Made For This by Jennie Allen (book review)

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Which came first in my life: Jennie Allen of IF:gathering? Hmmm... I'm not sure it matters because she is the visionary behind IF. Both have helped me grow with God these past five years or so. I read Allen's book, "Anything," a few years ago. I'll be honest, it wasn't as life-changing as I thought it would be. The premise is surrendering your life to God, giving Him "anything." For Allen and her husband, anything included adopting their son and starting the IF:gathering (among other things, I'm sure). But I'm not sure my anything prayer had quite the same trajectory. However, my life had a few detours- my son's seizures and brain surgeries and two more children. I do think praying "anything" opened my eyes to follow God through these hardships (babies may not be traditional hardships but I have difficult pregnancies and I think the baby stage is quite difficult).

 Regardless, I was thrilled to hear Allen was coming out with a book, "Made For This," to accompany her readers on this "anything" journey. The back covers says this book will help you: abandon insecurities and discover how God can use your dreams and passions for a greater purpose, learn how your struggles can produce the very thing you want to give back to the world, trade control and safety for a life of God-honoring adventure by praying one prayer, and continue to reaffirm your purpose and calling in every season of life. Ooh la la! Doesn't that sound soul soothing? Like a balm to the restlessness you feel? Or at least, I feel that. That ache for my life to matter for God, to not waste my life by pushing down my dreams.
image via BookLook
Let me say this: I am a stay-at-home mom and I love it! I think it is the biggest purpose of my life right now. Motherhood has sanctified me (not entirely of course; that's a life journey), it is my bread and butter. I think it is a calling, making little disciples for Christ. I don't think I need to add on. But I think God has a place for me and my gifts inside my home and maybe outside of it. Some day my kids will leave my home and I have purposes to fulfill then, too. I want to leave a legacy of making disciples for my children to follow.

 Now, I have big dreams.  "Made for This" will not automatically make them happen. God is the dream maker, the one who gives us good gifts. "Made for This" challenges us to not live in fear of failure or what others think but to figure out where our dreams intersect with God's good plans for us. It's been exciting to see what dreams have been drawn out for me in this process.

 I'm not 100% done with this book. In this season of a baby, it's going to take me longer than 40 days to make my way through the entire book. But I wanted to share it with you so you can start on your own "anything" journey with God. I can't wait to see how he uses you!

 Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for my honest review. I would have bought it anyway. All opinions are my own and may not be same as others' opinions. 

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