293thepowerofvisionbooke Book

The Power of Vision: Recognizing God’s Call by Ericka D. Jackson

©2007 by Ericka D. Jackson. All rights reserved. Printed in The United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher except the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication This book is dedicated to my mother, Thelma, who has supported me every step of the way. When I looked crazy to the rest of the world for following God’s calling on my life, she supported me emotionally, financially and spiritually. Thank you for all of the cards over the years that came just when I was getting weary on this journey. Thank you for your unconditional support and encouragement. It really means the world to me and I look forward to demonstrating my thankfulness for years to come.

Recognizing God’s Voice.................................................. 13 I Hear A Lot Of People Talking About Vision, What Is The Big Deal?...................................................... 17 What Exactly Is Vision? .................................................... 21 What Are The Components Of Living My Vision? ........... 26 Purpose............................................................................. 27 Desires Of Your Heart ...................................................... 29 Passion ............................................................................. 30 Gifts And Talents .............................................................. 32 Area Of Service................................................................. 34 Calling ............................................................................... 38 What Are The Differences Between Dreams, Purpose, Calling, Passion And Vision?............................ 40 How Do I Know God’s Specific Vision For Me? Will What I Want Be Different From What God Wants For My Life? .......................................................... 46 What Happens If I Don’t Respond To God’s Calling?..... 50 Where Do I Begin In Living My Vision?............................ 54 How Do I Stay Motivated As I Am Working On My Vision? .............................................................................. 58 How Long Will It Take To Bring Forth My Vision? ........... 60 How Do I Handle My Fears About Stepping Out And Living My Vision? ..................................................... 62 Bonus Question: Is There Enough “Vision” To Go Around For Everyone? ................................................ 64 I Am Here For You… ......................................................... 67 Other Books By Ericka D. Jackson .................................. 68 About The Author ............................................................. 69 You Hold The Power ......................................................... 71

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committing to living God’s vision. It is time to urgently INTRODUCTION

respond to God’s calling on your life. Now is your time. Today is your day. It’s time to harness and activate The Power of Vision. God created you for a very specific purpose and vision. There is a sense of urgency for you to bring

Have you ever had one of those days where you just feel off? You are standing in the bathroom in your paisley pajamas, blankly staring into the mirror just waiting to receive some divine guidance to know exactly what you should be doing with your life? You may not know what it is, but you know it’s got to be better than this! Living without knowing your vision feels like an eternity of “one of those days.” Now, more than ever, you must slow down and take the time to know your specific vision and what you were born to do. This morning I was listening to the gospel station here in Raleigh and they played one of the last songs the late, great Gerald Levert recorded shortly before his passing. The song was called, He Never Left Me and a portion of the chorus line of the song struck me very deeply. It was, “I did not heed the call.” This line reminded me of the incredible importance of heeding or answering God’s call in your life and

forth your vision. God has called you to make a difference in the lives of particular people who can only receive and act on the message and information they need to hear from you. God has a specific purpose for your life. Your particular life’s journey has happened so you can be a living testimony in their lives. The longer you put off bringing forth your vision, the longer those lives suffer, because you have the information, insights, process, support, testimony or product that will bring them out of their situation and free them up to live God’s vision. This is the continuum of Vision and it is a chain that should not be broken. Unlike those chain emails that you get twice a week in your inbox, which claim to wreak havoc in your life or the lives of others if you do not forward them, the Vision chain is about everyone doing what it is God called them to do when God has called them to do it. As a result, your vision intertwines

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with mine and mine connects with others and our

all of the world’s problems, but they are not listening.

visions propel each other’s forward.

Your job is to assist and to guide them in being

Your vision assignment does not come all at once; God slowly unfolds and reveals it to you with each faithful step you take.

obedient to my call.” All-right-tee then! Wow! I sat there for several more minutes taking in what I had just heard.

Although I was moving forward on the pieces of

With that clarity, I began to clearly understand

what God called me to do as a speaker and success

my specific purpose and how to achieve God’s Vision

coach, the fullness of God’s vision for my life was

for my life. My entire business took on a whole new

revealed to me as I was sitting at my desk one morning

meaning and depth. As I connected with others, I was

about four years ago doing internet research on the

crystal clear that I was fully on God’s path for my life. I

speaking and coaching industries. I found websites for

knew I was being obedient and responding to God’s

many coaches and even more speakers. Each coaching

call. It is the most amazing feeling in the world (yeah,

site was using the same words and phrases –

really) and that day I vowed to God that I would spend

“purpose…achieving your goals…living your dreams…”

the rest of my days assisting others in living God’s

Each speaker claimed to be the best and described

vision for their lives full-time, not part-time as most

their speaking as “inspirational, motivational, and

believers do. What would God’s Kingdom look like if His

entertaining…” I remember sitting in my burgundy office

saints were living His will and making a wonderful living

chair, desiring to be deeply clear about what sets me

while they did it? I call it “Living God’s Vision as Your

apart from these other speakers and coaches. I was

Vocation.”

clear about my speaking skill and years of expertise, but I needed the big picture.

In the years since that epiphany, I have been asked so many questions to clarify the truth and I

As always, I asked God for the answer. This was

wanted to write this little book so you can fully

one of those wonderful moments in which God

understand the nature of God’s Vision for your life. This

responded quickly and clearly. I heard the words, “I

is a compilation of the main questions I have received

have put the answers in my children and they are not

and answers that will help clarify the incredible power

being obedient. I have given them the solutions to solve

of vision and how you can begin to recognize God’s call

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on your life. This will enable you to move forward and take the necessary steps to bring forth your vision.

