Fun Times...

I have had some fun experiences the past few weeks. One fun new tradition I got to experience was Choctoberfest. I was invited by a wonderful young woman from my Tuesday morning bible study. Every new person that comes to the event just shows up for the fun evening. The women who have been in years past bring all kinds of yummy chocolate dishes. It was really fun to eat and have great fellowship time with some old friends and many new ones. There was such a feeling of warmth and femininity in the air. I loved it. There are already plans being made to attend next year.

I have also been able to rest and be rejuvinated in one of my favorite Texas towns: Fredericksburg.

We all participated in one of my favorite pastimes: shopping. It was a fun time for sure.

Recent Randomness...

I haven't been up to much lately. Here are a few things I have enjoyed as the days are getting shorter and the season is changing:

I have loved getting back to one of my favorite pastimes- reading. As I look around my home, I am amazed at how many books I own. At this moment in time I am enjoying "Red Moon Rising" by Pete Greig. This book chronicles the call of the Spirit on Pete's life as he has helped flesh out the 24-7 prayer movement in Europe. It is very interesting and challenging. I am thinking I want to revisit Jan Karon's "Mitford" series next.

I have also recently started a new Beth Moore bible study that I absolutely adore. It is the Jesus the One and Only study. I am being grown and challenged by each week and for that I am thankful. Beth has such a wonderful way of making her studies applicable and very exciting. She also makes me think and sometimes re-evaluate my belief systems which I appreciate. I also really enjoy her energy and passion for the Word. It truly is contagious!

The next two weekends will be busy ones for sure. This next weekend my mom, sister-in-law, her mom, and my mom's best friend are headed to Fredericksburg to enjoy a long girls weekend. I am looking forward to the fun that we will have. Mom, Laura, and I love to go to Fredericksburg in the fall. I think it is becoming a fun family tradition. Then the weekend after that we have a family wedding in Houston. I am enjoying the little joys in life's randomness.

A Month To Celebrate...

October is one of my favorite months of the year. It seems that every year when October rolls around, I am given a sense of newness and rejuvination. Maybe it is because this special month helps usher in some of the common signs of the Fall season, such as pumpkins, gourds, beautiful harvest colors, and many other things. I know I feel a sense of thankfulness and deep gratitude especially during this month because I get to celebrate someone who is one of the many priests in my life- my precious mom, Cheryl. I don't know what I would do if I did not have the daily blessing of being her daughter. I am indebted to her in so many ways. She is a lovely representation of Christ in my life and I think everyone should know her. She is extremely special.

One of the most precious treasures we have to share in our relationship is our birthdays. My mom's birthday is on October 5 and mine is on October 6. One day apart. I have always thought of that as God's little gift to me. As my birthday came and went this year, I came to a realization. The older you get, the more low-key a birthday becomes. Sure it is still very special, but it is special in a different way as each year passes. My family and friends make me feel very special every day of the year through their love, devotion to me, and pointing me to Jesus. I am also thankful for the faithfulness of my family and friends. I am blessed to be loved, accepted, and appreciated warts and all. Bottom line: I am immeasurably blessed! My prayer is that I will grow to love and serve others this year in a new way and that I will grow in my devotion to the Love of my life. I pray also that the world may see Him through me and that the Spirit is truly at home in who I am becoming. Thank the Lord it is a process! The Lord is always good. Be blessed today.

Turning Up The Heat...

I don't know about anyone else, but I think the news and forecasts coming out of Washington concerning the economy of our nation have been sobering. Just last week, I read a prophetic word given by Cindy Jacobs, whom I first came to know through the prayer conference I attended this summer. The word she shared was centered around the dire state our economy is in and some of the things we can do about it. The most important thing she suggested was to fervently pray. The heart of the Lord is stirred by the fervent, sincere cries of His people. If you are interested, you can find the prophetic word at http://www.generals.org. I had only heard snippets about Cindy before attending the conference and was excited to learn more about her. I found her to be very humble about her prophetic gifting, but very effective in the way she used it to further the purposes of the Lord. She was very grounded in the authority of God.

