God Has a Dream for Your Life

by Sheila Walsh

It's never too late to remember who you are, it's never too late to dream big dreams and discover that God loves you in ways you cannot yet imagine.

Do you dare believe in a God who wants to make your dreams come true? It seems like there is no time to dream these days. Yet the Bible is full of dreamers―those who exchanged their old dreams for new ones, and those who received unexpected dreams from God that changed the course of history. Best-selling author Sheila Walsh gives warm hearted stories of real people, interwoven with biblical insight, to help you discover God's dream for your life.

Genres: Christian, Faith, Christian Non Fiction, Religion, Inspirational, Nonfiction, Christian Living

209 pages, Hardcover

First published February 13, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Sheila Walsh (05-07-1956) is a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. A featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability, and humor with God's Word.

Author of the best-selling memoir Honestly and the Gold Medallion nominee for The Heartache No One Sees, Sheila's most recent release, The Shelter of God's Promises, has also been turned into a DVD curriculum and in-depth Bible study. The Gigi, God's Little Princess book and video series has won the National Retailer's Choice Award twice and is the most popular Christian brand for young girls in the United States.

Sheila co-hosted The 700 Club and her own show Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh. She is currently completing her Masters in Theology.

Twitter @SheilaWalsh, facebook.com/#!/sheilawalshconnects

Reviews

[Keri Murcray · Rating 3 out of 5]

“On this path, we choose to love simply because we are loved by God. We are not threatened, because God is in control. We are not defensive, because we have nothing to defend. We are not arrogant, for we are teachable. We are not bitter, because we forgive. We are not blown around by the whims of those surrounding us, because we have determined to hold on to what is true no matter what appears to be true. We are not easily offended, because we extend grace. We choose to see beauty in absolutely everyone…Don’t turn your light down just because it seems to burn brighter than the one who stands beside you. Let it shine and hold it high. The liberating truth is that none of this is about us anyway – it is all about God. If God has given you a voice to sing, then sing out for him. If God has given you the gift of mercy, then pour out that mercy in Jesus’ name whether anyone gets it or not. If God has given you a heart to serve, then serve with your whole heart even if no one stops to say thank you. If God has given you the ability to teach, then teach with vision and passion. Whatever God has placed in you, use it.”

“When the angel of death passed over homes marked with the blood of the lamb, he did not once ask who was in the home or how well they had behaved that day. He didn’t ask if they had kept every vow that they had made to God. He didn’t ask if they were fearless and full of faith. All of that was irrelevant. All he needed to see was the blood of the lamb.”

“Jesus took bread, and he broke it. Then he gave some to his friends. He said to them, ‘It looks like bread. You’ll see it every day, and every time you see it, I want you to remember that this represents my body, which will be broken for you. I have chosen something you see every day because you will need to remember every day for the rest of your lives that I love you and I do this gladly for you. So when you fall and you fail and you mess up – because you will, Peter – I have covered you. You will think it’s all over when you mess up, but you will be wrong. You see, you can’t ever get it right on your own. I know that, and I understand, so I do this for you. And when you run out into the darkness tomorrow night because you have failed to do the things you thought you could do, remember that I understand. And when you are ready to turn again, you will dream a bigger dream. This time it will be my dream for your life, and it will not fail you.’”

“That is the absolute truth. God loves you passionately, right now. He knows everything about you, your hopes and fears, your dreams and disappointments. There is nothing you can do today or tomorrow to change his love for you. Not only that, but he is in control. You don’t have to fight to make things happen. You don’t have to feel threatened when God blesses someone else’s life; you can celebrate it! You won’t miss a thing that God has for you. Because God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (with us all the time), we can rest.”

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you come to reality and admit some of your childhood and adulthood dreams have died, this book picks you up and reminds you of God's grace and his dream for your life. It's hard to embrace the fact that regardless of our efforts, we are simply disappointing at times. This is where we need to accept God's grace. Sheila Walsh, the author, does a wonderful job of incorporating Dorothy's story from the Wonderful Wizard of Oz into this book and into prayer. I was fortunate to attend a Women of Faith conference in Portland last year where I was touched by the numerous stories that Sheila shared. She also touched by heart in this book. She reminded me that God is here to watch over us. Along with the companionship of my husband and friends. Nothing can happen today or tomorrow that is outside God's care so lift your head up and run like the wind. Jesus has placed the stars within our reach.

[Sharon Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an older book, but I was drawn first to the cover, second to the author, and then I was hooked by the message.

Sheila Walsh, long a favorite of mine, talks to women about re-finding the dreams with analogy from the beloved classic "Wizard of Oz." She speaks of how many women are "gray" in their faith, their personal lives, and if they could just find a bit of the color "over the rainbow" of the wonderful love of Jesus and His Father God, then dreams can come true. I needed this message at this time in my spiritual life and hope that others can benefit from hearing about this amazing message!

I was inspired greatly by this book and highly recommend seeking it out.

[Dennise Co · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was actually given to me as a gift. Truly one of the best gifts I have received. It taught me to see things in a different perspectives, the author's testimony showed me that we are all somehow like Dorothy and overall, it was written well.

[Katieeoh Lacanlale · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word to describe this book: LIFE-CHANGING.

I knew Sheila Walsh because I always see her name in every Christian book I’ve read before and heard her speech on TV years back. She is a great speaker and she has that amazing talent of talking to people and simply being an instrument of God in changing their lives, knowing Christ and start their life with him.

I agree with this book at every page I dealt with. Its really clever of her to relate her book to the story of “The Wizard of Oz” by Frank Baum. I really loved that story when I was young, and pretend to be like Dorothy with my little dog stuffed toy as my “Toto” in relation to becoming like the girl in the red shoes and fly away to the land of Oz. In this book, she uses the story to captivate the hearts of all and to see the big dreams that God wants for us in our future so much that we haven’t realized so far.

