Delayed Dreams
Habakkuk 2:3 presents a passage of scripture that has been moving deeply in my heart.
“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
Thought it linger, wait for it. I love this. This is one of those passages that ought to raise a certain level of faith in our hearts.
Perhaps God has given you a revelation – maybe a dream or a vision. Maybe God has revealed His will for the future. Maybe you have been given a plan to be executed somewhere ahead. This verse is for you.
When God reveals a plan, often times our first notion is to figure out the quickest and most efficient way to get it accomplished. It is our valiant effort to bring God’s plan to fruition in an instant. However, that isn’t exactly how God works. Sometimes God’s desire is for us to wait.
Waiting has a weird advantage. Waiting isn’t worrying. Waiting isn’t working harder. Waiting isn’t wanting less or more. Waiting is… waiting.
God’s desire in the waiting process, in the midst of your delayed dreams, may be to grow you more. God’s desire may be to build your faith and dependence upon Him. God’s desire may be for you to anticipate Him doing something much larger than you originally thought. God’s desire may be to build you into the man or woman He needs you to be in order for you to see your dream come true. Waiting definitely has an advantage.
All revelation has an appointed time. We see our life is snapshots – in individual pieces. God sees our life in DVD form – as a long journey. The dream that God has given you will not prove false. Trust in Him. Wait for Him. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
BIG DREAMS
One of the things that I have set out in my heart to do in 2012 is to:
DREAM BIG.
Dreaming is pivotal to fulfilling a life of vision and purpose. I have been a dreamer for as long as I can remember. Even as a child God begin to reveal dreams in my heart and life. I can remember hearing the voice of God as a 10 year old child. God spoke these words audibly: “Dustin, I want you to be a pastor.” That moment was one of the defining moments of my life – the birth of a dream.
Are you a dreamer? Has GOD given you a dream? Have you had a vision birthed in your heart that has yet to be revealed?
Maybe 2012 is the year for you to DREAM BIG. I am not talking about dreaming a small dream. I am not talking about dreaming a dream that you could accomplish on a really good day with really good weather. There are a lot of good dreams that are not GOD DREAMS and GOD DREAMS are BIG DREAMS.
God’s desire is for you to DREAM BIG. BIG DREAMS lead to BIG PRAYERS. BIG PRAYERS require BIG FAITH. BIG FAITH is only obtained through trusting a BIG GOD. Want to know what a BIG DREAM is? It is a dream that could you could never accomplish on your own. It is a dream that would require GOD to intervene and do something BIG.
Joseph dreamt BIG DREAMS. You can read them in Genesis 37. These were dreams that no one believed were possible or would ever happen. Joseph’s own brothers disowned him for believing that such a dream could come true. His own father even had a hard time believing his BIG DREAMS. Yet through it all, Joseph never wavered in his devotion to God. When the enemy did all that he could to put out his dream, Joseph held on to the promise that God had given him. Eventually, Joseph’s dream came true – and boy was it a BIG DREAM.
This is why I have the ability to DREAM BIG. I want GOD to do something BIG through me, for His own glory. In order to do that, I know I must dream BIG DREAMS.
Will you join me? Will you dream BIG DREAMS? Don’t limit yourself or GOD in 2012. God has something BIG in store for you.
Paradigm Shift
These are the two words that God gave me at the beginning of 2011:
Paradigm Shift
Each year God gives me a theme that I follow and walk out through the year. The theme is a guide for my life in that given year. Many of my goals for that season come from this foundation that God gives. The word that God clearly spoke to me at the beginning of this year was “Paradigm Shift.” I had very little idea of what those words actually meant – so I did some research.
A paradigm is a pattern or way of thinking. It’s a particular perspective and outlook. So… a paradigm shift is simply a change in perspective or a shift in one’s way of thinking or outlook. Often times it comes in the way of an epiphany.
I had no idea what those words meant in terms of this year and this season of my life. I had no idea that this was really a year of transition for me. At the onset of this year I was starting out in a completely new season of life. God had brought me home to fulfill the calling of my life in the City of Pontiac. I thought that was all the transition I needed. But God wanted so much more.
I didn’t realize that I needed a “paradigm shift” to take place. I didn’t realize that my perspective on life wasn’t in the right place. I had no idea my prayer life needed a shift. I had no idea that I needed a new outlook on my walk with Christ. I am just now realizing that I needed a paradigm shift in order to fulfill God’s plan for me in the future.
Although I didn’t pray or even think about these words every day, they took root in my heart and I realize now what God meant. This year has been one giant epiphany. God has shifted everything about me! I am so thankful and I know this is just the beginning.
God laid some foundational promises for my life in this year. Some of these promises are for the future, some are for the present, and some are for every day. God brought these to me through prayer and time spent with Him. Some came through time spent with my Spiritual Father – others through sermons heard at my home church. Still more came through a couple of books that have helped to expand my perspective in this year (you wouldn’t believe me if I told you that I found the words “paradigm shift” smack dab in the middle of the both of them!).
I make no resolutions for the New Year. I realize that these are often made in haste and in the brief splendor of looking ahead at all we want to see accomplished in the next year. But I do make a declaration for my life. I will stand on the promises of God. I will stand on the promises of scripture. I will stand on the promises God has given me for my life.
I get it God. I have a new perspective. I’m ready to see your will and plan revealed. A paradigm shift has taken place. Onward to 2012.
