While I'm Waiting...

I wanted to write this post because of a song that keeps speaking to me the more I hear it. Plus, I really thought about doing a picture/music video blog b/c most of my life could be described in that way...sometimes I just ramble on with my words anyway. Did I lose you yet? Ok--then check out the music video;)

Many people relate to song lyrics and I am sure that many others relate specifically to this one. This past weekend I spent four hours in the car driving to Cedar Rapids from Des Moines and back. The stations get fuzzy in-between, so I have to change them--and I heard this song four times. I also listen online to the radio as I work and both times that I had turned on the radio the day before it was on too. Thus, I deduced that maybe there was just something in the song that God still wants to me to understand and I'm just so dense that I need to hear it over and over (quite possible)! 

Still need to finish posting pt. 2 on my crazy journey back to Iowa. But I have told many that I just have that feeling that God is about to do something in a big way and I just have to 'wait.' However, I am not so good at waiting. I'm kind of a person that likes to take action and get things done right now.

Case in point: When I learned to walk my dad stood me up and tried to get me to walk and I didn't 'wait' to try to figure it out and put one foot in front of the other. I didn't wait and grab on to the nearest piece of furniture or take a few wobbly steps and then wait to see if I lost my balance or not. I really did just take off running (and laughing as I did laps around the house and refused to go to bed that night). This story also provides great insight into my character as inherently I probably haven't changed much since then;)

Anyway, I think the reason I have such a hard time with the term 'wait' is because I think it correlates to being complacent and not doing everything that you can to make something happen. But it's different when you're waiting on the Lord. It is not 'blind' waiting. You are 'waiting' because you are trusting that His timing and ways are much better than your own.

I also love the message in the song where it says, 'I will move ahead bold and confident.' You can act boldly and confidently by knowing his ways are greater than yours. Waiting does not mean that you passively wait for God to show up and do things in your life.

I really can't logically explain why I'm back in Iowa (now, for eight weeks already) woo hoo! But I did know I was supposed to come back and serve him here in some way. Anyone asks me and I say, ' I don't really know--just that when God tells you to go somewhere---you go!

There is also a neat story from June of this year when I was flying back from Beijing to San Francisco and I was seated next to the random 60 year-old business-man (that didn't know that I was already feeling the nudge to go back but did know that I was from IA originally)He said to me, 'I don't know where you're at but I just think you should know that you don't have to be in San Francisco-I'm pretty sure you can go back and do big things for God in Iowa.' But that is a crazy God-coincidence story that is entirely another blog post! (I warned you that I ramble sometimes--but it really is a cool story that I might have to tell sometime)

I guess it's like the 11 year-old that I baby-sit once-in-awhile says when this song comes on, 'Hey, this is the song that's like the theme song of your life right now!' Yep--that about sums it up...now back to 'waiting'!

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

"To know how to wait. It is the great secret of success." -Joseph De Maistre

Really, God--you want me to go back to IOWA?!

Photo I took of the sun setting when I was on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Many might not find it weird that God would call them back to where they grew up. But it is entirely WEIRD for me. If you asked many of my friends and family they would say the same. Some still wonder how I could be happy here. But, it's where I'm supposed to be and I couldn't be happier about it. (I'll explain over the next few posts)

 After my four glorious years at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA , I got a PR internship in NYC. My time out there was awesome---but I also knew I wanted to go to grad school and was afraid I wouldn't go if I waited too long. So, I moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa and began my masters. I lived in Spain one summer in college and have been fortunate to travel a lot internationally--yet the worst CULTURE SHOCK I've ever had was going from NYC to Cedar Falls, Iowa.(Even though I have lived my whole life in Iowa!) I had been working for a Chinese organization on Fifth Avenue, going to shows and concerts, eating food I'd never heard of, and meeting influential people in the business world. I was living the LIFE and people back in IOWA could just stay there and be BORING.

(This was a guest article that I wrote right before I moved back. When I thought it would be an easy transition)

http://www.offenburger.com/guestpaper.asp?link=20070619

I was suddenly thrust back into college life, and, people that grew up, went to college, and then stayed all in the same place. I really had a hard time and felt like I didn't fit in for about six months. As soon as I finished grad school and had that piece of paper in hand, I was getting the heck out of Iowa and starting my new life in SAN FRANCISCO with more cultured folk! 

But God had other plans....to be continued

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Yes, even in IOWA!)

Jeremiah 29:11

My thoughts on blogging...

My first 'real' confession. 

I am afraid I might be a terrible blogger. The idea of having to write insightful posts that people want to read sounds daunting to me. I have actually toyed with the idea of a picture/music/video blog, so I don't have to write so much. But, one of my fav nerdy t-shirts says, 'Word Nerd' ...and I do like to write. So, here is my attempt.

I named my blog 'GirlGettingReal' because a TRUE,  GENUINE, HUMBLE individual is a BEAUTIFUL thing. The relationships I value the most in my life are with people that you can do life with and be real and they will still like you and want to hang out with you! I think I can be funny and insightful at times, but I can also be boring, lame, and a geek--you were forewarned! 

Overall, I am just striving to be a Proverbs 31 gal. Hope you enjoy my thoughts.