party time!

Still cat-sitting at Linda's house. Still trying to get Woody (the cat) to like me.

But there are bigger things in life to celebrate!!

This afternoon, three of the students from my youth small group are getting baptized! Later, our youth ministry is having a leaders' training meeting for the first time in almost a year. Then, Michelle & Chris get married tonight!!!

Time to celebrate!

And school starts on Wednesday!

perservere

The prayer meeting on Monday was beautiful. Students are learning to pray.

And there is so much to take before our King in prayer:

Friends marriages attacked.

Teenagers recovering from surgeries.

Family friends wracked with cancer.

Loved ones choosing empty partying over Jesus.



What gets me, though, is that my heart doesn't always break. Sometimes it does. Sometimes I'm called to weeping, to fighting in prayer, to bring each request to my Father. But other times...I'd rather go to Arby's. Lord, teach me to pray continually.

This battle isn't over. But the war is won.

verge

There's this electricity in the air. Some people are saying its just muggy (cause its 100 degrees, finally!) But it's even thicker than the humidity.

We're balanced on the edge of the greatest revival Kitsap county has ever seen.

That's what I think.

We're on the verge of something great. Something bigger than any one person could imagine. Something only God could orchestrate.

A few weeks ago, there were young adults stationed at all of the busiest stop lights in Silverdale. They sat in lawn chairs. Most wore university sweatshirts (because its been cold most of the summer). People started to gossip about what they were doing. A bunch of my friends had facebook posts about "those people by the stop lights". Turns out, it was a traffic survey. There was even a story about it in the local newspaper.

The buzz created by the stoplight-people got me thinking. What if the church could live in such a way that it stands out? What if we could be so peculiar in our kindness that the world notices? What if we could unite as the hands and feet of Christ to our community?

Now, Jesus specifically talks about doing "religious" things to get attention. ""When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room,close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Matthew 6:5-8 (right before "The Lord's Prayer")

So, I've struggled with this tension: how to raise up a peculiar prayer army without being self-righteous. The answer I've come to: Jesus. No, for real.

Just like Jesus prayed over Jerusalem, we need to pray over our community. Not to get attention, not to promote ourselves, not for any personal gain. But for Kingdom gain. Our community needs prayer.

Each week at our church gathering we have a space to write prayer requests. It's called "the info card".
Yesterday, one of our pastors drove my car for a hiking trip. He saw an info card sticking out of my dashboard and asked me, "how did this get here?" I told him that I'd forgotten to turn it in one Sunday, so I kept it in my car to remember to pray for my co-workers and students. He was really confused. "But, I got this card and kept it, too. I still pray for your school." Every week I write a variation of the same request: "Pray for revival at Ridgetop Junior High. Pray for God's Spirit to radically transform the lives of staff, students and families. Pray for peace and healing."

The reminder that other people are praying for the Ridgetop community, too, renewed my passion! I am so so so excited for staff days to come. So excited for school to begin on September 1st! I'm ready to see God's crazy love transform Ridgetop Junior High.

During tonight's sermon, I had this image of standing at the top of a cliff. Think: rapelling. Think: bungee jumping. Think: hang gliding.

Kitsap county is on the verge of revival. Let's pray for our community. Let's pray for our neighbors, be the hands and feet of Christ to them. Let's pray for our poor, and then give them food and water.

Monday night. 7 pm. Silverdale Waterfront. Pray over Kitsap.

If you can come, spread the word and look for people wearing red. If you can't, join in prayer for lives in Kitsap to be transformed by the Gospel.

getting in shape

The other day, hiking with some friends, I realized that I didn't really work out anymore. Instead, I'd picked up the habit of climbing mountain ridges every other week or so and spending the next few days on my bed unable to move. Not very sustainable.

So... to end the summer well, I've enlisted some adventure partners to help get in shape. It's the whole idea of Ecclesiastes 4:9 "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil."


My friend Megan encouraged me to climb well beyond my ability the other day. It was so much fun that I went back yesterday with another friend, Sharon.

These are our "intense" faces...

I think my skill has really improved:

Haha...a little photoshop action helps, too. My ponytail defies gravity.

