For As Long As You Live (Boot Camp for Creators & Dreamers 19.10)

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The 1965 musical, The Sound of Music, a modern parable for creators and dreamers, features a song chock full of wisdom: “Climb every mountain, Search high and low; Follow every byway, Every path you know. Ford every stream, Follow every rainbow, ‘Till you find your dream — a dream that will need all the love you can give.” Last session we began discussing the last line, “a dream that will need all the love you can give.” We now continue to examine the power of love, the strongest, most productive force in the Universe! (It was God’s love — as well as that of others — that helped the movie’s protagonist, Maria, discover her purpose in life, and which propelled her towards her dreams and destiny.

God’s unconditional love, along with the love of those closest to you, can empower you in your creative endeavors and help you to realize your dreams, too. As previously discussed, God’s love can enable us to make tough decisions concerning our dreams and aspirations. It can also help us to make the RIGHT decisions. (Read the last Boot Camp session to learn how.)

Here are some more lessons about Love:

  • God’s love (and that of others) enables us NOT to make compromises in the pursuit of our dreams. Genuine love does not motivate us to take the easy way out — or the “path of least resistance”; or take spiritual shortcuts or settle for second best. Most importantly, God’s love can help you resist the urge to sell your soul for success or acceptance.

Love kept Captain Von Trapp from trading in his soul for continued success: he could have betrayed his values and beliefs and retained his title and lands; but imagine what would have happened to his family had they stayed in Nazi-occupied Austria. Love helped Captain Von Trapp realize that the price of his fame and fortune was too dear. As Jesus Christ asks, “…What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NLT)

Of course, God honored Captain Von Trapp’s decision to leave his homeland. Hence, “He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the LORD your God loves you.” (Deuteronomy 23:5 NLT)

  • Love strengthens us to “climb every mountain” — no matter how high or steep the climb; to weather every storm we encounter in life, and overcome every obstacle along the path to our future. It motivates us to do whatever it takes to reach our goals and realize our dreams. “…Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing.… Flood waters can’t drown love, torrents of rain can’t put it out….” (Song of Solomon 8:6 MSG)
  • God’s Love doesn’t disappoint. Through love Maria discovered her purpose in life, which was God’s perfect plan for her, and which brought her true joy and happiness.

Fellow creators and dreamers, as long as you trust in God’s love, He’ll never lead you astray! To the contrary, no matter how many twists and turns we encounter in life, “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Got delays? God’s timing is perfect. Had to take a different route? It’s always a better way. Didn’t work out? There’s something better waiting around the bend. God’s “love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:8 NLT)

  • Once you find your dream it will need all the love you can give … everyday of your life … for as long as you live. This may sound like poetic hyperbole, but it’s a vital truth: a dream — like a marriage — should last a lifetime. Dreams — like marriages — are intended to be lifelong commitments. We don’t abandon a dream when something we think is better comes along! Instead, we cherish, encourage and nurture our dreams (and creative pursuits).

Dreams require all that we can give them: our devotion; our best; our steadfastness. In other words, dreams — like marriages — need all the love we can give! The Apostle Paul puts it this way: “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT)

So love your dream and you won’t be tempted to give up on it when you encounter those inevitable storms of life!

  • And understand, once you realize your dream, God will assign you another! Dreams are actually journeys, not destinations (unlike marriages). We never truly “arrive” in this life. To do so would be to stop growing — and when you stop growing, you start “dying”: you lose your joy and enthusiasm for life.
  • None of us will truly “arrive” until we join our Father in Heaven. Before then, God keeps us on the road to new experiences, new adventures, new mountains to climb, and CONTINUED GROWTH with God — because He loves us.

Of course, you may actually be at the center of God’s will this very moment. You may feel you’re exactly where God wants you, doing exactly what He wants you to do. If so, you’ll have total peace, joy and a sense of fulfillment. No you have not arrived at your FINAL destination. You’re simply sojourning along life’s never-ending journey. Enjoy the moment, but don’t stop reaching higher.

On the other hand, if you still haven’t quite reached your first stop along the way — if you’re still trying to realize your dream — you can still be filled with God’s peace, joy and fulfillment. Our Lord wants us to enjoy the journey. Don’t be so focused on “getting there” that you miss out on all the beautiful scenery along the way! And all the love, too!

