Friday, December 11, 2015

Am I a Sweet Song or a Loud Noise?

Relationship can change everything.

I'm currently sitting in a local coffee shop listening to one of the most awkward performances that I've ever sat through. The lead singer, bless his heart, is incredibly uncomfortable in his own skin, a mediocre guitarist and shouldn't be allowed to talk in between songs. The mics are much too loud, the back up singer has no concept of how loud her voice is and continually, I'm sure of it, trying to blow my ear drums out (and I love LOUD music).

No, this isn't a post to rag on how poor the entertainment is tonight. While I could care less about the music tonight there are, however, about 30 people in here who cannot get enough of them! They yell with no embarrassment in between each song, cheering this little group on, encouraging them to sing more. What's the difference between their experience and mine, you may ask? Relationship. They most certainly have relationship with this awkward and loud duo. While my experience isn't super positive, theirs is nothing short of incredible. (I mean, they are SUPER excited)

In the same way, this past week I've had a few experiences in which I've encountered people who everyone loves...from a distance. In the past I've been so impressed with them and the way their lives seemed. But this week the encounters that I've had have left me wanting at their character. Sadly, my perspective has drastically shifted because of this one thing...relationship. Suddenly my relationship has been closer and I've seen more of who they really are.

It's amazing how things can change when we get into close proximity to others, either for better or for worse. This past season has been a beautiful one, but also a hard one. The Lord has really been teaching me how to draw closer to Him, especially when that includes my pain. And do you know what I've found? That even though I've been in pain, as I've drawn closer to Him in our relationship I've realized even more just how sweet the Lord truly is. He has not left me wanting. He has not disappointed me at all, not even for a moment.

You can admire Jesus from afar, being inspired and enjoying His (actually) beautiful music. But as you draw near to Jesus the fact is that you will become more and more impressed with Him. You will see the beauty of His character, the kindness in His eyes and the generosity of His nature.

My prayer that is as Christians, we can become more and more like Him. While I know I fall short so many times, my hope is that I'm the same in every moment. If people see me from on a stage or at a distance I hope they would experience me in a way that would be positive. But my hope even more would be that I would be even sweeter when you have to live with me and see me day in and day out, even in the toughest of situations or the greatest victory moments. Does my relationship with people bring them life, or cause them to cringe at how loud my mic is?

While I know the analogy isn't really all that great I couldn't help but be struck tonight as I tried hard not plug my ears at times. Relationship can change everything and it's a valuable tool for every believer. While we shouldn't care, and be focused on what people think, I do want to be just as sweet on stage as I am in the moments that feel hard. I want to be real. And more than anything, as people take the time to draw nearer to me, I want to be like Jesus. I want to be a sweet, refreshing song where people can know they are always safe.

L

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Psalm 37

Hello all!
Just a bit of encouragement for you today. I realize it's been ages, yet again, since I've blogged but as I read this today I couldn't help but think that some of you could use the encouragement that I, too, found in this Psalm today.

May the words wash over you and touch deep parts of your heart that need healing and restoration or just a boost of courage and hope today. Pay attention to all of the promises within the Psalm, grab on to them, declare them over your life. I was also struck by all of the instruction given in the Psalm as well, may they redirect your path, clear any confusion and help you plant yourself more solidly on firm ground.

If you're waiting for a breakthrough, this one is for you. If you struggle with comparison, being misunderstood or not valued, this one is for you. If you just need a fresh awareness of just how for you God really is, this one is for you.

