I'm in Panama City, FL with some of my Wash U friends for spring break. We are hanging out at this beautiful beachside resort called Edgewater. WE are here for something called Big Break--it's a conference put on by Campus Crusade for Christ every spring break. There are over 1000 college students from across the country gathered at this single resort with a single mission: share the gospel. We have morning and evening sessions every day and during the afternoon we all go onto the beach and talk to people. Sounds easy enough, right? We just walk up to girls laying out and guys goofing off and talk to them, let them talk, listen to their stories, and share a little of ours. It's not the typical spring break saturated with alcohol and marked by walking around half-naked, but I'm sure we will remember more of it than those participating in those "normal" spring break activities.
More updates to come.
By the way, please keep a special intention of mine in your prayers. I am waiting for something to happen anytime between Sunday (yesterday) and Tuesday (tomorrow) and it has not happened yet but it realllllllly needs to. Just sayin'
By the other way, I heard it snowed 3 inches in St. Louis last night/today...so I'm not gonna complain that there are a few more clouds in the sky than I'd like today.
Happy day.
AMDG, Emily
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
San Diego Summer Project
Hello friends,
I'm writing today to tell you that, unfortunately, I will no longer be a part of the San Diego Summer Project team. Some things have come up in the past week and it seems that God does not intend for me to minister through SDSP this summer. As hard as it is for me to accept, I know I desire only to serve Him and follow His will. Through my surrender, I have given up my selfish desires--my stubbornness remains, and that's why this is so difficult.
Those of you who had joined me in this project as financial ministry partners will receive your check in the mail soon. I am still waiting for a few to be returned from the project office in Colorado. I promise you, I will return them as soon as possible.
As far as what I now plan to do with my summer...well, I'm not entirely sure. I am not called to go home and sit on my butt. A return to SpringHill is a possibility. My heart is open to all possibilities--if you have any suggestions, feel free to share. ;)
My heart broke when San Diego fell through because I was already so far emotionally invested in looking forward to building community and growing in faith and love all summer. God has given me a passionate heart for ministry, as I learned last summer, and I desire nothing more than to let Him lead me through that.
Please continue to pray for me as I struggle through putting together my summer options. You are always in my prayers!
Love, love, love, Emily
"Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone..."
I'm writing today to tell you that, unfortunately, I will no longer be a part of the San Diego Summer Project team. Some things have come up in the past week and it seems that God does not intend for me to minister through SDSP this summer. As hard as it is for me to accept, I know I desire only to serve Him and follow His will. Through my surrender, I have given up my selfish desires--my stubbornness remains, and that's why this is so difficult.
Those of you who had joined me in this project as financial ministry partners will receive your check in the mail soon. I am still waiting for a few to be returned from the project office in Colorado. I promise you, I will return them as soon as possible.
As far as what I now plan to do with my summer...well, I'm not entirely sure. I am not called to go home and sit on my butt. A return to SpringHill is a possibility. My heart is open to all possibilities--if you have any suggestions, feel free to share. ;)
My heart broke when San Diego fell through because I was already so far emotionally invested in looking forward to building community and growing in faith and love all summer. God has given me a passionate heart for ministry, as I learned last summer, and I desire nothing more than to let Him lead me through that.
Please continue to pray for me as I struggle through putting together my summer options. You are always in my prayers!
Love, love, love, Emily
"Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone..."
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Mind over matter
What happens when there is a 718 mile disconnect between your head and your heart? ...when you know you need to do something but really don't want to? How do you discern the timing of actually executing these things? Should you actually do them if your heart isn't in it?
These questions and many others have been rolling around in my mind more than usual recently. Upon reflection, I've determined that it all comes down to discerning God's will. I live, not for myself, but for Him, and so the root of my decisions should be found in His desires, His plan.
As I was trying to make a big decision about a month ago, I was given an article about how we can actually do this. You can read the article by clicking here. There's no right or wrong answer to those questions because in each situation you find yourself asking, God's will may be different. Because of this, we need to be attentive to daily discernment--making sure our decisions constantly align themselves with the Lord's so that our path and God's path become one in the same. We must pray and act for this daily. It is not a once in a lifetime sort of thing.
Pray: Lord, I do not know what to ask you. You alone know my real needs, and you love me more than I even know how to love. Enable me to discern my true needs which are hidden from me. I ask for neither cross nor consolation; I wait in patience for you. My heart is open to you. For your great mercy's sake, come to me and help me. Put your mark on me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up. Silently I adore your holy will and your inscrutable ways. I offer myself in sacrifice to you and put all my trust in you. I desire only to do your will. Teach me how to pray and pray in me, yourself.
