Just thought I would share something that I read this morning:

Don’t think for a moment that Satan is going to slow down when he sees you in the way.

Lord God, Your Word tells me that I must be self-controlled and alert. My enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Please empower me to resist him, standing firm in the faith, because I can know my brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings (1 Peter 5:8-9). How I praise You that the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God (1 John 3:8-9). Please lead me not into temptation but deliver me from the evil one (Matthew 6:13).

The Lord has been encouraging me to put things into perspective lately. It’s not about Erin, bummer I know, it is not about you either. I hate to be the barer of bad news. Even as I sit here writing “Brady’s song,” happens to come on and I am reminded that I have a choice. When I find myself in the desert place, the wilderness, in darkness and in suffering, in times that are plentiful, in abundance, when he gives and when he takes away...do I choose to say blessed be His name?

Viva La Tejas!

There a couple things I am still trying to figure out here. Like, how come they do not have a pledge to the state flag? Do they even have a state song? I know there is a bird, flower, tree and all that but what about the important things. Why is there no “Texas State Fair” in Virginia, it’s just not the same with out Big Tex and his “Howdy Y’all!” Oh wait I forget Virginia is a Commonwealth not a state, what the heck is a commonwealth anyway?

It might be true that this Texas flag was the first thing to be hung in my apartment. You see it’s an arctic winter year round in my apartment so the flag is over the A/C vent to bring me warmth. It is a beautiful sight when I lay my head down at night and when I get up in the mornings. Sometimes I cannot help but burst into song…”Texas Our Texas,” “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” “All My Exes Live in Texas (it’s true),” “Yellow Rose of Texas,” “The Eyes of Texas are Upon You...sounds like,” “Luckenbach, Texas” the list goes on, best of all….Fighting TEXAS AGGIE War Hymn!!!!!

I am enjoying this season they call autumn here in Virginia, in Texas we call it football weather but it last longer than a week or two up here. Speaking of football, I went to a high school homecoming game last weekend and it was kind of sad. The stands were full but it reminded me of my Middle School days at Travis, seriously the stands were about that big. The homecoming court was not dressed in gowns, there was a couple dresses and a tie or two but mostly pants and dress shirts. Not a mum to be seen/heard…those honestly were a waste of money but that is what homecoming is about right? Half-time was not the same with out the Drill Team doing the traditional kick routine; they do not even have drill teams up here. Ashley could come up and teach the cheerleaders a thing or two about jumps, cheering and just being crisp…my sister was a rock star MHS cheerleader and is still a rock star!

We will continue with this Texas v. Virginia theme for just a moment…

This is Erin back home in the Lone Star State let’s say last spring and then again about 3 months ago. Gig Em’ life is good, then excited about the future but wanting to hold on to home (not wanting to say good-bye to family and friends). “Remember the Alamo!”

God of this City, King of these people, Lord of this Nation…

And this is Erin again 3 months ago when a so called friend packed my last box and kicked me out of Texas and after I dropped Mom and Daddy off at the airport. Those were a rough couple of weeks and still have those days at times but life is really not that bad. I just thought it was a funny picture.

You’re the Light in this darkness, You’re the Hope to the hopeless, You’re the Peace to the restless.

Greater things are yet to come; Greater things are still to be done…

In Better Hands

A couple months back my sister sang this song in big church and I recently heard it on the radio. If I had only paid closer attention to the lyrics earlier…

"In Better Hands"

Natalie Grant

(see the playlist at bottom of page to hear the song)

It's hard to stand on shifting sand

It's hard to shine in the shadows of the night

You can't be free if you don't reach for help

You cant love if you don’t love yourself

There is hope when my faith runs out

Cause I'm in better hands now

It's like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down

It's like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground

So take this heart of mine there's no doubt

I'm in better hands now

I am strong all because of you

I stand in awe of every mountain that you move

Oh I am changed, yesterday is gone

I am safe from this moment on

There's no fear when the night comes 'round

I'm in better hands now

It's like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down

It's like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground

Its like the world is silent though I know it isn’t true

Its like the breath of Jesus is right here in this room

So take this heart of mine there's no doubt

I'm in better hands now

I'm in better hands now

Jesus you are my rock and I strength in your hands. Thank you that when my faith seems to run out I find hope in You!

