Some dreams are dormant, released slowly over time. At least that’s the case with me and my dreams. They don’t seem to vanish over the years but are waiting for the right time for the dreamer to act. I’ve also found that dreams can shift and change over time. Can I share my dream with you?Every since I was a little thing, I’ve wanted to be a singer. I remember our kitchen in the house where I grew up in Western Kentucky; it had a big beige square vacuum cleaner box that sat next to the side door that led out to our covered porch. I used to grab a well-worn fork or spoon from the silverware drawer and would hop up on that box, which was my stage, and sing my little heart out!
What did I sing, you ask? Well, the only song I truly remember singing a lot was a country tune that was popular on the radio at the time called “Delta Dawn,” and I’m thinking that wasn’t probably the most appropriate song for a young girl of my age to be belting out anywhere. And, I didn’t just belt out songs in my kitchen. No, my Mother used to tell me that my Grandma Hazel and Granddaddy Walter used to take me out to eat with them and I would turn around in the booth and start serenading people (I’m so glad I was too young to remember this)! I also sang for the ladies at Mrs. Pat’s beauty parlor, which was located next door to a laundry mat and adjacent to my small hometown’s grocery store, an IGA. I still remember the thick shag carpet in that shop and a row of now old-fashioned hair dryers lined up against the wall. Mrs. Pat was a member of the same Southern Baptist church where my family was also members. I often went to the beauty shop with my Mama, who got her hair “fixed” once a week. Mrs. Pat always asked me to sing a song when I came with my Mom and I was always more than willing to oblige. I think she was trying to build my confidence and encourage me to use my God-given talent. Confidence isn’t a trait I’ve ever lacked, fortunately. Not to say that it hasn’t waned some during the years or that the enemy—yes, that little devil in a bright red suit with a pitchfork—hasn’t tried to make me doubt myself and the dream God planted in my heart so many years ago. My strong sense of self-confidence grew out of a personal relationship with the Lord. I grew up learning in church how precious I was to the Lord and that God loves me so very much that He sent his only Son to die for me. Check out John 3:16, if you don’t know what I’m talking about.
My first public appearance as a singer was when I was just 7 years old. It was someone’s bright idea, probably my Mama’s, to have me sing on the same Sunday night I got baptized; being slam-dunked in front of everyone should really be sufficient, but no, I also had to sing a solo. I don’t remember if I got dunked by the preacher before or after I sang, but I don’t recall having my hair drip all over the microphone or the church platform. My first official public solo was a song called “Put Your Hand in the Hand,” a Christian children’s song that was popular at the time. When I was rehearsing, the pianist asked my if I also knew the second verse of the song. I nodded that I did but I really didn’t know it very well. I sang the first verse beautifully, as beautifully as a 7-year-old girl can, but my memory lapsed some on verse two. I vividly remember some lady sitting on the front right-hand pew mouthing the words to me. I got through it, somehow, and have never stopped singing in church or other venues since. My Mama used to cart me all over Western Kentucky and Tennessee to sing at churches, banquets, talent competitions and even an audition when I was 16 for a spot as a singer at Opryland in Country Music USA, Nashville, Tennessee. She was my biggest cheerleader. Every dreamer needs an encourager. I suggest that you seek one out and ask them to pray for and with you as you seek and walk in God’s dream for your life…it’s imperative! Ironically, I didn’t major in music in college because my wise Mother told me that I needed a career to “fall back on” and she was right. I majored in TV broadcasting but ended up a print journalist for a newspaper, switching to public/media relations—all part of God’s plan for me and His dream for me. You say, “How could that be a part of His plan for me as a Christian singer?” Sit tight and you’ll see.
In my 30s, a music mentor God placed in my life told me that if I wanted to “make it” as Christian artist, I needed to start writing my own music and recording it. I was a professional writer, so hard could it be? So, I embarked on writing my first song, “Knock, Seek, Find” and the rest, as they say, is history (and you don’t want me to bore you with that, trust me!) If I hadn’t been a professional writer, I never would’ve had the confidence to start writing my own songs, all part of His plan. Another music mentor God put in my path encouraged me to launch a GoFundMe account to help raise the much-needed funds to record my music as recording isn’t cheap. I have a good job, but like you, I don’t have a money tree growing in my backyard, although I secretly wish I did! Ha! God raised around $700 through my “Lend Joanna a Hand” campaign , which I used to record my latest single, “Hold Me Jesus.” I went back to my generous supporters, and God has raised over $1,000 to use towards my next single, which I’m prayerfully hoping to record sometime this spring and summer.Now, much older than when God was calling me in my 30s to minister to others through my original music, He has decided now is the time He wants to use me. Odd, right? I’m not some young hip thing anymore (actually I’m better!) Well, think about it. The Lord called Moses when he was 80 to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God was preparing Moses for His great plan, which Moses tried to come up with a gazillion excuses not to be obedient to God’s call, but as God would have it, His will prevailed. I read this morning in my women’s devo book that God’s view about our journey into His will is different from ours. You know that whole His ways are higher than our ways verse? The Lord is more concerned about the process—the journey itself is the goal and what He’s teaching us and the character it forms in us along the way.
Travel back in time with me for a moment, if you will. Think back to when you were a little girl. What were you dreams? Did you want to be a ballerina? An artist? Horse trainer (don’t all little girls love horses?!) A concert pianist? Actor? Perhaps an astronaut or nurse or a doctor? God created you and me to dream, sister. He puts those desires and passions in our hearts for a reason, but somewhere along the way, we let those dreams die. Has your dream died? Life can often beat us down, and the enemy deceives us into thinking that we’re nothing and not talented enough to walk into our dream or calling. The result? Fear holds us back—another trick of Satan. We stop dreaming and settle for mediocre lives. Girl, there is nothing mediocre about being a daughter of The King! As I’m walking on this journey with God to the dream He as for me, which keeps shifting and changing along the way, I’m invigorated and excited!! Life with God is such an adventure and never a dull moment!I encourage you to drop to your knees right now and ask God to revive His dream for you in your shriveled-up heart. You have not because you ask not. Ask God. Seek. Knock. He’s been patiently waiting for you to wake up and smell the coffee, girlfriend (sorry, I really love coffee! 😊) We weren’t created for mediocrity and anything less is a waste of the precious gift of life that you and I have. Life is but a vapor. I don’t know about you, but I want to live my life with Eternity as the backdrop. The time is now. Like the Biblical heroine, Esther, perhaps He has called us for “such a time as this.” DREAM ON!!!
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