You haven’t heard from us in a while. We’ve been home for about 4 months
now and this is the first blog we’ve written. Part of that is just due
to some plain laziness. Maybe a little bit of apathy mixed in there. And
topped off with some embarrassment. Yep, I was embarrassed to write a
blog and tell you what we are doing. We aren’t doing anything tabloid
worthy – no scandals, no babies (I repeat – NO BABIES), and definitely no
noteworthy travels. We’re just living normal lives…so what was I so
afraid of?
now and this is the first blog we’ve written. Part of that is just due
to some plain laziness. Maybe a little bit of apathy mixed in there. And
topped off with some embarrassment. Yep, I was embarrassed to write a
blog and tell you what we are doing. We aren’t doing anything tabloid
worthy – no scandals, no babies (I repeat – NO BABIES), and definitely no
noteworthy travels. We’re just living normal lives…so what was I so
afraid of?
My last sentence. That’s exactly what I was afraid to admit.
We’re just living normal lives. I found myself doing exactly what AIM
staff had warned me about and exactly what I swore I wouldn’t fall into
once we re-entered America: Comparing.
We’re just living normal lives. I found myself doing exactly what AIM
staff had warned me about and exactly what I swore I wouldn’t fall into
once we re-entered America: Comparing.
Last year: Spent January hiking through the beautiful mountains of New
Zealand sleeping in a tent and loving it.
This year: Spent January
trying to find a job and a house in the quaint, comfortable town of
Edmond, Oklahoma.
trying to find a job and a house in the quaint, comfortable town of
Edmond, Oklahoma.
Last year: Started February by praying with my squad
over an Australian couple who couldn’t get pregnant. (fyi they have a
baby now!)
over an Australian couple who couldn’t get pregnant. (fyi they have a
baby now!)
This year: Started February being snowed in by the 2 worst
blizzards in state history.
blizzards in state history.
Last year: March 2010 I was riding
motorcycles through Manila and playing with street kids.
motorcycles through Manila and playing with street kids.
This year:
March 2011 most of the kids in my neighborhood drive nicer cars than me
and wear Northface jackets.
March 2011 most of the kids in my neighborhood drive nicer cars than me
and wear Northface jackets.
Last year:
This year:
Last year my “normal” daily activities would include stuff like hanging
out with homeless people, eating at a stranger’s house, hopping on some
sketchy form of transportation, or venturing with one of my teammates to
a local market.
This year my days are filled with not-so-exhilarating tasks like
laundry, dishes, paying bills, and reading the blogs of my friends who
are doing way more exciting things.
Yes as you are reading this I have friends serving in 6 different
countries, at least 3 friends launching this summer on the Race, and a
handful more leaving America soon for either full-time missions, leading
trips, or starting G42 in Spain. Not to mention the fact that close to a dozen
of my squadmates are in Georgia right now working for AIM to
help
advance the Kingdom.
advance the Kingdom.
Woe is me.
I’m stuck here in the Bible Belt.
No exciting trips.
No
beautiful scenery
beautiful scenery
…[unless you count the sun rising over the parking
lot]…
lot]…
which I don’t.
There aren’t 50 crazy/awesome people surrounding me
at all times encouraging and challenging me to go deeper, take risks,
and love harder.
at all times encouraging and challenging me to go deeper, take risks,
and love harder.
I have no stories to blog about.
And worst of all I
have nothing extraordinary to take pictures of and post on Facebook from
some random internet cafe where it will take me at least 20 minutes per
picture to upload.
have nothing extraordinary to take pictures of and post on Facebook from
some random internet cafe where it will take me at least 20 minutes per
picture to upload.
My life is so blah.
These were honestly my thoughts up until just a few weeks ago. I mean
throw me a bone here – it is quite an adrenaline downshift to go from braving the world to braving a 15 minute morning commute.
BUT
Who the heck am I to say where God has us right now isn’t exciting? I
believe with everything in me that we are EXACTLY where we’re supposed
to be and fulfilling God’s purpose for my life is hands down the most
exciting thing I can think of. I believe I’m in the middle of a move of
God and it just so happens that for me to be a part of that right now it
means I need to be washing dishes, paying bills, and wearing a blazer
to work.
believe with everything in me that we are EXACTLY where we’re supposed
to be and fulfilling God’s purpose for my life is hands down the most
exciting thing I can think of. I believe I’m in the middle of a move of
God and it just so happens that for me to be a part of that right now it
means I need to be washing dishes, paying bills, and wearing a blazer
to work.
