DREAM CATCHERS

I Have a Dream

Richard Lutwama

DREAM CATCHERS I
I Have a Dream
Richard Lutwama

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people who contributed to the success of this work. The Editorial Team for the long nights, the Creative Team for the inspiration and the Administrative Team for running with the dream Shalom

FORWARD

Having gone through this book, I find it so challenging, so real and such a source of blessing in my life. Considering the present age when the majority of people want quick success, I find this work sobering, so enlightening and so fresh. One of the insights brought forth in this book preparing for your dreams has proved to be very informative and valuable to me. I wish that every Christian and non- Christian reads this book and applies the lessons leant therein to their day-to-day lives. Whoever reads this book will find it a master-piece and will never regret why he or she was born Pastor Charles Okee Jesus Alive Centre, Kampala Uganda March 2012

Table of Contents Chapter One: Ideas, Visions, Dreams1 Chapter Two: Signs point to Direction...9 Chapter Three: Desire to Dream15 Chapter Four: Preparing for your Dream...18 Conclusion.........36

Chapter one IDEAS, VISIONS, DREAMS

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Dreams; the seed for great accomplishments Every achievement in the universe is a result of a dream in the mind of an individual at one point in time. From the atomic bomb to the computer, the automobile, the airplane, bridges, and skyscrapers, you name it and surely it was birthed out of one common workshop called Dreams. Everything seen with the natural eye living or non-living came into existence as a result of a dream. Henry Ford dreamt of a moving machine that would replace horses so he made the automobile. He gave himself to experiment until these experiments culminated in 1896 with the completion of his own self-propelled vehicle-the Quadricycle. The Quadricycle had four wire wheels that looked like heavy bicycle wheels, was steered with a tiller like a boat, and had only two forward speeds with no reverse.
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In 1888 Emile Berliner dreamt of recording and storing sound on a flat surface and he invented the gramophone, which has now evolved into the modern CDs. The Wright brothers dreamt of a flying machine that would not only defy gravity but also cut the time spent in travel so they invented the airplane. God dreamt of having relationship with His creation so he created Adam. He also created all visible and invisible creatures and substances as part of the beautiful world for His priced dream, mankind. Every accomplishment that we see is a result of a dream. God the Great Dreamer Throughout the entire universe, nobody, nothing can out dream God because the greatest dreamer ever, is God. Before He created a thing of all that we see, He had a dream, a vision if you may of what he wanted to create. He knew what He wanted to make so he started out at the beginning and by the time He was done, it was beautiful. He dreamt of the highest mountain and the lowest valley. He dreamt the summer and the winter. He dreamt up all the fishes in the ocean with their numerous colors and the creatures that roam the wild. He dreamt the amazing Amazon forest with all its vegetation and decorated it with waterfalls here and there. He even dreamt up all human beings including you. Each individual is different and we all vary in looks, gifts, talents and abilities but no doubt, he dreamt us up. (Gen. 1:1-28) God had a dream, which He set out to accomplish and yes we are glad that He dreamed us
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up. If God had no vision or dream of what He wanted to create, am sure that He would have created nothing. At the best, the world as we know it would have been nothing but chaos and confusion. Imagine a world without light, without the sun without water or our abundant sources of food. When you look at creation, how each element has a purpose that compliments other elements, the most logical conclusion would be, that the world is not a result of a big bang somewhere but a product of a very intelligent mind that took time to create a vision, dream a dream and work out a plan to bring that dream to pass. Dreamers are Achievers Every man or woman is remembered for what they achieved, what they did in life. Whether good or evil, we remember each individual for what they contributed to the human legacy. Adolph Hitler is remember for massacring the Jews and fighting the world, mother Teresa is remembered for helping the poor people of India, Billy Graham is remembered for evangelizing the world and Oral Roberts for Healing the sick. Michael Jackson is remembered for his music, Michael Jordan for Playing basketball and Mayor Rudi Guliani for being a strong man in the difficult days that followed the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in New York.
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The people who achieved good, we remember for their good and those who achieved evil for the evil they achieved and those who achieved nothing are absolutely forgotten. Your memory will only last as long as your achievements do not a day longer. Every achiever in life must start out with a dream. Without a dream, achievement is a distant fantasy that can never be realized. From Abraham to Moses, king Solomon, the Pharaohs of Egypt, Julius Caesar, Alexander the great, Columbus the explorer, the Wright brothers, Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, any great achiever starts out with a dream. Failures mistakenly think that they will wake up one day and all around them will read like a page out of a fair tale book, unfortunately they simple live and die and nothing is recorded in-between because they had no dream hence they achieved nothing. I have a dream I have a dream, Dr. Martin Luther King jr. boldly proclaimed to the status quo of racial segregation in his day. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. These are the words of a man who was so consumed by his purpose in life that it was so real to him to the extent that he could see it though it had not yet been fulfilled. He was convinced that
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this was the reason he was created and that he had found his purpose in life. This great man was driven by a dream against all odds equipped with words and a nonviolent approach, he gathered an army of men, women and children who were battered, imprisoned and ridiculed but at the end of that era the purpose of that movement was fulfilled as the civil rights bill was passed in America. He had a dream. Joseph the beloved son of Isaac was a man with a dream. As the Bible tells us in Genesis, he was a man given to wild dreams. He dreamed to be a man of great influence and power, a man of leadership and respect, a man who would be reverenced by those around him. He dreamed of ruling the world including his own family. Genesis 37:5-11 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made
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obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. Joseph had this dream as a child and everywhere he went, he was consumed by being a leader little wonder that after 15 years of slavery, betrayal and imprisonment, Joseph found himself the prime minister of the greatest nation in his day. He was not born a king, but he had a dream. He was not the oldest in his family but he had a dream. He was not the most likable guy on the block but he had a dream. Joseph had more downs than ups but through it all, he had a dream. From the Pit of betrayal by his brothers to Potiphars house, to the Pharaohs dungeon, Joseph held on to his dream. Do you have a dream? Do not let go of you dream cause its the only thing that can change your future. Failures concentrate on where they are but successes concentrate on where they want to be, where they are going. Failures look at yesterday and today but those who make it look at tomorrow. You must have a dream to become somebody, a preacher, a politician, an athlete, an inventor, a doctor or a teacher. Without a vision, a dream, the Bible says people perish. (Proverbs 29: 18) Suicide is a direct result of having no dream, no vision,
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and no purpose in life. Your Dream is the reason you live, your assignment in life, and the purpose for living. If you find it, your story shall be one of great success through lifes long journey. If you do not find your purpose, your vision, your dream, your life shall be a story of wasted energies and would have been. Finding your Purpose your Dream Two children born on the same day in the same hospital to the same mother can never turn out the same in life. Why? Purpose, Dream, Destiny. Who we turn out to be is a result of purpose, if we find it or not. From the time a child is born they begin to move towards their destiny. Through infancy, early childhood, adolescence right into adulthood, an individual is exposed to their destiny and what matters is if they find it or not. God created the sun, the moon and the stars for a purpose. Their success is in living out the reason they were created. The same God also created every human being on the earth. Whether you parents say you were a mistake, a result of an unplanned teen pregnancy, God who gives life says He created you for a purpose. On a bad day when Jeremiah the prophet was feeling lonely and blue, his life looked like a mistake but God thought otherwise. Jeremiah 1:5-8 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou
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camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Each individual just like Jeremiah was created for a purpose. God created each of the 5 billion people on the face of the earth for a purpose. Whether born in a slum or a palace, born in India, Africa or Europe, every human soul has a purpose. Your purpose is your destiny.

