Returning to Quietness

For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." But you were unwilling, and you said,"No!" ~~ Isaiah 30: 15&16a

When you think of summer camp you do not usually think of quietness or rest. Instead you imagine screaming children, loud camp songs, sugar highs, and lots of whining about the heat and bugs. Although I've seen that side of camp this week, I've also gotten to see a different side of summer camp. I was invited to be "the missionary" (along with my friend and former mission partner, Autumn Croy) at Camp Pinnacle (A GA camp in Clayton, Georgia). Because we are the missionaries we do not have a whole lot of responsibility. We have had a time each day when we speak to the campers about our time serving as missionaries and then at night we have time with some of the counselors when they can ask us questions about missionary life. The rest of the time we are free to join in the activities or just relax on our own. So, needless to say I've been doing lots of relaxing and allowing God to remind me of His goodness and faithfulness throughout my life. Before coming here I went down to Alabama to see my Aunt and my mother and sister met us there. My aunt's house is an amazing Antebellum home that just takes you back to another era. It is the perfect place to rest and reflect. So, being there set me up for this relaxing week at camp.


I've been reading through Isaiah this summer and this week I have come to Isaiah 30. I came to verse 15 and have just read and reread that verse. --For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." -- These words have just spoken volumes to me this week. It's like I'm just drawn to read the verse over and over. In returning (another version says repentance) and rest you shall be saved. The story of my life is that I try to do everything on my own and I work really hard to do it. God has constantly and consistently reminded me to REST in Him and he will be my strength and through His power I will accomplish His purpose for me. So, I have had to return once again to God and his ways and his plan (which is so far above my own and NEVER the way I expect it to be) and repent of trying to do things on my own. And praise Him that he has given me this week of rest to just remember his love, faithfulness and mercy. And it is through keeping a quiet heart and trusting Him that He will provide strength for me to take the next steps of life. OR I can choose to be like Israel who said, "NO!"--But you were unwilling, and you said,"No!"(vs 16) -- and I can suffer the consequences of saying no to my Creator and doing things my own way. I've lived that way for far too long. So, I'm choosing to rest and trust in the One who knows me better than I know myself. However, I know I can't even do that on my own. As I was reading in Hebrews 4 today I was reminded of our great High Priest, Jesus who helps us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." -- So, that is exactly what I prayed today. Lord, because you say I can, I will boldly come before you and ask for your mercy and grace to help me during my time of need.

So, I'm thankful that I've had this week of rest. I pray that the things I'm learning this week will help me as I go back into a busy schedule and an important semester in which I'm making several life decisions.

He Clothes the Grass and Establishes Our Steps

"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? . . . But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:30 & 33

"As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him. . ." Psalm 103:15-17

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Lord, help me to seek your ways and trust in your steadfast love for my days on this earth knowing that you will complete what you began in me.

Identity Crisis

"This overarching story [the story of redemption throughout the Biblical narrative] reflects the fact that our problem as human beings is deeper than the individual sins we commit each day, creating the specific problems that complicate our lives. Our deepest problem is that we seek to find our identity outside the story of redemption. If the entire goal and direction of our lives are wrong, we need much more than practical advice on how to do the right thing in a particular situation. We need a message big enough to overcome our natural human instinct to live for our own glory, pursue our own happiness, and forget that our lives are much, much bigger than this little moment of life. Every day, in some way, we buy the lies of autonomy and self-sufficiency, worshiping the creation rather than its Creator. . . Lasting change begins when our identity, purpose, and sense of direction are defined by God's story. When we bring this perspective to our relationships, we will have a dramatically different agenda. " -- Paul David Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands.

I started reading this book this week because I had always heard about it, my roommate had it (and every other book you can imagine!), and it's summer and I finally have time to read what I want!

The truth that Tripp points out here is so hard to remember during our day to day activities. It's so hard to look beyond the moment and realize our purpose is to worship God and give Him glory --not to make ourselves happy. I am not Lane Brown the Mississippi girl with feathers in her hair, seminary student, and Nanny of 3 girls. I am Lane Brown daughter of the King placed here during this time to worship God and tell his story. That is true whether I am in Mississippi, North Carolina, Peru, Ecuador, or the Ends of the Earth.

Lord, please help me to learn this. Remind me daily. Teach me your ways.

My life verse: "Teach me your way, Oh Lord, that I may walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11

La Casa de Fe and other ramblings

The thing I love about blogging is that you can write whatever you want and it's up to the reader to decide whether or not it is worth it to wade through all the laborious musings of the author. This may be one of those blogs that ya'll only make it a few paragraphs into. . . :)

I will begin with Ecuador and a few of the things that God showed me, taught me, and challenged me in.

I went with my home church, First Baptist Church Brookhaven, MS, to Shell, Ecuador to work at the orphanage Casa de Fe. Patti Sue Arnold started the orphanage about 10 years ago with 3 special needs children in her home and it has grown to 63 children in a nice multipurpose building that has been built only by God's grace and provision. She takes in abandoned and special needs children. She now has a school within the orphanage and classes are taught mostly by American volunteers although the Ecuadorian government has provided one teacher for the pre-k children.

God taught/is teaching me that without Him we are all orphans. We are all fatherless and have no way to be at peace with our heavenly Father without the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This truth and the numerous commands throughout Scripture that tell us to take care of orphans have really impacted me as of late. I do not know how God is going to use all of this in my life in the future (in terms of future career/ ministry), but I know for now that I want to be an advocate for the fatherless.









"Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary (lonely) in a home. . . " Psalm 68: 5 & 6a

Next I would just like to ramble a bit about something that God is teaching me at this stage in my life--His sovereignty and steadfastness. I had a wonderful mentor remind me of Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will." It is so comforting to realize that we do not have to manipulate or create situations in our lives. God is the one who makes things happen. He has called us to share the gospel, love Him, and love others. When we devote our lives to this purpose (when we seek first His Kingdom and righteousness all else will be added to us) he will provide every single thing we need. If we have a concern then our first response should be to pray to the God who turns man's heart wherever he wills. This requires us to trust God. In our humanity we try to control things and make them happen the way we see fit, but God sees things from a higher and holy perspective. We should seek his wisdom and follow his guidance instead of expending needless energy on creating "what if" scenarios.

So, those are my thoughts for the evening. There is so much more between my time in Ecuador and the things that are on my heart and mind as graduation approaches in December, but I wanted to make this post short and get something on here before my Ecuador experience faded into the background.


p.s. In case you haven't noticed I like to post at least one flower picture and one verse on each entry since the blog title is "faith and flowers". ;)

School's out for the. . . SUMMER!!

Summer is my favorite time of year. There is so much about it that makes me happy: the constant sunshine, the long, carefree days, no assignments, pools, lakes, picnics... the list is endless really. So, these last few weeks of school I was frantically finishing my last assignments and doing everything in my power to force myself into the dark air-conditioned classrooms. I took little time to think about much besides "the light at the end of the tunnel".
And finally, I finished my last assignment of my next-to-last semester of seminary last Thursday at about 1:30 a.m. This was a strange semester because I didn't have any final exams. All of my professors had us do final projects/papers and so I didn't have that extra week of stress that my fellow students are going through right now. Today was the very last class I had to attend and as I went in I wasn't thinking about much besides the fact that I was finished and it was FINALLY summer. I was just there to sit through the last presentations and say a couple of goodbyes.
However, as things were wrapping up I began to quickly realize that I wasn't ready for the semester to end. I had not thought about the fact that I wouldn't see many of my classmates again. Some will be going to countries all over the world, others will be moving back to their home states, and others I just won't see due to differing lives and schedules. As everyone was packing up and saying their quick goodbyes I got a little sad. I wanted to make a way to see each one of them again before I leave Friday night for a two week trip to Ecuador. But this was obviously impossible, so I covered up my disappointment with a few quick hugs and waves with promises to stay in touch.
Life is like this sometimes. We get so swamped with just trying to keep our heads above the water due to multiple assignments and work stress that we forget there are people, really sweet important people, in our lives everyday that we are rubbing shoulders with. I could be learning from these people, enjoying them, embracing the little moments and instead I'm running out the door stressing about what I have to do tonight and tomorrow. And before I realize it the days are gone and so are the chances to enjoy those people.
I hope that this will serve as a reminder for me to cherish moments and friendships while I can. But I also must embrace the inevitable change that comes with this phase of life. God is my strength, fortress and rock. He is the one who never changes and it is with his strength that I have the energy to love those around me.
Those are my thoughts for the day.


For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:. . . a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1&2

As Promised

These are some of the flowers that I'm growing right now. The ones on the black stand are in my room. The rest are on my back patio. Love them! Bring color and joy to my days!

Renewed Ambition

Well hello blogging world. I doubt any of my original followers remain after my nearly 3 years of absence from the blogging world. Fine with me. In many ways I do not even feel like the same person who started this blog five years ago. Two years in a foreign country, a Seminary education, and two dating relationships with unexpected endings will cause changes in a person. Hopefully, I have changed, grown, and matured into a better more God honoring person, but sometimes I wonder.

I'll start slow with this first new post. Maybe with a list of my favorite things and a list of some things I've discovered about myself.

Favorite Things:

1. Flowers (as indicated by this blog). I've really grown to love "gardening". Although the only edible thing I grow is tomatoes. Everything else is just really pretty flowers. My flowers this year are the prettiest I think I've ever grown. I don't have any great pictures of them (I'll post some later), but I'll show you a pic of some of the first verbena I ever grew.


2. Sea Turtles. I have always been a big fan of turtles and especially sea turtles. I'm a collector and I've been collecting turtle figurines since I was 7 or 8. Recently I asked my friend Lindsay Core to paint me a picture of a Sea Turtle. She did an amazing job!! See for yourself.

3. Gus. However, if you know me you already knew this!

Now for things I'm learning:

1. I'm not a "follow through" kind of person. I hate this. So, I have started a project for myself. I bought a journal yesterday. . . it is now 1 of about 5 sitting unfinished in my room. But I promise that this one is going to be different. This one I am going to write in everyday for at least this entire summer. That is the goal anyways. I'm off to a great start with entries from yesterday and today! :) Plus it's a really cute journal--
the actual reason I bought it!

2. I'm a planner. I plan way too much and much of it never happens, but this has never stopped me from making lists, buying planners, and keeping electronic sticky notes on my computer desktop. I just can't help it. Go ahead. Call me OCD.

3. I really do love the Lord Jesus Christ with my whole being. I want to honor, serve, and please Him so badly that it hurts sometimes. My prayer today comes from Isaiah 1 (Which is where I started for my summer of journaling in my new journal!)
Isaiah 1:16-17 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
So, today I am praying for forgiveness from my sins of arrogance, vain worship, pride, and self-righteousness and I'm pleading that God will teach me to do good.
And along the same vein-- I will be going to help the fatherless in about a week and a half in Shell, Ecuador at an orphanage. www.lacasadefe.org.