God moves in the midst of all

This week has flown by just like all of the others. I currently have only 24 days in Tahoe before I get to go home for Thanksgiving and then 19 days here after that. For those of you who don’t know me extremely well, I am a counter. I count miles on super long road trips. I count how many hours I have left on long flights. I count how many days I have left in a location. I don’t do this to try to rush things. I am just trying to give myself motivation to push through, work hard, and enjoy the precious time that I am given in a place. One of the ways that I have always counted things down is through paper chains. I have a paper chain hanging beside me right now that helps me keep track of the time I have left here with my precious students. Inside of each link I have listed a Bible passage that I can use for that day to help me focus on Christ and His Kingdom vision. I wish I would have made a link for everyday that I have been here because it has been a true encouragement to me each day. I look forward to waking up every morning and seeing which verse or verses I get to focus on that day. I am learning the truth about the power of memorizing scripture and being able to carry it with me at all times. I of course don’t always turn to the Truth before I turn to fleshly ways of malice, envy and slander. I take 20 steps backwards until I feel God’s conviction. He is patient in dealing with me. He is teaching me things that I didn’t know that I needed to learn. What a gracious God we have the privilege to serve!

My time with my students this week was a blessing to my heart! We started the New Testament on Monday during our Bible study time and I was blown away by their knowledge of Christ and in their interest in learning more. Tuesday I told them the story of Jesus being born, but as soon as the story was over they raised their hands and reminded me that Jesus grew up to die on the cross and now is in Heaven looking over us. When we finish our story each day, they say “that’s it?” Every time one of my students prays, he says “thank you Jeebus for dying on the cross and for giving us freedom.” I love seeing what Christ is doing in these little lives. I love seeing them get excited when I ask them a question about the Bible and they know the answer. I love when they put 5 different Bible stories into one jumbled up mess because it just brings joy to my heart to know that they know about Jesus. I love chasing them on the playground as the “big scary bear” while they are screaming and laughing. I love when they ask if they can read to me, ask to sit on my lap, hug my neck, pick on me, and call me silly names. These kids have stolen my heart! I look forward to seeing them each and every day and I am so excited to see what God has in store for them in the future. (Isaiah 55:11)

This week proved to be a giant break through with Mrs. Anderson, the teacher who I volunteer with on Wednesday mornings. On Wednesday she was much more talkative than usual and was asking me all kinds of questions about my family and friends from back home and my trips overseas. As I told her about my heart for North Korea, she told me that she has always wanted to be able to help people who are less fortunate. This statement lead to us talking about who Christ is and how He is the one who is in control of all things. She had so many questions, but the kids came back from the computer lab and she had to leave. Please pray that God continues to work on her heart! On Thursday morning I was able to go see her class perform their Halloween skit. I wanted to see those sweet kids perform, but mostly I wanted to let Mrs. Anderson know that I truly care about her and I wanted to meet with parents. She hugged me 3 times in a 20 minute period! One of the goals here is to be a presence in the community so that people of all ages can come to know Christ. I believe that people in the community need to know that we are not just here as a business, but we are here to show them the love of Christ. This is a big task, but nothing is impossible with Him. He is capable of taking my sinful messes, and bringing glory to Himself. He wants to show the same mercy and grace to the people in Tahoe City that He has shown me.

Friday was a hard day for me, but I have never felt so much peace and joy while shaking at the exact same time. I am learning the truth in the statement “joy is not based on our circumstances”. I love watching God do big things when we are so uncomfortable and broken down. I hope that I can persevere in all things so that I can see Christ work in BIG ways. Words that people said about me this week hurt my little heart, but I would have missed out on seeing God do big things if I was trying to be selfish and tryin to fight back. I want to learn to handle all things in a way that glorifies my Father. I am getting practice here. Fellow believers can be so hurtful sometimes, but that’s not what matters in any way. All things should be about Christ.

Below I have listed some passages that have encouraged me, challenged me, and motivated me the last few days to keep persevering and working with a Kingdom vision. Thank you again for all of your prayers and support! I love you more than you will ever know!

“A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.” Proverbs 12:16

All of 1 Peter (This chapter and a few other passages in this list were brought to my attention by one of my dearest friends who I have been given the opportunity to get to know the last few months here in Tahoe. She is always quick to point me to Christ in all circumstances. What a blessing!)

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:5-7 (The rest of the chapter has been used to convict me on so many different occasions.)

“Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” 2 Timothy 2:14-16

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (This passage was brought to mind by one of my best friends from back home. God orchestrated some beautiful friendships for me to enjoy! What a blessing!)

“I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the gif tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, YET I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go to the heights.” Habakkuk 3:16-19

“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corner I called you. I said ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have no rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:9-13

“This is what God the LORD says- he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: I , the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah 42:5-7

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:8-11

“Everything is permissible”- but not everything is beneficial. “Everyone is permissible”- but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen in eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.” Jeremiah 51:15-16

“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

This is Mrs. Anderson. Please pray for her salvation!

This is some of my crazy students :) Love them so much!

This is "Chick Magnet". He likes to rub his head against me like a cat and get right in my face, but he has the sweetest little heart.

This is Harkin. He is a preschool student who might be a little bit confused on whether he is male or female. Check the shoes. Wish I had a picture of his halloween costume or all of the bows he wears. Silly boy!

This is Jake. Jake has good days and bad days, but is just another kid who needs to know the love of Christ!

This is the Kindergarten class at A+.  Such a fun group!!

This little blonde headed boy stole my heart in just a few minutes. He is 5 but talks like a 30 year-old. My heart broke when I had to leave him last night as he was crying. Sad times :(

This is my sweet little one who always thanks Jeebus for dying to give us freedom. I pray that God always holds him in His hands.

Mrs. Anderson's class that I get to work with each Wednesday morning. Precious babies!

 

A Time for Everything

As I type this I am curled up in my bunk bed, listening to the Straight No Chaser station on Pandora, giggling about every little thing that happens, and watching as the rain pours down outside. I wish you could know exactly how joyful my heart is right now and how at peace I feel. What a difference in how I was feeling when I wrote my last post!! This has been a CRAZY few months and I know that Christ has remained constant through it all, but I am just so thankful that joy comes in the morning! Through one long talk in a little mini van, my whole outlook has changed. I feel like the real me. I am happy again!

I really feel like this has been one crazy season for me, but I am thankful. I feel like Christ has used this uncomfortable, hard environment to teach me how to rely on Him for my all. He has taught me how to submit to authority. He has shown me my MANY flaws and given me opportunities to work on changing my fleshly habits. He has shown me that I have an incredible support system that truly loves me and will constantly lift me up or send me letters on the days when I really need them. He has shown me that He will forever remain constant and that I can lean on that truth. I know that I am no where close to being who I need to be in Christ, but I also now know that this life is not about me and it truly doesn’t matter who I am or how I’m feeling. It’s all about glorifying Him in my every action and word. He doesn’t need me but He has chosen me. He knows my every single flaw but He loves me. He created me. He sent His own son to die a horrible death to save me. I am His child and nothing changes that fact. It’s not my job to make sure I am comfortable and not being mistreated. It’s not my job to save all of the lost people in Tahoe City or North Korea or Hurricane Mills. My job is to allow Christ to be Christ. Be obedient in all things. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” (Romans 8:17)

I will be in sitting in the Nashville airport in exactly one month. I am beyond excited about getting to spend Thanksgiving with my family this year, getting to celebrate Christmas with Meg and Jesse, and getting to see my best friends. In fact, I find myself daydreaming about it when I have a moment to sit and think. But I don’t want those joyful thoughts to consume me. I want to be fully here in Tahoe City until Christ allows me to move to my next location. I want to serve with everything in me no matter where I am. I never want to look back and regret how I spent the precious time that Christ allowed me to live among a certain people group.

Getting back into teaching this week was wonderful! The huge bear hugs that I got on Monday when I saw my students for the first time melted my heart. What a feeling! God gave me the opportunity to share His gospel on 4 different occasions this week and all I could do was stand in amazement at who He is and how He orchestrates and pieces things together. The lyrics to “I Stand Amazed in the Presence” come to mind. I am simply blown away by Him.

Thank you again for praying for me and the ministry here. The prayers are felt in a BIG way! “Prayer opens prison doors and preaching doors. Prayer binds the enemy and opens the heavens. Prayer is the plow that breaks up the fallow ground for the Gospel seed. Prayer ushers in the manifest glory of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.” Please keep praying! Greater things are still to be done in this city!

“There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.”

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Half-Way

*I am just stating for the record that I try to be open and honest in these posts. I never want to offend anyone.I am simply trying to speak my true feelings on things so that my prayer supporters can know how to pray for me

“Don’t ever give up on or discount anything that Jesus was willing to die for”

               2 months and 2 days ago I boarded a plane and flew across the country to Reno, Nevada to meet the people that would become my family for a semester. I was super excited and super nervous! I had no idea what God had in store for me in Lake Tahoe, CA but I knew that I could trust that He would hold my hand the whole journey, just like He always has. This has been a crazy journey and I would not have made it to this half-way point without clinging to the feet of Christ. I have learned so much in 2 months and I am thankful that I have been faced with some of the hardest days of my life. Lake Tahoe is gorgeous and I know people would LOVE to be living this close to a place of such beauty, but I have learned that just because a place is beautiful does not mean that it is an “easy” place to live, work, and minister. I learned that when I served at the Grand Canyon and I am re-experiencing that here. Sin is rampant in both places and the need for Christ is great in both places.

My goals here in Tahoe are:

1. Tell young children about the love of Christ and get them and their families involved in an active body of believers. This goal is to be accomplished by teaching a rough and rowdy bunch of 1st and 2nd graders in an after-school program and by loving on their families. I try my hardest to always speak with the parents when they come in and I also try to make sure that my students have something to take home with them to remind them to tell their families about our Bible story. Only two of my 22 students have ever attended church. One of my students is autistic, one of my students has two mommies, 3 of my boys have ADHD, one of my sets of twins cry about absolutely everything, 6 of my students go to a school where they are only learning Spanish, and most of the girls cat fight constantly and act like they hate each other. I LOVE these kids and would not want a different class for anything! They are teaching me how to love with the love of Christ, speak with the voice of Christ, and see with the eyes of Christ. It’s a beautiful mess every single day!

2. Become an active voice in the community and be intentionally relational with people so that they can come to know Christ as their savior. This goal is accomplished by volunteering in a Kindergarten classroom at the local public school, meeting with people at a community Bible study, watching children during Mom’s Morning Out and Parent’s Night Out programs, baby sitting, house sitting, pet sitting, and cleaning houses. I have also found that one of the best places to witness to people is inside the doctor’s office when I get one of my usual rounds of sickness. I have been to the local doctor’s office on 4 different occasions and each time God has opened doors for ministry.

As you can see, we stay really busy here. The hardest thing for me to get used to has been that I am required to spend most of my day cleaning a building and then such a short amount of time is spent on these goals. I have been told that having a clean building is a reflection of Christ and I am trying to swallow this fully, but most days I would much rather spend more time on a ministry that I feel might be more beneficial to the Kingdom.(Please know that I am not saying that cleaning, paying bills, and the other not-so-fun but absolutely necessary things are not a part of ministry. These are a part of our lives and I recognize that! I am simply saying that I would like to spend as little time on these things as possible so that more time can be spent on building relations with people in the community and in our school.) I am not in charge of this ministry and therefore, I do as I am told. That has been a big lesson for me to learn. I’m opinionated and analytical, but God has put two ladies in charge of me that I don’t always agree with or feel love from. It is my job as a servant of Christ to do as these ladies say and rely on Christ for love and encouragement. I will not lie and say that this has been easy. I will say that God is teaching me how to be a true servant and that this lesson gets just a little bit easier each time I am willing to swallow my pride and do as I have been asked. I have been reading through the New Testament these last 2 months and I have been challenged over and over again to build a Biblical community wherever I am. I do not want to be a part of the problem in the church. I want to do as Christ has asked me to and build up my fellow believers. Building up a true Biblical community is not necessarily one of the “goals” here in Tahoe, but I believe it should be. We should all swallow our pride, control our tongues, serve one another in love, and build one another up. What a huge task that totally goes against our flesh nature! It’s a good thing as believers we are called to crucify our flesh right?!

The other day I was asked by my supervisor why I am here in Tahoe. My answer was and is Mrs. Anderson. Mrs. Anderson is the lead teacher in a kindergarten classroom at a local elementary school. She is a mean, cynical lady who needs to know the peace and love of Christ. I love her despite the fact that she feels the need to cuss about everything and despite her desire to break down her fellow teachers. She is living with no hope! What else should I expect? I volunteer in her classroom every Wednesday morning from 8:30-11:15am and I have been amazed at the conversations that God has ordained in such a short amount of time. The very first day I met her, I learned that she has never been to a church before and that she doesn’t understand the “Christian culture” as she called it. She also doesn’t understand why I would leave my family to come to Tahoe. What an open door! She now knows where I stand and why I believe being in a local body of believers is so important. She also knows that I would love for her to come and sit beside me on a Sunday morning. What she doesn’t know is that she is a sinner that will die and go to Hell if she does not come to know Christ. Please pray that this conversation comes in God’s timing! Please pray that she comes to know Christ and that she can finally have joy in her life. Please pray that she will have the strength to stand against everything this culture teaches and will surrender her life to Christ.

