Friday, July 28, 2006
Life Gets Busy, Wedding Pictures Get Posted
I've been working lots of extra hours and running around being busy. And guess what! I finally started my physical therapy for my knee injury that happend last summer! Horray!! I'm on the way to recovery. My PT even said that Arlen and I will be able to do the backpacking trip we've been longing to go on. If I keep improving at the rate I am currently, we'll even be able to go before the school year starts.
Other than that life has been pretty much normal. God has been teaching me many lessons, as usual! Today He's been pointing out quite a few areas we need to work on. (It's actually a little bit overwhelming). However as James says, the perserverance that comes from such a revealing inhances our characters. And, as always, God doesn't just leave us there to suffer through it alone. He gives us wisdom to make it through - we just have to ask and trust that He will do as He has promised. (James 1) Sometimes that's really hard for me. I feel like wisdom is something I lack in droves, but God will keep working one me.
Well, before I run off to do a massive house cleaning before Sabbath rolls around (we're going batwatching tonight - how fun is that?) I must give you the web address for our wedding pictures. It is www.studiolaura.com Click on weddings and then click the link with our name on it. Enjoy!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
An Answer
When I woke up yesterday, I was filled with doubt and confusion. I didn't know what to do, and I felt as if all guidance and direction was gone. I was rather grouchy and felt mucy like Eeyore. So, I decided to write a letter to God (I keep a prayer journal). After pouring out my soul to the Lord, He began working on my heart.
I was working on some lessons for Joshuas House, and God really used that to speak to me. I was studying Luke 1-2:20. Here, there were three promises God made and followed through with. He took away and gave Zacharias back his speech, He gave Elizabeth the birth of John, and He gave Mary the birth of Jesus! This tells me that I serve a God who keeps His promises. And, He has made promises for me. He has promised to guide me (Ps 23:3), He has promised to provide for me (Mt 6:31-32), and He has promised never to leave me (Joshua 1:5). With these promises in mind and the knowledge that God will follow through, I have peace. :)
Friday, July 07, 2006
It's Going to be OK?
I’m totally impatient, and I’m a bit of a worry wart. If something doesn’t go according to my plans, I have a tendency to freak out a little bit. I have to have things planned well in advance too. For example, on Wednesday, Arlen and I were getting ready to go up to his house to eat and spend the evening with his family. It’s kind of an informal weekly family night we enjoy together. Just before we were ready to leave, Arlen was able to get a hold of a client he’d been trying to reach for a while. Immediately I began freaking out. “We’re going to be late,” I thought. “They’re going to have to start eating without us. I’ll feel weird coming in late.” You get the idea. All this and it wasn’t a big deal at all that we were a little late.
I was reading in 1 Samuel 1-3 today. Chapter 3 is where God calls Samuel and tells him all of the things that are going to happen. One of the things that God says is that He is going to destroy Eli’s wicked sons. Of course, Samuel doesn’t want to tell this to Eli. What kind of reaction will he give? Well, of course Eli is curious about what the Lord had to say; and Samuel, being the good kid he was, told Eli. Now, here’s the part that really caught my attention. Eli’s response to the news of his sons’ pending death was one of total faith and trust. All he said was “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him” (1 Samuel 3:18). Obviously, I’m not that good at letting go of my circumstances and trusting God to be in control. Now I pray that the next time I get anxious about a situation that is beyond my control, I can stop, take a deep breath, remember Eli, and trust God!
My Vision
Wow, it seems a lot has happened in the past couple of days. I think the coolest thing was that yesterday I met with someone about my dream ministry. The meeting went really well, and things are going to start rolling. It’s going to take a couple years before the ministry actually gets going (I’ll be laying the ground work until then), but I’m excited about it none the less.
Now that I’ve mentioned this ministry several times, I guess it’s about time I start telling you what it’s all about. God has opened my eyes so that I could see a major problem in our lives as Christians. This problem is that we learn to compartmentalize Christ in our lives rather than allowing Him to infiltrate every part of our being. We go to church and speak of God, we may even spend time with Him in various worship programs and our morning devotions. Yet what happens when those programs, Bible studies, and devotions are over. Do they affect our lives utterly and completely? Are we sharing Christ with those we come in contact with? Are we allowing full and total surrender? All too often I think we keep Christ in His compartments.
