LSEM
  • About
    • What We Do…
    • History
    • National Staff
    • Jobs
  • 150th Anniversary
  • Services
  • Parents
  • stories
  • Give
  • Portal
  • About
    • What We Do…
    • History
    • National Staff
    • Jobs
  • 150th Anniversary
  • Services
  • Parents
  • stories
  • Give
  • Portal
LSEM > Devotions > Dreams

Dreams

  • February 2, 2020
  • Posted by: Carolyn Mahal
  • Category: Devotions
No Comments

In the movie, Up in the Air, George Clooney plays a complex character named Ryan Bingham. Over the course of the film, we see many different sides of his personality. He is a loner, unmoved by many of the feelings and emotions that most people would consider needs. However, he is not completely devoid of compassion. In many ways his cold demeanor makes him more effective in his job as a corporate downsizing expert. One conversation he has with a man as he’s firing him stands out to me.

Understandably frustrated, the character we only know as Bob wonders aloud what he’s going to do to support his family. Ryan consoles him while at the same time offering him advice designed to challenge him as he moves forward with his life.  This leads to the following exchange:

Ryan Bingham: Your resume says you minored in French Culinary Arts. Most students work the fryer at KFC. You busted tables at Il Picatorre to support yourself. Then you got out of college and started working here. How much did they pay you to give up on your dreams?

Bob: Twenty seven thousand a year.

Ryan Bingham: At what point were you going to stop and go back to what made you happy?

How much did they pay you to give up on your dreams? It’s a question that struck me when I first heard it. To many, Ryan’s pep talk may seem ill-timed and even a bit heartless. The more I think about it, the more I realize that Ryan is not only speaking to a man at an occupational crossroads. This is a question that applies to anyone who has ever dreamed of doing something they love.

Dreams are a special gift that God places into our lives. The world might tell us that our dreams are the creations of our minds wherein we imagine things that are seemingly impossible (or the consequences of eating strange foods before bed).  For many that definition would be enough, but as a believer in Christ we are able see dreams for what they really are – a revelation of what God has spoken over our lives. Unfortunately, despite this knowledge, many of us are like Bob. Life brought about challenges that scared us into abandoning the promises revealed in our dreams to pursue quick fixes and easy paths leading nowhere in particular.

Numbers 12:6 is clear in telling us that “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.”  Our pursuits in life are designed to lead us to that place where we can discover who God created us to be and how our life fits into His plan here on earth and eternally in heaven.  We can take comfort from the certain knowledge that we were created and designed by a God who made us with a purpose in mind and a role to play.

May we strive to search those dreams in accordance with God’s will for His people and for the world.

 

Devotion by Richard Schumacher

LSEM Director of Programs & Services

  • Recent Posts

    • Dr. Tracie Salgado hired as LSEM Director of Special Education
    • Teaching With Authority
    • Who’s Responsible?*
    • Talk is Cheap
    • Cram It!
  • Staff

    • Board Of Trustees
    • National Staff
    • Teachers
  • More Stories

    Importance of the Basics

    Loving Literature

    Being Special

    Celebrate the Victories

    Learning, Reading, Helping

    Benefits of Partnership

    Hearing God’s Call

    The Book Bunch

    Never Give Up

    More Than Just Book Learning

    From Struggles to Smiles

    Back on Track

    Leaps and Bounds

    Recognizing Success

    Graduation Gratitude

    Carryover Success

    Learning and Teaching

    Coolness!

    A Path of Improvement

    Learning Brings Confidence

    Something That Works

    From Fearful to Fearless

    A Magical Moment

    Growth Mindset: Self Advocacy

    Growing and Blooming

    Building That Relationship

    Finding the Right One

    Getting Back On Track

    More Than Just Academics

    No Problem

    God’s Love in the Classroom

    A Familiar Face

    Rewinding the Negative

    What A Difference

    The Power of Relationship

    The Encouragement to Shine

    Long Lasting Effects

    A New Start For A Child

    Providing Effective Instruction

    Summer Practice and Fall Success

    Where God Leads

    What A Teacher Longs For

    Blossoming Success

    Support Makes A Difference

    Attitude and Determination

    A Real World Connection to Learning

    Watch in Amazement

    More Than Just A School

    Some Classroom Success Stories

    A “Shark Tank” Story

    Creature Comfort

    Fostering Spiritual Growth

    Catching Up

    Another Way to Read

    Connecting Learning to Hobbies

    A Wow List

    I Know the Answer!

