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• Too Tired to Pray
• When Dreams Turn into a Nightmare
• The Power of a Seed
• Too old to change?
• No Time for God

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Sheila Schuller Coleman is the firstborn child of Robert H. Schuller, the Founding Pastor of the Crystal Cathedral. Sheila has had a diverse career as a published author (curricula, children’s books, devotionals, and books on family), a public school teacher, and most recently as a private Christian school administrator for over 13 years. She is currently serving as the Director of Family Ministries at the Crystal Cathedral overseeing the Crystal Cathedral Pre-school, Academy, Middle School and High School, as well as the Children’s Ministries and Student Ministries of the Crystal Cathedral. As such, her life has been intertwined with families of all ages in multiple capacities. As a Christian leader she has mentored teachers, principals, preschool directors, youth pastors, and children’s pastors.

Sheila has an Ed. D. in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of California, Irvine. Sheila and her husband, Jim, have been happily married for almost 30 years. They have four grown sons who are involved in their own careers and academic pursuits.

February 04, 2009

When Dreams Turn into a Nightmare

Dear Sheila, I have invested all of my savings into a home and now have lost my job. I have worked hard for years, but it now it looks like I’m going to lose my dream job and my dream home. I am so discouraged. My faith in God has been shaken. Can you help? Dreams have Turned into Nightmares

Dear Dreamer,
Funny you should use these words as I preached on this very title last summer in the Crystal Cathedral. The material I gave then helped those who were there (or so they said), so hopefully it will help you as well.
#1. As counter-intuitive as it may sound, thank God for your difficulty. This is a chance for your faith to shine in the darkness and it is a time for God to grow closer to you. Rather than pulling away from God, or blaming Him, draw closer to Him and thank Him even if you can’t see anything in this to be grateful about. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2)
#2. Believe that God will use this nightmare to make His dreams—which are more amazing than yours—come true! Romans 8:28 reminds us, “We know that all things work together for good.”
#3. Keep on dreaming. Keep on believing. The story isn’t over—the dream will be redeemed! “Being confident of this, that God who has begun a good work in you will complete it.” (Philippians 1:6)
Don’t give up on God—He will redeem the dream!

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