Happy Labor Day Weekend!

I will be spending the day at home then later tonight Pat and I are going to a festival in Tampa. I wanted to take a few moments to share with you about some of the struggles we encountered this summer. I thought it was only fair because for the last 6 weeks or so I have shared with you all the amazing things God did for us and how we were totally transformed as a family and individually as a result of stepping out by faith to follow a dream that was dropped in our heart.

Here are some of the obstacles we faced. I share these with you to encourage you that often times when we step out in faith we will face adversity but we have to decide if we are going to let that adversity stop us or if we are going to continue with the dream God placed in our heart.

1. Before we left we had to put in a new front lawn because our HOA was going to fine us if we didn’t do it right away.
2. We got to the airport and the airlines would not let us take our dogs because the paperwork we had filled out from our veterinarian was filled out in black ink and they wanted blue.
3. Pat had to get a new flight that cost us $500 and fly out 3 days later.
4. I took the kids and headed to Ecuador but when we arrived no one could tell us where our condo was. Everyone said thy never heard of the place. So we thought for sure were made a huge mistake but then eventually we found a cabdriver that knew where to take us.
5. Pat got sick the 4^th day we were there.
6. It rained most of the time we were there.
7. When we got home someone put our water hose on in the yard and we had a water bill that was over $500.
8. Our AC unit in the house was not working when we arrived back to the states and we had to get another one installed that cost $$$$.
9. Our water heater went out and had to replace that.
10. Our pool heater went out and had to replace that.

So as you can see there were several things that went crazy and you could sit back and say these are signs that were not supposed to go or you could say we went down and God used us to impact a community and the enemy is not happy. Or you could just assume that this is just part of life and things will happen but it’s all about how we deal or handle life’s hiccups when they show up in our life.

I choose to not get upset but say to the Lord that He is in charge of all things and I will be content in whatever state I find myself in.

What does it take to overcome obstacles and pursue the dream of your future? 

Here are seven tips will help to get on the right path to reaching your full potential and becoming who God made you to be.

1. Ask God to guide you

First, take a moment and sit quietly in prayer, and ask God: what do you want from me? Using your life for a clear purpose by choosing to follow the gifts and talents God has given you is a noble pursuit. Take a moment to be still before God and ask him to confirm the dreams of your heart.

2. Write down your goals

Grab a pen and paper and write down clear and specific goals for yourself. Where do you want to be in a month, a year, and over the course of your entire life? Keep these goals somewhere safe and look at them often as a reminder to press on as your pursue the dreams of your future.

3. Look to the future

Don’t look at the failures of your past, or what could have been. Live for the here and now and focus on the future that awaits you. Remember that you have the power to make the right changes and get your heart and life right before God. When you surrender your life and future to God you can have confidence that he will do great things in you.

4. Find a mentor

John C. Crosby once said, “mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction”. If you can find a like-minded mentor who has gone before you in pursuing their goals you have found an invaluable resource. Mentorship is often overlooked, but it is a necessary component to remaining steadfast in the pursuit of your dreams and inspiring you to see that they are possible.

5. Surround yourself with encouragers

Having other friends around you that believe in your dreams and stand beside you in solidarity and encouragement will give you the push that you need. In moments of frustration, or when you need some reinforcement, a good friend will be there to tell you that your dreams are possible and you’re on the right track.

6. Fight for what you want

Nobody reaches their dreams without a fight. The road to success is not an easy one, so be prepared to fight for what you want. You won’t be great at what you do from the beginning; trust the process and give yourself time to grow into the potential that God has given you. Your faith will bring you through the hard times, and give you the strength to fight hard when you need to.

7. Keep your foundation in Christ

When you first decide to pursue your dreams your roots need to be firm in your faith; your relationship with God will propel you forward. As you move towards your goals and begin to overcome obstacles you will need to stay grounded and remember the things that matter most to you. When you begin to see success – perhaps most importantly – you will need your faith to keep you centered.