Chapter Two SIGNS POINT TO DIRECTION Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days, and years In the journey of life, there are many signs that point us to the right direction. If we pay careful attention to these signs, they will show us the way our lives are to follow. There are signs that point you to your destiny. What comes naturally? The sun does not have to strive shining. Even on a cloudy day all that the sun has to do is show up and the gray clouds will give way to the life-giving rays of the sun. The sun doesnt need much effort to shine. Every musician has a natural feel for music. They can hear the voices, discern the instruments and move their body to the flow of the music without much effort. It just comes naturally. You should hear someone who doesnt have a natural gift of music try to sing. A choking chicken could do a better job.
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What comes naturally is a key to finding your purpose. A teacher should find it natural and easy to explain ideas and concepts, a preacher should find it natural to proclaim the Word of God. Wake up a preacher at 3:00am and give him a microphone. You can bet he will preach the hell out of any believer and the non-believer out of hell. It comes naturally. Some people find numbers and figures interesting and they understand them easily and naturally. Joseph was born a leader. He was the eleventh of twelve sons but he found it natural to lead his brothers. He told them what to do and what not to do. His father saw in him leadership qualities that none of his brothers possessed. At an early age, he was a go between for His brothers and father. (Gen. 37:2-4, 13) Joseph had leadership qualities that just flowed out of him naturally. What do you do with ease? Look closely and you will be looking at your destiny your dream. Observe the design, the Gift, the Talent When you look at the specific design of an object, you can get a glimpse into what it was designed to do. Observe yourself. Your ears have a design that makes it easy to pick up sounds. Your nose is probably protruding so it can smell and has two holes necessary for breathing. The design of your vocal cords is such that when you push air from you abdomen through those vocal cords, a sound is produced. Even in the wild, a lion has powerful jaws and claws which come in handy when hunting to grab and choke its pray. The antelope is graced with
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swift strong feet so it can run when the occasion calls for it. Observing design is key to understanding purpose.When manufacturing a drum set, you need all kinds of drums. The design of the drum agrees with the purpose for the drum. Small drums will give a sharp sound and large oval drums will give you a bass sound. If you take time to observe your gifts and talents, you will note a design that can facilitate a purpose. Politicians like preachers are gifted orators, quick thinkers and wonderful public figures. I know people who would rather die than stand before a crowd of twenty and I also know people who come alive when they stand before an audience of some sort. The later are gifted or rather designed to address and lead multitudes. You find individuals who can work very successfully behind the scenes but put them on the front line and its all over. At the same time, those who can stand the frontline and the headlines cannot have success behind the scenes. Its a matter of design based on purpose. Joseph demonstrated the gift of leadership in his fathers house, in Potiphars house and in Pharaohs house another indicator that he was destined for leadership at some point in his life. (Gen. 39:1-6) What are the gifts you posses? They are a key to understanding your purpose, your destiny, and your dream.

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Solving Problems Your destiny is connected to solving a problem. Doctors solve medical problems, entertainers solve entertainment problems, the army solves security problems, educators solve educational problems and faith healers solve the problem of sickness. Each human being was created to solve a problem. Adam was created to provide fellowship to God and to tend the Garden of Eden. Eve was created to compliment Adam in fulfilling his purpose cause it was too much for him. The problems they solved represented their purpose in life. What problems move you? What problems do you seem to have solutions to? History books are filled with people who solved problems and those who created problems. There are three kinds of people, those who create problems, those who are part of the problem, and those who solve problems. Which category do you fall in? You shall be remembered for the problems you solved or the problems you created. People will look for you because you can solve certain problems for them. If you can solve the problem of sickness, the sick will look for you. If you can solve the ignorance problem, students will seek you out. If you can cook good food, the hungry will look for you. Not the sick, the broke or the discouraged, but the hungry will look for you. People are interested in you as long as you solve a specific problem for them. You shall be reward because you solved a problem. Adversity is the mother of innovation.
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Failures see problems but Dream Catchers see opportunities. What are you seeing? Understand the problems you can solve, its another key to finding your purpose, your destiny, and your dream Heartfelt Desires Columbus the great explorer had a desire to discover new lands. He left his home as an explorer and in1492 discovered the new world. This guy just had a heartfelt desire to discover and that is what he did. In the heart of each human being, there is a desire to become someone, to do something. This is another key to understanding your purpose. Every successful athlete desires to be the best in their field, to do something that no other man has ever done. What do you sincerely desire to do with your life above all? Is it helping the sick, preaching the gospel, working with handicapped children working with computers, automobiles or books? What is the greatest desire in your heart? I believe Joseph could not stop daydreaming about leadership. The guy just desired to be a leader. In his fathers house, in Potiphars house, in jail and in Pharaohs house, he just played leader. That was his greatest desire and he always looked for it to be fulfilled.
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What moves you, is a key to your purpose. There are social problems that touch you so much that its like you are the only one seeing the problem and if you do nothing about it, no one else will. If you get to the place where your heart just feels overwhelmed by the desire to do something, take a good careful look cause that could be your purpose.

