that's all folks.

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk to failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
And the realist adjusts the sails.

[William Arthur Ward, "To Risk"]

It's an answer to the unanswered, a period to the question mark, a conclusion to the thesis.

The thought of taking risks makes me bite my nails... it's just not me and it makes me blush and sweat and do all sorts of things.

But it is one of directions I am being lead and it is going to be a beautiful ride. I better pack lots and LOTS of deodorant and get used to having very short nails :]

Praise the Lord for Betsy Ruhlig, someone who God has me paralleling with on so many levels.

peace.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. [Ephesians 6:13-20]

There it is, swimming amidst of all Paul's encouraging words, an simple straight forward answer. An answer to all the struggles and hardships the body of Christ is facing every single hour of every single day. Finding our peace. Peace with our own struggles, peace with the struggles we are confronted with daily, and peace with the worldly struggles that flash before us in the world.

The answer is found in almost every single hotel room in the nation, it's on the shelves under layers of dust and stuffed with important family papers that need a secret hiding spot. It is the Gospel of peace. Imagine if all television stations were centered in the Gospel of Peace, how much more encouraging would it be to see news casters wearing the breast plate of righteousness and the belt of truth. How much peace would be restored if all politicians used the sword of the Spirit and the helmet of salvation.

Peace comes from proactive people fighting for something they believe in.

Peace is not meant to be all butterflies and bunnies, but more of like bees and ants who work hard with others to store up their treasures for something bigger then they can comprehend.

Paul uses an important phrase "in Christ" which appears about thirty-five times to describe believers' true fellowship with Him. Believers are "in Christ" - Ephesians 1:1, "in the heavenly places in Christ" - Ephesians 1:3, chosen in Christ - Ephesians 1:4, adopted in Christ - Ephesians 1:5, and made acceptable in Christ - Ephesians 1:6. In Christ we've been given hope - Ephesians 1:12 and made alive - Ephesians 2:5 in order to grow in Him - Ephesians 2:22 and make a difference in the world.

And there is our answer. Powerful people by the world's standards are not always called to bring the Peace of the gospel to others. Nope. It's the ordinary people who are called to do this extraordinary thing.

It's you.

Thanks Paul. Your letter from Tychicus was received, it is circling around the churches and stirring the heart of someone who has been given the hope, has been made alive, and has been made acceptable in Christ. May the peace and grace of Christ be with you as well.

something is blooming.

Last night I was blessed with a great conversation involving my great friend Rachel Jelneck, someone I've known since we committed our lives to taking leaps of faith for Jesus in Greywolf cabin at Timberwolf Lake.

This semester we would meet every Tuesday in the library and hear each other out. Now, Rachel is this mind blowing psychologist and knows how to read right though all my little Lauren Wojcik quirks and perks...and gets right to the heart of my matter.

The funny thing is that Rach knows how to ask the questions, and I know how to give the advice...and then Rach says, "Laur, why don't you follow your own advice?" And I say, "Rach, you stink." We laugh and then she says, "Seriously."

Okay Rach, seriously...I'm taking it.

These were three of the things we concluded after our conversation.

A. God brings people into our life at different seasons for different reasons. Playing catch-up with everyone is like playing tag with yourself; exhausting and manipulating the purpose God served in that relationship. It will be exactly what it needs to be because it is God.

B. I've got this little crush on the person God created me to be (only took 22 years!), and for the first time I have this tiny glimpse of how that could be combined another to be used to further the kingdom.

C. Phillipians 3:13, The word of God, "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

This leads me into my long blog post about having faith like a child which also ties into my most recent readings with Brenan Manning in The Ragamuffin Gospel.

I'll be posting the novel tonight while I am house/dog/hot tub sitting this week :]

Until then friends, may the peace and grace of our Father be with you today and always.

workaholism or workaholicism?

Dear Friends,

Today at work I was called a "workaholic". Which in my book is not something I ever want to be. I do, however, want to closely follow the work the Lord has set before me with a Colossians 3:23 attitude.

So here's the question at hand. In your interactions with me, have you seen this "workaholicism" to be true? Or is it a "wholeheartedism" that is existing? Does it fall in between the two? Where's it at.

When you want to know something honestly, you ask close friends. Since my time to interact in person with close friends is shorter and farther apart these days, I ask for your insight via the world wide web. You can comment or send an e-mail, give a call or send a text...any and either is appreciated.

I must identify and stop an action before it becomes a habit, or a "ism" for that matter. For the word of God states (1 Peter 4:7-11),

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

Capiche? I know its random, but help a sister out. And pt. 2 of faith like child will come soon, hopefully before the weekend.

Love,
Lauren

faith like a child.[ pt.1]

Since I've been home I've been trying to remember what my faith was like when I was little. Here are some bullet points of what I remember.

• I always prayed to the people I knew who had already passed. I often prayed to my Grandma Rose asking her questions about the person she was, favorite color, ice cream, memory of my Dad. She passed away before I was born, so I always had this curiosity about her as a person and what it was like for her in heaven.
• When other family members passed I also prayed to them, or to the saints that the Catholic Church taught me about.
• I had the typical prayer of "God, I know I haven't been the best person I could be lately, but I'll make it up tomorrow by dusting the WHOLE house for mom."
  
• I would wake up in the morning and just lay in my bed, staring at my glow in the dark stars wondering about anything and everything, for a really long time.
• I would go to bed reflecting on my day, trying to remember every little detail so I would never forget anything.
• We always prayed the same prayer at dinner, nothing new, always memorized. This reminds me that I was usually the first one to memorize my prayers in Catechism.
• I also believed anything someone told me. I was agreeing with everyone and a passionate people pleaser.
• I tried to be a kneeler next to my bed, but that hurt too much on the wood floors, so I used my famous blanket and sat on it next to my bed. Sometimes I would fall asleep there and Dad or Mom would lift me back into bed...I was so confused when I wold wake up.
  

I am learning a lot about having faith like a child and wanted to challenge readers to think about their faith as a child. How was it different from today's faith? What do you wish you had known back then that you know now, and vice versa? That is what I am drafting right now, I'll have my answers and research out soon.

Enjoy the rainy days!

simi valley

we need to live our lives in a way that demands an explanation.
thank you cornerstone church.

check it out under "What do you need in order to be happy"