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Confessions of an Idiot

3/31/2016

By Erin Elizabeth Austin

Can you keep a secret? I learned something not too long ago – I am an idiot. Now before you start sending me emails for being self-deprecating, allow me to clarify. Several weeks ago, I spoke at a ladies event. In my preparation, I discovered the origins of the word idiot, and it has a different connotation than how it’s used today. If we stick with the original meaning of the word, I, Erin Elizabeth Austin, am an idiot.

I’ve always known I’m different from others. Even if I didn’t know, I am constantly reminded of this fact by doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and other people who are chronically ill. Not only is my body weird, but the way I’ve responded to being sick is also rather unique. Not many sick people decide to start a nonprofit, become a writer and speaker, and start a magazine. According to others, that’s not normal, especially when I don’t have a business or English degree.

Maybe that’s why Peter is one of my favorite people in the New Testament. I know most Christians will claim Paul as their favorite biblical character, but I’ve always been able to identify with Peter. He messed up on multiple occasions. He had a big heart and zeal for life, but let’s face it. The guy made a lot of mistakes. Not only that, but he was an uneducated, regular, blue collar man. He was ordinary. There was absolutely nothing special about the guy, and yet he led the way in starting the church. Before Paul came along, Peter was the one God used to bring thousands of people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The same man who denied knowing Jesus on three separate occasions was also the man who preached at Pentecost. Even though he was a royal screw-up, God still used Peter in huge ways.

To me, that’s a big deal. It says God doesn’t judge us according to the world’s standards. He sees beyond our social and economic status. To God, we are more than how the world defines us. We aren’t disabled, broken, poor individuals with nothing to contribute to the world. As long as we are alive, we can make a difference in the lives of others.

We see this truth in Acts 4 when Peter and John were arrested by the leaders of the church after healing a man who was unable to walk. After spending the night in jail, they were brought before the court where Peter defended his faith in Christ. My favorite part of this story is when it says in verse 13, “Now when they saw the courage of Peter and John, and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

The original Greek word used for “untrained” is “idiotes.” Recognize it? For those who don’t, take out the e and you have idiots. Bet you didn’t realize there were idiots in the Bible! I certainly didn’t! Yet the meaning of idiotes is a little different than the English form of idiots. It means “ungifted, unskilled, untrained,” and my personal favorite “ordinary.”

God uses the ordinary! In fact, He specializes in it. He doesn’t care if you didn’t finish high school or even if you have a learning disability. To God, it doesn’t matter if you’re ten-years old or one hundred. Rich or poor, healthy or sick, these are all things that are meaningless in God’s kingdom. The only thing that matters is your heart. If you love God and have a desire to be used by Him, that’s the most important thing. The other things are simply window dressings – meaningless.

So you’re an idiot? Big deal! Your life has value. God can and wants to use you. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if He wants to do big things in your life and through your life. Be proud of who you are. God isn’t ashamed of you, so why should you be?

Today, ask God to use you. Allow Him to show His greatness through your brokenness. He might just use you to change the world.

Will you let Him?

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:27

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Confessions of a Broken Vessel

2/18/2016

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By Erin Elizabeth Austin

I’m broken. There’s no doubt about it. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been told by a medical professional that I’m a walking miracle and should donate by body to science after I die because I shouldn’t be able to get out of bed in the morning. It would be easier to list the things in my body that work properly rather than the things that don’t. For years, I’ve focused on all that is run-down, worn out, and broken in my life rather than on the positive, and it’s time for it to stop!

To be fair, when living with a chronic illness, we’re asked on a regular basis to do just that. Doctors want to know what’s wrong in our bodies and all the ways we’re struggling. Friends want to know if we’re feeling sick this week. Churches want to know if they should put us on their prayer list so they can pray over what ails us. By themselves, these things aren’t bad, but as time passes and years spent living with an illness fly by, it becomes easier to start the day by thinking about what’s wrong than it is to think about what is right.

You’re sick. You owe us money. I need you to do something. Over and over we are assaulted with problems and things people expect from us on days we feel so bad we simply want to go back to bed and hide. The world places its demands at our feet and we are left feeling overwhelmed, seeing the negative, dealing with fears and doubts, and asking the never-ending question…What can I do?

I think if we’re honest, we’ve all had this thought at some point or another. We’re taught that our lives have a purpose, that we wouldn’t be here if God didn’t want to use us. But we’re broken. Our bodies are messed up and our lives are filled with challenges. Some of us are sick. Some of us have been beaten up by the numerous problems life has thrown our way. Some of us are just down-right tired. We’re tired of fighting to survive. So how could God possibly want to use people like us when all we are is a broken vessel?

