"God is good, all the time, He put this song of praise in this heart of mine."

"I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory"

"He is good, and His mercy is forever"

Psalm 36:5-10

"Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgements are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. How precious is your steadfast love, O GOD! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, ad you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Oh continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!"

holes and oceans

I absolutely love it here. I'm in Colorado Springs, working in a Castle, living with 30 beautiful college students from 8 different countries, and I'm happy. But whenever someone asks me how I'm doing, I feel my heart throbbing. There is something deeper, it feels a bit like pain or sadness. I didn't think I could explain it even if I wanted to.

But yesterday, I had one on one time with my team leader, Heather, and as I was telling her about this part of my heart. All of a sudden God made it very clear what He is doing in me. He is digging a hole. He's making more room to fill me with more of who He is. He is deepening me- so that my excitement and emotionalism for Him and for others would become the deepest of all Love- everlasting and steadfast. He's digging, He's removing, and it hurts. But I know He's removing my dirt, only to fill up the hole with His living water.

And you know, as I was walking up to the house today, looking up at the clouds and my hair being blown by the wind, "What do I know of Holy" by Addison Road was on my lips. As I sang, God once again made it remarkably clear; I asked for this. I asked for Him to dig this hole. The song says "Where have I even stood, but the shore along Your ocean?" Oswald Chambers had said that we must cut the rope that holds us to the dock in the harbor, and let God take us out into the depths of His ocean by His waves. I prayed that He would take me out by His waves. I want this. And with all my heart, I need it. And praise the LORD, He's doing it.

Best Night of My Life: Apartheid Becomes Real in Colorado

For those of you who don't know, I am on yet another crazy adventure. About three weeks ago I found out that a Navigator's program had room for me this summer. It is called the Global Students Program. There are 30 students from 8 countries here in Colorado Springs at the Navigator's head quarters for two months, to work at the conference center, grow together, and spend time together and alone with God. Here is a glimpse at the astounding plans God had had in store for me "when as yet there was not one of them" (Psalm 139:16).

Today was a beautiful day. A day that I could enjoy an aspect of God's wonderful creation that I had never experienced before; huge red rocks towering over the trees and pointing to the clear blue sky. These images are only things I saw in crazy western films, but I never imagined I would behold them myself. Yesterday I even went hiking among these huge canyon walls to a waterfall. Anyways, in the middle of my "Western Adventure", we stopped to hear from the two South Africans in our program about the Apartheid in South Africa. I thought I knew everything, but I did not. I heard a woman who is now my dear sister, tell about her childhood in apartheid Cape Town, South Africa. When she was playing in the streets with her friends, the police would let dogs out to chase them, and throw tear gas at them. These things broke my heart in a new way. Reading books and watching movies cannot do these atrocities justice. After they both spoke, we watched "Invictus" together. I got to sit next to my South African sister, hear her sing along to the National Anthem, tell me about where she lives and comment on how Matt Damon's accent was perfect.

The title "Invictus" comes from the poem that helped Nelson Mandela get through his time in prison. It says "I am the master of my fate." But as I walked back to our house with my South African sister and my friend from Iowa, in the light of the full moon, I could do nothing but praise God that I am NOT the master of my own fate. He is. Otherwise I would not be who I am, or where I am. "I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being" (Psalm 146:2).

Peace be with you all. Love Laura.