Giving hope

Photo courtesy of projecthopeart.org

Project HOPE Art is a foundation that uses art to inspire the creativity in children who have experienced disaster in their community. Art helps the kids to establish self-esteem, self-expression, and relief from their traumatic experiences. They are one of my new favorite organizations with an innovate approach to helping others in need. You can learn more and help support Project HOPE Art here or follow them on twitter @projecthopeart.
Be inspired people.

Not one, or the other. Both.

Fresh water

Dear God,

Please tell my why you made the sound of rain so unbelievably comforting. Sideways streams of water are pounding on the outside glass of my bedroom window right now, and I am totally in love with it. When I am miserable and upset, there is nothing that makes me more content and thankful than to hear the fierce sound of rain. Even the smell is great. It is like every good smell of nature all in one: hot, yet chilled at the same time, new, clean, refreshing and green. Rain makes me feel like its okay to put on my big girl panties and make a fresh start. It reminds me that this moment is the oldest I've ever been and the youngest I'll ever be. So I might as well seize the day. Carpe diem. Thank you to the good Lord above for the wonderful gift of rain. And that the newness it brings can inspire me to increase my appreciation for each moment on earth I am given.

Reminiscing

   Verb: indulge in enjoyable recollection of past events. 

                        Hope College Final Gathering c. April 29, 2012

Speechless

Sometimes life just really, really sucks. You search and search for the good in a certain situation, you try your hardest, you think of everything you can possibly think of, until finally, you just decide the only thing you can do is scream as loud as you can and pound your fists against your forgiving pillow.

Inside I think to myself that I'm a Christian and I know God loves me so everything should be okay. Unfortunately, I just can't accept that. The truth is, sometimes it's hard to be a Christian. The road to Jesus is a narrow one and it can be challenging at times. Matthew 7:13 says "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many who enter through it." It's safe to say that in my family, the road to Jesus is the teeniest of paths, and on the outside are relentless challengers. Needless to say, this is one of those times I'm a little bit discouraged in my faith and just don't know what to say.

Matthew tells the Followers of Jesus to ask, seek and knock. (Matthew 7:7-8) "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; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Our God is a merciful and giving God. He desires to make us full, to overflow our cup. It is us who allows Satan to tempt us. It is us who denies Him. The Lord is at my door, and it is up to me to ask, seek, and knock.

These last couple weeks have been tough for me. It's hard to deal with life sometimes, just life. And even though I don't like having to constantly defend my faith to my closest friends and family, God requires it of me. And I know that His strength is greater than anything anyone can throw at me. I can handle it. I was crafted by the Creator of this world and His strength is in me. I leave you with the words of a song entitled "All Thy Fullness" by a very talented Hope College student. The lyrics have continued to push me these last months when I have felt like my insides are crumbling. Praise be to God. He is good.

I am breaking, You are building
I am empty, You are filling
In my silence, You are speaking
In my dying, everliving

Holy, holy
God Almighty
All thy fullness
Here beside me

Humility equals love

Humility equals love. I believe humility is such a hard concept for many to grasp. It certainly is for me. It's hard to swallow your pride and exclaim to another person that you desire and long to have a loving relationship with them. It's especially hard when that person has already denied you. They have taken your heart and broken it slowly and painfully. So painfully that it seems they have personally ripped it from your chest, so that you would continue to feel the hole forever. Our desire through God should be to embrace humility...
to embrace it because living in humility is much easier than living with regret.

The regret we might have from broken relationships. Regret that is made worse by the continuous tearing inside of us each time we are denied the connection we long for. It takes a lot for an individual to pick themselves up and be willing to confront the relationships made so fragile and destructive through humanity's sin. It is so hard because we are so guarded by our emotions, so affected by our feelings of hate, envy, and spite. But it is simply not about our feelings, mending broken relationships is about humbling ourselves under the witness of God. At the end of the day, you are either going to have regret or you are going to look back on a season of life where you had incredible humility in order to fight for a relationship.

The apostle Paul instructs the followers of Jesus in Romans 12:18, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." As far as it depends on you! Meaning that whatever the circumstances, we are called to do everything in our power to be at peace with all of God's people. Paul tells us that it is our duty as Christ-followers to spread the love of the Lord on Earth. I know this. I know that this is possibly one of our most greatest duties as Christians. So why do I often forget this simple calling? I don't think I forget it, rather, I think my mind chooses to ignore when God is screaming in my ear "Lauren. Humble yourself. You are just as awful of a sinner than the person you are trying to reconcile with. You don't love me like you should. You are not more righteous than he/she. But, the good news is that you are made perfect in my image. Nothing could make you more beautiful or make me love you more than I have from the time I created you. As your father, I am proud of you." I hear the Lord telling me this and know that it is my duty to love others with all of myself because He first loved me.