So, I have been praying hard as this situation has been heavy on my heart. The Lord continues to teach me that when I am faced with situations that are beyond my control, the BEST thing that I can do is to pray unceasingly about it. I think prayer is the first step in changing any situation- be it good or bad. I ask you to join me in praying for the state of our economy, but most importantly, pray for the state of our nation. My prayer is that America would turn back to the Lord and heed His voice. May the Lord hear the prayers of His children. Be blessed.

Counting My Blessings...

The Lord has been teaching me something very special recently that has provided a healthy and very beneficial practice in the daily happenings of my life and in my walk with Him as well. The practice I am speaking of is taking time to make note of and to consciously look for the blessings in my life. These blessings come in all different shapes and sizes and they make themselves known at all different times througout my daily activities. I try to be intentional about this all the time but it seems that the Spirit keeps quitely reminding me to be on the look out for these little Heaven-sent affirmations. They are not always huge, but I have come to find the richest ones are the small ones that come along. It may be a word of encouragement, a scripture, quality time spent with someone else, a quote or another little divine occurrance or opportunity that weaves its way into the day. I have been amazed as I have just watched that the Lord showers these blessings in life if we take the time to look for them.

Watching for and expecting blessing is something that I believe is crucial in order to experience a fulfilling life. If I am constantly expecting a blessing to come along, it most assuredly will in the Lord's time. I have also found that this practice really makes life fun and especially when it comes to my life in God. Looking for blessings keeps me and God on our toes. It always seems that He outblesses me though. I think that is the way He is on alot of things. If I give something to Him, it seems that he gives me far more than I gave Him in the first place. God is amazing in that way! Watching for blessings also brings joy and peace into other peoples' lives as well. If others are looking for and expecting blessing, it seems that worry, doubt, fear, rejection and a whole slew of other detrimental seeds have a harder time gaining entry into their hearts, souls, and maybe even their lives. I guess my word of encouragement for today is rooted in the lesson to try to intentionally look for and EXPECT good things and blessings to come. Believe me, I am still trying to learn this lesson and to implement this practice into my own life, but the time I have spent trying to cultivate this habit has turned out to be a great experience. Take time and try it for yourself :)

Writing...

I have always enjoyed writing. It has been a very faithful outlet for me in many ways. Writing allows me to get what is swirling and sifting through my head out into the open in a private way. Many of the things I write are tucked safely within the pages of my numerous journals. I also believe there is a lot of power in writing. There seems to be such a permanant nature to anything in black ink. When I write anything, I feel as though my soul can truly breathe deeply. Writing also can and very often does provide such a tangible peace in my little personal and public world. I am thankful that the Lord created writing because it has served as a quiet, but loyal companion to me so many times. For that I am grateful.

Hurricane Ike...

I have been watching the reports on the projected invasion of Hurricane Ike on the coastline of Texas and into the city of Houston. I have been praying ALL day for the protection and covering of the Lord to rest on the coastline and on Houston as well as its surrounding areas. I have a group of people who live in Houston that I dearly love so my intercessor's alarm has been sounding in my spirit as I have claimed this scripture and promise over their lives, property, and material belongings.

"A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it WILL NOT come near you. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in ALL of your ways; they will lift you up into their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." -Psalms 91:7,11

Truly, that is one of my most beloved promises in God's entire Word and I am vigilantly claiming that promise for those who find themselves making hard decisions as they prepare for this hurricane. Please pray along with me for the safety and well being of all of those who will be affected by this storm. I am so thankful that God is in control!

6 Random Things...

I have been tagged by Ashley to share 6 random things about myself. I did this a while back but I think it is always fun to do things like this to allow people to get to know me.

