The Dream Giver: Pursuing Your God Given Destiny

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When I first read the preface to this book, I was extremely skeptical. The author wanted to be my "Dream Coach," excuse me? 'What a load of inspirational baloney,' I thought. 'This is going to be the cheesiest thing ever.' Education Shed Ltd, Severn House, Severn Bridge, Riverside North, Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK, DY12 1AB This book is an allegory in the style of Pilgrim's Progress or Hinds Feet on High Places but it falls short in every area by comparison. The main reason it falls short is because the underlying principle is erroneous--it is all about living our dreams in the here and now or as Joel Osteen would say "Your best life now..." It might be a "nice story" but encouraging people to focus on their earthly dreams, ambitions and successes even with God in the picture is a recipe for disaster. You, too, have been given a Big Dream. One that can change your life. One that the Dream Giver wants you to achieve. Does your Big Dream seem hopelessly out of reach? Are you waiting for something or someone to make your dream happen?

I have just read as much of The Prayer of Jabez as I could stand. Reflecting, I realised that it wasn't my first encounter with this author. I read The Dream Giver whilst serving on-board a missionary ship. A friend highly recommended it so I found it in the ship library. I remember being disappointed and thinking it reminded me of the Christian hedonism principle espoused by John Piper which I don't have much time for.

Here in this book he expound it some more: to include dreams in the plan. We all have dreams when we were kids but those dreams are probably dead now. Maybe they are not practical. Maybe they don't make sense anymore. My dream when I was a kid is to be an agriculturist. Then later it was to become a teacher. Then to become a priest. However, my father's dream for me was to become a doctor so I took up Medical Technology (a popular pre-med course) but when I finished it, he did not have money to send me to a medical school so I worked and while working finished my second degree, business administration. Now, I am an Information Technology (I.T.) career in an electronics manufacturing company. Haha.

A regular night of dream delivering turns into a literal nightmare when a boy's book of ancient mythology comes alive. The great thing about parables is that they are non-specific enough that everyone can find herself in one.The story of Ordinary during part one of the book annoys me a little. It's a little too overt how proper names are also descriptions of each thing. At the same time, the author gets the point across. It doesn't bother me that the author quotes from that story and enlarges on the points he makes in the second half of the book. It's easy to comprehend.

I would encourage anyone to read this, and read it with an open mind. Maybe even take a break from reading it to stop and think - and pray - about what God is laying on your heart. You could easily read this entire book in one sitting and blow it off, but I would really encourage you to take some time with it and maybe even read it more than once at different times in your journey. The world will be a richer place if we do those things God places it in our hearts to do. We were created in God's image as creative beings. We were born to create. The point of the book is very simple. I wasn't looking for complicated, so I appreciate this. I like that it is clear that God can help us with our dreams. I like the emphasis on the importance of dreams as a way to help others. Bigger, better dreams are unselfish. The "Dream Giver" is clearly God. We Dreamers are obviously "Ordinary." Other helpful truths are found in this book. I like the questions the author asks to help discover individual dreams. They got me thinking.Go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”– Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) I’ve accomplished dreams, but at this moment in my life feel deflated, unmotivated, uninspired. I have work to do to realize a new dream, God’s dream for me. Of course I wished a flame was lit ablaze for me while reading this, but I’m sure a spark has developed and just needs time to simmer and grow. Bestselling author Bruce Wilkinson shows how to identify and overcome the obstacles that keep millions from living the life they were created for. He begins with a compelling modern-day parable about Ordinary, who dares to leave the Land of Familiar to pursue his Big Dream. With the help of the Dream Giver, Ordinary begins the hardest and most rewarding journey of his life. Wilkinson gives readers practical, biblical keys to fulfilling their own dream, revealing that there’s no limit to what God can accomplish when we choose to pursue the dreams He gives us for His honor. I am so encouraged, so emboldened, and so convicted by it that I have no choice but to make a choice. There is more to life than what most of us are living, and God placed us here with the precious gift of life for a reason!

But I had a few hours to kill, and the book was thin enough and written in big print, so I gave it a shot. This is a powerful book and message intended to shine a light and empower readers to let go of the comfortable “familiars” in their life and move towards achieving their dreams - dreams give to us by our Dream Giver, God. Dr. Bruce Wilkinson is a the bestselling author of The Prayer of Jabez, Secrets of the Vine, A Life God Rewards, and numerous other books. Bruce and his wife, Darlene Marie, divide their time between Georgia and South Africa. They have three children and five grandsons. Wilkinson is a great communicator. His The Three Chairs and Prayer of Jabez are classics of inspirational literature. The Dream Giver however does not meet those standards. It's half parable (John Bunyan, Wilkinson is not) and half inspirational guide (complete with The Dream Giver "resources"). I liked the questions that were scattered throughout this book and made every effort to write an answer them. Some of them are:Dr. Wilkinson is helping to change the face of Christianity with his unique way of reaching America.”—JOE GIBBS, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing and former head coach of the Washington Redskins Let Bruce Wilkinson show you how to rise above the ordinary, conquer your fears, and overcome the obstacles that keep you from living your Big Dream.