Spring Forward!

My parents may have outdone themselves this time! For Christmas they gave me a new, fancy-smansy (yes I did just make that word up) camera. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing yet but it's so much fun! 

I have found that landscapes are probably my favorite "subject" (look at me being trying to use photography lingo, ha!) which is no big surprise to me.  There is nothing I enjoy more than being outdoors and soaking up the beauty of our Father's creation.  There is a beautiful quote by John Burroughs that says it best: 

" I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."

With the colors of spring beginning to burst forth in all of their radiant glory I could not resist sharing a few of my favorites from today's outing.

Mom says the Red Bud flowers look  like clusters of grapes.

 It's amazing how things can change in just a little over a month's time...

Amazing right?

It is so cool to me how His majesty is revealed in such a visible manner, which is why the next picture is probably my favorite. So without further ado....

I know you are probably thinking "what on earth is so special about that single picture?" Well I probably would be thinking the same exact thing had I not come across this quote earlier this week:

"A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms."

You see I fall trap to the temptation of comparison all of the time. All too often I compare myself to others and when I do not measure up, it leaves me feeling inadequate. Capturing this image served as a visual message from the Lord reminding me that He created me for a unique plan and purpose and that it is time for me to stop comparing myself to others (Whom He has also created for a unique purpose and design. That's YOU!).

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

-Emily

It Is Well With My Soul

For the life of me I can't begin to figure out why on earth I am always inspired in the late hours of the night, and by late I mean 11:00 p.m. Yes I am a 22 year old college kid and yes I prefer to be sound asleep at 10:00 p.m. Perhaps the reason it works out this way is because as I look back over the day I can't denying the Lord's consuming presence.

Today my precious grandfather was laid to rest. As I write to you I am not entirely sure that my mind is capable of fathoming all of the events that have taken place in the last 48 hours. He was the last of my grandparents to make the journey from earth into eternal Glory. Needless to say the impact he has had on my life has been substantial. I know that no description that I attempt to construct for you will ever do justice to the depth of his character so perhaps I will attempt it on another day, at another time, when my eyes are slightly less puffy and my emotions a little less tattered but to put things in perspective I could summarize his character best by saying that my Pawpaw was a good man. Being that he was a man of few words he would probably appreciate my attempt at brevity.

My heart is still in anguish over the loss our family is facing here on earth. He wore some mighty big shoes and I'm just not certain that they are capable of being filled. What I do know is that my grandfather has met the King of Kings. I get chills when I think about that name, KING OF KINGS. Wow.

In the midst of today's responsibilities the thing that has impacted me the most was just the sheer presence of the Holy Spirit today. The tempo for the day was set when I picked up Beth Moore's Stepping Up and began my daily time with the Lord. Today's devotion was directed towards Psalm 125. After reading the day's passage I knew without a doubt that God had ordained my morning meeting long ago as I looked on verse 3 which reads: As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore [Psalm 125:3]. In my mind the word "surround" could be synonymous with "encompass or enclosed". Now bear with me for a second, but just let your mind absorb the thought of being enclosed by the presence of Almighty God. To be so closely encircled by his presence that he becomes the very breath that you breath. 

 We gathered at my grandfather's graveside this afternoon and we began to sing the familiar words of Amazing Grace. As soon as we raised our voices in worship the wind began to pick up. Now to you that may not mean much but almost 19 years ago I stood in the same spot as my grandfather's beloved wife was laid to rest and as young as I was I remember the exact thing happening. It was as if the wind blew in at just the right moment and surrounded us with the all encompassing love and peace of the Holy Spirit. There was no denying that the Lord was right their with us, giving us the very breath we needed to withstand the heartache that we faced in our temporary separation from a man that we all hold so close to our hearts. Just as His word promises in Psalm 34: 18, " The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit".

As we were driving home tonight I couldn't help but think, how could I not fall in love with the Father who is so faithful to bring comfort and all surpassing peace in the midst of pain? How can I help but declare the praises of the one who is my very source of strength and breath, the one who calls out to me in the midst of darkness? In appropriate fashion I started humming the tune to the lyrics of Jason Gray's More Like Falling in Love which says : 

I need more than a truth to believe
I need a truth that lives, moves and breathes
To sweep me off my feet, its gotta be
More like falling in love
Than something to believe in 
More like losing my heart
Than giving my allegiance

The way the Father spoke tenderly to my heart and granted peace is consuming because I know all to well what it's like to stand in the same situation in the absence of peace and to let myself become so consumed with grief that I forget to fix my eyes on Jesus. He moves in such a way that I absolutely can't help but love him because I know that without his presence my attitude and perception of today's circumstances would have been enough to send this wandering heart into a state of rebellion. Through God's great grace and the exalted prayers of my very dear brothers and sisters in Christ I was able to face the challenges of the day with a sense of hope and peace and declare through worship that in the midst of heartache "It is well with my soul".

