Give Him Your Dreams

Dear Crownies,

Lately, I've found myself captivated by a beautiful song, "I Give You My Dreams" by Sarai Rivera. I've been singing it both in English and Spanish, and its message resonates deeply with me. The chorus — “I give You my dreams, I give You my desires, Take control of my life, Your plan I long for more than mine” — speaks to the inner yearning to entrust our aspirations to something greater than ourselves.

Music has always been an integral part of my life. Throughout my journey, especially on days when emotions felt overwhelming, it was worship music that provided a comforting refuge and a way to navigate my feelings. It became more than just a melody— it was a lifeline, a source I once embarked on a soulful exploration of the true essence of worship, discovering that it's not about us—it's entirely about God. There was a time when I found certain songs at church a bit bothersome due to their repetitive nature. However, everything changed when I truly started to listen to the lyrics. If we genuinely engage with the words we sing or say, it just might transform our perspective and peace.

As I delved deeper into the lyrics, each song began to carry profound meaning. In "I Give You My Dreams," it gently poses a thought-provoking question: "What if we sincerely offered our dreams to God? After all, He is the one who bestows dreams upon us." The line that resonates most with me is, "Your plan I long for more than mine." It invites us to yearn for His divine plan, recognizing its beauty beyond our own aspirations. From childhood, I dreamed of having a loving marriage and a family of my own. However, as I grew older and watched friends and family marry before me, my dreams began to fade. I found myself dating one "frog" after another, doubting that I would ever find my "prince." Despite others prophesying great plans for me as part of God's design, I lost faith in those words. I convinced myself that perhaps marriage and family weren't meant for me, that maybe God had different plans.

In this surrender, the moment I let go, Mario came into my life. He was the first man to truly

honor and respect me. Our relationship, while not perfect, reignited a spark of hope within me. After a few months of dating, Mario expressed his desire for us to share a life together. On October 19th, 2021, we became engaged, and by July 2022, we were married. The joy in our lives grew, and on November 28th, 2023, we welcomed our sweet boy, Thiago, into the world. When you truly give God your dreams and surrender, He answers better than we could have ever imagined! I am now learning to keep dreaming with God and keep giving Him my dreams and desires!

I asked my best friend Cassidy to share her story of giving her dreams to God! Here is her

testimony:

“Dreams! It’s amazing the dreams the Lord brings to your remembrance—ones you had as a child but gave up on because you naturally couldn’t see how they would ever happen. In the last few years, God has really shown me just how big He truly is. God wants to be involved in every single area of our lives—the big decisions, the little decisions, and everything in between. When we let Him invade every area, He helps us mold our dreams to align with the people we’ve become, breathing new life into forgotten dreams!

Since I was a little girl, I’ve always had a heart to work with kids in any capacity! It started with babysitting when I was a kid, grew into wanting to be a pediatrician during college, and ultimately ended with a heart to work to own a daycare! While that dream is still in the works, I trust the Lord to lead and guide me in the process, ultimately glorifying Him. The goal has always been the same, but as I grew, life changed, and I matured in Christ, the Lord molded the dream to fit who I am today!

You can never go wrong trusting the Lord with your dreams. Trust God big this year!” (Cassidy)

I hope all of this has truly inspired you all to not only dream big but to DREAM WITH GOD. GIVE HIM YOUR DREAMS! He might just surprise you!

For His Glory,

Oksana Nicole