So Will I

I did NOT write this. This is a song written by Hillsing United, but I read/heard it for the first time tonight.  Everything in this song speaks to me, inspires me, and stirs my soul in a way that I haven’t been moved in in a while. It’s like deep calling to deep. It ignites and awakens a place deep inside of me and emotions pour out in uninhibited and unexpected ways leaving me overwhelmed and undone by all that He is. When I’m overwhelmed by life He comes and overwhelms me with the simplicity and complexity of who He is. He is the Alpha and the Omega. The First and the Last. The Beginning and the End. And EVERYTHING in between. That means He is EVERYTHING that I need. For every situation. Every dream. Every failure. Every shortcoming. He’s the All Sufficient One. He is I AM.

If you’ve never heard of this song before let these words wash over you. Let the truth of them overwhelm your current circumstances. Let them undo every lie in your life. Let them stir new life into your soul. And let Him be the I Am for everything that you don’t even know that you need. Because He knows you and He is Faithful.

"God of creation
There at the start
Before the beginning of time
With no point of reference
You spoke to the dark
And fleshed out the wonder of light

And as You speak
A hundred billion galaxies are born
In the vapor of Your breath the planets form
If the stars were made to worship so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve made
Every burning star
A signal fire of grace
If creation sings Your praises so will I

God of Your promise
You don’t speak in vain
No syllable empty or void
For once You have spoken
All nature and science
Follow the sound of Your voice

And as You speak
A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath
Evolving in pursuit of what You said
If it all reveals Your nature so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You say
Every painted sky
A canvas of Your grace
If creation still obeys You so will I
So will I
So will I

If the stars were made to worship so will I
If the mountains bow in reverence so will I
If the oceans roar Your greatness so will I
For if everything exists to lift You high so will I
If the wind goes where You send it so will I
If the rocks cry out in silence so will I
If the sum of all our praises still falls shy
Then we’ll sing again a hundred billion times

God of salvation
You chased down my heart
Through all of my failure and pride
On a hill You created
The light of the world
Abandoned in darkness to die

And as You speak
A hundred billion failures disappear
Where You lost Your life so I could find it here
If You left the grave behind You so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve done
Every part designed in a work of art called love
If You gladly chose surrender so will I
I can see Your heart
Eight billion different ways
Every precious one
A child You died to save
If You gave Your life to love them so will I

Like You would again a hundred billion times
But what measure could amount to Your desire
You’re the One who never leaves the one behind"

The Importance of Dreaming

For years I have dreamed of making a difference in this world. For doing something beyond myself. Something big and meaningful and something I could never accomplish on my own. I read inspiring books and blogs about women who took risks and changed not only their world, but many lives around the globe. I was inspired. I was in awe. I yearned to make a difference. To really touch and affect other people. To make a tangible difference and make my mark on this world. 

I lost that dream. I began to believe that as a young stay-at-home, homeschooling mom to five kids that it just wasn’t my season. And being super introverted and indecisive that maybe it wasn’t in the cards for me at all. 

Then, one day I found out about a company called Trades of Hope and the mission that they have to make a tangible difference in women’s lives all over the world. And a little spark was ignited in my heart. A little voice in my head said, “This. This is something I can do with what I have where I’m at.” I don’t have to travel thousands of miles (although I would love to!!!) to have an impact on people on the other side of the world. All I have to do is invite people to buy better, to think about others outside of themselves, and to join me on this journey. 

I know my limitations as a salesperson, but I also know my level of passion that sometimes, quite frankly, overwhelms even me. And I made a choice to let my passion outweigh my fears. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that it’s been super easy and comfortable and that I haven’t had any doubts or lost faith in my ability to do this and make a real difference. But when I look back on the last 3.5 months and see that I have not only touched hundreds of artisans lives, but also donated over a dozen chicks to a family in Africa, provided a month’s worth of food to a child in Haiti, provided a waterwheel to a woman in India, donated 3 mama kits to impoverished pregnant women in Uganda and am thisclose to donating a bicycle to a girl in Cambodia. I am blown away by the way God has used me to change the world in the last 4 months. And for those who really know me know how much I have changed, grown, stretched, and stepped out of my comfort zone. All because my desire to live a life of significance and purpose is greater than my desire to stay comfortable. I am willing to become uncomfortable to make someone else’s life more comfortable. 

Because when you stop dreaming you lose hope. When you have no hope for the future you lose your joy. And when you have no joy for life, what do you have? This is the reality for so many women around the world. No dreams. No hope. No joy. So I’m on a mission to bring joy, restore hope, and ignite the ability to dream in others. I pray that each one of you finds that thing that you’re passionate about and allow yourself to dream about how you can change the world with those passions. And I challenge you to let the seemingly “impossible” inside of you spark and ignite someone else’s “impossible”. I believe in you! And I know your dreams can change the world! 

“I will bless you with a future filled with hope--a future of success, not of suffering.” 

-Jeremiah 29:11 CEV

Challenge Accepted

Sometimes God places desires and passions within you. Sometimes He gives you talents and gifts. Sometimes life gets busy. And sometimes someone comes along side you and reminds you of those things. Reminds you that things you do and say make a difference. That they touch people. That they change people. And then sometimes you’re reminded of why you do them. When passion and talents intersect there you will find purpose and destiny. Maybe it’s just a small part of it. Maybe there’s more. But that’s always at least one place your life will have meaning and bring you joy. Because if we aren’t here to reach and touch and affect other people then why are we here? So I challenge you. Get out of your comfort zone. Get out of your space. Get out of your self. Touch someone. Reach someone. Change a life. Maybe with just a word. Maybe with just an action. Maybe with something bigger. You never know where one choice and one step will take you. Take the step anyway.