Guest Post~Little Girl Dreams!

Written by: Breanne
 

It started with a paper towel role taped vertically onto a young girl’s bedroom desk labelled “Penny Drop”.  

I put as much change as I could into that thing, and anyone who came for a visit to my room could feel free to drop some in, as well (bills were always welcome, too, of course ;) ).  

The change was not being saved for candy or new toys, though, as you might expect.  It was being collected because this little girl had a dream in her heart.  A dream, but also a calling that she did not yet know was there.

 I’m sure many of you have heard of George Muller; an incredible man of faith who followed God’s call to start orphan houses and do many other great things for Him.  He always completely trusted God to meet his needs and the needs of the children and workers at the orphanages.  I would encourage you to read his autobiography: The Autobiography of George Mueller.  It’s an amazing testimony of faith.

 Well, I had heard his story a few times as a child and it really impacted me.  I decided that I wanted to start an orphanage when I grew up.  Hence, the “Penny Drop” 

I began saving money for this orphanage, praying that God would keep this dream in my heart.  I was very young, probably around 9, more or less.

 I can’t say I realized that this dream was growing and transforming in my heart, creating other desires and passions in my heart, but it did. It has. A few years ago I felt that God was calling me to go to other countries and tell
them of His love. 

 Last summer I went to Central America on a six week mission’s trip.  (The Penny Drop Fund was used in support of this new dream given by the Father) As I look back and see what God has done in my life, I’m amazed. He took this little girl’s dream of starting an orphanage and began to form it into a calling to bring His love to the nations.  

My friend Kerrington (you might have heard of her?) and

I were chatting on the phone the other day about this very thing.  We were talking about how when I was little God placed those dreams in my heart.  How He didn’t speak to me in a big booming voice, but through a dream dropped into a young heart that grew and formed into the calling He has for me. It came in a still, small way. 

 He may speak to you in that ‘big booming voice’,

but not likely. 

 More likely it will be that still, small voice; that dream in your heart that has grown into a passion and a purpose; that deepest desire to serve Him with everything you’ve got, wherever He wants you to be, doing whatever He wants you to do.  Don’t become so busy listening for a big voice or a big sign that you miss the small one
He’s trying to speak to you with.

 I don’t know if it’s God’s plan for me to one day start an orphanage, but I do know that He’s called me to go and share His love to the nations; as we’re all called to share His love right where we are.  

Maybe that comes in the form of caring for orphans, or maybe it’s having tea with your elderly neighbour, prison ministry, or being a witness to your co-workers and friends.  Neither is more important than the other. Whoever you are, wherever you are, YOU are called.

 

About Breanne:

I am a 17 year old, every day, ordinary girl who loves the Lord with all her heart.  I believe that I am called by God to bring His love to other countries.  I’m very excited to return to Central America this summer.  I am blessed to have grown up in a Christian home with amazing parents who support the calling God has given me.  Having been home-schooled since grade 6, I have the opportunity to go to college in the fall, which I believe is the next step in the Lord’s plan for my life.  

Thank you for taking the time to read my Guest-post, I hope you are encouraged!! Dios le bendiga! 

 

 

Community at it's finest

I have always had this dream & passion in my heart for Community, & being able to have a very open,

welcoming home with my Husband & children one day. 

So today I thought I would take some time & share a little about the God-given dreams, that I have hidden somewhere inside of me, 

that just make me wanna smile really big

& bring tears of joy, to my eyes :) 

~My Dream home 

I dream of people coming into my home & being able to know that they are always welcomed, loved, accepted, & cherished. 

I dream of having a home, 

where people can come to relax 

& talk vulnerably with me. 

I dream of a Big family, with lots of kids all different ages. 

I dream of having huge block parties with

all my unsaved neighbours. 

I dream of having a home where if you have no place to go, you always feel welcomed to come over. 

I dream of having all the neighbour kids running through the back door into the kitchen for fresh-homemade cookies. I dream of being able to Counsel young couples in my living room. I dream of seeing little kiddos give their hearts to Jesus, at my son's 10th birthday party.

I dream of having knitting classes in the back-yard with all my girls. I dream of my Pandora Bracelet overflowing with charms for each one of my kiddos! 

I dream of Adopting many young kids

 & being able to be that "Mum" they never had. Just even the thought of having one of those little innocent children looking up & asking me...

"Is it okay If I call you Mom?" 

Is simply heart wrenching to me. 

(Insert tears rolling down my face at the moment.) 

I dream of big movie nights & 

Bon fires in the summer.  

I dream of having an ice rink in the back yard durning the Winter for all the kiddos to play hockey, while us Moms take a tea-break. I dream of a big swing set!

(Not just for the kids, but for me too...I love swings!!) 

I dream of having 20+ teenage giggling-gals all piled into my basement with my daughters, durning Youth conferences. 

I dream of having, 

to always have the kettle on ;) 

I dream of having that house-hold 

of Community. 

Here are some photos I have been drooling over lately, 

Perfect ideas for the home!! 

Love this Family photo frame, 

Where everyone has a place! 