Blessings.
-Lara

Psalm 37 
(passion trans.)
A Song of Wisdom

Don't bother to worry bout the wicked ones
That are successful in this world only.
Don't think for a moment they're better off than you.
They, and their short-lived success
Will soon shrivel up and quickly fade away
Like grass clippings in the hot sun.
Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in His eyes.
Fix your heart on the promises of God and you will be secure,
Feasting on His faithfulness.
If you make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life, 
Every longing within you will be fulfilled.
Give God the right to direct your life
And as you trust Him along the way,
You'll find He pulled it off perfectly!
He will appear as your Righteousness,
As sure as the dawning of a new day.
He will manifest as your Justice,
As sure and strong as the noonday sun.
Quiet your heart in His presence, 
Keep hope alive as you long for God to come through for you,
And don't think for a moment
That the wicked in their prosperity
Are better off than you.
Stay away from anger and revenge.
Keep worry far from you, for it only leads you into lies.
One day the wicked will be destroyed,
But those who trust in the Lord
Will live safe and sound with blessings overflowing.
Just a little while longer and the ungodly will vanish;
You will look for them in vain.
But the humble of heart will inherit every promise
And enjoy abundant peace and prosperity.
Let the wicked keep plotting against the godly
With all their sneers and arrogant jeers.
God doesn't lose any sleep over them
And He knows their day is coming!
Evil ones take aim on the poor and helpless,
They are ready to slaughter those who do right.
But the Lord will intervene
And turn all their weapons of wickedness back on themselves,
Piercing their pride-filled hearts until they are helpless.
It is so much better to have little,
Combined with much of God,
Than to have the fabulous wealth of the wicked
And nothing else.
For the Lord takes care of all His forgiven ones
While the strength of the evil will surely slip away.
Day by day the Lord watches the good deeds of the godly
And He prepares for them His forever-reward.
Even in a time of disaster He will watch over them,
And they will always have more than enough
No matter what happens.
All the enemies of God will perish
For all the wicked have only a momentary value, a fading glory.
Then one day they will vanish!
Here today, gone tomorrow.
They break their promises, borrowing money
But never paying it back.
The good man returns what he owes
Along with some extra.
The Lord's blessed ones receive it all in the end,
But the cursed ones will be cut off
With nothing to show for themselves.
The steps of the God-pursuing ones
Follow firmly in the footsteps of the Lord.
And God delights in every step they take to follow Him.
If they stumble badly they will survive,
For the Lord lifts them up with His hands.
I was once young, but now I'm old.
Not once have I found a lover of God forsaken by Him,
Nor have any of their children gone hungry.
Instead, I've found the godly ones
To be the generous ones who give freely to others.
Their children are blessed and become a blessing.
 If you truly want to dwell forever in God's presence,
Then forsake evil and do what is right in His eyes.
The Lord loves it when He sees us walking in His justice.
He is pleased when we make it our habit to do what is right.
He will never desert His devoted lovers,
They will be kept forever in His faithful care,
But the descendants of the wicked will be banished.
The faithful lovers of God will inherit the earth
And enjoy every promise of God's care;
Dwelling in peace forever.
God-lovers make the best counselors.
Their words possess wisdom,
And are right and trustworthy.
The ways of God are in their hearts
And they won't swerve from the paths of steadfast righteousness.
Evil ones spy on the godly ones,
Stalking them to find something they could use to accuse them.
They're out for the kill!
But God will foil all their plots.
The godly will not stand condemned when brought to trial.
So don't be impatient for the Lord to act,
Keep moving forward steadily in His ways,
And He will exalt you at the right time
And when He does, you will possess every promise,
Including your full inheritance.
You'll watch with your own eyes as the wicked lose everything.
I've already seen this happen.
Once I saw a wicked and violent man
Overpower all who were around him,
A domineering tyrant with his pride and oppressive ways.
Then he died and was forgotten.
Now no one cares that he is gone forever.
Here today, gone tomorrow.
But you can tell who are the blameless and spiritually mature.
What a different story with them!
The godly ones will have a peaceful, prosperous future
With a happy ending!
Every evil sinner will be destroyed, obliterated.
They'll be utter failures with no future!
But the Lord will be the Savior of all who love Him.
God will live in them as Strength,
Even in their time of trouble.
Because their faith in Him,
Their daily portion will be
A Father's help, and deliverance from evil,
This is true for all who turn
To hide themselves in Him!

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

My Crazy Beautiful Life: a.k.a the Longest Life Update Ever.

My life is beautiful, full and just a bit on the crazy side.

So sorry for the radio silence (again). I've been trying so hard to become more disciplined again with blogging but anyone who has been finishing up school themselves these last few months can attest to the absolute craziness that ensues as you reach the end of a school year.

