God Turns a Dream into a Miracle!

By Dr. Robert H. Schuller

The fear of failure keeps most people from believing that God can and will make their dreams come true. They are afraid to try. I often think of Christy Wilson, that great missionary to Kabul, Afghanistan. The major industry in Kabul was raising sheep, and the major problem in raising sheep was a disease caused by a worm that gets in the intestines of the sheep when they eat snails.

Now ducks love to eat these snails, but Christy noticed there were no ducks in Afghanistan. He wrote to a friend in the states and asked for some fertilized duck eggs. Twenty-four fertilized duck eggs were sent. His friend said, "They will hatch, provided the eggs are not dropped, they get there on time, and the temperature stays warm. In other words, it will take a miracle."

By the time they arrived in Kabul, some were broken; they were cracked and smelly. Christy said, "We'll just have to pray that we get at least one male and one female."

You can guess what happened: only two eggs hatched, a male and a female. They multiplied and eventually wiped out the snails and the sheep industry boomed. God took Christy's dream and worked a miracle because he decided to try.

- EXCERPTED FROM 365 Power Thoughts: Hope for Today and Tomorrow

I Am With You Always

"And surely I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS to the very end of the age"
-Matthew 28:20, The words of Jesus Christ

We've read or heard the words so many times..."I am with you always." But, do we EVER really stop to think about it, embrace it, or totally take in what Jesus is REALLY saying to us in this incredible five-word phrase? He IS with you "always." ALWAYS. Wow! The Creator of the Universe, with YOU, ALWAYS. Almost unbelievable- but, profoundly true.

Beginning Sunday, September 12, and continuing for three Sundays, Dr. Schuller and Sheila, on Hour of Power, will once again offer to you the beautiful porcelain cross box with these powerful words from Jesus in golden letters on its lid: "I am with you always." Inside the porcelain box (3-3/4" wide, 5" long, 1" deep) are five glistening "pocket crosses" (each one etched with these same five words) for you to give away to those you know or love.

Watch the Hour of Power beginning Sunday, September 12 for more details. A tax-deductable gift of only $25 is requested for each porcelain cross box you request.

Awaken the Dream!

By Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman

God has placed a dream in the heart of every one of His children-and that means YOU! You have the seed of a God-given dream in your soul. It may have been lying dormant for your entire life.

Today God is saying, "It's time! Wake up that dream! I need that dream to become reality! I need you to get to work on living that dream in your waking hours! This dream is going to save lives - and it's not too early, it's not too late - it's right on time. The alarm is sounding."

Wake up! Get going! You can do it!

Don't let the fear of failure keep your dream asleep.

Don't let the excuses of too old, not educated enough, not experienced enough, keep your dream from becoming reality.

Don't let past mistakes or failures be a sedative that keeps your dream dormant.

Let the fires in your life spark new life in your dream.

Let the breath of God fan the spark until it bursts into a passion that nothing can squelch-not setbacks, not naysayers, not even lack of resources.

Where there's a will there's a way! If God wants you to do something and you say "Yes" to His call, then nothing is impossible!

How do you know if it's God's dream? Easy. Is it positive? Will it help others? Has your heart been broken-then start looking there for God's dream for you. God doesn't allow our hearts to be broken unless it is really necessary and "In love's service only broken hearts will do."

Where has your heart been broken? Is that the seed of a dream that is lying dormant? Is this a dream that could help others whose lives are breaking in the same way? Is this something you cannot stop thinking about, cannot stop dreaming about?

Then-wake it up-today! What can you do today to wake up God's dream in you? If you ask yourself this question every day, if you do something every day toward waking up His dream for you-maybe it's checking into a college course (there are scholarships and tuition assistance programs!)-maybe it's talking about it-letting others know!

In fact, do it today-tell someone before the day is over, "I have this dream I think is of God. What do you think?"

Hasn't it been asleep too long? What are you waiting for? Don't you dare press that snooze button. It's time! Wake up!