    

Kids Craft display wall!! 

Perfect, so everyone has a spot to show off their Creativity :) 

 

A well stocked & well kept, pantry to feed all those little hungry bellies ;) 

(If only Pantries really stayed that neat & organized...lol) 

 

A 'verse-of-the-week' board is such a sweet idea! I love this one especially... 

 

A big clean laundry room, 

for all the smelly football gear, ballet outfits, soccer uniforms,& the dozens upon dozens of mis-matching socks! 

I think you get the point, 

big family = lots of Laundry!!! 

 

This Organizational Board will be a must in my dream home, 

I'm terrible at remember things!!

Its always good just to have a

place where you can keep all the

"to do's", "don't forget's", "pick up at the store's" & "remember to call's"

 all in one specific spot. :) 

I know some of these "dreams" 

may sound unrealistic to some of you, 

but with God,

(the creator of the universe I might add)

on my side, 

Why not dream big dreams?!? 

Until Next time,

~Kerrington 

Guest Post~ Preparing for His purpose

 

 

Written by: Joanne

At a very early age, I knew God was preparing me to be a mom. I would lovingly gaze upon all new babies (and still do) and dream of the day that I would be blessed to have my very own.

I prepared myself by cooking, baking and learning all of the things that I thought I needed to learn to be a successful keeper of the home. I would dream of the day that I would have my own home to keep. I would write down the names of the children that I would have, dreaming of what they might look like and how extraordinarily cute they would be. Preparing and waiting, waiting and preparing...I spent what seemed like an eternity waiting for the next step.
 

Many of you lovely young women, may be feeling a sense of unrest. I am sure that most of you have dreams of meeting that special someone, starting a life together and living happily ever after....but when?! Maybe your minutes tick by slowly, and you wonder when God is going to reveal your next step. It is the waiting that is difficult...but it is in the waiting that we are to prepare.

Young Queen Esther knew about waiting. Having just spent an entire year preparing herself to be presented to the King, she knew more about waiting and preparing than all of us combined! She had just endured 12 months of beauty treatments. Now to be completely honest, I sometimes think that I could so use twelve months of spa like treatments,   special food prepared for me, with six months of oil of myrrh followed by six months of special perfumes and ointments! 

After all of the waiting, finally Esther's time had come and she was lavishly dressed in royal robes and jewelry. Esther had prepared herself to meet her King. As history records it she not only met the King but she found great favor with him and he crowned her Queen. Around this time, I am sure Esther thought that her work was done. She had spent hours soaking in oil, eating healthy foods (no cheeseburgers for this gal!) and she had fulfilled her calling of being Queen. 

 

But God wasn't finished with her yet. There was a greater purpose for  all of that waiting. There is a higher purpose for the waiting. Ladies, we all know the history, we know how the story ends! 

The young Queen Esther bravely rescues the Jewish nation because of her acts of unselfish heroism. Through the times of waiting God prepared a path for Esther to fulfill His purposes. I want you to know that all of the waiting and preparing that I did throughout those years prepared me to fulfill the greater purposes that God has had for me. So many years ago I would never imagined the opportunities that God has blessed me with, and many times I have reflected back to those times of waiting and smile at how they have prepared me for a greater purpose, His purpose.

Precious women, give the waiting to God. Ask Him what He wants to prepare you for. Pray for guidance, and then wait. Use your time wisely, dig deep in the Word, gather together with other Christians.

Dream big dreams and be totally sold out for Him!
 

About Joanne:

 

Joanne is a wife to the love of her life and best friend, Jeff and together they have four children Kyle(18), Lauren(16), Conner(13) and Katherine(8). Joanne is actively involved in her church and community with a passion to serve Christ with her whole heart! Joanne home schools her children, loves to read and can always be found in a pair of heels with a tea in hand!

Just call me old-fashioned!

Dear to all Young Gentleman, 

Please take caution, this post is totally directed at you, yes you! 

Take a moment to read... 

It just might help you

find the girl of your dreams! 

Signed: 

All Young Ladies of the world! 

When I think of a future guy-girl relationship,

I always think of the special old-fashioned things, 

I dream of happening in my relationship.

So here is my list of the top 15!!

1. I want you to ask me out, 

in person to go out on a date. 

Not over text or Facebook. 

I also want you to specify 

whether it's a date or not. 

Don't just call it a "hang-out" 

if we are spending quality time together,

then it's a date to me. 

End of story! 

2. I want you to ask me, if

I would like to "go-steady" or something

like that, instead of just assuming we are.

I want to feel respected by you! 

Also I would love for you to ask my

permission before posting it all

over your Facebook page! Thankss!! 

3. I want you to come to the door to pick me up

& open the door of the car for me. 

I want that perfect gentleman kind of guy :) 

4. I want you to ask permission to hold my hand.

Don't just go right out & grab it.

I want you to have respect for me

& my personal boundaries. 

Don't be afraid to ask me, 

I will give you permission if I feel

the time is right. 

5.  I want you to pay attention to me,

when you are with me. 

