Why I'm Not at TGC Women's Conference

On my way to the airport this morning, I snapped the above shot of the incredible sunrise. After I had taken the photo, I glanced at its image in my phone and could not help but see the giant heart glowing back at me. I interpreted it as a sign that everything would go as planned today. That I would make my flight (I had more than enough time to make it on any other day...except for today), that the Lord would give me words to speak truth and love to the women at The Gospel Coalition, that the Spirit would move mightily despite me, and that I would get to spend time with women I know and love, and women I don't know yet but still love.

The Lord had a different plan.

This glowing heart in the sky was a reminder that because I am His, everything works out for my good and His glory--that instead of my talking about His being the stability of our times, He proved Himself to be just that.

As I walked into the terminal, I knew it would take an act of God to get me to my flight on time. But, He is that kind of God. He can do the impossible. A line full of families with Mickey-eared children and couples dressed for beachy weather snaked past security, in front of the ticket agents and down the hall to baggage claim. No worries, I had plenty of time--a full hour. This just meant I'd have to make due with airplane coffee rather than Starbucks. The digits on my phone kept creeping closer and closer to boarding time. Once that time passed and I was still in line, I became a bit more nervous. Just as I made it through security with 2 minutes to spare before take-off, I was informed that they had given my seat away. 


I would love to say that I rejoiced in God's sovereignty and that it would all work out for my joy and His glory. But, to be honest, I felt kicked in the gut. Tears brimmed. I thought, Lord, I know You are sovereign. I know You are good. I know this is part of Your plan, but I am struggling to understand it. 

The gate agents did what they could to get me on another flight. They handed me a voucher to put me on stand-by for the next flight and encouraged me to grab a coffee and breathe. I followed their instructions. However, when I got to the next flight's gate, my name kept inching lower and lower on the stand-by list. I was then informed that all the flights from Dallas to Orlando were oversold.

I lost it.

I could no longer contain the tears! I felt so burdened for the women at TGC and burdened with this message--that He would be the stability of our times, an abundance of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. I was a blubbering mess right there at gate C36 at the DFW airport.

The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

A sweet voice broke the onslaught of "what if I had..."s and "if only..."s that were bombarding my mind. Are you okay?, she asked. Through sniffles and breath-gathering pauses, I related my story to this precious woman. I even unpacked what I'd prepared to share at the workshop with her. I told her how the Lord had proven to be the stability of my times through Matt's brain tumor diagnosis and the uncertainty that comes with that, and what I felt like the Lord showed me about Himself through it.

Her response was staggering.

She felt like the Lord had purposed us to meet, and for me to share my story with her. It became apparent that the Lord was pursuing her. She knows Him, but the Lord was inviting her to return to Him.

Once it became apparent that I would not make any flight to Orlando today, I exchanged cell numbers with her. She texted this to me a few hours later:

I got confirmed on a flight leaving at 3:30 today. Only seat open until tomorrow. I was just sitting here reflecting on our encounter and I have no doubts that your preparation for your testimony and talk on suffering was not wasted. I'm sorry that the women in Florida did not get to hear you speak, but I feel as though my heart heard something it needed to hear and I'm glad we were able to have the time to talk. We have an AWESOME God!


I thought I knew what that big heart in the sky meant, but the Lord showed me something better. He showed me how intimately He loves us. He showed me that He personally knows what each of us is going through and has gone through. He showed me that He enters in! He orchestrates and establishes the most intricate of details! He showed me that all other props--a flight schedule, a security line, a healthy husband, my plan for my life--cannot truly sustain. Only He is unshakeable. Only He can be the stability of our times.

For all you precious, precious women at The Gospel Coalition's Women's Conference, please know that I am praying for you. More than good doctrine (though it is important!), I pray you get more of JESUS this weekend, in whatever form He may present Himself---in the expected and the unexpected. I pray I get another chance to share with you, some way, some how.

Naomi's Village's Newest Additions

I received the following e-mail not too long ago announcing a few additions to Naomi's Village:

We will soon have 32 children who call Naomi's Village home! 

God has been faithful in rescuing children who need a new hope 

and His love.  Let us introduce to you our newest "adorables." 