I have a weakness for stationery. I don't know what it is, but anytime I am in any store and I notice stationery, I usually give into the tempation to purchase it. Maybe this weakness comes from my love of shopping, I really couldn't say to tell you the truth. All I know is that if it's there, I most likely will bring it home with me. My favorite stationery is anything with scripture or damask, polka-dots, monograms, or paisley. I LOVE personalized, special order stationery too.

I truly enjoy writing encouragment notes. I love letting people know how special they are and that their lives make a difference in the world. There is something in me that is made complete when I bring a smile to someone's face or I let them know that they are loved by God. There truly is nothing quite like encouraging another person. I am thankful that I have people in my life that encourage and affirm me.

I love looking through the church directory. That is probably one of my quirks and a lilttle known fact about me. I could spend an entire afternoon looking through each picture of each family that makes up my church body. I guess you would have to be me to find that to be fun but it is.

I LOVE to read. One ingredient of my perfect day would be to get cozy in an extra large, comfy, worn-in club chair on a cold fall or winter afternoon and read the day away. I could read for a very long time if I was given the opportunity. I enjoy being transported into different worlds through words, characters, plots, and little minute details of a story that seem to suck me into another time or place. Reading brings me great joy.

I love old things and anything with a sense of history. I think this is where my love for antiques was born. I love to think that the things I surround myself with could tell their own story and the fact that they will have a story after I am gone. I also really like the fact that the things in my life that I enjoy tell my story and convey my history to those around me.

I would love to live in an old cottage in New England one day. I love the fact that New England gets to enjoy true seasons, beauty, and there is a rich sense of history in that part of our country that I would love to partake in someday. I would love to call New England home at some point in my lifetime. Although, I really like Texas, and probably would consider it to be my real home :)

So there you go. I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into my life!

Soaking...

I have recently been introduced to a new avenue of communion with the Lord that I love. In this process, I have also been inroduced to some absolutely beautiful Christ-shaped women. This new experience is called soaking. I have only been to one soaking session, but I was hooked the first time I had to opportunity to partake in this special time. A group meets faithfully on Monday evenings in a wonderful Christ-honoring home and the presence of the Spirit is called upon as we all prepare to spend time with God. The outcome of each evening is left up to the Lord. The only thngs provided for us are pillows, blankets, and soft music leading us into the Heavenly places. It truly is magical and does wonders for my spirit. I plan to partake in soaking as long as I can and as long as it is offered. I was amazed at how sweet my time with Jesus was as I completley put all of myself into His keeping for an hour and a half. I am so thankful for times when I can be silent and completely still before the Lord. It is a wonderful start to my day and it brings such a joy into my week as I begin to allow the Spirit to play out His agenda and schedule of my time. I LOVE being available to the Spirit. There is nothing quite as sweet or satisfying that I have come to know than to know that I am being led and fed by my King. I am blesssed. My prayer is that everyone has times and places where you are able to be recommissioned, refueled, and fed by the ultimate source of all things good.

Impressed...

I try pretty hard to stay away from becoming political. I do not enjoy getting down into the nitty gritty of who is and who is not a Democrat or a Republican. I have to say, last night, as I watched Sarah Palin speak at the Republican National Covention, I was very impressed! In my estimation, she is not a typical politician that finds her home in Washington. As I watched her speak I noticed that she not in the least bit afraid to stand up for the things that are close to my heart. She is full of faith, conviction, and she is ready and able to let her voice be heard on important issues. I think John McCain chose the right person to help him get to the White House in January. I think John McCain and Sarah Palin will make a wonderful team as they work to make our country better and to protect our freedoms and our rights. It has been difficult for me to hear everything that John McCain went through as a prisoner of war. I also think Governor Palin has handled the rumors and media scrutiny with total grace and very evident class. It is clear to me that she is concerned to keep her personal life in privacy as it should be. I don't know about anyone else, but I have been very impressed with both John McCain and Sarah Palin. I can see why she is so beloved and popular in Alaska.

