2 a.m. Wake Up Call

It's not an uncommon thing for the Lord to wake me up early to spend time with Him. It actually happens a lot, and I really look forward to those sweet times with the Lord. Just to spend time in prayer and/or reading His Word in the quiet stillness of the morning, before most of the world around me gets started...it's one of my favorite things.

Now typically, my alarm goes off at 5:30am. Yes- I realize that's early, but that allows me time in the Word, time to get ready, eat breakfast, make my lunch, take care of Sasha, etc. before heading out the door for work. So while some would refer to it as an "ungodly hour," I happen to disagree :) I wouldn't necessarily call myself a morning person- I'm not excited to be awake that early most days. But I don't mind getting up early. I think part of that comes from watching my parents start their days early to spend time in the Word. And really, it's my way of staying disciplined in my time with the Lord. I have to be, otherwise the day gets away from me.

So when I say that the Lord sometimes wakes me up early...that usually just means a little bit before my alarm goes off. Which every now and then is a blessing in disguise- not to be up earlier but simply to wake up without an alarm. It's so much more peaceful, because quite frankly, alarms irritate me lol. Anyway, the last few nights, I have gone to bed just fine, but I have woken up at exactly 2:03am and have not been able to fall back to sleep. This has happened 3 nights in a row, and frankly, I am just tired haha. While I am grateful for the time to spend in prayer, I would prefer for that not to become a regular occurrence at 2 in the morning. I realize this is a random post- perhaps it can be blamed on being delirious from lack of sleep :) So if you think about it, would you pray for rest and a full night's sleep?

*** Thank you for your prayers! I got a full night's sleep with no random 2 am wake up calls ;) ***

My Savior, My God

I woke up with this song on my heart...we sang it last night at singles night, and we had been challenged to really think about the words we were singing. When I really think about the words, I am overwhelmed by the God I serve, filled with gratitude and joy for my Savior and my God....

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God He was, my God He is
My God He's always going to be

Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

A Little of This, A Little of That...

Girls Weekend in SA
It has definitely been a busy weekend/week! As I mentioned last week, I was heading to SA to spend a girls weekend with two sweet friends from college. It was fun to see Nicki and to just spend some time hanging out in SA. It was a whirlwind weekend, but I am thankful for the time I had to spend with family/friends.

With Nicki at Cosi for Lunch

With Laura at Rita's on the Riverwalk

Trip to Atlanta
I got home late on Sunday, just in time to unpack and repack for my work trip to Atlanta. My mom came into town to help my brother with his move and also take care of Sasha while I was traveling. It was fun to have her around, evne if I only got to see her briefly. I spent a couple of days in training for work...I walked away very confused, but did learn that I am not a computer programmer and do not speak computer geek. Haha- oh well...it is nice to get out of the office now and then.

One of the fun blessings of the trip was that I got to reconnect with a friend from my Community Leader days at Baylor. My old hall director Shannon just moved to the Atlanta area to start her PhD work in higher education. Shannon was such a sweet blessing to me in college. While she was technically my boss, she became a close friend and confidant while I was working in North Russell hall. She was such an encouragement to me, and she was definitely that person I could go to for spiritual wisdom and advice. I am so thankful that the Lord allowed us to reconnect!

Me and Shannon back in our residence life days :)

LOL- Shannon had our staff camp out in the quad in January- good times!

I am so thankful that God provided a free evening for me to spend catching up with her! We were able to grab dinner and just talk about all the Lord had done in each of our lives since we last saw each other.

More Hospital Bills :(
So I know that if you're reading this you probably don't care, but I just need a moment to vent. I talked about feeling under attack a few weeks ago and just overwhelmed with bills from my hospital visit after Nicaragua. The Lord was good to provide a payment plan for those original bills, and I am working to get that amount paid down. Well, yesterday I received yet another bill in the mail- this one a separate bill from the ER doctor. Again, the Lord has provided a payment plan, but I am really hoping that this is the last one I see; I don't think I could handle another one. I have to keep reminding myself of God's provision and care for me while I was sick. I am just overwhelmed with this unplanned expense and just frustrated with having to deal with it right now. I'm glad I am a good budgeter...?

Sweet Encouragement
I was able to have dinner with a sweet friend from my 20s group last night- the lovely Miss Katie Miller :) I am so blessed to know this beautiful girl! She is such an amazing example of a godly woman, and I am always challenged whenever I talk with her. She has such a desire to deepen her relationship with the Lord and help others do the same. She has a gift of encouraging others with Scripture and sharing words of wisdom. It had been way too long since we had hung out just the two of us, so I was very thankful for the time I had with her last night.