It’s taken me awhile, but I’ve finally learned something God has been trying to teach me for a long time. All of these years I’ve been asking the wrong question. The question isn’t “What can I do,” but “What can God do?”

We become so enamored with our problems and how difficult something is that we forget how great God is. If you study the Bible, you’ll see that the people God used the most were often the most broken. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own family and then wrongly thrown in jail after being accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Joshua was a nomad for forty years, forced to wander the desert and watch as his family and friends died one by one, including his mentor. David was devalued by his own family and then forced to go into hiding to save his life from an insane king. And these are just a few. All of these men were broken by circumstances beyond their control, and yet God used them!

Instead of starting the day by questioning what we can do, we need to ask God what He wants to do. It sounds so simple, but every time I ask God how He wants to use me today, He always surprises me with something new. Just this morning I got a phone call asking me to take a pack of ginger ale and crackers to friends whose entire family had been taken out by a stomach bug. To them, it didn’t matter that I didn’t feel like wearing my contacts instead of my glasses, or that I showed up wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt. Instead of being a plain-old, broken Erin, I was an answer to a prayer.

That’s what God does! He can and wants to use each of us. To Him, you’re not a pathetic, worthless piece of junk. You have value to God and His kingdom. So your life has challenges? Whose doesn’t? If you obsess on how long it takes you to complete a task, you’ll never accomplish anything.

You’re ALIVE!!! It’s time to act like it! There will come a day when you’re not, but until it happens, you need to live. Don’t spend your life waiting to die. Choose to live!

“This day is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous to see! This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord, please help us. Save us. Give us success.” ~ Psalm 118:23-25 (TLB)

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Confessions of a Selfish Person

2/11/2016

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By Erin Elizabeth Austin

“I wanna talk about me, wanna talk about I, wanna talk about number one. Oh my me my. What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see.” If you ever listen to country music, then you probably recognize these lyrics by Toby Keith. Although it’s an amusing song, there’s a lot of truth to it. People like to think about themselves. It’s a fact of life. We all have the tendency to be selfish.

I. Me. My. Mine. Myself. These are just a few of the words we use to talk about ourselves on a daily basis. If we were to take just one day and count the number of times we think about ourselves, we would all be shocked and most likely appalled.

Now don’t get me wrong. It’s important to have a healthy self-esteem and take care of ourselves, but there’s a fine line between doing what’s best for ourselves and being self-absorbed. It’s a line most of us unknowingly cross, and this is even truer when living with a chronic illness.

Our worlds become small and narrow when we’re diagnosed with a chronic illness. Dreams are replaced with burdens. Adventures are replaced with doctors’ appointments. Spending time with friends is replaced with time spent on the couch watching television. Even though we can’t help it, our lives can become very one dimensional.

Because of this, it’s easy to focus on ourselves. Instead of thinking about what we can do, we focus on what we can’t do. Instead of thinking about how we can bless and encourage others, we wonder if anyone will encourage us. Instead of trying to make a difference in the lives of others, we bemoan the fact that we are sick and unable to change the world. But the common denominator in this equation is us and our attitude. It’s self-focused and self-absorbed. It’s all about me.

We commit a great disservice to God when we do this. Not only are we taking our focus off Him, but we are forgetting who He is and what He can do. God isn’t limited by our limitations. Yet He can’t use someone who’s too selfish to notice those around him.

Maybe it’s just me, but I have the tendency to greatly dislike where God has placed me. I’m thirty-one and have to live with my parents because I’m sick. Not only that, but I live in the middle of nowhere. It’s a nice place with wonderful people, but it’s one of the most rural counties in the entire state of South Carolina. So obviously since God has placed me here, than it’s not very important, right? If this were a game show this is where you’d hear the buzzer telling me I’m wrong. The thing I tend to forget is God has placed me where I am. Because of that, it is important, and that’s true for all of us.

If you’re confined to your home and only have contact with your family, it’s important. If you’re a business tycoon employing hundreds of people in New York City, it’s important. If you live in the plains of Africa in a remote village, it’s important. Wherever you are, God has placed you there, and it’s important! We may not understand why our lives have turned out the way they have, and we may never know, but that doesn’t negate the importance of where God has placed us. He can use each of us to make a difference in the lives of others.

