What Are You Reading This Summer?
With reading being one of my favorite past times, I end up reading a fair number of books each year. And as you might expect the impact they have in my life varies broadly depending upon the book itself as well as what is going in my life at the time I read it. I am also often surprised by which books seem to have the greatest long term impact. It is not always the deeply theological books that attempt to resolve difficult issues but sometimes it is an easy read with a simple premise that reflects a core issue in life. One of these books for me was The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson (Multnomah Publishers Sisters Oregon, 2003). The book begins with a modern day parable, a story about “Ordinary, a Nobody who leaves the Land of Familiar to pursue his Big Dream.” Ordinary soon discovers that while it is exhilarating to receive a Big Dream from the Dream Giver, realizing that dream requires large doses of faith, courage, perseverance and a willingness to surrender all to the Dream Giver. Using the Exodus account as a backdrop Wilkinson describes the process that God takes each of us through as we pursue our God given dreams.
The story is a delightfully quick paced review of the journey that one must take if we are to realize God’s plan for our lives, a pursuit that leads to both purpose and fulfillment in life. Much of the story’s appeal comes from the ease in which we can replace Ordinary’s story with our own. Our God given desire that will not go away, the temptation to doubt and despair of God’s faithfulness in times of trial and the giants (fear, comfort, security) that must be overcome if we are to experience the dream. Finally, there is that act of surrender when we give back to God the dream that He placed within us, trusting Him with the how, when, and maybe if, of the dream’s fulfillment. The last chapters of the book include many practical tips on discovering God’s big dream for you, how to overcome the obstacles that are sure to arise and avoiding the devastating effect that unbelief has on realizing your dream.
It has been over 10 years since I read this little book for the first time and I have since recommended it many times. I also find myself returning to the basic grid it presents time and again as I continue to pursue God’s dream for my own life. This short little book will inspire you to dream once again and give you the tools required to see your dream become reality.
Author
Pastor Bruce is the Executive Director of God's Living Stones. He lives in Omaha, NE, with his wife Barb. They have two adult children.
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