""For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. When you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you. " Jeremiah 29: 11-13
"I do not pray to be successful, I pray to be faithful." Mother Teresa
These questions and many others have been rolling around in my mind more than usual recently. Upon reflection, I've determined that it all comes down to discerning God's will. I live, not for myself, but for Him, and so the root of my decisions should be found in His desires, His plan.
As I was trying to make a big decision about a month ago, I was given an article about how we can actually do this. You can read the article by clicking here. There's no right or wrong answer to those questions because in each situation you find yourself asking, God's will may be different. Because of this, we need to be attentive to daily discernment--making sure our decisions constantly align themselves with the Lord's so that our path and God's path become one in the same. We must pray and act for this daily. It is not a once in a lifetime sort of thing.
Pray: Lord, I do not know what to ask you. You alone know my real needs, and you love me more than I even know how to love. Enable me to discern my true needs which are hidden from me. I ask for neither cross nor consolation; I wait in patience for you. My heart is open to you. For your great mercy's sake, come to me and help me. Put your mark on me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up. Silently I adore your holy will and your inscrutable ways. I offer myself in sacrifice to you and put all my trust in you. I desire only to do your will. Teach me how to pray and pray in me, yourself.
""For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. When you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you. " Jeremiah 29: 11-13
"I do not pray to be successful, I pray to be faithful." Mother Teresa
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Keep me humble, Keep me holy.
The mantra"keep me humble, keep me holy" was pounded into a leather bracelet for a friend of mine at camp this summer. When we met each Tuesday in our growth groups, she constantly reminded me what that really meant.
In the most difficult of circumstances, she handed over the struggle to her Maker. When she had nothing left to give, she fell at the foot of the cross and asked Him to revive her. With every success, she gave Him praise. With every failure, she gave Him thanks. All for Jesus. All for Jesus.
So often it is easier for me to fall into bitterness and indifference than to allow myself to be humbled to be made holy. I had a meeting with someone in administration half an hour ago and did not at all live up to my call to holiness or humility. I walked into the office with my head held high and a list of things I needed to say tucked in my pocket. This meeting, I had previously decided, was something I needed to "win." Little did I know, that it wasn't a fight at all. There would be no winner or loser, unless I formed those ideas in my head. Everything I was thinking and feeling fell into these three categories: 1. what felt good, 2. what was easiest, and 3. whatever concerned me. It was all about me. It was all about Emily. I had prepared in my mind what points I needed to make and knew I must remain calm during the conversation--because of that, I had unintentionally blocked myself from receiving the grace I would need.
But despite my sinfulness, God's goodness remains. I may have walked into that meeting stubborn and self-centered but a certain peace came into my heart and I shook the other person's hand and sat down. With that peace came an understanding that a hard heart wasn't going to get me anywhere. The meeting was smooth and virtually painless because I was sitting there being humbled.
Holiness takes humility. We pretty much all desire to get to heaven, I'm sure and the only way to heaven is through holiness. Thus, heaven takes humility too.
keep me humble, keep me holy...write it on a notecard and put it in your pocket or in your purse or write it on your planner or get it tattooed on your arm. whatever you do, never forget it.
In the most difficult of circumstances, she handed over the struggle to her Maker. When she had nothing left to give, she fell at the foot of the cross and asked Him to revive her. With every success, she gave Him praise. With every failure, she gave Him thanks. All for Jesus. All for Jesus.
So often it is easier for me to fall into bitterness and indifference than to allow myself to be humbled to be made holy. I had a meeting with someone in administration half an hour ago and did not at all live up to my call to holiness or humility. I walked into the office with my head held high and a list of things I needed to say tucked in my pocket. This meeting, I had previously decided, was something I needed to "win." Little did I know, that it wasn't a fight at all. There would be no winner or loser, unless I formed those ideas in my head. Everything I was thinking and feeling fell into these three categories: 1. what felt good, 2. what was easiest, and 3. whatever concerned me. It was all about me. It was all about Emily. I had prepared in my mind what points I needed to make and knew I must remain calm during the conversation--because of that, I had unintentionally blocked myself from receiving the grace I would need.
But despite my sinfulness, God's goodness remains. I may have walked into that meeting stubborn and self-centered but a certain peace came into my heart and I shook the other person's hand and sat down. With that peace came an understanding that a hard heart wasn't going to get me anywhere. The meeting was smooth and virtually painless because I was sitting there being humbled.
Holiness takes humility. We pretty much all desire to get to heaven, I'm sure and the only way to heaven is through holiness. Thus, heaven takes humility too.
keep me humble, keep me holy...write it on a notecard and put it in your pocket or in your purse or write it on your planner or get it tattooed on your arm. whatever you do, never forget it.
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