Have you ever started a trip excited, then halfway into it, you lose your luggage and your wallet, and you come down with a stomach virus?

It is how I feel at this point about my dream, but I am not giving up.

The encouraging Holley Gerth asked us to share where we are in our dreams so we can support one another this week.

I wrote and edited 9 pages of my Soul Care Manifesto over the past two months.

May I confess that I wanted to chuck it, which means I  am muddling through the messy middle, and my muse is missing.

For my friends, I promise to persevere.

In other words, I will continue even if I feel like Sisyphus. Overly dramatic, maybe?

When I remember the "why behind my dream,"  my wings feel an updraft, and I soar a little higher.

Holley asked us to share what we need, so here is what would be helpful to me:

1. Learn how to create an e-book format that is downloadable to and readable on mobile devices, as well as laptops; or hire out (my preference);

2. For my non-techie friends, a simple PDF downloadable e-book format;

3. Offer my Soul Care Manifesto for free but I want to be able to track downloads and offer a place for feedback, which I hope will help with writing an e-book on Soul Care;

4. If anyone could give me feedback on whether they would read a 9- 10 page manifesto on soul care and whether you think it is too long?

5. I want to create easy links within my manifesto, so if someone wanted to read the manifesto as a series of bullet (topic) points, one could;

6. and if one clicked on a bullet point, it takes you to a slightly longer version with more detail on that particular bullet point.

7. A way to edit it after I release it so there may be more than one version.

8. Prayer to persevere and write what God has placed on my heart by remembering the "Why behind my dream."

#8 is the most important because writing is one way I partner with God. If you can help in any way, I would be most appreciative.

"Only the truth sets us free. What was learned can be unlearned. And by God's grace and power, we can learn new things in their place, making change and freedom possible."

       -Peter Scazzerro, The Daily Office, p. 42

The truth is soul care, time spent in God's loving presence, has set me free from many lies, and I live in greater freedom now than a decade ago. My ultimate why.

I am not where I used to be, nor am I where I will be as I allow God's love to mold the clay of my life, one choice and thought at a time.

[Psst...My online writing class appears to be birthing another dream...but somehow it may dovetail with my soul care e-book...]

Remembering my why and reading your sweet comments on that post is enabling me to press on with my editing and writing. Thank You.

What helps you to persevere when you are muddling through the messy mucky middle? Please share.

How can I pray for you?

Remember, Holley Gerth defines a God-Sized Dream as: " It’s about discovering and pursuing the desires God has placed within you that perfectly fit your heart."
You're Made for a God-Sized Dream: Opening the Door to All God Has for You (Read Holley's book and love it!).

Linking with other God-Sized Dreamers here:

This week as part of working toward our God-sized dreams, Holley asked us to write about one thing that has helped us, in the past, take positive action.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Gudlyf

As a recovering perfectionist, the one positive action I can take comprises two steps. 

First, I remind myself that God loves me unconditionally so there is no fear that He will love me less if I fail. Second, because of His love, I plunge forward and take that scary first step regardless of how hard my knees are knocking.

(Hmm... I confess ever since I shared I wanted to write about soul care, beginning with a manifesto, I haven't gotten very far.)

But I am implementing my one positive action by sharing with you a rough draft of my incomplete manifesto.

Yes, it is a risk. But how else am I going to move forward and trust (my 2013 word) God, unless I allow myself to write messy, and imperfectly. My thoughts on soul care are not fully formed.

I can think myself into an endless circle like our puppy chasing his own tail around and around. It makes me dizzy to watch him.

Grace, please, as you read my unfinished work. Thank you, my friend.

This is what I have written so far on my Soul Care Manifesto:

"None of us can go full speed ahead all the time. We all need to take time to be renewed and restored." -Holley Gerth*

Does your life ever feel like you're wearing a shirt too large, or your feet are cramped into shoes too small? Maybe you are running like a hamster faster and faster on the wheel of your life but you are not going anywhere?

What if you knew God designed a bespoke (personally tailored) you with a unique role to fulfill in His Kingdom, now?

From past experience, I have felt like that hamster, and I have tried to squeeze myself into someone else's shoes. And it hurt my soul, and it leaked out and hurt me emotionally and physically.

In order for you to become who God lovingly created you to be, you must care for your soul. It is not optional if you want to be fully who God designed you to be. For His Glory, for your good, and our good.