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Chapter three DESIRE TO DREAM Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and ye shall have them From a Desire to a Dream Any desire in its self is not enough. One has to move from just having a nice desire to a ravaging dream. Achievers are people who go beyond a desire to a dream. Everyone desires to be wealthy but the gap between those who desire and those who really are is the unwavering focus on that desire that it transforms from just being a desire to a dream. A dream is being so convinced about an issue that you begin to walk toward it, you begin to see it, feel it, and smell it even if it is miles away. Failures have desires but successful people turn their desires into dreams and then realities. When you put lots of passion into a desire you have yourself a dream and if you hold onto your dream chances are you shall see it fulfilled. The lack of passion has robbed the power out of many a church, out of a would be marriage out
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of a budding business and yes out of many spiritual destinies . You should nature your passions cause they will move you out of the failures league into the heroes league. When your back is against the wall and discouragement sets in, the devil will try to steal all he can but dont let him touch you passion, its your resurrection seed. Moses was so passionate about justice and human rights that he killed an Egyptian and hid him in the sand. The next morning, he saw an Israelite treat his neighbor unfairly and he protested. Moses just couldnt stand people treat other people like animals, without dignity and respect. That passion got him in trouble but its the same passion that God used to set His people free. When your desire grows into a passion and your passion is transformed into an obsession, you can be sure that your obsession will move you to fulfillment. Archimedes was so obsessed with his discoveries that while having a bath he discovered that the water displaced in the bath tab was equal to his weight. The man just ran out of his bathroom naked, completely obsessed with the new discovery later known as Archimedes Principle. When an individual believes their destiny to the extent of being overly obsessed with it, they align their life energies to the realization of that dream.
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Write the Vision, the Dream Imaginations are like fleeting pictures that are here today and gone tomorrow. The human mind has the ability to retain all that is processed through the five senses but that information is stored away at the back of the mind and is usually not easily accessed. There are so many things that go through any human brain but they stored in the subconscious meaning that they are not easily and readily accessed. This means that if that information is going to be kept at the front of your thinking brain, you need to have it continually before your eyes and eye. Habakkuk 2:2-3 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. If a vision, a dream is not written down, chances are it will evaporate like the morning mist. Achievers have a habit of writing down every dream they have. Many people have good ideas but if they are never recorded they are simply forgotten. We shall look at this in more detail later.