This adventure has been nothing like I expected or planned for. I expected to teach all day every day and to work at the church on Sunday’s. I did not expect to become a professional cleaner, baby sitter or dog walker. I did not expect to butt heads with my supervisors. I did not expect to face culture shock. I did not expect to get sick and have to spend so much of my time in a doctor’s office or laying in bed. I did not expect to have to deal with the loss of 13 people the last few months or the grief that comes along with that. I also did not expect to meet a grumpy old lady and long to see her come to know Christ, have a giant break through with a child who has autism, laugh until my belly hurts when my students tell me jokes that aren’t even funny, baby sit a kid who will only let me hold him when his mom drops him off, be reminded of the glory and power of Christ just by looking at a lake, or have my eyes opened to the need for homeless ministries. I am amazed at what Christ has in store if we will just hang on long enough to see it! He is Sovereign and able to be trusted. His plans are greater than our greatest plans!

Just another reminder of God's creative power... What a mighty God we get to serve!

Celebrating one of our church member's Birthday

Can't get over this!

This is "screaming baby". His name is Jack and he is the sweetest little one in the world... He just screams a lot when his family drops him off at the church. I have had the privelage of baby-sitting him and so we have bonded and now he loves me. What a blessing! His family also asked me to house/pet sit for them for 10 days. Another mighty big blessing!!

This is part of my class. Love love love them!

Wouldn't trade these sweet babies for anything!

Tucker. I have no words to explain how precious this wild little boy is!

No matter the country, no matter the age.... There will always be time to dance in Miss Laura's class!

Trying to fit in with the other northern California tree huggers! :)

Powerful Lyrics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QYYmv5AJOM

The above link will take you to listen to a song that brings me before the feet of Christ. It's powerful. Check it out. Here are the lyrics:

"If this Life has anything to gain at all

I count it lost if I can’t hear you, feel you, ’cause I need you.
Can’t Walk this Earth Alone.
I recognize I am not my own, so before I fall
I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boasting you alone.

Verse 1:
With every breath I take, with every heart beat,
Sunrise and the moon lights in the dark street.
Every glance, every dance, every note of a song.
It’s all a gift undeserved that I shouldn’t have known.
Every day that I lie, every moment I covet
I’m deserving to die, I’m just earning your judgment.
I, without the cross there’s only condemnation.
If Jesus wasn’t executed there’s no celebration.
So in times that are good, in times that are bad
For any times that I’ve had it all I will be glad.
and I will boast in the cross. I boast in my pains.
I will boast in the sonshine, boast in his reign.
What’s my life if it’s not praising you.
Another dollar in my bank account of vain pursuit. I do.
That count my life as any value or presence at all.
Let me finish my race, let me answer my call.


Verse 2:
Tomorrow’s never promised, but it is we swear.
Think we holding our own, just a fist full of air.
God has never been obligated to give us life.
If we fall for our rights, we be in hell tonight.
Mere sinners own nothing but a fierce hand.
We never loved him we pushed away his pierced hands.
I rejected his love, grace, kindness, and mercy.
Dying of thirst, yet, willing to die thirsty.
Eternally worthy, how could I live for less?
Patiently you turn my heart away from selfishness.
I volunteer for your sanctifying surgery.
I know the spirits purging me of everything that’s hurting me.
Remove the vale from my darkened eyes.
So now every morning I open your word and see the Son rise.
I hope in nothin, boast in nothin, only in your suffering.
I live to show your glory, dying to tell your story.

Bridge:
Glory was solely meant for you.
Doing what no one else could do.
With All I have to give,(With all I have to Give)
I’ll use my life, I’ll use my lips. (My Lips Yaaa)
I’ll only glory in your Word. What gift to me I don’t deserve.
I’ll live in such a way that it reflects to you, my Praise.

Taking a step back

What a week! I will soon hit the half-way point in the semester and I am amazed at how quickly most days fly by, but then there are those days that seem to drag on and on. I have NEVER felt this way in a place where I served. The first 2 weeks or so are usually hard in getting acquainted with a new culture but then I always get to the point where I can see myself living there long-term. Not here. Please don’t misunderstand me. I LOVE teaching my students! I really wish everyone had the privilege of getting to know these kids better. They are so loud and crazy, but they listen during our Bible stories, they ask me questions, they give the best hugs and make me laugh until it hurts, and when they pray my whole heart just cries out with joy. I love my team! I have been blessed in the past with some teams that really learned how to work together and deal with each others differences in a way that glorifies God and I believe our team here is doing the same thing. We all have our days when we would rather stay in bed or just have our space but overall I believe that we all gel together wonderfully. It truly is a beautiful blessing! I am falling in love with the families that I have gotten to know by babysitting for them in the evenings and the weekends. I am really starting to connect with some people from our local body of believers and I am really enjoying getting to volunteer in a public school on Wednesday mornings so that I can get to know the lead teacher who needs to meet Jesus. Those are the things that make my time here seem “worth it”, but of course that is looking through the eyes of Laura Sewell and not the eyes of Christ! Who am I to judge?? I have no idea what He is doing here in the lives of the people. I can only know what’s going on inside this heart of mine. I believe that Christ is pulling me closer and closer to Him each day because I can not rely on myself or my best friends or my family here. I have to rely on Him to get me through. I am learning to pray and ask God to help me do all things and respond to all things in a way that that glorifies Him even when I am asked to do things that I might not agree with. I am learning to pray and ask God to give me true joy when I spend the majority of my time cleaning a building. I am learning to rely on Christ for all of the encouragement I need and for a moldable spirit when I feel like I can do nothing right. I am learning that it’s not about pleasing people (because that can be impossible at times) but it’s about pleasing Christ, living a life that’s totally surrendered to Him. It’s not always easy to turn directly to Christ at all times. I have not had to learn these lessons at home because I was not in an environment when I had no one else. I am thankful for this. I believe that if I can not remain faithful to Christ while serving in Lake Tahoe, then I will not remain faithful to Him if/when He calls me to North Korea or wherever in the world He wants me. I want to be able to say “Thank you Lord” when my stomach hurts from laughing with my students, when I am mopping a floor, cleaning the walls of the bathrooms, cleaning people’s houses, having a dance party with sweet kids, laying in bed listening to my wonderful team make fun of each other and talking about our days, visiting people in their homes, trying to figure out peoples love languages, getting reprimanded for things, teaching Sunday School, sitting and looking at the most incredible sunrise, and reading letters from and talking to the best support system any girl could ask for. I want God to be glorified in all. This is the season when I am seeing just a glimpse into what this looks like. I mess up a whole lot. I’m still moody. The beautiful thing is that I am daughter of The King and He loves me and is teaching me each day how to be more like Him. I have a reason to sing and a reason to worship. In every season!