Ultimately, I think it is up to the Lord as to who He places in Washington and I will have to continue to plead for his choice to be given the responsibility of becoming the 44th President of the United States of American. It will be interesting to see what happens :)

Pictures of the New Glasses...

The first picture is me in what I wear when I am going to church and the second picture is of my more casual pair. I am really enjoying both pairs and I am getting a lot of use out of them. If you look, they are very similar shapes and I didn't really pay attention to that in the store. My last pair were round frames so I am really liking the change to newer more modern rectanglular frames. All in all, I am thankful to have these glasses to help me see the world and people around me more clearly.

Fall Means Football...

Today is a very exciting day in my life. You see, if you are part of the Cunningham family, it is required that you enjoy high school football. I say that this is a very exciting day because tonight is the first Abilene High football game of the season. Welcoming the first football game of the season is an event that ushers in the coming of fall and a lot of my very favorite things. Anyone who knows my family at all knows how much we look forward to the end of August. Seriously, my dad celebrates when this long-awaited day arrives. I think its a really good thing that I truly enjoy high school football because being a part of my family am not given much of a choice! I think one of my favorite things about the beginning of football season is our Friday night family routine. On Fridays in the fall, we go out to dinner with our friends and then head to Shotwell to enjoy the main event. I LOVE being together with other people that I am close to. Football games are not only really fun in West Texas, but they are also times when I enjoy being in the midst of community building and maintaining relationships. I love being surrounded by friends and new people.

Another really fun thing is that Abilene has been placed into another district this year. This move means that we as a family will not only travel to every away game, but we will be traveling to the DFW area frequently. I am excited about that. Football season means that my favorite season is on its way. And that the time to wear my favorite long-sleeved clothes is fast approaching. I am one happy girl :) Who knows, maybe I will see you at an Abilene High football game this season.

New Specs...

I got my new glasses this weekend. I am really excited about them, I think they are really cute! I have had to get used to wearing glasses again after a month-long sabatical. When I went into the opthalmologist this last Thursday, I also found out that I could have surgery to correct the way my eyes track with one another and that made me ecstatic. I have a consultation with the leading doctor in pediactric and adult strabismus (the eye tracking problem) in Grapevine on September 25th and I can't wait to talk to him. My eye doctor here in Abilene recommended this guy in the absolute highest regard. My mom has been after me to check into this for about five years but I just haven't been ready. I am apprehensive about any surgery, just like any normal person, but especially surgery pertaining to my vision had me holding out. But when I went into my appointment, I got brave and asked if there might be a possibility to have this surgery done. I am looking forward to having my eyesight somewhat restored and the new perspective this will have on my daily life. I think it will really help me to relate more effectively and seamlessly with others. So if you could begin to join me in praying about my consultation I would really appreciate it. I have felt a peace about the decision to proceed with this if the preliminary appointment with the doctor in Grapevine goes well as we are expecting it to. Be blessed.

Phelps Phenomenon and Other Things...

I have been glued to the Olympics for the past nine days. Micheal Phelps is one amazing athlete! He probably is one of my favorites in all of sports. Yes, I have noticed that he is ripped, but I do not have a crush on him. I have marveled at his ability as I have watched him make history in Beijing in the last week. As I have watched interviews with commentators on NBC, I have learned that all he does is eat, sleep, swim, and carb up for another event when he competes. In my opinion, his feat is quite impressive! In what other sport could a person have a chance to compete in 17 different events to try to bring home eight gold medals?

In other news my little cousin Lily celebrated her first birthday today. My mom made her a really cute homemade sunflower birthday cake. I had so much fun celebrating her. Let me just say, the girl is LOVED! I am thankful for my little 'Lily Belle'. I would love to post pictures but i have never figured out how to download them onto Blogger. So if anyone can help me out please leave a comment and let me know. I got some cute pictures of her party. Be blessed this week :)

Sweet Seasons....