* * * * * * * * * *
Now I didn’t turn my attitude around and come to that conclusion
overnight. It took some time and some serious pride swallowing. It also
took some convincing from Andrew and a phone call from a friend on the
other side of the globe. I had to realize (again) that contrary to my
common belief, my life is not about me and my preferences. It’s about
giving everything in me to something greater and more powerful than I
could ever be on my own. And once I took off my blinders I was finally
able to see that God is working all around me…even here in Edmond,
Oklahoma.
Okay you made it through the desert with me, now here’s the exciting stuff you were hoping this blog would eventually get to…
Like I said, God is moving like crazy all around me. And He has been the
whole time but I’ve just been too preoccupied with…well, myself to
notice. He wasn’t waiting around for me to get my priorities
straight…as if the Creator of the entire universe needed my help in
changing the world.
Whew. Erin I’m so glad you’re back on board. Things were really starting
to go downhill. Good thing you’re here to help, now I can finally start
changing some lives again!
(Not an actual statement God would ever make.)
He’s going to bring His Kingdom to earth with or without me (and sorry,
but He’ll do it with or without you too) so I can either choose to be a
part of what He’s doing or sit on the sidelines and watch my life go by.
And it’s not that God doesn’t want to use us. It’s just that He wants
us to choose out of our own free will to love Him enough to join Him in
confounding the things of this world and bringing hope to a hopeless
generation.
Now I realize I didn’t tell you exactly what we’ve been doing the past
few months but honestly I don’t think telling you that information is as
important as this: We are in the middle – I’m talking the epicenter –
of a mighty move of God. Seriously.
I don’t think for a second we’re
great enough to be even a small part of it but I’m not about to argue
with God and try to convince Him to put me back on the sidelines where
Satan tells me I belong. In the past few months the Lord has given us
jobs, cars, the financial ability to start paying off school debt, and a
place to live. And those are just the tangible, material things. We’ve
also been blessed with a great community, a church that challenges us to
stretch ourselves beyond our own capacity, a renewed passion for the
Holy Spirit, new friends that have absolutely rocked our world, more
boldness, a vision for the future…the list could go on but I’ll stop
now so hopefully you’ll keep reading and maybe even leave a comment 🙂
great enough to be even a small part of it but I’m not about to argue
with God and try to convince Him to put me back on the sidelines where
Satan tells me I belong. In the past few months the Lord has given us
jobs, cars, the financial ability to start paying off school debt, and a
place to live. And those are just the tangible, material things. We’ve
also been blessed with a great community, a church that challenges us to
stretch ourselves beyond our own capacity, a renewed passion for the
Holy Spirit, new friends that have absolutely rocked our world, more
boldness, a vision for the future…the list could go on but I’ll stop
now so hopefully you’ll keep reading and maybe even leave a comment 🙂
For those of you who enjoy the Cliffnotes version of stories, here’s the
point: God is doing miracles every day all around us and it doesn’t
matter where you live, what your occupation is, or how “normal” your
life may seem. As my pastor said a few weeks ago, “If you’re a Christian
then there’s nothing NORMAL about you!” God is changing lives and
turning the ordinary in to extraordinary. He’s even doing some legit
supernatural miracles right here in Edmond. I’m talking provisions,
healings, prophecies fulfilled, redemption, can I get an AMEN?! It’s
happening. And chances are that if it’s happening here – in a town where
there are more mansions than homeless people, where comfort can triumph Christ, and where
most people believe but don’t live like believers – chances are it’s
happening where you are too.
point: God is doing miracles every day all around us and it doesn’t
matter where you live, what your occupation is, or how “normal” your
life may seem. As my pastor said a few weeks ago, “If you’re a Christian
then there’s nothing NORMAL about you!” God is changing lives and
turning the ordinary in to extraordinary. He’s even doing some legit
supernatural miracles right here in Edmond. I’m talking provisions,
healings, prophecies fulfilled, redemption, can I get an AMEN?! It’s
happening. And chances are that if it’s happening here – in a town where
there are more mansions than homeless people, where comfort can triumph Christ, and where
most people believe but don’t live like believers – chances are it’s
happening where you are too.
Will you join Him?
