Reviving the Dream

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 In 2024, Alex and I committed $15,000 to Crossroads' "10X Push," where thousands of people decided they'd give above and beyond their normal tithe to see God's kingdom be brought to earth in a big way through our church. For us, this number was not random, but very specific. We heard God tell us that He has an amazing plan for our family and would be blessing us with a miracle child through adoption. $15k was the average cost to adopt, and so we said, "God: if you want this for us, and you want our family to grow through adoption, we are relying solely on YOU. We're being obedient to the calling you've placed in front of us and we're walking in faith to see what you do with our willing hearts. Our family is going to look how YOU want it to, in YOUR timing, may YOUR will be done."

It was a pretty big risk because that was all we had in our savings at the time. But we felt so strongly that in a few years, we'd be able to look back to that moment and bear witness to what we know to be true: that God is a God who provides, sustains, and keeps His promises. No amount of stockpiling our savings or planning out our lives would be better that God's plans for us. His way is always better, and he asks us to surrender our will for His. And so we did the thing - and we're still making monthly payments in faith today.

I felt convicted during this morning's sermon when Kyle preached on dreams - because I think this dream is in need of revival. We now have a beautiful baby boy, Isaac William, whom we love and cherish more than we ever knew was possible... and I think we're tempted to sit back and bask in the infant cuddles and say, "This is nice. Let's chill here for a while. Maybe forever! Do we really want anything more than this? It's so good and true and lovely. Isaac is such a blessing and such a 'good baby.' We have our hands pretty full, too. Maybe this is enough."

But Kyle's question is still ringing in my head: Are our dreams getting bigger or smaller?

Now that we have our first baby, have we shrunk our dreams down to one? What does is practically look like to live for the dreams of our family growing bigger? I love our  life right now, and I think it's possible to feel a certain fullness in this seaosn while simultaneaously asking God for more. After all, Kyle also said, "Your kids need you to dream." That really stuck with me. 

God is the God of impossible dreams and miraculous wonders - He's the same God of the Bible and the same God of our 2024 dream. He's always working, but are we keeping our end of the deal? I hate to use "deal" language, but what I mean is... Are we still fanning the flames of the dream He set in our hearts, or are we growing comfortable and complacent? Is there somewhere He's calling us to right now that we are oblivious to because we're not open to hearing it?

God, I want what You want. You know the story of our family and what is to come, and we trust You. We know that it's so, so good. Please don't let us forget the dreams you've spoken to us, and guide us as we turn to You for next steps. Thank You for providing for us -- and please help us to continue relying on You for all things. We trust You will prepare the way that we should walk in it, and to provide everything we need in seasons to come. Amen.

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