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Chapter Four PREPARING FOR YOUR DREAM Proverbs 24:3-6 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. Preparation is not the most popular word at any forum. Whenever someone mentions that word, morale seems to decrease as enthusiasm gives way to some kind of lethargy. However, every dream catcher knows that without preparation dreams are nothing but fantasies. What separates a wishful thinker and a dream catcher is preparation. Dream catchers take time to prepare themselves for their dreams while failures just imagine greatness and cant position themselves for success. Preparation is positioning yourself for success and greatness. If you are not prepared,
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then you are not positioned for the fruition of your purpose, your dream, and your destiny. Anyone serious about fulfilling a dream will make sure that they are prepared for that dream. Acquire Knowledge and Seek Wisdom Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. Wisdom is having a good sense of judgment through clear sightedness and intelligence. Knowledge can be acquired but wisdom is God given. (Pro 2:6, 1Kings 4:27) Through Knowledge, one can seek wisdom. Wisdom is learning through another persons experience what would have taken you a lifetime to know. Proverbs 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. God displayed unspeakable wisdom when he created the universe. He had a dream to create but the only way that dream was fulfilled was through wisdom. Wisdom is what any War general needs to conquer his adversary. Wisdom and understanding is what it takes to make a machine that can defy the laws of gravity and fly. Without wisdom, your dream will go to the grave with you while Dream Catchers leave their
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dreams here on earth as their contributions to the human legacy. Proverbs 12:8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. Wisdom is what separates champions from failures. Wisdom is the technical knowhow of fulfilling you purpose in life your dream and your destiny. Proverbs 24:3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: The word Knowledge is derived from knowing or rather to know which means to have awareness, which is a result of careful observation and recognition resulting into a discovery that leaves the individual with a sense of understanding. Knowledge is getting to know facts first hand Knowledge will usher you into your destiny. Without knowledge, any attempt to accomplish anything will be a miserable failure. Multitudes are destroyed because of a lack of knowledge. Your lifestyle, your success or failure is dependant on your knowledge. That is why the Bible encourages us to get knowledge and understanding (Pro.4: 5-7).

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Knowledge is a forerunner to breakthrough. The first step in preparing for your destiny is to acquire knowledge. Whatever field you decide to go into, you must as a necessity acquire as much knowledge as is available in that specific field. One distinctive mark of Dream Catchers is that they go through an excruciating process of gleaning and gathering as much knowledge as possible about their field of expertise. Golf is a beautiful game that requires a lot of knowledge. Many times, champions walk through the golf course to observe and understand the grounds on which they would play the next day and they could tell you the distances between two holes, the elevation of the ground and the smoothness of the grass all which affect their ability to play and win the game. Winners have one thing in common, that is knowledge. They make a deliberate effort to gather as much knowledge as is available. When one ignores knowledge, they make a choice to fail. If you are ignorant you shall be ignored. Study One of the quickest and most convenient ways of acquiring knowledge is through study. Each man and woman of success must take a liking to study. When one sees your library they can have a glimpse into your
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mind. The habit of reading is one of the most paying. When you stop studying you have taken the path of failure. Studying does not begin or end with school. Successful people make it a habit to keep studying in order to stay up to date. You should find books that have something to say about your destiny and purpose and consume them like a starved man. Prepare yourself for your dream by studying all that is available on your subject of interest. This generation is so blessed with information that if one stays ignorant its largely a personal choice. When you study about any given subject, you acquaint yourself with the facts making it easy for you to understand the diverse issues on the matter. What books are you currently studying that will prepare you for your destiny? 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself a workman approved of God, Correctly dividing the Word of truth. Observation The world around us has so much to show us if only we would take the time to really see. Observation is the ability to see and learn from your surroundings. A child learns so much during the early years of life by
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simply observing the adults. They hear you talk, see you cook, walk, play, dance, fight, kiss or whatever you do in their presence. By simply observing, children learn how to live in our societies. If you have a dream, you must take time to observe those that are fulfilling a similar dream and just learn from them. Kind Solomon was a man filled with wisdom and understanding. Much of his wisdom was acquired by observing animals and the ants were among his favorites. He observed these creatures and there by learnt so much (Proverbs 30:25) By observation even a fool would be able to learn a thing or two. If someone cant teach you how to do it, just observe him or her closely and you might learn how to do it. Use your eyes and ears to the uttermost. The way of success and greatness is not hidden from you. Its all before you but you must develop a keen sense of observation so you can enrich yourself. You will not always be told how to it. Be observant and you will learn. Experience Experience they say is the best teacher. If you told a toddler how to walk, they could never understand you. The best way for them to walk is to get up and try to do what they see you do. People who are too afraid to try out something new will never
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learn. There are things you can never learn until you actually experience them. All drivers can bear me witness that you can never really know how to drive until you sit in that sit and get your hands onto that steering wheel. In preparation there are moments when you need to put your hands onto it then learn how to do it. Joseph was destined to be the Prime Minister of Egypt but he had to be prepared through experience. So the experience he gathered at his father house, Potiphars house and in jail facilitated his preparation to rule Egypt. (Genesis 37:213, 39:1-6, 39: 21-22) There are many experiences that God will allow your way as a means of preparing you for your destiny. Even before you get to the palace you must learn how to behave like a queen because God is preparing you for greatness. Mentorship Moses was mentored by Jethro his father in-law, Elisha was mentored by Elijah, Samuel by Eli, David by Saul Peter by Jesus and Timothy by Paul. Your success story must have a chapter dedicated to your mentor because without a mentor success will only be sniffed at from afar.

