Phil Parham (16 page)

The Bible tells us that “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Do you understand what that means? I admit I was confused about this verse for a long time.

One pastor explained that the faith in your heart is like a blueprint for what you hope for. It's a plan that shows what something will look like after it's made. If you draw up a blueprint for a car, for example, the blueprint is not the actual car. It's proof that you are planning to build a car, and when you are done building it, that's what it will look like.

So what exactly is faith? Faith believes without a shadow of doubt that the dream in your heart will happen. You may have been too afraid to believe big things for your life. You may have tried and failed before. You may have been disappointed by other people letting you down. Let me encourage you today to never give up the faith.

Keep the faith. Why? Because dreaming takes faith. You can't dream if you don't have faith. Maybe today you need a faith boost. Maybe you feel tired or sick or afraid or don't believe that God has something special in store for you and that He will give you everything you need for your dream to become real.

1. What does faith mean to you? Is it something you don't understand yet? Is it something that you only hear your Sunday school teacher talk about?

2. What are some things that you have faith in? For instance, do you have faith that your mom and dad will shelter, clothe, and feed you? Do you have faith that God will take care of you?

3. The Bible tells us that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Do you believe this? Why or why not?

Are fruits and vegetables too expensive to buy at the store? Check to see if any local farms in your area sell produce.

A Word from Amy

Life comes with challenges. Bob Wieland is less than 3 feet tall, but his spirit is 300 feet tall. Bob lost both legs in a war that happened many years ago. When he returned home after his injury, he was sad for a long time.

Here's the good news. Bob didn't let his injury stop him from living out his dreams. In time, Bob completed a couple of marathons (26-mile races), was named the “Most Courageous Man in America,” and even became the strength and motivation coach for the Green Bay Packers football team. What's even more remarkable is his biggest success. Bob actually walked across the entire United States…on his hands. That's right! He attached some leather shoes to his hands and pushed himself forward, step by step, with his arms.

It took him a long time, but Bob accomplished his goal. It took him three years, eight months, and six days. He walked an average of three to five miles a day. Bob's message is simple: Despite the obstacles and challenges life may present, you can always find a way to win.

Don't let your dreams die because getting there might get tough. Don't stop believing in yourself when you are tired or weak. Keep going. Keep believing. Keep dreaming.

1. How does Bob's story inspire you?

2. What are some things you are having a rough time with while you dream big for yourself?

3. How can you encourage one another as a family when the going gets tough?

Praying together is a great way to encourage one another in life, especially as we look to the future with our dreams. Take a few minutes today and pray for one another about specific needs each person may have that may be preventing them from realizing their dreams.

A Word from Amy

When you are dreaming big things for your life, you might find that some people around you aren't as excited as you are. They may say discouraging things like, “Who do you think you are?” or “Are you sure you really want to do this?” or “You're wasting your time.”

One of our favorite Bible characters is Joseph. Some of you may remember him as having a coat of many colors (as in the Broadway play
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat).
Joseph was a dreamer. He also had a lot of brothers who hated him for it. See, God gave Joseph a special gift of having dreams that meant something in real life. And they were dreams about Joseph having authority over his brothers. Every time he had a dream and shared it with his brothers, they would get upset at him. They were really jealous of Joseph, and one day they took their jealousy too far. Joseph's brothers sold him as a slave and lied to their father about it.

Years later, even as a slave and in prison, God used Joseph and his gift of dreams, and eventually Joseph became the second-in-command of Egypt. Even though this young man had to go through a lot of hardship, he never stopped dreaming. And even though his life probably looked different from what he imagined, God still used his dreams.

Don't let others discourage you from your dreams. Don't listen to people who tell you that you are not good enough. Always remember that God believes in you!

1. Are some people in your life discouraging you from your dreams? What can you do to not be influenced by their negative words?

2. Who are two or three people in your life who believe in you? Make it a point to tell them how much you appreciate their encouragement.

3. As a family, how can you encourage one another to go after your dreams and to pursue a healthy lifestyle?

Tip
of
the Day

Don't eat in front of the TV. Eat at the kitchen or dining-room table so you can take your time and really enjoy what you are eating.

A Word from Amy

Have you ever had to save up your money to buy a toy or video game you really wanted? Maybe you had to cut grass or babysit, but whatever you did took a lot of work to buy that prized possession. When you bought it, I bet you took really good care of it. I bet you made sure that your brother didn't get his hands on it and break it. I bet if it was a video game, you always stored it in its case so it wouldn't get scratched. You cherished that item because it was valuable to you.

Did you know that you are God's prized possession? Did you know that He paid the highest price ever for
you
? He gave His only Son to die on the cross so He could hang out and have a relationship with you. God has big plans for your life, and
you
are what He dreams about. How cool is that?

Since you are so precious to God, shouldn't you take really good care of yourself? The Bible actually says that your body is a temple or house of the Holy Spirit. Not the church building you go to, but your body! You want God's house to be healthy, right? God has big dreams for you, so remember that when it comes to taking care of your temple.

1. What are some ways you can take better care of your temple?

2. Why do you think that you matter to God? What price did He pay for you?

3. Name some things that you cherish. How do you treat or take care of those things?

Look under your bed and see if you have stuffed any junk under there. Take a few minutes to clean and organize that stuff. When you have less clutter, it helps you to feel better.

A Word from Amy