An Interview With Lauren ~ Part 1

Hello everyone!

I am excited to anounce my first blog interview! Some time ago, while "blog-hopping", I stumbled across Lauren's blog, right here. I loved her encouraging posts, and thought that she might be a perfect candidate for an interview.

And I was right. Over a series of NINE questions, Lauren shares with us a little glimpse into her life, her family, and her heart. I hope you enjoy reading her insights and thoughts as much as I have!

1.) Tell us a little about yourself.

First I want to thank you so much for this opportunity to share what the Lord has done in my life! I’ve never actually shared some of the struggles I talk about in the questions below, and I dearly wish I could share everything God has done for me but I’m afraid I would end up writing a book! With that said, my name is Lauren and I live at home with my family on a beautiful piece of land set by a glistening lake. In the words of Anne Shirley, “there’s so much scope for the imagination here” and it is in my home that my walk with Christ continues to grow. Please feel free to grab a nice warm cup of hot cocoa or simmering cup of tea as you pull up a chair and take a glimpse into my life…


2.) Tell us about your family; do
you have siblings?

God has blessed me with a wonderful family! My mom always told me that God made the eldest for a reason…and I never understood why He would do that until I got older. Now I know without a shadow of doubt He put me in this family as the oldest for a reason….and it’s such a privilege to be able to honor Him and learn to selflessly serve my siblings, being an example to them in Christ. I hope that by looking at my life they’re able to see Christ…not me…that I’m able to lead them and encourage them in their relationship with the Lord. By being the oldest I have learned so much and it has made me who I am in Christ. My family is comprised of my mom and dad, me, my twin brother (19), my sister (18), my youngest sister (16), and our many pets.

3.) How did you come to know Jesus?

My parents led me to the Lord when I was young…I don’t remember it but I know that it happened. Growing up I always knew He was there…always tried to seek Him. During my earlier teen years, I lived the way many other Christian young women live. I was a “Christian”…but I wasn’t truly set-apart for Christ. No I didn’t listen to the secular music or watch the horrid worldly TV shows or movies….but I was still living selfishly…only seeking to please myself.
In my junior year of high school I faced one of my biggest challenges. Being in high school…my main goal and main focus of everything I did was to go to a university. I was enrolled in the rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) program in my school and strived after perfect marks and numerous volunteer hours and had it in my head that the only way you could be anything in this world was if you went to one of the top universities, had a successful career, and made a lot of money. I was entrenched in the attractions of this world, only fitting in Christ when it was convenient for me. Everything else in my life was put on the backburner.
At the beginning of my junior year in the IB program…something inside of me changed. I felt something come over me…I can’t explain it…but my life was never the same after that. I didn’t know it at the time but the Lord was calling me away from the high school scene….to lay down that desire to go away to college. The local community college was offering a program called the Early College Program where you attend their classes and receive high school credit at the same time. I felt the Lord calling me there but I slammed on the brakes. The community college?! Who would want to hire me if I go there? I was fighting and wrestling with what He was calling me to do. I cried a lot. When I had to face the IB Counselors and tell them why I was dropping out of their program they slammed me with facts and statistics about how universities won’t want me if I go to a community college. It was so hard…but the high school season of my life was over and I am still filled with so much joy that God did not leave me in my mediocre state. He was asking me to give up control and give my life to Him.
During my first year in the Early College program I remember feeling so lonely. I didn’t know anyone. My classes ended early…usually before lunch, and I spent more time at home with my family. God was teaching me obedience in this time…to obey Him in all things. He was calling me to so much more than what I was living. It was in this time that I began to understand what it meant to have Christ as the Master of your life…I learned what it meant to die to self and allow Christ to live in and through me. God is always faithful…He blessed me with beautiful sisters in Christ who still lead me closer to Christ in all that they do. I am so truly thankful for them…for the way they point me towards Jesus with their lives. He has continued to draw me closer to Him through them and through His Word. My relationship with Christ has continued to grow and I’m still amazed and humbled by what my Prince has done in my life. God has taken hold of my heart and I am continually transformed and renewed by Him each and every day. He is so real to me…I am now truly experiencing His love and hearing His voice. I wouldn’t trade my relationship with Him for anything!
And you know what? The universities did end up accepting me….but I knew Christ was not calling me to go away and I was filled with such peace in declining their invitations and turning my life to Christ and what He wanted me to do.

4.) Being 19, I'm sure you've already graduated and have run into the "college question". This can prove to be a sticky subject for some. What are your plans now that you've graduated?

When facing this question, it’s so important to remember that we will find immense peace, joy, and growth in Christ when we follow His calling for our lives….whether that is working missions in China, attending a university, or staying at home. If you diligently strive after Him and follow His leading…that’s when we can be confident that He is using us to bring Him glory wherever He has placed us.

From attending the Early College Program, I was able to graduate high school with my AA Degree but a lot of questions surrounded me as to where I should go and what He wanted me to do after that. Even now I still wrestle with this question. My greatest desire is to be a wife and homemaker, to help further my future husband’s vision and to raise princes and princesses of Christ. However, I knew Christ was also calling me to lay this desire at His feet and to use my single years and my time as a daughter to learn to serve and learn from my family. God has been teaching me so much….helping me to develop the skills I would need if He does call me to marry one day. It has also been a wonderful training ground for my relationship with Christ.

I’ve also enjoyed helping out at my family’s business that was founded in 1907, and lately God has been calling me to serve there…I can be confident that this is where He has called me for this season in my life. I love the old-fashioned working environment, how I work alongside many of my immediate and extended family, and all the aspects of a small family-run business. I love everything Christ is teaching me. After much prayer and continuous prayer…God has also been calling me to further my skills in the business field by attending the private university in my home town so that I may further my family’s vision in our business as well. While I only spend a couple hours at my classes a day…I like to consider that my main learning field is at home…that I am still a stay at home daughter who lives in my father’s house. This is where the best training is found.

God works everything out for those who are in Him and it continues to amaze me all of the wonderful things He has brought in my life. I’m so thankful that he has called me to center my life around my home and family and look forward to the day, if it’s God’ will, to becoming an at-home wife and homeschooling mother. But for this season of my life I know that this is where the Lord has called me and I want to glorify Him in everything that I do. Christ never promised me that I’ll be married one day…but He has promised that if I obey and serve Him…He will bless me beyond what I can even imagine.

Stay tuned for Part 2!