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jaymelsorenson · 7 years ago

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Dreaming with God

(Sermon Notes from a message I spoke a few weeks ago)

Did you have a dream or big plans when you were young/little?

What were some of them?

Are you doing that thing you dreamt of?

What are some things that have held you back?

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This morning we are going to dig into some of the hopes and dreams God has for you! What are they? And maybe what has held us back in the past

We’re going to take some time to make a list and commit them to Him

PRAY (Opening)

When I was young – I had big dreams – I knew I had GREATNESS inside me

- Designer, a model, a singer, teacher, bus driver

((We’ve all got to grow up sometime))

Grew up and OUT of that ‘PHASE’ – sort of FORGOT about those passions & dreams in my life

Fear said - No one thinks I’m ‘good enough’ so I might as well do something else

I’ll probably end up an accountant or secretary (MOM’S job)

Became OK with MEDIOCRE, AVERAGE

I GAVE UP

I got into DRUGS pretty young, and some unhealthy RELATIONSHIPS

NO satisfaction in LIFE

All of it left me feeling ALONE, and like there was nothing I could do about being AVERAGE

I CAME TO KNOW the Lord (or rededicated my life) when I was 16 and began to look at my life through RELIGION

Religion also said AVERAGE is BEST, average is safe

Being HUMBLE looks like being average. Not standing out, not taking credit for what you’ve done, not doing anything to be noticed

Religion was NOT OK with DOING WHAT I WANTED to do, because that was ‘what I wanted’ and NOT WHAT GOD WANTED

So, I pressed on and tried to BLEND IN and remain UNDER THE RADAR, what I thought HUMILITY LOOKED LIKE

I still did some really COOL STUFF, but it was more out of a heart of thinking this is what GOOD CHRISTIANS DO

I got MARRIED, had KIDS, thought I knew what God had for me or for my family

Then a few years ago, I was given a ‘GIVING KEY’ that said ‘DREAM’ on it.

The more I PRAYED into that word and started to try and EMBRACE it, the more

I realized I had LET GO of any DREAMS or visions FOR ME, my dreams had become about my family, my kids, but I had NONE that were ONLY FOR ME

God began SPEAKING to me about MY DREAMS for MY LIFE

•••• GOD WANTS TO DREAM WITH YOU ••••

Once I had this revelation, Holy Spirit kept talking to me about dreams everywhere I looked.

SERMONS, PODCASTS, BOOKS, ONLINE, the BIBLE, FRIENDS, the RADIO

IT WAS CRAZY

I began to ASK GOD what HE had for ME

What does that look like?

1. Who Did God Create You To Be, Do, & Reach?

He began to reveal to me who HE CREATED me to BE, what He created me to DO, and who He created me to REACH

- Confident, assertive, creative, gentle, loving, in the details, prophetic, leader, mother to more than just my blood, wife, encourager, effective communicator, etc.

But he was also speaking to me a lot about my PASSIONS too

- Worship, art, writing music, creating anything, young people, people as a whole, relationships (friends), missions, Latin America, languages, piano, guitar, singing, leading, helping, & more

And that HE PUT those PASSIONS & DREAMS there for me to PURSUE

NOT to TEASE me, BUT to FUEL me

FUEL for me to WANT to do what HE is DREAMING FOR ME to do

Once I came to a working revelation of that, I began to look at what God put in my heart to do

2. Make A List WITH Him

* Habakkuk 2:2 ESV – “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”

When you make a list ask things like:

- God, what did you create me to do?

- What are your dreams for me?

- What am I just naturally drawn to?

- What am I naturally good at?

- What do I look at and think, ‘If only that were me doing that thing’?

- God, who did You create me to reach?

- What did You have in mind when You created me?

Once you’ve sought the Lord about His dreams and plans for you, WRITE out a LIST

Check your heart motives – not for the money or fame or recognition, but FOR God and WITH God

We talked a little about my understanding of humility earlier but really

- Humility in the Bible does not mean having no power – it means understanding where that power you carry comes from.

In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

Honor God as you grow and dream, giving Him due credit, but also understanding God has placed greatness in you

Then COMMIT your plans to Him, partner with what He wants for you

*Proverbs 16:3 ESV - Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

SET GOALS

He is so GOOD guys!

He really just wants the best for us!

*Ephesians 3:20 AMP – Now to Him who is able to (carry out His purpose and) do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think (infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams), according to His power that is at work within us

MORE THAN WE DARE ASK, THINK, OR IMAGINE!