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In the process of preparation, you will get to a place where God will use another human being to mold you into the person you are destined to become. Many failures are a result of the lack of mentorship. A mentor is someone who has gone before you in life, someone you love and trust enough to open your life to so they can push you in the right direction. Successful individuals will tell you of someone who inspired them to be the best, someone who pointed them to the door and helped them walk through it. For every Robert Schambach there is a Rev. Allen, for every Benny Hinn there is a Catherine Khulman and for every Thabo Mbeki, there is a Nelson Mandela. Great minds are inspired by other great minds. Great musicians find and follow the examples of other great musicians who have gone before them. You must have someone who you admire and believe in so much so that you mold your life after his or her words and counsel. Mentorship can be in person, through a book or a tape. What matters is that the apprentice will receive eternal seeds of greatness and success that they can follow through to fulfilling their destiny. A mentor has been down the road you are going and therefore they know exactly what you are going to encounter and how you can overcome the challenges you will face. If you have never cooked an Indian dish, I think it is only good wisdom to find an individual or a book to guide you on how to achieve your desire.
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Family businesses are usually very strong and successful because the parents take time to teach their children how to run the business. Some of the best restaurants around the world are owned and run by families. The reason for the success is that the children are taught from childhood how to make good pizza, how to keep records and how to keep the customers happy. So from generation to generation, mentorship is going on no wonder the business never fails. The quickest way to fail in achieving your dream is to refuse the words of wisdom from a mentor. Assembling a Dream Team Every man and woman who has enjoyed the thrills of success to a level of attaining celebrity status knows a secret that all failures have failed to master. That simple secret is the fact that you need other people to facilitate you as you reach toward your dream. Television shows us stars that are great entertainers, awesome orators and most beautiful people. What they do not show you are the numerous men and women that enabled that celebrity to be what you see them as. They do not show you the cameraman, the producer, the janitor, the tailor and the makeup specialist. All these unseen faces are a vital component in the success of the celebrity.