“Don’t ever give up on or discount anything that Jesus was willing to die for”

A few new pics

This only proves how wonderful my precious family is :) I LOVE this!

Big ol' bear that decided to visit us at school. Of course we took all the students out to see it! :)

My favorite place in Tahoe thus far

ROAD TRIP!!! Great day with some great big trees!

Learning to be Content

                      God has been teaching me how to be content in every situation. As I was reading through a book written by Elisabeth Elliot, God was showing me that I need to be content wherever He puts me if I am going to be a true servant. Over all things, I need to be content with Him. It doesn’t matter where I am. It doesn’t matter who is with me. It doesn’t matter what is going on in the world. All that matters is that He is Sovereign and that I remain content in Him. He is my joy and my strength if I allow Him to be. I can be way too critical of myself sometimes and I need to learn to just let things go. Let Him be who He is.


                  I got a book in the mail this week entitled Restricted Nations: North Korea. It is a book about the martyrs that have given their lives in order for the people of North Korea to come to know Christ, as well as the history of the spread of the gospel there. I am only able to read a few pages at a time because it overwhelms me with sadness. I feel so far away from where I was last summer. I want to be back with my students, hearing their stories and holding their hands. At the same time, I am trying to be content in Lake Tahoe, and realize that He has a plan. I can pray. I can alert other people to the truth of North Korea. I can wait until God says go. I have looked into becoming a spokesman for Voice of the Martyrs until I can finish up with the hours I need from seminary. It’s just a “Laura Plan”. “Laura Plan’s” never work out. I just like to have a goal to work towards, while always keeping in mind that Christ is in control and that He will lead me where He wants me.

                   I told my supervisor that I will not be staying on as staff. What a relief it has been to finally make that known! I have felt it in my gut, but I am so glad that that conversation has finally taken place. I feel like I can give this ministry my all now without over analyzing everything and wondering if I am supposed to stay. As I mentioned above, I have some “Laura Plans” but I am really excited about seeing where Christ takes me next. I will be moving home December 18th, and after that I’m kind of an open book. I know that I want to start up seminary so that I can get the hours I need to qualify to work with the IMB if God calls. I found a program through Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary that will allow me to get the 30 hours I need for a missions certificate and it all can be completed online. I’ve applied for this, so we shall see. I’m up for anything! Bring it on! Haha 


Other Things God is teaching/showing me:

                Developing the discipline of prayer- I am learning how to be constantly in prayer. I am learning that without this discipline I can not be completely in communion with Christ. I get to talk to the King! How cool is that? He wants me to talk with Him, but He also wants me to just sit and hush. He wants to show me His heart and tell me His plans. I am learning how difficult it is to have a constant prayer life in a place where I am constantly surrounded by people, but I am learning that this is real life. I want to be like those ladies at my church who I consider prayer warriors. I want to tell people “I’m praying for you” and actually mean that.


                Learning to change-God has shown me my big (and many) flaws. He has shown me that I am easily irritated by things, too critical of the “American dream/lifestyle”, crazy moody, and so many other things. It hurts to recognize flaws. It’s not a great experience by any stretch of the imagination. BUT I will never become Christ-like if these nasty human behaviors are not done away with. I want to be like Him, therefore, I will endure this pain. I may not endure it in the most graceful way and I may find myself complaining about it, but I am thankful that God loves me too much to let me stay the same. I tell my students daily that I love them too much to let them act ridiculous. I believe this is how Christ looks at me and my behavior.


              God is a healer, miracle worker. God is sovereign over all- I am currently reading through the gospel of Luke. What a powerful book! I find myself re-reading the same passage over and over because I am amazed at what Jesus has to say and the things He is capable of. But here’s my favorite part…. He is the same today! He is capable of so much, but we give Him credit for so little. He is capable of healing, forgiving, and showing mercy and grace, yet we try to do things on our own. I want to be able to have the faith needed to surrender every fiber of my being to Him. I want to believe that He is sovereign in the highs and the lows of this life. I want to run after Him because He’s the only one worth running for.

              I don’t have it all together- Only He does. How do I become meek and a gentle spirit? How do I become one who turns to Christ with questions and not to other people with complaints? I don’t want every conversation I have with other people to be a serious conversation about hardships, gossip, or complaints. I want to be joyful and be able to share Christ with people. May I be changed according to His gracious plan.

Favorite moment of the past week:
              This is what I get to hear when my students pray: “Dear Jeebus, Thank you for A+ and for all of the boys and girls and for Miss Laura being our teacher. Thank you, Jeebus, for dying on the cross and for making us free. I love you Jeebus. Amen” How can a heart not be overwhelmed when they hear that? I am amazed at what Christ is doing in the little lives that I get to spend time with each Monday-Friday.

Suffering and Perseverance

Romans Chapter 5 is entitled “Peace and Joy” in my Bible. I encourage you to go grab your Bible right now and read that chapter. To me it is both a challenge for us to persevere and to rejoice in suffering, as well as an encouraging reminder that we have been justified by faith and we can find peace in Christ! Two of the verses that have always stuck out to me in this passage are verses 3-4 which say: “…we also rejoice in our suffering because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope.” We not only endure, but we rejoice while we are suffering. This produces the ability to persevere, which produces character and hope. Who doesn’t long to have hope? What believer doesn’t long to have character, a godly character? Who doesn’t long to be able to persevere in all things? All of this starts with rejoicing in suffering. Ok, great to know right? Now, what does that look like in our everyday lives? I am learning that it’s great to know what God can do, that people are praying for me, what the Bible says, but the hard part in my life if figuring out how to translate that into the daily grind. I don’t have any answers. I’m trying to cling onto Christ each day and rely on Him for everything. I am trying to learn what it looks like to have joy at all times, to let the joy of the Lord be my strength. I want to know what it means and looks like to persevere, to have character, and hope.

More lessons learned

"Everywhere is the sorrow and the pain of empty living, you can see it, look in their eyes all the hopelessness of the world but look closer He is right there in the midst of every fear"

-"The River" by Meredith Andrews

For your nearness Lord I hunger

For your nearness Lord I wait

Hold me ever closer Father

Such a love I can't escape

For your nearness I am hoping

For your nearness Lord I long

Have no need of any other

I have found where I belong

Yes, I have found where I belong

So draw me nearer Lord

Never let me go

Closer to your heart

Draw me nearer Lord

Draw me nearer Lord

In your nearness there is healing

What was broken now made whole

Restoration in its fullness

Lasting hope for all who come

In your nearness I take shelter

Where you are is where I'm home

I have need of only one thing

To be here before your throne

- "Draw me Nearer" by Meredith Andrews

I am on a Meredith Andrew kick if you couldn't tell! :) The lyrics to these songs are so powerful and so beautiful! (I have also fallen in love with the new Sara Bareilles CD! Soo good!)

