Beyond Our dreams
(Eccl 11:9-10)
Introduction: (S1)
Antonio de Pereda was a Spanish artist (born 1611, Valladolid; died 1678, Madrid). He began as a history painter and was mainly active in Madrid. He is now best known for his still-lifes. The most famous painting associated with him is The Knight's Dream (also called The Dream of Life or Life is a Dream, (c. 1650, Real Academia de San Fernando, Madrid). The objects represented external power symbols: crowns and a knight's armor were always part of such still-lifes, as was the globe as a symbol of worldwide expansion and a craving for conquests. These "elements of vanity" are of central importance in this painting. It was a key work in the development of the moralizing still-life in Spain.
(S2) 1969: Man takes first steps on the Moon
Historical Importance of the First Man on the Moon: For thousands of years, man had looked to the heavens and dreamed of walking on the moon. In 1969, as part of the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong became the very first to accomplish that dream, as he put his left foot down first Armstrong declared: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
(S3) Scripture Reading
(S4) Webster defined dreams as:
1. A series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep
2. Something notable for its beauty, excellence, or enjoyable quality (new car is a dream to operate)
3. A strongly desired goal or purpose (be President)
(S5) What do I want from life? (House, vacation, car)
(S6) Example obtaining a driver’s license
Driver license photo - who likes it? Look at the identification how it is define.
If you collect the your licenses you can see how much you have change over the years weight, hair, age
What you will not find on your licenses are the things you like to do such as hobbies. Your hobbies are not important to the state of Washington. They consider this as information overload, perhaps, but this information has no bearing of operating a moving vehicle in the state of Washington.
(S7) Contentment same word for automobile
(S8) Paul says in Phil 4:11, 1Tim 6:6
(S9) How many believe your best is good enough. At the end of the day when all is said and done are you content?
If I can't retire at 55
If I failed the test after studying hard
(S10) Take in consideration that God has plans for you too (Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
(S11) David's plan was not to get in a fight with Goliath (1Sam. 17:17-18)
Hosea’s plan was not to marry a harlot (Hos. 1:2-5)
Ananias’s plan was not to heal Saul (Acts 9:10-20)
Eccl 11:7-8 reminds us that every day will not be the same. Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is a train.
Be content with your life with God (Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose).
(S12) What do you want out of life and accept that God may have a better plan.
When my goals are taken away broken dreams produce broken heart. We don't find in the equation broken dreams equals to happy days. (Psalms 34:18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.)
(S13) Freewheeling Sue Austin: When I started diving I became really aware that the associations attached to scuba gear are ones of excitement and adventure and freedom and that they extended your range of activity in the world just like my power chair did. But the associations attached to my power chair, when I asked people for the first words that came to mind, were ones of fear, limitation, pity, restriction, illness, and so on, and through my arts practice I came to realize I had internalized those ideas and it had changed my identity and I couldn’t quite work out what had happened until I made this connection and I started making artwork that was about using the wheelchair as an object to literally paint or play or have fun with. And so when I realized scuba gear extended your range of activity in the same way, I thought, “Mm, I wonder what will happen if I put scuba gear and an NHS wheelchair together,” and NHS is the National Health Service in Britain, so it’s the sort of very basic chair that people get if they’re not able to afford one themselves.
(S14) Mediocrity 2 Thess. 3:6-12
Some attitudes we encounter is not to have any dreams at all just go through life unattached, uninvolved and take no unnecessary risks. “I am too afraid to make plans; God is going to squash them anyways.”
The saints at Thessalonica believed since the Lord was returning there was no need for them to do anything but wait. When we sing 336 “There’s a great day coming” and the chorus of that song asks are you ready? It did not mean to drop everything and wait on the Lord, it did not mean for us to be mediocre.
(S15) THE PLAN
Best Friend – Christ Jesus (Jn. 15:13-15)
House – (2Cor. 5:1; 1Pet. 2:5)
Career – (Phil. 3:7-15)
Spouse – (Eph. 5:33)
(S16) Our lesson:
The Future Belongs To Those Who Believe In The Beauty Of Their Dreams
Be content
Something notable for its beauty, excellence, or enjoyable quality (Christ Jesus, Matt. 11:28-30)
A strongly desired goal or purpose (Be a Christian, Col. 3:16)