RECOGNIZING GOD’S VOICE Before I delve into the questions about recognizing all of the aspects of God’s call, I want to talk briefly about how to begin to train yourself to hear God’s voice. While God uses many people, feelings and urgings to communicate with you, the most powerful communication tool He uses is your voice of the indwelling Christ. There is a voice within you that acts as a spiritual compass to guide and direct your every step. It is imperative that you are in touch with and learn to distinguish this voice in order to move forward in your vision. God created you with a receiver that stays tuned to His voice. This inner voice is the Holy Spirit. You may use phrases to describe your indwelling voice of God such as, “Something tells me…”, “My gut is telling me…, “I have a hunch…” or “I have a strong feeling…”. This voice keeps you tuned into the invisible spiritual world all around you. You may have heard it referred to as intuition. While the secular world refers to this spiritual “ear” as intuition, it moves to a new level once you have devoted your life to Christ. It is a pure voice that constantly whispers instruction, direction, wisdom and knowledge. In order to hear this holy voice within as clearly as possible, you must actively do several things

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on a regular basis:

powerful way.

1. Read and study The Word

I am so looking forward to moving you through

2. Spend time in silence as often as possible. In the

this process. Congratulations on taking this step and I

course of this quiet time, you will begin to recognize your

am honored to be supporting and guiding you on this

inner voice (meditation).

wonderful journey. Let’s get started…

3. Keep your energy clear and positive by taking regular inventory of yourself. When you find things that are not of God or The Holy Spirit, confess/admit them and ask for forgiveness. 4. Learn to be obedient to this indwelling Christ at all times.

You can always confirm that it is the voice of God because this voice always leads you toward that which is good for your spiritual development and away from those things that are of flesh or of fleshly desires. This voice always leads you toward the light of God and away from the darkness of negative spiritual forces. If you hear an inner voice urging you to do things that harm your mind, body or spirit or that of others, that spiritual voice is not The Holy Spirit. As you read through the following questions and begin to take steps toward clearly identifying God’s vision for your life, make sure you are quieting the “noise” in your life to be able to unmistakably distinguish God’s voice, like a mother who can recognize their child’s voice over any other voice. With practice, you will come to know God’s voice in a 14

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1 I Hear A Lot Of People Talking About Vision, What Is The Big Deal? This is an interesting question, because so many people live their lives everyday without thinking about vision and they appear to do just fine. You can stay busy 24 hours a day, study The Word, attend church,

manage

your

family,

career

and

life’s

obligations for the next 50 years and not move God’s vision for your life forward. This is just existing and surviving and not tapping into the goodness God has reserved for you. It is like walking around as an unfulfilled, empty person that goes through the motions without ever touching the glory God created you to experience on a daily basis. Living your vision brings a deep passion and joy that is yours for the taking when you focus your time and energy on vision. Vision is not just a big deal, it is the deal. God’s 16

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vision for your life is the one thing you were put here to

was located outside of the Psych ward and near the

do and it is your sole purpose for living. Vision is the

Cancer ward at the Seattle hospital in which I worked.

ultimate picture of what God has shown you to be

This meant that everyday I constantly absorbed and felt

possible for your life. Not taking the time to know and

the confusion, terror, panic, fear, disillusionment and

act upon the big picture of what you are capable of

dis-ease of people coming and going to and from the

being and doing in your lifetime leads to an unfulfilled

hospital.

life in which you just exist.

This was slowing killing me and it seemed that

When you just exist, you bound around life like

no matter how much money I made, it was not nearly

the colorful ball in a pinball machine, just waiting for

enough. I was living without the covering of God (I was

the next obstacle to rebound off that sends you in

not consistently tithing) and there always seemed to be

another random direction. Think about all of the time

a financial crisis to keep at bay. I realized that not living

you may spend in The Word, attending church, doing

God’s purpose for my life felt like experiencing a slow,

good deeds, working to get sin underfoot and

spiritual death. The scariest thing is that no one around

fellowshipping, but still not functioning within the

me knew the depth of my pain. As an event coordinator,

fullness of your purpose. When you pull back the layers,

I became masterful at staying calm and collected in the

it’s all about you finding your vision and living it.

midst of a crisis. I realized that it was not only a big deal

I really came to understand the depth of the importance of vision a little more than 6 years ago

to live God’s vision for my life, it was life or death for me and my daughter.

when I looked up and felt like my life was wrapping a

Vision is also a tremendous deal because as

death grip around my neck and choking any semblance

you take a good look at the world, it’s conflicts, clashing

of happiness out of me. My life was suffocating me. I

cultures, war, poverty, sin and suffering, it seems to be

was a single mother of a very demanding little girl,

falling apart. God has deposited answers within you

struggling to make it to the next paycheck, incredibly

that will alleviate a portion of the world’s troubles.

unhappy and feeling unappreciated at my job. What

Deep, huh? Your vision is such a big deal because it is

made it even worse is that one of my greatest spiritual

imperative that you bring forth the piece that you have

gifts is my ability to feel what others feel and my office

been called to do.

