all things.

According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature . . .

[II peter 1.3-4]

"All things?"

"Yes, Lauren. All things."

under construction

It hurts sometimes.

Those moments when you realize that things have changed . . . that you have changed and you don't quite fit where you used to.

To you, the change and newness about you is beautiful. Exhilarating. Just thinking about who you were and who you are now is enough to bring tears of joy and gratefulness to your eyes.

It brings such joy to you because you know that He did it. He changed you. He made you new.

Who? Who changed you?

Jesus.

I didn't change myself, you know. The difference in me . . . well, it's because of Him. He changed everything about me:

what I talk about
what I laugh at
the way I joke about
the music I listen to
the movies I watch
the books I read
how I spend my time

The focus of my life and desires of my heart have been changed by this wonderful God of mine.

He lives inside of me now and because of His sweet, pure presence, the old Lauren is gone. She won't be coming back. So yes, things are different. You won't find me listening to Colbie Caillat or laughing over episodes of The Office anymore. I don't have any desire to hear the latest gossip. I'd rather read A. W. Tozer than Jane Austen.

Do you know that I've tried to enjoy Josh Groban music lately? But it just isn't the same anymore. It doesn't bring the kind of joy and sweetness that comes from listening to music that makes much of Jesus. I don't believe there's anything wrong with listening to a Josh Groban song, but I want something more. There's a certain beauty found in violins and rich tenor voices, but I've found that those can crowd out what I'm really longing for . . . the voice of my King. His songs have a beauty about them that sweeping music scores can never touch and I've learned that He will not shout to be heard over the din of distractions. His voice is a still, quiet one and I don't want to miss a single word.

His life has overtaken mine. And I don't want it any other way.

You see, I tried doing things my own way. Oh, I know that I looked like a good girl. I made sure to dress modestly, helped lead youth group, practically had I Kissed Dating Goodbye memorized, and played the piano for worship on Sundays.

I may have looked good on the outside, but I was dying inside. I was all about myself, concerned only with what pleased me. I was after the pursuit of my own happiness, impatient and irritated with anyone and anything that got in my way. Instead of building my life around Jesus Christ, I was content to fit Him in where it was convenient. My life was one defined by me . . selfishness and wasteful pursuits filled my days. Though it may have seemed that I had everything together, all my grand words and shallow actions weren't worth a thing. Filthy rags, indeed.

I realize that though I'm different, it's not anything that I've done that has saved me. It's not the fact that I deleted Norah Jones from my mp3 player that has brought about the salvation of my soul. Reading Tozer instead of Austen doesn't make me holier.

No, I have only one plea.

His name is Jesus.
His blood has washed me clean.
He is my righteousness.
I am saved by Jesus and Jesus alone.

I am never without need for His rescue.

Please know that I'm still your daughter, your sister, your friend. I'm still Lauren. I love you just as much, if not more, because He is sharing with me His love for you. I'm able to truly love you because He loves.

I'm still Lauren. I still love to stay up late reading at night. I still love to take get Maid-Rites and fries and sit in the car and eat with you. I still love to take late-nite trips to Walmart with you to buy chocolate and then try to wake up the house with our noisy plastic bags. I still love to fall asleep talking to you at night.

The sound of your familiar voice is just as dear to me. Your crazy laugh makes me laugh just as much as it always used to.

I don't claim perfection. I make mistakes. I'm blameless, but not faultless. My weaknesses showcase His strength. I rejoice to know that it is only by His grace that I stand. I know more than anyone that I'm a work in progress. My only claim is Jesus and His perfection.

There is no legality in His dear ones,
just willingness to let other things go and take Him at His word.
-J. G. Trattner

Salvation is a gift, purely a gift, forever a gift.
Elisabeth Elliot

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul

[photo found on pinterest.com]

You are Good - Gateway Worship

a friend shared this song with me, and so now I want to share it with you. the words "you are good" are so, so simple, but TRUE. He is good.

i have a secret.

Yesterday I was reading Psalm 25 and came across a verse that intrigued me. . .

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant."

A secret? Nice. More specifically, the secret of the Lord. Hmm. Mystifying.

I love secrets (as I suppose everyone does), but that little word was what caught my eye. I eagerly looked it up in Hebrew and found the meaning to be even better than I could've guessed.

secret(sod): a session, that is, company of persons (in close deliberation); by implication, intimacy; secret counsel.

You know the times when you read something in the Word that absolutely overwhelms your heart? This was one of them. To think that the intimate, secret counsel of the King of kings is mine . . . oh, He is just too, too good! He is all the counsel, wisdom, and direction that I need! Jesus is my Wonderful Counselor. I don't need the counsel and advice of this world and its ridiculous notions. He is all that I need. MORE than I need. Perfectly sufficient.

I looked up this verse in Spanish as well and loved how it's said . . .

"La comunion intima de Jehovah es con los que le temen,

y a ellos hara conocer su pacto."

intimate communion.
oh, delight in it.
rest in it.
go hard after it.
you can't ever have enough.