Esther (picture on the left), 4 yrs. and newborn Baby Naomi (picture on the right) joined us in April 2012.  Abandoned by her parents when she was 2 yrs. old, Esther was taken in by a person who then severely abused her. She was rescued from this traumatic situation and has been awaiting a permanent home for 2 years.  Sweet Naomi was found abandoned in a field shortly after her birth. Miraculously, she was rescued before being attacked by safari ants, dogs, etc. and before becoming severly dehydrated under an equatorial sun.  We praise God for these 2 rescued lives! 

The boys above are Laban, 6, and his brother James, 4.  They will join us next week upon completion of required paperwork.  After their mother died 2 years ago, the father abused their young teen-age sister. The father is now serving a life sentence in Kenyan prison.   

Laban and James are shy, sweet young boys.  We are thankful God is bringing them to Naomi's Village where they will be safe and loved.  Both of these boys need sponsors.  If you can help, please let me know. You could also help by sharing the story of Naomi's Village and these 2 precious boys with your family and friends.  Perhaps they would like to be a part of restoring hope to Laban and James.  Please also pray for Laban and James as they make the transition to their new home soon.  

Thank you for your love, support and prayers for our children and staff at Naomi's Village.  Your prayers and words of encouragement give us strength to press on each day. 

Introducing: Naomi's Village

Watch a brief video to further acquaint yourselves with the people of Naomi's Village, those our team will be serving in only a month! Thank you to those who have made this happen!

THANK YOU!!!

I am absolutely floored by the outpouring of love and generosity!! We raised enough money to almost send our ENTIRE TEAM to Kenya!! What we lack will be made up for by those who are giving that are connected to other people on the team.

Because of this, the goal has been met! If you'd still like to give, thank you but please know that I won't be able to send my EP to you. If you gave by today and over $10, you will receive my EP. If you give after today, I will not be able to get my EP to you. I am so sorry about that. However, you'll be able to buy it via iTunes once it's released (late July/early August).

More importantly (than all this EP business), I can't wait to share pieces of the journey with you guys! I will start posting more in the coming weeks of what to pray for while we're there and sneak peeks into Naomi's Village--the stories, the people. Thank you so much for standing with me in this..."one on one side and the other on the other side." Thank you for being our Aaron and Hur so that we can be Naomi's Village's Aaron and Hur.

p.s. If you are receiving my EP and would like a digital copy instead of a physical copy, please let me know.

I Need Your Help

On July 16th, Audrey (my 9-year-old) and I will, Lord willing, be traveling with a small group of women to Kenya to love on some missionaries and orphans--one of whom has become particularly special to our family (she is pictured below). She lives in Naomi's Village--a home for children who have been orphaned or rescued from life-threatening circumstances. They receive love, care, support and discipleship.

The Lord put this trip on my heart in January, and He has been faithful to line up our schedule and place people to join us in the adventure--physically, spiritually and financially. However, we've run into a snag. With rising gas prices, our plane tickets are much higher than we initially planned.

When I first received the news, I was honestly discouraged. I felt sure that this is what the Lord had in store for us. Providentially, I was reading through a manuscript of an amazing new author who serves as a missionary with her husband and children in the Middle East (I cannot wait to recommend her book to you!). She recounts the story in Exodus 17:8-13 of the battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites. Joshua and a select group of men go out to fight their enemies. Moses, Aaron and Hur stand on the top of a hill nearby. Whenever Moses holds up the staff of God with his hands high in the air, Joshua and the Israelites prevail. As soon as his arms lower, their enemies prevail. Naturally, Moses' arms began to grow weary but they did not give up. They took a stone and put it under Moses, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands. It says, "So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun...and Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword."

Now, I know this story is ultimately a shadow of Christ's arms being outstretched on a cross on our behalf to utterly destroy our enemies of sin and death. Praise Him!! But, I also believe it is a portrait of how we may come alongside one another, "one on one side, and the other on the other side," to accomplish something we feel the Lord has put in our heart to do.

This is where you come in. Would you prayerfully consider giving to this trip? Would you stand with us, "one on one side, and the other on the other side" to see this come to fruition? If you can't give financially, will you pray for the Lord to provide? If you can give financially, there is one small incentive.

At the end of this month I am going into the studio to record my first EP (a collection of 5 or 6 songs that I have written and will perform). I would love to give you a copy of it (once it is printed, which would be some time toward the beginning of August...after our trip to Kenya), if you give $10 or more to our trip. 

Here's how you can give:

Online: go to  www.lostorphans.com - general donations tab - Naomi's Village - add to cart - select amount to donate - choose Naomi's Village again in the drop down menu - place order - put *Chandler* in the comment section when filling out the donate page.

