The Words that are Written on my Heart

"You have a unique message to deliver, a unique song to sing, a unique act of love to bestow. This message, this song, and this act of love have been entrusted exclusively to the one and only you." - John Powell 

I am a writer. I might not be a writer in the sense that I get up everyday and work on a novel that I dreamt up one night and continue to get ideas for in my sleep. I also might not be a writer in the sense that I get an amazing grade on all the papers I have been assigned to write for odd classes here and there. In fact in neither of those senses am I a writer. When it comes to writing I write what comes to my heart and that is not always the task but I feel as though it is my task. I have about a journal a year from when I was thirteen full of who knows what to testify that sometimes my writing was just merely for writing itself. Whenever I write the Lord is ever-present and in that sense that is why I continue to write and I think that is why I am a writer and have been since I could remember. 

Not until recently did I discover some of the things I had written years ago in different stages of my life. Only then did I realize I always had that desire to write and share my love for love and Jesus because when it  comes to God's love and that happiness, it really is not much unless you can share it with someone. When you think about it that is what we are called to do each and every day. John 13:34 is perhaps one of the most memorable verses in the bible about loving one another, "just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another." Now the Lord never said that was going to be easy in no passage in the bible did the Lord say that was easy. Whether it be in my writing, friendships, everyday interactions with people, or whatever it may be it might not always be received in the way we hope or intend. But is anything? No. it isn't but that is perfectly normal. So normal in fact that we should not be phased...well no in fact we will always be phased but that should never stop you from voicing or writing those words that are on your heart. 

Just to enlighten you on what Lauren from July 3, 2012 had to say about writing the words that were so much on her heart...

Dear Journal, 

When I decide I want to write in my journal I realize I usually end up writing to God! Which in itself is not that surprising because God is my center and he is amazing. God is all I hope for and all I truly care about. In this particular point in my life I am beginning to have to make more decisions about my future and honestly that kind of scares me to think that life is going by so fast.... I am so blessed and incredibly thankful for what the Lord has given me. It doesn't particularly bother me as much as it once did that I don't have a boyfriend. I know that the Lord has a plan for that part of my life. Waiting makes me feel like the outcome is just going to be that much more special....I can't wait to just live each day growing closer to the Lord and trusting in him more and more. I myself promise to ALWAYS live and love forever for Jesus. HE deserves our honesty, fairness, trust, kindness, gentleness, and everything we have.

 Lauren

               

Just this passage from my journal tells me and whomever may be reading now, that of course I was struggling then with some very minor things but I was still turning to the Lord and writing about it. As we all can do, I chose to share it. Each and every moment of our lives is written out in this amazing book that is our lives, we don't have the power to write that but we do have the ability to write what is on our heart in each of those moments. "...I am writing out the plan in them, carving it out on their hearts. I'll be their God...they will know me."- Hebrews 8:10-11 God's plan is written on our hearts and because of that we know him! How intensely awesome is that? Because even with that the Lord has given us the ability to know him and in that we have so much to say, I know I have so much to say. 

From day one in our hearts that yearning to share love and happiness with others was placed. So... 

I write. 

I sing. 

I love because the Lord loves me. 

What do you do? How can you share the love of the one who loves you immeasurably more than your heart could ever hope or imagine? "Go into the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."- Mark 16:15 Brothers and sisters I love you! I cannot wait to meet all of your beautiful souls in heaven so we can forever praise and rejoice in that crazy love we have read, written about, and yearned for all of lives. 

"And let us not grow weary of doing good (sharing that love with others), for in due season we will all come home, if we do not give up!"

Justified by Faith and Set forth in Forgiveness

We are Called to Forgive Even When it is Hard and Walk by Faith...

