not to us

I've often said that I struggle with the "Proverbs 31 Woman."  Some of you know exactly what I mean when I say, "Proverbs 31 Woman", and some of you don't.  In Proverbs 31:10-31, the author describes a wife who would be considered honorable.  This proverbial woman has become a sort of role model for many Christian women.  They eagerly strive to be like her.

Please let me stress that there is NOTHING wrong with the P31 woman.  I think I would be great friends with her.  But I have never connected with her on a personal level.  She is far too well-behaved for me.  She does everything the right way, the comfortable way.  She makes everyone around her happy and content.  And there are times when I want to make the people around me content, too.  Most of the time, though?  I don't do things the right way, or at least not the best or most favored way.  And I don't always strive to make people comfortable and content.  In fact, I generally find myself striving for the exact opposite effect: I wanna make the people around me uncomfortable.

Not in a bad way, though!  I want to have friends.  :)  I want to be a joy to be around.  :)  I want to make people happy...I just happen to want to be a constant source of prodding along the way.  I desire to constantly encourage the people around me to a new level, a higher calling.  I want to live life with such passion that I literally change the world, one person (or a few people) at a time.

I really love Britt Nicole's song, "Set the World on Fire."  Her words connect with me on the deepest level of my heart.  If you can, stick with me through this whole post (it might be a doozy.)  Start by reading these lyrics.  This song is the cry of my life:

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it`s burning bright for You
It`s everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There`s nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father`s hands

My hands my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me

I wanna set the world on fire
I wanna set the world on fire, yeah

I`m gonna set the world on fire
Set the world on fire

Does that connect with you?  When you read those words, do you think, "Yeah!  That's what I want, too!  I want to do that!"?  If so, then I've got some exciting news for you:  I believe we can...and we will.

I know that I cannot change the world by myself.  Heck!  I have a hard time getting my house in order by myself.  But together?  I know we can do incredible things.

I love reading Shaun Groves' blog, and today he challenged us to evaluate our witness.  It was the impetus I needed to introduce an idea to you all.  It's been on my heart for some time.  It's a very general idea with no details.  I was just wondering what you all thought:

Several months ago, I introduced you to Zach and Sarah.  My best friend was ready to start her family, and I wanted to help.  The *only* thing I could think to do was to help with the costs.  But she needed nearly $20,000.  I couldn't even provide a fraction of that amount by myself.  So I got the idea to call on you guys on her behalf.  And you astounded me.  Together, we raised over 10% of the cost of her adoption.

Very literally, we have helped to provide a loving and caring home for one (hopefully, two!) beautiful children who would otherwise spend their lives in an orphanage.  Do you realize how incredible that is?  It's honestly a miracle.  It's a miracle that strangers would bind together to raise $2,000 for a completely UNselfish reason.

And you guys birthed a dream in my heart.  I realized that, together, we could do so much more.

Think about your life and the people with whom you interact.  Do you know a family that is facing foreclosure?  Do you know a single mom who is trying to complete school, work full-time, and raise her child(ren) all at the same time?  Do you know an intelligent young man who feels that his destiny is to become a doctor, but he lacks the self-confidence and the funds to attend college?  Do you know a young teenage girl who goes to school every day in ripped and stained hand-me-downs?  Have you seen the way her self-confidence suffers when the other kids treat her differently?  Does one of your co-workers drive a broken down car that only works 1 out of 3 days?

There are people all around us who need us.  We need each other.  And by ourselves, we're pretty helpless.  By myself, I can't save a family's home.  I can't pay a single mom's tuition.  I can't convince a young man that he is worthy of a higher education.  I can't supply a brand new wardrobe (along with a strong, loving friendship) to the young teenage girl.  I can't buy your co-worker a new car.

But together?  We brought a family 1/10 of the way closer to home.  And I believe we can do more.

We have a group of Losers.  They're trying to lose weight.  I have a dream to start a group of Doers...a group of people who will team together and commit to helping others around them on a major scale.  Sometimes, we might bind together to raise money.  Sometimes, we might bind together to build a Habitat home.  Sometimes, we might bind together to write dozens of letters of support and encouragement to a young man who needs to know his value.  I'm not sure what it will look like.  But I believe that we can make a difference.  I believe that we can set the world on fire, one community at a time.

There are 300 of us who read this blog each day.  Imagine what we can do...together.  You wanna be a Doer?  You wanna help me set the world on fire?