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Perhaps you are passionate about ending

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hunger and your talents are organization and graphic design and your gift is helping others do and look their best. Then it is time for you to find an organization that supports hunger causes around your city, state, nation or world in which you can contribute your gifts and talents. If you commit to living God’s vision, He will open

What Exactly is Vision?

up doors and His divine timing in a way that simply cannot happen without His favor. Although your life may appear to be just fine, God has more for you. Even if you always look welldressed, have a great job and drive the latest edition of a luxury car, God has something for you when you commit to living His purpose which is exponentially better than anything you can even imagine. God has shown me that all of the world’s problems can be solved when His saints heed His call on their lives. Can you imagine? I can.

While this seems like a straight forward question, it really isn’t because there are so many different uses of the word “vision.” While vision can be a prophetic “seeing” of something that has not yet occurred in the natural world, it is also used to describe a goal. Vision, as I discuss it, is the ultimate conception of what God shows you as possible for your life. Vision is the big picture of what you were born to do. Vision chooses you. You cannot choose your vision, it is already assigned to you. Your job is to uncover it and take action on it. I remember when I began realizing my vision. I was 12 years old and my sister talked me into running for class Vice-President. I had to prepare a speech to deliver in front of the entire 7th grade class. I clearly remember looking up into the bleachers and seeing the faces of all of my friends, acquaintances and teachers and feeling no nervousness at all. I stood at the table-

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top podium and delivered my speech. Although I don’t

Whew! That’s deep, isn’t it? It is so different

remember exactly what I said, I vividly remember the

from what you may have been taught or have come to

reaction my words received from the crowd. My

believe. When you really take a closer look, it is quite

classmates were standing on their feet cheering,

freeing. When you are on-point with your vision, your

screaming and letting out piercing whistles.

purpose, passion, gifts, talents, preferences and

I stood there dazed for a moment as I fully

chosen altitude (calling) all culminate to create the

grasped that their reaction was in response to my

most deeply fulfilling life for you and those you have

speech. It was at that moment that I understood that

been chosen to serve.

God had given me a gift of speaking and sharing a message that left people changed. I also realized that I was most comfortable speaking in front of a crowd – the more the better. That was the first glimpse of my vision – God’s largest purpose for my life. Vision is of God. This process of living to your full capacity and potential can only be from God. Contrary to the mantras, “You can do anything you put your mind to!” and “Shoot for the stars!” that the motivational speakers of the 1980’s and 1990’s tried to drill into your head. The truth is you can do anything God has ordained you to do. All too often we try to adopt someone else’s calling or purpose because it looks great, fun and wonderful. Well, that is theirs. God has something specific that is yours. Which is why it appears that you have sometimes failed because you were working on an idea or vision that was not really intended for you. 22

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I actually don’t like using the term “dreams.” It is another throwback to the good ‘ole days of

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motivational speakers that got you dreaming but did not show you how to actually achieve your dreams. The other reason I hesitate to talk too much about dreams is that they are usually rooted in materialism and are in response to your current circumstances. Dreams

What Are The Components Of Living My Vision?

acknowledge the surface or material things you may want or desire and only begin to scratch the surface of what you are here to do for others. You’ve been

There is more to vision than meets the eye and I’m so glad you asked! More often than not when we hear about vision, we hear the words;

purpose,

dreaming, it’s now time to gain the clarity you need to truly manifest your vision. PURPOSE

dreams, calling, passion and gifts synonymously. It’s

The first component of vision is purpose. Your

time to clear this up so you know what I am talking

purpose tells you the theme of your life; the reason you

about.

exist. Combined with your passion, your purpose

There

are

components

to

vision

and

understanding each one will help clarify your path.

explains your method or how you will carry out your

But first, let’s talk about this word “dream” that

Kingdom assignment. To uncover your purpose, ask

you have heard so much about and how it fits into

yourself, “If money and time were not an issue, what I

vision. While a dream is an important part of the puzzle,

would do and If I could make plenty of money any way I

it is just the beginning. Dreams open up your

chose, what would I do?” At the end of your life, what

imagination and ability for your mind to “see” what it is

do you want to be known for? What do you want your

that you can conceive for your life. Many of us model

legacy to be? Perhaps you were born to make a

our dreams afer the lives of others. While dreams open

difference by alleviating hunger or helping neglected

the doorway, there are 7 components of vision that are

animals. Your purpose gives you a general idea and

through the door that dreams assist you in opening.

direction to move, but by itself, it is not the whole 27

picture.

DESIRES OF YOUR HEART What is your purpose? Take some time to stop

and write it out on the following lines: _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________

The second component of vision is the desires of your heart.

What do you really want (both for

yourself and others)? The desires of your heart go beyond your surface-level dreams to those things you deeply long for, desire and are willing to work for. It is all too easy to have dreams, but not be willing to work for them. The desires of your heart compel you in a way that won’t let you go. They are those things you envision for yourself and may or may not share them with others. You may deeply desire to have a certain kind of car, to have an incredible love relationship, to be able to be a tremendous blessing to others, to see your children do well in life, to help underprivileged children, to have your dream home, to see people live AIDS-free, to travel, to play a sport that you love professionally, etc. What do you really want? Take time to list it out and be specific. While your list may be similar to your dream list, it should uncover some other aspects of your desires. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________

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_______________________________________________

and fulfill you when you are doing them. When you are

_______________________________________________

operating in your passion, you experience a flow and

_______________________________________________

effortlessness that makes it easy to stay the course.

