"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves." Thomas A. Edison Thomas A. Edison

"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves."

Thomas A. Edison

This quote reminds me of the fact that we all have a common thread. We all at one time or another are stunted in our growth. We are either too scared to move forward, fear the unknown, fear failure or just don't take the next step to grow.  We are told over and over that in Christ we have all the power and abilities of Christ within us. Why do we live as though "one person can not change the world"? Jesus was one person and he changed everything in this world and the next. 

When Jesus calls, do you listen every time? I am ashamed to say that many times I have hushed that small but, unmistakable voice inside because of fear or inconvenience. I hate to think of the opportunities that I have missed because of my fear and stubbornness. 
The God that created the earth and all of its beauty and wonder created you and I. He personally knit us in our Mothers womb! Would He do all that for a mediocre life? No, I do not believe so. I believe that God created each one of us for God-breathed purpose and that purpose is inside us waiting to come out. That is why we search, we search to find it. Some search outside in a bottle, some search in people some search for it in acquiring stuff. Some people will settle for that little ache that pangs when you get close but, will never step out to achieve it.
Have you ever been drawn to someone that you see and, just know that, beyond a shadow of a doubt that that is what they are supposed to be doing in life...they kind of shine. It doesn't have to be on TV, in a magazine on the radio or on the big screen. Just that daily inspiration, doing what isn't work because they were called to it. I don't know about you but, I want that! 
If we did listen and follow whatever it is that is knit in our very fiber what would that look like?


Are you stunted? are you stuck and you actively ignoring that pull out of fear? Edison was absolutely correct, "if we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves". I believe that all it takes it a step out of the box and into your purpose. I think I am taking mine...what about you?

I am not who I once was

You know there is a song that states "I wish that you could see me now cause I'm not who I was", and I just love to sing along with it because I am so thankful that I am not who I once was. I am changed.

Was I a horrible person, nope. I was a broken and sad person looking to fill an abyss of lonliness and self-pity . I had no hope and no way to process life, no ability to make good decisions and I lived by what I felt.

Today I can say that ,while I want to keep that season of my life close by, I can always be reminded of where I once was. I am so thankful that I have a God that wept with me when I was lost and pursued me intensely until I could hear His voice. A God that loves me enough to let me choose and also to let me suffer my own consequences. A God that does not promise a life without brokenness or pain but, a promise that whatever may come, He will not leave. In fact He will use it for our good IF we allow it.

Yes, I am so full of joy with every breath I take that I am not who I once was cause I like me now. I am not perfect, I sin, I disappoint and I fail but, now I know that there is more to my story than that.

Has it really been THAT long?

It all started over a fooseball table.....

I'm in college just looking for the next party, barely making the grade (if at all). I was just waiting, waiting for something and then...
Some of my friends say, "let's go to the beach over Easter break". That is totally cool with me cause I'm game for whatever whenever and most definately anything at the beach. It turns out thata large group of others are going too and we headed over to the student center to meet up with them. I don't remember who was doing the introducing but, I do remember "THE GUY". I didn't predict he was my going to be my soulmate or get a bolt of lighting but, something subtle and different came through me as I looked up over the foseball table at his big blue eyes. It was almost like, just for that mili-second, everything slowed down, anyway, the meeting left a mark on me. How was I to know that at that moment I had met the one God was going to use to teach me who He was.
The boy I met, he was not so innocent, not preachy, really smart and not offensive. However, he was subtle, disciplined, strong, faithful and trustworthy. Hmmm, trustworthy....wow, that word is something I just didn't do and certainly wasn't worthy of. It would take me many years to truly know and live the meaning of that word. However, that boy I met over the Fooseball table....God would use him to unravel the meaning so that I could learn to trust and be trusted.

The next day was departure day and I was riding with a different boy, someone who was fake and being quite a jerk so about halfway to the beach we stopped for gas and I jumped into a little red Nissan pick up truck. I smiled and said , "can I ride with you"? There was not much of a choice since I was already making myself comfortable squishing in with the two that were already in the seat. We didn't know it but, this would be the beginning of eternity for us.
Once at the beach and seeing the "BEACH HOUSE" we were going to be staying in was actually a trailer with no water and no where near the beach, we were almost out of luck but, thank goodness for my trusty American Express card! We did get a room right on the beach and I think we had 7 people crammed in one room. That boy and I, we stayed  close for the majority of the trip, just hanging out and talking. We talked about music, sports, family and life. By the time the trip was ending I think we were both invested in hoping there would be something more between us.
More there was, over the next few years we would be dating, married, have our first child and starting out on our journey together as a family. All this time, God was using my husband in a might way. He taught me that there was more for me and I was not OK however, I would be, I could be...IF I chose to be.
There is way too much in the many lessons that I learned through my husbands charcter, unconditional love and faith to say in this small glimpse. My point is, you never know who you are influencing by the way you choose to live, what you choose to share or living a life of encouragement.
Encouragement is what finally spoke to my heart and began my search for more. He didn't know what God was doing through him and he didn't do it on purpose. It was just him allowing me to see glimpses of God in him. I want to be that for my kids, my mom, all those who don't know that there is more.
My prayer is that through those God given glimpses and on to many, many more glimpses will be seen for others to know and live on through the generations to come.

Setting Fires

It has been a reoccurring theme to me for the past few weeks that God has such a perfect plan for us and we, more often than not, miss it all together.

Why do we wait, talk our selves out of, or sit when our heart is screaming for us to stand? Have you ever heard the phrase that, "You were created for such a time as this"? This comes from scripture, it's about a girl that is thrust into a situation she was not prepared for but she chose to stand up and lay it all on the line, she was "all in" as they say these days. She was all in and she was resolved to (good, bad, or indifferent) see it through. Little did she know that her choice to stand up when she had every reason in the world to sit, would save a nation. She was a fire setter, no she did not set out to inspire or capture fame. She made her choice on what she knew was right in her heart and that began a journey that would inspire generations to stand up in the face of any adversary, her name was Esther.

I believe that God calls us to the extraordinary everyday and it is our choice to hear it and either obey or pass up the opportunity of a lifetime. God has such a perfect plan here, He calls one to stand up in faith and others are inspired (sparked) by that and hopefully will set in place a domino effect. Passion, inspiration, strength, courage, joy are all things we want and when you see it in others in any circumstance it says, "there is more than this...you were created for more. You and I were created for a purpose, it might be huge like Esther or it might be something you think only you see...whatever it is, you always have a choice to stand or sit.

A girl who should be care free and healthy. She is an athlete but, is riddled everyday with pain and discomfort that no one sees but, she chooses to live life out loud in spite of her struggle. She has determination and drive that supersedes all that ales her. It's a beautiful thing.

A wife who is standing up and encouraging all who will hear in the face of the chronic and painful illness of her husband. Instead of why, I see thanks, faith, love, courage and strength. In a situation that it would be easy to give in and give up, lay down and focus on the whys, she stands in adoration and joy- the kind of Joy you can have amidst the pain.

These are fire setters.... so, back to my initial question. How many times have you hushed that voice that calls for you to stand up? How many times have you talked yourself out of something because of fear? How many times have you missed the blessing of being a fire setter?

I have too many to count and I am more ashamed now that I am actually thinking about it. I am tired of it,  I see my kids starting to sit when I know they are called to stand! I see my influence on others, how can I expect any more of you than what I am willing to do, risk and rely on my faith to accomplish?

What if we set those fires? What if we never hushed that voice that calls us to do more, step out and to stand alone? What would our world look like? What would your life look like?