Abiding Love, Abounding Grace: Waking Us Up to Dream Again... The Dream Of You by Jo Saxton

I was so honored to be on this Book Launch Team for Jo Saxton's new book, The Dream of You. Because - well, first off: Jo Saxton! Y'all maybe fell in love with her like I did while watching her speak at the IF:Gathering the last couple of years. And also: Identity... man! If you spend any amount of time around this little corner of the interwebs, then you know! Identity... I can't stop talking about it...

Actually, it's Identity + God-sized Dreams + Intimacy with Christ + Prayer and what that equals is my jam!

I promise you, I am not listening to The Greatest Showman soundtrack right now. (It's on Pause... literally!)

I didn't want it to influence EVERY post I write this month... but I will say this:

The Greatest Showman is all about waking us up to Dream again... to take risks --and yet to not lose sight of priorities... and this book? Yeah... this book is also all about waking us up to dream again... it's about our willingness to follow Him and take risks and be who He created us to be (--yes, I am TOTALLY hearing "This is Me" in my mind right now. It's fine.) while not losing sight of what is really important!

In other words...

You want to get your hands on this book!

I had really only heard Jo speak a few times but I knew that she brings the Truth with passion and intensity when she speaks and I was pretty sure that would translate into a book that I would want to devour! As soon as I saw the title and subtitle, I knew I was in!

Because here's the thing:

Even when we have discovered our true, God-given identities and have been walking with Him and have learned His ways and have experienced partnering with Him in using our gifts... Gah!

Sometimes we STILL forget, right?

This book is full of Jo's personal journey... full of ups and downs and testimonies of how He came through but also testimonies of how she got through in the in between times!

As expected, she draws from the Bible and unpacks Scripture and familiar stories in a way that gives you a different perspective, --or at least a refresher that shows you that there are a lot of kindred wanderers and wounded warriors in the Word. A reminder that truly, we are not alone... and whatever we are facing, there is purpose in it and through it and even the hard, dark parts (maybe especially those!) He will use!

I loved that while reading her words, I could 'hear' her voice... sometimes reading with an accent (because - of course!) and sometimes reading in a slightly shouty font because of the excitement!

I also loved the combination of Letters to the reader, with Scripture/Bible teaching, testimony, and space to write and to answer some great leading questions to help us discover (or re-discover) the parts of us that may have gotten lost or broken along the way, too!

There were so many 'you, too?' moments, even though our stories are oh so different. The enemy, as I have often said, maybe crafty - but he is not creative! My entire copy is underlined, highlighted, and dog-eared.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

"When you are uncertain about who you are, you will believe -wrongly- that your value has to be earned. You will try to prove your worth through achievement. Your identity will be held in place by a fragile truce that comes with burdensome conditions, instead of a lasting peace and contentment that grounds your life. You will rely on the recognition and applause of others to center you and provide affirmation. And what does all this do to you? You will exhaust yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally trying to earn the approval of people or institutions. Then you'll take yourself beyond exhaustion as you try to hold onto the approval you feel you have earned." (p5, The Dream of You)

"What would it be like to be seen fully and known intimately and still be loved unconditionally? I mean beyond your body to the you on the inside. What if you were known and loved entirely? Every part of your story, every fragile weakness, every quirk, every talent, everything. Nothing hidden, nothing overlooked, and still you are surrounded and enfolded by love." (p92, The Dream of You)

"It seems that when God redeems a person's identity and leads her to her purpose, there's a backdrop of battle and vulnerability. We saw it in Esther's journey when she had to address the king to save her people. If you're going to embrace your God-given identity, reclaim your voice, and live out your purpose, it will be a fight. You'll need to learn how to name, confront, and slay the giants that stand in the way of the life you were made for." (p112, The Dream of You)

"It's what we all do with our broken identities: we simply try harder, work harder. We carry wounds, yet we carry on until life forces us to change. Sometimes it's through a health crisis or divorce or kids leaving home. Sometimes it happens quietly when you feel that you're crumbling on the inside. Sister, you need to carve out time for soul work. And not just time but also space, in your mind and heart. Not because you're bad, but because you are worthy. And we both know that in the early hours of the morning when insomnia rules and your heart is vulnerable, you want to live a different way. It's hard to let go when you have carried so much for so long, but I'd like to propose an alternative. What could it look like to let Jesus carry you? Wishing you a restored soul and a thousand naps." (p159, The Dream of You) It's like she KNOWS me?

"Finally, the great thing about this community is that you are part of it. That means you aren't just a recipient of the blessings of God's family. You're a contributor. You get to reconnect people to the bigger picture when you tell them your story. You will help others recover their name, their full name. You will use your voice to sing the song they have hidden in their heart out of fear, and you will help them find their voice and unleash their purpose. This is part of the life you were made for. Are you ready?" (p187, The Dream of You)

Happy Book Birthday, Jo!

You can find The Dream of You by Jo Saxton anywhere books are sold! I highly recommend it! I recommend you read it, yes... but then you follow the tips she lays out at the end that will help you to learn and walk in YOUR identity and fulfill the Dream of YOU that He has for you! (Hint: It's better than you think!)

Need a little more convincing? Here is the Book Trailer...