Love (God’s love and the love of those around you) is ever present. It’s one of the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and it’s what makes life worthwhile. In fact, “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT) Let God’s love embrace you. Let it surround and motivate you. Trust in it and let it guide you. Once you do, you’ll discover that your soul and the hills are alive with the Sound of Music!

So, “climb every mountain … till you find your dream; a dream that will need all the love you can give — everyday of your life for as long as you live.”

Click here to all the Boot Camp lessons.

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THE POWER OF LOVE (Boot Camp for Creators & Dreamers 19.9)

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As previously discussed, the 1965 musical, The Sound of Music, is a modern parable for creators and dreamers. In fact, one song featured in the movie is chock full of wisdom: “Climb every mountain, Search high and low; Follow every byway, Every path you know. Ford every stream, Follow every rainbow, ‘Till you find your dream — a dream that will need all the love you can give.” Last session we began discussing the last line, “a dream that will need all the love you can give.” We now continue to examine the power of love, the strongest, most productive force in the Universe! (It was God’s love — as well as the love of others — that helped the movie’s protagonist, Maria, to discover her purpose in life, and which propelled her towards her dreams and destiny.)

God’s unconditional love, along with the love of those closest to you, can empower you in your creative endeavors and help you to realize your dreams, too. Here are some more lessons about Love:

  • Love can enable us to make tough decisions concerning our dreams and aspirations. We may have to shift gears, or change our course altogether, to reach our true destiny. We may be called to walk in the footsteps of the Patriarch Abraham, or the Von Trapp Family, and relocate to another state — or even country. We may have to sever a relationship that is one-sided, has become abusive, or is simply not God’s best. Change is often scary, but our loving Heavenly Father admonishes us, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid … for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)

Interestingly, the Word of God makes a strong correlation between LOVE and FAITH. Why? Well, love is largely based on trust, and God is trustworthy. (This is quite an understatement, by the way. See, for example, Psalm 145:13; or 1 Thessalonians 5:24.) And faith in God is having complete trust or confidence in Him. (One can also have confidence in someone or some thing.)

Our Heavenly Father is trustworthy!

It’s easier to have faith in someone we love, who is trustworthy — and especially in the One who loves us, in whom we can all have complete confidence. And we must never forget that God does love us and He is actively involved in every aspect of our lives, including our dreams and goals. So trust Him totally with your life, as well as with your hopes and aspirations. Remember, “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.” (1 John 4:18 NLT) And, “What makes a difference is faith energized by love.” (Galatians 5:6 VOICE)

  • God’s love helps us to make the RIGHT decisions — and make all the right moves. Now, this may sound far-fetched, because in movies and novels, characters who are “blinded by love” are always making poor choices and doing the wrong thing. We don’t have to worry about that, however, when our decisions are motivated by God’s love. What we do need to be concerned about is being led astray by the negative emotions of hate, anger, envy, pride, and fear.

Making decisions and your changing game plans (regarding your dreams, your relationships, your career, or your life in general) which are based on pride, jealousy, insecurity, doubt, or a host of other blinding emotions, rarely turn out well. In truth, what motivates your choices, and the changes you make, is just as important — if not more so — than the choices themselves. That’s why the Bible states, “Do nothing out of rivalry or vanity; but, in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves….” (Philippians 2:3 AMP)

Rather than being constantly concerned about whether or not you’re doing the right thing, it’s far easier to just trust in God and LET HIS LOVE LEAD you. In other words, always relate to people and do every thing out of Godly love. You simply CAN’T go wrong doing this. Our Heavenly Father honors such acts, and there’s far less chance you’ll goof. The Apostle Paul admonishes us, “…Stand firm in the faith, …be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV)

“So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on Him.” (Hosea 12:6 NLT)

We’ll discuss a few more lessons about Love next session. Until then, fellow creators and dreamers, are you feeling a little anxious about your goals and dreams? Need to make some tough choices regarding your future? Scared to make a change? Have no fear, God is here!

He’s trustworthy and He loves you. Period. You can have faith in Him — and in the purpose and plans He has for your life. So rest in the confidence that you can make the right choices; you can take the right steps; you can make the right moves; and you can adjust to any change required to reach your dreams. —Without being afraid!

“Ruff! Rou don’t rare me!”

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” (2 Timothy 1:7 AMP)

Click here to all the Boot Camp lessons.

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