"The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self -all your wishes and precautions- to Christ."- C.S. Lewis 

It is incredibly hard to let go of something and give it to the Lord when you know that it would be so much easier to hold on to what it is and continue to give into it. Tonight as I was walking on the beach (I still cannot believe I live where I can walk on the beach every night. Praise God!) with my Activities Director and friend, Sam, we were discussing something that had us both so addled and in bitter spirits and it was just not where we wanted to be. Halfway through this walk I had this thought that came right to me. It could only be explained as a word from the Lord. This feeling was strong so I spoke on it and said, "Sam we just have to pray and forgive. That is the only way we are going to be able to let go and let God work in this the way he intended." Forgiveness is the last thing I would have ever thought I needed to do but yet the exact thing that needed to be done.

God is so good. He blesses us each and everyday in such amazing ways and it just puts this smile to my face and fuels a happiness in me that is undeniable. Even in this happiness there is still room for sin and mistakes and failure of different measures. In this instance this failing was holding onto something that was becoming this toxic thing that was only hurting me and doing the opposite of good in my life. It was becoming this default focus of my time here and that was not ok.

So when Sam and I got back tonight after our walk we started talking about this situation and we were just like we have to pray now and go to the Lord and ask for his guidance and just forgive and let go of this. We crawled up on Sam's bunk and dove into the word. Sam just so happened to turn to Galatians 3 and wow what a God thing that was. It was exactly what we needed to hear and applied to our situation more perfectly than either of us could have ever imagined. How amazing is the Lord? Galatians 3:24-25 says, "So the law was put in charge to lead as to Christ that we might be justified by faith.  Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law." After Sam read that verse we looked and each other and we were just like, wow God thank you. This law that was put forth served its purpose, and faith came so we live in this faith and are no longer supervised by the law. In the Lord we are free and how amazing is that?

To finish out Galatians three the verse -28 speaks on being one with Jesus and I am still so amazed on how perfectly this plays into today and this situation. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, MALE NOR FEMALE, for you are ALL one in Christ Jesus." We are ALL one in the Lord. In everything, every single thing. It is such an easy thing to remember and yet so hard to accept. No matter who you are, where you have come from or what you have done we are ONE in Christ. We are equal in our father's eyes. At the end of Galatians 3 we proceeded to pray and put forth this forgiveness in the Lord that was so greatly needed and this immense and indescribable peace just washed over us and this weight was just lifted. Something as simple prayer time and look into the word was what this situation needed. I think we often forget and underestimate the power of prayer and God's word. He speaks. Whether it be through situations, through the word, in prayer, whatever it may be he is speaking to us, all we have to do is be open to what he is telling us.

I am firm believer that the Lord calls all times soon and that he reveals and provides when the timing is right. So tonight following this powerful prayer I turned on my Holy Spirit Flowing station on spotify and the song that came on was "Forgiveness" by Matthew West. I looked up to the Heavens and giggled at the Lord. He speaks. Every day in every way he speaks to us. The lyrics to this song are so profound and I couldn't help but be consumed by how perfect the Lord's timing really is.

It's the hardest thing to give away

And the last thing on your mind today

It always goes to those who don't deserve

It's the opposite of how you feel

When the pain they caused is just too real

Takes everything you have to say the word

It flies in the face of all your pride

It moves away the mad inside

It's always anger's own worst enemy

Even when the jury and the judge

Say you've got a right to hold a grudge

It's the whisper in your ear saying set it free

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable

Show me how to reach the unreachable

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness

It'll clear the bitterness away

It can even set a prisoner free

There is no end to what its power can do

So let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace

The prisoner that it really frees is you

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable

Show me how to reach the unreachable

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness

I want finally set it free

Show me how to see what your mercy sees

Help me now to give what You gave to me

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Forgiveness truly is one of the hardest things to give away, just like these lyrics say, but that is what we are called to do. I am so thankful that tonight Sam and I could come together in prayer and ask the Lord for forgiveness for the way we have handled this and give forgiveness. For God is good and everyday we shall rejoice in his grace and go forth in faith. What a blessing it is to come here to this place that is so visibly in need of the Lord, and have the opportunity to share the most important part of who we are as Christians. Thanks be to the Lord for situations that cause growth and bring us closer to him. Thanks be to God for this amazing Christian family in which I can share and thanks be to the challenges that being part of this family brings.

