Laurie and Chris go scuba diving!

This isn't Laurie posting, it's Leah her wonderful sister, who cannot stand the fact that she hasn't posted since New years day! So I am taking over for her!
Chris and Laurie went to Bramuda, for Word of Life camp, Chris was one of the speakers. Their last day there, they were able to go scooba diving with some friends, and they found a baby sea turtle. Their friends caught it so they could look at it closer. Laurie said it was so amazing under the water, she has never seen anything like it. All she could think about was how much Austin would have enjoy see it all. Until next time...

New Years Eve

We had fun lighting a few fire works...Austin and Juleah had never held sparklers before so that was exciting....later we were waiting for the ball to drop...Austin was excited to stay up "All Night!"...I think the ball drop was a bit of a let down for him...not sure what he was expecting, but I remember feeling the same way...Anyway, Happy New Year!...My mom caught a picture of me sleeping while we waited for the new year...

Glory

I have been enjoying Genesis so much...over the last month or so I have found myself a lot more aware of myself and how others might perceive me...I guess another way to put it would be self-absorbed. There is a fine line between examining yourself before the Lord and examining yourself before others. I guess the difference is motivation. WHO do I want to please? I have come to this conclusion so many times and I guess I'll always wrestle with wanting to please others and inturn please myself...ANYWAY...today's QT was great for me. I have REALLY been enjoying the story this week. Today was in Genisis 25:19-34...Previously in the story God has promised Abraham that from him He would make a great nation. From him there would be as many descendants as there are grains of sand or stars in the sky...Abraham believes Him and is counted as righteous for it. Well, Sarah was barren...God proves His power and at age 90? she has a baby...well, then her son receives a wife in an amazing way...the nations going to grow....oh no, for 20 years she is barren....when I read she was barren and that Isaac "prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife" I just stopped. It met me right where I am this morning.
Remember how I said that I have been a little self-absorbed? Sunday on the worship team...last night as I led my little discipleship group...I walked away feeling completely inadequate...I started my QT this morning praying for wisdom remembering James chapter one's promise to give wisdom liberally to anyone who asks...ANYWAY...when I read that Rebekah was barren and thought about how God had promised to make a great nation from Abraham's descendants I thought well of course she was barren. He doesn't need us to be incredibly gifted to accomplish great things on this earth. He doesn't even need our bodies to do the things we are normally created to do....HE wants to show His power and receive the glory....I wrote in my QT: Lord, I feel barren to produce godly children as a mom. I feel barren to produce godly disciples as a small group leader...I DO NOT HAVE THE WISDOM it takes....I feel completely inadequate, but here You are reminding me that You have the power and want the glory for it.
Last night one of my girls brought her boyfriend to church. He has just lost a good friend to a drug overdose. I was so excited to see him! When I saw that he had come my heart was just overwhelmed with love for him. As we sang the words to the songs were amazing and I was praying that he would hear the truth and that his heart would be directed to the Lord. I was reminded of how important it is to be praying for these students all the time. It's not about how we wow them with our great music and 70 inch plasma screens...all that is awesome and I'm thankful for it, but only God can make true change in a students heart and I was thrilled at the possiblility of that taking place last night. Let's be praying he comes back...

Refreshing

This month is called our STORM month. We try to get as many churches as we can to hold STORMS (sending teens out to reach the masses) for their youth groups...the kids show up at church and all get into cars and go out to get as many of thier friends and thier friends friends as they can...they make the night really fun and somewhere in the midst of it all they all sit down and someone shares the gospel...

Well, last night I got to go with Chris to one of these STORMS. The kids left to get thier friends and anyone left got together and prayed for the night...the night was a lot of fun...very LOUD...video games everywhere (seriously), tons of giveaways, pizza, icecream...but my favorite part was when we all came together to hear the gospel. It's always great, but last night the kids were just laser focused...I don't think many of them come to church a lot. I mean, there were all kinds of students there. I looked around the room while Chris was speaking and I was amazed at how they were totally engaged...so when he gave the invitation so many kids stood up...I was just bursting, ready to sit down with some girls and share with them more about their new relationship with Jesus Christ.

I always wonder how sincere a student is...well, last night I was able to talk with 3 girls...they had all been to church before. One of them came to that church frequently...but one girl, her name is Devyn goes to an Episcipal church. She said she had prayed a prayer before, but "not like that one". She said she knew she needed to change...she had "tried" so many times before and nothing ever stuck....I won't go into all of the conversation...but I could just tell this girl was so sincere. She had come face to face with her sin and with her imortality and wanted to do something about it. I told her about how much God loves her and we read in Romans about how nothing could separate her from His love for her....that she didn't have to keep praying that prayer...even if she walked out and made a total mess of her life, He would not forsake her....the refreshing part, was that she wanted to know how to really change. I shared with her that Jesus does the changing...I shared with her that the biggest thing to change my life has been my time with Jesus everyday reading His word....she wanted to know more about that...she asked specific questions about reading the Bible...it was awesome. Jesus changed a life last night. I gave her my phone number and practically begged her to call me.