I have had the honor of being given a very valuable, but fleeting gift in our whirlwind pace of a society this week. This gift I esteem so highly and cherish to the ultimate extent is the gift of quality time. I realize it is only Tuesday evening, but already, I have partaken of the blessing of spending extended periods of time with four women that I am extremely close to. The Lord has parceled out His delight and I have reveled in it. On Monday evening I shared a meal with three single women who epitomize a rich, Spirit-filled life testimony. Every second, minute, or hour I spend with them is sacred time. It is a thin place where I am taken into the presence of the Lord. I am a different person each time I leave when we have been together. Every time I depart from them, I feel as though my soul has feasted on Heaven's richest fare. They know who they are. Truly, these women showcase the glory of God. I am incredibly blessed.

Then the Lord had another beautiful blessing in store for me on Tuesday evening. One of my most beloved friends and I made plans to have a night at the movies. We saw Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. It was a great movie with such a sweet storyline. More than the movie, I enjoyed really getting to hear and see the season her heart was in. Spending time with people who really know you-who have poured their own lives into yours and who are eternally invested in who you are is a rare treasure in my opinion. At several points during both nights I profusely praised God for such relationships. Connecting with another soul is priceless. You cannot put worldly value on it. I believe that the value of close, godly, good-for-the-soul relationships can only be calculated accurately by the God who created them and called them good.

So, I have already had such a wonderful week. My heart is full, my soul is invigorated, and my spirit is grateful. Pictures will follow.

Truly Blessed....

Lately I have seen the face of the Lord in some wonderful ways. One opportunity was completely unexpected as I attended a weekly elders meeting at Highland. I was there to report on my experiences at a prayer conference in Phoenix. As the meeting was drawing to a close, I was given the very precious and extremely humbling honor of praying over our shepherds. I am here to tell you, I don't think I have ever witnessed such a sweetly sacred moment in time thus far in my journey of faith. It was truly a night I will remember forever. To see a group of such humble, God-fearing servants in tears was something that is permanantly etched in my spirit. I saw the movement and presence of the Holy Spirit that night.

Another place where I came face to face with God was during a special time of prayer one Sunday morning recently. As I was preparing to go to the front to pray with my mom and dad, one of my mentors came up and grabbed me. He said, "Lauren, I came for you to pray over me. Out of the entire church body, I knew who I wanted to intercede for me." Wow. That is quite an affirmation. I have been profoundly humbled as God has poured out His goodness and confirmation over my life recently. His goodness continually leaves me astounded. I believe the Lord is allowing me to realize and to see that He absolutely is intricately invested and interested in the most minute details of my life. That brings me unspeakable comfort. I have come to expect the unexpected when it comes to God. This season in my journey toward the likeness of Christ and the heart of the Father has been sweet. I praise the name of my God for all He has done, what He is in the process of bringing to pass, and what rich and glorious things are in my future.

Time With Daddy....

On Tuesday I got to do something special with my sweet Daddy. He is a residential real estate appraiser and I have been helping him measure houses in and around our area. He actually is generous enough to pay me for helping him do something I truly enjoy. He had called me on Monday evening and said that he had two houses that we needed to measure. There were three special parts to this request: first, the two houses that needed to be measured were in Sweetwater which is about 45 miles from Abilene, secondly, I got to enjoy a wonderful lunch with my Daddy, and thirdly, there was the 45-minute drive back into town. Secretly, I was ovrjoyed to accompany him to Sweetwater because I knew I would be given the gift of quality time with one of the most influential, cherished people in my life.

You see, the Scriptures paint a wonderful, true-to-life picture of who my Daddy is. When I read Psalm 1 and Psalm 112 I clearly see the face of my Dad. I love to talk to my Daddy about faith, life, stuggles, and what it means to truly live a rich Christ-shaped witness. My Daddy is humble to his core, he is gentle, full of integrity, and he is a very quiet servant leader who does not enjoy any type of recognition for his giftedness. He truly is a man after God's own heart, even though, he would shy away from confirming it. My Dad is also very very wise and I depend on his wise words when I am trying to decipher what the Lord is up to in my own journey of faith. He truly is the lead-priest of our home taking direction and guidance from the Lord as to how to lead our family to Heaven.