He CAN DO IT! And wants to partner with you to get it done!

My MOM used to make (still makes) GOAL POSTERS, long term and short term goals are great

Something visual to remind you of all that He’s called you to do.

Little steps that can be measured and accounted for

Mini goals for me look like - Learning to play a new chord on guitar, or know all the lyrics and chords to a song without sheet music

Big goals for me look like – Full time ministry, worship pastor, missions, learn a new language, record an album

And then

3. Share

As I began to MAKE LISTS and set GOALS, I began sharing my heart and telling people about what God wanted for me – MIXED REVIEWS

A few were excited to hear and offered support

But there were more people that were not excited or supportive at all

Dominican trip - only a few weeks to raise like $2000

Not a good idea to go that route, don’t try that, don’t do things that way, that’ll never happen, that’s too much money, that’ll take too long, you’re too old, you’re too young

I got discouraged about sharing my dreams and I remembered Joseph

*Genesis 37:5 ESV – Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.

We need a safe place to share our dreams, there are wrong people and right people.

Had Joseph gone to the right people (maybe his father even), the support may have looked different

Around this time in my life, I had the opportunity to share a dream of mine (to have a voice to lead worship and to lead consistently) with the School of Supernatural Ministry I was attending.

So, a safe place – for you it may be this refresh, good friends, spouse, a parent, maybe a mentor

One who will champion you, who gets you, people who see your heart, who support you, who uplift you, people who share their dreams with you.

They encouraged me, asked me about my goals as the months went on, and cheered me on and championed me as they saw fruit from that!

It was a safe place to share and from there I got to see that dream take off!

Since then I have been leading worship at Eastpointe (main service and a number of other ministries there), youth ministries, ladies Bible studies, Worship Pastor substitute, and I even started playing piano and eventually guitar while leading (which i could do a little before, but not singing and playing)!

Side note – I only started playing guitar when I was 25 and I didn’t even really get serious about it until I was 30! And I am still learning at 33! (never too late for you)

Now God is expanding my dreams and vision for my life.

Lately it has been a lot about leading, pastoring, reaching people, writing, speaking, writing songs, leading my songs, recording my songs

About painting, designing and creating things, decorating, event planning, I love ‘the details’ so really anything that takes a lot of attention to detail.

God and I will forever be revising that list.

MUSIC ON (Closing)

He always dreams bigger than me. So how could I not keep adjusting it?

Think for a minute, dig deep

What is something you dreamt about when you were a child that you have given up on? Maybe because of lack of money, or fear, or because someone else told you that you couldn’t do it?

Then think about God. And all that He is. All that He can do.

Now how could God make that dream bigger or better?

That’s what He wants for you

He has infinite power and wisdom and creative thinking abilities and problem solving skills and a thousand cattle on a hill

Like, do we think we are better than the one who gave us our talents/passions/skills?

He is the creator of creativity, the creator of dreams

The MOST CREATIVE BEING actually.

And WE were created in HIS image!

Which means we are inherently creative

We were never called to be average, designed for greatness

We are a chosen people, set apart

God has more for us than we could ever ask, think, or imagine. Remember that verse?

Let that marinate

We are going to transition into a kind of activation time, maybe 10 minutes or so? now that we’ve got the meat – let’s eat

Get you some paper and pen or pencil

The Lord reminded me of my dreams and visions and purpose in my life that were long forgotten or discarded

And I believe Holy Spirit is going to do that for us again this morning.

- Position yourself open to receive what God wants/dreams for you

As I ask these questions, just write whatever comes to your mind first. Don’t question it too much. If it’s good, write it down

God will always speak highly of you, so if it’s not good it’s not God.

Let’s just see what Holy Spirit says this morning

PRAY

1. God, who do You say I am?

2. What did You have in mind when You created me?

3. What did You create me to do?

4. Who did You create me to be?

5. Who did You create me to reach?

6. What are Your dreams for me?

Now look at that list, isn’t He good guys?

I love how He created each of us so different and yet each so powerful

Is there an overall theme looking at your list?

For me, my lists usually stem in a vein of creativity

Try and find an underlying theme – justice, peace, love, creativity, outreach, serving

Is there a dream in there that needs to be chased?

I dare you to chase those dreams.

Bear down, set goals, get it gurl.

I challenge you to share during free time, or over lunch maybe even

Grab 2 or 3 ladies and share some of what God revealed to you.

And don’t forget to be the ‘right person’ supportive, loving, and encouraging – Be their champion

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jaymelsorenson · 7 years ago

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Feels.

