Peace

The other day I finally just took a moment to pause. To stop and listen. Through my open window, I could hear the wind rustling the trees. It danced with them in a waltz. What a beautiful, peaceful sound. 

No pressure, no worries. Just abounding peace. 

God overwhelms us with peace. 

While the rest of the world bombards us with news, nonstop business, and stress, God gives us peace. 

Zephaniah 3:17 says, "The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." 

 "The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 

 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." ~

Numbers 6:25-26

So just stop and listen. 

Rest in Him. Enjoy His peace. 

I Dare You

What are you doing to make a difference? 

Are you fighting for the unborn? Or are sitting back while countless lives, innocent souls, are being legally murdered in our country.

How many abortions will happen while you remain silent? 

But this issue is not just with abortion. The unborn are not the only ones who need our voice, though they need it so desperately.

How many people will end their own lives while you neglect to stretch out your hand and let them know YOU care?

Broken people are all around us. Find them. And help them. 

Speak up. 

Be a voice. 

"If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" 

I'm not writing this to condemn you. My purpose is not to say, "Oh look, you're not doing anything." I mean this to encourage you to do something by showing you what you can do. 

You never know just how much influence you do have. Good, or bad. So use your influence for good! 

Encourage someone. Offer them a smile. Pray for the person you see hanging her head down. Text an uplifting  verse to your family and friends. Let's get a revival started! Ask three people how you can be praying for them in the upcoming week, and then DO IT! 

Share the love of God. 

Make a difference. 

I dare you. 

For the Fallen

FOR THE FALLEN

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

(Excerpts from "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon) 

My Sweet Colorado

My heart never ceases to long for the red dirt and majestic mountains of Colorado. I wish to walk and climb in the Garden of the Gods. How I desire just to catch a glimpse of Pikes Peak! However, whenever I am missing Colorado, my mind always wonders back to one particular place. One interesting town. Manitou Springs.

I will not forget the first time I entered Manitou. I remember thinking, “Well, this sure is an interesting little place!” I stared out at the shop windows, laughing to myself at some of the random signs. Then we drove straight up the ridiculously steep streets, looking around, trying to read the tiny little signs out in front of buildings to figure out where Summit Ministries was.

Later on, my new friend and I went down town to get custard and hang out. We walked down Main Street. Shades of rusty red and brown were all around us, matching the special dirt of Colorado. The colors of the earth were accented with bright yellows and blues and greens and oranges of shop signs, the giant rubber duck outside the duck store, or random spray-painted pieces of plywood covered in peace signs, reminding passersby’s of the town’s hippie flavor.

As we continued to walk, we passed adorable little homes. They were tall, not wide, with white railing on decks and down the stairs. The railing was matched by white trim along the front door and the edges of the windows. Some of them had a slight Victorian look, which I love! My friend and I  made a little loop, down one side of the street, and up the other, until we reached the famous custard shop. It is a little rock building on Manitou Avenue with black tables with green umbrellas outside it. We got our custard and sat down on a wooded bench not far from the shop. There we could see much of the town. Several of our fellow Summit students were lined up at the custard shop, awaiting their little taste of heaven. Down the streets we watched people go about their day. Some hippies dressed in very colorful, strange clothing strolled in and out of the shops. In the distance we could see the mountains; Pikes Peak majestic with his crown of snow. Off to the left and a little further down the mountain was the Incline. One mile, straight up, of wooded stairs. The view was a gorgeous watercolor painting of the light blue sky, puffy white clouds, royal purple and blue, vibrant green, and of course, my ever favorite red. All the colors blended together and embedded themselves into my memory.

This unique town has found a place in my heart. It holds a place of fond memories and will always call me to return. Someday, in the near future, I know I will be back. Meanwhile, you should visit it for me. Go tell Manitou hello. Walk its streets. Look up at the mountains. And don’t forget to eat some custard!

SkyMaster

"We are going on the SkyMaster."

