Go.

I got to work with my aunt again this week, which is always a blessing, and I always walk away with a life lesson. The details of the job are somewhat private b/c you are dealing with large corporations and issues within. I got confronted by a the leader of a protesting group who was against the company I was with. I don't know why I was singled out, but he walked up and said, "What are you so happy about?" I smiled. And retorted back, "Well, what really keeps you from being happy anyway?" To which he used it as a platform to voice his life mission (literally) complaint about the most menial, pointless things that are all ultimately having no eternal significance whatsoever. Like buildings and their location. Seriously. Anger about the location of a building. I lastly said to him, "At the end of the day, is what you are investing your time in really that important? Will it affect the next generation? I am a mother. The job of raising lives is what God has given me to invest in right now. Lives matter, not buildings." Needless to say, I got a very blank stare. Then I walked away because let-me-tell-you-what, I can win an argument. All. Day. Long.
But, it got me thinking....  Not only was this dude for real, there are many people chasing just as empty of a dream as he is. They are not full time protestors, but they are our next door neighbors. And they are caught up in the material aspect of this life.

 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Ro 10:14

Tim and I are really passionate people. We always think really big and see that picture. Screw the details to get there, but we know where we want to go!!
I think one thing that really sets our life apart is that we feel like we are on a mission. And that is our main thing. We were in full time college ministry for 2 years and raised every dollar of support we lived on. I could have done it for the rest of my life. Tim's ultimate dream is to have his business one day to where he could incorporate missions and use his gifts to sustain our living. Kind of old testament "tent-making" living.
We never want our life to become about us. And about having a cookie cut out house, family, cars, and clothes... I think "American Dream" says that you will find happiness with a husband, children, home, job, ect.
We have never bought into that. I think it's the biggest lie out there. Because. Life wasn't created to be all about you. And all about what you want. And all about the pursuit of getting it.
Values you want to instill in your children aren't just talked about, they are lived out in front of them. What do your children see your life revolving around?
In general, I've just become so aware of having a thankful heart. Ann Voskamp's book, 1000 Gifts is really a game changer for your outlook on life. It is SO completely your attitude and heart and asking God to change it.

Why are you here? Is it for the collection of this "dream?" I hope to spare some people of spending their whole life chasing something that will never fulfill them anyway. You have to have passion and drive. For Tim and I, just hitting status quo and stopping at our house and famly- that sounds like the most boring life anyone could ever live. And a very, very selfish life. That was just all about you. And getting everything you wanted- you can ask Christ to make your life about more than that. And He will.

I'm preaching to the choir with this, its the battle of every persons heart. I just challenge you to DREAM BIGGER. Instead of caring about what is going in your own 4 walls, what about what is going on in the 4 walls that live next to you? Across from you? What about the families your children are going to school with? What about the families your husband is working with?

Many people want to go overseas or do something "radical" to have a ministry, but no one wants to just walk across the street. People are called to do different things, but I believe the hardest ministry sometimes is with the very people God has put you in community with.

We feel we have a very specific calling on our life. Plain and simple: it's not about us.  Ask Jesus to  EMPOWER you. We always talk at our church about finding your "deal" that God has given you. Ours is outreach. It's messy. And dirty. And people tell you things you don't want to lay in your bed at night thinking about. It's more fun to talk about vacation, school, your favorite store, mine is LOFT, or recipes.....and that is safe. Ask God to help you break ground with people, let them see your life revolves around Christ. ....... bake some cookies and ask how things are really going to a neighbor, leave early for things so when you get there you can actually have a conversation with someone about something that matters and not come in flustered and late, ask someone to lunch.... everyone has to eat it and for many mothers of preschoolers it is the worst meal of the day, have a playdate, share a struggle, share a loss, open your heart to strangers.

Let them see your life is not about material. When they can see transparency, they can see Jesus.

Will you join in this wonderful Great Commission? Not just donating your money, writing a check to your church, having a fundraiser for a mission trip. Those are good. But, we are the hands and feet. I NEVER want our generation to loose sight of being the hands and feet of the gospel and spreading the words of Jesus with our mouth. NEVER let guilt motivate you- fear, guilt, and lies are from the enemy. Jesus and His love for you will help you to love outside yourself.

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age Matt. 28

It starts with one word. Go.