By mail: Send a check payable to LOI with "Chandler" in the memo line to: LOI, P.O. Box 1388, McKinney, Texas 75070

***make sure you give them your address for tax purposes and (if you give $10 or more) so that I can send you your copy of the EP***

All contributions are tax-deductible.

Thank you for even considering this and especially for praying for us! I will be updating the blog in the coming weeks, during our trip and afterward.

Blessings!
Lauren


For more information on Naomi's Village, go to naomisvillage.com

Hannah

Hannah. A woman well acquainted with waiting. She had the love of her husband. She had a double portion. But, she did not have a child. For her, she could gain the whole world but her heart would still lay in pieces on the ground. To make matters worse, the woman that shared her husband found great pleasure in crushing the shards into fine powder with her annoyingly fruitful womb and surgically sharp tongue. Her poor husband did everything he knew to do to comfort her. He knelt down and carefully gathered the pieces from the dirt. He lifted them up to show her and vainly attempted to fit them back together. All his might, all his skill, all his tenderness, all his love could not mend what the Lord had broken.

God had every ability to open her womb yet He waited. He knew the impact of the little life that would soon sprout within her. He knew the kind of tree He would plant in His house that would usher in a king who would be a shadow of the King to come. The fruit was too precious to let it be plucked by man, sit in a bowl, without being consumed, and rot.

So, He ordained a waiting for Hannah. Not just for her son Samuel but for her soul as well. He knew the best thing for her heart was to come to the end of itself. To reach the point that there was no way she could ever glue the pieces back together. All she could do was let out tear-soaked prayers and throat-tight cries to the only One who could do more than repair a heart but give her a completely new one. He would give her a desire to give up the very thing for which she longed. She would utter a vow to devote her only child to live ever in the service of her God.

And the Lord heard. He remembered Hannah. He boasted in her humility. He lifted her up. And in turn, from a new heart, she worshiped Him. She gave a sacrifice of praise - her only son.

The Weight of Waiting

Advent is one of my favorite seasons though it involves one of my least favorite activities: waiting. Though I'm not especially fond of waiting in a long line at the grocery store or waiting for a traffic light to turn green, this is another kind of waiting. This is waiting on the Lord.

I have dreams, plans, desires that I long to see come to fruition. These are good dreams--plans, I pray, that would give glory to God and stir the affections of the saints toward Him. I'm not alone in this. At the moment, I know of two families in particular who are waiting for some very good things. One waits to see if the Lord would be gracious in continuing to grow a precious child in her womb. Another waits to see if He will grant healing and restoration in their daughter's body. The one word in those sentences on which its content hangs is this: waits.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I know the Lord could speak one word in the smallest moment and all would be restored--the little life would grow, the broken body would be healed, and my plans would materialize. He is able. But, as of this morning, He hasn't chosen to reveal His will in these matters yet. Both families (and myself) are waiting. This I do know: God has revealed His will for right now. His will for them and for me is to wait.

There is weight in waiting. It is a gravity that pulls us toward Him. Very few things offer relief or respite but the presence of God and the healing balm of His word.

This weight is a heaviness that presses us down, sometimes on our faces. Many times in my waiting the Lord has shown me that I desire the thing on which I wait more than I desire Him. The realization of my idolatry and the unrelenting kindness of God even in the midst of it leads me to confession and repentance.

This weight refuses to let us go about our day without it reminding us of its presence. In my experience with waiting, I find others' fulfillment of what I'm longing for highlighted. Rarely do I glance through a Twitter timeline without seeing even a hint of this. "Everyone" seems to be not waiting.

For those who wait on the Lord, though, it is not a weight leading to despair but instead a weight that invites us to know hope.

Remember my affliction and my wanderings,

the wormwood and the gall!

My soul continually remembers it

and is bowed down within me.

But this I call to mind,

and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,

"therefore I will hope in him."

The Lord is good to those who wait for him.

It is good that one should wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:19 - 26

By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit from the mouth of Simeon, a man well-acquainted with waiting, as he holds the infant Jesus...

Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation

that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light of revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to your people Israel.

Luke 2:29 - 32

This is the hope: the salvation of the Lord has come and will come again to make all things right. It has come in the form of Jesus. Because He has come, all things will be used for our good whether our waiting ends as we've hoped or not. In our waiting and in its end, we get Him.