I'm 20 now

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an all-knowing God” -Corrie ten Boom

I am 20 now. At our family dinner celebrating that fact, I was asked a couple of questions, one of which was, “What have you learned this year?” How do you sum that one up? It is amazing where God has taken me in this past year. It has been a good year, full of growth, and wonderful love of my creator. He brought me even nearer to Himself, and I stand humbled today that He would want me. But He does want me, and love me, because my sins have been washed white, and I am not the person I was. I am a new creation. He sees me as a new creation, even when I fail time and time again.

I learned this year to trust. I learned that trust means surrender, and to trust I must surrender all I am, have been, will be, my rights, my life, my family, my friends, my desires, and my heart to God. God is trustworthy, and able to care perfectly for that- I am not. It is amazing the transformation of soul that has taken place. By complete surrender of me, I came to the place of complete satisfaction with Christ, and that is the place where I still am, and pray I’ll always be. Even when my heart feels like it is breaking because I miss someone so much, I look to God, and He and He alone can satisfy my longing heart. No man can do that. When I can’t figure out what I am doing with my life, and why so many curveballs are thrown, and why things happen the way they do, I look to God, and He and He alone, lifts me on Him shoulders and lets me know that I have no place struggling on a path- He is carrying me down that path. My job is to trust His footing. “Can you trust Me, Laurel, am I trustworthy? Have I ever failed you, or anyone?” Ah, that is so humbling. The lyrics to this song I wrote came from this time in my life-

I’m satisfied with Jesus Christ
What can have hold on me?
Can life or death or height or depth?
No! Satisfied I’ll be
One look at the cross
One taste of His love
Assures me this is true
I’m satisfied with Jesus Christ
He is my drink and food

I’m Satisfied with Jesus’ love
A love beyond this world
Not satisfied with any else
It’s His love I’ve preferred
One look at the cross
One taste of His love
Then nothing shall I need
I’m satisfied with Jesus Christ
I’m satisfied indeed!

It is the satisfaction that every human soul longs for, that by the grace of God I have found. The more I love God, the more, and the better I can serve others. I am beginning to see through the eyes of eternity, and it’s heavenly! So, that is a brief synopsis of where I am today, and the past year. God is beyond merciful to me. It is a great great love- one I hope to understand someday, but I don’t think I really ever will.

New horse on Blackberry Ranch

I got another horse!! Here are some pictures of him. I have been riding/training this horse at Diamond P Ranch for the past few months, and he just came up for sale really cheap, so I bought him! He is a cool boy. His name is "Big"...and it might very well change. He was gelded relatively late in life, so he has mostly stud features which makes him kinda special, as far as looks go. He's got the big ole' stud jaws, and a nice hip, and he muscles really well. I worked him on some buffalo this morning, and I think he might actually make a decent cutter/ranch horse. He looks a little more like a reiner, but he is pretty athletic, so we'll see! My goal is to sell him for at least 5 million in the Bull and Gelding Sale here in January. That is an awesome event! If you've never been, come on down to Red Bluff! I might even make you a lemon merangue pie from lemons fresh off the tree! I always wonder why lemons get ripe in the winter...seems weird to me.

A book?

Here is the really rough first draft to the intro and first chapter of the book I was referring to in the previous blog. I hope you enjoy it, and feel free to give me any tips!!

The Conclusion of the Whole Matter
Ecclesiastes 12:13- Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is mans all.

Intro: Some time ago I was hiking Mt. Brokeoff, near my home in Northern California, with my dear friend Shaun Terhune. We were discussing some of our favorite passages in scripture as we hiked back down after summiting. I was explaining to Shaun how much I enjoyed reading Ecclesiastes, and how the whole entire book was summed up with just one verse. (Ecc 12:13) As we were talking about that verse, the thought entered my mind that “The Conclusion of the Whole Matter” is not only an awesome verse, but would make an awesome book title. I spent the next couple of days thinking about that, until I finally decided to put that thought into action in the form of a 31 day “devotional” type of book. The purpose of the book is to share things I have learned from scripture, and hope that it is an encouragement to anyone who reads it. It is my attempt to give a little piece of the joy the Lord has given me, to others. It is a tiny glimpse of the journey I’m on.

