LOL... as in Lots of Learning

This past season has been filled with lots of learning for me. From amazing classes on Psalms and world missions to the variety of people I'm living with, God has a lot to teach me. To recap a little, shortly after my birthday I went to Panama. The trip was nice, but not great (lack of drinking water and water in general). I can't really complain though because I can just hear you saying "Erin, from the view of my computer, any trip to an island in Panama sounds good." So I'll just leave that alone and move onto the other things going on in life ;)

Tom (our director) taught a very real and encouraging class on Psalms over the course of this month between guest lectures and trips. I was blessed so much by his class and the biblical principles that he shared. The Psalms are one of those books you love or don't. And by don't I mean you like proverbs (not my favorite book which isn't a surprise). The psalms are artistic and can express deep parts of our being that we didn't even know were there.
Here is a little portion from the essay I wrote on the Psalms:

God will not abandon me in my time of need. Do you believe it? I mean really believe it? I think that sometimes we think that this isn't abandonment unless it gets to a certain point, then He must have abandoned us. Psalm 46 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” This to me sounds like the end, it sounds like past the point that God would still be on my side, fighting for me, on my team. It sometimes feels like things get so far in the world that the only logical conclusion is that God has abandoned us. When Sarah hadn’t had her baby at 100 y/o, did that feel like abandonment? When the nation of Egypt was pursuing Moses after the long trial of finally leaving Egypt, did that feel like abandonment? Was there that moment that these famous characters looked to heaven and just threw up their hands wondering if God was totally mad? I think that they felt their situations were totally beyond what God had originally planned and that He had lost it. He had abandoned them. I can understand this too. I would have had a moment where I thought the same thing. But the Psalmist has something different to say about that. He says that even when it’s all gone wrong. Even on the deathbed, even at the funeral where cancer won, even then, He is our refuge and strength. He is helping is, He is active, and His plan is prevailing.

How can you make an application to this point without reading on is Psalm 46? “Be still and know that I am God.” Exhale. God will not abandon me in my time of need and I need just to be still?  Be still. Be still. How do I do that when the world is a whirlwind around me, there is tragedy, earthquakes are killing thousands, and families are being shattered? How can I apply the knowledge and hope that He is with me in that? By being still; by letting Him fight for me; by abiding. Now that may be a biblical principle on its own, but more than anything I call that an application – it’s an action for me to take. I’ll take that and be glad that with every other religion people are working for a god to be for them, but my God is for me through His action, His death, and He asks only that I am still and let Him be who He is – God.

I love the Psalms. So raw and real. 

And, now we are going on a missions trip (conveniently right after our class on world missions) and I am very excited. To all who were praying, we exceeded our budget by 2k and will be prayerfully using the excess for the Kingdom. It is an exciting trip where our team has the opportunity to go into schools and speak openly about our relationship with The Lord. In my prayers leading up to this trip, I was struck with Psalm 51:10-12, 

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

    and renew a right spirit within me.

 Cast me not away from your presence,

    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

This is my prayer for this trip, that God will renew me and fill me with His Spirit. That as I go I will overflow with the joy of the salvation He has given me. I think growing up in the church we forget how wonderful His salvation is. How joyous it is to have it, and how people are just waiting to be pulled out of the mire and put on solid ground again. I need to be restored to the joy of His salvation! And, it is only with a willing spirit that He can use me. I want to be willing every moment on this trip. Another lesson to learn for me, be willing! 

So, that's the big stuff I guess. I thought there was more, but I guess life is as boring as I thought! 

Please pray for this trip that the gospel will go forth and that all will stay healthy, safe, and flexible! 

Erin

PS I am back in California one month from today, May30th! Can't wait to see you all, it's been a long 9 months.  

My A-Typical 21st Birthday

Well, the birthday festivities have come and gone (for the most part, though I think that the mail has yet to be retrieved). I had the most wonderful day ever, possibly being the best birthday ever.

It all started the day before (April 1^st) when I was asked out to lunch by Mrs. Janet. She Kayce, Abi, Doro, and me to a lovely little place in Coronado right near school. We ate paninis and drank mint lemonade and had fun talking. Sometimes it’s nice to just go out and eat something special. So, we did. Then, Janet surprised me with birthday cake! It was so fun for the four of us to eat three (BIG) pieces of cake and feel no regret about it. I mean that’s what birthdays are for, right?

Dinner came and went and we were all sitting painting and enjoying the evening together when my (awesome) roommate wanted to go to Janet and Marco’s house to say bye (she was leaving for 10 days that night). So, we all ran over there and I was surprised that actually most of the kids from school were there. Weird! But, I just kept thinking that it was probably a normal thing. Then, because we were all crowded into the kitchen Janet suggested we go to the living room. All of a sudden there was cake and everyone was yelling “SURPRISE!!!” They totally got me! There was cake and ice cream and all sorts of good things!! My socks were blown off because I have never been surprised for my birthday. Ever.

Well, the evening ended with more water colors and I slept with little anticipation for the next day. I mean they had done well, but what else could there be? How wrong was I? First, a birthday card from Miranda, roomie of the year. Then I was shocked because all down the windows of the dorm and even to the door to the dining room was window art celebrating me. I was surprised that the girls would stay  up to do that for me. They have to be the best friends a girl can have. Abi gave me German chocolate and flowers that morning and Marc gave me a box of French candies. Cori gave me a totally Portland journal that I love. The German girls gave me coffee and chocolate. Neena made me some pumpkin muffins. Ricki bought me a t-shirt from Nicaragua. The list goes on and it – each making me feel very loved.

The day of my birthday Abi, Kayce and I went to Arleen’s house (a woman from my Bible study) and Arleen had asked me what recipes I would like to make and bought all the ingredients to make them. If you know me, you know that this is like the best gift in the world. We spent the day baking, talking, eating, and talking more. It was a huge blessing for us all. I thought, “I have arrived. It does not get better than this.”

Mango downside cake. It's awesome. Thanks Martha. 

Wrong.

Dinner the night of my birthday had a sponsor (this too was a surprise). My parents had paid to have a nice dinner! They had asked them to make spaghetti with wine in the sauce (my first not-drink), they sent money for bread, and a big sassy salad. It was so good and everyone enjoyed the evening. And, one more surprise, more chocolate for the birthday girl.

All in all, I felt like it was two days of blessing after blessing. I couldn't imagine all that my friends would do for me and each surprise was just that, a surprise to me! I had always thought I would have that drink that I saved my whole life on my 21^st birthday, but this was even better. That’s the way God likes to work in our lives I think. We wait for something for years and years thinking “it’s going to be so awesome when this happens,” expecting in our minds exactly how it’ll play out. Then God responds with, “it’ll be better than awesome, but get ready because it can only be that way if you let me change your plans a little.”

What is God trying to change in your life? Is there any chance that what He changes it to could be even better than you originally thought?

Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.