_______________________________________________

When you are passionate you are excited, inspired,

_______________________________________________

motivated, focused, fulfilled, walking in your greatness

_______________________________________________

you have a sense of feeling complete.

_______________________________________________

God gives you passion so you know your path to

_______________________________________________

bringing your vision forth. In your passion lies the clues that will keep you going. For instance, while speaking is

Scripture tells you that God will give you the

a gift and an anointing for me, my real passion lies in

desires of your heart if you put His Kingdom first. While

seeing the lives of those I speak to be transformed –

dreams require nothing in particular to bring forth and

not just changed – but never to go back to how it was

may or may not come to pass, desires of your heart

before they encountered my work.

require obedience and are part of God’s grace, mercy

Perhaps you love seeing those around you

and blessings that He has in store for you. Do you see

fulfilled and enjoy the look on their faces after a great

the difference? While it sounds subtle, it’s a major

meal you’ve prepared and you want to share this

distinction and understanding. This will help you learn

passion with others as you open a new restaurant.

to be and not just do. Yes, you need to be in forward

Maybe you are passionate about helping people make

action for desires of your heart to manifest, but it is

money through their businesses or hearing the voice of

different from the mantras of hard core persistence,

someone in the listening audience when something

striving and undivided focus that you have been taught

you’ve said on your radio show improved their life. What

that comes with bringing forth your dreams.

do you love doing? What juices you? What makes you

PASSION Okay, enough about desires of your heart. Let’s talk about the third component of vision – passion. Your passion consists of those things that bring you joy 30

holler with enjoyment when you have just completed it? Your passion tells you the end picture of your purpose. It also gives you clues as to how you will apply your purpose. What are you passionate about? 31

_______________________________________________

foot as something unique when is with you continuously

_______________________________________________

and you can do it with little or no effort. What gifts have

_______________________________________________

God

_______________________________________________

understanding technology, discerning good and bad

_______________________________________________

spirits, writing, exercising, dancing, being organized?

_______________________________________________

Hidden in your gifts are the additional clues you need to

_______________________________________________

understand the methods God has given you to make a

_______________________________________________

difference in your area of purpose.

bestowed

upon

you?

Talking,

shopping,

_______________________________________________

Yet, gifts are only half of this component. The

_______________________________________________

other half of this component is your talent. Your talent

_______________________________________________

consists of those things you are naturally good at, but

_______________________________________________

need to practice developing to perfect. Maybe you show

_______________________________________________

talent in talking and being able to connect with people,

_______________________________________________

but you need to practice interviewing skills to become really good at the delivery of your gifts. What are you

GIFTS AND TALENTS The next aspects of vision to talk about are your gifts and talents. Your gifts are those things that just come naturally to you and are not actually taught, they were deposited in you from God. If you did go to school to learn more about them, you probably excelled in them or you were bored because it came so easily to you. Gifts are sometimes challenging to identify because they are such a part of you. You may find it difficult to distinguish them. They are like trying to see your right arm or your 32

good at, but need to be great at in order to effectively operate in your gifting? Together, your gifts and talents create an additional dimension to understanding your specific Kingdom assignment. I am a good writer, but in order to be great and get across my passion and purpose, I have to practice, practice, practice, read a lot, and write several drafts before I can capture what I am really trying to say on paper. With my primary gift being speaking and not writing, I have had to read countless books about writing and have taken many writing classes to improve 33

my writing. Yet, when I speak, I can develop thoughts

audience or group of people you were put here to serve.

coherently in my mind instantaneously and deliver them

Another way to think about your area of service is your

with clarity, depth and power the first time with little or

special niche. Two months ago as I was reading about

no effort.

God having appointed shepherds over their flocks and

The challenge with talent is making sure you

how this particular shepherd was lying around the

use it to further your vision and not to get stuck trying to

hillside only thinking about himself and his own gain

make a living on your talent alone. While you may be

and not taking care of his sheep and they were

good at it, your talent alone does not feed your passion

scattered all over the hillside.

and usually does not touch the depth of the desires of

I realized a different way to think about my

your heart to keep producing fruit for a lifetime. I hear

business in that moment. God created me to shepherd

many stories about people getting stuck making a living

a particular flock and my purpose is to gather, inform

from their talent alone and their story usually begins

and take care of my flock so they know which direction

with something like this, “I am an accountant and yes, it

to go at all times. I am a shepherd and my job is to

pays the bills and I’m good at it, but it’s not what I really

gather my flock. I have not been taking care of my flock.

want to do.”

I had to stop and ask myself, “Do I know who my flock

You have probably heard stories of actors or

is? Do I know what my flock needs?”

singers who tried to live on their talent alone and never

This was truly an eye-opening moment because

connected with their other six components of vision.

