“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” – Pope John XXIII
“Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.” – Robert H. Schuller
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. “ – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.” – Henry Ford
“Friends… they cherish one another’s hopes. They are kind to one another’s dreams.” – Henry David Thoreau
“I always entertain great hopes.” – Robert Frost
“In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death.” Anne Frank
“You can’t just carry everyone else’s hopes and fears around in your backpack and expect to stand up straight.” – David Kirk
“If it were not for hopes, the heart would break.” – Thomas Fuller
“The presence of the Holy Spirit is the keystone of all our hopes.” – John Nelson Darby
“When you believe in your dream and your vision, then it begins to attract its own resources. No one was born to be a failure.” – Myles Munroe
“The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called ‘truth’.”Dan Rather
Sometimes I dress like a dork. Really. And I forget to look at myself before I leave, lol! I have a conference this Saturday so I thought I would go find something nice to wear. Off I went to our local mall with my head in the clouds. Busy thinking about this and that and the other thing. Until I get there – and look down…ugggh! You can see my one pink sock clashing with my one yellow sock. And my old gym shoes with my fancy leggings. I forgot to put on my boots! Oh man, yeah, here I am Ms Suzy-Q looking at all these really expensive clothes with my clashing socks. I laughed so hard I almost peed myself!
So I did what any songwriter would do, I came home and wrote a song about it. (And no, I haven’t found what to wear yet – there is always tomorrow. Maybe I’ll wear pink and purple socks…)
The Girl with the Dreams
~Copyright 2015 Diana Rasmussen~
She went to the mall after dropping off the kids
Moved hanger after hanger of the latest styles
Who should she be today?
Rifling through racks trying to decide
Where was the girl with the dreams?
Was she the stay at home mom or the busy man’s wife?
What could she pick to bring everything back to life?
Where’s the girl who used to put on satin and fringe?
The girl with the dreams
She looked down at her shoes and her mismatching socks
Realized she left without putting on her boots
as she silently screamed
Can she be found in the clearance racks?
Where was the girl with the dreams?
Was she the stay at home mom or the busy man’s wife?
What could she pick to bring everything back to life?
Where’s the girl who used to put on satin and fringe?
The girl with the dreams
She saw that she wasn’t alone
there were tribes of women
all trying to be found
inbetween the designer gowns
There were stay at home moms and busy man’s wives
Bringing everything they touched back to life
They may be older but they wore satin and fringe
Girls who grew up and were living their dreams
AND here is a BONUS – 45 QUOTES FROM A 90 YEAR OLD WOMAN courtesy of PopSugar – great advice here! (Click on the picture or the link above)
Here is a song and video from my friend Pat Flanakin. We met on Broadjam – a great place for musicians to share their music, get licensed, learn more, and a just have fun. Pat is a country musician from Nashville, TN. He reminds me of James Taylor. And his lyrics are amazing.
I still remember the first time I heard this song. It struck something deep in my soul. The tears started falling. And I didn’t even know why. Sometimes there are songs that unearth hidden pain so that it can be healed. Hurts that have been locked away for years. Buried. And then God uses a song to heal that place. RAIN ON ME is one of those songs for me.
I confess, there are places in my heart that are barren and that need the water of the Lord to bring them back to life. I am ready – to dance in the showers, for hours and hours. Great song, and great video Pat!
VERSE A desert wind can turn a stone to sand
And strip your soul of ev’ry dream you’ve ever had
And leave you with nothin’ but this barren land
Rain on me
VERSE A thousand mountains stand before my eyes
They hide the ocean on the other side
But I can smell the water and I can taste the tide
Rain on me
And let me taste the water
Water is what I need
CHORUS Come on you’ve got to rain on me
And let me taste the water
Water is what I need
VERSE California I don’t understand
You keep your treasures in your fisted hand
And you can make a beggar out of an honest man
Rain on me
Let me taste the water
Water is what I need
CHORUS Rain on me
And let me dance in the showers
For hours and hours
BRIDGE Oh I’m dying for just a drink
So let it rain down on me.