Day 1: The Conclusion of the Matter-
My journey as a new believer began with the conclusion. It is the same conclusion reached by King Solomon at the end of Ecclesiastes, only, by the grace of God I was able to reach that conclusion without going through all that he had. King Solomon had it ALL. The world was at his fingertips- women, riches, entertainment, luxury, friends…but the void in his heart could not be filled by ANY of this. Have you felt that void? You’ll try anything to fill it- adventure, relationships with others, adrenaline rushes, money, work, success, possessions, fashion, beauty…. It all becomes meaningless. The void only gets more glaring and wide. The heart is never satisfied, and the lonely nights spent in anguish of soul become more and more frequent. All is meaningless! “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity”. (Ecc 12:8)
We were created in God’s image- more than that we were created to serve God, to bring Him glory. We cannot satisfy ourselves- only God can satisfy. Only He can fill that glaring painful void. Only He can soothe the soul. Unfortunately by deception, from the very beginning of mankind, sin crashed into the picture and created that void. It is the separation of us and God, and the devil would like nothing more than for you to waste your life trying on your own power to fill that void. It is like a bottomless pit- it cannot be filled no matter how hard one tries. But God, out of love and pity for us provided a way for the void to be filled. He bridged the gap between Him and us by sending His one and only beloved Son to earth. He lived as 100% human, 100% deity in His short stay on earth. He faced every temptation imaginable, yet He was perfect and could not sin. Since there had to be a sacrifice for sin, He became the sacrifice- the perfect spotless Lamb of God was made a sacrifice for sin. He was mocked, beaten, dragged through town- on His brow they placed a crown of thorns, and mocked His claim to be the King of the Jews. If only they had known that this Man was the Son of God. They realized that after they crucified Him… It is hard for me to recall this story without my heart jumping into my throat, and tears threatening my eyes. It wasn’t just the Roman soldiers that put Him on the cross…it was me. With every sin I can almost see them striking the nails that held him to that awful wooden cross. Oh those beautiful words He spoke just moments before He breathed His last; “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do…. Forgive Laurel, for she knows not what she does.” That is the love that can fill the void. But not yet; the story doesn’t end there. He was taken from the cross, buried in a tomb, and 3 days later rose from the dead, defeating sin!! We are promised “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”(Romans 10:9) Being saved means that you no longer have to try to fill that void. Jesus IS the only one who can fill it, and by making Him Lord and Savior of your life, and surrendering all you have and are to Him- the void will disappear. “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [Him], that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” (Romans 6:6) So I urge you, if you do not yet know Him, to seek Him, and consider giving your life to Him. What better gift than a life held by your very creator? “For the wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

My first ever blog!!

I'm starting a blog!! I figured this might be a good way to keep my friends and and family updated on my life. I've been known in the past for not being very good at keeping in touch, and I would like to change that. So we'll see how this goes!

Right now I am back on the good ole home turf. This summer was FULL of travel, and a bunch of really good times. It is amazing where the Lord will take you when you surrender your life to Him. I was planning on working at Diamond P Ranch for the majority of the summer, but that did not happen. I went to Bright and Morning Star Camp out in Wyoming. It is a beautiful 2 week camp about 30 min. from Jackson Hole. If you have never seen the Grand Tetons, please drop everything you are doing and GO NOW! I was there for a total of about 3 weeks, becase Lee and I helped with set up and take down. That trip was amazing, and brought me EVEN closer with the Lord. Sometimes I think I couldn't get any closer, and then WHAM, God shows Him self, yet again, exhaustless in Him amazingness. I also met and got close to a few friends there, and I am so thankful for them. I got home, worked at Diamond P for about a week and a half or so, then got word one friday that the camp in Montana (Clydehurst Christian Ranch) which I had been Wrangler at for the past two years, needed a wrangler. The previous wrangler had family tragedy strike, and had to leave. Please pray for that family, they are amazing, and precious! So long story short, I packed up my car, and Jane (my dog- Aussie) and I jumped in my 96 Chevy Cavalier, and drove to Montana at 4:30 the next morning. I had a very nice stay at the LaBennes (thank you Jesse and Julia) in Grover Wyoming, on the way over. I got to Clydehurst sunday, started work Monday AM, and was there for three weeks. On my way back home, I spent about a week in Grover, then came on home with some hitch hiker named Shaun. Ok, so he's not a hitch-hiker.... He spent a bit over a week at our house, and we had loads of fun hiking, and enjoying beautiful Nor. Cal! He left last Saturday, and it is now Wednesday. I am still looking for work, but Mom has hired me to do some projects here around the house, and it is great! Today I cleaned out and organised all the cabinets, and painted and papered the hall pantry. It looks pretty good! It got me in the mood to cook though, so it looks like our freezer may be getting some meals pretty soon :-)

The next big thing on my list is to write a book! I have finished the intro, the first chapter and part of the second. I hope to finish the second tonight. I think I will post the intro/first chapter on here so you can get the idea of the book. It's called "The Conclusion of the Matter." (which I stole from Ecclisiastes. Go read that book if you havn't lately. It is amazing!!

Well, thats all folks!!
Here's a verse of one of my favorite songs to end this blog-

Have I an object, Lord below
Which would devide my heart with Thee
Which would divert it's even flow
In answer to Thy constancy
Oh teach me quickly to return
And cause my heart afresh to burn!