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When Dreams Come True: Women Today Online

by Katherine Kehler

92 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #01-0130; ISBN 1-55212-731-1; US$14.00, C$16.00, EUR11.50, £8.00

Some women dream and leave no mark, while others dream and change the world. Entrepreneur Katherine J. Kehler shares six steps of faith that can help every woman turn her dreams into reality.

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About the book      About the author      Sample excerpts      Catalogue info

About the Book There are so many wonderful examples of women who have inspired us with the fulfillment of their dreams. Yet many women are waiting for someone to point them in the right direction. Many are waiting for someone to provide clear steps they can follow for determining what God wants to do with their lives. Entrepreneur, Katherine J. Kehler shares six steps of faith that can help every woman turn her dreams into reality.

About the Author In WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE, Kehler shares her wisdom gained through nearly 30 years of practice, pursuing God-sized dreams and turning them into action. Katherine Kehler and her husband Marvin live in Langley, B.C., Canada. They have four grown children and eight grandchildren. By the time they were 32 years old, they had reached their financial goals and looked for another way to live a life of sigficance. When challenged by the Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, International, to "Come Help Change the World, " Katherine and Marvin became the directors of Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada in 1974 Since then, her leadership roles have varied and she has travelled and spoken to women's groups all over the world. She began Women Today Online four years ago and it has grown to five websites, helping women in over 150 countries. In the last 12 months, almost 2 million women came to visit their websites. She is also the executive editor of Women Today Magazine, a successful magazine that has attracted subscribers from over 150 countries. This is her first book in publication. Katherine's leadership profile is written up in the book, "A Celebration of Women", edited by Joanne C. Webster & Karen Davis. Click here to visit the author's web site, Women Today Magazine Click here to read Katherine's story, Retirement With A Purpose

Sample Excerpts

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why some women dream and leave no mark, while others dream and change the world?
   Over the years I have spent a great deal of time talking to women. Many of them have shared with me the secret yearnings and unfulfilled longings they carry in their hearts. Their eyes sparkle as they tell me about an idea they may have been considering for years. Yet too often the tyranny of the urgent, lack of confidence or fear have held them back.
   The passion these women share is inspiring: a woman with a desire to write children's books, a mother who wants to organize chapels for girls' synchronized swim teams, and a single woman who wants to reach fashion models for Christ. Yet I have been surprised and saddened to find that for so many, this passion rarely translates into action. Their dreams rarely make it to a list of five-year goals.
   As I recognized the need to encourage women to pursue their dreams, I began to consider some of the women who had inspired me:

   * Amelia Earhart dreamed of becoming the first woman to make both solo transatlantic and solo transcontinental flights in 1930.
   * Dr. Henrietta C. Mears had dreams that influenced many of the great Christian leaders of our day including Dr. Billy Graham, Dr. William R. Bright and Dr. Richard Halverson.
   * Pearl S. Buck was the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1938.

   There are so many wonderful examples of women who have turned their passions into accomplishments. It seems, though, that many women are waiting not only for a role model to point them in the right direction, but for someone to provide clear steps they can follow for determining what God wants to do with their dreams.
   We all need a helping hand sometimes, to help us get started. Several years ago, as I prayed about this need, the Lord led me to devise and teach a seminar for women called "Accomplishing Your Dream." The seminar and the article that developed out of it, consisted of practical, prayerful and motivational techniques to help women turn dreams into reality.
   In the pages to follow, I will share with you how God called me to a deeper relationship with Him. This intimate relationship gave me the confidence to:

   * capture my dreams
   * center on God
   * face my foes
   * count my assets
   * go for the gold
   * stay organized and on track.

   I will share how these steps helped me turn my passion for reaching women into a successful Internet ministry impacting lives in over 160 countries around the world.
   It is my prayer that the Lord will use these ideas and examples to inspire many more women to whole-heartedly pursue the passion He has placed in their hearts. If you have a dream, but are lacking the plan to make that dream come true, read on!

Chapter One
My Dreams Were Too Small

There can be no discussion of knowing and doing God's will without some understanding of the relationship that makes such knowledge and action possible. The Lord will never give us a task, a dream or a passion we cannot see to completion through Him who gives us strength. Simply put, as believers in Christ we cannot begin to truly serve Him without surrendering to His Lordship over our lives.
   I was a grown woman, the mother of four and a long-time Christian when the Lord revealed this simple truth to me. I believed in Christ, but I was in control of my own life. And I wasn't feeling fulfilled.
   Many years ago, while dusting my bedroom dresser, I noticed a brochure. I picked it up and began reading, trying to decide whether to throw it away or file it. One phrase caught my attention: "Learn how to live the abundant Christian life."
   The brochure was advertising a conference by an organization I had never heard of before: Campus Crusade for Christ. Initially I thought it was for college students. Certainly, I was too mature for such a conference, I thought.
   Yet that phrase, "Learn how to live the abundant Christian life" kept coming to mind during the day. I had been a Christian since I was 12. Outwardly, I had everything a woman could possibly want:

   * a wonderful, kind, handsome, generous husband
   * four healthy children who did reasonably well in school
   * our dream home (We had both been raised with a strong work ethic. We worked hard, God blessed us and we had gained some measure of success).

   In the years prior to finding that pamphlet I had begun to sense that I was missing something. It started when my mother passed away. I missed her very much and I knew I wanted to see her again, but wasn't sure I would go to heaven when I died.
   A few days after I read the brochure, my brother-in-law dropped in and asked if Marvin had mentioned the conference to me. I said "No," but that I was very interested. When my brother-in-law encouraged us to go, I listened. He had changed a lot in the previous few months. Even though he had always had a pleasing personality, he now radiated the joy of Christ. I really wanted that joy too.
   When he left, I prayed, "God, how can I have this kind of joy?" The thought, "total commitment" crossed my mind, but I quickly pushed it aside. After all, I was already involved in many leadership roles in my church and community. I certainly didn't want more to do. But a quiet voice inside of me said, "I want you, not your work." I chose to ignore His voice then, but I didn't forget it. A few weeks later, Marvin and I were on our way to the conference.
   During one of the messages, the speaker had us write a list of our acts and attitudes we knew were displeasing to God. I have to admit my list was much longer than I thought it would be. I then claimed the promise in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I felt so clean inside when I was done.
   The next morning we heard the message on how to live a life filled with, or directed by, the Spirit. This was the moment of decision. In order to experience the abundant life I really wantedÑin order to be filled with the Holy SpiritÐI needed to give the control of my life to God. This time, I didn't hesitate.
   I prayed a prayer that sounded something like this:

Dear God, I need you. I know that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. I thank you that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit as you commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your word that you would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Catalogue Information