I am still in bed recovering from the nasty virus I picked up last week, but I am thankful that God has given me this time. I have been able to write letters to people that I have wanted to write for weeks. I have looked at old pictures and remembered that I have a REALLY awesome support system back home. I have thought back to awesome memories with the many people that have passed away this summer. I needed this time to sit still and be quiet before the King. (For once, I am thankful that Megan picked my bunk as the one that is behind the TV because I am not wasting precious time! :)) I have been able to grow closer to God through a time of sickness, being far from home, and struggling to remember my purpose.
I woke up yesterday and I was struggling with feeling like a leper. You know how much I rely on relationships with people and for me to be stuck in a bed for 4 days straight is an absolute nightmare. I have been so frustrated. I know no one wants to get sick and I know that it is for my own good and the good of everyone at A+ that I stay in bed, but it is so hard! Here is what God has taught me: Jesus always ministered to the outcasts, sick, and hurting. He never shied away or went the other way! He met them where they were and ministered to them. So, He is doing the same for me. He is holding my hand and sitting in my bed with me the way I wish my mama, Sadie Grace, Miss Molly and my precious friends could do right now. He is talking to me and letting me ask Him hard questions. He is teaching me that He is all I need and that I can always count on Him... no matter what's going on in the world or how sick I get. What a great God!!! I am learning that He is in control and is too Sovereign to allow me, the mess of a human that I am, to mess up His plans. I will sit and wait for Him. In the mean time, I will serve like I know how. Love like I know how. Encourage like I know how. He will pick me up and move me when He sees fit. He will put people in my life when He see fit. He will take people Home when He sees fit. I am the servant and He is the master. Why do I keep trying to control everything?? There's peace in knowing that I can do nothing at all without Him!

One Month

I have lived in Tahoe City, CA for one month from this coming Tuesday... Its hard to believe how fast time is moving!!
Right now I am laying in bed, where I have been since Friday night, thanks to my nasty kids and their flu germs. I am feeling much much MUCH better than I did yesterday at this time. Something about being so far away from home and running a 101 fever that just brings a person down. But I'm back to thinking clearly (well clear for me :]) and I am hoping to feel perfect by tomorrow morning!
This month has been a crazy little roller coaster ride, but here is what I have learned: life on Earth is a roller coaster!! I don't know why it's taken me this long to figure it out, but whatever. I am clinging on to Christ and allowing Him to be my ultimate comfort and peace. It's not easy.... But I am trying!
My pastor's wife passed away 2 weeks ago from tomorrow. The Chi Alpha leader from my freshman year passed away a week ago from tomorrow. Add that to all of the deaths that have happened this summer and you are left with a question that goes something like "what is going on in the world???" I had a nightmare the other night where I was screaming for my aunt to save people but everyone just kept dying.... Intense to say the very least! The tossing/turning/nightmares continued until this really wonderful and wise friend of mine told me to read 1 Kings 19... I wept when I read it because it hit me like a ton of bricks. I still can not put into words all that God said to me through those words, but I have peace. I can rest. I am His and He loves me and He's got it all under control.
So I was offered a position here in Tahoe that would keep me here for awhile. I ask for your prayers on this matter! I never, ever want to make a decision based on feelings or my own thought process... I want to be where God wants me to be.
I have learned sooo much the last month, but I am having a hard time thinking clearly right now... Maybe its the nyquil! :( I will post again asap!
Thank you for all of the prayers and support!!! For those of you who have sent letters, you will never know how much they mean!! :)

Week 1 in Tahoe City

What a great place to look over the lake and pray for the people who need to know Christ

It's beautiful!

My Team

Precious Georgia Ladies

Debbie and I

An answer to prayer... I have a new sweet friend who just happens to be from Texas!

This is what I get to see when I go for a hike!

What a full week it has been! As we sat outside this morning for church (may I just add that I was shivering? Oh Tahoe weather! J) I couldn’t help but praise the Lord for how He is already stretching me and growing me. I have been here one week and I feel like I have already learned so much about serving Him fully, loving others fully, and sacrificing fully. You may think I’m crazy when I say that I have to sacrifice and be uncomfortable when I can see the most beautiful lake, but it’s not exactly a piece of cake out here. I feel like this is one of the hardest places I have ever been called to. If I am being completely honest with you, I would have to tell you that in my mind I constantly have to tell myself that I can not just pick up and go home. I have to remind myself that I am not here for me. The Sovereign Lord called me to Lake Tahoe to do ministry through teaching, and this is where I will stay until He calls me else where. I already miss home more than I could say in words. I miss my parents, my brothers and sister-in-law, friends, Sadie Grace and Miss Molly, going for runs on dirt roads where I can actually breathe, and not having to share a room and shower with 5 other girls. As much as all of those people and things bring joy to my heart, they are things that have been given to me as a blessing from Christ and in no way should they be put before the One who created them. I have prayed to be broken and uncomfortable so that I have no choice but to turn to Christ. I believe that is becoming a reality here in Lake Tahoe.
I found out this week that I will be teaching 1st and 2nd graders! I am SOO excited! I have been told that they are the wildest age group here but I believe that they are exactly what I need. They are a really fun and active group which means that I will get to plan really awesome lessons that they will actually participate in! So exciting!!
Recap of my first week: We had a group of ladies from Atlanta come this week and teach while we were in orientation. What a blessing they were!!! They cooked for us most nights which really helped me get settled into a new place. Gotta love southern food! J We had orientation in the mornings and then helped with the students in the afternoons. (Also in the afternoons, we are responsible for cleaning the entire building. My job- Cleaning the bathrooms… I am now the expert toilet scrubber!! Ha! J) We took the kids to the beach 3 afternoons this week and took them hiking on Friday. There is something about hiking up a mountain with students from PreK-6th grade that just made me a nervous wreck, but it turned out to be a blast!!! There could not have been a better place to eat our little sack lunches! Yesterday my team took a road trip around the lake, did a little bit of shopping in south shore, and went to a Bible study with some of our new friends. It was a much needed break and bonding time for our team! We are all so different, but things are actually running pretty smooth!
On a much different note, many of you know that this has been a summer of death. My church family from back home, my community, and my BCM family has lost so much throughout the course of the summer. I received word today that they have only given my pastor’s wife a few days to live and my heart is just breaking all over again. I long to be there with my church family, but I am having to tell myself again that I am not here for myself and that God is in control of all things. My prayer is that He is glorified in life and in death.
This morning I went for a hike up a mountain that has a cross on top of it. I of course can’t breathe at this altitude so I really had to push myself to just keep going. As I was hiking, I couldn’t help but think about how that hike represents my semester here and my life as a whole. Some parts are easier than others. Sometimes you just have to stop and reflect on the purpose for working so hard (and catch your breath!!). At other times you feel like you could take off running! In the end, there is inexpressible joy! There is the one who is not still on that cross, but that has risen again and sits at the right hand of God. What a beautiful picture this paints in my mind! I want to run this race with endurance. I want to get to the end of the semester, and at the end of my life whenever that comes, and feel inexpressible joy! I want to see Christ! May God be glorified as I go through this life. May God be glorified here in Lake Tahoe and any other place He might call me.
Sorry this was so random. I have had so much going through my head this week, but I’m really having a hard time putting it into words.
I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. I stand amazed at all of the many blessings in my life!

