Category: Boot Camp for Creators & Dreamers

Remember that old TV series Dragnet? If not, google it sometime. It was one of several realistic shows produced by Jack Webb, which included Adam-12 and Emergency. Webb was a talented actor, too. But when when he decided to play the starring role of LAPD Sgt. Joe Friday, he chose NOT to act. Instead, he rarely smiled and recited all his lines like an emotionless robot. It worked, however, because Webb was trying to achieve a documentary style: he wanted viewers to focus on the facts of each case — which were drawn form actual police files — and not on the actors.

Focusing on the facts even played into Sgt. Friday’s signature line. And Webb got a chance to say it in nearly every episode. During a criminal investigation, if a witness got long-winded or strayed from the issues at hand, Friday (in a deadpan voice) would remind the person, “Just the facts.” Which is excellent advice we should all follow in life.

In Boot Camp, we’ve worked hard to give you just the facts. Sometimes, of course, the facts can be hard to handle. For instance, we realize that all this stuff about counting the cost, paying the price, making sacrifices, and investing emotional capital is a bit daunting to the average dreamer or creator. But trust us, we’re not trying to discourage our readers.

Nor do we want to rain on anyone’s parade — and we certainly don’t want to scare anyone off. We WANT you to pursue your dreams! We also want you to succeed, and not abandon your dreams at the first sign of trouble. That’s why we feel duty-bound to lay it on the line. As the Apostle Paul writes, “…We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ….” (Ephesians 4:15 NLT)

Big, God-sized dreams demand patience, fortitude, and endurance. They also require a tremendous amount of preparation and planning. Since being forewarned is forearmed, it’s always a good idea to have all the facts (truth) at our disposal. Sometimes the truth we share has a sharp edge. We’re not being pessimistic, though; we’re being realistic. Would you want it any other way? Sgt. Friday wouldn’t. So we give it to you straight: the lowdown; the plain dope; the real skinny; just the facts.

Fact:  First, it doesn’t pay to view the world through rose-colored glasses. We need to see life through the eyes of faith. “…Faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 HCSB) When we view life (and our future) through the eyes of faith, we get God’s perspective on each and every matter, including our hopes and dreams. Then, no matter what challenges we face, we can truly believe that “…With God nothing is ever impossible….” (Luke 1:37 AMPC)

Fact:  God is on your side. He loves you. He’s totally committed to helping you realize your dreams. Ultimately that’s all that matters. “God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 NCV)

Fact:  We’re not called to be people-pleasers. Here’s another hard fact of life: trying to please people (instead of trying to please God) can be hazardous to your dreams and creativity.

We should always be loving and respectful of all people, but we should never overly concern ourselves with their opinions of us or our dreams. Paul writes, “Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.” (1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT) Since this is our over-arching goal in life, the only question we need ask ourselves is, “Am I pleasing God?”

Fact:  God is not hard to please. He’s neither a celestial tyrant nor a critical, hard-to-please parent. He is our loving and understanding Heavenly Father. “Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentation 3:23 NLT) At the end of life’s journey we’ll hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And that’s the key to our relationship with God: He won’t say “good and perfect servant” — because He understands we’re only human.

Fact:  God has NOT forgotten you!

• “I have written your name on the palms of my hands….” (Isaiah 49:16 NLT)

• “God even knows [numbers; counts] how many hairs are on your head.” (Matthew 10:30 EXB)

• “You [O God] know how troubled I am; You have kept a record of my tears. Aren’t they listed in Your book?” (Psalm 56:8 GNT)

• “God is fair. He won’t forget what you’ve done or the love you’ve shown for him.” (Hebrews 6:10 GW)

Fact:  God is trustworthy!

• “God is not a human being, and He will not lie. He is not a human, and He does not change His mind. What he says He will do, He does…. What he promises, he makes come true….” (Numbers 23:19 EXB)

• “He is like a rock. What He does is perfect. He is always fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong.” (Deuteronomy 32:4 ICB)

• “He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NLT)

Fact:  God has planned a bright future for you!

• “I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised…. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out — plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:11 MSG)

• “…The people who know their God shall be strong and do great things.” (Daniel 11:32 TLB)

• “…Thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)

These facts are plain, simple, and straightforward — just the way Sgt. Friday would want them. Memorize them, recite them, cherish them; because “the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32 ICB)

Last session we discussed “emotional investments”: part of the price we creators and dreamers must be willing to pay if we’re to achieve our goals and fulfill God’s plan for each of our lives. One such investment is learning to deal with a general lack of encouragement and support. People may fail to see your potential or the value of your dreams. They may even react negatively, due to envy, competitiveness, or a misunderstanding of your motives.

The best way to deal with these often painful disappointments is to:

• Allow all invalid criticism to roll off your back the way water rolls off a duck’s feathers. And whenever jealousy and envy enter the picture, you can vanquish this green two-headed monster simply by following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, by quickly forgiving anyone who wrongs you.

