Headfirst, Fearless

I wanted to post earlier this week, but I've been in some kind of funk and I made a promise to myself the day I started this blog to only write when it's real and genuine and when inspiration hits. So you're not gonna see in-a-funk posts. 'Cause funk posts are not cool.

Yesterday as I stood in line at a tiny coffee shop, awaiting my passion tea with honey, I smelled it. Herbal Essence hairspray. Remember that one? Haven't used it in years. Since Jr. High, in fact. It wafted up from a group of giggling high school-aged girls sitting in a circle of leather couches in the corner. Instantly took me back to teenagehood. My best friends and I used it liberally. We sprayed that stuff on like it was goin' out of style. And man did it smell good (although made your hair sticky, then dry and crunchy..)

Reminded me of a sweet and precious time of my life when the Lord taught me a beautiful lesson about faith.

We sat on the green lawn of one of the guest cottages at the Ranch where I grew up (My dad led a ministry school for students all over the world and it was located on a 350 acre horse ranch. Someday I'll share all about those days with y'all) and held hands and prayed with my two best friends in the whole world -Mandy and Rachel. I suppose this tradition was what prompted the baseball field prayer times. As little girls (14 and 15 years old) we prayed about everything under the sun.

We prayed about our biggest, craziest dreams and hopes of being singers, missionaries, actresses. We prayed for our future husbands - asking God to bring us the men He was preparing for us, at the right time - asking Him to grow them -whoever they may be, save our hearts for them and make them (and us) strong and godly. We brought everything to the Lord, laying it happily at His feet. I don't share this to make it sound like we were perfect, holier than thou kids...we certainly were far from it! But sometimes, I look back in amazement at the childlike faith we all shared. And when I compare it to my current state of faith at times, I must painfully admit that the grown-up Erin is sorely lacking.

Just 3 little girls. With big hearts of faith and big eyes looking toward a very big God.

At the time, we shared a mini-obsession with Ireland. We talked about it, dreamed about it, and wanted to go there so badly. (If I recall...we had recently been taken by Rachel's precious parents to see Lord of the Dance which I am sure fueled the fire of our love!)

In all logic and sense - it was totally and completely impossible for us to visit Ireland anytime soon. All good sense absolutely defied the notion. Yet, the icy fingers of doubt that often overtake adult hearts had not yet tackled or destroyed any dreams of the three little girl hearts. And so we decided to start praying. Every day and every time we had a slumber party, we asked the Lord to open a door and give three California girls a trip to Ireland. It was simple. And looking back, sweet. Unhindered by fear of disappointment or being let-down, we prayed and prayed. Simply asking our Father for a sweet gift.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be open to you.

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds.

and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

If you then, though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven

give good gifts to those who ask Him!"

-Matthew 7:7-11

A few years passed, and sure enough... the impossible happened. It seriously did! It was like a dream come true for me. Through a unique set of circumstances, the opportunity arose. I could hardly believe it. The three of us packed our bags and flew on a jet plane to our long-prayed for and longed for destination -

Ireland.

It was sweet. A faith-builder for me. A prayer answered. A dream come true.
Enforcing truths about faith from Scripture.

the beaches of county Donegal

My dad hung this on a sign in his office when I was a child and I will always remember it's truths -

"Faith sees the invisible,

believes the incredible,

and receives the impossible."

I am not saying that if we just have enough faith, God will give us anything we ask for and want. His plan is much bigger than that. Yet, I've realized (in my own heart) that sometimes, we are afraid to dream big, pray big, hope big. We're afraid we'll be disappointed. That we'll get our "hopes up". That the Lord won't come through for us. Sometimes He does say "yes" to our prayers. Sometimes, He says "no, my dear" or "not yet" because He has something better (even if it doesn't seem better to us at the time). And over the years, after the incredible elation of watching a prayer come true in a miracle right before my eyes, I've learned (painfully, at times) how His ways are higher than my ways. I often don't understand His plan. And in the reality of the "no's" He has answered as the years have passed, the "not yet'sno matter what He responds, praying is always worth it - faith is always rewarded. And He is always there, holding me close and comforting me with sweet peace.