Be holy, because I am holy.

Like I said in my last post the last few weeks have been a roller coaster.  Part of that ride was studying through the book of Leviticus over the past week.  If we have to be completely real and honest I was not overly thrilled at all. When it came to the morning of lectures it was cold and rainy, and I personally wanted to crawl back in bed and fall right back to sleep. But that obviously did not happen, and I am sure glad that it didn't.
Over the Christmas break, as I was preparing to study the Old Testament, my prayer was that I would know and see Jesus throughout the books.  This meant that I was going to have to place more effort into my work and be humbled in major ways.  I remember starting off with Genesis and half way though asking, "Who the heck are these Israelites?" It was a very humbling moment to have to ask this question (I personally would have normally avoided this and moved on), but I was able to grow in different ways through this.
The same situation happened when it came to Leviticus.  Many times I would have to ask, "What in the world is going on?" And I think I am still throughly confused about a lot (make that I am positively confused about a lot), but at the same time I was able to see so much.
While I was running last Saturday, I was able to spend some good time with the Lord.  I remember getting around mile 10,  and the Lord was pressing in on my heart and I was trying to fight back.  It was almost as if He was saying, "Anna Lauren, your actions are good, but your motives are not where they should lie. Just look." "Look at what?" "Be holy, because I am holy."  #BOOM
Throughout the book of Leviticus the Lord tells Moses that the motives behind the many laws and sacrifices is that they are to "be holy, because I the Lord your God am holy."  As I started thinking about this fact my whole mindset and motivation behind going through this book changed.  I started realizing that there are many areas in my life that look wonderful and grand, but at the bottom of it all my motivation is not where it should lie.  I do not have to have elaborate reasons for certain situations in life, but I am called to be holy.
Throughout studying the first chapter in Genesis, it became very clear to me that God was infinitely sovereign over all.  I have known this pretty much my whole life, but it became very real to me over the past couple of weeks.  "In the beginning, God created..."  Nothing created God, but God was creator! Therefore He is a perfect, holy, and just God.  Nothing can change that fact.  But I am a selfish, stupid, messed up sinner longing for that God.  How?  When my sin and His holiness cannot mix? Being holy, because He is holy.  But I never fail to screw a few things up? But Jesus!
While I still will never get it all.  I do that because of Jesus I have the ability to have a relationship with this holy God.  He came as the perfect sacrifice and mediator so that this could be made possible.  And because of that truth I am called to be holy, because the Lord my God is holy!

Purpose.

The past few weeks have been a roller coaster of the week to say the least.  While running a marathon through life (aka inductively studying the Bible), I tackled a marathon a few days ago.  Around mile 18 is when I "hit the wall," and I pretty much carried the wall on my back from mile 18 on.  I crossed the finish line in tears, but in a matter of minutes I had sweet tea in one hand and a medal in the other and was one happy marathon FINISHER!
About a two weeks before the marathon I started getting those pre-race jitters and nerves.  It was to the point that sleep was a foreign matter.  For the first couple of nights I was just frustrated and irritated, but  then I realized that it was time to be used for praying through wisdom and discernment on many areas of life. Little did I know, this sleep pattern would still be continuing (high note: the sunrises are great!) It was a small portrait of what the Lord has been showing me over the past couple of weeks: be present in the here and now, you have purpose.
I have a tendency to always be looking forward and planning what comes next that I tend to miss what is right in front of me.  I am almost positive that I am not the only one that struggles through this.  A few weeks ago I got a call from someone I love so dearly saying, "I am soooo through with high school. I am ready to be out of here."  I would be a hypocrite to say that I never struggled with this because that is far from the truth.  I clearly remember a few months ago telling the Lord, "I am just done with this, and I am ready to move on." But, of course, being the stubborn, selfish human being I am, I just could not see the big picture, and I missed so much in front of me.
So for you seniors that are itching to get out of high school, I get it.  I understand. But my prayer for you is that you will see purpose and contentment in the here and now.  Only because I love you all so dearly.  It encourages me daily to see what gospel glorifying lives y'all are living day by day. You know exactly who you are.
Whether is it taking a step into high school, laying wide awake at 4 in the morning, charting through another book, running a ridiculous amount of miles, or whatever the case may be, the Lord has a purpose.  Lets not miss it!

Run On.

