Love Does . . . and some other random thoughts.

I recently finished reading Love Does by Bob Goff.  TOTALLY worth your time, folks.  For real.  An incredible read.

The book sparked something inside of me that has been turned off way-down-low for quite some time... it's called passion.  In his book, Goff takes a simple idea (love does, rather than love believes  or love thinks, etc) and uses each chapter to bring this "motto" to life for his readers.  Through his personal stories, Bob Goff invites his readers to take love to a whole new level— the kind of love that radically changes the world—one simple, crazy, God-sized story at a time.

Believe it or not, I'm actually pretty adventurous by nature.  Go ahead and laugh... especially if you are my husband, my sister, or my mom.  "Adventurous" is probably not the first word you would use to describe my predictable life, I know.  However, Rachael, I would like to argue that my giving away all of your clothes in middle and high school was actually an outlet for me to tap into this adventurous side of myself, but I digress....

I really enjoy a challenge, which in my mind, feels much like an "adventure."  When I committed to spend most of my summer in China the summer after my first (or second—I can't remember) year of college, I remember thinking, "What in the heck have I just signed up for???  Isn't China like where Christians have to meet in secret tunnels to even be able to open their Bibles and say the name of Jesus?"  Obviously, I hadn't gotten out much.  BUT.... the thrill of this challenge was enough to propel me to take that ridiculously LONG plane ride and spend the next 5 weeks teaching English to a whole bunch of super special kiddos that I will NEVER forget.

And I'm pretty sure that's where the PASSION officially began.

Since then, I have tossed around just a few simple ideas:

Sell all of my possessions (literally) and move to ________ (insert whatever country I am currently most intrigued with) and spend my days rocking sweet, abandoned babies, nursing the sick (like I have any clue how to do that... nope), and inviting street kiddos into my home for a warm meal (aka pizza) and a fun game of charades. (Is charades like a universal game?.... I should probably look into that.)

OR.... I know!  I'll write a book documenting 365 days of how I woke up every morning and asked God to use me to spread his love in crazy, amazing, adventurous ways that day— ways that proved only God's hand of power- not mine.  I would spend the whole year carrying out these radical "love adventures" and then write the book the following year, followed by traveling the country to spread this awesome idea.  Wow, I really think highly of myself, I guess... maybe I should write a book on pride.

OR.... I will start running races so I can raise support for orphan care around the world, support that I would never be able to come up with on my own.  Oh wait... 


Anywhoo.....  I am excited to say.... I think my passion might be back.  There's something about having small kiddos and finishing grad school that doesn't exactly make for a great recipe for feeding your passion--just FYI.

I'm excited to get more details to you all about my "Run for Kebron" (I totally just made up that name) in late April, and I'm looking forward to seeing how God does something much bigger through his church than I could ever possibly do on my own.  And all I have to do is run and pray!

I'm also excited heartbroken about the book I have been reading about the Congo, A Thousand Sisters. Again, I obviously don't get out much, but the injustices that have taken place (and continue to grow) within that nation are absolutely terrible.... and devastating.... and maddening.  And I'm currently praying for major mercy/justice/repentance/change to take place among leaders and other influential people involved.  Will you please pray with me?  If you don't know how to pray for this country (don't be ashamed....like I said, I was CLUELESS) please read the book.  Please.  I am also waiting for God to reveal how to get my hands and feet more involved in that crisis and standing in the gap for so many who are being forgotten.  To be continued....



So, yes, my passion seems to have returned.  Thank you, LORD! :)

And you know what the LORD reminded me today?

Yes, Love Does.  But love cannot "do" anything well on its own, unless it is first fueled by the Greatest Love of All.  (Isn't that a song, Rach?  Did you sing that at Mining Days?) 

I think I'll bask in THAT love tonight.