I have the BEST kids in the world! Breakfast in bed- cranberry orange scones, omelets, pudding with mint sprigs, and chocolate milk. And flowers. And cards that made me bawl. That is truly their goal with cards. Like mother, like daughters. :-) 

My favorite gift was a card which read: you are such a good example of learning to live like Him. So, for your birthday, here is our biggest gift to you- we donated $100 of our own money to buy a share of a deep well. You've inspired us and led us to learn how to change the world and live more like Jesus. This is our way to say thank you." 

Here are some of my other favorite lines...

"Thank you for being there when I needed you, hearing me when I cried and being at my side." 

"You are a great example of what faith and hard work and trusting God looks like, and I'm so proud to be your daughter." 

"Though our family could have been destroyed in the past years, you helped us see the truth: storms are God given blessings in disguise. God held me up by my right hand, but you were always at my other side, ready to help me up and on. I am who I am because you taught me to never give up and give it all to God... Never lose hope because God never forgets His children...

You and I were meant to dance

Through oceans deep to the Promised Land."

May I always be the person my children see.

Praying Dangerously May Week Two

Use me. 

A dangerous prayer that we can only pray if we trust the One to whom we pray. 

We can only trust Him if we truly believe He loves us. 

I don't know if you struggle with believing the truth about who you are or believing the truth about God's love for you.

I do know I'm not alone in needing a reminder that I am loved unconditionally and perfectly and forever.

A few days ago one of my kids was struggling, and God gave me some words to encourage her heart. Words to remind her who she is and how much God loves her.

The words resonated in my heart too.

I pray they speak to your heart as well and help you rest in the security of being forever and unconditionally loved.

For you...

I am LOVED.

I am a person of worth.

God created me. Jesus died for me. The Holy Spirit lives in me.

I am BEAUTIFUL.

I am a PRINCESS of the King of kings.

I BELONG to Jesus.

NOTHING can separate me from God's love.

God REJOICES over me. God WATCHES over me. GOD is WITH me ALWAYS.

I am SAFE in God's hands.

God has a good plan for me.

Jesus is my Savior, my Lord, my Friend.

I will worship and PRAISE GOD all my days.

I will believe the truth- I AM GOD'S. 

(John 3:16, Romans 8: 38, Zephaniah 3: 17, Psalm 45: 11, Psalm 121: 5, Matthew 28: 20, Jeremiah 29: 11) 

Praying Dangerously May Week One

What does it mean to dream big? 

My children sometimes think it means to have lots of fun superhero dreams overnight and recount them the next morning.

They have some dreams Marvel would find impressive.

But I dream more when I'm awake. 

Some of those dreams have become books. Some of them are active prayers I'm waiting to see how God will work out. 

Whatever and whenever you dream, it's important to remember that we were created to dream. 

Not just at night.

But to pray and dream and live.

Not that living a dream is easy. Nor is it easy to wait for God to make a dream a reality.

I think too many of us forget to dream. Life gets busy. Bills have to be paid. 

And our hearts die a little bit every day we push aside the dreams we have for one day. 

Someday.

How would life be different if you were living a dream? 

Not the American dream, but God's dream for you.

Finding the cure for cancer or diabetes or chronic fatigue or a host of other diseases that steal people's dreams.

Ending hunger. 

Providing clean water to those who have never had it. 

Praying for people and seeing God change lives. 

Buying a little less so some kids you'll never meet have food on the weekends. 

Saving change so some homeless people have a place to stay tonight. 

Praying for a child halfway around the world to come to know Jesus because you gave so she could be fed and taught God loves her. 

Teaching students God has an amazing plan for their lives and that they can change the world, one word, one story, one heart at a time.

Running an orphanage so children can heal physically and spiritually.

Showing people God through science.

Healing people outside and praying God heals them inside. 

All of these are my family's dreams. Some we are living. Some have not yet happened.

What are yours? 

What dream resides deep in your heart? 

Will you pray and ask God what His dream is for you? Will you take that first step and share your dreams with God?

Let yourself dream. Leave how the dreams come true up to God. He'll show you what to do when. 

Just dream. And pray. 

God is changing the world for good through dreamers who gave their dreams to God, and He did more than they could have ever imagined. 

What about you?