I'm sorry It's been a while! I've been staying busy with classes and working on assessments for this semester. I've really enjoyed having extra time to dig deep into the Word and have been challenged by it every day. That being said, I have a job interview scheduled for next Friday! Or Thursday for all my America people :) It is a part time graphic designing job for a jewelry company. I'm super excited about this as I have experience in everything they're needing done. I really believe it was a God thing the way it all fell into place but I'm praying for His will to be done whatever the result may be.
Graphics training is going well and I'm starting to get the hang of all the multitasking. I had the opportunity to run lyrics for part of the services last weekend and be in the 'green room' with some amazing people. I love hearing the worship leaders share what God has put on their heart for the services ahead. They're just normal human beings who have to juggle the same things as us (sometimes more) in their everyday lives. They're raw and honest about their personal walk and what God has spoken to them. They go out on the stage expectant. They surrender all they've got and rely fully on the Holy Spirit to touch each and every person. Even if only one person walks away changed, every bit of sacrifice was worth it to them. I can always see the passionate love they have for God on their face but knowing the heart behind the passion makes it so much more special.
A few thoughts and quotes from my recent classes...
Personal Leadership:
If we want to pursue excellence we must reject the middle ground. The middle ground is the lowest ground. It lacks purpose, progress, (real) friends, faith, passion, respect and life. Hard work builds a legacy for the next generation, laziness squanders the legacy of the last generation. Don't want what somebody else has got if you're not willing to pay the price they've paid. Treat people like Christians so they want to become one. Do people like you or do they want to be like you?
Old Testament:
God couldn't ask Abraham to sacrifice his own son if He wasn't willing to sacrifice His. God knew He was going to send Jesus. If you knew that God was with you and that you were going to succeed, what would you do? Can you walk blamelessly? Can you trust that He’s walking it out with you? Covenant is not a free pass but of grace. God promises to be faithful even though He knows humans won’t be.
Mission & Culture:
Cultural differences is the root of misunderstanding. Sometimes we blame God for not opening a door when sometimes we just don’t have the persistence to push through. Our churches have looked way too much like a football team, everyone claims to be the team but only a few do the work.
"No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once."
Oswald J. Smith
We watched the clip from The Bible Series in our O.T. class of when Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac to God. I've provided the link below. Please watch it before reading on, it's very short.
https://youtu.be/6s9ldacroHM
Those of you who know me well, know that I'm not a very emotional person (although I've been a little more fragile since I've been away from all of you). This clip hit me like a ton of bricks and it took everything in me not to lose it right there in the middle of class. Isaac was Abraham's most prized and promised possession. All he had to go on was a word from God. Can you imagine what must have gone through his mind? Can you see the pain in his eyes? I haven't been able to shake it from my mind since. Could I do this? Could I surrender to Him the things that are most important to me if He asked me to? Not that God would want me or anyone else to kill someone. It was never God's intention for Abraham to actually kill his son. He just wanted to see if Abraham was willing. Would I be willing to pursue Him if it meant that I would never see my family and friends again? Even as I write this, my heart aches at the thought. I would like to say that I would. The truth is, at this point in my life I don't think I could. But, I want to have that kind of faith. I want to say He's number one in my life and actually mean it with all my heart. Don't worry, I believe God wants me to come home to you guys when I'm done here :) I was just challenged to evaluate my relationship with God. I thought I trusted Him and was committed to Him 100%. Sometimes we need to be asked questions like this. That's why "a gathering" is part of the definition of The Church. If we are only comparing ourselves to ourselves we will always feel good about ourselves. Paul warns the church in Corinth of this very same thing in 2 Corinthians 10:12 (AMP) "We do not have the audacity to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with some who [supply testimonials to] commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack wisdom and behave like fools." If we want to have wisdom and not be fools we must challenge each other with the Word of God. It is our road map and the answer to every question in life.
So, what do you think? Could you do what Abraham did? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Feel free to comment below or shoot me an email. If you don't know my email just message me on Facebook :)
Love always, Lauren
It's days like this when I really miss not owning a car...
Just got my Hillsong volunteer shirt!
You can't really tell in this picture but the coffees are tiny here...like super tiny!
Read these Bible names and their definitions in chronological order...
This is what a Sunday looks like for me these days :)