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No man is an island by them self. Your success will be affected by your ability to identify and accept people who are destined to work with you. There are people who will come into your life to stand with you and strengthen your arms. Every Moses has an Aaron, every David has an Abishai and every Paul has a Barnabas. There are people that will come into your life who will share your life and dreams with you. They will laugh with you, cry with you, labor with you, fail with you and succeed with you. You must have your eyes open to see and receive these people who will make up your Dream Team. Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. God in His wisdom knew that the apostle Paul needed a Barnabas to fulfill his ministry. These two men worked together so wonderfully that they turned the world upside down. (Acts 17:6) At some point in their ministry they had a disagreement about another co-worker called Mark and they parted ways. Paul was of the view that he did not need the services of Mark but some years down the road, he realized the importance of Mark and sent for him. (2Timothy 4:11) You Need a Dream Team to attain your dreams.
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God Sent People When the Lord gives you a vision, He will also take personal interest in assembling a Dream Team around that dream. God knows the end from the beginning and He can no doubt facilitate a collection of dreamers around that dream. Acts 13:2-3 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. God gave the apostle Paul herein called Saul a vision to take the gospel to the gentiles and He also gave him one man called Barnabas who was a great blessing to him. Barnabas stood with him everywhere they went and he was the one who introduced him to much of the church including the twelve apostle. Every pastor, evangelist and minister must have the wisdom to realize and accept God sent individuals who are a vital component in fulfilling the dream they have. There are God sent people who will be an important piece of the puzzle you are trying to build. You should note those people who have been sent into your life by God. They are the core of your Dream Team.
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Identify and Acknowledge Potential Every leader must have a keen eye to identify potential. A good leader will see the potential in someone when no one else can see it. When assembling a dream team, you must recognize the ability that people posses and encourage it. You should be able to identify the people who can fit into the puzzle you are putting together. Every Dream Catcher must see the different aspects of their dreams and identify an individual who was cut out to fit into that mold. Dream Catcher take time to find raw potential then transform it into an accomplished achiever. Many people can see potential but very few have the spirit to acknowledge and encourage that potential. Dream Catchers are not afraid to accept the fact that someone else has the potential and that they need that individual. If you take time to acknowledge your spouse, may be you will begin working as a team instead of pursuing different conflicting dreams. There are people who are vital to the fulfillment of your dream. Have you identified them? Have you acknowledge them? Are you encouraging them to take their place in that dream? Barnabas saw the potential that Paul possessed and he encouraged him so much at a time when even the church did not believe that Paul was a true convert of Jesus Christ. (Acts 11: 25-26)
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Total Agreement - Those who see what you see When putting a Dream Team together, one has to be careful to team up with people that see what they see. When an individual does not see what their spiritual leader is seeing, they take different directions, which could lead to disaster. Find people who see your Dreams, people who share your ambitions, love what you love and hate what you hate. If people share your passion chances are they can easily work with you. Avoid working with people who are perpetually opposed to your dreams and visions. People who cant dream with you cant run with you. How can two walk together unless they agree? (Amos 3:3) The only teams that make it are those that in agreement about their purpose, they strategy and their execution. Genesis 11:1-8 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they be30

gin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one anothers speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. The Bible here tells us how man was in agreement about building a tower that would reach the heavens. These people were united in one purpose and one dream. When they got their project going, God was moved to go see what this team was trying to accomplish. When God saw their oneness of purpose He knew they could not fail. Unity is a very important component in working with a team. A united team has the potential to attain any goal before them Dream Teams must constitute people who will walk in total agreement about their purpose and how to realize it. People who are ready to lay aside their ambitions and desires, for the common good of the corporate vision Build a Team spirit For any team, be it a football team, a basketball team, a business team or a ministry team to be successful, it must function with a team spirit. It is one thing to be on a team and another thing to act as a team. The ability for any team to function well is in their willingness to act together as a team.
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Take a good look at your body. Every member of your body does their role as part of the body and not independently. Can you imagine what would happen if your heart decided to become selfish and concentrate on its self? What if your legs refused to carry the rest of your body? The success of the human body lies in the ability to function as one unit. There are so many teams that work without a team spirit, which usually ends in failure and frustration. There are always people on a team who feel they are the most important part of the team and that no one else is anything close to them. Such people are interested in doing a one man show instead of working with a team. No one individual can ever claim that they fulfilled their dream all by themselves. You need to encourage a team spirit if your team is going to function well. You should know that each member of the team is as important as the other and what he or she does is just as important. Team members must respect and encourage each other to be what they ought to be. Each team must take time to bond and just fit into each other well. Everyone one talks about Michael Jordan and how he won three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. However people are quick to forget individuals like Scottie Pipen and Horace Grant who were members of the same team and no doubt played their part in order for Michael Jordan to do his thing. Champions al32