The other observations that I have made in our post-modernistic society is our dependence on our own intellect and reasoning and our lack of turning to the Bible for the final word. Many of the college students around me, raised in the church (myself included) have never read the Bible all the way through. I hear more sermons on the thoughts and opinions of others than I do on what the Bible has to say. I could easily go to a weeks worth of worship programs without once opening the Word of God. Yet, this is God's main tool for communication.
So, what are we to do about these problems? This is where God has planted a seed in my heart. Kids learn young and often their morals and values are set by the time they are a thirteen (Barna Research Group). Children learn the most by example. While parents can tell their children about the love of Christ, the importance of a relationship with Him and the need to follow His commandments, they must show this as being true in their own lives. Are they teaching their kids through encouragement and example to seek God first when faced with an obstacle in their lives? Are they encouraging personal time with God? Are they openly sharing throughout the day the blessings God is giving them in their own lives and the prayers that God is answering? Do they encourage witnessing by example? Are they helping their children to integrate Christ into every part of their lives? Unfortunately all, to often, the answer to this question is no.
Christ has given me a burden for all of this. I have a desire to provide materials to parents so that they may strengthen and deepen their walk with Christ, so that their children may grow as they follow the examples of their parents. I also feel a burden to write books for children that are 100% Bible based; books that will not substitute the Bible, but will teach the children to go to the Bible. Each book would have a parent's guide with it so that the parents can be involved in sharing that story with their children in a real way, can discuss the issues, and can dig deeper into the passages for their own edification. I am also interested in providing material for children to learn how to study the Bible on their own.
However my vision doesn't stop there. I would love to provide two montly newsletters - one for children, and one for parents - to help them on their spiritual journey. I envision a website with forums so that parents can share with each other, where their will be answers for various questions and a place to e-mail more specific questions and to seek for a personal answer. This site would be filled with resources for parents to help build their families to be strong. However, this would not be the end. There would be a whole section just for children. Here, there could be downloadable books and Bible studies. There would also be the question and answer section as with the parent's section. The coolest part about this is that there would be games for the kids which required the use of their Bible. One important thing about this is that it would have in mind the growth of all Christian families. Not just Adventist Homes. Just as ADRA provides relief for people all over the world, not just Adventists, so would this program provide help to any family who would want it.
I know this is kind of long, but this is my calling in life. Thanks for sharing in my excitement with me, and pray for me as God guides me in this venture!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Fire Away!
Sorry I’ve been kind of spotty with my writing these past few days, but I’ve been busy; oh so busy! I’ve been working two jobs, and have been enjoying Fourth of July festivities when work is over. Yay!
Yesterday Arlen and I went with his family to the symphony that was playing for the big celebration here in our home town. (I know, they were a day early.) I was proud to see that my nephew is officially unafraid of me now. He was terrified of my big wedding dress and hasn’t really been comfortable around me ever since. Yesterday, however, he treated me just like he did before the scary white monster appeared.
The Fourth of July has always been kind of a funny holiday to me. People drive from various distances to a very crowded spot to stay up late and watch big, colorful fireworks explode. There is an Adventures in Odyssey episode called “By Dawn’s Early Light.” It’s about the American Revolution and the birth of our national anthem. It’s actually one of my favorite episodes. You see, it gives me a better mental picture of what was going on in the time of our country’s birth. As Francis Scott Key sat aboard the ship, watching the bombing of
Today I was thinking, and I realized that it is much the same way with us. We are in the midst of a spiritual warfare, and we have a choice to make. When the shelling gets too hard to bare, we have two options. The first is that we can lower our flag, retreat, and surrender. The second is to keep our flags high, no matter how tattered and torn it becomes. Exodus 14 recounts the parting of the red sea. The Israelites were terrified. They were sure they were done for and that there was nothing they could do about it. Yet, tucked away in this exciting chapter, there is a small verse, a small verse which speaks volumes. In verse 14, Moses tells the people, “God will fight for you, you need only to be still.” That’s the key. When the fighting gets so bad we can’t take it anymore, we must not surrender and forfeit our loyalty to the cross. We must pray, we must cry out to the Lord, and we must let Him fight for us. I pray that God will give me the strength to hold my banner high, even when the going gets tough!