These last couple weeks has been hard. I think as it goes, I am a reacher. I insert myself into people’s lives, pretty well. But I’ve pulled back, almost, to see who would reach out. No one.

I don’t have friends my age. Older or younger, yes. (But even they were a no show these couple of weeks.) None my age who I feel like I could call and just hang with. Or who would call me to just hang. It’s rough. Feeling unwanted and not known/forgotten.

I hadn’t fully sat with myself about this situation until this morning. But on Wednesday I went to a ladies group and we did some inner healing type stuff. Where we ask God to show us a safe place then ask Him to reveal Himself in each form and ask specifically what each of them would say to us. Anyway, He showed me laying on my couch with the light coming in through the blinds. Jesus had my legs in His lap expressing His desire to be with me. Holy Spirit was on His knees meeting me face to face, locked eyes with me, and I got this overwhelming feeling of being known. And Father God was in the kitchen preparing (food maybe?), He had a huge smile on His face and was encouraging life and then invited me to get up/come.

Isn’t it funny, no - not funny, curious maybe, God KNOWS. Like He KNOWS, KNOWS. Knows what we need, when we need it, and even prepares us for what we are going to need. He is so good!

I saw a shirt today that said, ‘Famous Enough’ and under that it said, ‘Known By God.’

How good is it to be known by God!? No matter how many followers or friends or family or reacher type people we have, we are KNOWN by God. He knows us, and deeply knows us. He wants to be with us! And He is calling us up and out of our mess (or our head)! Calling us to join Him in preparing for His kingdom comeback! He loves us more than we could ever comprehend.

If you’ve got kids, imagine the love you have for them, all of the plans and hopes and dreams and prayers you have for them, imagine all that they are doing and what they’re going to do in their life - that overwhelming sense of pride and love, that’s a little like what God has for us. He is beaming with pride! Overflowing with joy and hope! Grace beyond comprehension! He is better then we think! He’s so in love with you.

He’s so good. So, so good. Let Him love you today and always. He’s ready and waiting. ❤️

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jaymelsorenson · 7 years ago

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Open up

Matthew 2:10-11

We are all pretty familiar with the story of Jesus’s birth and how the wise men follow a star and bring Him gifts. We all probably have now or at one point had a nativity scene set up in our house every year to celebrate this great exchange. But we’re going to look at the end of the last verse, I saw something there that I hadn’t before and it wrecked me. ‘Then, OPENING their treasures, they offered Him gifts...’

Let’s pray.

Jesus, we pray right now that you open our hearts and minds to all that you have for us through your word today. We celebrate you. Thank you for coming, we just want to dedicate this time to you.

Amen.

Ok. So, leading up to this great exchange, they spent years (maybe even their whole lives) studying stars. They were great astronomers, they were WISE bro. But had heard about a King born and ditched. We can kind of parallel our lives with theirs (minus the super smart astronomers part). There’s a clear pre-Jesus and post Jesus life we’re going to focus in real quick. So, they ditched when they heard about Jesus, here we go.

1. They heard and moved

• Matthew 2:1-2 says, ‘...wise men came from the east to Jerusalem saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

- They heard about Jesus and came running! They prepared their gifts (we find out later in the story), left their home in the east and SOUGHT Jesus.

- The Bible doesn’t tell us how many wise men there actually were or if they had their families or a caravan with them. But that they came seeking Jesus.

2. They asked

• Matthew 2:2 - ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?’

- As wise men, I’m sure they knew who to ask for such an important question. They went to the Herod, the king.

- We just bought a house right, and if I have questions about remodeling my kitchen I probably won’t ask my barista to help me. I will seek out someone who is knowledgeable - a contractor, maybe even a cabinetmaker.

- WHERE IS HE? We need to learn to ask the right questions to the right person.

- Jesus, where are you? What are you up to in this situation? How can I know you more? Who can I share your love with today? Where are you calling me?

3. Sent

• Matthew 2:8-9a - ‘And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him. After listening to the king, they went on their way.’

- Ok, random, but have you ever had a hangnail and can’t find the clippers? So you went and asked your mom where they were. She’s like, ‘Sure honey, they’re upstairs in my bathroom, in the left side pocket of the flowery bag, in the bottom drawer, on my side. Actually, can you bring them to me when you’re done too? Thanks baby.’ Like, she KNOWS where those clippers are right?! But she also didn’t go get them or even go with you, she straight sent you.

- They asked and were sent. They asked and the king sent them to find Jesus.