    It’s Okay to Ask for Help

    Long Term Growth

    Resilience

    Practice Makes Progress

    Teaching at Many Grade Levels

    Yes You Can!

    Learning and Building Confidence

    Finding the Fun in Reading

    The Hybrid Classroom

    Teaching Outside a Resource Room

    Sight Word Wow

    Acceptance Leading to Growth

    The Goal Stays the Same

    Seeing Smiles

    A New Way to Teach

    Attitudes Change

    Consistent Alternatives

    A Hand to Help

    A Message from the President/CEO

    How Your Gift Makes an Impact

    LSEM Christmas Tea

    There Are Spiders in Her Office!

    Finding Her Place

    Small Tech Makes a Big Improvement

    New Families for a New School Year

    We Praise the Lord

    Transitions

    It’s Been a Busy Summer

    Golf for a Cause!

    Faith During the Pandemic

    A Fireside Chat with Stacy Hoeft

    Work From Home Desk Challenge

    We MOVED!

    Introducing 20 in 20

    Hear From Our Teachers

    LSEM Summer Shorts

    To God Be the Glory!

    A Thank You to Our Teachers

    A Valentine’s Special

    New Students and New Challenges

    A Brief Reflection On Service

    Teaching in a Virtual Landscape

    Teaching in a Time of Uncertainty

    LSEM in Texas

    Anxiety and Learning

    You Don’t Have to Choose

    A Learning Haven

    Causing a Culture Shift

    Connecting in a Time of Difficulty

    Growth and Goodbyes at St John Rochester

    Growing Confidence

    A Friendsgiving Story

    Not Being Defined by a Learning Need

    A Shifting Approach to Special Education

    Teachers Are Like Family

    Enthusiastic Support in Hanoi

    Step Up to Reading

    Starting on an Active Note

    Look at That Smile!

    Seeing Yourself in a Story

    What Makes a Wow Story

    Celebrate Them Going

    Lutheran Education Podcast

    Exactly the Help We Needed

    On the Ballot for the National LWML

    A Special Announcement

    Stories from Hearts for Jesus 2

    Stories from Hearts for Jesus 1

    Hearts for Jesus Continues!

    Busy Bees at St Peter

    Professional Development Helps Everyone

    An Unexpected Opportunity to Help

    Technology Opening Doors of Communication

    Satchian’s Story

    A Trip to Let It Shine

    Saying YES to a Child in Need

    Literacy and A Little Library

    A Positive Program Result

    A Kindergarten Wow Story

    Technology is Opening Doors for LSEM Students

    LSEM Helps Establish Standards

    Honoring the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

    An Innovative Principal’s Mindset

    It Takes A Team

    High School Transformation

    Growing and Graduating

    Minnesota Principal Sees LSEM Impact

    The Best Gift of All

    A Young Boy with a Giant Heart

    LSEM Helps Texas School Shine its Light

    Notes from the Tree House

    LSEM Student Uses Dance to Express her Love of Jesus

    Costa Mesa Principal Reports LSEM Success!

    A Second Grade Success Story

    Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Student Fearless About His Future!

    Crown of Life Lutheran School Puts its Mission into Action

    Future Cities Super Star Wins at National Competition

    Former LSEM Student Uses Her Experience to Help Others

     LSEM Teacher Uses Skills to Connect with Teen Learners 

    A Mother’s Voice: How Mia Transformed Her Struggles to Success 

    A Perfect Storm

    You can. We can. The children can!

    From shy and quiet to outgoing and involved

    Success stories all around us

    Students compete in national competition

    An “Updated” Story of Faith

    From the Heart: A Friend of LSEM Shares How His Family Made a Difference

    From Struggling to Smiling

    Wow! This has made all the difference

    One Child. Two Perspectives

ABOUT US

Throughout our history God has graciously revealed his plan for us. Although the educational landscape is constantly changing, LSEM is committed to partnering with Christian communities to help meet the needs of children and their families. Please contact us if you would like more information on how we can support you or your ministry.

QUICK LINKS

  • ABOUT US
  • LATEST NEWS
  • GIVE
  • STORIES
  • JOB OPPORTUNITIES
  • CONTACT
  • CONTACT US

    3773 Geddes Rd.
           Ann Arbor, MI 48105-3028

    248-419-3390

    Fax: 248-419-3394

    Email: lsem@luthsped.org

    Building Brighter Futures
    Footer logo
    Footer logo
    Search