Word and Deed....

The following is an article by the former President of Wheaton College, who was there during my time. I have a deep gratitude for A. Duane Litfin and the way He faithfully led Wheaton College in his time there.

But first a few thoughts on Word and Deed of My Own: If the gospel is truly deeds, then every religion rightly can claim that it is the way. Almost every religion gives a way of living morally, of doing good deeds. The gospel is offensive. It is. To my human pride and to yours. It says that I am the problem with the world and that I need something completely outside of myself to fix it. Conveying the relevance of the verbal gospel, the only true gospel there is, is an ever increasing struggle to this culture. The culture is louder than the church, it is more in your face, it is the school system most kids go through, it is where young people are making their closest friends. We need some serious prayer and some serious disciples of Christ in this century in response. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/may/litfin-gospel-deeds.html?paging=off

See I am Making All Things New!

This is what was written on my 30th birthday gift. These are words Jesus spoke and speaks to his people. He is making me new. Even when I feel like life is the same-old same-old. Somehow He continues to make even me a new creation. I am also grateful for my dear friend Erin Hoekstra, taking time out of her busy summer interning at Chic Fil-a` to come see me this weekend. We went shopping, hung out at my brother's pool, watched movies, and went out for a nice dinner and drinks. An all around good weekend. Thanks Erin!

The Gospel Coalition....

Over the weekend of June 22-24, I spent a weekend with WONDERFUL college girlfriends at The Gospel Coalition Women's Conference. I love being part of something. I love belonging. And I feel like I belong to The Gospel Coalition. Like these are my people. Thinking Christians who care about transformation. So let's break it down...what is a coalition? According to Websters it is, "the act of coalesing: UNION" And coalesing is, "to grow together" and "to unite into a whole". So Gospel Union...Gospel Growing Together...Gospel Uniting into a Whole...yes I want to be a part of this. And what is the Gospel? Not according to webster, but according to Jesus, who is and defines the Gospel. The Gospel is GOOD NEWS. And what is good news for a sinner? Redemption and forgiveness of those sins for all time, by a perfect God. So The Gospel Coalition is Growing Together in Redemption and Forgiveness through a Perfect God. Can't wait till the completion of this in heaven. But until then I will gladly attend the conferences whenever my finances allow:) Here are a few pics of time and money well spent:

ME, CELESTE AND LANI

ME AND NEW FRIEND KRISTEN:)

30...A decade dedicated to gratitude to God for His gifts in Joy and Pain

I am 30. New decade. New introspections. Out of winter and into spring. I want to be a more consistent blogger I really do. So here is my start. Today is picture gratitude for some gifts of God since my birthday: Coffee and Irish Jesus Music birthday love from heart friends spring showing itself and growing into summer beauty and growth in the the chaotic jungle of life

Pain's Point

It keeps ribbing at you right under the ribs...makes you feel sore and like you can't breath. The point is sharper than you'd hope and it's effects longer than you liked to think. But maybe that is the point. It is suppose to change you. Change the way you feel, the way you look, the way you understand. Is your heart not more full of true empathy for others after you've been through your own real pain? Don't you learn more what true love and true friends and true trust are after pain? Don't you believe just a little bit more that Satan can't do anything that will completely shake your faith if that pain didn't? Isn't it good to know that even though we love feeling like our faith is true, we can always choose to believe it is true even when it doesn't feel that way? Although I don't like pain's point, it has inevitably done many good things to me.

Relinquishing Old Habits to Renew Healthy Disciplines

Almost 30, and as undisciplined as ever. How did this happen?? I think it happened because one day I went to Cambodia and became afraid of God. Became a afraid of His will being constant suffering and simplicity and service. And ran from Him, not to Him, but from Him cause who wants to trust that? Oh and then there is my flesh too, it is kinda lazy. Doesn't like to wake up before my body wants to and likes sleep more than reading Words on the pages of that Book. And in my running some things got good. Raleigh got good. Came to this place and LOVED LIFE. And it was wierd, because I came in a running from Him sort of way and thought, "how did this turn out good if I got it running from Him?" Because EVEN WHEN WE RUN FROM HIM HE RUNS WITH AND TOWARD US. And He was here and He followed me here. And He whispered, "Laura, you will be in this place for some time. Time to stop running." And I heard it but I didn't know what it meant. And I nodded my heart in agreement, not knowing what I was agreeing too. And year one and two I read my Bible, and I taught highschoolers about Jesus and His plan and serving Him. And I loved being Anglican and liturgy and got an accountability partner and tried to go to Rwanda to serve Jesus. But I was still running from Him. Making my plans and my ways work. And I found a man who would marry me. And I almost did. But I couldn't cuz it was my plan and my ways and a heart that gave itself to Jesus can run for a while but it can't forever. It has to relinquish old habits of self control and manipulation. And in my pain, I thought He was gone and he didn't exist and didn't love me. What kind of God lets His children feel this kind of pain? Oh yes, the God that lets His son Jesus die on the Cross for our sins. That God. And Bible reading and going to church, and accountability are all really hard to do right now. They don't feel alive and purposeful and when you are in the winter season of your faith you just want to stay inside and stay comfortable in your hibernation surfing Facebook and watching House and drinking wine. But even when you aren't ready for it, Spring comes. It won't let you pretend it's winter forever. And so goodbye Facebook, goodbye "I might move to Ohio so I shouldn't invest here in Raleigh", and goodbye being on the periphery of the church. Springs a coming and it is time to renew the good and relinquish the old. Start anew and trust. TRUST. Trust when you know that when you have in the past it has caused some of the greatest pain you have ever known. But still, TRUST. Not in nothing. IN HIM. IN HIS WAYS BEING HIGHER THAN YOUR WAYS. In Jeremiah 29:11 in an un-cliche , non health and wealth sort of way. In a way that says His plans for me are for His glory and HIs glory alone is where Hope and a Future are found.
Amen and Amen.

Sometimes I Feel Like I Think about my faith like Francis Chan but want to be a conservative stay at home my mom...

Probably sounded pretty arrogant to open with saying I think about my faith like Francis Chan. But I do in many ways. I think I should be hearing more from the Holy Spirit. I think the church should look and be different in many ways. I want to love the orphan and the widow and tell them about Jesus and how He wants to save them. But see the thing is I grew up as a little girl who wanted to be a mom and teach my children Bible stories and rock them to sleep and pray for them. And unfortunately I am not doing either of these right now. I am not loving the orphan and the widow well and I have no babies to rock to sleep. Sometimes does the life we thought God put in our hearts not happen or does He tell us to wait? I don't know. But as I am about to start a nursing job in Raleigh, you know what I am most excited about? Getting involved with an organization that cares for orphans and shares the gospel with them. Sometimes our passion is fueled by our tentmaking. People need tents, we should make them. People need help with taking care of new babies, I will help them. But hopefully it will fuel my passion to love and care for the orphan as Jesus calls us to. Just a short rambling today, but better than nothing. I know it has been 3 months again. If you read this and you pray to Jesus Christ, would you ask Him to guide my steps this next year as to where to work and what organization to join in helping care for the orphans? Thank you friends.