Hi! My name is Lauren. Welcome to my blog! Whether you ended up here intentionally or quite by accident I hope that my story will lead you to a relationship with the most important person in my life… Jesus Christ!
I am a true Texas girl, born and bred. I am married to my very best friend and together we have three amazing boys and are expecting our fourth bundle of joy soon… also a boy! I know, I know..... five guys and one girl! Needless to say, our home is loud and usually messy but filled with laughter. My husband, Ryan, has a sense of humor and has taught me so much about the gift of laughter. We laugh a lot… mainly because life is hard and it seems like a much better alternative to crying;) My whole life “people” have described me as “strong.” When people describe me as strong it makes me laugh…. really laugh out loud. I mean, I like a strong glass of iced tea, I LOVE a strong cup of coffee and some might even describe my accent as strong, but me? Strong? Not really. What is true is that I have walked through some REALLY tough circumstances. Circumstances that others looking in might think were “too much.” But truth be told I am ordinary… so very ordinary. My journey is one of “fear and trembling,” ridden with tears, “why me’s” insecurity and heartache. And isn’t that the human condition? I laugh when people call me strong, because given the choice I probably would trade all of that strength for a life of ease and less heartache. Like most of you, my natural inclination is to hide and remain silent. SILENT because I don’t want to tell my story… I don’t want to have lived through the things that I have lived through so that I have something to share. I am not brave. I am not noble. I am quite happy being silent and ordinary. And yet… I find myself in this broken, fallen world with this--- broken, human heart. There were many times where I thought I would be crushed under the grief of what I had to bear, and yet I didn’t break. NOT because I am strong, but because I walk with someone who IS strong… someone who gave HIS life and gave Himself through death for you and me. Phillipians 2:10 says, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” He IS strong! This blog is a testimony to HIS strength. Not mine. Every ounce of my being wants to give up and run… run for safety... run to escape this busted up world. My surrender to the Lord has literally been in complete fear, with hands that physically shook at the reality of what the Lord has asked me to walk through. My surrender hasn’t come from a place of strength or even knowing that “everything would be ok.” In fact, most of the time it hasn’t been OK, and it won’t ever be ok. But what is true is that as I sit in the midst of the burnt ashes that we call the human condition, CHRIST has been faithful to me. He has been faithful in spite of my circumstances, NOT because of them. I started this blog not because I am strong or because I want to tell you about what I have walked through and how I have been victorious. I started this blog in the midst of my own heartache because the Lord is teaching me dependance on HIM each and every day. And what I do know, is even though I am tempted to keep silent and silently walk through my own circumstances under the guise that I need to "focus on my own particular set of circumstances right now", I cannot keep silent. What grieves me even more than walking though brokenness is allowing satan to get the victory. Christ has the VICTORY! Whatever your circumstances are I hope that this is a place where you can come knowing that Christ is enough for you, for your particular set of circumstances. People often think that God calls “strong people.” The reality is God calls PEOPLE…. ordinary people… and in the midst of their circumstance HE changes them because HE is strong not because they are. Well grab a strong cup of coffee and the strength of God’s word and come sit awhile… this is not a place for the strong or those who have it all together. This is not a lifestyle blog or inspirational tips to make your life better. This is my journey… hopefully your journey… full of insecurity and angst as we learn to lean into Rock of all Ages and “work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phillipians 2:12).” Well… more of my story to come…. I am so glad you are here!
10 Comments
Constanza Fishel
1/31/2018 10:23:48 am
Lauren! I am so proud of you! Not the pride -proud! But the -you go girl- kinda proud.! I have come to understand that when I’m silent in my struggles- I struggle more. I feel alone. No one knows how I feel, therefore there’s no one prays for me. But when I share with others- God gets the glory! People know how to pray for me. Ultimately- He is the one that allows our sadness or our gladness..
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Katherine Coleman
1/31/2018 11:09:55 am
Lauren, You are such a beautiful and caring person. You and your whole family have shown me time and time again that when you give it to the Lord, you will be okay. I love hearing and listening to your experiences with God. Thanks for starting this blog.
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Ruth Gandara
1/31/2018 02:00:43 pm
BEAUTIFUL. Your entire soul and being are beautiful.
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Judy Burns
1/31/2018 07:29:01 pm
Lauren, I love your writing and look forward to more. You are strong.... Strong in the Lord.
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Alla
1/31/2018 08:34:42 pm
Lauren you have a gift! This is beautifully well said! Thank you so much for this blog! ! Much needed this!! I look forward to reading more!
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Paula Spencer
2/1/2018 08:57:41 am
So thankful for your joy in the Lord...........for He is your strength. Your willingness to be vulnerable will, no doubt, be a blessing to others........as you are to me.
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GG Howell
2/1/2018 08:42:55 pm
Please reach out and feel that virtual hug and know that I and many others are walking with you in love and prayers.
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Stacey
2/9/2018 08:35:40 am
Lauren. Your words have really touched me. Right now I am dealing with a lot of things from my past and I'm wanting to confront them while walking beside Jesus Christ. You are such a strange that I could look up to you and I truly appreciate all your words.
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Hailey Smith
2/18/2018 01:33:33 pm
Lauren, you have always inspired me to have a closer walk with Christ! I am so looking forward to this walk with you and your new blog 😀 I love you cousin!
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Jena
6/6/2018 08:43:17 pm
I've been "following" this blog since January 31st ...I'd love to read more about your story when you have time to blog again! I check weekly for any new posts 😄
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AuthorI am a Christ follower. Wife. Boy mom. I love adventures, traveling and beautiful words. Archives
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