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Hello?? Can anybody hear me?!?!
Although I know the scale for me is much smaller, I feel as if I can relate to Jesus a little bit. The book of Mark records three times when Jesus tries to tell his disciples of His impending death. The first time, the disciples don’t even sort of get what He was trying to say, and to make matters worse, Peter argues with Him. The two other times after that, the disciples are still confused. I’m sure Jesus felt frustrated and unlistened to then.
One of my favorite texts is Hebrews 4:15 and 16. It says, “For we do not have a high priest [meaning Jesus] who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need." Hebrews 4 is filled of the news of Christ’s comfort for us. It’s encouraging to know that even when we feel like no one in the world understands us, or no one in the world is listening, Jesus is there ready to hold us.
As I close, I am going to leave you with the words of the first and third verses of a hymn that has been playing in my mind today. It’s called “Abide with Me” and was written by Henry F. Lyte.
“Abide with me;
fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens;
Lord with me abide!
When other helpers fail,
and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless,
O abide with me!
I need Thy presence
every passing hour;
What but thy grace can
Foil the tempters power?
Who like Thyself my
guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine
O abide with me!"
Friday, June 30, 2006
Ahhh!!! Must Hurry!
I’ve been rushing around for the past few hours, getting ready for the Sabbath. But as I sit here now and take a breather, one thought is running through my mind. “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10. I know I posted this Psalm the other day, but it is still running through my mind. It seems that every Friday I get so caught up in the rush of preparing for Sabbath that I don’t really take a break and think about what I’m doing all this rushing around for. I know it’s not meaningless. In Mark, Jesus says “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” Mark 7:28. What does this mean? It means “Be still and know that I am God,” It means, “Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God, in it you shall not do any work.” Exodus 20:9,10a. It means that God has made the Sabbath a special day to commune with us like on no other day during the week. So, rather than getting caught up in the stresses of Friday, I should prepare excitedly. I should look at it as an opportunity to have the best company of all time over to my house. Yay!
Okay, okay, I have to go here really soon, but before I do, I want to share with you one more thing God has been bringing to my heart today. It’s a text we all know from Mark 8. Where Jesus said, “Whoever wants to save his life will loose it, but whoever looses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” Mark 8:35. I had never read that in context before. (Man, my time is running short.) Well, instead of writing about the wonderful things God has showed me, I’ll let you discover it for yourself. I’d never looked at this verse in context before – it changes the whole meaning. Read it and keep in mind what Jesus says to Peter about His motives. Now think of what makes up your life. Are you willing to lose it all if Christ calls you to that? Just something to think about.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Lost in a Funk
What's made it more difficult is that I'm at that place I think most college students in America are fully familiar with. I have no idea where I'm going and what I'm doing. What am I supposed to do with my life? Am I going to have my dream job, or will I have to do something else? Do I really know what my dream job is? What about my husband? What is he doing? Where is his buisness going? What does God want us to do? Between the funk and the unknown, I've been in a rather odd mood lately. I haven't even felt all that close to God. Sure I've been faithful, including Him throught my day, but I haven't felt that connection.
Today, however has been different. As I was praying this morning, and pouring my soul out to God, He began answering my pleas. First He responded to my unsurity about the future by bringing to my mind Joshua 9:11-13. "'I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all of your heart.'" I may not know where I'm going in the next few years, but God sure does. As long as I seek Him, He will guide me every step of the way.
A little bit later at work, the hymn "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" began going through my head. It was looping so many times that I stopped resisting the urge to belt it out. And suddenly I was filled with joy. For the first time in a while I actually felt close to God. In Ephesians 5 Paul tells us to be filled with the spirit. There's no wonder that includes "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord." (v.19) There's no comparing to the healing and joy the Holy Spirit can bring through a simple song.
So what did I learn today? Keep singing, and trust God. Horray!
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
But It Looks So Good!!