 Life is not easy, neither is forgiveness but nothing worth the gain is ever "easy." Praise God for a challenging life that makes every day a new adventure and a chance to extend his forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Psalms 100:5 is a great reminder of the Lord's goodness, "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations." It continues, his faithfulness is forever and always, in every single situation. Going into tomorrow I pray for peace and joy regarding this situation and anything that I may face, that Sam may face that any of my SummerShine family members may face. As a body may we love each other and together love others. Tomorrow is another day the Lord has made and his forgiveness is in my heart and mine on my lips. 

Thank you Lord. 

Shine Bright through the Highs and the Lows

A Not So Easy Time Makes The Relationship Stronger...

Recently I have been having a time with the Lord and his plan for my life, and for the right now. Currently I am off doing my best working to shine his light at the KOA in Myrtle Beach South Carolina. What I didn't realize until quite recently is that every day can be a battle. Maintaining that light amongst the darkness and shining bright when circumstances aren't ideal has always been present but I don't think that I quite realized the full force of that until I jumped head first into this mission experience. Each and every day is a new opportunity to see his works in the least likely places. 

It seems as though everywhere I turn I know that what I see and feel is that the atmosphere in this place is severely lacking God's love and light. What is more amazing than God's love? It is incredibly difficult, it is a daily battle to push through and know that I am not working for a worldly person. Everything we do is for the glory of the Lord who loves us more than we could ever begin to imagine. Today and this past week have been a little bit more on the challenging side. I have to keep reminding myself I am here to carry out the Lord's plan for my life. A verse that my activities director brought up at our bible study speaks to what we are doing here so perfectly, "for all who have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."-Romans 3:23-24 This exemplifies that no matter what we all sin and fall short of the glory of God and that even through that the Lord loves us so deeply and gives us immeasurable grace. It plays so much in to the atmosphere here, that no matter who you are or what you have done you are justified by God's grace and that is amazing.

Where we are here it is imperative that we keep in mind that however different we may be from our coworkers we can't look down upon them or belittle them or each other. For our purpose is to shine God's light and share his love; keeping our heads up and pushing through the undesirable circumstances that we may face. "the Spirit helps us in our weakness..."-Romans 4:26 Every single day in whatever weakness you may face the Holy Spirit is there within you giving you the strength to carry out his will. God is so good. All the time he is good. 

This opportunity to work here with other SummerShiners has truly made me realize that it is about the work we are doing it is about how we do that work and who we are doing it for. Good works are wonderful and great but unless they are in the name of the Lord they don't hold the merit that they should. Hebrews 6:10 says, "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." Even as we work for the glory of the Lord for his people we ourselves are growing and that is amazing.

I have already learned so much about myself in this process and it amazes me everyday how present the Holy Spirit really is in everything we do. "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."-Romans 5:5 I love this verse so much because the fact that the Holy Spirit is so tangible in our lives means everything. God has poured out his love that we too may love his children. I think it is so important in this mission field and any mission field that we know that it isn't about the work itself and how well we can do it but how we can do it with the Holy Spirit flowing in us to glorify our Heavenly Father.

The way I have discovered that I work is with my heart. I could be doing the lest desirable task, cleaning some bathroom with some of my amazing SummerShine family members, and smile and deep belly laugh because no matter what God is present and so so good. How blessed are we to be given the opportunity to serve our Heavenly Father? I know that right now I want to focus on cultivating friendships and working for the glory of the Lord even when it is approximately 100 degrees outside and I am walking around drunk from heat exhaustion. God blesses us everyday so I want to use what I have to glorify him in any way that I can even though that is harder than I could have ever imagined.