ways emphasis a team spirit, which is the only way any team can really win. Commitment and faithfulness Commitment must be at the core of every successful team. Without commitment you might as well give up working as a team. Wonderful organizations are destroyed when their leadership teams lose commitment. In this microwave generation, people want to get their food now, get their job now, their pay rise now, and even get their miracle now. We live in a time when people want everything quickly and little emphasis is given to virtues like commitment, sacrifice and faithfulness. Without commitment and faithfulness, no team can realize their potential. Commitment is being there for your team at all times especially during the bad and difficult times. It is very easy to work for a flourishing organization but the real test of character comes when your organization goes through some rough waters. We live in a society, which pats its leaders on the back when all is well but kills them as soon as they seem to make one mistake. Your dream team should consist of people who exercise the
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virtues of commitment and faithfulness. Do not be overly impressed with charisma and charm. Does the man have commitment and will he be faithful through the years. Many young women in looking for a spouse with whom to build a dream marriage are impressed by the flashy cloths and fancy hairstyles and dont consider character. After trying the knot, they sadly realize that the marriage cant work because their spouse has no commitment and faithfulness. Someone said, keep the guy who is filled with charisma, the guy who can preach a storm down and see Jesus every night but has no commitment. Just give me someone who is committed and can be faithful through lifes ups and downs. Dream Catchers should be committed to their teams at all cost.

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CONCLUSION Dream Catchers are individuals who are deliberate with their actions, dedicated in their commitment, focused in their approach and understand the dynamics of working with capable individuals to pursue their dreams. As you deliberately apply yourself to the truths set out in this teaching you will see significant growth and progress as you march toward that finish line. In the next volume, Living your Dream I will be showing you how to transition yourself from the drawing board to the play field. How does one go beyond having a dream, to living the dream? Make sure you get that volume! Remember your dream is the only limitation in your life!

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AGAIN? If you would like to accept Christ into your life as Savior and Lord, pray the prayer below meaning it from the bottom fo your heart; Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, I believe you died for me on the cross of Calvary and I believe you rose again. Today I repent of all my sins and ask you to come into my life. I acknowledge you as my Lord and personal Savior. Write my name in your book of life. I thank you for forgiving my sins and am now your child. In Jesus name, Amen If you have prayed this prayer, you are now a born again child of God, the miracle of salvation has just happened in your life and you are now a brand new creature! Therefore in any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 You need to join a Bible believing Church to help you grow in the Lord. Please contact us so we can send you some more material to help you grow in Christ.

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WHERE TO FIND HELP IN THE BIBLE FOR PROTECTION Psalm91:1-7 Psalm 92:11 Psalm 46:1 Psalm 56:13 Philippians 4:6-7 Psalm 71:1-4 Psalm 72:4 Isaiah 54:17 FOR HEALING AND HEALTH Exodus 15:26 2 Chronicles 7:14 Isaiah 53:5 John 9 Mathew 4:24 Mathew 8:3-13 Mathew 9:1 Acts 3:6-8 3 John 1:3 1 Peter 2:24 ENCOURAGEMENT Deuteronomy 31: 23, 67 Joshua 1:6-9 Romans 10:13

HELP Psalm 91:15 Psalm 92:10 Psalm 27:1 Psalm6:1 Psalm46:5 Psalm 56:13 Psalm59:1-2 Psalm60:5 Psalm28:7 Psalm116:6 Psalm54:4 Romans 59:1-2

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About the Author

Richard Lutwama is founder and Pastor of Jesus Alive Centre Kampala, a Church that ministers the power of God founded on the full gospel expressed in live contemporary worship. The ministry has a passion for reaching young and middle aged people, providing real solutions to the challenges of the day fueled with the Holy Spirit. For prayer, counseling and Church ministry activities contact Jesus Alive Centre on the contacts below.
+256 - 759 / 0704 - 777444, 783 / 713 - 258049 Email: jackampala@gmail.com fb: Jesus Alive Centre

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