CHORUS You’ve got to rain on me
And let me dance in the showers
For hours and hours
CHORUS Come on you’ve got to rain on me
Let me taste the water
Cause water is what I need
Song Length
4:35 Genre
Rock – Easy Listening Tempo / Feel
Slow (71 – 90) Lead Vocal
Male Vocal
Have you ever read a book and got all the way to the ending only to be disappointed with the way the Author finished the story?
What if you could rewrite the ending of your story?
Is it time to fan the flames and rekindle the fire of your dreams?
These are questions I am pondering today. I have been sitting still for too long. Waiting, and waiting, and wondering. Yes I have prayed. Yes I have listened. But sometimes I think God just wants us to stop trying to understand everything and just GET UP! I truly believe He will heal us on the journey, on the way.
Water that stops moving turns green and yucky. The current keeps things fresh and gets rid of the debris. Let the river flow! I guess my point is, sometimes I get stuck in thinking, “things will always be this way.” That is just not true. God has always lead me out of the darkness and into the light. But sometimes I feel like I am squinting because I have been in the ‘cave’ so long. Know what I mean?
Yes, I have accepted many things in this life – more than I should have. And it cost me – a lot. I said yes to things I never should have. I wasted years of my life following deadbeat guys around to nowhere. I didn’t follow my heart. I didn’t follow God. I followed a really sick man – well, men – for many, many years. But that is water under the bridge, I can’t change it, I can’t go back. But I don’t have to stay stuck in my memories either. We made it, but now what?
Truthfully, I gave up on dreaming a long time ago. Yeah, really. Plan A, B, and C didn’t work, so I guess I threw in the towel. When you live one crisis to the next, there is little time to dream. When you are working 3 jobs just to support the kids cause the ex won’t, you get a little too tired to dream. Life got in the way. But things are changing! Hallelujah, thank you Jesus! A new season is upon us my friends. And I for one, want to start to dream again. I want to look forward to good things from God in my future instead of looking back with regret. Turn around, repent – for me that means I need to look FORWARD to GOOD things. Now that’s a change, lol!
And yes, I am getting older. I do more thinking and reflecting now than when I was younger. But hey, I am not dead yet, lol! And my story is not over yet – and neither is yours! God is still writing, and He is still using us to create beautiful and amazing things. Lets fan the flame. God isn’t done with us yet – we are still breathing. Ignite your dreams again. Believe in a future again. I dare you!
What are the dreams in your heart?
What are your goals?
What would you like to do with the next chapter?
So, let’s play. What 3 things would you write in the next chapter of your story?
3 new endings to my story:
I would go to Nashville with my husband. We never had a Honeymoon. I want to live and breathe music from the heart of Nashville. My husband and I play music together all the time – it would be fun! And this girl has to get a Cowboy Hat and some boots. And go horseback riding again. And we would have to take another trip to take the kiddos. I never really got to take my kids on a vacation. After a divorce, you do the best you can with what you have. I am not complaining, I love all my kids. I just wish I had more opportunity to show them the world.
I would probably move. I like the town we are in, but this broken down farmhouse has me depressed. It needs a new roof, the ceilings are leaking, new windows, new electrical. And seriously, it only has a shower. I am a girl. I need a bathtub. I must have been nuts thinking I could live without a bathtub. I love the land. Maybe we should tear it down and start over. Yeah I know. Need the money first.
I would travel. I want to go and meet my music buddy tmv from PA. I want to go say hi to Nathaniel and Kelly and their new baby. I would love to go hear Nashville Joe’s poems, and I really want to go hear Penny Towers sing too, and Dianne MacAdam – she rocks! And Cyndi, and Peter, and the other Peter, and DeDe, and Darius, and Kathy Meyers, and Chameleon,and Kenney, and you too! Wow we really need a jam session! And then there are all my blogging friends – Susan, Cheryl, Tami, Seeker, Loopyloo, Laura, Skye, Ana, Dawn, Morgan, Harry, Wendell, Secret Angel, Natalie, Debbie, and Deborah, and Apostle Cross, and Patty B, Karina, the Warrioress, Steve, and you! I have way too many friends all over the world! Wouldn’t it be fun to get together?