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I'm alergic to milk. This little fact makes my continual cravings for choclate a bit of a burden. I usually do all right and am able to resist the urge to indulge, but occasionally, the temptation is just too strong. I have the hardest time at resturants and parties when a nice big decadant piece of choclate cake is delicately placed in front of me. (Work with me here as I get discriptive, it helps me set the mood so you can see how strong of a temptation it really is). It's sitting there in it's shimmering shade of beautiful brown beconing me "Laura, eat me, you know I taste so good!" As I longingly stare at the delicacy before me, my eyes start to sparkle as a battle begins in my head, "That thing must be loaded with milk! But it looks soooo good! It won't hurt me just to have one bite." Before you know it, I'm sitting with a belly full of exquisite choclate cake. Then a few hours later, I'm as sick as a dog; making sure that at any given moment, I am no more than 30ft away from the closest bathroom. At that point I'm sorry, very sorry. I vow to be good to my body. I vow never again to eat another piece of rich, creamy choclate cake. And I mean it. I mean it of course, until the next beautiful piece of choclate delight is placed before my feasting eyes.
Why am I bothering to write about this increadible weakness? Because God used it to give me a little wake up call today. I was reading in Judges about how the Isrealites totally ignored what the Lord told them about mixing with the Cannanites. "Oh boy," I thought,"they're in for trouble." And I was right. God sent His angel to rebuke them. They wailed and cried and felt so bad. Then, they turned around and disobeyed God again. This was the beginning of an endless cycle of disobedience and being sort of sorry. This cycle continued on for quite some time. As I've heard this story before, I've always thought, "You dumb Isrealites,don't you ever learn?" Then God kind of turned the tables on me and said, "But Laura, don't you do the same all the time." Immediatly my mind was flooded with choclate cake and a bazzillion other examples of when I am just as repentant as those crazy Isrealites.
As I sat there, I thought, "Okay Lord, now you have my attention, but what am I supposed to do?" He guided me to Psalm 51.This is a Psalm of David written after he messed around with Bathsheba. He was truly sorry for what he had done. It was through this passage, that God showed me what being sorry is all about. Now, I just pray that He will work in me to produce true repentance whenever I muff things up.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Me? Gullable? Maybe...
That's kind of how I am about everything. I believe and I react. While these two traits can be wonderful at times, they can also be huge personality flaws. Basicly when it's at it's worst, I overreact and jump to conclusions. This reminds me very much of the Isrealites in Joshua 22. They were freaking out because the tribes of Ruben, Gad and Manasseh had built this massive alter on the other side of the Jorden. The sons of Isreal simply assumed that this alter was being used in ways that are contrary to God's law. They were so upset that they were ready to go to war against them. That's pretty bad. Come to find out, it was nothing at all like what the Isrealites thought! It's a good thing they checked things out before heading to the Jordon suited up and ready for war.
Only God knows all the ins and out of what's really going on. 1 Samuel 16:7 says "Man looks at the outward appearence, but the Lord looks at the heart." It's easy for me (and I'm assuming some of you can say the same for yourselves) to come to conclusions and react too quickly. However, it is important that we a) seek the Lord's counsel, b) gather all the facts from the appropriate sources and c) practice patience with our reactions.
In closing I have one thing to say! I'm so thankful for the promise we find in Philippians 1:6 "For I am confidant of this very thing, that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ."
Monday, June 26, 2006
Some Land and A Letter
Okay, so I've decided to follow the example of my good friend Jacki. Although I'm not a writer like her, I'm determined to write a blog a day (unless of course, I have a really good reason not to.) The problem with today is that I'm just not sure what to write about. Now, I could wait until later to see if something absoultly fantastic happens (not likely), or I could blog now, when I have time. Well, I'll asume my choice is rather obvious.
Today was pretty normal. I woke up a little late, ate and got ready for the day. Went to Thatcher South front desk to work - it was rather busy today. Made vegan pizza for lunch - yum, and ran errands - woo hooo! (not quite.) I did find out that God is really blessing me financially next year for my school bill far more than I could imagine - it's just like Him.
