Still Marvelous

So I just sat down to my quiet time. Fenley is asleep. Walt is working and I was/am giddy about sitting down to seek my Saviors face and get to know Him more and more. Oh how I love the intimacy He has created here. Unlike anything else I have ever experienced. 

And as I was reading through psalm 90 - which is absolutely beautiful, He is SUCH a Holy Holy Holy God that we should be filled with love and trembling respect at the thought of Him - He popped a verse in my head about when Jesus said "I'm going to prepare a place for you." And I couldn't think of the scripture reference. And I literally just flipped to the New Testament and there the verse was... In John 14. He. Is. So. Cool. I actually almost googled the verse to find the reference. But instead asked Him to reveal it to me. Y'all. Marvelous. Way better than Google. Here's the verse...

"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Fathers home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you so that you will always be with me where I am."

The Creator of this beautiful earth has prepared a place for me. Soaking that up right now. He cares enough to actually have a home waiting for me in His Kingdom. Not only is He perfectly Holy. He is also perfectly and intimately concerned with where I am. Where we are. He cares. And because of Jesus I can come to His throne BOLDLY and EXPECTANTLY.

He doesn't care a little. He cares a LOT. And that right there we can take to the bank. I have lived - like so many other people I know, too - like He cares a little. Sure, He wants to help me pick my mate, give us the right kids, find us our jobs, etc... but He wants us to live here being more at home with Him than with anyone or anything else. Wow. He is our home here. And it's just a shadow of our real home to come in Heaven. 

A little further along in the same chapter...

"Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do." 

I can hear Him saying that directly to me: Just believe me, Lauren. And if you're struggling with just simply believing, at least believe because of the marvelous things I have done in your life. 

Yes, Jesus. I muster every ounce of my heart and just sit in belief. 

Speaking of "the work I have seen Him do"...

Marvelous happenings...recently:

Asked Him simply if marvelous still counts now that Wills is gone. Within hours He confirmed that marvelous is still a pillar for us here on earth. And has given the word marvelous again and again since...

Walt lost a bible a year or two ago. Found it on December 11th. Opened the front page, was given to him on December 11th 9 years earlier :)

Fenley is finally potty trained - straight up miracle! Best birthday present ever! And she's my hero too. Our bond is legit and I am so thankful for her rich life. 

Prayed about quitting writing. He answered it within minutes literally to keep telling my special story with Him. 

Prayer wanting to find something "new" of Wills'... Next day Fenley brought one of his pacifiers to me that she had found under our couch :) felt like a punch in the gut but then I dissolved into the sweetest tears thanking Him for that paci popping up randomly. 

Getting to share our marvelous story live with Pinelake Madison family soon. 

Prayed for snow this winter - have gotten it twice - both times while in my birthday week and last week of my 20s! When it snows I feel so close to Wills. 

God is providing for us financially so perfectly...story would make your head spin. Will share one day I hope. 

Just to name a few. If I boast about anything, it's what Jesus has done in us and for us. And I will brag on Him for eternity...we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Revelation 12:11. And yes I googled that scripture reference :) haha. 

Want to just believe Him. I'm that wayward heart that He has had to prove who He is through His pursuit of me. I believe, Lord! You are worthy of all respect and belief I have to offer! And I hope and pray and know that anyone who comes sincerely seeking You will be rewarded with the BEST thing - You. "It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him." Hebrews 11:6... Amen :)

Night night. 

Lauren

PS - This is my last post in my 20s. Pray for my 30th year? Thank you in advance :) He is listening. 

Get to Work

Not a whole lot to say today :) or any other day recently. God has me in the position of a student (aka on my knees desperately seeking Him). Great place to be. Wanna live here. 

Sweetest trust in Him. 

Back to baking full swing. First batch was pretty bittersweet. To think the last time I used all that equipment Wills was in my belly growing. The second batch was more fun and every batch since has been better and better. The verse God used to confirm baking again was in Haggai chapter 2...

"Then on OCTOBER 17th... The Lord sent another message... Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says The Lord of Heavens Armies. My spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid."

