Today, I'm Pumped Up

Don't you just LOVE to get PUMPED UP?  I do, and I haven't been lately.  Today, however, I am.  Why?  Well, I'm dreaming again, and to me dreams make my eyes twinkle!   I just finished reading a book It's Rising Time  by Kim Kiyosaki.  I "happened" to hear the author interviewed on the radio 2 weeks ago.  That interview resonated with my spirit.  (Yes, I do think that those "gut" reactions are often an answer to prayers.)  At first I'm sure I didn't see reading a book as connecting the dots to varied prayers I was praying at the time, but today I think I do.

Today I'm pumped up because I think I'm beginning to see ways that my prayers are connecting "other" prayers that I thought had been totally unrelated.

Let me try to explain.  EAFC started "Women of Purpose chapters" a few months ago.  Because I'm not in the office on a regular basis, I'm not real sure how many WOP chapters we have, but in MY HEART, they're something that I want to see develop.  Why?  How?  When?  For what purpose?  I'm not sure I can even answer all those questions myself YET.  I just CARE DEEPLY that women all over the world grow/ spiritually, educational, physically.  I want today's women and tomorrow's women to believe in their God given gifts, potential.  I want them to know they "can do all things through Christ who strengthens them."

WOP's only relate to EAFC as a possible frame around the picture that is OUR CORE.  At our core, we partner with churches in Africa who identify and work with us in training Africa's future leaders.  Focusing on women's special needs is an aspect of that vision that I'm hoping churches will want to embrace, but whether or not they do, I can't say.

What I have gotten pumped up about today is my personal vision.  I want to VISIT WOP chapters.  I want to help WOP chapters get started.  I want to play over the holidays the new game I've just ordered  CASHFLOW.  I'm dreaming that I'll learn a lot, and that what I learn can be passed on to women in Jackson, around Mississippi and ultimately to my friends in Africa.

Will it happen?  ABSOLUTELY on some level, I believe it will.  The Bible tells us that without a vision the people perish.  In this book I just finished, I read about Trina, a lady who grew up "in the hood" in South Chicago.  "She's had her winning days and her learning days."

I read about Rita who was born in Kenya.  "Rita's cultural upbringing was one in which men, not women were brought up to be the business person and money-maker."  That's been the world I've lived in too.  Yes, I know many American women wouldn't identify with what I just wrote, but that's been "my story".  

My story, however, is changing.  And therefore, today I'm PUMPED UP.  I'm looking to the future again.

I wrote in one post not too long ago that I was struggling with "LETTING GO."  I'm finding though that  I don't really HAVE TO LET GO of HOPE, EDUCATION, LEARNING, LISTENING and SHARING what I learn.  I just have to let go of whatever is holding me back from doing what God has planned for me now.

So, what does this have to do with Africa?  Hopefully, that's clear, but if not, I'll say it again.  I plan on sending this post to my WOP friends.  I want them to join me in this adventure.  And yes, I'm thinking, maybe, just maybe I might get to see them again!