At the end of March I had the amazing honor of traveling to the sweet country of Mozambique which is in the South East of Africa along the Indian Ocean. We travelled to visit and help at the Iris Global base in Pemba. To say that I came back changed is a massive understatement as I feel in many ways my eyes were opened or reopened to the passions that lay within my heart. I won't go into a ton of details as I can forward you my newsletter if you haven't received it but some of most precious things I learned there was:
-There is power released when we meet practical needs.
    I have always had a heart for meeting practical needs. Something I'm always struck by is that it's probably hard to get people to care about the message of Jesus if their stomachs are empty. More on this later...as the practicality of Jesus' miracles are something I'm diving into more. God loves to see His power move through meeting practical needs. I'm convinced of it.
-Peace, Joy and Hope are powerful forces in the Kingdom...and they are substances that can move, no BOWL over things standing in their way.
     In countries where there is no difference between the natural and unseen world (because the people grow up aware of both) you recognize and see just how powerful the forces of the Kingdom are over darkness.
-Latreens are nasty
      Speaks for itself
-God loves orphans, the disenfranchised, the hungry and broken.
      Of course He loves all of us, but His heart is MASSIVE for these people and I believe it is the highest honor to serve them.

Upon my return I was asked if I would be interested in working here at the church. I saw this as a direct answer to my prayers. Since about February I have been feeling like my time here in Redding is not supposed to be done. I don't really know how to explain but the last 3 years of my life have been full on and intense. Working almost full-time, doing school and having my life completely rewired. Feeling the call to missions and actually what I'm alive to do, starting that journey, beginning to fall in love with a people group and discovering gifts within myself that I've never actually given myself space to discover. I feel like a completely new person and I am, in all honesty, tired.

So to think about running off to the mission field where inevitably I would be dealing with learning a new language, culture shock and trying to build a ministry straight out of that felt unwise. As I processed with the Lord before heading to Mozambique I told the Lord, "Ok, but if you want me to stay here I want a great job and I want it to be easy to get, in fact I don't even want to ask for it." And of course, in true God fashion, I didn't have to.

Last week I graduated from my 3rd and final year at BSSM. It was by far the best year yet as I got to marry a lot of what I've been learning with real, practical work. I also got to see my administrative gifting flourish as I actually gave myself permission to use it for the first time in my life. I now see that my love for details, improving and building is not critical but is actually a really valued gift in the Kingdom. God loves details and He loves to see His children come into the fullness of what they're created for and I see now that I get to partner with this part of His heart.

2 weeks ago I started my position at work. I will be helping with the Administration for the Leadership Development Programs that Global Legacy offers. Global Legacy is a ministry of Bethel Church and is a way for revival leaders from all over the earth to connect and be encouraged. You can check it out/create a profile at globallegacy.com I will also be working for Paul who was my mentor this past year.

My hope and plan in staying here for now is several things:
-Working will help me reach my goal of being debt-free before I go to the missions field.
-I will be able to actually save this year (as the last 4 years in Redding have not enabled me to do this) for future costs which include my on field training with W.I.M. and language school potentially in Jordan.
-Be able to attend several workshops about the specific people I want to work with in the future.
-Attend Disaster Relief seminars as this is something practical I was wanting to get trained in as well.
-Build further connections and strengthen other connections with people from the Middle East who are currently in or come through Redding.
-Become more firmly established in my relationships here. It is really important for me to feel and to be a 'sent one' and that happens through relationship.
-I have heard the Lord saying that I will need what I am going to learn doing this job. I know that I will have an organization in the future and the skills that I will learn will be invaluable.
-I will have time to just be and wait on the Lord. I've known that I'm not supposed to rush into anything and that His timing is perfect and I do not want to run into something and a place that would deflate what He's so meticulously been building within me.
-Potential Ministry trips.

-And lastly and most importantly I will have time to do my pre-field training, and do it well. To actually read the books and get what I need to out of them. I also will have more time to write, do music and connect with people who want to partner with what the Lord is doing in the Middle East and what He wants to do through me there.

I know that taking a job might seem like a contradiction to where I know that the Lord is taking me but I just don't see it like that. I see this as a step just as much and I feel the Lord on it. I haven't had a job where I feel this empowered in who I am. Where I can pursue what I love but that also do my job well and where the 2 come together. I am so very excited for all that will come and for the connections that are going to happen. I have a feeling it's going to be a wild ride and that someday the Middle East will benefit from this as much as I will.

