“Now give me this hill country
that the LORD promised me
that day.”
~Joshua 14:12 NIV

Two night’s ago, I went to the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) for the first time in my life.  I was beyond excited to go because my cousin Dave Walpole, a well-known Youtuber was one of the main actors in a movie that premiered at the festival.  The theatre was packed with about 30 of our friends and family there to cheer David on!  The night was kind of surreal.  I mean, how often are you related to an up and coming movie-star?

Watching him act on the big screen was inspiring.  He had chased after his dream and it motivated me to want to follow after mine.  When I thought about how Dave had followed his dreams, for a long time, and at great cost, I was reminded of a poem by Larry S. Chengges, my Aunt Wendy (also Dave’s Aunt J ) gave me along with my 16th birthday ring—yes, she spoiled me! To this day, I have the poem hung up in my office, so I’m reminded to…

Follow Your Dream Wherever It Leads

I would have been proud of any of my cousins if they were in a movie premiere, but I felt extra proud of Dave.  You see, I was babysitting Dave’s sister Katie when he was born.  I’ll never forget going to the hospital to meet my new cousin when my Uncle walked out of the hospital in a daze.  Uncle Bryon told us how Dave had serious heart problems and they didn’t know if he was going to make it. As a family, we were devastated.  I remember babysitting Dave and worrying as his lips and skin would go blue.

Dave’s love for movies began as a young boy.  Since he couldn’t play outside as much as the other kids, Dave watched his fair share of movies!  In his teens, the doctors were able to perform a surgery that changed David’s life.  The next year he was doing backflips off of the diving board in our pool! I remember being so overwhelmed that I thought I would cry.

I felt the same way last night as I watched Dave follow his dream on the silver screen while he rode a horse across the South-African plain and charged up a hill.  It reminded me of the story in the Bible about Caleb and how he “took the hill country”.  Joshua 14:6-15 tells how after forty-five years, Caleb chased after his dream. Something stirred in him to not let go of the promise that was given to him through Moses. Scripture recounts the story of how an 85-year-old Caleb took hold of his hill country.  First, he defined it, then he declared it… next, he fought for it… after, he and all his family to follow rested in the blessing of the dream.

So, what is the dream God’s placed in your heart?  Define it, declare it, and fight for it, so you and your family can one day enjoy it!

Prayer

Father… Thank you for your dreams.  Help me not to settle for mediocrity, but chase after the dreams, the plans and purposes you have for my life.  Let me honor You by living life to the full! Give me the courage to take my hill country. In Jesus Name…Amen

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Dave’s IMDb page:  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5278955/
You can see the movie today at Tiff Friday at 6:15pm  Click Here For Tickets
Dave’s YouTube Channel FTD Facts: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2vcjazcVurVmpn5svBRA-Q

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Soul H2O BookIf you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst-Quenching Devotions for Women. 

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Drawing From The Well-Blue

  1. Joshua 14:6-15
  2. John 10:10
  3. Acts 2:17
  4. Jeremiah 29:11

YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin 

Sherry Stahl