With a joyful heart,
Emily

Great New Discovery

I don't know about y'all but I just get so excited when I find someone who shares the same passions that I do! Today I just came across a great health website called Dashing Dish that is focused on teaching women how to enjoy the pleasures of food while giving our bodies the nutrients we need to complete the life God has in store for us. This blog is completely focused around treating our bodies the way God intends for us individually. 

I could go on and on, because like I said this is my passion. You guys check it out and let me know what you think! Dashing Dish

-Emily

Burnt Out

Whew, I am so glad it is finally the weekend! This week has just been one of those long weeks. Not hard, not bad; just long. There was a lot of work to be done, a lot of decisions to be made and just a lot of "stuff".Somewhere in all of the hustle and bustle my energy reserves were depleted. We are talking bone dry! You know that feeling where you are just mentally and physically exhausted and you just need that breath of fresh air to keep you going? Well this morning I reached that point. I came up with two solutions; run outside barefoot in 18 degree weather or pick up the good book for a little spiritual awakening.

Seeing how I typically cuddle up under a blanket even if it is 72 degrees inside, I opted for option number 2. As I turned to the pages of Deuteronomy I muttered something along the lines of "I am in a desperate need for a little pick-me-up Lord."

 This was the his response:

Deuteronomy 31:6 " Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 32:4 "He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he."

Deuteronomy 33:26 "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds his majesty."

And the verse that brought it all home was Deuteronomy 33:12 " About Benjamin he said: "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders."

What a peaceful feeling it is to find rest in the security of the promises that we have in Christ. In every situation we face throughout the day can rest assured that he will never leave nor forsake us and he will ride across the heavens to help us. Despite any uncertainty that lies before us in the days or weeks ahead we know that his works are perfect.

I am thankful once again for the reminder to let go all my worries and just rest in the arms of Christ. Instead of trying to survive on my own strength I must remember to humble myself before the Lord each day and just rest in the security of his promises because no matter what God is in control.

-Emily

Purpose in the Wilderness

On this peaceful Saturday morning as the sun was shining through the window it felt like the perfect opportunity to open my Bible and spend some time in the Lord's word. Before I even unzipped my beautiful Vera Bradly cover, I asked the Lord to speak to me in a special way and boy did He ever! 

Purpose can be defined as the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists (Google). I do not know about you but I am one of those people who needs a purpose in order for life to make sense. I have to know that there is a reason that I am doing what I am doing. As a result, I am one of those people who likes to ask "why?".

My college years have left me with a lot of those "why" questions such as "Why do I need to know about Global Literature in order to be an Exercise Physiologist?" or  "Why do professors require us to purchase textbooks that we will never use again once the semester is over?". Perhaps one of the most pertinent questions I have faced is "Why or what is the purpose for this season?"

This morning the Lord gave me a very clear answer in Deuteronomy 8:2-3:

"Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

I just get so excited when the Lord reveals to me how his words that were written so long ago are relevant in my life today! 

My "wilderness" has been filled with many trials and tribulations. Some of those trials were out of my control and others were consequences of my own actions. Either way it has been a season filled with heartache and spiritual growth. In the moments where my circumstances seemed overwhelming I recall holding my breath and praying, "God, please reassure me there is a purpose for all of this".

As I look back at Deuteronomy 8:2-3 I see how the trials that I faced in the past were meant to break me so that the Lord could build me back up. The Lord had to teach my very stubborn heart that his way was best and that if I could just learn to rely on him I was going to make it through. The Lord intended to use my season in the wilderness to draw me closer to his side. He was teaching me that he alone could and would sustain me if I was willing seek him with all of my heart.

The Lord has been very faithful to bring much healing and redemption to my life in regards to the previous season of my life. However, I find myself in a new wilderness of sorts. As a college senior there are so many unanswered questions that I have in regards to my future. "What am I going to do with my life?, Where am I going to live?, Am I ever going to meet Mr. Right?". In this time I pray that I would learn to embrace the purpose the Lord has for me this season. I pray that I would faithful to live off of his life-sustaining words that satisfy my soul no matter how uncertain my circumstances may seam!

I think Love & The Outcome says it best:

We believe
There is purpose, there is meaning
In everything
We surrender to His leading
He wants nothing more
Than to have us close

(He Is With Us)

So if you are finding yourself lost in the wilderness take heart in knowing that the Lord has a divine purpose for this season and that in fact it may be more for your personal growth than anything else!

God Bless!