Recap of past and looking forward

April 18th---
Last Monday around midnight I found out some news that floored me and left me at a loss. I had no words, no emotions because I had no idea what I was supposed to feel. The news- I will not be able to go to Korea until at least Feb. I have been planning for and dreaming about returning to Korea since last summer. I couldnt wait to get back to the people who have stole my heart. I want to tell the sweet people about the love of Christ and eat kimchi and rice for every meal for a whole year. I was so ready! I found out in Feb of this year that the IMB had accepted my application and that I would be going. I was soooo excited!!! I seriously screamed when I found out! I have been buying supplies, learning the language, and saving money. I have told pretty much everybody, even my students from last summer. Now... What am I supposed to do? I dont know the answer to that.... BUT I do know that I serve a God that is muuch bigger than me and that already has everything mapped out. He's got my future in His hands... The hands that will guide me and protect me. And I trust in that fact. Here's the big lesson that I am learning about myself... I am SOO ready to get out of this country! I want out now.... buut am I willing to stay if thats what God wills? Am I willing to put aside my feelings and desires and only run after the things that God has for me? I want to say YES! but I also know how hard it is to do that. I want to be totally surrendered to Him... and do as He says. I am trying to be obedient... with my whole life. I don't know where He's going to take me... but I want to be willing... To Korea, Texas for seminary, a little school in the backwoods of TN, South America, Africa, Europe or the Middle East... I want to go with God because thats the only way to live this life. I think Im ready... and I think Im willing. We shall see where He leads :]





July 31st---
What an intense season of change this has been! I feel like the last 4 months have been piled full of change after change after change, but God has remained constant and I have tried to cling to Him. God laughs at me a lot I think. He laughed when I said I was going to Korea for a year. He laughed when I said I was going to seminary this semester. He laughed when I said I was going to teach in Tennessee and save money. He laughs when I get a flat tire on the way to a really strange interview, when i wash my camera in the washing machine, when I am just being me. He's not laughing at me in a mean way. He is laughing at me in the same way that I giggle about everything. Its our friendship. I am thankful that He has never left me alone with tears. He keeps me going. Keeps me laughing at everything. For those of you who havent been able to keep up with my many, many, many changes in the last 4 months, here is the short version. I was planning to got to Korea and teach. God said no and closed that door. I was planning to go to seminary at Southwestern in Fort Worth, Texas. God said no and closed that door. I was planning on working in Brentwood with a program that God has used to change my life. God said no and closed that door. I was planning to find a teaching job in Tennessee and work and save money so that I could go to seminary later without going into debt. God said no and closed that door. THEN God put Lake Tahoe, California on my heart. I have thought about it. Prayed about it. Learned more about it. Yesterday (after having a flat tire in Nashville, while on my way to an interview with an inner-city school) I had a chat with Debbie,the lady that is the missionary there, and I could not stop laughing and smiling! She sounds wonderful. The mission sounds wonderful. The work sounds hard, but what does that matter? She said that we should both keep praying and that she would get back to me soon. As I drove home, all I could say was "God open and close doors. God show me Your way." A few hours later I was invited to Lake Tahoe for the semester! I was overcome with joy!! I have been praying for God to open and close doors. I will do anything and go anywhere as long as He will show me His way. Yesterday He threw the doors wide open!!! I will leave August 14th and return to Tennessee on December 18th. I get to teach young children about the love of Christ. I get to work hard and learn a lot. I am so beyond excited! I think I am able to have this much joy because I know for a fact that this is not of me! I wanted Korea, Texas, and a cute little classroom in Tennessee. God wants me in California. I am going to California. I could never say "thank you" enough for all of the prayers and support many of you have given me during this season of change. I have been blessed with people that are always there to pray with me, encourage me, and laugh with me at all of my crazy adventures and plans. I have learned to not tell God where I am going, but to just sit back and watch as He works. He's got it all in His capable and loving hands. I can be at peace no matter what is going on in my life because He loves me and only wants the best for me. What a savior and friend! :) "Show me Your ways,O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, my hope is in You all day long." Psalm 25:4-5





Today---
I leave tomorrow morning for Lake Tahoe!!! I really feel like (please insert the hand motions for this saying if you know what I'm talking about :]) God has really changed me throughout the course of this last year. I love Korea but I have learned to love ALL of God's people. I love "going on missions" but I have learned to be on missions at ALL times. I love being in control, but I have learned to quit pretending that I am capable of being in control of my life and just let God take over everything. I have learned to love, serve, and surrender. I have a whole lot more to learn in this life, but I am thankful that the ONE who created me is holding my right hand. He never lets me go! Praise God!

It has been a very tough summer with so many young people dying. As of today I know of three 19 yr olds, a 3 year old, and a 25 year old that have passed on in the last two months. It breaks my heart and it hurts, but it has given me a new sense of urgency to tell everyone about my Savior. People of all ages die each and everyday and so many enter into an eternity in Hell! I want to stand in their way. I want to stand in the gap. I can not save them, but I know the ONE who can!

I will try my best to keep this blog updated in the next few months! I started this blog as a way to journal some thoughts, as well as a place to update people about Korea. Changes have happened of course, but it is still a beautiful reminder that God is in control!

As always, I appreciate your love, prayers, and support!



My new snail mail address:
Laura Sewell
PO Box 7433
Tahoe City, CA 96145

Ps- I never proof my blogs so please ignore my many, many mistakes! :)

By the way, I urge you to try to get your hands on a copy of Pagan Christianity, Forgotten God, Radical, and Live Life on Purpose. Those books have really rocked my world this summer, and God continues to use them to challenge the way that I am living here on Earth.

