Tuesday, November 16, 2010

changes....

Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn

Every Season, Nichole Nordeman

Don't have a lot of time to write tonight, so more on why I posted this later...let's just say for now that there is LOTS of change happening and I am holding on tight. All I hear is Jesus asking, "Do you trust me?"

Saturday, November 6, 2010

It's Been Awhile...

Blogging for me is really hard. This past year an a half has been busier, crazier and just down right insane, more than ever in my life. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE what the Lord has called me to, but I never anticipated this would be what life would look like.

I realize I have many friend across the country who want to know what is going on in the life of Erin and to be honest, I can't be consistent in calling everyone I love as often as I would like to think I can. So...I guess blogging is going to be the best way to keep people caught up on my life.

Multiple people have emailed recently, asking me why I don't blog anymore. That cracks me up because most of this is just me babbling, but if anyone cares to hear the babble, then read on!

So I live in Portland now...well actually Camas, WA, which is about 15-20 minutes outside of Portland. I am on Young Life staff, acting as the Area Director which means I oversee the ministry of Young Life in this community, which is 3 high schools and 5 middle schools. I seriously love what God has called me to and can not imagine a more perfect fit for me.

I am not going to lie....it's REALLY exhausting and I am learning a lot about what it means to take time of solitude. I am not good at that. I don't know many people in ministry who are...but that is NO excuse. For me to think it is even remotely possible to give and pour my life out to others and not have time to sit, be still and be re-fuel is PSYCHO...yet I don't make time for this.

It is hard living so far from my family. I am originally from Florida and I really miss them. Therefore, I am also learning how to be confident in what God has called me to and find rest in that. I love living the Northwest, but sometimes I wish Portland and Florida were next door to each other....or that my family would move here....or maybe not b/c of the rain out here and I know that my family could not live without sunshine (and the warm ocean).

I love my friendships out here. Although I feel lonely a lot because of how busy I am and having a lack of time for my friends, I realize the value in them and I am hoping to get better at time not only time of solitude, but time for fun too! I do miss my friendships from my past and thank you Jesus that I still talk to most of them, for NO ONE can replace them, but I am thankful that God has given me sweet friendships out here. I am still longing for more "iron" friendships but I know those come with time.

I have a couple incredible mentors out here. This is something that I thank the Lord for everyday. I would not of survived my first year on YL staff without these amazing men and women pouring into my life. I could write a book at what I have learned from them and I am sure you will get glimpses of there wisdom as I will most likely be quoting them quite a bit on this blog. That's what happens when you have people kicking your butt. It is sharpening me into more and more of the woman God has called me to be.

I am learning a lot right now about the difference in pleasing God and trusting God. I tend to try and please God a lot more than I choose to trust him. The bad news with this is that any type of "pleasing" I try to bring requires not trust. God is showing me that through trusting him, the overflow of my heart is what ultimately pleases him. More on this in another entry soon to come.

Welp, that's all I got. I love you, whomever you are reading this and sorry if I never answer your calls. It has no reflection on my love for you or your value to me....I am just plain insane and trying to find time to answer my phone. It will happen soon enough.

thanks for caring enough to read this babble. :)
-E