Before Shamgar defeated the Philistines and saved Israel, no one  would have picked him as a man destined for greatness

Here is the secret to live an unstoppable life :

1) Start Where You Are

2) Use What You Have
3) Do What You Can

These are some helps and hints that you can jot down in your journal and work through that relate to session three in the Unstoppable series as we discussed Using What You Have.

Here is a bit of background :
Shamgar is the third in a series of judges whom God raised up to  lead the nation of Israel during the years between the death of Joshua and  the rise of King Saul. The judges of Israel were not formally recognized leaders. They were not elected, appointed, anointed or installed. Israel  had no formal leadership whatsoever. "In those days," the book of  Judges tells us, "there was no king in Israel, but every man did that  which was right in his own eyes"

And what the people thought was right in their own eyes was horribly  wrong in the eyes of God. The people fell away from God and his  Law. They began worshipping the demon-gods of the surrounding culture.   Their society began to crumble and decay, and in time they were  taken captive by neighboring nations. While in captivity, the people  would repent and return to God, and God would raise up a new leader,  a judge, a person who had enormous natural leadership abilities. That  judge would then deliver the people from their bondage.

The first of these judges was Othniel, who victoriously led an army  of Israelites against the Mesopotamians. The second judge was Ehud,  whose army killed 10,000 soldiers of Moab. But Shamgar, the third  judge, is very different from Othniel and Ehud. He does not lead an  army. He is an army of one. He faces a hopeless situation-and he faces  it alone and friendless.

As we talk about using what you have...Shamgar had an ox-goad 

Why an ox-goad? Certainly there must have been a better weapon  available than a pointed wooden pole!

Actually, an ox-goad may have been the closest thing to a weapon  that anyone in Israel had anymore. The nation had probably fallen into  such a state of moral and social decline that the arts of the weapon-smith   and the blacksmith had been lost. It may well be that no one in  Israel knew how to make a proper weapon anymore.

Yet, as we discovered in our study...this story is our story and Shamgar actually had much more than JUST an Ox-goad...

You have the same things....

1. Your Dreams

(Judges 5:6) the highways were deserted, and the travelers walked along the byways. Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel

Shamgar dreamed of liberating his people from the terrorism and  oppression of the Philistines. Then he took up his ox-goad and made  that dream a reality.

So what are your dreams? Have you taken the time  to look beyond what is, and to envision what could be?

Dreams are incredibly powerful. They fill us with hope. They enable  us to imagine a better tomorrow. They motivate us and energize us.  They activate our courage so that we will dare to take risks in order to  see our dreams come true.

In your journal answer the following :

What dream helps to drive your life?

If you are a follower and following Jesus...you have a dream...really!

Do you have dreams?
Hopefully you do! But the real question for anyone who is a follower of Jesus is "how do you know if your dream is God's dream for your life?"

That not only is a fair question, but a question that must be answered. If you have ever wondered that then you have found the right place for resources to help you discover the answer to the question.

On this section of the website you will find some stuff that will help you make sure your dreams are God's dreams for your life, you will discover how to start living out the life of your dreams, and most importantly how to keep those dreams on track!

God's dream and plan for your life is the only way to really live...so here is your invitation to climb aboard the "Dream Express" and start living the dream that God has created for you!

Watch the Worship Service:
http://www.touchandchange.com/artman/publish/article_1644.shtml

Discover more about dreaming :
http://www.touchandchange.com/artman/publish/article_1638.shtml

2. Your Enthusiasm

(Judges 3:31) He killed six hundred Philistines with an ox goad

Enthusiasm is energy. It electrifies the soul. Plug into the power of  enthusiasm and you'll be amazed at what you will accomplish.

You might say, "But I don't have any enthusiasm." To which I would  reply, "Why not? If you believe in God, you should be overflowing with  enthusiasm!"

After all, the word enthusiasm comes from the Greek  word entheos, which means, "in God"

In your journal answer the following:

How does God change the way you live life?

If you are "in God" and if God is in you, then your life should be brimming with enthusiasm, energy and inspiration....that is enthusiasm