Same Compass... New Direction

My best friend. The only one who was always there during my 4 years of college.

I love her more than she could ever know :)

My precious Kindergarteners... They drove me crazy and stole my heart in only 6 weeks

The precious babies in my Pre-K class. I love them and pray that God shows Himself to them

So since the last time I wrote I have finished student teaching, graduated, moved home, and got accepted into Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. What a month is has been! I am so thankful that despite the craziness of these big transistions from what I had planned, God is still in control and nothing comes as a surprise to Him. He's already got it figured out... for the rest of my life!

Graduation was such a special time for me. Jesse was able to come in and Meg came in yesterday morning. I love having everyone here! It makes life so much more peaceful and hiliarious when my family is all put back together again. Nothing is ever quite when 6 Sewell's are put together! :)

It was a weird feeling moving away from a place I had called home for 4 years. Its strange knowing that I am not going to see most of the people I have lived life with ever again. I know that we can all get together... but is that really every going to happen? I pray that God gives me good friends wherever I go... and I pray that I can stay in contact with those that made the biggest impact on my life. I sure had some awesome people in my life!

So here I am at home on a stormy day... What do I do with my life? I dont have a job because no one is hiring in this town. I am not going on missions like I have the last 3 years. What do I do? I believe that God has me staying home this year as a prayer supporter and missions sender! What a wonderful thing to be able to prayerfully support those who God has called up and sent out all over the world this summer. BUT I dont want to just stop at praying for others. I pray that God gives me a ministry right here at home as well. We all have the responsibility to be missionaries wherever we are. I look forward to whatever God has in store! He's got it! :)

A Weekend of Lasts

Today was the commission service for the students I talked about in my last blog... Time is flying by!
As I stood in the back while 90 colleges students were being commissioned, I could not help but to be an emotional wreck. I am so excited to see where God is taking those students and how HE is going to change their lives and others. I was so happy because I know the feeling of being a part of that service and the feeling of knowing that summer is so close. I was nervous because last year I knew when I was going to leave, and now I have no clue. I was sad because my name wasn't called when they said South Korea. I was sad because this was the last time I would gather with my BCM friends from across the state. Oh man.... Its such a strange time! I know that God is in control and I guess that's exactly why I didn't cry, but I can't help but be on edge. :)
God has changed me so much through my college years. I cant believe its already been 4 years! Four years of wonderful friends, hard lessons, class after class, lesson plan after lesson plan, dorms and apartments, weekends packed full of fun, from state to state. Wow. Did all of that really happen? :) I look back and imagine my first days on campus and laugh because I remember feeling so homesick and this complete fear that I was going to flunk out and never make friends. I did not even want to be in college. God had different plans! :) I will graduate in 4 weeks with a pretty good GPA and more friends ( from all over the world! :)) than I could ever count. God is so good. HIS will is perfect. I'm nervous/anxious about growing up and graduating but I'm sooo excited about the future because I know that I'm NEVER alone... I bet HE has some pretty cool stuff lined up! :)

Things Learned--- A life that keeps moving

So what a week it has been...and its only Monday! :( This weekend was a wonderful roller coaster ride... extremely exciting and intensely stressful all at the same time. I now know though that I am forever loved by the Great I Am and He is always faithful! He will provide His answers when He sees fit.
Serving on the committee that seeks God's will to place college students in summer missions placements was such a blessing. I had a knot in my stomach the whole entire time because I did not want to be the reason that a student wassent to the wrong place... but here is what I learned : GOD DOESN'T ALLOW MISTAKES WHEN WE SEEK HIS WILL!!! Praise God! I had nothing to be anxious about... HE HAD IT! ALL! So by Saturday around 4:00pm, all things had been figured out and everybody was told where they get to serve our amazing God this summer... I know that many many lives will be changed through this summer! I cant wait to hear stories from all of these wonderful students! :) (And its cool to think that I get to be a sender!! I have been the goer the past few years,but now its my time to send out.. wow!)
Random lesson I learned today: Im learning to keep my mouth shut, even when I trully feel like I need to speak up...that's a hard lesson to learn! Its so hard to really feel like you need to speak your mind, and then when you do, its not received the way you had hoped and people get angry and deffensive. Ah... I will try my best to just stop and worry about myself... Let go and let GOD!
He will always provide all that I need! I trust Him to hold my hand through all things... and I trust that He will continue to teach me how to be more like Him... Even when it is not so easy to learn these lessons!

Prayer is Powerful

This is lesson number 11 in a 12 lesson packet that my team worked through while I was in Korea this last summer.... Its powerful! Check it out

It's not mine... aka: Im not trying to steal! Its David Smithers :) Just wanted to share it
The rest of the lessons can be found at http://thetravelingteam.com/