Missing Mike
More evidence I am officially turning into a girl: I really miss Mike! Haha :) I was in SA last weekend and then Atlanta this week, and he was able to take some time off and spend the week in Colorado...so I won't get to see him until Monday. I am really glad he was able to take this trip, but ten days is a long time...we have talked on the phone and I have been able to see Colorado through the pictures he sends, but it's just not the same. Sigh. /End girliness ;) I am definitely looking forward to seeing him when he gets back!

Quiet Weekend
I am looking forward to a quiet weekend...I am purposely not making a ton of plans so I can spend the time catching up on sleep, laundry/cleaning, etc. It will be nice to not be rushing off to a ton of places for a few days...hope you are able to enjoy a relaxing weekend!

Girls Weekend!

This week has been crazy and busy. We had Lake Day with our 20s group, which was a great day out at Lake Lavon! Despite the 108 degree temps, we had a lot of fun! We had tubing/water-skiiing, a sand volleyball tournament, horseshoes, a watermelon eating contest, ultimate frisbee, and lots of time just hanging out with fun friends! The heat really zapped all of my energy though, and I feel as though I am still trying to recover from that epic day :) I really wanted to go to sleep at 8:30 last night, but made myself stay awake until 9:30...that's better, right? haha

Some of the girls at Lake Day!

I am heading out of town next week for work, so of course a lot of things need to be done before I am out of the office for that trip. But what I am most looking forward to is Girls Weekend with two of my sweetest friends from college- Nicki and Laura! Nicki came home to Texas, so Laura and I are headed to SA town to see her this weekend! It's been a long time since the 3 of us have been together and had time to just hang out, so I plan to soak up every minute of our time together.

I have been friends with Nicki since freshman year at Baylor. She lived next door to me in North Russell Hall, and I was so blessed to have a sweet neighbor who turned into a sweet friend! We used to be mistaken for each other all the time- people thought we were twins! Haha. I think back over the years and how blessed I am to have Nicki as a friend. We had some great times at Baylor, I was privileged to stand with her when she married her best friend, and I am so thankful that the Lord has preserved our friendship through graduation and moving to different cities.

Freshman Year!

I have been friends with Laura since sophomore year at Baylor. We used to ride together to church on Sunday mornings, which gave us a good chance to get to know each other. But I think we truly became friends the summer we both stayed in Waco. Everyone else had gone home, but we were both working and/or going to school in Waco, so we had some sweet time just me and her. Laura has been a sweet and faithful friend, and I am so thankful for her. I am so grateful to have her here in Dallas with me! From our "Erin and Laura Go To..." Adventures to hanging out with our puppies or just  grabbing a margarita to catch up on life, Laura is such a sweet blessing to me.

But really, I am excited for the 3 of us to be together this weekend. I don't know what we are going to do, but I am sure it will include lots of good Mexican food, girl time, and catching up on life. I am so thankful for these sweet friends and for the opportunity to spend some time with both of them! I can't wait!

At a Baylor football game

Graduation!

Visiting Nicki in Abilene

Baylor Homecoming as new alumni!

Sweet Friends :)

Have a great rest of the week and weekend!

Moment by Moment Obedience

A sweet friend from our 20s group emailed me some encouraging words from a devotional she had read. She was reading from one of my favorites My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Here is an excerpt from what she shared with me:

What is my vision of God’s purpose for me? Whatever it may be, His purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. God is not working toward a particular finish— His purpose is the process itself. What He desires for me is that I see “Him walking on the sea” with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see “Him walking on the sea” ( Mark 6:49 ). It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God.

God’s training is for now, not later. His purpose is for this very minute, not for sometime in the future. We have nothing to do with what will follow our obedience, and we are wrong to concern ourselves with it. What people call preparation, God sees as the goal itself.

God’s purpose is to enable me to see that He can walk on the storms of my life right now. If we have a further goal in mind, we are not paying enough attention to the present time. However, if we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious.

I am hardly in the midst of turmoil right now, but I have struggled a bit in recent months about my job and figuring out what I am doing, what my next steps are, what my purpose is in the midst of it all, etc. Her email was such an encouragement and a good reminder of waiting on the Lord, committing my plans to Him, and just living in moment by moment obedience...for a personality that is a compulsive planner at heart, this is so difficult sometimes. I get so focused on the future and what I am supposed to do next, that I too easily forget about where He has placed me right now. I want very much to serve and glorify Christ no matter where He places me- even if it seems like a strange place to be, even if I cannot see or understand fully the purpose. I want my life to be characterized by moment by moment obedience...