one million arrows

"Have you ever wondered if there's a grander purpose for our children beyond growing up to become responsible, productive adults who happen to be Christians?"

- Julie Ferwerda, One Million Arrows {introduction page}

i'm beyond excited to start this new book One Million Arrows. so far i've read one page... and that sentence {the very first sentence} jumped off the page at me as if God was literally saying to my heart- "here is the answer to those prayers you've been praying since before Reese was born".

YES. i have always *known* there is a greater purpose.

i've never desired that my children grow up to be nice.

or normal.

good citizens.

loyal americans.

well-educated.

contributing members of society.

etc, etc, etc.

no. i've always prayed that my children would

CHANGE. THE. WORLD.

or at least their little sphere of influence.

however large or small God decides it will be.

i've always desired {as you can read also in this post}

that my children would know Christ.

not just as their savior.

but as their LORD.

the one Who directs their *every* move.

that they would realize that the literal living spirit

of Jesus Christ, the creator of the world

LIVES. INSIDE. THEM.

it's literally heart-breaking how many "christians"

are clueless to the power that is within them.

that they completely miss out on the ridiculously awesome

plans that God laid out for them to accomplish

before the foundations of the earth.

i don't want my kids to miss the point of "it all".

i don't want them to navigate through life in their own power.

for their own agenda.

for their own gain.

for their own happiness.

for their own fame or fortune.

i want them to be ALIVE

{always. living. in. view. of. eternity}

ever mindful that there is a very specific purpose

that their creator has set aside that only they can fulfill.

i know before i read one more page,

that she will explain the importance of modeling

this for my kids...

and that's where i can only stop and pray for the strength to do so.

God has something *very* specific that He has called me to do.

He revealed it to me about a year and a half ago.

it's starting to come to fruition

after over a year of trying to ignore His {gentle} nudging.

God is so gracious and so kind.

He has waited for me to answer,

and I have.

I won't go into detail here,

but I can only say that I am SO excited

for the opportunity to model for my children,

a life that responds to the Holy Spirit with a "Here am I. Send me."

please don't think that i'm bragging in any way.

it took over a year for me to respond.

and even now, i'm doing things slowly and carefully.

i'm so thankful for a God Who loved me enough to save me from myself,

and then fill me with himself

so that i can "go out in joy, and be led forth in peace"

to impact the world for His glory and His kingdom.

i want my children to know that purpose in their lives.

i want them to escape a life like the one i formerly led

{and let's face it, still DO lead without *constant* prayer and surrender}

only concerned with myself.

only worried about what i want.

driven by materialism.

driven by my goals and my personal successes.

i want them to know a life poured out.

driven by LOVE for God and for others.

driven by the Holy Spirit.

driven by the sweetness of fellowship with God.

i could go on and on, but i think you get the idea.

excited to read the next page in One Million Arrows...