-Emily

LOVE Redeemed 2013

"Therefore I am now going to allure her;
I will lead her into the wilderness 
and speak tenderly to her.
There I will give her back her vineyards, 
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will respond as in the days of her youth, 
as in the day she came up out of Egypt."
Hosea 2:14-15, NIV

Those of you that know me, know that reading is not exactly my favorite hobby but the idea of a warm fire, hot coffee and a good book was even too great for me to resist during this cold, rainy winter. I must admit that I actually have a  list of new books that I would like to read but yet again I could not resist the temptation to pick up Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers for what I believe is probably the 5th or 6th time. There is just something about a love story evolving a handsome, western farmer that gets me every time. Needless to say I am a fan even if it is almost 500 pages. If you are like me anything over 200 pages is pushing it, oh who am I kidding 100 pages is probably more accurate.

Anyways...
Redeeming Love is a fictional love story based on a retelling of the book of Hosea in the Bible. Without compromising the integrity of the story in case you plan to read it yourself, the novel is about a man who continually displays his love for a young woman despite betrayal, pain and rejection much like Christ's continual pursuit of His children.I never cease to be amazed at how something new jumps out at me every single time I read this novel and I think it must have something to do with perspective. 

A few weeks ago Beth Moore posted a video titled "The 12th Month that Redeems a Whole Year" (Please check out her video A 12th Month That Redeems a Year. She is fantastic and I just love the way that God speaks through her. My description just does not do it justice!). In the video she talks about how 2013 may have been a challenging year, a year that we wish to forget but she points out Biblical examples where 12th month was a time of reversal. Historically it is a time where things intended to destroy were turned around and used ultimately for God's glory. She presented a challenge asking that we might be so bold as to ask the Lord to do an outstanding work in December that would redeem the entire year despite the hardships and challenges that have been faced.

A recent theme in my personal study in the word has revolved around the story of Joseph in Genesis 50:20:"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives". As I was reading Redeeming Love last night, I could not help but feel this verse come to life as I kept noticing the parallels between the main character and the Lord in regards the way He displayed the depth of His love for me this year.

2013 at a glance was a trying year personally in regards to my faith. The combination of several heartbreaking events for both myself and a few of my close friends left me questioning God and His faithfulness. I found myself asking, "If God is good, why do bad things happen to good people?" , "Is God still sovereign when I am continually disappointed that things don't go my way?", "What is the point in holding out hope?". My frustration and doubt led me to a place where I felt numb. I was in survival mode, were I felt it was best not to hope at all because hope just led to disappointment. But somewhere in the wilderness God's sweet voice tenderly drew me back to His word (Hosea 2:14-15). In the midst of my doubt God spoke truth to my heart through the testimonies of cherished friends and devout leaders of the faith and I can now answer all of those questions with a resounding "YES". God is faithful, God is just and God is sovereign in all things and He is working everything together for our good even if it isn't according to MY plan.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose(Romans 8:28) ." 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

After listening to Beth Moore's devotion I began praying that God would redeem my 2013 in this December month and last night I realized that He already had, even though it was not the redemption I had imagined. It was much greater! Christ poured out His love for me in 2013 and He pursued His wayward child and mercifully drew me back to His side. He poured His Grace out over me and brought Genesis 50:20 to life as He took a year that was intended for my harm and re-purposed it into good through growth, strength and maturity of my faith.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)

2013 may have been a tough year for me spiritually but God prevailed victorious and the battle ended well! 

May He receive all the glory and all the praise!

-Emily

"Here in the power of Christ I'll stand"

Lately I have been rather hesitant about blogging. I guess it is because I find myself thinking, "I am just a simple, small town girl, why does anything I say matter? Who on earth would want to stop and read anything I've written? I am not an English major and I definitely cannot spell, even if my life depends on it. Better yet, what's the point or what is my motive?" 

I think I found my answer in the passage that our pastor shared this morning:"26Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.28God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”1 Corinthians 1:26-31

 

I am not wise, not influential, not of noble birth. I am often weak and lowly. I've made more mistakes than I care to admit. I am stubborn, proud, independent. I have spent the last year of my life being aggravated with myself for letting circumstances of loss and disappointment make me question my faith. "I've been the one to try and say I'll overcome by my own strength I've been the one to fall apart and start to question who you are." (MercyMe-You are I am). I am just a sinner saved by grace.

"But by the grace of God I am What I am, and his grace to me was not without effect." I Corinthians 15:10

 

Take a look at verse 30 & 31 again.

"It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."

I have made a mess of things time and time again but because of him my life has been redeemed. It is because of him that I am a new creation. It is because of him that I woke up this morning. It is because of him that I have the strength to face each day with hope. Because of him, I live.

As was appropriate our service ended today with one of my favorite songs: 

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the World by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

-es