passion

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Who you’re not

Do you know who you’re not? 

I realize this is a weird question. Experts and amateurs alike focus more on discussions around discovering who you are than discovering who you are not.

However, it’s vital to know both. 

You’re more likely to be counterproductive, pursuing things that are not related to your purpose, if you never discover who you’re not. For those who are Christians, you’ll also see more results in your spiritual life by knowing who you are and who you are not.

The topic of identity gets a lot of attention in our culture because our fast paced culture doesn’t allow much time for introspection and reflection. If you’re not moving at full speed, someone else might get ahead of you! 

Never mind the fact that life is more a marathon than a sprint….

By learning who I am not, I am freeing myself up to be who I am.

My focus is getting sharper.

My purpose is becoming clearer.

I compare myself to others less and less.

I don’t have to be you and you don’t have to be me. Isn’t that awesome?

Take my advice. Spend some time getting to know yourself. Then get busy chasing your dreams and helping others.

Know who you are, know who you are not. 

 

 

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Farm fun

I spent the afternoon muddy and I loved it! 

My friends, Jeff and Nina, invited me over for lunch. After we ate, I helped Nina replant an evergreen tree. 

I met Jeff and Nina back in October when my dad and I came out to College Weekend. Dad went to Rhema with Jeff, so they’ve been friends for years. 

Their sweet family is so much fun to hang out with! We spent the afternoon chatting and working around their farm. 

They have 3 children, so it was noisy…and awesome! I miss my brothers and sisters. I miss having little people around me. 

Also, all 3 of their goats had twins. 6 kids were romping around the farm. It’s amazing to see God’s creation doing what it’s intended to do: be fruitful and multiply. 

Working outside, digging in the dirt, was a blast. 

Gardening is something that I enjoy and want to do for the rest of my life. There’s something so satisfying about tending a garden and eating from it’s bounty. 

Jeff and Nina work hard on their farm. It’s cool to see their passion and how their children work alongside of them. 

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The Power of a Dream

There was a time I really wanted to play in the WNBA.

Can you imagine that?

I can’t anymore because let’s face it: my athletic abilities are not that great. Playing intramural sports is fun, but I’m by no means a MVP. 

But when I was 10, I saw myself playing ball with the big shots. I saw myself on the court, dominating the competition! 

Tonight at a Bible study, the pastor said something that caught my attention:

The imagination is our spiritual womb; it’s out of our imagination that dreams and desires are birthed. 

The pastor’s statement gripped me because my personal belief is that Christians should be the most creative people on this planet. 

The Creator of the Universe lives inside of us! 

Jesus doesn’t require you to cash in your personality in order to follow Him. I’m not quite sure when being a Christian became synonymous with being boring and unoriginal.

It’s simply not true! 

Let me be clear: I am not advocating becoming an all-about-me Christian. This should be a given anyway since Jesus Himself taught us to live selflessly instead of selfishly. 

The fact remains, though, that when you accept Jesus, you are more alive than you ever were before! 

Who you are–personality and all–explodes to life when God moves into your heart. 

Deity lives inside you! You are one with Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

The more I understand this truth, the more excited I am to dream big with God. 

And your dreams and my dreams are not selfish in their motives when the purpose is to see God become real to others. 

It’s time to dream big again…

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Missions on my mind

I had an amazing Saturday….and I can’t tell you anything about it!

The School of World Missions (SOWM) Cultural Immersion Weekend was this Friday and Saturday. 

I rode the church bus out to Rhema Ranch early this morning with 10 other student volunteers. 

We were sworn to secrecy because SOWM wants the experience to be a surprise for upcoming missions students. 

What I can tell you is that I will definitely sign up to volunteer in the future!

The presence and power of God was so strong. These students are ready to take the world by storm.

Another cool aspect of volunteering is knowing that my dad and stepmom went through similar training to prepare for the mission field. 

Missions is a core value in my family, so I want to help SOWM any way I can. 

I was also more stirred up about deaf missions. There are so many deaf people who don’t know Jesus! I look forward to seeing how the path God has for me unfolds. 

Missions is on my mind and burning in my heart!

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Making history

What are some moments in history you would love to be a part of? 

I have several:

  • Fighting for civil rights in the’60s
  • Working in America during World War II (think Rosie the Riveter)
  • Helping at a revival during the Jesus Movement
  • Watching the Wright Brothers fly the first plane
  • Going out west as a pioneer

There are a TON of other moments, but these are my favorites. 

As a child my imagination aided in my learning and loving of history. I wanted to make history some day. In fact, I still do. 

The likelihood of it happening is slim, but it’s one of those childhood fantasies that won’t relent. 

But it got me to thinking of all my favorite historical figures. Very few set out to be famous for their contributions. 

They were simply dedicated, passionate individuals who refused to go against their convictions, to remain idle when they could act. 

This is the example I want to follow. 

This is the kind of life I want for myself. 

If it happens to put me in history books, fine. If not, I consider the joy of an actionable life worthy of all my efforts. 

The best people I know are not well known by the masses, but those of us who are fortunate enough to rub shoulders with them pray for half an ounce of their character, courage, and tenacity. 

The narratives of history are great. I’m glad for all of its lessons–good and bad–because history is a wonderful teacher. 

I encourage you all, though, to live with purpose and intensity for the right reasons. 

There are plenty of wonderful lives to study, if you need proof of what I’m talking about today. They can be found in libraries or your own backyard. 

Making a difference is much more important than making history.