We are excited to send the first of our four week Women’s Ministries Retreat Devotions. We are so thankful for Jennifer Keitt graciously writing each devotional! Our prayer is that each week the devotionals will help focus you on our theme: In Your Wildest Dreams, and our theme verse, Ephesians 3:20: God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!
Each devotional is in both English and Spanish (BIG THANKS to Clarisa Pichardo and Carmen Rios for translation!!) and can found each week in this email, on our Women’s Ministries web page and on our Facebook page. Because we do not have everyone’s email address that is attending the retreat, please forward this email on to your ladies.
What better way to start this retreat, but as a community focused on God’s Word and praying for what He has in store for each one of us! God Bless You!
http://www.tsafloridawomensministries.org
http://www.facebook.com/TSAFloridaWomensMinistries
#1 A Dream Is Inside You
What were you doing when you were 17 years old? I was in High School, trying to survive. My major thoughts centered on my classes, friends and boys and not necessarily in that order! I can’t say that I really had a “Big Dream” at that time but looking back now, I realize I had all of the ingredients.
One of my favorite quotes comes from the book “The Dream Giver” by Bruce Wilkerson. He said, “Like the genetic code that describes your unique passions and abilities, your Big Dream has been woven into your being from birth.”
There’s a Bible character named Joseph who I bet would agree with Wilkerson. He had a dream.
In Genesis 37, we meet Joseph, a 17 year-old boy, working in the family business. Ordinarily, one might think that 17 is way too young to have a “Big Dream,” but fortunately, for us, God didn’t think so. In fact, Joseph dreamt of greatness not once but twice. The Bible says, “Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look I have dreamed another dream. . .” (Genesis 37: 9a). At 17, Joseph saw himself in places of authority doing things that he could only imagine. He dreamed of greatness.
What about you? Do you have a dream?
Dreams are those things that we hope and long for. And for many of us, before life got complicated, frustrating or difficult, we dreamt. As little girls we pretended, we played, we saw things, imagined what could be and should be in our lives. Dreams are usually something difficult to attain and they are far removed from our present circumstances. Joseph was feeding his Father’s flock—with his brothers—dreaming of being the one whom everyone in his family would bow down to. Dreams don’t necessarily make sense. They may not even seem attainable based on where we are at the present time. But dreams burn inside our hearts and they help propel our lives into purpose. We can’t shake them. God doesn’t want us to. He, after all, is the one Who gives us the dreams.
This week, think back to your childhood. Chances are, you had a dream. The questions below are designed to help you remember your dream!
QUESTIONS
1. What did you want to be when you grew up?
2. What kinds of activities were you involved in?
3. What did you enjoy doing more than anything else?
4. What did you dream about all the time?
5. What dream has God placed in your heart?
#1 Un Sueño Dentro De Ti
¿Qué hacias cuando tenias 17 años? Yo estabȧ en la escuela secundaria, tratȧndo de sobrevivir. Mis pensamiento mayores estabȧn céntrado en mis clases, amistades y los barones y no necesariamente en este ordén! Yo no puedo decir que realmente tenia un “Sueño Grande” para este entonces pero, mirando hacia atrȧz, ahora, me doy cuenta de que tenia todos los ingredientes necesario.
Una de mis quotas favorita del libro “The Dream Giver” (El dador or Portador de Sueños) por Bruce Wilkerson. El dicé, “Como el cόdigo genético que describe tús pasiones unicas y abilidades, Tus Sueños Grande han sido tejido dentro de tu ser desde que naciste.”
En la Biblia hay un personaje llamado José, el cuȧl apuesto estaria de acuerdo con Wilkerson. El tenia un sueño.
En Génesis 37, conocémos a José, un joven de 17 años de edad, trabajando en el negocio de la familia. Ordinariamente, uno pensaria que a la edad de 17 es muy temprano para tener un “Sueño Grande”, pero, afortunadamente, para nosotros, Dios no lo pensό asi. En realidad, José soñό con la grandeza no una vez, si no dos veces. La Biblia dice, “Después José tuvo otro sueño, y se lo contό a sus hermanos, Les dijo: Tuve otro sueño……….”(Génesis 37:9). A los 17, José se vio a si mismo en lugares de autoridad haciendo cosas que solamente el podia imaginar. El soño con la grandeza.
Que tȧl usted? Tienes un sueño?
Soñar son esas cosas en la cuales esperamos y anhelamos. Y para mucho de nosotros, antes que nuestras vida fuera complicada, frustante e difíciles, nosotros soñabamos. Cuando eramos niñas preténdiamos, jugabamos, vimos cosas, imaginabamos como nuestras vidas podian y deberian de ser. Los sueños son usualmente algo múy dificil de adquirir y estȧn bien lejos de nuestras circunstancias. José estaba alimentando el rebaño de su padre – con su hermano – soñando que toda su familia se inclinara ante el. Los sueños no necesariamente tienen sentido, tal vez ni siquiera parecén alcanzables, basado en donde esté en estos momentos. Pero, los sueños que tenemos ardén en nuestros corazones y ayudȧn a impulsar nuestras vida a tener sentido. No podemos sacudirlos. Dios no quiere que lo hagamos. Después de todo, Él es quién nos da nuestros sueños.
Esta semana, piensa en tu niñez. Lo mȧs probable, soñaste. Las siguientes preguntas hȧn sido diseñadas para ayudarte a recordar tus sueños!
Preguntas
1. Qué queria ser cuando creciera?
2. En qué tipo de actividades participabas?
3. Qué es lo qué mȧs te gustaba hacer?
4. En qué siempre soñabas?
5. Qué sueño ha puesto Dios en tu Corazόn?
Florida Women's Ministries 