Follow Me

A few days ago, I was in a neighboring town, G-, with Nathan.  We'd met up that afternoon to finish up some wedding business and play at the zoo.  Since he was coming over for dinner, we decided to split up and each drive our cars back to E-, where I'm from.  "Follow me to your house?" he asked, as I grabbed my keys from my purse.

"Sure."

Now, since G- is only 15 minutes from my home, I've spent a lot of time there and I know my way around the town fairly well.  I follow him out of the parking lot just fine, down the street, and through the first turn, but as we're sitting at a stop sign I think... I wouldn't turn here, I'd follow this road down to the bypass... it's so much faster that way.  When Nathan turns, I say, "See-ya!" and go my own way.  A few blocks down I see him pull up to the bypass as well, and I feel my stomach sink.  So much for following, Lauren.  Great job!  And I remember the words that Jesus said to his first disciples.

Every day I'm trying to follow Jesus in familiar territory.  People that I see every day, and places that I go to daily.  All of the same-ness makes me very comfortable, and I reason that I've done this before and I know the best way.  That's the point when my reason leads me straight to the original sin--telling God that I know what is best for me.  Eve chose the fruit over the command of God; her reason led her to believe that eating the forbidden fruit was the best thing to do in that situation, but she was badly mistaken.  I wonder how often I miss God's best, because I've reasoned that my way is best.

Of course, being unwilling to follow Nathan down the "longer" path seems like a little example, but I think that small instances often reveal larger patterns in our lives.

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."
Proverbs 14:12

Sweet Things

There are so many sweet things in my life.  Here's a few to share with you!

1. My wonderful fiance with whom I was blessed to spend a weekend at home.
2. Engagements all around!!! (You know who you are... and I'm SOOO beyond excited for you!)
3. The current Forge class graduates next weekend... future leaders.  They're seriously going to change the world.  (And it's so sweet to see something that changed my life continue to positively impact others.)
4. Chocolate-Covered Potato Chips.  I know you've been waiting, and I apologize for my tardiness.  I'll be honest and say I wouldn't probably eat them again.  There's a lot of things that taste much better covered with chocolate... like globs of peanut butter for instance.  However, they get points for coming in a sweet box.

G.S.E.!!!

Get so excited friends! I have TWO things I've been meaning to blog about for a little while...

Ever had chocolate-covered potato chips??

and...

The Adventures of Spike, A first-generation Ipod Nano (How fast do you think he's travelled in his lifetime?)


And finishing this off with one of my favorite photos of Kansas in the summer!!! (Which is ALMOST here!!!)

Firehoses

Drinking fountains were a great idea. Designed with the perfect gentle stream and chilled to just the right temperature for a refreshing sip of water in just about any public place.

However, at this point in life I feel like I'm drinking from a firehose instead of a gentle fountain. With our premarital counseling well underway and school not seeming to let up any time soon, I'm a little overwhelmed by the amount of things I'm taking in. (I feel a little like Mike from "Stranger in a Strange Land"... No time to grok anything, because of the vast amount of bewildering information I'm taking in.). Anyone else feeling this way?

P.s. The Forge never ends.

Aslan

 This song has been itching my brain.  If you've read the Chronicles of Narnia, or seen the movie for that matter, then you know who Aslan is.  He represents Christ, the King of kings, who laid down his life to save his people who where without hope, destined for destruction.  This song is such a humbling reminder that we can't and don't come to God on our own terms, but he is the only one who can save our souls.  We don't manipulate God and we can't demand anything from him.  He is the Lord, God, King of the Universe, Sovereign Over All, and we are the lost and fallen wretched creatures of Eden, saved by unbelievable grace.


Aslan
by Kendall Payne

Don't stop your crying on my account
A frightening lion, no doubt
He's not safe, no he's not safe
Are you tempted now to run away?
The King above all Kings is coming down

But He won't say the words you wish that he would
Oh, he don't do the deeds you know that He could
He won't think the thoughts you think He should
But He is good, He is good

I know you're thirsty, the water is free
But I should warn you, it costs everything
Well, He's not fair, no He's not fair
When He fixes what's beyond repair
And graces everyone that don't deserve


No one knows Him whom eyes never seen
No, I don't know Him but He knows me
He knows me, He knows me

Lay down your layers, shed off your skin
But without His incision, you can't enter in
He cuts deep, yes He cuts deep
When the risk is great and the talk is cheap
But never leaves a wounded one behind


*I couldn't find a link to the actual song, but this cover isn't bad.