14 The people of Joseph spoke to Joshua: "Why did you give us just one allotment, one solitary share? There are a lot of us, and growing--GOD has extravagantly blessed us." 15 Joshua responded, "Since there are so many of you, and you find the hill country of Ephraim too confining, climb into the forest and clear ground there for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim." 16 But the people of Joseph said, "There's not enough hill country for us; and the Canaanites who live down in the plain, both those in Beth Shan and its villages and in the Valley of Jezreel, have iron chariots." 17 Joshua said to the family of Joseph (to Ephraim and Manasseh): "Yes, there are a lot of you, and you are very strong. One lot is not enough for you. 18 You also get the hill country. It's nothing but trees now, but you will clear the land and make it your own from one end to the other. The powerful Canaanites, even with their iron chariots, won't stand a chance against you." - Joshua 17:14-18
This was the interesting story from the Bible which was shared at my church service yesterday. And i believe it clearly speaks to everyone of us, whether you are a Christian or a non-christian. Each of us know deep in our hearts that somehow we should be achieving or will achieve in life, something that is great... that someday we will make it big in life... and one of such great acheivements is to be able to reach the dreams of our lives! We definitely have many dreams in our lifetime and probably one great satisfaction we can look back at the end of our lives is that we have acheived and fulfilled all of our dreams! And we would usually conclude that we had lived a life of no regrets... (doesn't that sound like a tagline from some drama series?)
Our great dream of fulfilling all our dreams, may yet be the greatest regret of our lives if we do not learn to have a right attitude in conquering our dreams. Have a dream is easy, owning and pursuing the dream will be the difficult part. The reason why many do not achieve the dreams in life is because they gave up halfway when faced with difficult obstacles and challenges.
"Maybe it really is just a dream after all, i should just forget it."
"It's so tough.. maybe this dream isn't for me..."
"If I am fated to accomplish this dream, it will come about.. i'll just wait and see.."
We are burdened down by past disappointments and failures... afriad to pick ourselves up to strike forward again because we keep thinking we may fail again. In our hearts, what used to be our dreams has now been clouded out by shadows of failure and passiveness in attitude. We become so hurt and angry with God even that we just adopt the "sit-back-and-relax, wait-and-see-what-God-can-do" attitude. We become stagnant, fearful, frustrated with ourselves and live on life with many regrets.
When i began leading a youth group in my church, my dream was to build into everyone of these young lives and that to ensure they stay on track and become great young men and women who are great examples of a Christian and also be of great people of influence in Singapore! I gave my all into these lives and there came a point where i saw many young people i knew left the Christian faith for various reasons. I was disappointed... I couldn't see much point in ploughing into this next generation only just to see them give up. I was fearful to lead and impart anymore... I wanted to give up. Until i was at church service on day and the pastor shared these bible verses:
18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. 20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. - Isaiah 43:18-21
Thank God for this timely message that spoke deep into my heart to motivate me in daring to rise up once again. And i want to encourage everyone whom has fallen down in the pursuit of their dreams, Dare to dream again... do not dwell on the past anymore.....put aside the things of the past and dare to dream again. Do not let your past determine your present attitude, but rather look ahead to the future to determine your present attitude. Trust me, the future is brighter than we may think.... only if we choose to step out of the shadows of our failures and hurts.
God loves everyone of us... He doesn't give up on us, so let's not give up on ourselves. =)
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