As Laura Barrineau tells it, she hasn’t suffered a lot of terrible things in her life and for years she felt like her testimony wasn’t good enough. Many times, when we grow up in a good Christian home, accept Christ as a child and live mostly for Jesus, we don’t think our stories are good enough to share. But Laura eventually realized that even though she didn’t have a miraculous testimony, that didn’t mean God didn’t want her to share her story. Instead of feeling guilty, she began to express gratitude to God for the good things He’s allowed her to experience and that’s caused her to grow even closer to Him.
Laura and her husband, Chris, have stepped out in faith and God has given them amazing testimonies about how they planted a church, adopted a sweet down-syndrome baby, Caleb, from China, and are now opening their hearts and homes to foster kids who need their love and encouragement. She and Chris understand that everybody’s story is different, but God wants to use everybody’s story for His glory. My conversation with Laura will bless your socks off!
Quotes and Scriptures from Laura
“Even when our kids played sports and were busy and dinner wasn’t an option to sit around the table, we got up 15 minutes earlier in the morning and we sat around the breakfast table before everybody headed out the door… Our family functions better around food.”
“I feel like in marriage you’re supposed to reflect God better together than apart, and I feel like that’s definitely Chris [and me].”
“We had no idea what we were doing, but we were just available and obedient.”
“Don’t be scared to let something go, or to take something up, even if you don’t know how it’s going to turn out.”
“All [God] has called us to do is be available and obedient to Him… We don’t have to come up with the plan, thank goodness.”
“When you do step into foster care, you are inviting the brokenness of the world into your home and into your heart… And that’s what God calls us to do.”
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6 (Laura’s life verse)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:8-10
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-21
Chris and Laura’s church is Capstone Church in Fountain Inn, S.C.
Events and Sponsors Mentioned in This Episode
The Building Strong Homes Live Hometown Event: We Belong Together May 13 from 5:30-9:00 pm
Operation Restoration Retreat at The Cove November 17-19, 2023
Building the Inn of SC: Let’s Come Together and Grow as a Community
Listen to Passing on an Inheritance of Faith with Laura Barrineau