Update #52

“He has made clear to you, O man, what is good; and what is desired from you by the Lord; only doing what is right, and loving mercy, and walking without pride before your God.” Micah 6:8

Cornelian Bay, Lake Tahoe, California

A friend of mine is in a relationship where a long standing expectation has caused a lot of hurt. I know she is not alone. A lot of us have an ideal, an expectation of others (communicated or non)– and when it doesn’t happen we are often hurt and/or angry.

After asking God about this, I have started to have the opinion that having expectations of anyone other than ourselves is pride. Pride in that you are ‘worth’ something of someone else. That who you are, what you have or haven’t done puts you at a level to expect, to require, to insist on a characteristic, a trait, an attribute, a feature in someone else.

When I really thought about it, I realized the expectation is really a reflection of the person who has it. They feel that they ‘need’ it…that it will ‘complete’ them somehow.

For example, a friend of mine shared with me that until a few years ago she only dated gorgeous men. This was because she felt being on the arm of an attractive guy said something about her to the world. She, who was insecure, needed the man’s outward appearance to reaffirm who she was.

We all have expectations…but what is our basis for them? I expected to be married by 28 and have a few kids by 36 – but honestly, this was out of my need for security and to fit the mold of American society. It is ‘uncomfortable’ to be my age and single in today’s culture.

We all have expectations…what we require out of ourselves, what we want out of life. What are yours and why are they there? Honestly. More importantly, what are God’s expectations of you? I asked that question and Micah 6:8 popped into my head…“do what is right,…love mercy,…and walk without pride before your God.”

Why do we have to augment to the simple by adding things to it?

Updates:
Living – at my relative’s house until God puts me in different accommodation.
Car – She has been insured and is going to the ‘doctor’ on Monday to fix her cracked heater core…she should be drivable by the end of next week!
Samson – is busy guarding ‘his territory’ – he had a puffed up, hissing, tooth barred face to face with another neighborhood cat last night. The more entertaining episode was with a gopher popping up and down out of its hole – the gopher popped up and Sam jumped back, the gopher disappeared and Sam’s head went into the hole! So funny!
Work – I am coming up to Seattle for Missions Fest http://www.missionsfestseattle.org/about-us/ at Overlake Christian Church this weekend (10/12-14)– come check out rēp’s booth!
Computer – no weirdness lately! Thanks for the prayer!

Requests:
Housing – I am with my Aunt, Uncle, and cousin for the time being but, when the new rēp headquarters are determined, I need to a cat friendly space close to the office.
Car – That I the necessary repairs won’t be too expensive
Work – For more LEMON Leadership bookings, for safe travel for the teams going out and that I will be divinely inspired how to improve remote training next time around.
Relationships - deepening of present ones, start of new ones and that God will be present
Financing - Eventually my position will be salaried but at first I need to raise ~$3000 a month cover expenses. If you are interested in contributing, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.

See you Seattleites this weekend!

Dena

P.S. Ryan Webster – See ya in Seattle baby!
P.P.S. Congrats to Mike Menin and Kerry on their engagement!