Ready for Battle

1 Chronicles 12:8b
"They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear."

These warriors that went to fight with David were brave, strong, and ready. Though I wouldn't on first thought consider myself a "brave warrior," my second glace at this verse made me think. I am supposed to be fighting The Lord's battle against this world and our sinful nature. And I can't be brave and ready for battle unless I am "able to handle my shield and spear."

Ephesians 6:10-18

"Finally, be strong in The Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is The Word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

To be a brave and ready warrior, I must learn how to depend on God's Word as a life-line. This is vital. With my shield of faith, (trusting that HE is LORD) and my sword of The Spirit, (His Word) I can be prepared to fight for His Glory so that others can know!

The Lord gives us times of peace so that He can build us up and train us to be His brave warriors, ready for battle. Are you ready?

Happy Day for Allie!

This precious friend of mine just found out some great news! She is going to be at RTS in Jackson this fall to start Seminary for Christian Counseling. I could not think of a more worthy lady. Allie is the definition of a self-less friend, who is passionate about life and loves generously. She is going to be wonderful Counselor. She loves The Lord even more than her friends and I know He is going to use her in big ways!

Even this picture shows her selfless nature as she woke up early for my birthday last summer to go blueberry picking in Pontotoc. Such a loving friend! Sooo Proud of you, Allie!

Right where these feet are

I'm in grad school, smothered with midterms, grammar rules, science projects, and meetings. I am longing for the next phase of life, free of school. A warm summer, and then leaving to spend a year in Macas teaching children and sharing my faith. How can I help it? :)

But...The Lord says, "Little Laura, you are in Starkville for a purpose...find it and thrive...today!" To bring joy, encourage, reach out, be discipled, be stretched, and grow closer to Him, for today.

The thing is, there will always be something in life to look ahead toward, something to distract our eyes from the "today" where God has planted us.

I like the way Ann Voscamp says it...

"The only place I can ever be alive is right here.
Right where these feet are is the only place joy will ever be possible."

He brings the Spring

The daffodils are budding and beginning to bloom! What a beautiful reminder that The Lord will always bring spring-time after a cold, dreary winter season.

What a Great God we serve!

Hope you have a sun-shiny, spring-time day!

Carl and Ellie

I'm at Global Outreach this week learning LOTS of info about the next year of my life in South America! So thankful that The Lord has led me to this place. He is good, isn't He?

Happy snow day from my fire place to yours! :)

Great is His Faithfulness

Who is Jesus for you today? I was reminded of these powerful words this morning in church. It seems so easy to feel defeated by the rough bumps in our lives, but there is Someone so much bigger than all the bumps!

Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

No matter how often we lose hope, He is always faithful. We've nothing to worry about. He gives us strength for today and a bright hope for tomorrow! He longs for our obedience...all we need to do is follow. He has already provided everything we will need. I am learning to be thankful for the ways Christ is faithful in my life, for the lessons He is teaching me, and the opportunities to reach out He has given me this semester. He's got a reason for waking me up every morning, I only need to "be still" so that I can hear where He wants my obedience. He is faithful to me!




"There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son,
all the way you went until you reached this place."
Deuteronomy 1:31

Downfall Desserts

I had a fat-girl moment at 3:00 am last night in the middle of the night. My growling tummy woke me up and demanded that all it would accept was a bite of the gooey brownie from the pan downstairs. Really? Dessert in the middle of the night? I snuck down stairs in my PJs, got a fork, and dug in. All the time laughing at the sight of myself, hiding in the kitchen, sneaking the self-forbidden bites of brownie.

As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out. Tummy satisfied. Such a fat-girl moment that I wanted to share with all you "sweet-tooth kindred spirits" out there. :)

I've been practicing skype, ichat, and gchat with my roommates lately to prepare for my time in Ecuador! Come find me so I don't have to run to the other room to pretend-chat with someone in my apartment, though it's quite entertaining, Dianna and Katye!