I have created a new idea on when it is acceptable to start flipping out over certain events, in a good or bad way.  I have discovered that I may or may not have the tendency to start getting anxious and/or nervous about certain things wayyyy too soon.  So I decided that once we reach the point where that certain day is in the "10 day forecast" it is okay to start getting excited or nervous.  So this morning I looked up the weather for the Charleston Marathon and sure enough we have entered the time where that date falls into these 10 days.
So lets all take a moment and FREAK out over the fact that Anna Lauren has, yet again, decided to do what she vowed to NEVER EVER do.  A little over two years ago I crossed the finish line for my first (and thought it would be my last) marathon.  I always had it in my head that this was something that I wanted to do one day.  The moment finally came when I walked up to my mentor and running buddy, and I told her we were doing a marathon.  I was determined. But I also convinced myself that I could never run that far with no purpose.
So for those of you that gave me a purpose, thank you muchly!  I knew immediately that what I wanted to run for, and many people jumped on board. The Lord clearly showed me that I could run and raise money for an awesome organization, Show Hope.  Because of your willingness to give financially and pray for the fatherless, every step was worth it! Every step meant a child was coming home to a forever family, and that alone brings me pure joy!
As I have prepared for this next race I have been asked this question numerous times, "How do you do it?" I know that it is said over and over again how running is 90 percent mental strength and 10 percent physical strength.  But really.  That is sooo true!
I have quite a few friends that are currently training for their first 5K/half marathon/marathon. So I thought I would give you an honest glimpse of my thoughts when it came down to running the marathon.  I was running the other day thinking on how every mile and step matters and started breaking down how I was feeling at that certain point.  So here it goes....
Start Line: Everybody is feeling good and looking cute in their matching running gear. Totes presh!

• Mile 1: This is a nice warm up mile, and we are all still smiling! Life is sweet.
• Mile 2: Now you have reached the point where you are at a steady pace, and you are meeting the people that you will be running the next 24 miles with.
• Mile 3: Remembering that first time you did a 5K and thought you were on top of the world. But really.
• Mile 4: I am liking this whole running thing.  
• Mile 5: I love running!
• Mile 6: I could be an olympic athlete I am so good at this running thing.
• Mile 7: This has been a nice little warm up
• Mile 8: None of LSU's transit buses match.  Seriously.  I could not figure it out.
• Mile 9: They said this was suppose to be a flat course. WRONG!
• Mile 10: Double digit time!
• Mile 11: I think I want to tackle and IRONMAN next.
• Mile 12: Okay, maybe that was a little too extreme...
• Mile 13: Look at that group of people that just split off...they are only half as crazy as I am.
• Mile 14: I am now officially jealous of that group of people that just finished running.
• Mile 15: Okay, things are starting to hurt.  Just a wee bit.
• Mile 16: Just 10 more miles to go. Nbd.
• Mile 17: Some kid started chanting, "SCam Newton!" at me.  I simply smiled and said, "Scoreboard." 
• Mile 18: Running by LSU's stadium and observing that it actually smells like corndogs. No joke.
• Mile 19: I see my family on the other side of the pond! Look like you have it together.
• Mile 20: WHAT IN THE WORLD HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?!
• Mile 21: Okay I have overcome the wall and now everything just hurts.  But it's all okay.
• Mile 22: Somebody get this southern gal some sweet tea, and I mean NOW!
• Mile 23: I have ran 23 miles and you want to offer me tacos and beer?!
• Mile 24: 2 more miles to go....I might actually survive.
• Mile 25: 1 more mile. OH MY GOODNESS.
• Mile 26: The finish line is around the corner.  Get it together and act like you sprinted this entire race.

Finish Line: The feeling that you just ran a ridiculous amount of miles and sweet tea and grass to lay on is right there.

So for those of you who are in the current process of training: KEEP IT UP. The run may be rocky, but it makes the finish line that much sweeter. 

Run on friends!

Anna Lauren

To Know and To See.

I am not really big into new year's resolutions.  It is just not my thing.  I usually like setting a goal half way through the year instead of while "everyone is doing it."  But over the past few days I have been really trying to focus in a few ways that I want 2013 to look for me.  Don't worry this is not a resolution:) But the Lord has laid a couple of things on my heart that I have been recently praying about.

First, I want to know Jesus.  This may sound silly, but at my church back home we have just finished up a series called, "How I Met Jesus."  It is pretty self explanatory, but we covered the specific characters that were involved in the birth of Christ. This was from the wise men to King Herod to Anna etc.  It got me thinking on the time that I met Jesus. 

While I was running yesterday I came to the conclusion that there was a time that I met Jesus and then there was a time that I knew Jesus.  When I was in third grade I accepted Christ into my life.  I am sure I had a talk with my parents about it, and I am sure that we prayed about it.  But honestly I do not remember it at all.  My parents have just told me that it happened, and I trust them.  Do I believe that it was not sincere and real? Absolutely not.  But I do think for me that there was a time in my life that I started understanding who Jesus was.  Instead of treating Him like He was just a best friend, I started to realize that I must worship Him as my Sovereign Savior.  

