No Place Like Home

After this last Christmas, I have realized that I am so blessed to have 2 "homes." Chicago will always hold a piece of my heart, where most of Errik and I's family live. Then, I have discovered that Columbia, slowly but surely, is becoming home. And not because it's a place where they get 3 snow days for about 5 inches of snow and some ice or having the hustle and bustle of city life (ha) or being home to the South Carolina Gamecocks but Columbia is home to so many great friends and a church we just love even in its slight brokeness. Although Errik and I may be here for a season, Columbia is the first place Errik and I made home. So I apologize to those I have confused when chatting about home, because right now I am not exactly sure which one is home. And I am okay with that.

I was so blessed to be home (chicago) for 2 whole weeks! I miss my amazing family and our crazy hilarious nieces with a nephew on the way to spice things up. Errik and I wish we could be there for their birthdays, to catch their funny sayings, to babysit and spoil the heck out of them but I know the Lord continues to call us elsewhere for now.

Finally this past Christmas, I was DETERMINED to go back to my home church. The one that taught me what church was, who Christ is, what it means to follow Him, and encouraged me to grow in my faith. God had placed some pretty amazing people along my path there. It was SO refreshing to be back after 3 years. To see all what God has accomplished and continues to accomplish. I felt like a stranger but at home all in the same moment. I remember roller blading on cement floor that are now filled with the nursery, only 500 people attended at my first service where currently thousands of people attend on 3 different campuses not including the roughly 25 church plants worldwide, the crazy lock ins, the camping trips in Canada and Vermont.I even ran into my small group leader from 6th grade who I had prayed with to accept Christ. The list goes on. Lord, thank you for reminding me of a child-like faith and for placing so many people in my life to encourage me to grow in you, no matter where we live.

2011 can be the best year of your life

I'm back home from IL and I loved spending time with family and probably most of all my new nieces (one nephew on the way). While home we had the chance to go to church and Pastor James talked about 2 Tim 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. It was great for me because I often struggle with certain types of fear. Usually the fear of what will happen if I really let God take the reins. Non the less God has given us power (over that which we can not control), love (to over come pain, hurt and disappointment), and self control (power over the self). Pretty cool to think about.

Anyway it was great to hear a challenging and convicting message. So when I think about what I want to be great this year it really boils down to a few key things. I want to be a man after God's own heart, I want to be a devoted husband, I want to be a disciple with my guys, I want to work each day as if for God and finally to be more healthy (thats a major self control one there). So it is January 4th and there are still 361 days to get these things done...