If you have questions, would like to know how you can partner with what the Lord's doing or just want to say hi my email is larahochstetler@gmail.com Thanks for walking this journey with me and for caring about what the Lord is doing. It means a lot! I don't pretend to understand the Lord's timing or what He's piecing together but I do know that it is something beautiful to Him.

Oh, and did I mention that I moving Friday, too?

Why not change everything all at once?

Friday, April 10, 2015

"Your Thoughts Define Me."

I know, I know, I should be writing about my trip...but I'm not. Last week when I got back into the states I had the sudden realization that it was Easter week. For the last 3 years now I've either been traveling home from, or have just gotten back from traveling on Easter week. This year was no different.  Good Friday came and I worked an 11.5 hour shift on a jet lagged brain. Not incredibly enjoyable or meaningful.

Sunday. Sunday I was captured by a lyric of one of the songs we sang in church. "Your thoughts define me. You're inside me. You're my reality."

It's true that His thoughts define us. It doesn't matter how we feel about ourselves or what other people think of us...it's His thoughts about us that not only matter but are the truth. That's why taking our thoughts captive is so vital as a believer, so incredibly important. My Pastor often says: "We cannot afford to have one thought about ourselves that He doesn't have."

My question that day to the Lord was this, "When you were going to the cross for us, what were you thinking? Were we worth it? Was I worth it?" Because ultimately...at that moment that's what was important, and that's what defined the gospel. He answer of course to if we were worth it was a resounding, "YES!"

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

For the JOY set before Him, He endured the cross. He chose to go to the cross, He wasn't forced. He made a decision for us, so that we could be restored to full right-standing with Father God. How incredibly beautiful! I would like to think that as Christ went to the cross He was consumed with the picture of the joy that the Father would have as He got His kids back in the fullness we were designed to have. That we would be restored as joint heirs, powerful and free, a people that would be not only able to give love but also be able to fully receive the love that God had longed for generations to give us, but that sin had prevented us from having.

I hope that wherever you are today, and whatever circumstances you are consumed with today that you will stop and let the resounding "Yes" of the Lord wash over you. His thoughts define who you are, and in the moments of His darkest hour before His death He decided that you were worth it all. Stop. Remember and allow His extravagant love and "yes" wash over you afresh today.

Much Love,
Lara

Saturday, January 17, 2015

The Song of Identity

So many people that I know, myself included, are walking through a season where God is working on their identities. While it's beautiful and wonderful it can feel as if all that we know is shaking. For myself, it's been a needed process. It's hard to realize that there are things in my life that have been keeping me from the fullness He has. In many ways it can feel like failure because while I know I've come so far, I'm now made aware of how far I have to go in specific areas. It can feel like He's uncovering us and exposing us and if we're not careful it can feel overwhelming. It can leave us feeling vulnerable and if you're like myself, like we have failed Him in some ways. 

But the reality is that we are so safe. He is completely trustworthy and He holds our hearts so carefully. He knows what we can handle and He also knows how much He longs for there to be nothing blocking our connection not only with Him but with those around us. As I've been processing through this journey there have been moments where I've been tempted to stay in fear, to stay in pride and to stay where I am. I would encourage you to read the following if you find yourself in a similar position. Remind your heart, your mind and your spirit that He is so trustworthy. I pray that our identities become even more firmly established in who He is. Knowing we have nothing to prove and nothing to hide. He is good and even when we are not, He is pursuing after us. May He melt away our fear, silence our pride and comfort our hearts.

Blessings,
Lara
When I look into your eyes,
I see what you think about me.
When I search your heart,
I discover how you feel towards me.

So of course I feel free.
Free to be who you've made me to be;
Reflecting your nature,
Reflecting your glory.
Redeemed. 
Annointed.
Free.
So lock me in firmly.
Solidify my identity.
Hold me close and don't let me go.
Tuck me up under the shadow of your wing and draw me to you.

And as you remain with me:
Melt away my insecurities,
Soften my hard edges.

And sing to me, once again.
Sing the song of my salvation,
The song of my deliverance,
The song that is the source of my strength.

