are we there yet?

Dear God,

Please fix my car.

I would really really like to use it. Soon.

I already use it for the mission. In fact, that's what I was doing when it broke.

Soon would be good,

Laura

the work hazards of a Jesus Lover

So I was chatting with a friend from Moscow on facebook, and she helped me see the beauty of the mission Christ calls us to. My friend is a highschool student, trying to figure out what God's got in store for her life. I told her we should focus on being Jesus-Lovers. Ultimately, that's the only occupation where I'll ever be content.

Talking about car accidents and rain and how much the rain sucks, she asked the obvious question: "Why do you live in Bremerton?"

That's the beauty of the mission.

I live in Bremerton because that's where I'm most on Christ's mission. It's a work hazard, sure. But it's worth it! Every moment is worth it. And I better improve this attitude, FAST!

So when I need a reminder of this beautiful mission:

J

How do you know when its God tellin you your plans and not just peer presure

9:51pmLaura

in my case, I wanted to marry Karl and live in Pullman, but God wanted something even better

9:52pmJ

that must have been hard

9:52pmLaura

so, we called off the wedding and I cried ALOT

like ALOT

but then, God created a series of opportunities for me to walk through leading me back to Bremerton

I prayed alot and sought counsel from wiser people than myself, like my Mom and Sharon and Christa and Robyn and Mrs. Busby and a whole mess of other people

9:53pmJ

maybe that's the place to be

too many names to count

9:53pmLaura

but, when I landed back home, I had this sense of peace that I was actually where God wanted me to be.

haha yeah, proverbs talks about wisdom in the presence of many counselors

it hasn't been easy living in bremerton, especially when I love Pullman & Moscow so much, but it's where God wants me for now

content

The last two weeks, I keep thinking about Paul writing to the Phillipians: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." --Phil 2:14

Obviously, I need to learn this secret. And I'm not there yet. But, in the spirit of student-led conferences, I'm setting this goal: I will be content in any and every situation.

Even if...it takes 2-5 business days for my new phone to be "overnight shipped".

Even if...it takes another week or so for the parts to come in for my car.

Even if...I lose the freedom of driving myself to work.

Even if...I have to spend 14 hours at school.

Even if...I have to change and cancel plans.

Because, when it comes down to it, I'm still well fed and living in plenty. It's really inconvenient to lose my car and phone, but its just not the end of the world. There's a lot of more important things to spend time and energy complaining about, even.

Hopefully God fixes my attitude thoroughly. I'd rather not learn this lesson again.

make it go away

I've decided the rain sucks.

Now that I've officially stated my position on the weather, maybe life can continue on. Maybe I can focus on the important things, like living the Gospel and talking about God. Maybe I can use some precious time to enjoy the family I've been given. Maybe I can practice loving the beautiful people in my life.

But it really sucks to have so much rain. It never even got light out today!

There's this struggle in my heart, that maybe God doesn't understand why I just can't live here! Maybe He's lost count of how many days it's rained! Maybe He's forgotten to let the sun shine through.

Still, I realize that I'm more likely the one who forgets. A quick search on the word "rain" brings up this succinct promise:

"The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow." Deuteronomy 28:12 NASB

humility

• Living at home for the next while.
• Lost my cell phone.
• Car is in a body shop in Tacoma.
• My parents drop me off at school, then pick me up when the buses arrive.

I think God's trying to teach me some things.

mountain refuge

God knew I couldn't take the rain anymore. That's why our youth leadership summit in Leavenworth came at a perfect time. After driving for 5 hours, we eventually ended up in the Christmas-themed Bavarian wonderland. There's snow. It makes me so happy.

We've been focusing on 2Chronicles 29 this week, a chapter of the Bible that resonates with my reformer heart. Our directors have been passionately challenging everyone on our team to "clean out the temples" of our lives, of our team, of our community. There's been some sweet times of confession, of repentance, of embracing forgiveness. The battle is not close to being complete, but we are confidently on the side of Christ.

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to share my heart for serving our high schoolers. They're our future. They're a very big deal. God desires each high school student to have the opportunity to hear about His salvation, about His faithfulness. He weeps for them. He died for them.

The least that I can do is inspire others to love. Not just high school students, but everybody. But.. that means I have to love, too. Like, as an example.

And of course, the benefits always outweigh the cost. The stories of how God is moving, how God has moved, how God is victorious. They're epic novels. What a blessed refuge in these mountains.

On top of all of this, I read Proverbs 14 today, per our Proverb-a-day challenge. Wisdom sure is sweet stuff! The verse that grabbed my heart, though:

"In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have refuge." Proverbs 14:26 NASB

While retreats are great and I ALWAYS love spending time in the mountain, it's comforting to know that there is always refuge in the LORD. If I fear Him, I can be confident in His plan at the same time. He is refuge, our hope. He is faithful.

And just for good measure...

"But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works." Psalms 73:28

This is the God I like talking about. This is the God I desire to please.

ps 24

Psalm 24 talks about the Earth belonging to God. Everything in it. Every part of it.

So, it finally stopped raining today. There are still dark storm clouds hiding the mountains, but every once in awhile, you can see the fresh snow that's hugging the higher peaks. This belongs to God.

The pile of green Science 9 tests in front of me are God's too. They belong to God. The students who wrote on them, they belong to God, too.

Just like the clouds keep breaking, I keep catching glimpses of God's bigger purpose here. Everything is His.

Even the exams.

Even the rainclouds.