So first they heard and moved, then they asked and were sent.

- The more I hear about Jesus, the more I want to KNOW Him. The more I know Him, the more I want to be where He is. The more I ask and look for Him, the more I find Him. The more I am with Him, the more I want others to be with Him too.

In our story, that’s all before they even actually meet Jesus. Once they meet Jesus, life looks different!

• Matthew 2:9b-10 - ‘...the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until I came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.’

- I kind of liken this to the idea of high school and feeling like this thing just won’t end. Then, senior year hits and you’re a totally different person! You can see the light at the end of the tunnel! This journey really did have value! It had meaning! And I can see the end!

- When they saw where the star rested, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. They flipped.

- I looked up the meaning of each of those words (you’re welcome) - all pretty redundant, but still so good. So here’s my expanded dictionary version: they were made joyful to an unusual degree, with a considerable intensity, they were filled with great delight/pleasure! Same. 👊🏼

1. They WORSHIPPED Him

• Matthew 2:11a - ‘And going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him.’

- So, they flipped once they found Him and their very next step was to worship Him!

- Worship can look like a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but singing and adoration is probably my favorite way to worship and encounter Jesus.

- I remember being saved in second grade, but not really any other encounters until I met Jesus in a worship service. I was a junior in High School, I don’t remember the song or who I was with or who spoke or what the message was, but I remember being face down in the carpet unable to move and Jesus walked down off the stage and offered me His hand. Inviting me to get up, get up and walk with Him. I will never forget that time, nor will I EVER be the same. From that moment on, I was hooked on worship.

- Worship has carried me through my ‘wandering’ years. I knew I could always meet Jesus in worship and He would meet me where I was. It didn’t matter what my week or month or year looked like, He was always there to invite me back up to walk with Him.

- That one encounter fueled my desire for the next encounter, and the next, and the next, and the next. Not joking, worship saved my life. I mean, Jesus, duh. But without a hunger for worship, not sure I’d be walking with Him today.

- Now, worship is a great starting point, but we can’t rely solely on worship to maintain relationship with Him.

2. They opened and offered Him their treasure

• Matthew 2:11b - ‘Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.’

- Meeting someone once a month for 30 minutes is no way to have relationship. That’s like an acquaintance mode.

- It’s not enough to just come into His presence and worship, He wants all of us.

- Not just handed over carelessly, but intentionally.

- Without opening a gift how can you know what it is, it’s value, or even use it?

- We’ve got to intentions meet Him and OPEN our treasure, our heart, our time, our talents. Open to how He would use me. Open up, your heart exposed, be vulnerable, not hidden, but set apart, made known of its value.

- Had the wise men not opened up their gifts we may not have known what was presented. But because they did, we know their value as well as how valuable Jesus was and what He meant to them.

Gold - valuable, precious metal, represents kingship (King’s required gold as part of being king)

Frankincense - perfume or incense, symbol of His priestly role (priests used perfume and incense as offerings)

Myrrh - an anointing oil, seemingly obvious as a pull on His anointing but also prophesying His death (used often in embalming the dead)

- All of these were very costly and of great worth to them. They opened up and offered all that they brought to Jesus.

- Sometimes that level of vulnerability an be hard. We can become comfortable in the familiar and maybe hide even.

- But God’s calling us out of hiding. He’s calling us to go deeper, to be open and real.

- We can’t be used fully if we don’t surrender fully.

- Ok, can I tell you one last story? Sweet.

- I was comfortable here, my church, my friends, my people, then we moved to NC. Real, quick - my husband is in the army and we knew going into this move that it would be temporary, 2 years and we’d be back in WA. So knowing that it wasn’t going to be a forever place for us, I decided (subconsciously) that I wasn’t going to open up to anyone at church or otherwise. I ended up coming back to WA maybe 4 months after we moved away just for a visit. While I was back my Pastor actually is the one who called it out. But he said something like, ‘It’s not fair for you to close your heart to potential relationships, connections, and even healings. AND when you put walls up on your heart, you’re putting walls up between you and the Lord.’

- Once he called that out, I realized how true it was for me. Living closed off to people left me closed off to Jesus and everything Holy Spirit has for me. And something I’ve learned is that often what is going on in the natural tends to mirror what’s going on in the supernatural.

- So I went back to NC after my visit with INTENTION to open my heart to Jesus and those around me. Tearing down walls with no reservation, fully surrendered to Him. It was hard at first. I had to remind my heart of that intention, but it was so good!

