Andrew and I can be big dreamers sometimes. Andrew usually moreso than I...and I love it! I love how he is so passionate about things and allows the Lord to plant hopes and desires in him and then allows Him to work through him to make those dreams more of reality. It's a wonderful thing to get to be a part of.
One of our dreams is a big one...really big. It was first Andrew's and quickly became one of mine as he shared it with me and we began praying about it together. To sum it up, one of our deepest desires is to see the church really begin to reach out to those around us who are in need of the hope and love that is only found in Christ and a relationship with Him. I know. Some of you are probably sitting there thinking "That's not really that big of a dream." Oh, yes. It is. You see, it is not only our desire to see the church begin to adopt the passion of loving those around us, but it is also our desire to build a way to equip the church to better know and understand the needs of the people around them. We firmly believe that the Lord has each of us where we are for a reason. Where we have been planted is our mission field just as much as foreign countries. Our local cities are in great need in so many more ways than just physical, visible needs. However, we do feel that meeting physical, visible needs are an inlet for sharing the gospel and the love of Christ. Without going into great detail (more will come later :)), a complex vision was placed on Andrew's heart over a year ago and one that we are constantly just trying to give over to the Lord. It is something that can only really work if His hand is in it. It has to be all for His glory or it is completely in vain. I will put updates on this on the blog periodically and I look forward to seeing how God continues to move! If you are willing, we would love to have you pray for this and for us to be diligent in seeking the Lord and His will in all of it.
Another dream of ours is another pretty big one (I told you we dreamed big :)). This one is one that I know we share with many other couples. We would love to be able to adopt one day! Andrew and I both want children, but we agreed early on that "our children" does not just have to mean children of our own DNA. "Our children" can also be children that the Lord allows us to adopt and raise as our own. We have no idea whether we want to adopt internationally or locally, boy or girl, etc. But we know it is a dream of ours and we know that, if it is God's will, He will provide wisdom and clarity and in every way that we need.
Want to know about a dream that has already come true? You can probably guess it and I'm pretty positive that you will think it's cheesy, but I don't even care :) Andrew, my husband, is a dream come true. Seriously. I have prayed for him for years- even way before I knew him. I have longed to know who my husband would be more days and nights than I should probably admit. I have waited- sometimes patiently, but mostly impatiently. The Lord has fulfilled that dream through Andrew in more ways than I ever dreamed. Still think I'm cheesy? I still don't even care :) I know, I know. I've heard it before. Some of you out there who have probably been married longer than me are thinking silly things like "Oh you think that now, but just give it a few years..." I know most of you mean well. I know things aren't always rainbows and butterflies. But here is the truth- I plan to. I plan to give it all of my years. Because, quite frankly, I truly believe that Andrew was put into my life to be my husband. As long as I live. Always. We are instructed in Scripture that marriage is a picture of the gospel. Sure there will be hard days and hard situations but, as long as the Lord has me on this earth, I want to allow Him to work in and through our marriage. I want Him chisel away our "self" and make us more and more a reflection of Him, His gospel, His love. It's not about us. And the moment I begin thinking that it is, that is when I try to take some of that "self" that has been chiseled away and stick it back on and mar the image that He has created me in- His own. Don't feel like your marriage is a dream come true? I'm sure we all will have those days sometime in life. But here's the only solution that works- pray to be rid of selfishness. Pray to make it more about Christ and less about you. And see what happens. Getting to be in a relationship that God created to be the closest thing to reflecting His love for us? I'd say that is a dream come true any day. What a privilege.
That's all for now :) I love being able to dream with Andrew...that alone is a dream come true...There are more, but I will get around to adding them as time allows. Thank you for reading! Like I said, I will try to be consistent in updating about how the Lord works and provides in each of these!
One of our dreams is a big one...really big. It was first Andrew's and quickly became one of mine as he shared it with me and we began praying about it together. To sum it up, one of our deepest desires is to see the church really begin to reach out to those around us who are in need of the hope and love that is only found in Christ and a relationship with Him. I know. Some of you are probably sitting there thinking "That's not really that big of a dream." Oh, yes. It is. You see, it is not only our desire to see the church begin to adopt the passion of loving those around us, but it is also our desire to build a way to equip the church to better know and understand the needs of the people around them. We firmly believe that the Lord has each of us where we are for a reason. Where we have been planted is our mission field just as much as foreign countries. Our local cities are in great need in so many more ways than just physical, visible needs. However, we do feel that meeting physical, visible needs are an inlet for sharing the gospel and the love of Christ. Without going into great detail (more will come later :)), a complex vision was placed on Andrew's heart over a year ago and one that we are constantly just trying to give over to the Lord. It is something that can only really work if His hand is in it. It has to be all for His glory or it is completely in vain. I will put updates on this on the blog periodically and I look forward to seeing how God continues to move! If you are willing, we would love to have you pray for this and for us to be diligent in seeking the Lord and His will in all of it.
Another dream of ours is another pretty big one (I told you we dreamed big :)). This one is one that I know we share with many other couples. We would love to be able to adopt one day! Andrew and I both want children, but we agreed early on that "our children" does not just have to mean children of our own DNA. "Our children" can also be children that the Lord allows us to adopt and raise as our own. We have no idea whether we want to adopt internationally or locally, boy or girl, etc. But we know it is a dream of ours and we know that, if it is God's will, He will provide wisdom and clarity and in every way that we need.
Want to know about a dream that has already come true? You can probably guess it and I'm pretty positive that you will think it's cheesy, but I don't even care :) Andrew, my husband, is a dream come true. Seriously. I have prayed for him for years- even way before I knew him. I have longed to know who my husband would be more days and nights than I should probably admit. I have waited- sometimes patiently, but mostly impatiently. The Lord has fulfilled that dream through Andrew in more ways than I ever dreamed. Still think I'm cheesy? I still don't even care :) I know, I know. I've heard it before. Some of you out there who have probably been married longer than me are thinking silly things like "Oh you think that now, but just give it a few years..." I know most of you mean well. I know things aren't always rainbows and butterflies. But here is the truth- I plan to. I plan to give it all of my years. Because, quite frankly, I truly believe that Andrew was put into my life to be my husband. As long as I live. Always. We are instructed in Scripture that marriage is a picture of the gospel. Sure there will be hard days and hard situations but, as long as the Lord has me on this earth, I want to allow Him to work in and through our marriage. I want Him chisel away our "self" and make us more and more a reflection of Him, His gospel, His love. It's not about us. And the moment I begin thinking that it is, that is when I try to take some of that "self" that has been chiseled away and stick it back on and mar the image that He has created me in- His own. Don't feel like your marriage is a dream come true? I'm sure we all will have those days sometime in life. But here's the only solution that works- pray to be rid of selfishness. Pray to make it more about Christ and less about you. And see what happens. Getting to be in a relationship that God created to be the closest thing to reflecting His love for us? I'd say that is a dream come true any day. What a privilege.
That's all for now :) I love being able to dream with Andrew...that alone is a dream come true...There are more, but I will get around to adding them as time allows. Thank you for reading! Like I said, I will try to be consistent in updating about how the Lord works and provides in each of these!
You rock babe ;-)
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