It was not until when we adopted Caroline that I truly was able to grasp what it meant to be loved by God the Father.  I still don't fully understand it and never will, but I started realizing slowly but surely what the Father was like.  Fast forward many years and I remember sitting in my bedroom at home and reading through the Bible (Old and New Testament) and little by little the whole Jesus idea started to become very real to me.  This is when I would I say I started to know Jesus.  This is when I started realizing He was more than just a pal that I should check in on occasionally.  BUT He was humble enough to take on flesh and come into this world and yet still remain fully God, and because of that He was worthy of all my honor and praise. Nothing more. Nothing less.

In the last few weeks of studying the New Testament this concept came up over and over while I was studying.  I love how the Amplified version puts Philippians 3:10, "For my determined purpose is that I may know HIm that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection, and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed to His death."
It was explained at school that this translation of "know" is the most intimate form.  It is used in the same way in Genesis 4:1, "Adam knew Eve."
This is my prayer for 2013: I want to know Jesus more and more.
Finally, I want to see Jesus. I have been super excited to come back and study the Old Testament, and I have had a few strange looks when I tell people this.  But this has been my desire as I prepare for the Old Testament.  I want to see Jesus throughout as I study.  So many times I hear, "The Old Testament is filled with just a bunch of laws."  But I don't want to see laws..I want to see Jesus.
So my "not new year's resolution" is to know and to see. This is my prayer and my desire during 2013. So bring it on!

Anna Lauren

P.S. Shout out to everyone sleep deprived at Passion 2013.  Praying for freedom and restoration! 

A Year Worth Singing About.

Happy New Year! Wow, what a year! Yet again we rocked 2012 at the Schumpert Reservation the best we could.  And it worked out pretty well! As I look back over the year there is SO MUCH proof of the Lord's faithfulness and goodness, but I wanted to share just a few and take a walk down memory lane (or the past year at least).

1. 2012 started off with me praying, "Lord what do you want? Your will be done!" I slowly started realizing that I wanted know Jesus.  I wanted to live a life that made much of Him and not myself.  Soon after I was sitting in this room on this day and learned I was officially moving to NC to answer to this calling. VERY grateful!

2. In the summer this year the entire Schumpert family was able to pack our bags and head to a country that Dad and I have fallen in love with.  I was a MAJOR blessing to be able to watch every member of my family act on Matthew 28:19-20. Needless to say Peru has become a big part of our lives now, and we have already started praying for BIG God things to happen as we plan to return in 2013.

3. This handsome young man had reasons to celebrate over the summer. On the exact same day that Mom was one year cancer free (YIPPPEE Jesus!), we found out that the growth on Kyle's leg that had to be removed was cancer free! This caused major celebration in the Schumpert household!

4. I actually did move to the place that has been in our family for so many years.  The past semester has been difficult, challenging, overwhelming, fruitful, and incredible all at the same time.  I have learned more about what it means to rely on the Father for every little thing to every big thing.  The difficult times have taught me more about the sovereignty of the Lord, but it was amazing to see so much beauty from ashes.  But it is humbling to know that I still don't have it all together and figured out, and I NEVER EVER will.

5. Last but certainly not least, I get to be one proud, not so big sister of  these  Indians. But really. Every year I am thrilled to watch Kyle and Caroline grow and mature in their relationship with the Lord.  It challenges me and encourages me in so many ways.  I am beyond blessed to be able to watch as these two allow the Lord to use them in unthinkable ways! What an honor to be the sister of siblings that want to use their lives to make much of Jesus!

As 2013 approaches my prayer is that this will be a year that my purpose is to decrease so that Jesus might increase more and more.  Praying that you have a God glorifying New Year!

Anna Lauren

Stepping Up to the Command

If you keep have been keeping up with the news around the world over the past week you have most likely not missed the tragic news of the Russian ban on American adoption.  Therefore the past few days have not been easy.
My alarm clock went off at 5 this morning, and I was hitting the road running by 5:30.  Immediately I started complaining because it was too early and too cold.  The wind was whipping, and I wanted nothing more than to curl back up and go to sleep.  But the LORD.  Around mile 2 the soundtrack from "Beauty and the Beast" started playing, and I considered changing it (this is what you have on your iPod when your sister is 8). I decided to keep it on and "jam" out to it.  Looking back I was thankful to have it because it changed my mood a little.  But bottom line...I am thankful for a little girl that came into my life and turned my running playlist around.
This is what I am asking for you to do, PRAY!  With the multiple news reports surrounding us concerning the adoption ban it would be easy to sit back and say, "well, this is sad."  But the problem with that is James 1:27 leaves no room for that.  I read this past week someone commentate on this one verse she said, "The Lord could have laid many different things on James' heart. He could have said: Pure religion is to be a pastor. or Pure religion is to be married to a pastor. or Pure religion is to be a school teacher. or Pure religion is to help save the whales. or Pure religion is to be a firefighter. or Pure religion is to be worship leader. But He didn't. He made it plan and simple, 'Pure religion is to care for the widows and orphans.'"
Call me crazy, obsessed, or passionate, but the command is there.  Now what will we do?
1. Ask the Lord to make it clear how you are specifically suppose to respond to this crisis.
2. Pray for the many families that are currently in the process of adopting a child from Russia.
3. Pray for the 700,000+ children that are longing for forever families.
4. Pray for government and leaders in Russia to have a change in heart and mind.
5. Finally, pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ to step up and answer the to the command (and that includes you and me!).  Pray that we will all see clearly the reason that we care for the widows and orphans.
As the New Year approaches, I am sadden by the fact that I am having to type this out, but I cannot think of a better way to start the New Year...stepping up to the command and clinging to what we are called to do.

Anna Lauren

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

So the past few days have been busy, fun, crazy, and refreshing.  It started off Thursday with being able to surprise 2 of my favorite people by coming home a little early, and Friday night was official Schumpert family night.  Being together with my family has been a wonderful, and if that was not enough 2 of my best friends came in town for the weekend! Therefore I am just now catching my breath, but all the craziness was worth it! Getting to spend quality time with my favorite people brings me so much joy and life!
On a different note, the celebration of our Savior's birth is approaching, and I have been pondering the following question lately, "what exactly is this suppose to look like?"  I am almost positive that there is not an exact answer, but I think just even over the past couple of weeks my perspective of the answer to that question has changed a little.
It started with morning worship at school when one of our lovely staff spoke up about Christmas songs being statements of worship.  I will be completely honest and say that I LOVE singing/jamming out to Christmas songs, but I had never really thought of them being worship songs.  
She brought up the song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman." First, I have always thought that this was a weird title for a song, and second, I had never actually paid attention to the lyrics.  Guilty as charged. When she started quoting them I was amazed at what they actually said:

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

This is just the beginning of the song, but what an awesome picture of the Gospel! I have probably repeated this one section in this song over and over again in my head in the past few days.

Thursday when I was driving home I was comforted by these words.  I had a six hour drive home which is not terrible, but being by myself for that amount of time can trigger my anxiety.  It gives me too much time to think and allow Satan to come in and attack. But this time I was able to use this time as an act of worship.  It gave me a time to remember that my comfort and joy does not come from feeling fine, dandy, and happy 24/7, but it comes from knowing that in my deepest and darkest hours the Lord is supreme over all.  Little did I know I would need to be reminded of this truth very soon.

Friday our nation was devastated by the tragedy in Connecticut.  This is the first time I have ever wept over a national tragedy, and I remember the only thing I wanted to do was run to a school and grab my precious 3rd grade sister and hold her very close.  Like many of you, I was in a daze.  The only way I found comfort and joy was in reminding myself of what I have spent studying over the past few months. This world is filled with evil and suffering, but we have an eternal perspective.  Yet again, this song came back up, "to save us all from Satan's power, when we were gone astray." My prayer is that through our anger, grief, questioning, and confusion we will find comfort and joy in the truth that God was, still is, and will always be sovereign over all. He is the sovereign king, righteous judge, and supreme creator, and this is what should compel comfort and joy.

Sunday I chuckled a little a church when we started singing this song.  I remember thinking, "Oh yes Lord, I PROMISE I can see where my comfort and joy should lie."  It was such a blessing to be able to proclaim this song that I once thought had a weird title as a statement and declaration of praise to God.

As we prepare ourselves over the next week to celebrate the birth of the Savior my prayer is that we will not lose focus.  My favorite time is the Christmas Eve candlelight service at my church.  I will admit, yet again, that I get those warm, fuzzy feelings when everybody raises there candle, and we talk about being the light of the world.  This is 100 percent true, but most of the times I never actually take the time to think about what this means.  Our Savior left a perfect place to step into this evil world to bring light.  This is the light that as believers we must proclaim.  This is the light that brings comfort and joy when tragedy hits. This is the light that we long to one day see face to face! What a perfect way to receive comfort and joy!

Merry Christmas!

Anna Lauren