He Loves to Make Your Dreams Come True
// I giggled recently when I heard someone call Santa Claus a stalker because “He sees you when you’re sleeping, He knows when you’re awake.” Haha!
Thank goodness we don’t think the same about God—He even counts the number of hairs on your head and calls the stars by name.
But seriously, isn’t it a comfort to know that SOMEONE knows everything about you and doesn’t forget the important stuff?
About 25 years ago, I started my bucket list. Do you have a bucket list? Mine contains ALL of the things I want to accomplish in my lifetime but wasn’t able to do at that moment. I was a young mom in those days, and we only had one car. I was REALLY feeling trapped within our four walls and endless kid chaos.
My bucket list allows me to dream past the reality in which I live. Click To TweetMy bucket list includes things like…
- Go on a Mediterranean cruise
- Go back to university and finish another degree
- Learn to cook Chinese food (√ I’m getting there. I can make a mean stirfry.)
- Learn to cook Italian food (I’ve tried. It’s harder than it looks.)
- Take a graphic design course
- Write a book ( √ )
I once heard someone say, “The day we stop learning is the day our brains start dying.” Perhaps that’s why I’m so passionate about ALWAYS learning something new.
Anyway, every few years I would revisit the list and giggle at how my desires and dreams would morph over time. Then I’d add new things to the list, but I never deleted the old ones. I just kept adding. //
Well, this week, one of those desires came true. I’m in the middle of taking a Diploma in Photoshop course with Shaw Academy. Have you heard of them? I’ve been super impressed. From the comfort of my home, I’m finally learning how to play around with design stuff.
My only problem is that our internet isn’t very reliable, so sometimes I lose connection and get kicked off the webinars. Thankfully, the sessions are recorded, and I can watch them later.
Well, that’s just what happened on Monday night. I started the class, lost my internet connection, and didn’t hear the end of the lesson. But because the kids are on school holidays, we got busy and I wasn’t able to listen to the recording between Monday and Wednesday’s classes.
On Wednesday, I logged into the class and signed in my name. The instructor was reading out the names of the attendees.
“I see James, and Susan, …. and Shauna.
Is that Shauna Blaak from South Africa? Shauna, you missed the announcement on Monday… YOU are the winner of our grand prize! You’ve won a year-long Premium membership to Shaw Academy!”
I screamed. I was SHOCKED, DELIGHTED, ECSTATIC, and every other happy word you can think of. Do you understand the value of a membership like this for someone like me? It means that for the next year, I can take ANY and EVERY course that they offer… for FREE! The world has just opened up for me.
But here’s the clincher… on their list of available courses is Graphic Design. Do you remember my bucket list? I’ve wanted to do that for 25 years but was too busy being mom and wife and teacher. In the process, I had forgotten about it.
And suddenly I realized that
Our Heavenly Father doesn’t forget what thrills us. He remembers even after we forget! Click To TweetHe’s better than Santa, better than Disney.
He’s a good, good Father who LOVES to make our dreams come true!
What a COMFORT that is. We can trust Him with our dreams and plans and longings. We can trust Him with our lives!
So, my friends, are you still dreaming? Where’s your list? Do you even remember what used to thrill you? Or are you so frustrated and discouraged from years of unmet expectations that you’ve given up?
Don’t quit!
A bucket list doesn’t mean that you have to accomplish it today. Not at all. It’s simply a formal acknowledgement that these things thrill you, and someday you’d like to see them happen.
So,
- WRITE YOUR LIST
- Then put it away, and GET BUSY DOING WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU TO DO TODAY.
- Don’t obsess about your list. Give it to Him, and then FORGET about it.
You can forget about it because He never forgets!
Take COMFORT, oh my soul. The pressure’s off. You don’t have to make your dreams come true. Just LIVE and LOVE and SERVE, and let God make those dreams come true in His perfect timing.
The pressure’s off. You don’t have to make your dreams come true. Let God do it! Click To Tweet————————-♥————————-
♥ HOORAY!
My book is available on Amazon and Kindle.
For more info, check out the book page here! In South Africa, you can order a physical copy from me. Send me a personal message and we’ll make arrangements.
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Every Friday, I join an inspiring group of writers to write for FIVE MINUTES on a one-word prompt. No editing. No revising. Just WRITE. This week, the prompt word was COMFORT.
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For more information on Five Minute Friday, check out the Five Minute Friday website!
So happy for you, oh faithful one! 😉 You are an inspiration xxx
Haha, faithful one. You are so sweet. I’m so faithful that I forgot to reply to everyone for a whole week. Ooops. 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement, my friend! Love you lots!
Hi Shauna, I might be one of a very few men that read your blog, but I enjoy your content very much. Keep up the great work. I have referred women to follow you here as well. Blessings!!
Laren, I love that about you. You’re such an amazing encourager. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And thanks also for referring me to your friends. That’s great!
Hope you had a great week! (I got busy and completely forgot to reply to everyone. oops 🙂
Love, love, love this.
Thanks, Meghan! I’m so glad you stopped by. 🙂
That’s so fun, Shauna! God saw the dreams of your heart and fulfilled one of them in His good time and His good way. This is such an encouragement for me today!
I’m so glad to encourage you with my story, Marie! Don’t you just love that about blogging? God always seems to bring the right people at the right time who need to read what you have to say. It’s like a beautiful dance of divinity and creativity. ♥
Hope you had a great week. (So sorry. I got busy with my assignments and completely forgot to reply to everyone.)
See you this week in the link-up. 🙂
Love this! I’ve had the same experience…. Prayers being answered that even I’ve forgotten about! Congrats!
I’d ♥ to read your accounts of forgotten prayers being answered, Anthea. Have you blogged about them yet?
Thanks so much for visiting. (So sorry it took me so long to reply. Crazy week.)
Have a great weekend! 🙂
Lovit! Congrats on your prize! xx 😀
Thanks, L’Lani! ♥
Shauna, this is just so wonderful!
I don’t have a bucket list. I figure that if my life does not represent what would be on that list, I’d need to do some serious rethinking.
God showed me that my heart’s desire was to live as an example of hard and true faith, and the only way to do that is to endure pain and loneliness and humiliation brought by terminal illness.
If I can do that and still come up smiling, I’m living the dream.
#1 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-dying-spouse-336-gods-lighthouse.html
I must admit, Andrew, that I often write with you in mind, knowing that you always stop by here for a quick read. Your response is perfect… no need for anything more than faith and a smile. You inspire me daily to be more like you!
Thank you for stopping by again. ♥ I continue to pray courage, comfort, and strength for you, my friend.
Much love to you and Barb (and the dogs).