2. Has Life Turned Out Differently Than You Thought It Would At Age 18?

3. Moses
Rahab
Gideon
Samson
Jephthah
David
Samuel
The Prophets
Abel
Enoch
Noah
Abraham
Sarah
Isaac
Jacob
Joseph

5. The Danger of Great Expectations
You Really Cannot Live Out Every Dream
Ask the writer of Ecclesiastes
I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me (2:18)

6. The Danger of Great Expectations
You Really Cannot Live Out Every Dream
Have dreams, But Don’t Set Them In Stone
Life doesn’t always go as anticipated
Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. (9:11)

7. Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”  As it is, you boast in your arrogance All such boasting is evil. – James 4:13-16

8. The Danger of Great Expectations
You Really Cannot Live Out Every Dream
Have dreams, But Don’t Set Them In Stone
“In stone” dreams demonstrate arrogance
Plans are being made without God

9. Bloom Where You Are Planted
Failed Dreams Can Create Feeling Of Uselessness
Consider Moses

10. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” – Exodus 2:13-14
When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian (15)

11. But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (3:11)
But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” (4:13)

12. Bloom Where You Are Planted
Failed Dreams Can Create Feeling Of Uselessness
Consider Moses
Consider Jeremiah

13. Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” (1:4-8)

14. Bloom Where You Are Planted
Failed Dreams Can Create Feeling Of Uselessness
Never Allow “It Ought To Be” Precedence Over Reality
This robs us of usefulness where we are
Ruth didn’t allow this
He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” (4:15)

15. Bloom Where You Are Planted
Failed Dreams Can Create Feeling Of Uselessness
Never Allow “It Ought To Be” Precedence Over Reality
This robs us of usefulness where we are
Larry Vinson didn’t allow this

16. Bloom Where You Are Planted
Failed Dreams Can Create Feeling Of Uselessness
Never Allow “It Ought To Be” Precedence Over Reality
No one knows where planting will occur
Use Your Opportunity!
No one knows with/without whom planting will occur
Remove focus on self; place it on God and others

17. By Faith Abel By Faith Enoch By Faith Noah By Faith Abraham By Faith Sarah By Faith Isaac By Faith Jacob By Faith Joseph
By Faith Moses
By Faith Rahab
By Faith Gideon
By Faith Samson
By Faith Jephthah
By Faith David
By Faith Samuel
By Faith The Prophets

18. By Faith Abel By Faith Enoch By Faith Noah By Faith Abraham By Faith Sarah By Faith Isaac By Faith Jacob By Faith Joseph
By Faith Moses
By Faith Rahab
By Faith Gideon
By Faith Samson
By Faith Jephthah
By Faith David
By Faith Samuel
By Faith The Prophets

19. Faith: Whenever, Wherever, However
Hebrews 11 Shows Two Results Due To Faith:
Who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,  quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.  Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated
Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy

20. Faith: Whenever, Wherever, However
A Solid Life Begins and Ends With Solid Faith
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (11:1)

21. Faith: Whenever, Wherever, However
A Solid Life Begins and Ends With Solid Faith
Assurance: “To Hold the Title of a Possession”
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (11:1)

22. Faith: Whenever, Wherever, However
A Solid Life Begins and Ends With Solid Faith
Assurance: “To Hold the Title of a Possession”
Conviction: “Proof”
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (11:1)

23. Faith: Whenever, Wherever, However
A Solid Life Begins and Ends With Solid Faith
Assurance: “To Hold the Title of a Possession”
Conviction: “Proof”
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.(16)

24. Faith: Whenever, Wherever, However
A Solid Life Begins and Ends With Solid Faith
God is Always Present; He is not Always Apparent
These trusted when things “didn’t go their way”
These survived because of heavenly reality
Faith is tested when God is not apparent

25. For God!