BIG THINGS happened in the month of November.
we had a teaching on “Remaining in the Fire of God” at the very beginning of the month and it spoke directly to all of November.
We often are quick to want out of the fire as soon as it gets a little too hot because we feel a little too uncomfortable. We were challenged see His fire as a gift because it lights up the darkness. Fire is revealing. Fire is purifying. Fire is refining.
There are things within me that needed to burn. Pride, performance, self-reliance are just to name a few. Fire burns up who we ARE NOT to get to who we are.
GOOD NEWS: everything that fire touches is forever marked. We are marked by God’s goodness. We are marked by God’s presence in the aftermath of fire.
God stands in the fire with us. In the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – they weren’t alone in the fiery furnace (if you want to read the story, you can find it in Daniel 3:8-30).
so as a declaration to remain in His fire, to desire refinement, to declare faithfulness to the Father, and completely surrender to God’s plan for me… I GOT BAPTIZED !!
LAYNA GOT DUNK’D !! a celebration of all celebrations !!
(i’m the one in the middle !!)
T E A M A L I G N !! post-baptism smiles 🙂
CHLOE GIRL and I praying over each other !!
oooo look at that post-baptism sunset !!
GRETCHEN WATERS !! a woman on fire !!
(& my roomie !!)
speaking of roomie… Here’s where I sleep now !! bye bye tent !! for the month of November, all 30 of us slept in one large room INSIDE. you read that right… INSIDE !! thank you Jesus. no more cold nights in the woods.
My sleeping bag in the green one and all my stuff fits into those pink boxes !!
hehe this is another part of the big room we sleep in !! I love the way the light shines through these windows. GLORIOUS.
this past month, I was continuously reminded to seek a posture of awe and wonder towards him. This sounds easy but when I couldn’t understand why things didn’t go my way in certain situations and I’d get easily frustrated, He‘d ask me, “why are you trying to figure me out, daughter?” ouch… but I’m growing. When I function out of a place of awe and wonder, I leave space for the Lord to move beyond my own understanding or comprehension.
smiley face after breakfast burritos lol !!
my team served meals for a week !! PB&J’s for the win !!
very very very special day this month !!
MY TEAM ORGANIZED AND LED CHURCH ON SUNDAY !!
welcome to our venue:) outdoor church by the trees !!
preparing our decor!!
we served hot chocolate, hot apple cider, pumpkin pie, and cheesecake.
it was a packed house !!
team align all dressed up 🙂 what cuties !!
more pictures with Chloe girl !!
wow. get this… all of the boys on our squad set up a lovely dinner for us on our last night together before thanksgiving!! SO SWEET !!
Dinner date with the girls !!
very kind words of affirmation !!
and look at those napkin folds !!
team align and the boys !! so thankful 🙂
Then we all left our Gainesville home to see our families for thanksgiving!!
now I’m home in Maryland… counting down the days until I get to see my people and launch to Costa Rica!! T-minus 21 days!!
thank you so much.
I love you lots.
-L