Seriously, though, we've assembled an epic crew of hiker chicks for tomorrow. Can't wait to see God's creativity at Spray Park near Mt. Rainier. Ranger friends have told me that the wildflowers are in rare form this week. Sweet! A great workout, great fellowship, and great beauty of God's creation.

I think it's going to be great...

friends and their babies

So many of my friends are having babies. And they are all precious. And beautiful. So full of hope.

Sometimes I worry about the future. But, I think these studs will have it covered...

Clara is so precious. Glad I got to meet her today! Sad that she lives so far away in Montana!

Her Mommy is such a good mommy to her. Taking her on 5k races and hikes so that she learns to love the outdoors!!

And Leland is getting so big that he can walk and play football now. His parents bring him to our small group Bible study every week so he can hear about Jesus and learn how to pray!

Baby Rowen is pretty new. But she already brings people together! She's going to build great communities that worship Jesus and love people.

Today was such a fun day to celebrate growing families!

		"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:6-7

the most romantic spot in Kitsap county

I made this deal with myself to go "hiking" every day before school starts up again. Now hiking also includes other outdoor adventures (i.e. kayaking, rock-climbing, trail running, etc.) So for today's "hike", I drove to Anderson Landing Preserve.

Back when I was in college (and um...in shape) I used to run from my parents' house to Anderson Landing. It ends up being a good 4 mile run with all of the steep hills in the very middle of the run, when you have the most adrenaline. There's this one spot at the end of the L1 trail that overlooks the Hood Canal. It's my favorite view in Kitsap county. Recent landslides have opened up the view even more, dramatically framing the Olympics and Dabob Bay.

This morning our church finished up a series on the book of Ruth called "Summer Romance." So, it was only fitting to go on a date with Jesus. After I left the morning gathering at church, I went for a date with Jesus at Anderson Landing.

As usual, my car was the only one at the trailhead. Some mean, scary neighbor dogs were barking and growling at me so I waited in the car until their owner came out to take them home. Walking to my favorite spot, I was a little paranoid about vampires and werewolves... Good news: I did not get eaten.

Here is the beautiful view:

I like to sit at the bench and pray. Pray over my family. Pray over this community. Pray for God's love to always "feel" this real.

It's easy to recognize God's power when you look at scenery like this. He paints the mountains rising out of the water. He brings the tide back and forth to the shore. He builds the trees nice and tall, pointing to Him in the heavens. He writes His name in the clouds that roll in and roll out. The birds sing praise hymns that echo throughout the forest. Glory, glory, glory!

But He only makes us in His image.

That's what's so beautiful about this place. It always reminds me of the relentless way that Christ pursues His bride. I love reading praise poetry here. It's so romantic. Love you can reach out and touch!

Today was just such a beautiful day. Well, literally the weather was grey and ehh. But, after the sermon about Redemption in Ruth chapter 4. After the sweet moments alone with my Redeemer. After such a beautiful start, I got to be a part of a baptism service at the Silverdale Waterfront Park. 

I was blessed to baptize one of my student friends who traveled to Mazatlan with me this summer. And also given the opportunity to meet a new sister in Christ (Tiffany) and baptize her as well. As Tiffany announced to our church body before her baptism, "I'm getting baptized as my PDA with Jesus. I want to show the world how I love Him and want to follow Him." Bold and unashamed. That's our crazy faith.

And this was all before 2 o'clock.

Later, I got to rock climb with Megan Sheppard. Talk more about God's crazy love. And some of my stupid girl plans... Then I got to catch up with Amanda, the greatest friend on the planet. Later, heading back to church to hang out with the coolest 2-4th graders around. And after the night service got to have teriyaki and Vietnamese coffee with some small group friends. This is the life!

"So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build each other up." Rom 12

Beautiful romantic day. Thanks God!

forget camelot

Listening to the latest sermon podcast from the Village Church in Dallas, TX.

Closing quote: "Forget Camelot and cling to the cross."

Life is messy. Inside the church, too. Why do we pretend it's perfect? Nobody's fooled.