• Remember that jealousy and envy usually stem from insecurity or a low self-esteem. People who are hurting emotionally tend to compensate for their pain by trying to hurt others — and dreamers and creators seem to make tempting targets. Nevertheless, we must learn to have victory over any slights and slurs, or over a silent lack of support.

What does victory look like? It’s keeping your peace and proceeding with your plans; and learning to celebrate others even if they routinely fail to celebrate you. After all, we’re here to please God, and nothing makes Him happier than when we behave like His Son. “Love your enemies [as well as your obstinate friends 😉], do good to them … without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High….” (Luke 6:35 NIV)

• Be willing to stand alone.

There’s another aspect of these emotional investments, a rather frightening one many of us may face: having to STAND ALONE.

Jesus reassures us, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NLT) So we’re never alone in the spiritual sense. However, in the physical world, situations may arise in which the dreamer finds him- or herself abandoned by friends and family; isolated from any support groups; working alone to fulfill a vision. If you find yourself in one of these frustrating situations, take heart. Again, you’re in good company. (In a manner of speaking.)

The Biblical King David, who is described as “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22), was a fellow dreamer and creator who knew how to stand alone. He was alone when he faced Israel’s great adversary, Goliath. He was alone when he made the hard decisions that affected God’s people; and alone when he suffered temporary defeats and setbacks. And yet, even when isolated, abandoned, and opposed in the face of overwhelming adversity, David knew how to:

• Stay in faith and draw encouragement from God. More to the point, David had learned how to stand alone for what’s important. But where did he get his training?

David had spent most of his formative years alone. As a youth he’d endured countless lonely nights as a shepherd, with no company except a few sheep. Remember the movie Babe? The hero of this fantasy flick is an intelligent pig who doesn’t want to be treated like a pig. He has, in essence, one of the biggest, most impossible dreams ever. But he ultimately finds himself alone in the barnyard with a bunch of “stupid sheep.”

Sheep have rather limited vocabularies. So when Babe tries to communicate with his woolly friends, all they have to say is Baaahhh! Not too encouraging. Which is why David turned to God during his years of isolation. The great Psalmist later wrote, “Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire no one but you on earth. …My heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.” (Psalm 73:25-26 NET)

During this time, David found comfort and companionship in God. He also gained tremendous insights into the nature of his Lord, which he shared with the world in the many Psalms he penned. And who can forget David’s oft-quoted observation, from his most famous Psalm? “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1 KJV) Isolated? Perhaps, but never abandoned, never lacking.

David developed some impressive spiritual muscles while guarding his sheep on the backside of the wilderness, muscles which would later serve him well, in dealing with disappointment, overcoming adversity, and standing alone. He received his greatest affirmation from his Lord, and no matter what he faced — whether it was opposition in the form of people or giants, or heartache from loneliness or a lack of support — he learned to:

• Run TO God, not FROM Him.

One of the psalmists writes, “God is our shelter and our strength. When troubles seem near, God is nearer, and He’s ready to help. So why run and hide? No fear, no pacing, no biting fingernails. When the earth spins out of control, we are sure and fearless….” (Psalm 46:1-2 VOICE)

Are you going through a difficult season? Remember the example of David, the poet-warrior-king who, with the help of God, overcame incredible odds and defeated fierce opponents. But first he learned to stand alone — WITH GOD! (We’ll catch up with this remarkable creator and dreamer later on, because he’s got more wisdom to impart to us.)

Standing alone isn’t always about being abandoned, or isolated, or singled out; but it is always about getting our encouragement, support, and affirmation from the Lord.

God created us. He knows us, understands us. He also gave us the vision, the dream, the ideas. And finally, God gave us the gifts and talents needed to execute the plan. Trust us, He gets it. He can relate to whatever we’re going through — and He’s for us and with us. Even when we’re “standing alone,” we don’t have to feel lonely.

Feeling a little left out, forgotten by God and the people closest to you — as though you’re stuck on the backside of the desert? You are NOT alone. Friends, family, or coworkers may abandon you, but God will never leave you. Whatever you’re going through, GOD GETS IT. Run to His loving arms. “God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you.” (Deuteronomy 33:27 NLT)

Like David, we dreamers and creators must learn to stand alone (with God) for those times when we’ll need to. We can’t afford to waste our emotional capital by being overly concerned with people’s opinions of us or our dreams. We can’t afford to focus on who is and who’s not on our side. God is on our side — and that’s what matters most!

We have His stamp of approval. He loves us more than we could ever comprehend, and He’s in our cheering section for every step of the way. “What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us?” (Romans 8:31 AMP)

Need some encouragement? At the end of each day, picture your Heavenly Father: He’s smiling; He’s celebrating both you and your accomplishments; He’s saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant [creator, or dreamer].” (Matthew 25:21 AMP)