Did you realize she was missing?
Have you gone looking for her, or did you assume it was a pointless search?
I’ll let you in on a secret: She is closer than you realize.
You know who I am talking about, don’t you?
You.
Specifically, your radiantly vivid, brilliant, technicolor, splendiforous self.
She is waiting patiently for you to throw open the doors and let the light in so she can bloom in her own glorious way and thrive in exclamation mark living.
You know how I know?
Because I have been there.
I have been a quivering mass of jello in the fridge.
I have hidden under the bed with my buddies the dust bunnies.
I have let my inner Scaredy Cat toy with my emotions and decisions.
I have lived in fear for too many years, and I’m done with that.
Well, not quite done, but am being much more courageous than I used to be. 
God-Sized Dreams and Exclamation Mark Living
In January, I set off on yet another leg of my journey when I joined Holley Gerth’s God-Sized Dream Team.
At the same time, I began a Beth Moore study titled Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit.
In the introduction to Beth’s study, she used the expression exclamation mark living to define a life filled with the Holy Spirit, to live fully as God designed us.
I thought this fit beautifully with the premise of Holley’s book You’re Made for a God-sized Dream: Opening the Door to All God Has for You, about which she said:
Before the term “God-sized” scares you, let me explain. It’s really not about size at all. It’s about discovering and pursuing the desires God has placed within you that perfectly fit your heart.
We all have those desires. Some are simple and others complicated. Some are about home and others about faraway places. Some happen quickly and others unfold over a lifetime.
But what they all have in common is this: Ignoring them means ignoring a core part of your purpose. And when we do that, we feel restless and empty.
I don’t want that for us, friend. I want God’s best for us instead.
This has been an important focus of my life for the past several months: to live with the spirit-filled joie de vivre of the exclamation mark!
Where I’ve been and where I am
This week, Holley has asked us to share an update about where we are.
Our season together is coming to a close, fleeting months of one hundred strong, engaging in abundant doses of encouraging, cheering, learning, falling, failing, lifting one another up, laughing, crying, praying, and celebrating.
We’ve come a long way, baby, to quote an old saying.
I have been reminded through both groups of the importance of keeping our hearts open to opportunities and also be ready and willing to commit to walk through the doors that invariably swing open towards our dreams.
We began by naming, in public, one God-Sized Dream.
I shared that I want to speak at Allume.
I began writing it the day I hit Submit for my application to Holley’s team. Since then, bits and pieces have appeared along the way, treasures to be picked up and added to the other delicious tidbits of encouragement. I am very happy with how the presentation is taking shape. It will tell the story of how my life changed dramatically when God came knocking, and how the same is possible for anyone.
Eight years ago I didn’t know my life was missing God, and I certainly wasn’t out looking for Him.
I just knew I was restless, that I just was never satisfied with or joyful at my work.
“Is this all there is?” was a thought that came to mind more and more often.
So He came to find me, and help me find my way to more joy, to find my purpose, to teach me to use my strengths and talents, to learn to be thankful in all circumstances.
I now have an overflowing heart.
Like Sarah in Genesis 21:6, I have borne a new life that God had planned all along, that apparently I was not ready to birth until now: the writing and speaking that make up my ministry.
Those are words that were never, ever, in my vocabulary or on my radar: my ministry.
To become a more accomplished speaker, I joined Toastmasters. My most recent speech was done completely without notes—hooray!—and my evaluator remarked how I have shown real growth in my speaking. I am now much more comfortable in front of a group.
The host of local women’s business group asked me to speak at their monthly luncheon. I did, and it went very well.
I accepted the invitation to be a regular contributing writer to the terrific Happy Wives Club.
A relationship site asked me to contribute, and I declined, as it was not a match. Remember that not all roads—or doors—lead to where we are going.
My youngest daughter encouraged pushed me to submit a guest post to a wonderful marriage site to compete for a contributor’s slot after I had decided against it. I have been chosen as a contributor to that site, although the official announcement has not been made yet. I’ll let you know when it has.
So how does your garden grow?
This miraculously changed life is possible for you, too.
It’s time to locate that forgotten packet of possibilities, pick it up, blow the dust off and follow the simple instructions on the back.
Prepare your ground with loving hands and an expectant heart.
Refresh the newly prepared beds with heaven’s dew.
Care for the tender shoots, giving them the nourishment they require.
Tend to your garden daily, for without your constant care and prayer, the new growth will wither on the vine.
The work can be taxing, and dirty, and every seed will not always bear fruit, but, in time, you will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest of exclamation mark living!
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ~John 15:16 (NIV)
Sharing at NOBH, Soli Deo Gloria, Holley Gerth
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I loved your post! Way to go on becoming a contributor! Amazing. Thanks again for stopping by my blog. Blessings to you!
You are so welcome, and thank you!
Twitter: flowerlady77
says:
What a great post Kim! Exclamation mark living, I love it. I think I might have missed seeing what your dream was back when we were posting them. But, wow! What an exciting journey you’re on. You’re taking steps on a journey that will be so thrilling!! YAY!!!