I thought I had clearly identified my target market, yet

They are the ones who were once a hit and now appear

God was taking it to a higher level. It even prompted me

on the “Where Are They Now” television series. Your

to do a journal entry listing the needs of my flock. It

talent is a way for you to bring forth your purpose.

became so wonderfully simple to understand on a

Talent was not meant for you to get too comfortable

deeper level that my job is to gather my flock from all

working with only your gifts and talents. There are more

over the world and provide them with what they need to

aspects of vision to take into consideration.

be

AREA OF SERVICE Your area of service is the particular target 34

successful

as

Christian

entrepreneurs

and

visionaries. You are a Shepard. When you are a Shepard, 35

your sheep recognize and respond to your voice and

Mustangs – be very specific)?

call. God has created you to oversee a flock that can

_______________________________________________

only hear your voice. Who is your flock? Are they

_______________________________________________

scattered all over the hillsides waiting for you to live

_______________________________________________

your vision? Are they not being taken care of because

_______________________________________________

you are in fear or are they tied up tending to the daily

_______________________________________________

obligations that fill your calendar, but are not God’s

_______________________________________________

purpose for you?

_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________

Who are your sheep? Who were you born to serve?

_______________________________________________

What group(s) of people are in your heart? What

Once you’ve clearly identified your flock, make a

specific group of people do you want to work with? Take

list of what your flock needs. Do they need a one-stop

this space to clearly articulate your flock:

shop website that gives them resources to carry out

_______________________________________________

their missions? What topics do they need to know more

_______________________________________________

about? What information do they need to be

_______________________________________________

successful? What products would they purchase? This

_______________________________________________

is what you need to get busy providing for your flock

_______________________________________________

right now, even before you leave your job. Now is your

_______________________________________________

time. It is time for you to urgently bring forth God’s

_______________________________________________

vision for your life and for you to prosper from your good

_______________________________________________

works. Can you feel it? It’s been trying to get your attention. It’s time to respond bigger and bolder than

What are the characteristics of this group of people you

you ever have before...

most enjoy working with (special needs children from

What does your flock need?

wealthy families, adults striving to create wealth or

_______________________________________________

people with a passion for collecting and restoring Ford

_______________________________________________

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_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ CALLING I also refer to your calling as your altitude. Your calling or altitude is the scope of your Kingdom assignment (within your child’s school, the city, state, region, nation or world). Be careful not to confuse your calling with what you think would be nice to do. You may be a musician who loves playing the local nightclub scene. While you watch other musicians tour with major acts and you think it would be nice to do a national tour. If God did not drop that vision into your spirit, it is not for you. You will know if you are not fulfilling your altitude or scope of work if you cannot sleep at night trying to think of ways to catapult to the vision God has shown you. Everyone is not called for a national touring. If you act on something that is not your calling, you will rapidly see why it is not for you. Focus on what God has shown you as your specific role. You will be completely fulfilled carrying out your calling even though others may be doing similar work on a broader scale.

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and transcends material things. Dreams are rooted in ego and usually are material in nature. It is easy to have a dream and not know your specific path to carry it out. Drug dealers and corporate embezzlers both have dreams that fuel their desire to be wealthy and acquire

What Are The Differences Between Dreams, Purpose, Calling, Passion And Vision? I just love this question! I’m so glad you asked (hee, hee). This question exists because so many of the motivational speakers and others have used the terms vision, dream, calling and purpose synonymously. You can easily believe that your dreams are the same as your vision and your purpose is the same as your calling. Unless you fully understand the differences, it can be confusing. Let’s delve deeper into this so you can be completely clear from this moment forward. Let’s first discuss dreams. Vision can only come from God. Dreams on the other hand originate from your ego and are often a response to your current circumstances or position in life. Vision is rooted in God

material things. Yet, they are not in alignment with the positive ways in which God would lead them to carry out their vision. Dreams are often rooted in darkness, lack, struggle, dishonesty and selfishness. We often covet other people’s dreams who tell you to “do what I did to get what I got,” which will never work in the long term. Vision always aligns with God’s light while dreams may not and can be achieved through darkness and outside of God’s protective covering He provides to obedient believers. With vision you ask yourself the question, “What’s in it for God?” and with dreams you ask the question, “What’s in it for me?” Dreams are something outside of yourself or “out there”. It always feels like your dreams are just beyond your current reach or grasp. Yet, when you think about vision, it feels like it is already yours because it is within you just waiting to come forth. I know what you might be thinking…”But, Ericka, isn’t there something in it for me with vision?” Yes! 41

That’s the fun part. When you commit to bringing forth

purpose is to work with children who are suffering from

the fullness (not a watered-down version) of the vision

childhood diabetes and those that are high risk for the

God has given you, you will receive everything, not only

disease. God has shown her that her work with

materially God intends for you. You will receive all of the

childhood diabetes will touch every state within the

spiritual, emotional and physical blessings as well.

United States. Now it’s time to add Francis’s passion

When you first seek the Kingdom of God, all things will

into the mix so you can fully understand her purpose.

be added unto you. You’ve read that scripture all your life. Now it is time to put it into action.

Her passion is photography. She has loved taking pictures since she was a little girl and received

Let’s break down these other words a bit –

her first camera from her mother at the age of six. She

purpose, passion and calling. It might be easier to

began taking pictures of ladybugs, her friends, her

explain if I give you an example. I want you to meet

family and classmates and begged her mother to

Francis. Francis is someone God has given the vision to

develop the pictures so she could share them with

end childhood diabetes. He has shown her that it is

others. You see, God gave Francis this passion knowing

possible for children to be free from this disease. That

it would be part of her purpose and how she carries out

is her vision – the big picture of what is possible. Her

her life’s work.

dream is to be a nationally-known photographer and

Let’s begin to put the pieces together…Francis’s

have all of the camera equipment she can imagine.

vision is to assist juvenile diabetes in no longer existing.

