Incredibly Small, Infinitely Majestic

Isaiah 40:12-17 

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand

and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord,
or what man shows him his counsel?
Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
and are accounted as the dust on the scales;
behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,
nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
All the nations are as nothing before him,
they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

When you read that section of verses what goes through your mind? When I read that the other day I was blown away, crushed, and in awe. If the nations are like a single drop in a bucket to Him, if His hand holds All of the waters that are in the world and he can measure the galaxies with the breadth of his hand, who are we? Our lives, our plans, from the lowest servant in India to the most powerful leader in the United Nations, are nothing. That blew me away and crushed me as I realized in awe how infinitely majestic, powerful, and knowledgeable our God is. Then several verses down I read....

Isaiah 40:27-31

Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel

“My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,

and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah is including both kingdoms, the kingdom of Israel and Judah. (If you didn't know the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were the people of Israel, God's chosen people, before they decided to split into two kingdoms, still God's chosen people but now separated.) Isaiah is including all of God's people in this section of verses as he reprimands before encouraging them. From time to time God's people need to remember who they are serving. While we can't entirely understand who God is when we realize who we are in comparison it creates a humble attitude as we serve both Him and each other. 

After reading the above set of verses this chapter was So much more powerful because my eyes were opened to the reality of who we are and the God we serve. We don't just serve Him the way a slave does without receiving anything in return, He offers us strength, refuge, peace, joy, patience, and most importantly everlasting love. When you realize this it encourages you to push on, trusting God that no matter what happens, what you're struggling with the one described in verses 12-17 is the same one in verses 27-31 who offers strength and understands all that we go through. 

We, the incredibly small are loved by the infinitely majestic. 

Oklahoma Where the Skies Are Blue

I'm off to Tulsa early tomorrow morning! We will be shooting ATF w/RL there while Acquire the Fire ministers to the people in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There are a lot of things starting to arrive on the horizon and I'm excited to see what happens as well as report back to you guys what is happening down here in Texas or wherever I happen to be. With spring arriving in Texas, the weather consistently in the 70's, the trees and flowers in bloom, and the prospects of new and exciting things here at CCM, I wanted to connect with you guys before things got too crazy. I love getting to hear about how things are in Oregon and I can't wait to come back in April for an ATF and maybe see some of you guys. :) Keep in touch!

Cracking A Whip

This week I got to learn how to crack a whip! I've spent a few hours learning how to do some cool moves and it's definitely harder then it looks. But wow! What an amazing skill to learn. Learning  new things like this reminds me of why I wanted to become an actress. The opportunity to spend time building relationships with others while learning new skills, performing, and impacting the lives of others through my actions. God's helping me realize how much responsibility something like this is but if He created me for it how can I refuse? My passions and my desires all point towards this industry and he's given me a passion for the different people in it. If you remember keep me in your prayers. I'd love prayer for finances as well as endurance as I will be traveling a lot in the months of April-May. I know that God is able to provide both for me without any issue and your prayers overcome all distances. It's so encouraging to know that I have a base back home of people that are lifting me up to God consistently. I hope to hear back from you all sometime soon. 

With Love,

Lauren 

Philippians 1:27 

"Only, let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel"