Ordinary Visions.

I have no idea where to start, but I've been learning so much about God, and a lot about myself. I have learned so much and I have no idea what to write. I'll just go.

As far as the perfectionism goes, I've been working on it.
Yesterday, I did my laundry. It was a Monday. I only do my laundry on Saturday's.
I got my gas on a Tuesday.
I actually bought some stuff with this paycheck instead of putting it all into savings for who-knows-what.
I re-thought going to ORU and next year. I might go to PPCC for a year to get all of my general ed classes out of the way.

I'm still very far from not being a perfectionist. Yesterday at Taco Bell I stayed an extra half an hour past my shift because I wanted to clean it better. I took it personally when Jared called to tell me there were smudges on the glass and crumbs on the floor. Legitimately offended. And I sighed deeply realizing I still have a long way to go.

But lately, I've heard a billion sermons and read so many books on the "ordinary". And it's been the most encouraging thing in my life. For soooo SOOOOO soooooooooo long I've hated my ordinary life. I hated the mundane. I wrote in my journal on May 28th: "I want to run away. Start over. Live differently somehow. I'm tired of the mundane. So sick of the predictable. Why do I feel as I write that it's exactly where God wants me? I HATE being here."

Haha, I think that was God trying to speak to me there. Maybe. Point is, I've always been so upset with being boring ol' Plain-Jane Sierra. I pitied myself, even. And then I heard Daniel Grothe speak on something so contrary to what I had thought God wanted for so long.

He just wants my small, ordinary, every-day moments. I decided when I die, I want to be known for living the most extraordinary ordinary life.

Daniel Grothe spoke about Moses, Mary, and Paul. They are the "heroes" of the faith, but they were two murderers and an unwed pregnant lady. We see them as heroes, but in their day I'm sure they were frowned upon. They were known for those few extraordinary parts in their life, but what about the rest of it?

What about David? He was chosen as he was tending to his sheep to be king. His dad didn't even consider him to be the king. And David was faithful to being a shepherd. And God still chose him. But what was he doing? The same thing he had probably been doing since he was young. Every day. And through his ordinary-ness, God saw him.

I just want to bring glory to God where I am. Today. Tomorrow. In my every day. I want my conversations to be full of wisdom. My motives to be of love. My coffee conversations to be building people up.

At girl time today we were asked "What is your vision for next year?"

Here's mine: I want to make the most of the everyday boring routine. I've had this huge vision of saving my whole high school for so long and then got discouraged when the day is done and I'm at my locker realizing I did really nothing to "win back my school for Christ." My vision is to focus on loving individual people. Get coffee with them. Pray for them. Serve them in whatever capacity I can.

And my vision for the future?

I want to live with purpose in my ordinary-ness. In complete surrender and abandonment to God's plan for my life. We all have a desire for greatness, and I haven't lost sight of the great things I think God wants to do with me. But I think the great things start with the small things and I so deeply want to please God in my every day. Which will probably be around 95% of my life. :)

I want to be an excellent student and employee. Doing my job to the best of my ability (even if it's at a fast food restaurant).I want my eyes to be open to seeing the needs of people at work and when I can serve people.
I want to, maybe more than anything, be an excellent wife and mother. I want to be a house wife or a teacher. I want to serve my family. Write letters, call, or e-mail friends to see how their heart is doing and asking what I can do to help. Open my house to anyone in need. Be willing to anything God is asking and inconvenience myself at times to help people.

I can't lose myself in the extraordinary when the ordinary moments have the opportunity to be extraordinary.

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear for the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you are working for the Lord rather than people."
- Colossians 4:22-23.

There's more about Job, but I'll write another blog.
I am happy, people. I am genuinely joyful. :)