While these seem not to go together, we won’t

Her calling (or altitude) is on a national level. Her

understand how all the puzzle pieces fit together for

purpose is to use her passion for photography to make

Francis until we take into consideration her purpose,

her visionary contribution. God will gift Francis with the

calling and passion.

vehicles or avenues she is supposed to use to express

When Francis “sees” this vision, she sees it at a

her vision and calling. Her gifts (things that just come

national level. This is her calling. Her calling is her

naturally to her and were not actually taught, they were

altitude, the level or scope God has assigned to her

deposited in her from God) happen to be in capturing

vision. Her purpose is how she will carry out her

the heart and soul of someone through a picture and

Kingdom assignment to the people she is to serve. Her

being organized. Her talents (things she is naturally

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good at, but needs to practice developing) are writing and talking. So, when it all comes together, Francis’s purpose is to travel the country talking to/interviewing children with diabetes and taking their pictures to show the nation how special these children are and that they deserve to live without this disease. She will organize her work in books, calendars, slide shows and in museum presentations that show people the vast need for support of this cause. It is someone else’s calling to find the cure and someone else’s calling to create a non-profit that funds the research. While they all share the same vision, together all of these visionaries will join forces in answering their visionary call and ending childhood diabetes. That is why you have many churches with Pastors who share the same vision of leading people to salvation through Jesus Christ, yet each of their churches feel different or are operated differently due to their different callings, purposes, passion, gifts and talents.

Although

these

words

are

often

used

interchangeably, they are all components to the puzzle of vision.

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Begin to ask yourself the question, “If the money were handled (if you no longer had to work for money), what would I do?” After the first week of sleeping in, what would you do? What difference would you make? Who would you serve? How would you serve

How Do I Know God’s Specific Vision For Me? Will What I Want Be Different From What God Wants For My Life?

them? Somewhere in your answer lies your life’s work. God’s Word tells us that He will give you the desires of your heart. This should give you some insight and comfort to know that as long as it is for the good of God and His Kingdom, God will bless you with the desires of your heart. Striving toward living His Word daily keeps you headed in the right direction and will eliminate any gaps you feel between what you would like to do and what God would have you do.

This is the life question, isn’t it? You have

Although there are challenging times in your

probably heard so much about your dreams, your vision

Christian walk, it should not feel like drudgery. When

and your purpose, that it leaves you wondering if what

you are on the path of God’s vision, you feel joy no

you want for yourself is what God wants for you. As you

matter what your circumstances look like. You have a

move forward on The Lord’s path for your life, more and

faithful sense of knowing that it is coming together

more of God’s vision for your life will reveal itself.

soon. You are deeply fulfilled and focused on moving

Remember, God gave you imagination, emotions,

forward. You feel energized, excited and positive. If

passion and a whole host of tools to know what He

what you are doing feels like slow torture, it’s a great

would have you do. He created you with passion and joy

sign that it is not your vision.

for those things that come naturally to you. There are

What is your vision? What has God shown you

signs all around you, all you have to do is ask for it to be

that you are to do? What will living your vision look like?

revealed and listen to your life.

What will it feel like? It will feel like part imagination 47

(remember, God gave you your imagination, too), part

_______________________________________________

dream and part fantasy, but let it rip. Let yourself see

_______________________________________________

clearly what you are capable of if you moved yourself

_______________________________________________

out of the way. Go ahead…close your eyes and see it.

_______________________________________________

Feel it. Taste it. Breathe it. Write it.

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 48

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seemingly insurmountable issues. In other words, if you don’t respond to God’s calling, you are limiting your blessings and there are consequences for disobedience in God’s Kingdom just as there are consequences in the natural world for a

What Happens If I Don’t Respond To God’s Calling?

disobedient child. It is good to know you serve a merciful God who will work with you as you get every aspect of your life in alignment. Remember a time when you were obedient and were greatly rewarded for your actions? God also has great rewards and promises when you fully step into his Kingdom and follow his

Ooh, do you really want me to answer this one?

lead.

Just because God has given you a vision does not mean

The key is that you must take faithful action.

you will choose to bring it forth. Because we have been

This is a hard pill to swallow because you may have

blessed with free will, you have to make a decision and

been told, “It’s never too late to follow your dream.”

actually choose to be obedient to your vision, calling

While doing something toward your vision at any time is

and purpose. If you choose not to heed the call at the

better than nothing, not heeding God’s timing can

appointed time, it will dry up like fruit that has stayed

create undue suffering and struggle in your life. This is

on the vine too long. It will take longer and more effort

God allowing things to get so uncomfortable that you

to bring it forth in it’s designed fullness. You see, God

will be forced to move.

brings things to you in seasons and if you are not

God has deposited something in you that no

obedient to the seasons of your vision, He will see you

one else on the planet can do exactly like you. If you

are not worthy or ready to carry-out His vision and there

choose to allow your vision to lay dormant, those who

are consequences to be paid. Disobedience can also

you were born to impact will suffer. Whew! That one

lead to experiencing confusion, unforeseen challenges

was even hard to write. Not being obedient to your

in your life, seasons of lack, and being plagues by

vision leaves not only your own inner suffering, but it 51

overflows into other’s lives. I see only one option. You must live your vision and start today. But, then again, I’m a bit biased, I know.