Haggai 2:1 and 4-5

Yep. Haggai is a book of the bible - just a really short book. And yep. October 17th is the day they were able to cross reference with Persian records to match our modern calendar. And yep. October 17th is also my sons birthday :) And yep. His mama was praying for days about whether or not to "get to work" baking macarons again. And God led me to Haggai. Honestly didn't even know it was in the bible. When I read that 2nd chapter intro, I could feel the Holy Spirit so strong. Literally felt like God was reading the scripture to me. Holy ground. I contemplated taking off my shoes. Seriously. Then realized I was already barefoot :)

Marvelous. 

So yeah I got back to work and took my first order and am having fun with it. All straight gifts from above. He loves us so much. 

Must admit, I feel pretty Proverbs 31ish when I bake :) I know I'm not knitting clothes of purple linen to sell in the marketplace but I am using my hands to bake for The Lord and bless others and teach Fenley and also help out with a bill here and there. Pretty cool. And I thank The Lord for this sweet set up right now. All Him.

Praise You Jesus.

Love y'all.

Lauren Bowie :)

The Macaron

Walt and I met with Jeff Redding a few days ago. We love this guy. He has been so good for our hearts and heads in this season. Seriously have never met anyone that can unpack truth so clearly. Add him as a friend on Facebook and message him your dilemma - okay I'm kidding. Don't do that. But really...everyone needs a Jeff Redding in their life. And I hope he knows he'll never get rid of us :) but hopefully he won't be our lifeline call every time we have a fight that goes from 0 to 60.

And yes... We still fight like cats and dogs. But it's different after Wills. We get to the point a lot quicker and are much more tender with each other. After we lost Wills we heard 75% of marriages that lose a child end in divorce :( Jeff said: that's how the world reacts, can tell you 100% of the marriages that both partners turn to Jesus make it :) he also said a lot of couples are two people on auto pilot tolerating each other. He's coaching us on how to be one...in life, in loss, in anger, in love...I love learning to be one with Walt Bowie. He's the steady to my rollercoaster. 

Alright. New Years was tough. Didn't want to say goodbye to the year that I had Wills. However, felt like I couldn't get to 2014 fast enough. How was New Years harder than Thanksgiving and Christmas? Didn't see that one coming. But now here we are 3 days into 2014 and finding myself very tended to in Jesus. More so than ever before. He's with me and I'm thankful.

He's teaching me... He is so so so HOLY. Like wow, speechless, take your shoes off, you'll die if you even see my shadow HOLY. And He is Love. And He wanted to "come near" to me and you so badly but couldn't because of our rotten filth and flesh that He sent His precious Son so He could adopt us. Life changing revelation takes place as we meet the One True Savior. Keep asking, seeking, knocking on His door from a true humble heart and He WILL show Himself to You. Ask for eyes to see and a heart to learn. Pray that I'll continue to ask for the same thing. 

I'm saying hello to the French macaron again. Thanks to Lois Miller (whom I've never met), who called me today asking if I was still baking. Then started crying mid conversation sharing how much she has prayed for us and been encouraged by our story. On Sunday I'm attempting my first batch. I haven't baked them since April. . IF - and it's a big IF - I don't botch them, then I'll be back in business I do believe. We shall see. Keep y'all posted :) 

A moment of gratitude... Thank You Lord that what's next is SO GOOD! Reading the book "Heaven" has helped me see. If the enemy can convince us that Heaven is a ghostly place that isn't a real reality then we won't be motivated to get there, much less want to take people with us. I'm learning that Heaven is the REALEST REAL. We live in the shadow now... basically all on life support straight from You until our days here are complete. Praise You Jesus for access to eternal life because of Your work and obedience to Your Father. Deep breath of contentment :) I was found guilty. I was acquitted in Christ. And now I am being sanctified daily. 

Well, as the preacher man said on Sunday...2013 was the year I saw The Lord. Here's to 2014. And maybe some French Macarons :)

Lauren

Some macarons from when I started. My sixth love. The Lord, Walt, Fenley & Wills and family are my first five of course :) really excited to try these babies again. They're really ticky. Wish me luck ;)

 

Annnnnnnnd gotta throw in at least one picture of Wills :)