"Okay..." I looked at Matt, unsure. We were at a fair and going to take in some rides. Let's just say I am not a big rides kind of girl. I don't like spinny. I hate upside down. I love heights, but more like going to the edge of a mountain and looking down into a beautiful valley, not looking down on more rides, busy people... You get the picture? But there we were, in line for the SkyMaster, standing on concrete, the sound of shrill screams filling our ears as the sent of funnel cakes floated in the air. The screams above us suddenly became louder. I looked up to see those on the ride get swung upside down, and then held there for what seemed like an eternity. Eyes wide, I turned to Matt. You want me to go on that?! My eyes said. 

"You know you want to," he said. "Deep down you know you want to." He was right. I couldn't almost go and then chicken out! That just wouldn't set with me. 

The ride ended. People got off, and on we went. Matt and I got in, sat down, and pulled down our safety bars. 

"What am I doing in here?" 

"It's gonna be fun! Trust me." Matt tried reassuring me. I wasn't so sure. The ride started. We barely were even going when I started screaming. 

"Ahhhh! Ahh! Ahhhhhh!" 

We were gaining momentum. Soon went upside down for the first time. 

"Ahh! Matt! Matt... Matt??!" 

It kept going and going. For a split second I was really having fun. Then we went upside down again and this time stayed that way. 

"Ahhh!!! Ah! Ah! Matthew Carlson, what are you doing to me?!!" 

"Laura, open your eyes."

"No!" I flashed them open. I could see out across the fair. All the rides. All the people. The blue hills behind it all with the sun shining on them. It really was quite a sight. But as soon as we started moving again I closed them. 

We went all the way around a few times. Upside down, then back around. Fast. It feels like I'm flying. The moment of enjoyment ended quickly as I started to feel light headed. 

"Oh no! Ohh no! Oh my goodness!" 

"Laura, you're gonna be okay." 

"Okay, I can do this. I can do this. Ahh! Ah! Ahhhhhh!" 

Though I felt it was going to be never ending, before I knew it, the ride was actually over. 

"Are you okay?" Matt asked. "I've never heard you scream like that before." I've never screamed like that before, I thought. 

As I think back on this now, I can't help but laugh! Replaying it in my head, it's quite hilarious to me. A different side of me was shown both to Matt, and to myself. And I wouldn't trade this new memory for anything.  But I think a lesson can be taken away as well. 

Sometimes life throws you upside down. Go ahead and open your eyes because you just might see beauty. Don't be afraid to take a risk. Go out of your comfort zone. Just trust. What seems scary won't last forever. You'll get turned right side up again. So live life to the fullest. 

Who knows, it might be fun! 

With Us Always

God never looses service on us. Our prayers don't for some reason fail to send. His battery never dies. 

He's always there, always listening. Always ready to comfort us and wipe away our tears. In fact, our tears are precious  to Him. So precious, He collects and keeps them. ("You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." ~Psalm 56:8) 

People are going to let you down. 

This is just what is going to happen because we are imperfect humans. But God is always there. He tells us in Isaiah 41:10, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God." 

God is unchanging; we don't have to worry about His feelings toward us differing day to day. We don't have to wonder if He still wants us. God remains the same. And He wants us. He delights in us. He likes us. He wants to hang out with us. 

 "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His Love, He will rejoice over you with singing." 

United We Stand

There is strength in unity. Something powerful happens when people come together with a common purpose.

Standing alone is scary, but when united together,  fear turns into courage, which leads to the desire to make a difference. 

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." 

"United we stand, divided we fall." We have all heard this quote multiple times, but let's try living it. Let's come together as one, pray together, and encourage one another. Then together, we will change the world. 

Like brother and sister, we come hand in hand, 

Rising together, we'll take a stand. 

And we'll stand tall, tall together. 

So long world, Christ is better. 

We are no longer alone, 

And we'll help get each other home. 

Two are better than one anyway, 

Gotta have that friend to help you up and pray. 
Lift each other up when we wanna fall. 
Gotta get up; we can stand tall.

And we'll stand tall, tall together. 

So long world, Christ is better. 

We are no longer alone, 

And we'll help get each other home.