Lara fills a number of roles: wife to her man-firefighter, mama to three live-wires, daughter, friend, speaker, and writer. She is, a woman walking this crazy life-thing beside you, desiring that His Truth invade all of her moments–from the messy to the brilliant. . You can find her every day at This Adventure and monthly at MODsquad Blog.

Mine is a story of grace.

Raised a Southern Baptist preacher’s daughter, I lived up to that stereotypical prodigal. Though I responded to the Lord’s gift of salvation at the age of nine, I spent my high school years searching for something “more.” Worldly-living slowly devoured my soul.

By His grace I survived.

I moved home halfway through my first year in college due to poor grades and even poorer self-control. Though I later recognized God’s ordaining hands in bringing me back under my parents’ roof.

During my brief interlude at home we discovered the cancer eating away at my dad’s brain. He was lying in a hospital bed when I left for my second year of college. I was running, searching for something to dull the pain…

digging myself into deep pits of self-indulgence.

He passed away just weeks into the semester. And after attending the funeral, I quickly escaped back to school and drowned the gashes with anyone and anything my searching hands could grasp.

By His grace I lived…and actually graduated.

Two years after graduating, my faithful heavenly Father said, “ENOUGH! My child, enough.”

By His grace He restored me to Himself, and set my heart ablaze for Him.

I went to seminary on fire for Jesus and met my firefighter man while still working on my Masters. We married quick…and somewhat clueless.

And though the Lord had done an amazing thing in my own life, I still had some unpacked baggage from the years of self-indulgent behavior. And my man, well, he had his own bags. We were a perfect storm just ready to stir.

The months turned to years and heaviness weighed down in our home. Communication crumbled and walls grew ever more fortified. It was three children and six years later that the enemies of darkness began to lose their death grip.

By His grace He shone His light onto the dark places in our midst and a glimmer of hope began to break through.

Our God is restoring our marriage, and I am ever-thankful, but for me the real victory came while I was deep in the valley. The victory came when He proved Himself faithful to mend the brokenness regardless of circumstance.

Our God is real. His Word is alive. His promises remain steadfast regardless of the happenings of our days. Those who bind to Him will have renewed strength. New strength. His strength. Enabled to soar. (Isaiah 40:31)

Mine is a story of grace.

How has He proven His great grace in your own life?

I think I “Met” Lara the first month I started blogging.  She has been here once before, and I’ve spent time at her place.  We also tweet it up every morning for #hellomornings.   I am grateful to call her friend and honored that she would share her story of Grace so vividly.  If you want to follow her Adventure with God (and trust me, you do) click here. You can also find her on Twitter by going here.