A God-given is born, not borrowed

Last week we began to talk about the characteristics of a God-given dream. We said that a God-given dream has seven distinct characteristics.  The first of these being that a God-given dream will overwhelm you.
The second characteristics, which we are going to look at today, is that a God-given dream must be born, not borrowed.

A God-given dream is not a copied solution to problems or something that you conjured up in your mind.  It is something that comes from God. Joel writes in his book:

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: [Joel 2:28]

A God-given dream is something that comes to you supernaturally – it is a divinely inspired solution to an existing or future problem.  You can ask God for it (the solution) or expected it from God but while you are still waiting for it you have no clue what it is until God shows it to you.

Be Inspired.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

What on Earth does A God-given Dream look like?

I have a dream and I am not really sure whether it is from God.

Have you ever come across such a question before? I'm sure you have… or, perhaps, you have asked someone such a question before? Maybe not in these exact words, but some others that mean the very same thing?

Well, today I want to start a series on the characteristics of a God-given dream.  There are seven characteristics and we are going to describe these characteristics over the next couple of weeks.  

Today we will describe the first one, which is that A God-given dream will overwhelm you.

A God-given is not usually something small, normal or safe.  God will give you a dream that is big, weird and scary; a dream that will take your breath away. The only thing that is instantly clear about any God-given dream is the final picture – what God wants you to do or what God wants you to become.  This picture may look a bit hazy at first but this is always the bit of the puzzle that you'll find easiest to solve.

 After seeing the final picture you then begin to ask yourself questions like How am I going to get there? What resources do I need to do this?  How long is it going to take? If this describes your reaction to your dream, then maybe it is a God-given dream.

Be Inspired.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

Is what you have really a VISION?

Is there a clear image or idea in your mind of what you want to have achieved in the next 5 years? 10 years? 25 years? or anytime in the future?

Yes? No? Maybe?

Well, let's talk about it a bit.  

Vision is an image or an idea of the future. It is the expected reality at the end of a specific time period – 5 years; 10 years; 25 years; or any other timeframe one may chose.

Vision is often mistaken for one of her cousins – mission, values, philosophy, goal, strategy – and many people look to them as vision.  

Mission means purpose: your vision is not your purpose.

Values are internal motivators for one's purpose; your vision is not the internal motivator for your purpose.

Philosophies are strongly held beliefs; your vision is not your strongly held beliefs.

A goal is what needs to be achieved in order to get what is wanted; your vision is not what you need to achieve.

Strategy is the way of achieving goals that are congruent with one's values, mission and vision; your vision is not your way of achieving goals.


Your vision is your image or idea of the future.

Is what you have really a vision?

Be Inspired.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

Kid in Need

Tomorrow I am going to be performing at the Poetry Slam at the Book Café. Since there will be a mixed audience, I will be performing the poem "Kid in Need." It describes the plight of street children.

I have chosen the poem to be the heart of today's article. However, as you read the poem, I want to urge you not only to focus on the plight of the children but to begin to think about ways of addressing the situation. If you come up with any interesting ideas, please feel free to share them with us either by adding a comment on my blog or writing me directly and I can add it as an article on my blog.

Here's the poem:

The kid
In need
Knows neither ma
Nor pa
Has neither sister
Nor brother

He's only five
Having a hard life
All alone
On his own
Living hand to mouth
Wondering from north to south

Ever weeping
Never sleeping
Ever angry
Ever hungry

A stranger
Always in danger
All gain
Is pain
Not salvation
But endless tribulation

Ever weeping
Never sleeping
Ever angry
Ever hungry

He's the king
Of the bin
Feeding on dirt
His lot here on earth
The kid
In need

Be Inspired

Steve Jobs on Following Your Heart

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
—Steve Jobs

Be Inspired


NOW AVAILABLE AT SELECTED BOOKSTORES NATIONWIDE

The Song of My Heart

Keep Your Hope Alive during difficult times with The Song of My Heart. Written from the heart of Edmore Masendeke, a disabled young man who has overcome numerous challenges in his life, this book will give you a quick boost of motivation, help pick you up from a depression and cure procrastination.

Retail Price: $5

To order your copy email mrmasendeke@gmail.com

Postage charges are as follows:

Zimbabwe and Africa: $1.00
Europe: $2.00
Rest of the World: $2.50

Bulk purchase discounts also available.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

GUILTY

This is a poem from my first book, Poems for life.  In it I discourage people with disabilities from allowing the limitations of their disabilities to overshadow their abilities.  But again it is not only people with disabilities that have limitations in their lives, even people without disabilities do – and some of these limitations, if one are not cautious, may overshadow one's abilities.  Think deeply about this fact as you read this poem.

No disability
Leaves one no ability
No matter how little
It can be used
Doesn't have to be physical
Can be mental
Mine is to give you guilt
If you wilt!
Having all things done for you
That's wrong
No matter how little
The ability you have
It is there
Use it
Abuse it not!

Be Inspired.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

Keeping Your Dream Alive in Difficult Times

I launched my book, The Song of My Heart, yesterday and the theme of the event was Keeping Your Dream Alive in Difficult Times. Though the keynote speaker could not make it to the event, I believe that the message was conveyed in unique ways about which I want to talk about in this post.

You keep your dream alive by not looking at what is in your pocket You may never see the money, skills and all the other resources that you need until you stop looking at what is in your pocket. Just go all out for your dream and be amazed as everything that you need comes to you as you pursue your dream.

You keep your dream alive by taking other people with you on your journey Share your dream to people who are ready to go along with you as you pursue your dream. These people will be your source of encouragement when you grow weary as are about to give up as they will constantly remind you of your dream.

You keep your dream alive by celebrating your successes When you celebrate your success - big or small - you renew yourself to the task ahead and create opportunity to go at it with renewed vigor.

You keep your dream alive by constantly asking yourself 'What is the next step' and looking forward to taking that next step That's just it. Ask yourself 'What is the next step' and look forward to taking it. It will keep you working on your dream.

Be Inspired

Keep Your Dream Alive.