Something missing?

How precious is this little red head? Last week Brady turned 3 and I am officially the worst aunt in the world. It totally broke my heart to not be there with the rest of the family celebrating. I find it hard to believe how fast the past 3 years have flown. The little monster has grown so fast and it seems like every time I talk to him he is learning/doing something new! What a joy Brady is to us and we look forward to Blake’s arrival!!! As much as I enjoy pictures something just does not seem right about the family picture…something is missing. (And on that note I better stop, my eyes are burning)

A Keeper

I am not one for those forwarded emails but I received this from a friend this morning and well…it is ok. So the “story” is fair but the bottom line is so true.

A Keeper

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, work shirt and a hat; and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things: a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress... Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, re-heating leftovers, renewing; I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But when my mother died, and I was standing in that clear morning light in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... While we have it, it's best we love it... And care for it... And fix it when it's broken... And heal it when it's sick.

This is true: For marriage... And children with bad report cards. Dogs and cats with bad hips... And aging parents... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it. Some things we keep, like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.

There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special... And so, we keep them close!

In deed there are some people in life who are special and worth keeping close. Over the past 83 days I have come to realize that even with 1400 miles between friends and family…some things make life important!

Integrity

A few months back I had to do a book review on John Maxwell’s book “Developing the Leader Within You,” and for some reason I was looking back over that this morning. Below are a few thoughts from the chapter on integrity.

The most important ingredient of Leadership: INTEGRITY (chapter title)

Defined integrity is simply being complete, my words and my deeds match up. You have probably heard that integrity is who you are when no one is looking... Am I who I am no matter where I am or who I am with? For me I think it is important that my system of values, my faith is so much a part of Erin that it cannot be separated from me. Integrity welds what we say, think and do into a whole person so that permission is never granted for one of those to be out of sync.

Regarding leadership, in order to earn trust as a leader people desire to see authenticity....to be in reality what we appear to be. It makes sense to me that the more followers see and hear their leaders being consistent in action and word, the greater their consistency and loyalty. What they hear, they understand and what they see, they believe! Integrity validates credibility and the more credible you are the more confidence people place in you, allowing you the privilege of influencing their lives.

Integrity builds trust, has high influence value, facilitates high standards, results in solid reputation not just image,

Authority is not the power a leader has over subordinates but rather the leader's ability to influence subordinates to recognize and accept that power. For a leader to have the authority to lead, he needs more than the title on his door, he has to have the trust of those who are following him. Too many people are ready to assert their rights (leadership) but not to assume their responsibilities. What limits people is lack of character, when their character is low so are their standards. It is not about the image of who Erin is but who she really is.

Consistency: Are you the same person no matter who you with?
Choices: Do you make decisions that are best for others when another choice would benefit you?
Credit: Are you quick to recognize others for their efforts and contributions to your success?

We cannot give what we do not have. Image promises much but gives little and integrity never disappoints.

Integrity means living it myself before leading others. I cannot lead anyone further than I am willing to go myself, there are no shortcuts. If the process is right the product is guaranteed. Insincerity cannot be hidden, disguised or covered up, no matter how competent a manager may otherwise be. The only way to keep the goodwill and high esteem of the people you work with is to deserve it. Integrity is not a given, it is a result of self-discipline, inner trust, and a decision to be relentlessly honest in all situations in our lives.

Am I totally availing myself to the teaching I am receiving? Unfortunately we teach what we know and reproduce what we are. What is it that I truly value? Conviction is belief or principle that you regularly model, one for which you would be willing to die...what are my convictions?

ramblings

The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12 NIV).

When you read Scripture, it cuts through all the junk in your life. If you’re hurting inside but you’re pretending everything is okay, it cuts through the act. If you’re mad at someone and you’re pretending it doesn’t bother you, it cuts through your fake smile. If you’re feeling lonely even when you’re surrounded by a lot of people, it cuts through the crowd.

Do we change, or do we simply stay the same?

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like (James 1:23-24 NIV).

Who looks in the mirror notices a problem (misplace hair, something in the nose, eye booger) and does nothing about it? God’s Word reveals things in our lives that need to change. When we study Scripture are we led to be different