Friends-
It's guest post Friday. (yeah!) I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Laura who I have never met in real life, but she is a wonderful God sized dreaming friend. I cannot wait for you to read what she has to say. It sure did make me come alive. Please make her welcome, leave some comment love, and go by and visit her webpage. You will be blessed!
It's guest post Friday. (yeah!) I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Laura who I have never met in real life, but she is a wonderful God sized dreaming friend. I cannot wait for you to read what she has to say. It sure did make me come alive. Please make her welcome, leave some comment love, and go by and visit her webpage. You will be blessed!
Laura Rath is a follower of Jesus Christ, a
wife, mother, writer, blogger, and works in church ministry. She continues to
grow daily in her relationship with Christ and loves the faith journey she’s
on. Laura is a monthly contributor for 5 Minutes for Faith, and can be found at Laura Rath ~ Journey in Faith, where she shares from her heart and encourages
others in their walk with the Lord.
Twitter: @LauraJRath
I was so excited when Jennifer asked for guest posts from
members of Holley Gerth’s God-sized Dream Team. Although she couldn’t see me
(thankfully), my reaction was a little like an excited school-age child…Oooh, oooh, me, me! I want to do it! I
settled for I’m interested in a
Facebook message.
I had some ideas, but as I thought about the theme here at
Coming Alive Ministries, I realized that I didn’t really know what my dream was
when I started out on Holley’s dream team months ago.
My dream has always been to be a writer, and a couple of
years ago, God brought that dream to fruition as He led me to start my blog and
an online Bible study for women. I’d always wanted to write, but I never
imagined I’d be writing for women…and now I was.
I guess I thought my dream was complete. So, as the team got
started writing about their dreams, I kind of felt like a fraud. My dream was
already taking place. End of story. But Jennifer’s theme of coming alive has me
looking back, and realizing that God had more planned. (He’s so cool like that!)
Early this year, I felt God urging me to take a break from
the online studies. I was worn out. I knew I needed a break. But now, I was
also confused. I didn’t know if this was a short-term break or if I’d hosted my
last study. To be honest, I wondered why
He was taking it away. Had I done a bad job? Was I only supposed to do it for a
couple of years? What was next?
I was so physically and emotionally exhausted at the time; I
didn’t force the issue with God. I knew He had His reasons, and I was too tired
to argue with Him. So, I rested and I waited to hear from Him. I took Holley
Gerth’s weekly writing challenges, and over the weeks, I started to realize there
was more in my heart than my dream of writing…
I want women to know and experience a personal relationship
with Christ. And I want to encourage them in their journey.
Growing up, I didn’t know what that meant…a personal
relationship with Christ. I prayed to God, but knowing Him as my Savior, my
friend, and my constant companion—I didn’t know what that was or what it looked
like. This has been my faith journey.
I love looking back now and seeing where God was capturing
my heart. There are the little ways He was getting my attention…subtle ways, so
I couldn’t resist. And there are the impossible-to-miss ways He’s walked me
through one valley after another.
The journey continues today. Writing will always be a dream
of mine, but it’s only a means to the end. I realize now that so much better
and more fulfilling than writing is getting to know my Father…the way I’m
leaning on Him, learning to trust Him in all situations, and my continuous
conversations with Him. When my writing comes from my relationship with Him, it
fills me in ways nothing else does. And if He chooses to use something I wrote
to reach another of His children, well, that’s a bonus.
Writing today for Coming Alive Ministries feels like coming
full circle…like I’m coming alive in Him, while God is using this opportunity
to say See Laura? I’ve got this. It’ll
happen. All in My time.
In Christ,
Laura

















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