 Yes, that means when we are on a date your cell goes in your pocket, on silent!

(Same goes for us ladies....that's right  no checking your Instagram feeds 

or your twitter!!) 

6. I want to do special things with you.

Things that are on our bucket lists,

let's do them together. 

(Hint..hint.. Let's go on a romantic picnic ;)) 

7.  I want you to honour & respect my parents & decisions they make for me.

If they say be home by 11, 

then please get me home 

the latest by 10:45. 

If they say I don't think you should

be together as much as you are right now, then please honour them in that.

Because remember they

have experience with dating, 

they did that once upon a time...lol 

8. I want us to be able to surprise

each other with sweet gestures.  

(Umm... I kinda like red roses...haha just saying, maybe for future reference!)  

 

9. I want you to walk me into Church 

& sit with me & my family. 

Remembering that we are in the house of the Lord ;) 

...hint hint *Hands off!*  

10. I want you to kiss me on the forehead & bring me chocolates when

I'm having an emotional day

& to always make me laugh. 

11.  I want you to ask my parents blessing before asking my 

hand-in-marriage. 

I want this to be a total surprise!! 

Make sure my nails are done & 

I'm wearing heels ;) 

(& Don't forget about getting the secret photographer hiding in the bushes to capture that 

unforgettable moment!) 

Make sure you get down on one knee. 

Use my full name,  

& pretty please have a 

complementary Kleenex box ready. 

As I am already crying just thinking about it. 

12. I want us to pray together on our wedding before we begin our Life long journey together in marriage. 

To Pray over our future. 

(But remember it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding soooo..

let's pretty please do this!) 

13.   I want us to have a relationship built on a solid rock of faith. 

I want God to be the centre of our marriage. I want to be able to pray with you through the bad times & rejoice with God through the good times. For better or for worse. 

14. I want us to continue to fall in love all over again every single day of our marriage!

15.  I want to grow old with you. 

We can compare wrinkles, 

 Talk about our alignments, 

& love each other even more than the day we said "I do!" 

I will love you till the day, 

I take my last breathe. 

Thanks for reading!  

Until next time, 

~Kerrington 

Sixteen & single?

So today I turned 16! Yay!! 

-Insert Confetti 

& balloons everywhere- 

As I was thinking last night about how "16" is the age that my parents said I could start dating, etc.

I thought about how much I have dreamt & planned in my mind for this "unrealistically perfect" day to happen & how everything would be just as I ever dreamt... 

A charming, hand-some "prince" in suit & tie, 

(who would now be my boy-friend & one day husband!!) 

Would arrive at my door at exactly half-past eight with 16 red roses in hand, he then would ask me out on a special birthday date! (With my parents permission of course!) 

I magically would be ready to go in just a few minutes! 

I would be wearing a puffy, sparkly dress, high-heels & my hair would be done just so :) 

 We would go out for a delicious, fancy dinner & then we would take a chilly midnight stroll through a local vine-yard hand in hand...where we would ring in the new year together under the stars <3 

We then would fall in love 

& the rest would be history! :) 

I know its pretty unrealistic but,

 I'm still hoping it happens one day!! 

Aww! Makes me smile just thinking about it :) 

Well anyways...No princes or red roses showed up today at my house yet

& I'm totally okay with that! 

When my parents first told me that I had to wait till I was 16 to date...

I thought It would be so hard to have to wait. 

I always have had the mindset that the day after I turned 16 my relationship status would change & my life would be radically different forever...

Apparently not! 

 I have quoted this before in my post called "The Season of waiting" & 

I absolutely still love this quote!! 

“She was far too busy living out a passionate romance with Jesus Christ to be pining after an earthly prince.” –Leslie Ludy

I need to get this plastered all over my bedroom walls, Because I often lose sight that I am in a serious relationship with the King of kings...

& sometimes I can become discouraged,frustrated, & unhappy because I don't have that special significant other. 

(Like mostly everyone else) 

Some days I am happy & I love being "single" & then some days my heart aches so badly to be like everyone else "in a relationship." 

On those days that I am feeling lonely & unlike the rest ...

I sit down in a comfy spot turn on some worship music & write a letter to my future prince, 

(as strange as that sounds) 

I store them away in a safe keeping place so that one day I can give that special someone all my love letters! 

I have already given my heart to this "Prince" 

I will one day meet.

I pray for him daily & I am devoted to him already in love, & in my purity. 

I look forward to one day meeting him! But if the time is not now I will enjoy the season of life I am in to the fullest! 

Today before I end this little 

Birthday post,

 I want to extend my gratefulness to my parents for the 

"16 dating rule"...without that rule I could have easily messed up my life by rushing into things that I was unsure about & totally not ready for. 

Though I may have been a little upset about having this rule in the beginning, 

I now have a totally different perspective of how to look at it 

& I am SO grateful for it :) 

Now off to enjoy my completely realistic 16th birthday...

I wouldn't have it any other way!! 

Thanks for dropping by! 

Happy new year!! 

Until next time,

Kerrington