2010
I am not quite sure of how to sum up 2010 in one blog post, but I am going to make an attempt to. I am so thankful for 2010. I am so thankful for all that God has done in and through me. I am so thankful for His Holy Spirit that has lead and guided, each day.
I didn’t imagine that I would come to call Pontiac my home again in 2010. I began this year praying about what God would have me do in the next season of my life. He led me here, and at no greater time than this. I am believing Him for great and mighty things in 2011.
In a year of ups and downs, great triumphs and great mistakes, I was able to look to the hills from whence cometh my help. Just as God has led the way in 2010, I know that he will continue to lead in 2011. He will guide in 2011. He will strengthen in 2011. He will comfort in 2011. He will save, redeem, restore, and renew, in 2011.
I am humbled that God would choose me: a kid who was once without purpose – lost and seemingly all alone. He stepped in and changed my life forever. Because of that, I now give him my life to be His for all of eternity.
I believe that 2011 will be the greatest year yet. I believe that because of the God who remains the same – yesterday, today, and forever.
Picture of the Week
In several weeks, I will move home to Pontiac, Michigan to work with
The Power Company Kids Club.
One of the joys of this move is the great team that I’ll have the privilege to work with. This team is filled with devoted servants of the most high. They are like family to me. Can’t wait to serve with them on the front lines of the city.
Wednesday Worship
This week’s Wednesday Worship features the song:
Love Like Fire from Hillsong Live.
Check it out.
Top Ten from the Weekend
1. On Saturday morning our pastors gathered at EPIC Church for a few final preparations for our two EPIC Experiences on Sunday.
2. It was a cool fall Saturday. It was enjoyable.
3. I went out to Blue Springs with Brian on Saturday afternoon to see The Moving Wall. The Moving Wall is a replica of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington D.C.
4. My mom gave me a name to look up on The Moving Wall. Marine PFC Phillip A. Hill died in the Vietnam war just over a month after his deployment. My mom went to high school with Phillip and his family. It was great to connect this history and honor on a deeper level.
5. After much anticipation and preparation we had our first Sunday with two EPIC Experiences at EPIC Church.
6. Sunday was a great day overall. We had record attendance with plenty of visitors. The two experiences went over very well and should allow for a great season of natural growth at EPIC Church.
7. Bobby started a brand new series called The Winning Hand. Listen to his message Going All In here.
8. It is great to see God continue to move at EPIC Church. These past two years have been the most exciting time of my entire life. Leaving EPIC Church will be bittersweet.
9. Sunday evening I joined in service with The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection – Downtown Campus. The United Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas is the largest United Methodist Church. The church is led by Adam Hamilton. The downtown campus was launched about a year ago and is reaching out to hundreds of people each week.
10. Although the service was different than that which I would normally participate in, it was wonderful time. The service at this downtown church was very refreshing. It is good at times to quietly acknowledge God and accept the fact that we must completely rely on Him.
Picture of the Week
This week’s picture is one I absolutely love. My parents were able to spend some time with me in Kansas City a few weekends ago. It was a great time. These are two people that are in my corner no matter what. I love them so much.
The Fourth Stage
Sometime ago, Perry Noble, Senior Pastor of New Spring Church in South Carolina, posted thoughts on his blog about the four stages he’s gone through as a leader. As I began to look over these thoughts again, I realized that I had finally made it to the fourth stage.
#1 – I want to see God do something great.
When I first started out in ministry, I was extremely young. I knew that God was big and that He could do anything. I knew I wanted to see Him do something great. This is such a great stage to be in. When I worked as a young teen with the Power Company Kids Club, I certainly did see God do great things. But God wanted more.
#2 – I want to do something great.
As I worked with Bobby Hawk as an intern in Pontiac, I definitely wanted to do something great. But in the process, God was left out. My doing something great had very little to do with God’s big picture or the other people that were included in it. It was simply about me.
#3 – I want us to do something great.
When I moved to Kansas City to help plant EPIC Church, my vision was a part of our vision. I believed that we could do something great in this city. I believed that people would be reached, changed, and transformed by the power of the gospel. But oddly enough, I didn’t always remember to acknowledge that it was God that would actually be the one that could and would do something great through us.
# 4 – I want God to do something great through us.
Reflecting back on this year, I feel as though I have finally reached the fourth stage.
It is clearly evident that God has begun to do something great through us at EPIC Church. God is doing something great through us. This has been my prayer this year. But the prayer doesn’t end there.
As I transition to work with the Power Company Kids Club, the prayer is the same. I want God to do something great through us. This is a ministry that God has been working through for the past 17 years. My life is changed because of a team of people that wanted God to do something great through them. And now, more than ever, I believe that the best is yet to come! I believe that God will do something great in and through each and everyone of us, as He is faithful and as we put our trust in Him.
On this stage, things have very little to do with me, and everything to do with the great things that God wants do through His people.
You can read Perry’s original post in it’s entirety, here.
Wednesday Worship
This song has become an anthem for me as of late.
It speaks of the wonderful transaction that Christ made for us.
It was a beautiful exchange.
Beautiful Exchange – Hillsong Live
Dustin McClellan
at The Power Company
Kids Club,
Team Pastor
at Bridgewood Church, Student, Friend, Future Husband, Future Father, Child of God.