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your list to complete.

Then, take action. Work on

number 1 until it is complete and then, and only then, turn your attention to number 2. Allow yourself to be propelled by the power of completion. Start with what you already know. Simple, huh?

Where Do I Begin In Living My Vision?

Although your vision work will be a process, it is a simple process. Not always easy, but it is simple. What has God already shown you about your vision and how to attain it? Has he shown you a person you should be

Vision unfolds in bits and pieces. These bits and pieces come when you are ready and God allows them to. When you feel ready to actually take action on your vision, ask God to reveal it to you. You will know you are ready because although you may feel nervous or a bit fearful, but you are compelled to take action. A spiritual mentor of mine taught me to ask God to show you in a way that you can’t mistake it for anything but what it is. He will. You probably already know portions of what you were born to do, so ask God to reveal the next steps to you. Once you begin to conceive your vision, it’s time to take faithful action. Faith without deeds is dead, so it’s time for action. Where would you like to begin? What would you like to do first? Once that is complete, what would you like to do next? Continue asking yourself this question until you have three things on

calling? Is it time to clean off your desk so you can get to work? Is it time to release certain obligations that leave you no time for your vision work? Take a good look around your world, right where you are sitting right now. What do you see? Does it reflect someone really ready? What can you do to ready your life for your vision (Write your answer below)? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Whether I’m talking with men or women, they usually start with their environment. Do you have a clean surface to sit down and actually work? Do you have a file with all of your vision ideas, plans and 55

contacts at your fingertips? Do your surroundings make you feel like rolling up your sleeves and getting to work on your vision? Does your environment reflect your vision? Clearing out your space is a great place to start. It will help clear your mind so you can fully open up to hearing the voice of The Lord speaking to you and directing you. Obedience is the key to bring forth God’s vision. You must choose to be obedient in all aspects of your life. From the way you take care of your body (the vessel is as important as the vision) to the spouse you choose, is effected because every aspect of your life exists to fortify the vision.

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than you would like or run into challenges that make you question if it’s worth moving forward. Your test is always HUGE and your decision in this phase will make or break your vision. This is when motivation can be a challenge. At these times, it is important to make sure

How Do I Stay Motivated As I Am Working On My Vision?

you have written down the vision and keep it posted where you can see it daily with pictures that symbolize your vision coming forth. Another way to stay focused and motivated is to surround yourself with like-minded people also working to bring forth their vision. Being able to talk about the

When God gives you the vision, He gives you the

“bigness” of what you are up to is wonderfully

energy and inspiration to move it forward. The larger

motivating and inspiring. If you are unable to find

issue is how to stop working into the night because you

anyone immediately around you, there are online

are so moved to bring forth your vision. Vision moves

communities of business owners, organization directors

you beyond motivation (trying to use things outside of

and visionaries working on their vision that you can

yourself to stay excited about what you are doing), to

connect with. I am working on creating a powerful

inspiration (having your spirit within and The Holy Spirit

community

bringing you joy). Because inspiration is inherent in the

visionaries so the synergy that is created can keep you

vision, your ability to be motivated is covered. The key is

focused and moving forward with energy, enthusiasm

to stay focused on the vision. It’s when you veer off of

and inspiration.

of

Christian

your vision path that motivation becomes an issue. The toughest part of staying motivated is when you get to the test phase in your vision process. You will know you are in the test phase when you encounter your vision taking longer to manifest 59

business

owners

and

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to where you are on the journey. You really don’t even take time to look back and see how long it has taken you to get to this point because you are moving forward in leaps and bounds daily, weekly and monthly.

How Long Will It Take To Bring Forth My Vision? The length of time it takes to create the fullness of God’s vision varies depending on the scale of your vision, your level of obedience and how much time you apply to taking action toward your vision. I have noticed a trend of about 6 months for those I coach privately to fully “step into” their greatness and accelerate the process of their vision coming forth. In my “Visionary Success Cycle,” I go over the steps you will go through in bringing forth your vision within one year. Please see the full Visionary Success Cycle in my workbook, SelfCoaching: Your Guide to Living Inside the Bull’s-eye. How quickly you take yourself through these steps and God’s timing all converge to make your timeline

unique.

While

that

can

sound

a

bit

discouraging, it is important to remember that every day you are living on purpose and moving your vision forward, you are feeling ignited, energized and present 61

10

not being faithful. What do you fear? List them out. Take a look at your list and run it through the truth that you have not believed God for each of those areas. Fear is not False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear is a spiritual issue and no matter how many affirmations, positive thoughts and poems you use to attempt to overcome,

How Do I Handle My Fears About Stepping Out And Living My Vision?

combat or fight your fear, unless you use your spiritual tools, fear will not leave you alone. When you apply your spiritual

tools

of

prayer,

renewing

your

mind,

meditation, surrender and speaking about only those things you desire to attract, fear will leave your life and

Fear is the reason people choose not to live God’s vision for their lives. It might be fear of not having enough money, fear of not having enough time, fear of not having enough energy or fear of stepping into leadership. Whatever your fear is, I have some wonderful news for you. Your fear is a critical step in you moving forward in your vision work. Although you have probably heard many definitions of fear, God revealed the truth about fear to me about three years ago as I was preparing a lesson for the Teen Sunday

if it does resurface, you have the tools to make it disappear. To release your fear once and for all, recommit to being faithful and believing that God is going to bless you more than you can even imagine in each of those areas. Visualize having each of those fears disappear. Pray about them. Release them. In my book The Fearless Living Challenge, I further outline and explain the specific steps to living fearlessly and The Prayer of Surrender for you.

