Reality vs Ideals

Realities are often very different from ideals.  The difference between a visionary and a dreamer is the ability to turn what you see into reality.  When God takes a dream and makes it a fact, we know where the credit lies.
Consider this one person – Joseph, the dreamer.  He was a visionary of the highest caliber, because his vision was not his own.  He got a vision from God and got excited about it, but others called him a dreamer.  He was persecuted; he was sold as a slave; he was unjustly imprisoned.  His life went through a number of major “bumps” that most of will never experience.  He suffered a great deal for his vision, but he was able to see it through because it was not his to see through.
When you get a hold of a tiny piece of God’s vision, you will see it through, no matter how dark the valley of shadow is that you walk through.  When the vision is your own, it leads to despair.  When it is Christ’s, it leads you THROUGH despair.  It’s all a matter of the source, not your implementation.  God gives us ministries and gifts.  When we’re working on God’s terms instead of our own, they blossom.  When we’re trying to do our own thing, our gifts and abilities are stifled and we stifle others.
Be a Joseph – get a vision from God and rely on it.  There’s really no other way to go.