Susanna Wesley learned this lesson early on in her life. Living during the 1700s, she understood hardship all too well. Although she gave birth to nineteen children, only ten made it to adulthood. Her husband abandoned her and their children on more than one occasion, and often without money to pay the bills and purchase food. Her home caught fire on two separate occasions, not to mention the fact one of her children was crippled. Despite dealing with her own illness, she was the mother, father, and teacher to her children. She had every reason to throw a pity party, yet she chose to focus on her children and teach them that even though their father struggled to show them his love, they had a Heavenly Father who loved them beyond a shadow of a doubt. Instead of focusing on herself and her problems, Susanna realized that the place she was in was important because God was there. And because of her faithfulness to God, her sons John and Charles Wesley became devout men of God, started the Methodist church, and led countless people to Christ.

Amidst all her suffering, I doubt Susanna Wesley imagined how God would use her children. She didn’t have a map of how her life would turn out. All she had was the truth of Colossians 3:23-24. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

It may not always feel like it, but God has a purpose for your life. He’s chosen you to point others to Him, even if it’s simply by doing the dishes and folding laundry for your family. Everything you say and do matters! Your life and attitude is a reflection of who you believe God to be.
So what does your life say?

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through Him.” ~ Colossians 3:17

© February 10, 2016

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Confessions of an Underdog

2/4/2016

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By Erin Elizabeth Austin

Impossible. Improbable. Inadequate. Insufficient. For some people, these words don’t mean anything. Although life isn’t without problems, for some, things just come easy. Everything seems to fall in place. Yet for the majority of us, we find ourselves questioning if anything in life is simple. Challenge after challenge comes our way, and we’re left wondering if we’ll ever amount to anything. We live the life of an underdog.

I don’t know about you, but I can relate to the underdog. Impossible seems to be the theme of my life. Raped when I was eight-years old, diagnosed with lupus when I was seventeen, fibromyalgia when I was twenty-one, and Crohns when I was twenty-five, I have had to fight tooth and nail to get to where I am today. On more than one occasion I’ve been told I wouldn’t amount to anything. I’ve been told I would be dead by the time I’m twenty-seven, and I’ve been told by an editor that I’m not good enough to be a writer; I’m simply mediocre. Basically, I’m an underdog.

It’s taken me a long time to accept this. For a while, I hated the word. It reminded me of how hard my life has always been and caused me to question if there was even a point in trying to overcome the obstacles life has thrown my way. But over the past couple of years God has shown me how good it is to be an underdog. It’s who I am, and there’s nothing to be ashamed about. God made me who I am and He loves me just as I am. Even better than that, He can and wants to use me. It doesn’t matter to Him that I am an underdog.

This truth became even more real to me over the past several months. My dad and I love watching a television show called The Voice. For those who aren’t familiar with it, it’s a singing competition, but it’s unique in that the judges don’t get to look at the competitors when they hear them sing for the first time. The contestants are judged based solely on their voices. This past season, I immediately began cheering for an underdog, a man named Jordan Smith. He had the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard, but he doesn’t look the way Hollywood says an entertainer should, but even more than that, he unapologetically is a Christian. Jordan even admitted that most of his life people didn’t give him the time of day because he didn’t look or act a certain way, but he made no apologies for it. As he said, “I am who God made me to be, and I’m happy with that.”

As I watched and cheered for Jordan each week, I was blown away not only by his talent, but by his character. He was without a doubt the best singer on the show, yet he was the most humble. And God blessed him for it! I watched him sing songs like “Great is thy Faithfulness” and “Mary Did You Know” on national television, and in this day and time when it’s not popular to be a Christian, I saw God bless a man for his faithfulness. Jordan won this season, and I have no doubt it was because of his faith in Christ and his attitude that God chose to bless him. It didn’t matter that he was an underdog. God didn’t bless him in spite of who he was, but because of it!

We spend so much time trying to get away from our problems and who we are that we miss what God wants to do in our lives and through our lives. He can use each of us. He wants to use each of us. The question is will we let Him?

Colossians 1:12 says we should “give thanks to the Father who qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” The original Greek word used for “qualified” is only used twice in the Bible, and it means “to make sufficient.” Colossians 1:9-18 is a powerful section of Scripture that I encourage you to read because it says that on our own we can’t do anything, but with God, He makes us adequate. It doesn’t matter what the world tells us because God says we are enough.

Stop and think about that. It doesn’t matter what disease you have. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have enough money. It doesn’t matter if the world says you can’t do something. It doesn’t matter that you’re an underdog. God says His power is stronger than any problem you are facing. He makes you qualified to do the things He’s placed in your heart to do. If He’s called you to do something, that’s all that matters. Because of what Christ did on the cross, you are qualified!

So what is God calling you to do?

“We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making Him proud of you as you work hard in His orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that He has for us.” ~ Colossians 1:10-12 (MSG)

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Confessions of a Weirdo

9/24/2015

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By Erin Elizabeth Austin

I’m different – special, unique, complex. In essence, I’m weird. I wish I could blame it all on the lupus, but the truth is I’ve always been a bit odd. I don’t fit into a category. From loving all genres of music to being a bit of a tomboy who also likes to dress up, I always find myself on the outskirt of societal norms. And that’s okay.

Unfortunately, it’s taken me too long to understand this truth. As children, we are all given a set of expectations from our parents or guardians, be it good or bad. We take what we see in the adults around us and we form our belief system. The majority of us try to take what we learn, adapt, and fit in. The problem occurs when we realize that nine times out of ten our true selves are different than how we believe we should be.

I was reminded of this the other week when I was spending time with my nephews. They wanted to watch a Disney movie called The Lucky Duck. For those who haven’t had the privilege of watching this cartoon, it actually has a good message despite the annoying theme song that will stay in your head for days! It’s about a group of toys that are shipped away because they don’t meet factory regulations. Lucky, a rubber duck who can’t squeak, is the one who understands it’s okay to be different and leads them to a group of children who love having a toy that isn’t like all the others.

In some ways, I think we’re all like the toys in The Lucky Duck. We all have something that makes us different from everyone else. Whether it’s sickness, a chocolate addiction, the inability to stay away from the mall, or a love of comic books, we are all unique, and that’s a good thing! God loves who we are. He didn’t make a mistake when He created us. He delights in us!

One of my favorite psalms is Psalm 37. The most quoted verse in the entire psalm is verse 4, which says, “Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” It’s a wonderful verse and there’s a powerful message there, but I think many times we stop at verse four and don’t read the rest of the psalm because halfway down in verses 23 and 24 there’s an even more powerful message. It says:

The steps of man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.

Stop and think about think about for a moment. God delights in YOU. He looks at you, sees the things which make you special, and He feels joy! He loves you so much, that no matter what happens in your life, God is walking beside you holding your hand. He doesn’t abandon you or ship you away because you’re different from the rest of society. You make God happy.

I don’t know about you, but that’s a foreign concept to me. When you’re faced with seeing how others react to your differences in a negative light, it’s hard to imagine making God happy. We’ve all heard that God loves us, and we get that to a certain extent. It’s almost like we believe God has to love us because it’s His job as our Father, but that doesn’t mean He has to like us. Yet miraculously, He does!

Imagine how your life would change if you could fully grasp the truth that not only does God love you, but He delights in you. Just like playing with a young child can bring you joy and laughter, you do the same to God.

It doesn’t matter that you’re different from everyone else. It’s what makes you special. It’s time to stop hiding who you are. Embrace who God made you to be. Be different. Be special. Be weird!

God loves you for being you. Isn’t it time you do the same?

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” ~ Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

© September 24, 2015

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A Powerful Life

5/22/2014

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By Erin Elizabeth Austin

Weak. Sickly. Puny. Fragile. Delicate. What comes to mind when you read these words? I can’t help but wonder how many of you thought about yourself and your chronic illness. We’ve probably all heard these words used to describe us and our health at least once; I know I have. Personally, I hate these words. I cringe whenever I hear them. I have been sick for almost eleven years, and I’ve lost count of the number of times these words have been used to describe me. Maybe one of the reasons why I hate these words so much is because of what our culture believes.

We Americans are taught at a young age that our goals in life should be to make money, become a force in which to be reckoned, and become a huge success. Yet living with a chronic illness changes all of that. We’re often too sick to work and make money, let alone become powerful or a huge success. It’s no wonder so many of us struggle with feelings of low self-worth! According to our world’s standards, we have nothing of value to contribute to society. But God doesn’t judge us according to what others say or think. When God looks at us, He doesn’t see sickly, weak people with no value. To Him, we are more than an illness and a broken body. Yet far too often, we forget this truth and judge ourselves in the same way the world does. We allow our diseases to define who we are and forget that a weak body doesn’t mean we have a weak spirit and mind. Some of the most brilliant minds in history came in the form of “weak” bodies. Beethoven was deaf and had an intestinal disease. Hellen Keller was blind and deaf. Stephen Hawking, who is considered to be a modern-day Albert Einstein, can’t even speak without the aid of a computer. Yet in spite of every challenge and obstacle these people faced, they chose to persevere and become more than the world said they could be.

Paul speaks of this very thing in Philippians 4:13. It says, “I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me.” Simple words but they have a powerful meaning. In fact, the Greek word for “strength” means “to put power in.” A more literal translation of this verse is, “I can withstand all things because Christ fills me with His strength and infuses me with power.”

It’s no wonder Paul penned those words. He was no stranger to suffering. In fact, he went through more suffering in his life than most of us could ever imagine. Don’t forget, not only was he imprisoned many times, he was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake, and most likely had a health problem. So to say “I can withstand all things” is a truly powerful statement. Paul wasn’t just another preacher saying what people needed to hear. He spoke from his personal experience. He knew how hard life can be, but he also knew that God is greater than any problem that can ever come our way. And for those who have a relationship with Christ, they can rise above the trials life throws their way because God will fill them with His strength and power. All they have to do is ask.

Let’s face it – our lives aren’t easy. Truth be told, they’ll probably never get any easier. For many of us, each day that we are able to get out of bed and accomplish something on our “To Do List” happens only because we willed ourselves to do it. Because of this, sometimes we grow tired and weary in our spirits from the daily battle to rise above the pain. But it doesn’t have to be this way. God is strong enough to carry our burdens, and He graciously shares His strength and power with each of us.

Will we still be physically weak? Most likely yes, but the great thing about having a weak body is we know we need to rely on our strong, mighty God. The more we lean on God for strength, the more He can use our lives in a powerful way. I don’t know about you, but I would rather have a weak body and live a powerful life that makes a difference in this world than to have a strong body but live only a mediocre life focused on myself. What about you?

“Look at your situation when you were called, brothers and sisters! By ordinary human standards not many were wise, not many were powerful, not many were from the upper class. But God chose what the world considers foolish to shame the wise. God chose what the world considers weak to shame the strong. And God chose what the world considers low-class and low-life—what is considered to be nothing—to reduce what is considered to be something to nothing. So no human being can brag in God’s presence. It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus. He became wisdom from God for us. This means that He made us righteous and holy, and He delivered us. This is consistent with what was written: The one who brags should brag in the Lord!” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (CEB)

*Originally posted © January 24, 2013

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It's Worth the Wait

12/4/2013

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Note from Erin: Rachel Hamilton is dear friend of mine. I've gotten to know her through the magic of the internet. Although she lives in New Zealand and I live in South Carolina, we've become friends. She has a kind heart and a beautiful spirit that uplifts and encourages people. I've asked her to write today's blog, and I know you will be blessed.

By Rachel Hamilton

I had my life worked out. I knew where I was going. But what I didn't know was God was planning something completely different for me, something life changing and bigger than I could have imagined.

At fifteen-years old, I knew what I wanted to do in life. I wanted to be a paramedic and save lives. As I started training for it, suddenly God shut the door. Dream after dream was crushed, and time after time the answer was “No.”

I couldn't understand it. If God loved me, why did everything I try crumble? Why did He say no so much to me when everyone around me got a yes? Did He hate me? Was I a problem and too much to handle, so He gave up on me?

From an early age I had wanted to do something with my life, but my life was a mess no matter how much I tried to change it. One day, out of nowhere, God laid it on my heart to start an online ministry to encourage people to wait on God. Since God had put me in a training program for years to learn to wait on Him, I knew what people were going through when their plans changed and they were forced to wait. Amazingly, people started responding to what I had to say, and slowly, God revealed to me what His plan for my life was, and it was not what I would have ever thought.

But I am slow, slow to understand what is often right in front of me. I was still blind to the calling God had for me. So He touched the very thing that was a pride issue for me – my strength and health. God stopped me in my tracks and made me listen. He took me to a place where He took everything away and He asked me, “Will you still praise Me if I never choose to bless you? Is it more important for you to make something of yourself, or will you obey Me even if that means not being able to do anything?”

This was a huge wakeup call to me, and one of the hardest lessons I had to learn, that obedience is better than sacrifice. It wasn't a fun or enjoyable lesson, but it was the very thing that made me wake up and see that when God says to trust Him, He means trusting Him with everything, not just the things I want to give Him.

The beautiful thing about God is that He does want to bless us more than we can imagine. Once I laid down my idol of selfish ambition (not that my dream was a bad one but the mindset behind it was), God opened amazing doors to fulfill His plan for my life. I never would have imagined that He would call me to become an author, nor could I have foreseen that He would give me the huge privilege of speaking into the lives of thousands of people every day. God is continuing to bless me and show me unconditional faithfulness, even when I am not faithful to Him. I am still sick, I still have bad days, and I still sometimes forget His promises and try doing my own thing, but He shows me every day the beauty of being in His will, and there is no place I would rather be. Sometimes we have to be broken so God can use us in a bigger way than if we had never suffered. God may take us through hard times, but He will always bring beauty from ashes. He dreams big, amazing, and wonderful dreams for us, but first He may ask us to lay down our dreams so we are ready to experience His.

© December 4, 2013

About the Author

Rachel Hamilton is the founder of It's Worth the Wait – Becoming God's Men and Women in Waiting ministry, an online ministry to encourage those who are waiting on God for His best. She is also the author of Hidden Struggles: Purity, God, Guys and Life, a book for young women that addresses the areas of purity, waiting, modesty, relationships, God, and life. Rachel lives in New Zealand.

Important Links

Buy the book. http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Struggles-Purity-Guys- Life/dp/1490806466/
Ministry page https://www.facebook.com/Godswomaninwaiting

Author page https://www.facebook.com/rachelhamiltonnz

Twitter https://twitter.com/Rachyham *If you enjoyed today's blog, show your support and buy Rachel's book.

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Winning the Victory

11/1/2013

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Note from Erin Elizabeth Austin: Last week, Katy Kauffman guest-blogged for us. There was such a big response to her blog, I interviewed her this week about her newly released book, 2 Timothy: Winning the Victory. Although this is a different format than our regular blogs, I know you will be blessed after hearing what Katy has to say. If you've been encouraged by Katy these past two weeks, I encourage you to purchase her book. The link is at the end of the interview.

Katy Kauffman

1) Tell us a little about yourself. What makes you uniquely you? (i.e. Are you a skilled scuba diver? A ninja assassin? Master chef?)

Although I can’t own up to being a ninja anything, I love adventure, but also cherish time at home. I believe that homeschooling gave me opportunities I might not have had otherwise. I started homeschooling in fourth grade, and that gave me the chance to travel internationally with my family, go on six mission trips to Brazil, be very active in our church, and study the Bible more. I can see how God gave me the training and experiences I needed to be a writer today. I just didn’t know that’s what was happening!

2) What's your favorite thing to do in your downtime?

Hanging out with friends and family. I love being with people—at church, at home, at the movies, at dinner, at my favorite scrapbook store. Writing can isolate you because you need time to study, think, and write. So I look forward to the time I get to spend with family and friends.

The first time I met Katy at a writers' conference.

3) What made you want to become a writer?

I have always loved stories, especially movies. When I was little, I would make up spin-off stories of my favorites movies. As I grew older, I wanted to do something in church-related ministry such as teaching Bible studies. About five years ago, God expanded my dream of teaching to include writing and publishing. I enjoy the interaction of small group Bible studies, but I found that you can reach even more people with the written word.

4) What's your favorite book and/or book series?

Well, I love the movie versions of Pride and Prejudice (the five-hour version), Anne of Green Gables, Alice in Wonderland (Tim Burton’s version), Hunt for Red October, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. After all, movies are books in a hurry. My absolute favorite book is the Bible.

5) What made you decide to write about 2 Timothy? Why not 1 Timothy?

God highlighted 2 Timothy for me. It’s just four, comparatively short chapters in the Bible, but it’s packed with encouragement and “go get ‘em” to keep going when life gets tough and to fulfill God’s purpose for your life. I needed the principles that were there as I was writing about it, and I hope those principles bless other people too.

6) What's the favorite thing you learned through studying and writing this book?

We can make it. As long as we depend on God, we can survive—and even excel—in any storm, trial, or struggle. It may take some time and a lot of prayer and persistence, but we can be overcomers because God equips us with the resources we need and He stirs our hearts with the motivations that propel us forward.

7) For people who are leery of reading a Bible study, why should they read this particular Bible study? What's the takeaway?

This Bible study arms you with practical ways to win life’s spiritual battles. It shows our part in winning the victory and God’s part. Forty devotions take you through 2 Timothy, and you come away with over 275 principles of how to fight life’s battles and win!

8) Is it too hard/deep for a person with no background in Bible college to understand?

Not at all. Insights and application are woven throughout the devotions to bring out the treasures of 2 Timothy. The devotions take five to ten minutes to read and answer the questions. They begin with a story or intriguing thought, give insights and application of Scripture, and end with questions and a prayer.

9) What do you want your next book to be about?

The real-life stories of Bible characters who had struggles but saw God help them win the victory. There’s so much we can learn from their stories so that we grow stronger in our own faith and courage. The title will be Faith, Courage, and Victory, and it will be in the same devotional format as 2 Timothy: Winning the Victory. (A pattern may be emerging…)

10) Do you have a website and/or blog? What's the best way to follow you (i.e. Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.)?

The best way to follow me right now is through my Facebook page: Katy Kauffman, Author. My current blog is called “Life with God” found at www.katykauffmanadventurewriter.blogspot.com, and I will have a new blog soon that I’ll announce on my Facebook page. I am also on Twitter and Pinterest. (I love Pinterest! It’s like scrapbooking for the internet.)

Note from Erin: I hope you've enjoyed getting to know Katy these past two weeks. You've gotten to see just a small part of why I admire this woman. Since she is a friend, I may be a tad biased, but I love her book, and I believe everyone who reads it will be blessed. The link to purchase Katy's book is listed below or by clicking on the picture of her book in the interview. If you've been touched by something Katy has said, I encourage you to show your support.

Important Links:

To buy Katy's book, go to: http://www.amazon.com/Timothy-Winning-Victory-Katy-Kauffman/dp/0989611280/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382543826&sr=8-1&keywords=2+timothy+winning+the+victory
If you missed last week's blog written by Katy, you can read that by clicking on this link: http://www.erinelizabethaustin.com/1/post/2013/10/everything-we-need.html

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The Death of a Dream

9/26/2013

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By Erin Elizabeth Austin

We live in the world of magic, imagination, and wonder. As children, we are taught to dream. As Walt Disney said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue it.” But what happens when we dream something and it doesn’t happen? What do we do when we experience the death of a dream?

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m a big believer in dreaming large and then seeking to make that dream a reality. Yet sometimes, no matter how hard we try, some things aren’t meant to be. We see this all the time on reality television shows like American Idol. A person just knows she’s going to become the next superstar because it’s been her dream all her life. There’s just one problem. She can’t sing! She sounds like a cat screeching in a room filled with rocking chairs. Although this is an extreme example, you understand my point. Sometimes, our dreams aren’t meant to be for the simple reason that they are our dreams and not God’s.

This doesn’t mean God is a cosmic cop waiting to destroy your dreams. He’s not seeking revenge over the fact you didn’t consult with Him about the plan for your life, and this doesn’t mean having a dream is bad. Yet as is often the case, people have the tendency to make plans for their lives without talking with God and seeing if their plans match His plans.

I’m one of those dreamers and planners who didn’t leave room in her life for an alternate plan. My dream was to be a medical missionary. As noble as that is, it wasn’t God’s plan for my life. I knew I had the dream to help and encourage sick people, and I assumed the best way to do this was to be a nurse on the mission field. Being the planner that I am, I quickly got to work when I graduated from high school to make my dream a reality. I enrolled in nursing school and was two semesters away from graduating with top honors. And then it happened. My body decided to crash, and along with that came the death of my dream. I was too sick to finish nursing school. Not only that, I learned no mission board would send me to the mission field because I was too sick. Every hope, dream, and plan I had for my life changed.

I picked up the pieces as best I could, but I knew in my heart I wasn’t doing what I was meant to do. Something was missing. So I began to pray like I never had before, but this time, I prayed for something new. I didn’t ask God to give me a new dream or make my old dream become a reality. Instead, I prayed for redemption.

I had heard about redemption all of my life. In church I was taught redemption is why Jesus died on the cross – to forgive and redeem us from our sins. Yet I couldn’t help but wonder why I couldn’t have redemption in all areas of my life. If Christ can redeem people from their worst sins, then why couldn’t He redeem all the pain and suffering I had endured?

Merriam-Webster defines redemption as “the act of compensating for a defect.” Although I don’t think people living with a chronic illness are defective, I do believe those of us with a chronic illness understand better than most what it’s like to have a life filled with imperfections. We are far from perfect, and we’re often reminded by doctors that our bodies are inadequate. Yet God doesn’t see all of that when He looks at us. He sees His beauty in us. He can take the biggest defeat and turn it in to something more amazing than we can ever imagine. All the pain we’ve endured, He can redeem. God can take the worst day of our lives, and turn it into the best thing that has ever happened to us. Sometimes, His redemption isn’t immediate. More times than not, it’s a gradual process. My redemption began with the birth of Broken but Priceless Ministries. There have been many small redemptions along the way, as well as some big, but God’s biggest redemption for my suffering is about to happen.

On October 2, 2008, I was given Friday off work, and I had planned a road trip with a friend. I was supposed to pick my friend up and drive to Asheville, NC where we had reservations, but the trip never happened. My health had been steadily declining, and that day, I had to cancel my plans because I was too sick to drive. After a weekend in bed, I managed to make it to the doctor on Monday morning and learned my liver was horribly inflamed. I was put on bed rest and told to take the week off from work. Unfortunately, I never made it back to work. I had to file for disability and move in with my parents, which is why I’ve never been a big fan of October 2nd. It’s an anniversary I wish I didn’t have, yet because of God’s amazing redemption, this October 2nd is going to be different. Why? Because this Tuesday, October 1st, I will board a plane to England and it will land on Wednesday, October 2nd. This is something only God could arrange. No one knew my dreaded anniversary, but God did. He is the One who arranged and worked out the details of this two-week trip. Not only that, God arranged it because of my work with Broken but Priceless Ministries, something which would have never happened if it wasn’t for my illness.

Sometimes dreams die, and I’m not going to lie; it’s hard! But know this: If God allows a dream of yours to die, it’s because He has something better in mind. God can and will use all the difficult things you’ve endured in life for your good. He CAN redeem the pain. Cry out to God. Ask Him to redeem every tear you’ve cried, and then wait for Him to act. Don’t give up on God. He hasn’t given up on you!

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” ~ Romans 8:26-28 (The Message)

© September 26, 2013

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Calling All Superheroes!

9/12/2013

1 Comment

By Erin Elizabeth Austin

“Earth! Fire! Wind! Water! Heart! By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!” If you haven’t guessed by now, I am a child of the 80s and 90s. Even at a young age, I loved superheroes, a love that has continued on in my adult years. My fascination began with a mullet-haired superhero named Captain Planet whose job was to save the world from villains, pollution, and natural disasters. Thankfully, my choice of superheroes has evolved as I've grown older, yet I still love a good story filled with drama, problems, and the overcoming power of good over evil.

Although it may seem silly for a grown woman to love the stories of Spiderman, Thor, Superman, Captain America, Green Lantern, and Iron Man, I find their stories comforting. Every one of these superheroes has a big weakness, the most famous of which is Superman and his aversion to kryptonite. When he’s exposed, he becomes weak and sickly. Yet he always manages to push through his weakness and do great things. If I’m honest, I see truth in the stories of superheroes. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think people can fly, turn themselves into an iron machine, or have magical hammers that give supernatural strength, although admittedly, I think that would be amazing to see. Yet I think all people, especially those who are sick, have the ability to rise above the limitations of their weaknesses with the help of God.

The Chinese symbol for crisis is made up of two symbols - danger and opportunity. Although it seems unlikely that a chronic illness could ever come with an opportunity, I've found it to be true. Many sick people have to quit their jobs because their body isn't able to work a 9-5 job, but because of this, they have time to pursue their dreams. I know people who have become photographers, decorators, bakers, and even blanket makers. I became a writer and started this nonprofit ministry. Whether or not it feels like it, you have unique talents and gifts to offer the world. Instead of focusing on the danger/problems of living with a chronic illness, focus on the opportunities. If you don't see it, ask God to help you see what you CAN do. He sees beauty and potential when He looks at you, and He wants to help you become what He created you to be.

God is the greatest superhero of them all. He has supernatural strength and power. He is all-knowing. He is everywhere, all the time. Nothing is greater or more powerful than Him, and the wonderful thing about God is He has no weakness. Nothing can weaken or destroy Him, and this amazing, all-powerful God loves each of us. Scripture tells us that when we are God's children and we cry out to Him, He will fill us with His strength and power through His indwelling Holy Spirit. What destroys us is when we try to live by our own abilities. We become like Superman after he’s been exposed to kryptonite – weak, exhausted, and powerless. Yet when we remember that we need God to help us live each day, He will help us rise above the limitations of our sickness and do the amazing things He created us to do.

Will you still have days when you’re sick and unable to do things? Most likely, yes. I still have days when I'm too sick to do anything. Yet having a dream and knowing what my purpose in life is what motivates me each day to get out of bed and try. Sometimes, having small goals is just what it takes to push through and rise above the problems that come with a chronic illness.

In my opinion, every person reading this is a superhero. Either you live with a chronic illness or you’re the caregiver of someone who’s sick, and that makes you special. So you have a weakness; you’re not alone. Everyone does. Your worth isn't found in what you can’t do. Your value comes from how you respond to your weakness and what you do with the gifts God has given you. He has given each of us the ability to rise above our problems and bless and change the world around us, but if all you do is focus on your kryptonite, you will become the victim of your weakness and never fulfill the purpose for which God created you.

It’s time to answer God’s call to action. The world needs to see some real-life superheroes – people who rise above their circumstances and make a difference. Are you in?

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” ~ Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

© September 12, 2013

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Confessions of an Idiot

Confessions of a Broken Vessel

Confessions of a Selfish Person

Confessions of an Underdog

Confessions of a Weirdo

A Powerful Life

It's Worth the Wait

Winning the Victory

The Death of a Dream

Calling All Superheroes!

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