I remember my husband saying to me one day, "It must be tiring to be you!" He was observing my intensity, and just watching me in action made him tired. Over the years, God has taught me that even though he wants us to make our moments count, what he doesn't want is for us to think that we can make life happen. The fact is, fallen humanity could not possibly accomplish anything of spiritual eternal value on its own. God's Word reminds us in Isaiah 64:6: "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away" (NIV). Jesus tells us in John 15:5-6: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (NIV).

When God entrusted me with the vision for Inspire Women, it was his way to teach me how to serve in his power. He knew that if the assignment was not big enough, I would think I could accomplish something on my own for God. So he made the assignment monumental. In other words, no one in her right mind would ever think she could part the Red Sea on her own! The vision of Inspire Women was to rally women across the city to inspire women of all ethnicities and economic levels to connect their lives with God's purpose. To put our treasure behind our words that affirmed the potential of God's daughters to change the world with the power of his Word, Inspire Women then funded scholarships and biblical resources to empower women to serve at their potential in missions and ministry. Since 2003, the ministry has invested over $1,000,000 to fund biblical resources and scholarships.

The vision began with an incessant intensity from God's heart pulsating to my heart with zero in the bank, no office space, and no human-designed plan to reach the goal. The vision was so super-human-sized that I was forced to go to God every day to ask for his marching orders. There was no question in my mind that God was the one making his vision come true, and I was an earthen vessel who was privileged to go along for the ride. If you are on God's mission, I pray the following principles will guide you in your life:

1. Don't be in a hurry. Trust God to prepare you before sending you in his name.

2. Feel God's pain and be captivated by the emotion that is driving God in his mission.

3. Visualize what life will look like when you are finished and begin celebrating your journey as part of the victory.

And when the vision is fulfilled, lay your gift at God's feet as your form of worship as a living sacrifice for his honor and glory!