Speaking of God, I had a really good meeting with Him this morning. I began reading in Joshua 15. "Oh boy," I thought, "alottment of land - how boaring!" As I was reading, however I thought for a moment - surely there is something here that God is trying to tell me. And sure enough, as usually, God spoke to me in that still small voice. As I read about all the land the various tribes recieved and looked at the maps I realized how much territory the Isrealites really got and it struck me - God always provides so much more for His children than we could ever imagine! In fact, just this very second, I see how that's true in my own life. Just as I'm sure the Isrealites lept for joy when they saw all this amazing land God was giving them, I lept for joy when I saw my financial aid award letter today. He always provides! (You know it's funny how He drives a point home like that too).
Anyway, as I close out this blog, I want to leave you with a Psalm I read today in which God was yet again, encouraging me to trust Him more.
A very present hlep in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shoule change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spar in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
'Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exaulted amont the nations, I will be exaulted in the earth.'
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our Stronghold."
~Psalm 46
Sunday, June 25, 2006
I'm Not Superwoman!!
If you haven't already guessed, this is where I'm at right now. It's not that summer break is almost over, but since I'm only working part time this summer, there were so many things I was eagerly waiting to do. There's learning to be a wife, keeping up with the house, growing closer to my family, and Arlen's family, keeping in touch with friends I haven't seen in a while, spending more time with friends that are around, devoting a lot of time to a ministry I feel called to start (more on that later), getting files on my computer orginized and the list goes on. Yesterday the bottom fell out. I discovered how exausted I felt, how far behind I am on all the wonderful things I had planned to do, and how I can't be streatched to be five places with five different people at one time.
I have been reading in Joshua lately (by the way, Joshua is a very inspiring individual). Yesterday I began reading in Joshua 9. (You'll have to read it). The basic outline is that people were deciving the Isrealites and "the men of Isreal took some of their provisions [to give to the decievers], and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord" Joshua 9:14. That was it! It hit me hard. So often I feel like things are so clear - it's a good thing, and I enjoy it, so God must want me to do it. If I have no reason to say no, why not. Yet, I don't consult with God. For the hard decisions, sure, but what about the easy stuff. Maybe it's not as easy as it seems.
I'm not superwoman. I don't claim to be. I can't keep everyone happy all the time. I can't keep up with the fast pace of this world. I can't save every friendship, or save every soul (that's God's job for sure). So what now? I pray every day, for every decision. "God, do you want me to make this appointment?" "I have two options for this time slot, which thing should I do?" "How should I spend my time for You today?" "Which people do You want me to focus on today?" No I won't get it all done, but that's okay. It's okay because with God's help I will accomplish the things that are important to Him.
Bible Study
To be honest, studying the Bible is something I haven't struggled with a whole lot, but I know a lot of people have. I mean, for goodness sake, it's the biggest book I've ever seen, and it's certainly not the easiest to understand. And there are those tough parts like Revelation and Leveticus. So what's to be done? Buckle down and just drudge through it, right? Wrong.
I am a strong believer that the Bible can be interesting to everyone. That's right. The problem is too many of us think there is only one right way to study the bible. That's where we're mistaken. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of wrong ways to study the Bible too. My point is, however, that we must find what works for our personality. I mark all over my Bible, write down all sorts of questions and then search for the answers. It is also very important for me to be systematic - working through one book at a time. However, my husband jumps all around, singing in the middle of His reading and sometimes searching the Bible topically. Both of these are good, but they are very different approaches. The important thing is that we are truely seeking to find what God is saying to us through the Bible authors, not what we want Him to say, or what we think He's saying. We want to know what God is really telling us.
Anyway, I just thought it would be fun to share your favorite Bible study methods and or your favoriate thing to do for devotions/worship. Who knows, you might even see something you'd like to try.
Blogging Away
1. Why do you write a blog?
I honestly can't answer that question. I guess to let other people know what's going on in my life
2. Why do you read other people's blogs?
To find out what's going on in my friend's lives.
3. What is your favoriate kind of blog to read?
I honestly like the ones that are just kind of random thoughts. I don't know why - I just like them.
4. What is your least favoriate kind of blog to read?
Surveys (heh *blushes*)
5. What is your favoriate kind of blog to write?
I haven't done it enough to really say yet.
The End :D