God is so good. Last night I was thinking of that OLD song "I Love to Tell the Story"...to tell the old old story of Jesus and His love. What a privelege. Oh Lord, please open the hearts of people to Your great love for them. Please help them see thier incredible need for Your grace and Your mercy in thier lives. Help me to remember how desparate I am for YOU as well.

Psalm 50:1-13

This mornings QT was really great for me. The main thought I took away was this: God doesn't NEED my sacrafices...service...He has MANY resorces...HE WANTS MY HEART. Thank you Dikola for the many times you have reminded me of this. I believe the Lord used your voice in my ear this morning to drive this into my heart. I asked myself: LORD, when I serve you is it because my heart is purely Yours? Oh LORD, please take all other motives out of my heart. Guard it...show me when I am serving You because I have the gall to think you need me. Or because I want to score points with others or even You so that You answer my prayers...I want to love You with all of my heart PERIOD. Not because of what You can do for me or what I hope you do for me.

"How refreshing to know You don't need me, How amazing to find that You want me. So I'll stand on Your truth and I'll fight with Your Strenght until You bring the victory. By the power of Christ in me." -"In Me" by Casting Crowns

Dad, I'm sure you are praying for Geoff today. Dikola, I haven't been able to talk to you lately...I'm praying for your Bible study this morning...Please be praying for Geoff and Leah today. He has had some things going on with his brain and has to have an MRI today. Please pray that they will feel God's presence and seek Him with all of thier hearts...the doctors to have wisdom....you know. I love you all.

Well, I am slowly (VERY SLOWLY) making may way back into the world as this sickness slowly makes it's way out of my body...I can't believe how sick I have been and how long...I won't go into all the details...only to say it has been so miserable and I can't wait until I am feeling myself again!

Being sick like this has shed some light on some things...I am not nearly sympathetic enough to others who are sick. There is a lady in my church who has been bed ridden for MONTHS and I have only been to see her once...I HAVE to go see her again. Chris' grandma lives with some very aweful infirmnities everyday and I've never really considored what it means for her...I would be a horrible person in her shoes...So I must pray for these woman and others and try to encourage them more. Oh Lord, help me to be a blessing to those who are in pain. Help me to think of others. Let me be Your hands of comfort, Your smile of encouragement. Thank you for the health you have given me. Forgive me for all the times I take it for granted.

I have so mcuh to be thankful for! Goodnight everyone.

Dad, you are so faithful...thank you for posting your QT everyday...Unfortunately it has been awhile for me...

This morning the word "skillful" stuck out to me. God wants us to do our best to worship Him. I don't think that means we all need to go out and take piano lessons, or voice lessons...but it matters to Him that we do our best. The most important thing to God is that we have an upright life. The other two words that stood out to me were "new song". I think that God does enough for me each day that I should have a new song for Him each day. I need to have a more thankful heart and really think through what He has done for me each day.

Dikola, you are a good example to me in this. You see God's hand so clearly and are so ready to praise Him. I want to be more like that...so here I go...

Today, we were invited to two different homes for labor day and were able to go to both...it was a great time for everyone...we got to swim, Austin got a new knife, I was able to spend a little time with my friend Annie, who I don't get to see very much. I was able to spend some time with 2 little girls who lost their mom a few years ago. They are so sweet and they remind me of how precious life is. My husband and I went on a little jog, which we never do...I am a live, and I have a great family. I know Jesus as my Savior and I have the opportunity to share Him with my children everyday...

Lord, please help me to do just that...to live in such a way that my family sees You in me. May they fall in love with you. I get so overwhelmed with this sometimes... A friend of mine said something that I've thought about a lot lately...I don't even remember what she was talking about, but I remember saying something about how hopeful she was and she said, "Laurie, my confidence is in the Lord." I was taken back...I immediatley realized that I was putting way too much thought and prayer into what I can do, or should do...I realize when she said that that we are desparate for God to move in hearts....only He can create a clean heart in Austin. Only He can heal Melissa. Only He can bring Bonnie and Cameron to Him. Only He can draw Angie to Himself...I really want God to use me...I want to see change. I want Him to take impossible situations and make everyone see how great and mighty He is.