Reading this book made me feel very worthy of being a Christian. I’m a born again Christian, and I’m very proud of it. I’m very proud that Christ is my personal Savior and he is with me every step of the way. This book made me realize all the things I’m thinking of about my life and never expected that some of them are wrong and have been mistaken to be wrong. Everyone have dreams, dreams for their life that they want to achieve, and this book, tells it all that if we step out of the darkness and the wrongness of our life, and live our journey with God with constant faith, we’ll grow with our unwavering faith, and we’ll continue to trust God and witness the wonders he’ll do to our lives, the grace he’ll show to us, all within our irreplaceable relationship with our Creator.

More on my blog.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Publishers Weekly
Walsh, a popular songwriter and Women of Faith core speaker, has worn many hats (and shoes) over the years. It hasn't all been easy, however. While cohosting The 700 Club some years back, Walsh entered a psychiatric facility battling depression, feeling that she was living in a self-made virtual prison. She writes that though she gave her life to Christ at age 11, she could only give him her shame at 35, having lost the ability to dream and love as God had intended. Utilizing themes from The Wizard of Oz, Walsh takes evangelical women on a journey through Oz and weaves life lessons throughout. She asks poignant questions on gaining the freedom to love and be loved, to forgive and be forgiven. Claiming that most women go "gray" as a result of extinguished dreams and lifelong disappointment, Walsh tells them to believe in love rather than judgment, recognizing that God frequently uses pain as a bridge between individuals. The book opens forcefully, with Walsh making colorful connections between the messiness of life and God's sovereign, loving care. Sadly, the book grows less compelling near its close, fizzling to a flat send-off from Oz.


I love how very skillfully weaves her own story with that of classic tales where the characters dream big and aim high. Mainly that of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, who is mentioned at the opening of each chapter. She gently urges her audience to recall those earlier moments of life when their hearts were naïve and still tender enough to dream big. Then she woos readers into her confidence by presenting compelling biblical arguments for taking their hearts (and dreams) out of cold storage and allowing them to flourish once again.

[Mendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book on my shelf for about a year or so and decided to read it since I couldn't get to the library and I knew I would be bored at work! Of course it was just the book I needed to read at just the right time. I have been struggling personally with decisions I have made that have changed my entire life. This book as it parallels "The Wizard Of Oz" helped me come to term with my choices and know that "God has my back". My teaching partner was looking at me like I was crazy when I would laugh at loud at parts and then again when tears were running down my face. I have never felt of myself in terms of being a princess, just the opposite in fact. But know I see myself and my choices I have made in a whole new light.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This clever books mixes quotes from the Wizard of Oz with Biblical inspiration. The theme is that God has a dream for your life, and just like Dorothy and her friends you must embark on a journey to realize God's dreams for you. [return]I wish more of the Wizards of Oz book had been worked in, aside from quotes at the beginning of each chapter it often wasn't mentioned. So the theme didn't hold together very well. The reflections, personal stories, and exhortations of the author were inspiring though. It's a nice quick read for your devotional time.

[Annchan Maulana · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I believe that God wants to teach us how to dream again. I believe too that he wants to fulfill our dreams. It might not be in the way we anticipate, but if we are open to his heart, this great adventure will change us. It's a risky business to dream, for dreaming leaves us open to disappointment. But I think that when we stop dreaming, a part of us dies. So I say it's time to dream again, knowing that with God, nothing is impossible!" ... take from the book.

[Katie Horne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book. I was disappointed that there didn't seem to be any new information.
God has a plan for your life.
It may not be the same plan as you have.
Maybe you will understand the plan in this life
Maybe not until the next life.
Throw in some references to parallels with the Wizard of Oz.

Some of Walsh's books are so refreshing and encouraging. I was hoping to be refreshed and encouraged about God's plan for my life. Maybe I was expecting too much from a book, but it fell flat.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover of the book definitely sold me. She relates whats going on in our lives and our lost dreams to the wizard of oz. I feel like this was a book for someone a bit older than myself, considering she's older and relates it to herself. But i didn't regret reading it, so thats a plus!

[Joan Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the content was good. The theme followed the
wizard of Oz characters to allow readers to identify
times in their lives when they feel a certain way but is
life goes on regardless of how you feel. What matters
is our ability to change our thinking and
our circumstances.

[Leiani]

Would love to borrow this book from someone

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the two Sheila Walsh books I've read. She is very real, open, and authentic in her faith.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was really good. Sheila Walsh is funny and great at telling stories! i would recommend this book to anyone who needs a little push to keep going when they feel like giving up.

[Lu]

rekindle your dreams and find your purpose in life with God alive and well

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I love the idea, but I felt that the correlations between oz and God's word were really stretched thin. Anyway, I am glad someone is writing about things like this.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely a must for every Christian woman! Its almost like having a conversation with your mentor--close, personal, revealing, inspiring.

[Ivette Skonieczny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just an encouraging book! Very inspirational.

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

nothing short of amazing!!

[Clara Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was rather shallow. It was not what I would have expected from someone with a doctorate from Fuller Seminary. I would have expected something of greater substance.

[Kate Florentin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me pray for God's will in my life.

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shallow and barely touches the surface of the depth of faith. This book didn't challenge me at all in any way. I stopped reading half-way through when I realized I was completely wasting my time.

[Purposedly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far this is the best book I have ever read. It is a story of beautiful moments and gives hope to keep walking and believing in God's promises. I love this book!

[Becki]

It was good. However, personally I would have appreciated a bit more practical and how to recover your dreams.\n\nThe correlation with the Wizard of Oz was fun.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a bit cheesy, it was an amazing read. I completely was moved.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

great reminder to look to God to accomplish our dreams!