school class I taught at the time. Fear is the lack of submission and surrender to God. Your fear shows you the areas in which you are 63

there will always be countless people who do not

Bonus Question: Is There Enough “Vision” To Go Around For Everyone?

choose to live their vision. Since vision is of light, there will always be those who choose to be led by darkness and not step into the light of vision. So, there will always be more than enough opportunities for success and living your vision. Go ahead, give yourself permission to be joyful not only for your vision, but for those around you living

I will always remember sitting in my Economics

theirs’. God’s blessings for you have your name on

101 class at Western Washington University and

them if you step up and take action to live His vision.

learning the first fundamental law of our economic

While the secular world tells you that there is not

system – there are scarce resources and there is not

enough of anything to go around, in God’s Kingdom,

enough to go around for everyone. While this question

there is plenty here for everyone. Get started taking

seems straight forward, you have to take a look at what

your vision to a new level TODAY!

you have believed prior to today. The concepts of

I look forward to guiding and supporting you on

success left over from the 80’ and 90’s suggested that

your vision path. I have teachings on the specifics of

success looks the same for everyone. Dream home.

bringing forth your vision in The Programs and Success

Yacht. Luxurious vacations. Opulence.

Store sections of my website.

While you will have access to all of this through

Be blessed and I’d love to hear from you! Feel

your vision work, your visionary success will look

free to email me with your feedback, questions and

different from anyone else’s. Because there is such

insights at [email protected].

endless variety and no limits to the options God allows for you, if everyone chose to live their vision, it would

With All My Heart, Ericka

create massive solutions and everyone would have what they needed. The challenging aspect of this answer is that 64

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I Am Here For You… Above all, know that I am here for you. Please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call me at (919)

954-8005

or

email

me

at

[email protected]. I worked to put all that you really need within this challenge. If, for some reason, you feel like you need further support and assistance, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Ericka’s Special Offers and Resources

I will also be premiering new offerings and membership that you will be able to receive at discounted rates. I will be specific when I announce them and you can also take advantage of those offers when they are announced. Please make sure you have signed up for my monthly e-zine (electronic magazine) at www.erickajackson.com to stay abreast on upcoming offers. Please check my website often, I add new tools and resources weekly to help further your visionjourney. www.erickajackson.com.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR ERICKA D. JACKSON

OTHER BOOKS BY ERICKA D. JACKSON

Nothing makes Ericka’s eyes sparkle like the possibility of people living God’s Vision for their lives. She truly understands that achieving success originates Self-Coaching: Your Guide to Living Inside the Bull’s-

with and follows God. Only once you deeply understand

eye, 3rd Edition

your assignment in God’s Kingdom, will you begin to

The Fearless Living Challenge: A 49-day Course To

experience authentic success. She skillfully blends

Living Your Greatness

spiritual insights with practical knowledge that walk you

Leave Your Job in 2007! A Step-by-Step Plan to Live

through the process of fully surrendering and clearing

God’s Vision as Your Full-time Vocation

away anything in the way of knowing and acting on God’s path for your life. She has been gifted with the ability to “see” others’ life purposes and visions and to discern what is needed to move them to the next level. She uses her gifts and experience as a speaker, emotional healer, and visionary to guide others in living God’s vision as their vocation, She guides her audiences in fearless living, time management and turning their vision work into successful businesses. Ericka’s life experience and passion for evoking the best out of others naturally evolved into launching The Convergence Center in 2001, a company on a mission to lead a cutting-edge, multi-media movement that provides Christians with the tools, insights and processes for achieving personal and professional freedom.

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She has developed several teaching series including The Success Salon®, Bigger! Bolder! Better: Taking Your Business to New Heights®, and The Ericka Jackson Show®. She is the author of Self Coaching: Your Guide to Living Inside the Bull’s-eye, The Fearless Living Challenge: A 49- day Course To Living Your

YOU HOLD THE POWER © 2006 by Ericka D. Jackson You hold the power of co-creation in your hand More than ever before you must take a stand Stand up and build your Vision today It’s time to give it your all and no longer just play

Greatness, Leave Your Job in 2007! A Step-by-Step Plan to Live God’s Vision as Your Full-time Vocation, and The Power of Vision: Recognizing God’s Call. She is advancing in ministry currently as a licensed Evangelist. Ms. Jackson continues to share her

There is greatness in you the world has not seen Your greatness can no longer remain just a dream He put a Vision in you that only you can fulfill You must boldly go forth and not sit still

gifts, talent and expertise with ministries around the country. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her daughter, Kalii.

How? You might ask. Allow me to say Keep your eyes on the prize and do a little each day What is your Vision? Whom will you serve? All of God’s goodness you fully deserve Make today the last day with fears that you wrestle This is not about you, you are only the vessel But an unwilling vessel is a dangerous thing Because the brilliance and gifting remain unseen God has given the plan on which you shall act You have all that you need and nothing to lack No more fears, no more lies, no more living small lives

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Go forth and spread love With the force of a lion and with faith as your glove For without you, someone else will not see All that God needs them to be It’s time for you to walk in Victory!

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