Hello, friends. If you are a frequent visitor of my blog, you have most likely read lots of little stories about me and some of the happenings in my life. I enjoy sharing these stories. I enjoy writing. I enjoy having the opportunity to use my words and my stories to glorify God and His grace and His goodness.

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”  (Mark 16:15)

Lately, these words have so strongly been placed in my heart and spirit. Words that started out as a whispering breeze are now turning into a strong wind. I know God is wanting me to do more than just tell my story, He is wanting me to tell His story. It is only in His story where redemption, love, and wholeness can be found. 

I began to ask…where? How? I don’t really know where God is leading me in all of this. I am a homeschool stay-at-home mom. I have little to no adult interaction in an average day. What can I do?  Daily, He is gently reminding me not to put Him in a box. 

God is not constrained to our own perceived limitations. 

I am starting here, with you. God has not revealed a “big and grand” plan. I just know I should start with what He has given me. I may not be a fantastic writer, but I can usually put together some sort of comprehensible sentence. Usually. I don’t have any sort of “following”, but, I have been given a love for writing; I will use the love that I was given for writing to point it right back to The Giver. 

I am starting a new series of posts on here that reflect on the call “to go”. What it means, what it looks like in our every day lives, what we can do to follow the words of Christ. However, don’t for a minute believe that I am an expert in this…far from it. 

I want to share what I learn, as I learn. 

I won’t be the only one posting about this. I will be inviting others to join with me on this topic and post their experiences and share how they are following this call “to go”. One of the most frequent people you will find here posting about this will be my youngest brother, Matthew.

Here is a preview of the thoughts and writings you will find from him…

“As a marketing student, I am constantly doing case studies to better the marketing efforts of non-existent companies. There is always a process my professors have me go through for each project. While this sounds completely unrelated and monotonous, please just hear me out. 

The first step is to know what your strategy is. This is the overarching point of the entire marketing plan. Everything that follows is meant to attain and fulfill this purpose. The next step is to set specific goals/objectives that are measurable and fit into reaching the strategy. Finally, you have your tactics for how you will reach these goals. These are the practical steps on how you will actually carry out the entire project.

 Why do I mention these steps? Because they are very practical in the way we conduct our lives as Christians. We are a culture of compartmentalization.

 I have my class time, my homework time, my various social times, my church time; all of these are things I separate as different tasks. While they all are unique and different, there should be an overarching purpose to which they all contribute. These are the tactics, so to speak. 

I am taking six classes this semester in order to reach one of my objectives of graduating from college. The purpose in this is so that I can use my degree to move overseas and work with people who don’t have the Gospel among them. This is how doing my homework, showing up for class, and paying my tuition are all tactics that contribute to the end purpose of my life. 

However, we as Christians often have a disconnect between tactic and strategy. 

In the myriad of daily commitments, we so often treat them as if they are the end goal for us. Maybe it’s because of a lack of energy, an overcrowded schedule, or a lack of vision; no matter what it is, we all struggle with seeing the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks (tactics) as reaching an objective to accomplish a Gospel purpose. Because of this, we make unbiblical separations in our lives. We live with a mindset that there is a certain time of the day (or week) where we are to be Gospel-driven. 

While we often feel good about these designated “God” times, it really isn’t biblical and really isn’t adequate to the life we have been called to live out as people of regeneration (new life in Christ).  The Gospel is meant to flow into every aspect of our lives as believers. But unfortunately, it doesn’t. We are people consumed by doing tasks without having the overall purpose in mind. This must change.”

So, here we are, two people with a set purpose to further understand and live out the call “to go”, daily, as Gospel-centered individuals. We are excited to share this journey with you. Our goal is not to make ourselves feel like “better Christians”, but instead, to fan the flames of the Gospel message to all people.

“For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:3-8) 

*bold words my emphasis