One and One More

This is going to sound crazy to some of you, but if you read my last post about dreams, perhaps you'll know to expect from me things that are a little... out there.

I've heard from God before. I've had visions and dreams and heard His voice.

Not as much as I would like. Not every time I've asked.

But enough. I wrote a whole blog on how my personal experience of God is one of the factors that helped me keep my faith.

This particular way God communicated with me though... is unique.

I was awake in the middle of the night, again, and asked God, "Is there a reason why I'm awake? Is there something You want to say? I'm listening."

I kid you not. I suddenly had a vivid image of a phone screen, and a text message bubble popped up on it. The text message read, "One and one more."

WHAT?!

That seemed like an awfully odd thing to come to mind out of the blue in the middle of the night in the middle of the week.

Assuming it was from God, I asked, "What does that mean?" And I waited and I waited and I heard... nothing.

So, I did what everyone in the twenty-first century does. I googled it: "One and one more."

At first, the results were merely a bunch of sites about math and tutoring and helping your kids understand that one plus one equals two.  Most likely those queued to the top because Google knows I have kids. (Google knows everything. It's kind of frightening, actually.)

After those results, however, I found this phrase of "one and one more" is sometimes used by athletic trainers when they are encouraging people to push themselves beyond what they think they can do. Do one, then do one more. 

One more rep. One more push-up. One more mile.

One, and one more.

Now that resonated with me in a way I did not expect.

There's also a book - a motivational, self-help book, called, "The Power of One More". I haven't read the book, but I found this quote: “The key to One More Try is to be intentional. You must have the strength and the focus to take steps that will drive you closer to where you want to be in life. This is not always an easy thing to do. It requires a quiet determination to stay the course.”

This resonated, too.

Many years at the beginning of the year I have picked a word to focus on. My word for this year is growth.

Not muscle growth (not quite motivated enough for that!) but spiritual growth.

Specifically, I want to grow in my relationship with Jesus. I want to grow to know Him better and I want to grow to be more like Him. I want to be better at living what I preach every day - in my home, at work, at church, in my writing - everywhere.

One and one more feels like an encouragement to push myself harder beyond what I think I can do. Push my limits. Lean into Him. Take bigger steps and bigger risks. Trust more.

And to be intentional about it. 

I teach self-care as part of my job, and I always say, "Self-care doesn't happen by accident. It has to be intentional."

Growth, I believe, is similar. It has to be intentional. Growth doesn't happen by accident.

Thinking on "one and one more" has also made me ponder impact. 

What impact do I have? How can I increase and improve my impact? How can I impact not only one, but one and one more?

I started this blog small because I feared no one would read it. Or worse, people would read it and hate it.

But I've gotten positive responses from others about my blog. Messages from people who have felt encouraged, as well as seen and heard.

The blog is having an impact.

What else might God be calling me to? Where else can I have an impact? 

What about you? Where's your "one and one more"?

This is the year. This is the time. This is the opportunity. 

Let's not miss it. Let's not miss out on what God is doing and what He wants to do in and through us. 

Whatever He's calling you to - start with one.

And then do one more.