I love to dream.

I mean those dreams for my future, for our personal lives and for the church’s future. Last night after the kids were sleeping my hubby and I had some good chats; I wasn’t going to let him sleep. I had yet to get out my full 25,000 words for the day!! I asked him what he saw for the church – to be completed by the end of 2007. I love imaging what God is going to do and of course set goals for seeing it happen. Aim at nothing ~ hit nothing!!

This following story is a testimony of the power of dreams….

The church bought the building we’re in back in the summer of 2004, it was a total God thing! Can you imagine around 14 families – from all types of financial backgrounds and stages in their lives – bought this $400,000 building!! With zero in savings before God said that the building was for us!! Can you hear the mockers?? Even down to the last minute when we were short $11,000 the day it was due… their lawyers called us to ask us for an extension. This gave us more time and the very – next – morning $14,000 arrived in the mail.

We moved into the building, which was originally built to house the region’s Ambulance Headquarters, in September (’04). For nearly a year we met in the garage bay area with our coats on in the winter (we have very cold and frigid winters) and giant fans and the doors wide open in the summer (we have very hot and humid summers). The entire time we continued to thank God for this property and for Him finishing it. Miracle after miracle happened. Finances and volunteers came from everywhere, from other churches and from business people in our community and more. In August 2005 we had our “Grand Opening” service, the building was 95% finished. Over $100,000 in renovations have been done so far and again it was all God. We’re now in a place that is beautiful, at the entrance to the city, that is worth just under a million dollars. People in the community say that we are sitting on a gold mine.

We are praying for continued growth in the church. If God doesn’t build the house then we only build shacks! We don’t want anything we do to be “us” motivated but all God driven. We are praying for those who have left (prodigals) and for those who left before it was time – to return, some have already. Please understand me, I know full well that not all will return, some God has said to leave them alone and some He has told us to release with a blessing. I’m talking about the ones that God has said to us, “I wasn’t done with them.” We’re also praying for lost sheep and the lost coin (illustrations Jesus talked about of the different stages of people’s relationships with God). We’re praying for 5 new families to call us home by summer time. This is not “working” or “growing” the church our way. We also need to think practically here. Who is God’s voice? Hands? Feet? The Bible says that God’s kindness leads them to repentance – how is that shown? It’s through us. Us telling others about God and about our Church.

It’s good to dream. It spurs growth and drive and it inspires many around you. We like to challenge our church to think beyond their chequebook – beyond their present situations – beyond what they can do on their own – to dream big!!

God does!!!