Joining the Dream Big Bible Journaling Study

There is no charge for joining the Dream Big study. You will be able to answer the weekly prompts using this article, calendar, and mini-kit provided when you sign up at the bottom of this article. To participate join our Facebook Group – Bible Journaling for Beginners and search for “#DreamBig” to find the weekly prompts. To join the group click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BibleJournalingforBeginners.

There are multiple options to do the study. The devotional and kits are designed to help you take a deeper dive into the Word and start applying biblical principles to your life. They are not required, but they’re a fun way to grow in the Word creatively!

• Join Momentum – Momentum members get just about everything for only $25/month. Click here to learn more.
• Subscribe to the 2018 kits – New for 2018! You can get all of the 2018 devotionals and their corresponding kit as they release for only $52. That’s $1/Week. You also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets Click here to purchase.
• Purchase the kit by itself –New for 2018! Purchase the devotional and kit for only $7. You’ll also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets. Click here to purchase.
• Free option – To get the calendar and free mini-kit, please scroll to the bottom of this article and register for our emails before May 30, 2018. If you are on the email list and haven’t received it, please check your spam!

Let’s Dream Big Together!

I have BIG dreams. I’m probably the biggest dreamer in my family. I believe that believers can do anything that’s within God’s will for us. But, action isn’t easy and taking the “wrong” action can lead to a longer journey. You must pursue the right work. That’s why understanding and pursuing the bigger picture is so critical. Here are a few ideas to help you set yourself up for success.

Believe in the Person God Created You to Be

If you’re like most people, you have at least one person that you look up to and admire. Perhaps you’ve read the autobiographies of successful people and studied the lives of individuals you admire. You may have even tried to emulate their journeys in search of their secret formula.  If you’ve come up short, here’s a peek at the answer. The answer is that they believe they can – just like the Little Engine that Could.

God created you. You have God-given talents and abilities to do what he put you here on earth to do. I often get “poo-pooed” for my optimism in this space, but please…hear me out. Things are not always black and white.

I was having a conversation with a very special person in my life, and he told me that I’d never go to the moon. He said, “Even if you wanted to and did everything 100% correctly, you will never get to the moon.” I don’t think he “gets” me.

Sure, I may not go to the moon today, but maybe I’m not supposed to go to the moon. If the Holy Spirit is telling me that I’m an astronaut, then I must work to discern what I need to do related to that calling. Perhaps I’m supposed to encourage a future astronaut. Maybe I’m supposed to visit a flight simulator and learn what zero gravity feels like so I can be prepared for the next step in my journey. Perhaps, while I’m seeking clarity, I bump into someone who also wants to be an astronaut, but while we chat he comes to know Christ.

Just because I have a calling, doesn’t mean I understand the depths of God’s plan in my life. Our God is not a simple God. He’s more complex than anything I’ll ever understand. But His plan is perfect.

Believe in God’s plan for you. There is only one of you, and he has big plans for your future!

What Does the Bible Say about the Importance of Dreams?

There are two different types of dreams. One that God provides and one that he doesn’t. You have to discern whether or not your dream is from God. If you have questions about discernment, I encourage you to work through the Stand in the Truth devotional in Momentum. The cheat sheet is this: if it goes against the Word of God, it is not from God. This is why it’s important to read and know the Word.

A dream (or calling) that you’ve discerned is from God will not be ignored. Believe me; I’ve tried it. You don’t want to ignore the Holy Spirit. It won’t turn out good for you. I speak from experience.

When people attempt to set goals, and achieve their dreams without God, they may get what they think they want or deserve. However, they will often find the process or result to be empty and unsatisfying.

When God’s plan for you is your dream, and your deepest desires align with His wise and loving plan for you, you’ll be unstoppable. That doesn’t mean we should sit back and rely on God to make our “dreams come true.” He gave us the ability to believe in our dreams AND take action. The Bible says we must confirm our calling and election (2 Peter 1:10).

Believing in Your Dreams When Others Don’t

Sometimes those closest to us don’t support our dreams. If you’re like most people, you’ll likely face resistance from those you love the most. That’s ok! That’s part of the plan. If it was easy, you wouldn’t get the opportunity to grow.

Sometimes having a big dream is what you need to navigate a relationship. Once you’ve completed that journey, somehow the dream morphs into something else. That’s ok too. This is why having a RELATIONSHIP with God is key. Talk to your Father. Ask Him for discernment, wisdom, and direction.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

To set yourself up for success, you need to start with a clear plan, thinking through the details, breaking it down into all the workable parts. I use a tool called Trello to help me out.