What beautiful advice for every situation. CLING TO THE CROSS.

This week is Kid's Camp at church. Each day the kids hear the heart of the Gospel presented in a different way each time. The message really is simple.

Day 1: Without Jesus, we are headed to self-destruction.
Day 2: Jesus rescues us from destruction.
Day 3: Jesus wants us to be on His mission
Day 4: Jesus transforms us to go on His mission.

This is why we CLING to the cross. Because we can't survive alone. We will destroy ourselves. Jesus Christ is our only rescue, Savior. And He chooses us. He desires us. He wants us to be with Him. Then, He changes us. He makes us new. He uses us as His hands and feet.

It's beautiful to see and hear little children "get it". To understand that Jesus died willingly in exchange for our sins. To realize that Jesus chose to sacrifice Himself without regret.

God, remind me always to follow You with the faith of a child.

"Let the children come to me; do not hinder them. For to such belongs the Kingdom of God." Mark 10:14

stories from crazylove camp

Last summer, God told me to go to camp. Newlife youth summer camp. Specifically. Like, He called me out last summer and told me, "Laura, you have to go to summer camp next year." At the time, I was in the Dominican Republic, and considering returning for summer 2010.

Who am I to mess with God, right? So I went to summer camp.

All summer, our youth staff has been praying for God to show His "crazy love" to our students. To our leaders, too. Sometimes we pray for God to "show up", which is weird because God's everywhere already. At camp this week, though, it was obvious that students understood that God was there. That's the heart of our prayers.

Camp was a week long...so I could share a lot of stories.

And I will. But I need a little more time to sort out the important ideas from the confidential information.

• Prayer times were so sweet. Students would complain when we ended prayer and say "wait, can I pray too" or "let's keep going." Our small group (of 38 students!) was usually the last group to finish our small group times. I was blessed with the opportunity to pray over students, their families, their schools, and the nations they will someday influence. God is using these students to change the course of history. Seriously.
• Nine highschool students in our group stepped up to be discussion leaders for our small group time. They did a PHENOMENAL job. More than being the "next wave" of leaders in the church, these students are already leaders in their realm of influence. It was humbling and beautiful to watch them lead their peers closer to God. I am confident that God has great plans in store for these students. I pray that they cling to Him and follow unswervingly.
• Five students in our small group decided to get baptized. We're going to have a baptism "party" in 2 or 3 weeks at the waterfront park. They want to be sure that everyone can be there, family and friends. Some students asked me to baptize them. Others are asking their friends who showed them what it means to follow Christ. Again, beautiful and humbling.
• Blessed to have many conversations about how God can bring restoration to families. I hate what divorce has done to so many of my students' families!!! But confident that God can heal any situation. Confident that no hurt escapes His notice. Confident that every story can climax with redemption!

Oh, and I took a lot of pictures but have no idea where my camera cable went.

So, that's the quick version of what happened at camp. Lots of volleyball. Lots of praying. Lots of hugging kids as they cried and wrestled with life. Lots of big, gross, gnarly bugs. Lots of beautiful Eastern Washington sunshine (Jeannie didn't recognize me at church tonight because I'm so tan from camp!)

"Mother of Pearl" small group (plus or minus a few)

Thank You, Father, for telling me to go to camp. I love the joy of being in the center of Your will. Keep my heart surrendered to You. I want to bask in Your boundless love longer. Even being back "home" now, crazy conversations and situations keep falling into place. Like God has a plan or something? ;)

And a closing thought:
Driving back from camp in my little black KIA with no AC, I was looking at the 6 school buses full of our campers. My co-pilot had fallen asleep again so I was passing the time by praying with my Father. Thanking Him for a beautiful week. Thanking Him for restoring the job that I love so much, that matches my passions so perfectly. And He reminded me that I still get paid over the summer. I just started laughing out loud. I'm getting paid by the state of Washington right now. I'm getting paid to be a youth pastor this summer...by the state! I get to tell students about Jesus every day. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?!

Hahahaha, I enjoy summer so much! What a beautiful way God loves us!

"Sell your possessions and give to charity; makeyourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comesnear nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:32-33