got to 50 years old and He was ready to make this new thing happen, I would have never remembered what it was I was supposed to be doing! Secondly, He has to mix it up for those of us with A.D.D. or we get bored!

I think our purpose and passion sometimes changes according to the season of life we are in at any given time. There was a time when raising my children felt like my main purpose and passion. Now that they are raised, God seems to have given me new direction as well as He is continuing to fan the flames on some older dreams that I just haven’t gotten around to yet. Unlike the childhood prodigies that follow their life’s purpose beginning just after their first step, most of us probably fit more into this category of various changes throughout their lifetime. Some might refer to them as our seasons of life.

One of the people in history that I really admire is Abe Lincoln. Abe was an entrepreneur like me and he seemingly never gave up despite tremendous adversity that he faced year after year. Jim laughs at me when I get another idea as he knows it will take me down a path for a while where sometimes I win and other times I will lose.

To be honest, I have more losses than wins with my life’s endeavors. When I do feel like I’ve lost another one, I once again think about Abe and am reminded that great people didn’t do great things without a whole lot of struggle through the not so great tries along the way.

My life’s purpose seems to be doable—what about yours? God hasn’t asked us to die on a cross and carry everyone’s burdens. Nor has He put us on the earth without the Power of the Holy Spirit to get us through that which He has asked us to do. All He has asked is that we find our purpose, follow our passion and let Him do the rest.

Do you have a dream?

Is there something you dreamed about doing many years ago and gave up on it thinking it would ever happen? Spend time in prayer and ask God to show you the purpose He has for you this upcoming season. We have a new beginning on January 1, 2013. What are we going to do to make our dreams become reality? The fact is dreams will only be dreams if we let them. Dreams becoming reality require purpose, planning, passion and the tenacity to follow through even when we fail the first time…and maybe the fifth time…and the eleventh time…you get the point.

Thank goodness Jesus never gave up. I am also very grateful Abe Lincoln didn’t give up either. Next December, I want to be saying, “Thank goodness you and I didn’t give up. Look at what God has done through us in 2013!”

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:21 (NKJV)

Lori Kempton graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in management.  Her entrepreneurial spirit has led her to own her own small business for several years in the past, help start a crisis pregnancy center, plant a church, and write a book–Just Trying to Be a Blessing!  She and her husband, Jim, reside in Cincinnati, OH and have four grown children and five beautiful grandchildren.  Website: http://www.justtryingtobeablessing.com/.