Last week I started working on my LIFE statement and it did take a while to narrow it down.
LIFE Statement? Are you wondering what that means? Here is a quick acronym:
LIFE = Love is Faith Expressed (i.e. a God centered mission statement)
I recruited my mother to help me make it a more precise statement. I was all over the map for awhile. Finally I came up with the following statement:
I believe God has created and called me to serve and care for orphans through visiting orphanages, sending care packages, and nurturing them through the adoption process.
It’s sounds nice right? But then came the part where my real faith had to come into play. I have a wonderful job in urban education but it doesn’t really match up with my life statement. YIKES!
But like most GPS, you can be rerouted to a different way to get to the final destination (i.e. God’s Promise Land for me).
My LIFE statement became my GPS on how I could start working towards the God Size Dream in my heart. Like my pastor Mark Batterson always says “Pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you.”
Pastor Mark has said that phrase often in his sermons. However for the first time those words had a different sound in my ear and meaning in my heart. Those words gave me the courage to start writing down ideas on how I can start living a life that reflects my life statement.
The first idea God revealed to me during my prayer time is this cool idea of creating memory quilts to sale so I can purchase clothes for orphans. I have this dear friend named Jackie who is the best bargain shopper I know. She always could find the deals and bought a lot of clothes out of season for the upcoming school year.
Out of that memory, God gave birth to the idea of me creating an Etsy shop called “Clothed in Love”. Minus the cost of the materials and shipping cost, all of the proceeds will go towards purchasing items for orphans.
It is my hope to partner with orphanages in Ethiopia, Uganda and Haiti. Ideally I would like to raise $2,500 this year. I would also like to make two annual trips to visit those orphanages. I’m hoping to go on my first trip this fall through Visiting Orphans organization. Still dreaming about that part so I don’t have all the details yet but I bought the bracelet above to be a daily reminder of my LIFE statement.
If you haven’t written your own LIFE statement I would encourage you to take a moment and go through the Mad Libs exercise. http://holleygerth.com/?s=life+statement
It could help you to realign yourself to what God has called you to do. I also recommend you purchase a prayer journal and the following books:
Both books talk about God size dreaming and how to make those first steps. Trust me – you are going to be amazed on how God will guide your steps. TAKE THE LEAP OF FAITH with me.
What a great life statement and idea…So happy I linked up behind you at Holley’s so I “met” you…. look forward to hearing more about your dream
Awwww – thank you for the encouragement. I’m off to read your statement now. Thanks again for stopping by.
I LOVE your dream! It’s so close to my heart
So grateful you shared it. Can’t wait to see what God will do with it!!
Lisa we truly are kindred spirits. I’m so happy that you are on this journey with me. We will make an impact on the world with God’s help.
I think you’re amazing…and I love your God-sized dream. You have a true servant’s heart and I have not doubt God is going to honor that. Bless you my friend!
I’m so happy to be connected to some AMAZING women. It encourages me to continue to lean into this God size dream. I’ve always had heart for children and it is pretty cool to see how he is putting all my strengths and skills together to honor him. Thank you again for such encouraging words. Expecting God to do great things through us.
What a beautiful dream! So glad that God put people like you on the planet!
Thank you so much. I will admit that I get nervous about pulling this off but then I’m reminded that God is the author of Clothed In Love’s story, I just need to be vessel.
Awesome! What a great idea! My sister is acutally on a mission trip in Uganda right now and was working at an orphangae a week ago there their site is: http://www.welcomehomeafrica.com this could maybe be a place that you can work with.
I’m so glad you stopped by. I am hoping to go to Africa this year to drop off our first care packages so I will definitely check out Welcome Home Africa. Thank you for the link.
If you want to get updates on the progress of Clothed in Love, please stop by my FB page and like it. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/ClothedInLoveByChickFlickDivaDesigns
Just finished reading Welcome Home Africa’s website and I LOVE their mission. Thank you again for the link. It has brighten my day.