I have learned the fear of the Lord from both of my parents, but it has been modeled to me in many other diffrent venues of life. I have seen the fear of the Lord lived out in my parents faith, in their marriage covenant, in the day-in and day-out occurances in our home. The Spirit truly resides in our home and in our family and that is something I will never have enough thaks and gratitude for. I have seen the face of God so many times as I have learned what He truly looks like in flesh and bone form through the life of my Dad and my mom for that matter. Thank you, Daddy for living a righteous, humble life before me so that Christ truly could be modeled in my own life. I love you more than I could ever express in words.

Excited....

I woke up this morning looking forward to this week. As is my daily custom before climbing out of bed, I thanked the Lord for the day with excitement and and an air of thankfulness. One of the reasons for my excitement is a dinner date with one of my oldest friends. I have not seen her in more than a year and the sad thing is we both live in the same town. I am continually amazed at my ability to get so caught up in what is going on in my own little world. I have been friends with Haley since the first day of Kindergarten as we walked into the same classroom. Though we do not see each other regularly, Haley's friendship is very special to me and her life continues to teach me how to be a better, more devoted disciple. Her mom is one of my most treasured mentors. I have been drawn to the heart of Christ through the surrendered purity of Haley's spirit. I am looking forward to having an opportunity to catch up with her and to be sharpened by the Lord's activity in her life. She is a young woman who is hungry for the Lord. I have felt a strong desire and need to be in the presence of people who are passionate and intentional about the Lord and all that He represents. I want to be challenged to live radically for Jesus. I want to be invested in the lives of true and authentic seekers of Christ and His presence. I am thankful for the gift of quality time in the presence of the Lord.

A Face-lift....

My blog has been redecorated and I love it! My friend M'chelle Reedy offered to spruce it up for me and I took her up on her offer. I think she did such a great job and my header really depicts my personality. The dog in the header is my Westie, Sophie, who I thought deserved to be a part of the project. I look forward to seeing this welcoming, cozy header every time I blog. Thanks again, M'chelle for all your work! It is great.

Branson and Broken Glasses....

My mom and I returned from a vacation to Branson, Mossouri on Saturday. My dad had to return to Abilene on Tuesday to continue working, but he did get to enjoy Friday through Monday with all of us. Grant and Laura as well as my cousins and their little ones returned on Wednesday. So that just left my mom and I plus my grandparents and my aunt to finish out the rest of the week. When my grandad first suggested Branson as a vacation spot, I was a little skeptical. I am not really a show person, although, we did see one show-Pierce Arrow. It was a show full of a mixture of country and gospel singing in addition to a wonderful and clean comedian. When we arrived in Branson, I was greeted by beautiful scenery and my worst enemy-very hot temperatures and very high humidity. It really reminded me of Houston. I came home with a new appreciation and love for my friends Steve and Chelsie Sargent. I know that you get used to the heat and humidity, but those two factors and I don't mix very well. The guys spent a lot of time on the golf course and the girls spent time shopping in flea markets and antique stores and poking around historic downtown Branson. Our family also enjoyed some wonderful time just being together and sharing great meals throughout the city.

On the first full day in Branson as we were all preparing for communion, a very sad thing happened: the glasses that I have had since I was a senior in high school broke into four pieces. A family member very accidently sat on them. I really liked those glasses. I have needed to go to the eye doctor to get a new prescription for quite awhile but I don't enjoy getting my eyes dialated. He has to do this every time I visit. My vision is really bad if I don't wear my glasses. I like to go through life taking periodic rests from wearing them, but the truth of the matter is, I need them pretty badly. As a result of having no glasses, I get to make an appointment with the eye doctor and pick out totally brand new ones. I just thought I would check back in. I hope your day is blessed.