This season of my life is for working for the Lord as the Holy Spirit flows through me. I have prayed for who knows how long for things to become apparent in my life and right now all that I know for sure is that I can't even comprehend what the Lord is using me for but I do know that I love being the body. Of course I fail but failing or messing up an easy task only makes me want to work harder. God is amazing and he knows, he loves, he does, and he calls all times soon (even in the darkest places). My God is a loving God who holds me on days when I feel down and comforts me and gives me guidance when I don't know what to do or how to handle a situation. "Though the mountains be shaken (the heat be unbearable) and the hills be removed (and the work be difficult), yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken..."-Isaiah 54:10 No matter what God's love is unfailing, no matter the highs or the lows we may face, God is good and in that we can shine his light bright. We are the body and the lights in the darkness. That excites me and scares me, but I have been called and so have you. With the strength and love of the Lord we can do it.
Always and forever.

I am ready.
My mission, our mission for Christ Jesus who is undeniably righteous and in him we are so. 

Practice His Patience

Problems...Will Always Be Present 

Today. What a funny thing today. Today is another day the Lord has made but I am having a hard time rejoicing and being glad in it. The thing about today is that no matter where we go the Lord will be there. Despite the disappointment or stress we may feel for whatever reason we must keep the faith. 

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the almighty love of Christ that forever flows through us."- Romans 8:38-39

I know I am experiencing a really hard day and as soon as I got back to my dorm room this afternoon I went to the word. The only place we can ever truly find a home is in Christ himself. It is evident throughout scripture that nothing, NOTHING, not one single thing, can separate us from Christ and his amazing love. There is a peace that we find in the Lord and I know that sometimes we have trouble resting in it. But even in that we must know that many problems vanish instantly in the Light of God's love because we realize that we are NEVER alone. 

The Lord replies in Exodus 33:14 "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." We have rest, peace, love, and everything we could ever possibly need in the presence of the Lord. Even in the midst of our problems and our days that just fall short. Each moment we can choose to practice his presence or to practice the presence of problems. Often it feels easier to take the problem or problems at hand and run with them; but in the Lord we are blessed to have patience and understanding in knowing that no matter what the circumstance he is so much greater. 

Christ has set us free. He has set us free from the attachment of the problems that come with living in this world. For we know that what awaits us is more than worth the problems we face. I know I must remember and that we all must remember; Nothing, not one little problem, NOTHING, can separate us from God's great love for us. 

Good Morning Beautiful!!

I See Your Face in Every Sunshine...

This morning I woke up to the birds chirping and the sun streaming through my bedroom window. I know it sounds like the beginning of any Disney Princess movie ever, but this morning it was just so beautiful. As I was doing my morning ritual and preparing to go to my church I was getting butterflies. The Lord's presence was so thick this morning and I couldn't wait to fellowship with his children who too share such a love for Jesus. 

Today, this morning and every morning is a morning the Lord has made. As I was sitting and listening to pastor this morning the Lord really laid something on my heart. The Lord actually spoke to me and my heart stirred with excitement and there were those butterflies again. This stirring really made me think about how every day something different happens to us in our walk with Christ, whatever that may be. So that being said, every single day is a special day between you and God.

On my drive home I couldn't stop smiling. As the sun was shining through my windshield and warming me I thought about how God is in every sunrise, sunshine, and sunset. His presence in this world and in us warms us, from the inside out. What could be sweeter than God's unfailing love for us? Wow we are so blessed. So blessed beyond compare. 

I opened my bible this morning and it fell open to Psalm 143. I had to giggle at the Lord, because wow how he knows my  heart. The main verses that my eyes went to were 8-10 which essentially say, "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love...show me the way I should go...teach me to do your will." How amazing is that? This morning truly brought word of the Lord's unfailing love for me and for all of us. The stirring in my heart about mission work in another country was present in the verse with "show me where I should go." This truly opened up to my eyes to the fact that no matter where we are, whether it be in the beautiful morning, in the dark night, wherever we may be, the Lord is the home of our hearts and he makes everything beautiful. 

God's unfailing love is present in every morning, day, and night. He is forever within us warming us from the inside out, living in us so that we may spread his love and shine his bright light. So wherever the Lord may lead you, know that you always have a home in him and that he is present in every morning. 

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation"-Psalm 5:3