What I’m Learning:
Have you ever had a feeling or thought that continued to come around time and time again? Maybe it was a decision, or a desire, or a friendship. Maybe it was a truth that just didn’t seem to stick. Or maybe it was an experience that seemed to lack fullness.
I did, and do.
Let me paint the picture for you.
Imagine sitting in a circle and sharing your dreams or desires with the group. What? You’ve never done that? Lol. The World Race provides you with time that you can’t fill with television or the internet or all the activities we involve ourselves with at home. In other words, you get a lot of face time with the people around you. So, yea. Sitting in a circle talking about your hopes and dreams isn’t that uncommon. But I always felt weird and uncomfortable thinking about what dreams I had. What things I wanted to chase after or experience. I couldn’t articulate my thoughts. OR I felt like I didn’t have anything to offer or share because I didn’t have this clear vision or dream or passion. And to top off the weirdness, our conversations would involve GOD DREAMS–what dreams do you want to dream up with God, allowing Him to be a part of the process and taking Him with you on the journey.
What? This seemed strange. And honestly, it’s something that I am STILL working on.
But what I’ve come to find about my relationship with God is repetition matters, and it’s not something to ignore. When I sense moments that remind me of times before or when I experience similar emotions, sometimes that’s God showing me a new part of myself that I didn’t know was there or that I didn’t think was valuable to highlight. He teaches me how to recognize Him in the midst of the constant push and pull responsibilities, relationships, commitments, and plans.
I had to shift my expectations and allow God to show up the way He wants to. And for me He does that through these looped emotions or moments or experiences. He uses those to affirm and reaffirm His workings in my life.
His faithfulness never stops showing up for me, never stops honoring my heart, never stops leading me to Him.
What I’m Doing:
The beginning of June brought a new generation of World Racers to our campus for the start of our Training Camp season of 2018. Let me introduce you to M Squad!
I have been working with the squad since September of 2017! Phone calls, emails, texts, and now face to face conversations have built a foundation that God uses to encourage, speak truth, and be a safe place for these goons. They will be launching on their World Race journey in August and will be working in the 10/40 window among unreached people groups. Please join my in praying for them! And pray for me as I shift roles within their journey.
The last day of camp, we opened up a time for people to be baptized, and, dang, it’s always one of my favorite times at camp.
[photos by Aly Badinger]
I love watching people take ownership of their relationship with Christ and join him in his death and resurrection through baptism! They are proclaiming whose they are. Powerful!
This squad honored me. They prayed for me. The wrote me encouragement. They thanked me generously. They loved me well! And now, their on field leadership get to continue to walk with them throughout the 11 month journey.
What I need Prayer for:
- Stamina — Summer is a busy time here at our office! All of our trips are about to be in full force, and we are gearing up for trainings, debriefs, camps, and it all! Please pray that God’s Gospel message will be shared in everything we do.
- Transition — I have some transitions coming up (I’ll be sharing soon!) within our organization which I am super excited about! It will shake things up for me and be such a growing, stretching experience. Be in prayer that my heart is ready for this change and that all the logistics get figured out.
- Remain in the Vine — Please pray that I remain in the vine (Christ!) throughout this busy season! It’s easy to become consumed with the to-do’s and loose sight of His face!
What I’m Reading:
Two weeks ago I finished reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Dang, it’s a good one. The story takes places in German Occupied France during World War II with two sisters who have different roles in aiding the Allied Forces and the French Resistance. If your love period dramas and good character development, read this one!
When I finished The Nightingale, I started Sonship: A Journey Into the Father’s Heart by M. James Jordan. For a couple months, I have been asking God to show my more of His love for me because I believe when we understand His love more, our authentic response HAS to be more gratitude, more urgent living for the Gospel, more love for others … honestly, just MORE. I have heard of Fatherheart Ministries, and know several people whose relationship with God has radically shifted through understanding God as Father. I’m still pretty early in my reading of Sonship, but I’m excited for seeing how God can use this with me.
What I’m Listening to:
Revisionst History is a podcast by Malcolm Gladwell that re-examines the overlooked or misunderstood. He focuses on people, events, and ideas of the past and debates whether we fully grasped the value or significance the first time around. SO GOOD!
Sacred Mountain is a collection of songs that is solely instrumental. I have enjoyed listening to this while praying or just sitting and asking the Lord questions and allowing the Holy Spirit to minister. Highly recommend.
And of course, The Greatest Showman! My roommate watched it for the first time last weekend, and I started jamming to this again. So many great songs! My favorites are “A Million Dreams,” “Come Alive,” and “From Now On.” There’s a line in “From Now On” that states, “What’s waited till tomorrow starts tonight. It starts tonight!” and dang, it just GETS me. I get emotional because I see/hear the Kingdom of God in these songs!
Thank you for sticking with me throughout the past several years! God is crazy, isn’t He? Feel free to comment or email me with ways I can be supporting you and praying for you in whatever season you are in!
Love,
Laura