Leave me a comment, let’s dream together today. What are your 3 alternative endings?
Living in the cold of WI this winter I am dreaming of palm trees and white sand beaches, warm tropical breezes and maybe even a little umbrella. It’s going to be so cold here Governer Scott Walker is thinking of shutting down all the schools in WI with windchill expected to be -45 to -55. And I hear there are still tickets to the Packer Game on Sunday with temps only expected to be -30 with the windchill!
Here is a song I wrote with my husband Bob last night. I think I need steel drums, give it that Jamaica sound! I love reggae music, how about you? I’m going to have to learn to play it though, the beat is totally different than what I am used to!
“You may or may not be aware of it, but you have a dreaming nature. You inherited this part of your disposition from your Creator. He created us in His image and likeness so our hearts could relate to His and His dreaming heart could find millions of expressions. You were designed to dream and you must dream—both for yourself and for God. In fact, if you don’t dream with Him, He can’t experience all of His dreams, and you’ll never achieve your destiny.”
~ Dutch Sheets ~
(From the book: DREAM Discovering God’s Purpose For Your Life)
I redid this poem today. More wrestling with words and feelings.
Ghosts From A Dream
~Copyright 2013 Diana Rasmussen~
Ghosts from a dream
Blood curdling screams
Old Buried feelings
holding hidden meanings
Burial chambers
Echoing danger
Negative energy
Smiling cleverly
Up out of the grave
Trying to enslave
Contemptuous jeers
Whispered in my ears
Accusing echoes
Tormenting my soul
Secrets that covered
Buried and smothered
Feels out of control
Crazy thoughts GO
Drag them out of night
into the daylight
Darkness cannot fight
When exposed to Light
Shriveled old schemes
Ghosts from a dream
In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.
He was present originally with God.
All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.
In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.
And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]. ( John 1:1-5 AMP)
Here is the First version of Ghosts From A Dream, back in August:
Do you dream with God, do you share your hopes and dreams with Him?
God wants you to dream! Do you think about the plans and dreams you have for the future?
Will you sit at God’s feet and let him share HIS DREAM with you?
What are God’s desires for you, your family, your town, country, nation?
Will you let God download His dreams in your heart?
You are God’s family, You are his sons and daughters, it is VERY GOOD!
God put something in us to cause us to think this way! A creative force – let there be dreamers!
YOU are God’s outlet for HIS DREAMS! We get to dream with Him, and we get to create it together!
God dreamed your destiny for you!
Will you dream so you can find His plans?
If you don’t let yourself dream, how can He accomplish His will?
He is the Author of Creation and Creativity – will you let God into your dreams?
God gets involved in the dreams, He put them in our hearts. God already dreamed the dream and put it there.
God took Abraham places:
Will you go to Shechem – and let God be the Lord of the Dream? God wants to awaken the dormant dreams in you…
Will you go to Bethel – to the place of dreams? God wants family members to dream with…
Will you go to Hebron – the place of friendship/intimacy? God wants to share His dreams with His friends…
Will you go to Moriah – put Isaac on the altar, and let God test you? Do you own the dream or do you let the dream own you? Will you give the dream back to God? Moriah means “seen by God”. God took Abraham to the place that represented His dreams. Abraham and God dreamed together there. God got his dream back at Calvary – His family is restored back to his bosom.
Every time Abraham looked up and saw the stars, God showed him his family. Our dreams are intertwined with God’s. And God asked Abraham what do you see? His response:
You see stars – I see my family
You see sand – I see a bride for my son
You see an altar – I see a cross
You see a ram – I see my son
And God brought His Son, and built an altar in the shape of a cross, and he uses our family to get His family back. God put something in you that He needs to save His people and save the world.
Has life, divorce, injury, abuse, loss, stolen your dreams? No more – it’s time to get that part of you back!
The prayer at the end – starts at 44:18, wow!
This video made me cry. I realize I have let that part of me die as I hid in the darkness too long.
No more, I’m going to do what Dutch asks and let God show me His dreams for my life.