And it is not a luxury if you care for your soul by making time to be with God. Most of us make time to brush our teeth because we want healthy teeth. Well if you want a healthy soul, then care for it.

You are not being selfish if you care for your soul. Whenever I haven't cared for my soul, I became more selfish.

It is our natural bent, and soul care turns us back to God, and His image instead of our sinful tendencies.

Just like your lungs need clean air, your soul needs to be cleansed with His Holy Spirit daily. We live in a sin-stained world, and we cannot escape the effects of living in such a world.

Soul care is not complicated. You take the time to stop and connect with God and His Word. Maybe you go for a walk and talk with God. Or you sing songs to Him while you shower.

It was out of an extended time of brokenness and God healing me that God taught me the value of caring for my soul. Or rather letting Him care for me as I communed with Him, and His Word.

Caring for my soul by connecting with God daily and His Word has healed me emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically over the past several years.

The End of what I have so far on my Soul Care Manifesto. Stil in process.

How do you practice soul care?

What resonated with you as you read my in-process Soul Care Manifesto?

The Soul Care Manifesto is more of a "why" you need to care for your soul. The Soul Care e-book will have more practical "how-to" steps, hopefully.

It is where my thinking is for now, but who knows where God will lead as I pray, and write.

I appreciate so much my sweet friends, who have prayed and asked about my progress. You are amazing sisters in Christ! Thank you.

* From Holley's inspiring e-book:Do What You Can Plan: 21 Days to Making Any Area of Your Life Better .** I finished it, and I loved it. Want to also read it? Come on, friend...It will be a great growth opportunity.

** Amazon affiliate link

P.S. I invite you to meet Holley and the rest of her launch team here. You are also invited to go on the journey with us. I have "met" some of the ladies on the team, and they are an encouraging group.

Also linking today with sweet and gifted friend Laura, 

and the amazing Jen 

© Soul Stops 2013/ Dolly Lee. All Rights Reserved.

Although I can't jump as high as the girl in the photo, my soul leapt with surprise and delight.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user amade_a

Why? It was an unexpected e-mail from a published author, entrepreneur, and speaker.

But what I most appreciate about this young woman (definitely younger than me) is her heart to encourage women in their relationship with God.

She is Holley Gerth (God-sized Dreamer).

As part of  being "open" (my 2012 word/prayer), I took a risk, and applied to be on the launch team for her next book, You're Made for a God-Sized Dream: Opening the Door to All God Has for You (coming March 2013*).

"God-sized" does not mean "big," but Holley defines it as "it’s about what fits your heart just right because God placed it there as part of your purpose. We all have one."

I love her perspective.

If you have been following my blog for a while, thank you. You also know that I recently finished my Dream Series. So when I saw Holley's invitation to join the launch team for her book, I leaped at the opportunity (before fear convinced me otherwise). It fit in with where I sense God has been leading me.

Because of Holley, I am now on Facebook since she communicates with the team via FB. I am still using big training wheels on FB.

In case you want to join me, here is the link to Holley's e-book:Do What You Can Plan: 21 Days to Making Any Area of Your Life Better .* I hope to read it over the next few weeks. Want to take this opportunity to read with me? Come on, friend...It will be a great opportunity for growth.

Because of Holley's e-book, I blogged last week about two of my dreams: 1) Writing a Soul Care Manifesto; and 2) Writing an e-book about Soul Care. And I asked my friends to hold me accountable.

My blogging friends were fabulous; some offered to pray; and several said they actually looked forward to reading my words. Amazing!

Then I felt a slight panic because I publicly shared one of my dreams.

Thankfully, in her e-book, Holley gives suggestions for baby steps, like doing something which can be done in fifteen minutes.

What did I do in 15 minutes? I researched, and read a post about the elements of a manifesto. See how easy a little step can be?

What made just for you,"God-sized" dream is God calling you to? As always, I appreciate your thoughts. Truly.

Thank you for sharing your time with me. I know you're busy.

My post is linked up with other God-sized dreamers at Holley's blog; come read and/or link up your post.

P.S. I invite you to meet Holley and the rest of her launch team here. You are also invited to go on the journey with us. I have "met" some of the ladies on the team, and they are an encouraging group.

*affiliate link

© Soul Stops/Dolly Lee 2013.