Thanks, Lani. We were all so excited and a-twitter about being part of Holley’s team it was hard to keep track of who was doing exactly what! Thanks for your encouragement!
Twitter: livingjoel225
says:
I remember when you stepped out in faith and told of your God-sized dream to speak at Allume. Your bravery took my breath away…and encouraged me to post something close to my heart. And now look, you are on your way!! It’s been a joy to be on the team with you!
You have touched my heart with your words. I am so glad mine helped you step forward with your dreams. It is scary to put them out there in public. I have so enjoyed being on GSDT with you!
Twitter: barefootmel
says:
Wow! God is really working out your dream in His time…I love this! And not only the speaking part, but He’s pouring on the opportunities and using you in so many ways! Thank you so much for sharing, friend…you are a blessing.
Mel recently posted…My God-Sized Dream: I Dreamed Some Dreams…
Mel, I have loved watching all of our fellow dreamers step out to opportunities that have been poured out over them. It has been so exciting. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Twitter: susanrstilwell
says:
Congrats, Kim! I’m so excited for you, and I must admit that I amazed you haven’t been a Christian all your life! Thanks for the encouragement to dust off the dreams and start tilling the soil. Always good advice
Susan Stilwell recently posted…A Monday Pause ~ Bearing Fruit
We till, till, till, until we bear fruit.
You are so welcome, and thanks always for your smiling face and constant encouragement. Looking forward to connecting at Allume!
Twitter: mjwallace3
says:
I just love the way you write!! It touches my soul and at times I feel like you are writing from my heart. I am so blessed to have you as my buddy and I hope that we will be able to meet in person this year. You are an amazing lady and I can’t wait to see what all God has in store for you!
Big HUGS to you!
Melissa recently posted…Back on Track
Oh, you don’t know how I needed to hear your words today, Melissa. Isn’t it funny how God always puts the right person with the right words in the right place for us? Yes, I’d love to meet you. Praying to get to TN by the fall. You’d be a hop, skip and a jump away at that point. Yay! Thanks from the bottom of my heart, my dear fellow dreaming buddy!
This is awesome. So inspired by your story and your dreams. Keep going!!!!
Thanks Courtney! I just love this great circle of love and encouragement Holley put together when she created the God-Sized Dream Team.
Twitter: Soulstops
says:
Kim,
Continuing to pray that God will give you patience and perseverance 
{{Hugs}}
You are simply the best encourager!!! So very thankful God paired us up as GSD buddies along with Melissa
Dolly recently posted…Where I am in my dream process….
Oh, thank you, Dolly. It has been a wonderfully exciting and eye-opening ride, hasn’t it? Thanks for the prayers and hugs, and right back at you!
You and me–both! We’re bosom buddies with those “dust bunnies!” haha! And I really mean that, because sliding under my bed was one of my favorite “retreat from the harsh world” spots when I was a kid. I’d probably do it now too if I could still fit!
But on to more important things, I’m so excited for all the amazing opportunities God is opening up for you, KIm. You certainly deserve them. I can’t wait to see where God takes you … perhaps to Allume someday? 
And I’ll try to be right there on the front row to cheer you on! Thanks for always being a ray of sunshine in this very discouraging world we live in, my friend!
Dust bunny brethren, unite!
Thanks so much for your words and your friendship. I am humbled and touched! Thank you, too, for all you do for marriages. I can’t imagine how many lives you have and continue to impact!
Oh Kim, You encourage my friend. I loved reading how God is at work in you and love your heart to bring encouragement to others in pursuing their dreams. God bless you. XO Beth
Beth recently posted…Memorial Day Reflection {Graffiti Summer}
Thank you so much for taking time to share your thoughts, Beth. Just love seeing you here!
Twitter: fiercedivablog
says:
Love this line – LOVE: The work can be taxing, and dirty, and every seed will not always bear fruit, but, in time, you will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest of exclamation mark living! I agree that when we live this way, we will reap the rewards, even if they are not the rewards that we originally had in mind.
Ilene recently posted…Get Up!
Glad those words with you! I wrote them while remembering all the places I have planted and nothing has happened. Perhaps I was planting the right seeds in the wrong places. . . Funny how we expect everything to bear fruit, even if we don’t follow the directions on the seed packet. . .
I love what you said about reaping rewards we didn’t originally have in mind. That is so, so, so very true!
Thank you, Ilene, for being such a friend and encourager. I am looking forward to seeing what delightful harvest you will reap from your upcoming move! xo
Twitter: TamaraCamPhoto
says:
Wow! Yay for you and these wonderful opportunities. They are so well deserved. I love the exclamation mark. If I can work to incorporate it into more facets of living, I sure will.
Tamara recently posted…Hancock Shaker Village.
Thank you so much! I think that when we have small children, Tamara, our life comes built in with exclamation mark living, although not necessarily of the kind we were looking for.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.