Apart From Prayer We Can Do Nothing
by David Smithers
The Law of Asking and Receiving
Did you know that the Kingdom of God will not come apart from PRAYER? The unreached will never hear the sweet name of Jesus without the labor of someone's Spirit-led prayers. Regardless of how things may appear on the surface, nothing of eternal value is ever released without somebody, somewhere PRAYING. Because prayer by its nature is often a HIDDEN work, being done in the SECRET closet, many come to false conclusions. Often credit is given to the more obvious and outward ministries of preaching or administration for what has actually been accomplished through prayer.
In spite of appearances, prayer is one of God's primary means of GRACE to achieve the desires of His heart. Our Lord has sovereignly chosen to govern His Kingdom by the simple law of asking and receiving. Prayer is not some human contrivance or scheme, it is the anointed strategy of God. King Jesus bids us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives" (Matt. 7:7-8).
Today the Church and the world are both sin-sick and suffering because those who call themselves believers have not taken these promises seriously. "We have not because we ask not" (James 4:2). Hell is larger today than it was yesterday, because many of us have not prayed.
God has ordained that ALL believers everywhere should expand His Kingdom through the WORK of prayer and intercession. Jesus has emphatically instructed us ALL to pray for His Kingdom to come. (Matt. 6:10) We may not all be called to go to the ends of the earth and preach, but every one of us have been called to GO to the closet and PRAY!
Prayer that Makes a Difference
Yet what kind of prayer does God require from us? Are all prayers as equally effective? Does a mechanical two minute prayer truly usher in the Kingdom of God? The Epistle of James teaches us exactly what an effective, Kingdom prayer looks like. James writes, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit" (James 5:16-18).Effectual prayer claims the promises of God by FAITH with FERVENT and UNRELENTING passion.
James 5:18 says that Elijah prayed again and the heavens gave rain. That has to be one of the biggest understatements in the whole Bible. I Kings 18:41-45 tells us that Elijah prayed not once, not twice, but seven times before the fruitful rains of revival came. Prayer that truly affects the world around us is extremely intense and persistent. Like everything that God requires of His children, prayer must be done with ALL of our heart, ALL of our soul and ALL of our strength. (Deut. 4:29, Deut. 6:5)
The Prayer life of Jesus
Lest some should think that such prayer is only for the faithless or legalistic, let me remind you that Jesus also gave us an example of this kind of intense and fervent prayer. In Hebrews 5:7, the scriptures tell us that, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears…" Jesus consistently gave Himself to the practice of agonizing and fervent prayer. Did Jesus weep and pray with such an intense fervency because of a lack of faith or because He was experiencing condemnation? Certainly Jesus had nothing about which to be condemned. Unlike us, He spent hours in prayer every day and never used any of that time to mourn over sin or a lack of faith.
Without question, Jesus prayed as no one else has ever prayed. The fervent prayer life of Jesus was driven by His unlimited vision of ETERNITY. (Prov. 15:11) Jesus was consumed with the sight of multitudes of lost souls, past, present and future, all rushing into the ever growing mouth of HELL. (Is. 5:14) I believe that it was this vision that gripped His heart as He knelt and prayed with broken cries and hot tears streaming down His face. Is there any other kind of prayer consistent with such an overwhelming view of eternity? Our lack of fervent prayer is the direct result of our blindness to the realities of an eternal HEAVEN and an everlasting HELL. Many of us are still motivated far too much by the temporal and sensual realm, the things we can personally see, taste and touch. "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Prov 29:18). Where there is no vision of ETERNITY, there is no prayer for the PERISHING.
Embracing the Broken Heart of Jesus
Prayer opens prison doors and preaching doors. Prayer binds the enemy and opens the heavens. Prayer is the plow that breaks up the fallow ground for the Gospel seed. Prayer ushers in the manifest glory of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Therefore, is there really any such thing as a Christian who genuinely LOVES the souls of men who fails to passionately pray for them? Can anyone truly preach about the world's unreached millions and then fail to fervently pray for them? NO, of course they can't, but I am afraid that's exactly what MANY are doing. Many, out of a false sense of accomplishment are talking and writing and preaching, while never FERVENTLY praying!
Today God the Father will witness the death of every lost man, woman and child as they slip into a burning HELL. He will observe every brutal act of child molestation, incest, murder and rape. Today His heart will be broken and tormented by every vile act of sin that happens on the face of the earth. Yet does He turn His head or hide His eyes? No, He purposely sees it all and WEEPS and grieves.
Today the heartbroken cries of Jesus are echoing throughout the heavens. Have you ever heard that haunting cry? Do you ever embrace the broken heart of Jesus? He longs for His Bride to enter into His BROKENNESS through fervent and loving prayer. The Spirit of God is crying out to each of us today, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore PRAY…" (Matt. 9:37,38)

A new habit

So now that I have started in on this whole blogging experience, it has become somewhat of a stress release/place that I can journal whats going on in the scary little place that is my mind. Its my new little habit! As of now, no one even knows that I have this blog, so its a wonderful place to "hide" Later on I will pass on this blog to friends and they can read all of my craziness, but for now... I am safe! haha :)
I am enjoying all of my snow days from student teaching! It is really strange that I am getting pretty much no experience out of this whole student teaching thing thus far, but the days off and my extra time to get things done makes up for it! I have actually had time to check things off of my to-do list! Amazing! But what I have realized is how much I love tv. It doesnt matter if its a show that is just ridiculous, I will sit for an hour or more and watch the tv. What a waste of precious time that I have here on this Earth. I know that there is sooo much more that I need to be doing, but it has become a habit. :(
Today as I was on the treadmill, I was listening to a sermon by Francis Chan, the author of Crazy Love. The message was entitled something along the lines of "the most important lesson you will ever learn". The whole point is that in order to be true, active Christians, we must study the scripture ON OUR OWN to uncover what God has in store for us! That really hit me like a ton of bricks because I have always just assumed that hearing a sermon every once and a while and just reading a little at a time was good enough. But, how can I learn more about my King, if I am not studying His letters to me? Wow! What a motivation to get in His word and trully study what it is He wants me to learn from it. (Who knew training for a half marathon could bring you closer to God?!)
Its now 3:43 am and I cant seem to sleep, so for the last hour or so I have been listening to David Nasser speak about the matter of prayer. In his sermon, he had a quote from CS Lewis that was something like "Prayer is the breathe in our spiritual lungs." Breathe and the intake of air is of course necessary for us to survive as humans. Its the same way with prayer in our survival as Christians. We must pray in order to survive (and thrive I believe)!
So... Today's lesson recap: hahaha :)
Prayer and studying the scripture is KEY to becoming more like Christ and walking with Him.... Sounds like something I have heard my whole life... Yet for some reason, I have chosen to not head these words as I should. There's some habits in my life that need to change... now!

ps- I do not usually proof-read my blogs... sorry! :)

Hebrews 11- The FAITH chapter

So Hebrews 11 has been on my heart and mind so much here lately. Usually when I get something weighing this heavy on my heart, I know that God is about to prove it in my life. So... This is me trying to prepare myself! :)
Hebrews 11 is considered the FAITH chapter because the word FAITH is mentioned 28 times in just 40 verse. When I read through this chapter, I cant help but see the word FAITH stick out over and over and over.... Repetition is a way that I learn things... So here it is! Laid out perfectly in Hebrews 11. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel ALL did their stuff by FAITH in Christ. Plus... Those that were tortured and refused to be released. Those that were flogged, chained, put in prison. Those that were stoned, sawed in two, were put to death by sword. Those that went about in sheepskin and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated. Wandered in deserts and mountains, in caves and holes in the ground... They all lived their lives by FAITH. The trusted the ONE True God! And here is what gets me about this whole chapter.... Verse 38 says "THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY OF THEM!". Wow! What a testimony of a life sold-out to Christ. These people trully took up their crosses and followed Christ no matter the cost. May this be said of us. May this be said of me! I pray that I live a life that causes God to hurry up and take me home because this sinful world is not worthy of me.... (Those are big words... and I am trying to really grasp them!) But in the mean time, may I be doing all that I can to be obedient to the God who created the whole Universe! May I always be willing to go wherever He calls and flexible to do whatever he tells me to do. I pray that I never grow stagnant in my relationship with Christ and feel that I know more than the one who crafted me. He is the only one who knows exactly what I need to be doing each second of my life.... By FAITH I can walk with Him holding my right hand.... That is Power! That is the love of my sweet Jesus!