I love life. It’s worthy of being celebrated. I’ve always loved birthdays. Celebrating the year you just conquered and the anticipation and excitement of the year ahead. Birthdays have a way of making you pause and reflect and I love that.
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
If you asked me 5 years ago where I would be on June 11, 2019…. it would not be sitting in Panama as a missionary on the world race. Lol.
But God, he knew. He had each day written out and ordained this season of my life before I even took breath. He called me by name…. and said this child, my child Lauren, she’s going places.
Quite literally.
This past year has been full of some of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and I would take them all again and again. I’ve learned you have to go through the lows to truly experience the joys of the mountain top and the mountain tops are there to give you the hope you need to ride out the lows.
Would I have liked to have done some things differently this past year? OF COURSE, but there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Do I have it all figured out? OF COURSE NOT; but I will spend this next year and the rest of my life living out my faith boldly and with new urgency in bringing heaven here to earth and fulfilling my purpose and walking in daughter ship hand in hand with my Father! His character and love has been revealed to me this past year in ways I never thought possible.
So many things have been spoken into me and so much I can look back on and remember what God spoke to my heart and realizing for the first time I’m allowing it all to fully resonate and sink in. Having the ability to finally be able to cling to truth instead of lies, and rely on his strength and not mine. So many chains have been broken that have crippled me with insecurity for so long and today I can say I’m well on my way to walking in complete freedom. No, actually right now I’m proclaiming I AM walking in complete freedom!
I love the Lauren who is sitting in Panama today and so darn proud of her!!! And fully believe she is capable and equipped with all that she needs by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you Jesus, doing life with you is so fun. You have given me the greatest gift of exploring beautiful parts of the world with a group of amazing people who are such powerhouses and some of the greatest people I will ever have the pleasure of knowing, and meeting people across the world and seeing the love they have to give, and opening my eyes to the diversity of cultures. But the biggest thing you’ve taught me is people are your people wherever we go. We are all the same and we all just want to love and be loved. But the greatest love we can find is the one found in you and to be able to tell people about that love; not always necessarily by words but by actions…. it’s been the greatest honor serving you and loving like you.
And look at me making all kinds of friends 😉
This is 35 and it’s looking alright!
Much love to you ALL!!
