To blog or not to blog?

With a couple free hours to internally debate this idea, I finally decided to do it.

Now, for those of you who know me and my cynical relationship with technology...or have seen my primitive cell phone, you know how much I dislike what social media has done to our relationships and communication. So why am I deciding to be a part of this?

I realized that one of my biggest fears was the pride involved in creating a narcissistic website about myself and my adventures (or the attempt to make them seem as such). A desire for human approval. The temptation to exaggerate for the sake of interesting posts. The Lord has been showing me how these are deep-set issues in the nature of my heart, however. They are not something that I can blame on an external trigger, and whether that external trigger is there or not- they will still be issues hindering my walk with God. I have to take the knife to sin at its root (my heart), not throw a blanket over it by avoiding situations where my pride surfaces.

So I'm praying God helps me keep pride at bay as I start this blog, and if the Lord shows me that it is or it becomes a reason- I pray I will have the clarity and wisdom to immediately quit writing. The main reason I wanted to start this is to ask for prayer, which, along with my own pursuit of God by His strength, grace, and mercy, will sustain me during my time in Chicago. 

The second reason is to process my experiences transparently, hopefully fostering accountability and feedback- since so many of you, my friends and family, are far away! 

So, all that heavy stuff being said, I'm starting to get very excited about my journey ahead. Next week begins the few months I am going to be interning with Heartland Alliance, an organization caring and advocating for refugees in Chicago. Please pray for a balance between boldness in speaking God's truth, grace and love, and a respect of secular authority, as well as wisdom to know the difference between the two.

 “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4

I believe in God's desire for justice to the oppressed, and wholeness and integrity in our society – which will only be fully found in Him. So, I look forward to God’s deeper revelation of who He is and what He is doing in and through me these upcoming months. 

And throughout this process...if anyone who happens across this page finds anything they doubt the truth of, the integrity of, or anything dishonoring to God, please let me know. I would much rather be engaged and confronted in my thinking, than simply talk at people about what is going on in my life. 

Our Lord is so good. Blessings to you all! :)