Friday, January 9, 2015

The fight for 2015

2015. The New Year came and went seemingly unexciting. Generally before a New year I've gotten a new anticipation of new experiences and encounters that are to come so to crack into a new year without the expected hope and joy was a little concerning.

New rule #1: never, EVER leave your family on the very first day of the new year. Especially when you already do not look forward to your return 'home' and if you have no plans for when you are going to see said family next. It's not a good plan. It sends you into a tailspin of frustration and grumpiness that I am embarrassed to have been fighting the last week.

2015 has not necessarily greeted me on the most friendly of terms. I am absolutely in love with everything that I'm doing. I love my internship. I love my missions training. I love my friends. I love how beautiful and warm it is here. I love that I attend such a crazy church that enables me to meet and know people from all over the world. I love the fact that I am pursuing what I love and finally believe that God will provide enough for me to do it with all of my heart.

But there are a few things...feelings of being stuck. Feelings of frustration. Feelings of just needing a whole lot of new. Feelings of anger. Resentment. Feelings that have made me feel, at times, like this year was out to get my happiness. That, in combination with being dizzy and slightly nauseous this whole first week back have made me want to curl up in a ball a good majority of the week.

Going into a new year it's extremely common for me to have spent a day dreaming about what God can do. To set not expectations, but anticipations of His goodness. 4 days in I still hadn't even thought about it. I was walking around aimlessly and hoping things would change. But around day 4 after sitting down with a very good friend and processing both on paper and out loud I finally felt like I had gotten my head around the fact that it was a new year and that it was time to take it by force.

I felt ready to fight for all that I know that God has for me. I started writing declarations of things that I wanted to see. I started fighting because suddenly I became very aware that God wanted me to. This year has such promise but I feel like it's going to take a level of determination, grit and even aggressiveness that we have not had to tap into before. 2014 was a year of rest. 2015 is the year we come into our Promised Land. It's time to fight. It's time to stand against anything that does not line up with the word of God and all that blocks all that we have access to as children.

Please don't hear me saying that the time for 'rest' is over. Rest is vital to the life of a believer. But rest is, and never will be the lack of activity. When we truly know how to rest we are empowered and equipped to do more than we think is possible. It's in rest that we are (in the words of my mentor) re-created so that we can then live out all we are created to do.

So, what does He have for you in 2015? What is the Promised Land you are about to walk into? What do you need to say 'no' to so that you can say 'yes' to what He's saying? What are the distractions you need to walk away from so that you can walk into His fullness? What part of your life do you need to 'get aggressive' in so that you can see His fullness in? It's time to focus in and take 2015 to get all that He's placed in it for you.

Like me, I pray that He gives you declarations for the year that empower and equip you to receive the blessings 2015 is carrying for you and yours. I pray that you stand boldly and fight out of the deep awareness that you are His child and all you have access to. Some of you are going to need to change location. Change jobs. Walk away from things. I pray there's grace enough to say 'yes' knowing that you are walking into something different. Something greater. Something Kingdom.

2015 is mine. 2015 is yours. 2015 belongs to the Kingdom.

With Love,
Lara


This song has become my declaration as emotions have been trying to steal my hope and anticipation.
Diamonds
by Johnnyswim
In the wake of every heartache, in the depth of every fear
There were diamonds, diamonds 
Waiting to break out of here.

Don’t you think I hear the whispers

Those subtle lies, those angry pleas
They're just demons, demons
Wishing they were free like me.

We’re the fire, from the sun

We’re the light when the day is done
We are the brave, the chosen ones
We’re the diamonds, diamonds
Rising above the dust.

Oh oh...rising above the dust


All your curses will surrender. Every damning word will kneel.

They’re just mountains, mountains who about to turn into fields.

We’re the fire, from the sun

We’re the light when the day is done
We are the brave, we’re the chosen ones
We’re the diamonds, diamonds
Rising above the dust.

Oh oh...rising out of the dust


You’ve taken down so many others

Oh but you’ll know my name when you see
That in these ashes I’m stronger still
You’ll learn to fear my pain, yeah you will.
You'll learn to feel my pain, yeah you will.

We’re the fire, from the sun

We’re the light when the day is done
We are the brave, we are the chosen ones
We’re the diamonds, diamonds
Rising above the dust.
Rising out of the dust.