- I saw two ladies I invited to church come to know Jesus! Not only them but their family as well! Then got plugged in and served! Their family AND friends impacted from how they lived after meeting Jesus. One started a Bible study in her home! And friends who don’t go to church we’re coming to her study!

- I also got plugged in to a ladies bible study on post (a miracle in itself if you knew me) and God used me to lead worship there. Then I was able to lead worship at a friend’s church, she was their worship pastor, as she walked through a great loss in her life. God used me in a way I never expected. And fueled a new hunger to see where God is taking me in worship in the coming season!

- All because I had intentionally opened my heart to Jesus and all that He had me to do and say!

- If you’ve never met Him let me introduce you. LOL, for real though. He wants to love you He wants your heart and your life. He wants to walk with you in your everyday, ins and outs, ups and downs. Invite Him to be Lord of your heart. He gave His life so we could have real relationship with Him. Ask Him daily to show you what He has for you, what He’s doing, where He is working and how you can partner with Him in life!

- So I encourage you all to open your heart to God and all that He has for you! Whether you just met Him, or if you’ve known Him for the last 20+ years! Start in a place of worship but don’t stay there, open up and offer your treasure, your heart, your gifts and talents to God and see what He does.

I pray that God shows you how you can open up daily to Him. And that He uses you when you do! He always shows up, always. If only we ask.

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jaymelsorenson · 7 years ago

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‪God, I want to know you more than before. Deeper than ever. Different than yesterday. Do a new thing in me. ‬

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jaymelsorenson · 8 years ago

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Share Your Dream

Because dreams tend to be so precious and potent, many people keep their dreams to themselves. A dream is a sacred thing to share, and doing so melts boundaries and calls forth commonalities and resources of all kinds. When you know someone's dream you look at them differently- with more tenderness, respect, familiarity, sympathy, and generosity than before. Look at everyone you meet this week and actively think to yourself, "I wonder what their dreams are?" Ask at least one person what his dream is. You can do it subtly, like, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Or you can just go direct: "So, like, what's your big dream?" So many people never get asked that. Even fewer are really listened to when they answer.

- Danielle LaPorte

'The Fire Starter Sessions'

I love this. So true in my life. When I started sharing my dreams about music, connections were made that wouldn't have been made unless I spoke out about those dreams! I love how the Lord leads. I love how all along the way He makes connections unlike any I could've plannned or hoped for! Recording a worship album with my songs is my next big dream. I am making steps daily to write and practice and play and write and create and record and pray and worship and love on Him through the process. Part of the process is learning to trust in Him above my need for earthly security. God I want to go to Washington, I am asking You to go back to Washington. I could justify all the reasons why and the connections we have and the people we have and the place I'd go and where I'd live. But ultimately it's got to be surrendered to the Lord, if my security is in knowing I'm going to a place I want - is it really in Jesus? Am I really trusting Him with my whole life? With my whole heart? With the best for my family? With my future? With the future of my music? With my dreams? Or do I think I've got it all planned and I know what's best? I don't. But I do dream. And plan. And adjust as God calls. I dream of relationships flourishing. I dream of full time ministry. I dream of what my life would look like as a worship pastor. I day dream about the church singing songs God has given me for the now. I dream about seeing Holy Spirit manifest in mighty ways, new ways. I dream about seeing angels. I dream about the supernatural becoming natural. I dream about creative expression flowing freely through me. I dream about inspiring others to be creative and express themselves through their own creativity. I dream about preaching. I dream about sharing my heart. I dream about wandering. I dream about traveling. I dream of different cultures. I dream of reaching people with the love of Christ. I dream of missions, full time or short term. I dream of the 'Send Me' moments. I dream about writing God inspired books. I dream about business opportunities falling in my lap. I dream about adopting children. I dream about having another baby. I dream about going back to school. I dream about owning a home again. I dream about design school. I dream about event planning. I dream about becoming a hairdresser.

I encourage you to dream. Dream big. And then think about how much better it would be if God dreamt it for you! He has dreams for us! He wants the best for us! He is constantly working for the benefit of those who love Him and are called according to His good and perfect will. I encourage you to then share your dreams with someone. Maybe your spouse, maybe a close friend or mentor. Pray into those dreams and lean in close to hear what the Lord has for you in the now, and in the future. He has bigger things planned than we could ask think or even imagine for ourselves. He doesn't give us dreams to tease us, but to encourage us into pursuing him for the impossible. Keep on keepin on!

Love you friend. ❤️

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