,

Just say Yes to God’s invitations… and Bob Goff’s too

I’m not exactly sure how I ended up at Bob Goff’s house loving life with complete strangers in his San Diego backyard. I’m pretty sure the other 59 people alongside me would tell you the same thing. I can only give the glory to God for inviting me.

Are you familiar with Bob Goff? If not, you might want to get to know him. I adore everything he and his wife sweet Maria are about- loving others extravagantly all of the time. Bob’s laugh and his heart of gold is contagious. He is amazingly crazy and inspiring to the core. Want to know how you can love more like Jesus? Get to know this man!

BobGoffandAmy

If you haven’t read Bob’s book Love Does, get on it as his next book is already underway! I heard Bob speak in person at Storyline Conference, which led me to follow him on social media. One day I saw his quick invitation to join him at his first ever Living Room event at his home in California. I knew that invitation was meant for me. I applied and God awarded me a spot.

GivingKey

Loved that one of the dears I met here gave me my first Giving Key!

It’s never easy to head to an event where you know no one or don’t have an exact understanding why you are even going. Meeting new likeminded, heartfelt, authentic people of all walks of life fills me up, so I’m willing to put myself in situations to meet them. All I knew was that if Bob and Jesus were involved, then I was in!

Sometimes we just need to say YES to God’s invitations.

At the morning session of the Living Room, I sat down next to a new friend, Amanda, from Seattle. She was sweet and young with a refreshing spirit and charismatic smile. We instantly hit it off. At the break we were talking about what inspires us and what our next step in life was. She spoke of her upcoming marriage and her mission work in Africa and I chatted about my calling to adopt from the foster care system (this is a whole other post friends) and talked about my journey to this point. She then said, did you meet the couple from Phoenix who is here that just adopted a 16 year old boy out of foster care? You’re kidding, right? She promptly walked me over and introduced me to a couple who lives 15 minutes away from me and is doing exactly what I feel our family has been called to as well.

That can only be God. 

ArlenePellicaneandAmy

Another divine appointment while in San Diego was getting together with Author Arlene Pellicane. I was a part of Arlene’s launch team for her book Growing Up Social (my review is here) and she inspires me as a Christian mother and wife. I recently entered a book giveaway on her blog and Arlene emailed to tell me that I was the winner of the new book, Triggers. Super exciting, as it was a book that a friend recommended to me after I wrote my post on my word for 2016– Gentle. Yes, I am working on being more gentle in my responses to my family.

I graciously responded to Arlene and told her that I was actually in her neck of the woods- San Diego. We made time to meet up in person for some coffee and conversation. As an author of three books of her own, she poured into me with wisdom on publishing my book that I am currently writing, Raising Kids Without Regret. I already felt like we were friends before we actually met face to face, but now we are officially connected.

This could only be God. 

Arlene then connected me with an NFL wife in California with a big heart for the Lord. Who knows what we are meant to conquer together, but I know that this new connection once again isn’t coincidental. The ripple effect goes on and on when we trust and jump out in faith in meeting new people.

Bob'sbikes

It’s not easy to say yes to a random invitation with no details. It can be tough to take time away from our family routine to focus on our own personal journey. Jump in and say yes to things you’re called to and God will make sure that life never gets stale.

Perhaps you’re being called to go to Bob’s next Living Room in May at Disneyland? It will be bigger and different, but knowing Bob it will be just as significantly awesome!

Bobspeaking

A big thanks to the Goff family and the entire Love Does team for loving on us during the Living Room event. It was an amazing couple of days that I am so grateful to have been a part of.

2 replies
  1. kevin
    kevin says:

    Hi Amy!

    I met your husband and two of your sons this morning at the rink, and came across your blog today! I served Bob Goff an ice cream Sunday on his birthday while my wife and I were at Malibu Club in British Colombia doing an adult visit a few summers ago. What a fun guy!

    I love your blog and that you guys did an RV trip around the country a few years back, that is one of my wife’s dreams!

    I hope I get the chance to meet you and work with your boys this summer for off-season strength and conditioning!

    Best,

    Kevin

    Reply
    • Amy Carney
      Amy Carney says:

      Hi Kevin!

      How fun that you found my blog. The power of the web! Glad you got to meet some of my men today and hope I get to meet you one day as well. Small world though because I went to a Toastmasters meeting a couple of weeks ago and your guy, Devin, was there sporting your Cactus Crossfit shirt!

      Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
      Amy

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *