Members of Tim Storey’s DreamMakers Club are making waves. People are tackling their obstacles, getting serious about their lives and working toward their dreams. This program is not for lightweights. It’s for people who really believe their dream is worth working toward. Take a look at last week’s lesson and see if you think YOUR dreams are worth this kind of focus.

“It only takes one person to make a difference. If you are willing, God can use you to make big waves because of just a tiny shift in your life.”  - Tim Storey

Dear Dreamer [insert your name here!],

As I’ve been traveling the country talking to people about their dreams, I’m hearing a common theme. People want help getting in shape – physically, mentally and spiritually. Almost everyone is unhappy with their physical health and want to either lose a few pounds, eat healthier or exercise more. Most want all of the above!

Tim's Book of the Month: "Eat For Health" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman - Click photo for more info.

BODY: What you put in it is who you become.
Last week, you worked on getting up and moving more. How did that feel? Well, don’t quit! Keep it up. Every time you exercise, you’ll increase your stamina and strengthen your body.

Now that you’ve starting moving, it’s time to think about your eating. Do you want to lose weight? If so, you need to pick a diet plan or join a weight loss group like Weight Watchers or buy a book on healthy eating. What goes in is who you are. Your body can only be as healthy as the fuel you put in it.

Try the farmer’s market or local vegetable stand. Instead of potato chips, crunch on a bag of carrots or eat Multi-grain Cheerios. Just because your sandwich comes in a combo doesn’t mean you have to order the combo! Eat the sandwich, burger or taco, and skip the fries. Order water instead of soda. Not only will your body thank you, you’ll save money! …at least when you’re ordering through the drive-thru. There’s no doubt that it can cost more money to eat healthy, so you will want to take that into account as we approach our next topic this week: MONEY.

SOUL: Get disciplined with your spending
To stay balanced in your life, you definitely need a balanced budget. I know, budget can seem like a bad word, but living within your means and planning for your future is also very freeing. I saw a billboard by Dave Ramsey that said, “Act your wage.” I think that makes a lot of sense. With all the advertising and TV shows that give us an inflated idea of what “normal living” is, we can tend to forget that.

Having a budget means this: You know what money you have coming in, and you know what money needs to go out – and it’s not just in your head! It is written down somewhere where you can refer to it often, and will help you when you are making financial decisions, big or small.

There’s an online guide to budgeting your money that is recommended by a pastor called mvelopes.com. You might try it if you are new to budgets. If you prefer a cash system, try Dave Ramsey’s envelope system (a simple tutorial is available on Youtube or go to his website and read more about it at daveramsey.com

SPIRIT: Facing your giants head-on
The Bible says, “If you’re faithful in little you’ll be trusted with much.” (Luke 16:10) David was a young man when he faced a giant, Goliath, with a simple weapon of a few stones and a sling shot, but he came with courage that had been honed over time. As a shepherd, he had already killed a lion and a bear, so a strangely large human being was not such a big deal to him as it was to the rest of the army. God recognized David’s courageous spirit that sought justice and he eventually made David king of Israel and a great-great-grandfather to Jesus. (You can read the story in I Samuel 17)

God will do the same for you. As you become faithful in small steps, such as taking care of your finances or making smart eating decisions, your character will be strengthened and God will give you greater challenges and increasing responsibility. In order to live out the dreams that are in your heart, you are going to need discipline. So work on self-control. Work on saying “No!” to your flesh when you are tempted to eat, spend or behave in ways that are not in line with your dream.

YOUR HOMEWORK THIS WEEK
1. Make a list of at least five ways you will commit to eating healthier.
2. Take a fresh (or first) look at your budget and make sure you are on track to living within your means, and toward your dreams. Set a goal for getting one credit card or loan paid off in the next few months or year.
3. What is a giant for you? Can you think of a couple of small steps that you could take, or stones you could toss, at this fearsome giant in your life? Consider spending some time with God and ask Him what his ideas for you would be in slaying this intimidating creature in your life.

Discipline is like a tree… the more it grows, the stronger it becomes. Let discipline become one of your strengths so that you can withstand the storms of life by having deep roots and a strong core. We’ll talk more about discipline next week.

Your dream is worth the work!

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