In my last blog, I wrote "I am planning on continuing this blog past this post. So... if you feel so inclined, please continue to check it out!" Well, that was nearly two complete MONTHS ago. OUCH. I do want to apologize for my delay! Since being back from my trip, I have done a masterful job of overcommitting myself. Which has not only limited my blogging time, it also encouraged a lack of rest and a truckload of incomplete thoughts, none of which I felt were coherent enough to post on this blog!So, where am I now? Still harboring some incomplete thoughts, but with more time on my hands after cutting some major commitments out of my schedule. I have also found myself without a "phone" or "coffee date friendly voice" for 4 days. Which I believe was the Lord's doing to force me to rest and spend more time talking to HIM than friends and family. I'm thankful for it, even if I have to endure the weird looks for my inconsistent, lack of volume control, man-ish smoker voice.
To bring you up to speed, I have been back from my trip for almost 2 months now. It was a GREAT trip. There were many things that blew me away: how much better fruit tastes when it doesn't contain weird contaminates, how much a culture effects the way a person thinks and behaves, that redheads really are a dying breed, that Dallas is a small town, and that the world is a much bigger and smaller place than I thought is was. I'm incredibly grateful for my trip around the world and impact it continues to have on me!
Many of you may know that one of the main purposes behind my round-the-world trip was to investigate possibilities of moving overseas long term. As of where I am now, I'm going to once again be humblingly (I know I made that word up) honest to the blogging world. As I've been praying about where the Lord would have me go (or stay) next, my heart has been focused on the things I would be leaving behind if I did move- students and a job that I absolutely love, a growing closeness with my perpetually- multiplying family (above is a picture of my niece, Karlie, during her 1st birthday party), fantastically loving and godly friends, and my dreamy new mattress. :)
Recently I have been convicted that my considerations for this big decision have been severely lacking. Is loving my job, my family, and my friends things I should consider when making a major life decision? Sure. But, should it be the focus? Of course not! Not even close! First of all, I had forgotten what an incredible honor it is to live a life wholly devoted to sharing the love of Christ with others, regardless of where your time zone or what your job is. The gospel does more good for people than any Red Cross, FEMA, Peace Corps, democracy, or military aid can ever do. It WILL (from Isaiah 61):
- Bring good news to the poor
- Bind up the brokenhearted
- Proclaim liberty to the captives
- Comfort all who mourn
- Repair ruined cities and the devastations of many generations
So, what should my focus be during this decision? Should it be how my God-given gifts will be best used? Where I can actually find clothes that fit me? Who has the best ice-cream? Who will broadcast OU football games? (BOOMER SOONER!!!) No- my only focus should be on where the Lord would have me go (or stay.). My focus should be BEYOND MY PLANS AND NEEDS AND DESIRES. My focus should be on how I fit into the Lord's good, acceptable, and PERFECT will. (Romans 12) "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!" (Psalm 143:10) May the Lord teach me to put my eyes on HIM first and my own needs second.
So... there are my incomplete thoughts right now. As always, I appreciate you checking out this blog. Till next time...
-Kat
