Where Do You Want Us? We Wanted the Beach. God Said Redding.

This week

When Jess and I were twenty and twenty-three, we had one plan: live by the ocean. God had a different one.

This fall I've been telling stories like that on camera for the first time, and the response surprised me. So this letter is a little different. Instead of one long essay, you're getting the best of what I've learned this month, in a few short pieces you can actually use this week.

Watch: we wanted the beach, God said Redding

Jess and I had our pick of San Diego or Hawaii for my pharmacy rotations. One morning on the balcony I asked God where He wanted us, and I heard one word: Redding. I didn't tell Jess. A few weeks later she pulled me into the kitchen with tears in her eyes and said the same word.

Watch the one-minute video on Instagram

Try this week

Before your next big decision, ask God first: "Where do You want us?"

Then test what you hear. I didn't try to talk Jess into Redding. I asked God to tell her, and He did. Ask your spouse, or a friend you trust, to pray about the same question on their own, then compare what you each heard.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)

Hit reply and tell me what happens. I read every one.

Money: the word that got us out of debt

The worst day of my business life, I walked out to the parking lot and put my face in my hands. We'd taken on too much debt, made big bets that didn't pay, and ended up living with my parents. Everything in startup culture said take one more big swing.

A friend in our marriage group prayed for me and kept hearing one word: incremental. Small, wise decisions every day instead of betting everything on one. More on this soon.

Whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. (Proverbs 13:11)

Home: an hour a week with my son

My 13-year-old is homeschooled, and part of his school this year is an internship with me on AI. One hour a week. Right now he's building a game called Picklepocalypse.

The point isn't more screen time. It's more time creating than consuming. Using AI well is a skill only about 1% of the world is grasping right now, and I believe we need to teach our kids now, because the world is changing.

Try it: pick one hour this week where your kids make something instead of watching something.

From the workshop: next week

Next week I'll show you exactly how I made that video in about 20 minutes, with the tools and the steps, so you can make one too.

For your group

If you lead a men's, women's or couples' group, forward this to them.

Talk about it: Where are you holding tightly to your own plan right now, and who could you ask to pray with you about where God wants you?

Know a mom or dad who's building something while they provide? Send this to them. They can join at linnetlegacies.com.

Tim

Questions readers ask

How did we end up in Redding instead of the beach?

Jess and I had our pick of San Diego or Hawaii for my pharmacy rotations. One morning on the balcony I asked God where He wanted us, and I heard one word: Redding. I didn't tell Jess. A few weeks later she pulled me into the kitchen with tears in her eyes and said the same word.

How do you test what you hear from God before a big decision?

I didn't try to talk Jess into Redding. I asked God to tell her, and He did. Ask your spouse, or a friend you trust, to pray about the same question on their own, then compare what you each heard.

What word got us out of debt?

A friend in our marriage group prayed for me and kept hearing one word: incremental. Small, wise decisions every day instead of betting everything on one.

Why an hour a week building with AI with my son?

The point isn't more screen time. It's more time creating than consuming.