Then set a time frame for accomplishing every task associated with your plan and when you expect to achieve your goals. Put some buffer (or extra time) in your plan because life happens, and you only get one to live.

It’s also important to seek out mentors and wise counsel. When it comes to mentors, find people who have been where you are, dreamed big, and achieved their goals. They should be individuals you can turn to for advice and questions. If you don’t have anyone in your circle that fits the role of “mentor, you can study successful people you’ve never met who have reached their dreams.

Take Action

Taking action is one of the most crucial steps when it comes to life changes. Unfortunately, this is where many dreamers fall short. One of the biggest things that successful people do that others don’t is show up. Yup. They show up day after day and do the work.

Let your desired outcomes come alive and infuse your life through actions. It’s important to remember that, to win, you must act. You can’t win the race without taking action.

Dreaming is Important

Life is too short to sit back, waiting for something great to happen to you. That’s why it’s so important to have dreams and ambitions that we want to accomplish.

Maybe you’ve been told that dreaming is a waste of time. Perhaps you’ve been told you’ll never amount to anything. That’s a lie. It’s not of God. God knows everything about you. He made you in your mother’s womb exactly how you are supposed to be (Psalm 139:13-14). The Bible says you can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13). You will amount to something because YOU ALREADY ARE SOMETHING. If you don’t believe me, I encourage you to read the You are Beautiful devotional in Momentum.

Go Get ‘Em

Dreams aren’t just experiences you have while you sleep. They’re the visions and goals that ignite your heart and bathe your soul with joy and excitement at the very thought of them. They’re those passionate visions of what you want your life to be at its highest possible level of fulfillment. Don’t be afraid to dream big, and then take that first step.

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Joining the Rise Up Bible Journaling Study

There is no charge for joining the Rise Up study. You will be able to answer the weekly prompts using this article, calendar, and mini-kit provided when you sign up at the bottom of this article. To participate join our Facebook Group – Bible Journaling for Beginners and search for “#RiseUp” to find the weekly prompts. To join the group click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BibleJournalingforBeginners.

There are multiple options to do the study. The devotional and kits are designed to help you take a deeper dive into the Word and start applying biblical principles to your life. They are not required, but they’re a fun way to grow in the Word creatively!

• Join Momentum – Momentum members get just about everything for only $25/month. Click here to learn more.
• Subscribe to the 2018 kits – New for 2018! You can get all of the 2018 devotionals and their corresponding kit as they release for only $52. That’s $1/Week. You also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets Click here to purchase.
• Purchase the kit by itself –New for 2018! Purchase the devotional and kit for only $7. You’ll also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets. Click here to purchase.
• Free option – To get the calendar and free mini-kit, please scroll to the bottom of this article and register for our emails before April 30, 2018. If you are on the email list and haven’t received it, please check your spam!

Note: This article about the resurrection of Christ may be a bit graphic or cause you to feel emotions you’re not prepared for. If this is the case, you may prefer to skip over the sections labeled, Did the Resurrection Happen?  and How the Apostles Died. 

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen! For Christians, these three words bring pure joy and hope to their lives. Believing in the resurrection comes down to having faith. If you’ve lost faith or need a reminder of the importance of the resurrection, read on!

Why is the Resurrection Important?

Without the resurrection, faith would be pointless. The apostle Paul tells us that “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:13-14). Put simply, if Christ’s resurrection didn’t take place, having faith would be worthless. If Christianity is just about physical life, it really doesn’t matter what we do, or how we live, or what we believe. Fortunately, Jesus was resurrected, a truth that changed the lives of the children he suffered for on the cross.

Looking for proof of the resurrection?  Keep reading.

Daily Importance

Believing in the resurrection plays an important part in our daily lives. For instance, believing in the resurrection makes it easier to deal with the challenges and persecutions we face. When we run into problems, believers don’t give up because we know this earthly world isn’t the end for us. It’s only the beginning. Things get better when it’s our time to head home to Heaven.

Eternal Reward

Thanks to Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, the purest sign of unconditional love, we will live forever by his side. There isn’t a greater reward than this – a reward that is well worth dealing with any trials and tribulations we may face as Christians.

Did the Resurrection Happen?

Yes – it’s in the Bible. – “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee” Luke 24:6. Those who’ve attempted to disprove Jesus’ resurrection have come up short, and in many cases, have embraced Christianity. CS Lewis is a great example. But if you need more, here’s a great article on historical evidence for the resurrection.

Assuming that a person didn’t believe in the Bible, understanding what the apostles did after the resurrection and how they died should be evidence enough. What makes a person believe in something so much they’re willing to be skinned alive, beheaded, stoned to death, or crucified? What did they see? What did they experience that made it ok to die such unfathomable deaths?

How the Apostles Died

It’s easy to forget the past, but somethings should be remembered. The details of the deaths of the apostles are still debatable, but here’s what I’ve discovered and believe to be true.

• Simon: Martyred in Rome during emperor Nero’s reign, Simon, also known as Peter, asked to be crucified in an upside-down position, so that his death wouldn’t be equal to Jesus’.
• Andrew: Scourged, and, instead of being nailed to a cross, Andrew was purposely tied to the cross because it took longer to die (2 days).
• James: Also known as James the Greater, James was beheaded with a sword along with his accuser who converted because of his courage.
• John: The only apostle of the twelve that wasn’t murdered. John died of old age.
• Philip: The first of Jesus’s disciples, Philip was scourged, put into prison, and later crucified.
• Bartholomew: There were two reports of how Bartholomew died. One that said he was beaten, then crucified, the other that was skinned alive then beheaded.
• Thomas: Thomas was martyred by having a spear run through him.
• Matthew: A swordsman stabbed Mathew in the back.
• James: At 94, James, also known as James the Less, was beaten and stoned by his persecutors, then clubbed to death.
• Thaddaeus: Also known as Jude, Judas, and Lebbaeus. Thaddaeus was crucified.
• Simon the Canaanite: Simon, also known as a zealot, was also crucified.
• Judas Iscariot: The infamous, treacherous apostle hanged himself. It was also said that he threw himself from a high place located on land he had purchased with blood money.
• Matthias: While not one of the original 12, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas. He died of old age or by stoning.
• Paul: Paul was also not one of the original 12, but perhaps the most influential. Most historical documents refer to his beheading at the command of Nero.

Please leave a comment with a link to our source if you believe I need to update my list. Thanks!

What to Do About Your Belief

Read the Bible and understand the resurrection and its significance to your faith.

1. Consider What Happened after the Resurrection (in Acts)

Read the book of Acts. Following His resurrection, Jesus made several appearances to his followers which caused dramatic changes in their lives. Because of the preaching of His faithful disciples, inspired by the resurrection, the Christian church was founded and expanded.

If you don’t fully believe the Bible, read about the apostle’s lives and deaths, and ask yourself why someone would go to such extremes for something that might be false. It’s incomprehensible.

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to Help You with Any Disbelief You’re Experiencing

When you chose to give your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit entered you and is still within you. When you feel lost, turn to the Holy Spirit, pour out your feelings and open your heart to the purest form of love and acceptance. Remember, glorious joy comes from not just visually seeing Christ, but by believing in Him. Enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that you’re never really alone. Once you’ve reconciled your beliefs, you can start sharing your faith wherever you go, thereby sharing your life-changing joy.

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to Provide Opportunities to Share Your Faith

“Ask and it shall be given to you.” When you open your mind and heart to the Holy Spirit, opportunities will appear to share your faith. There are a lot of lost souls in the world today that need loving, patient guidance. Be God’s right hand.

4. Do It in a Loving and Respectful Way

Always be prepared to share your faith, ready to give an answer to anyone who is looking for a reason to have hope – to believe in something greater than themselves. The important thing is to share your faith gently and with respect. Use your God-given gifts to serve others through Him.

5. Be Prepared for the Battle and have Courage

There are naysayers out there that will do their best to blow out the candle of your faith. When you face attacks, stand strong and realize that these precious people are dealing with internal struggles and past experiences. Hopefully one day they’ll believe, perhaps because you planted a seed. It’s important to remember that any conversation about God is going to necessitate a degree of faith. The crucifixion and resurrection were unprecedented acts of sacrificial, selfless, love. These were acts that were so significant that believing should and will come naturally. If you need a reminder from time to time, reaching out to the Holy Spirit and reading the Bible will help get you back on track.

The most important thing to remember is to never stop believing and sharing the good news. It’s time to Rise Up!

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