What are you living for? God challenged me with this question this past week as one of my closest friends went home to be with Jesus. What, or should I say Who, am I living my life for? Honestly, I have been living my life for myself. There have been very few times in my life when I have truly lived for God, giving him complete control. Comfort is so dangerous to our Christian life. When we become comfortable, we cease to rely on God for provision and protection. I have been living in comfort for a long time.
Lauren Marie Parker breathed her last breath on this earth on November 19th, but it was only then that she truly began to live. You see, Lauren did not live a life of comfort. She lived her faith out loud for all to see. She fully relied on God for her everything. Lauren had no strings attached to this world, and truly desired Christ more than anything this pitiful life has to offer. I have found myself in awe of God's grace and faithfulness this week. He chose to give Lauren the desire of her heart...to be with Him, and impact many lives here on earth. 256 people accepted Christ as their savior at Lauren's funeral. This was not because of a wonderful message or speaker (however, my dad rocked!) or song, but it was because hundreds of people saw the way that Lauren lived her life...completely sold out to the cause of Christ, passionately living her life to its fullest potential. Lauren was full of joy, peace, love, kindness, gentleness, passion, strength...it was these characteristics, the abundant evidence of Christ's reign in her life that impacted so many people.
As I watched so many people choose Jesus because of the example that Lauren lived, I began to wonder if anyone would be drawn to Christ by watching me live my life. I'm not so sure. It is my desire to live everyday with a passion and desire for such intimacy with my creator that it encompasses everything that I am and all that I do. I pray that God would smooth out my rough edges and imperfections, allowing others to see a greater reflection of him in me. I don't want to stand on the side lines any longer.
As Lauren turned the corner in her little, white Nissan she had no idea that she would be instantly in the presence of her Lord. She was ready. I want to be ready. Not just "saved", but entirely ready to be wrapped in his embrace, desiring Christ above all else. Lauren's liscence plate read "16 4JSUS". 16 was not only her jersey number, her identity, but it was also her age. She lived 16 years for Jesus, completely sold out to Christ's purpose for her. Through this experience I have realized that my life is not my own. I pray that as I grow and mature, people will be able to see these things evident in my life.
Thank you God for loving me...I'm so underserving.
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7 comments:
Brett--that is really beautiful!
hey Brett, that is the most beautiful thing i think i have ever read.(Beside Laurens funeral, that was GORGIOUS!) But i totaly understand where your coming from, after these past 2 weeks, i've just took a step back and checked my life. Am I 16 4Jsus? I want to be! Lauren has made an awesome impact in my life and so have you. Your not in this alone, im there with you through evey step and stone, trial and tribulation! I love you with all my heart! *Tina Ward*
thanks tina! love ya chick!
id first like to say how amazing this post was..i was searching online and i saw the "16 4JSUS" and knew i had to read it and respond ... in our community in mechanicsville, many were lucky enough to know lauren. yet others, like myslef, did not ever get a chance to meet her. yet she touched each of our lives with her faith - that is something most people can't do in a lifetime. every single person who read about her or somehow heard about her felt something inside of them - like God reaching out to touch them and telling them to wake up; to step out of their comfort zone. i know i felt something. my heart went out to her friends, her boyfriend, and her family, yet i know Lauren is in a better place, somewhere she wanted to be. i think we all owe her so much, showing us Christ when we needed it. -- 256 people? that is amazing .. it shows us what is possible to do in this world.. how many lives can be changed ... "Even in defeat, the face of tragedy still you'd have to say that, i found victory. In brokenness comes beauty, divine fragililty, reminding me of nail scarred hands reaching out for me.." -- that says everything....if we could all be sold out for Christ... 1 Timothy 4:12 -- that was Lauren... 16 4JSUS - always ...
hey brett..we met a few times at church when i came with lauren. now its been a few months and i am still having a really hard time dealing with our loss. but now i am in full attendance at hanover friends which is great! i hope everything is going better for you! lauren was amazing and she touched my life in so many ways and because of her i am now able to follow the path of jesus christ..it's a great feeling! well i just thought i'd say hey and i hope to see you around mechanicsville soon!
-shannon harris L-D softball #12
and i also wanted to tell you that your voice at lauren's funeral was absolutely amazing! you are such a talented young man!
-shannon harris-
Brett, that is amazing that you can put exactly what i feel into words. Im right here beside you in spirit..because i don't know you at all. but im sure i'll met you one day in heaven and lauren can introduce us to each other. She was amazing person whose smile just lit up the room. Im sure all the angels in heaven are jealous of her! But you're not alone..i was one of those 256 ppl..although i had already accepted christ..it made me want to be 16 4 jesus too. i rededicated my life and now am trying to be sold out for him. Thanks for the encouragement! God bless.
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