So, I am in New York! I'm staying in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with my beautiful friend Mallory. I am really excited about being here because, well, it's New York! But I am also really loving this trip because I have prayed that God would make this a very valuable spiritual experience. Of course, we will do our fair share of New York things while I am here, but I am really excited about the things I will learn about myself while I'm here. I am excited to get closer to God during this next week and to be able to spend it in such an amazing city!
Mallory and I went out to the coolest restaurant last night in the East village. I couldn't help but feeling so alive and so at ease. I always have fun with Mallory, but everything is just intensified when you're in a place with endless opportunities. Who knows what adventures and memories today will bring! Right now I am sitting in a cozy cafe and I want to write about some of the things I have been thinking about.
Over the past week or so God has really been guiding me and directing me, and everything He's been teaching me is so exciting. But mainly, I feel that God is just helping me highlight (or re-highlight) my values. He is helping me see the things that REALLY matter to me. The world can be a place of confusion, especially for me. I get lost in my own desires and dreams and forget to just relax and know that He has everything covered. It's peaceful and relaxing to know that everything is going to be okay.
I feel like, for a long time, I have underestimated the dynamic power of faith. The more I read in the Word, the clearer it becomes that it's time for my faith to get stronger. One of my greatest friends just recently told me that putting your faith is God is a lifestyle. I really appreciate those words because I understand that building your faith takes work. It is a daily struggle to keep your faith strong, but it is the best kind of struggle. Not only does this make you stronger, but it teaches you that He is the only thing that is dependable in this life. His love becomes the Rock that you can stand on, no matter what difficulties you face in you life. I think for the first time, ever, my faith is really coming alive. It's becoming the thing that gets me up in the morning, and I believe that's exactly how it should be!
For a really long time (basically my whole life), I have been so focused on myself and the things that I want for myself that I lost sight of the most important thing, and that is the One who created me. I like the idea of just relaxing into God's control and love.
The song that just came on in the cafe reminds me how BEAUTIFUL life is. Thanks U2... "it's a beautiful day!"The sun is coming up and shining light on so many beautiful things that I never noticed before. I know life is hard, but when you remove your spirit from your flesh, you realize how fleeting this life is. I pray that the sun comes up on your life today, and that you begin to see the beauty of everyday:) Pray big prayers and dream big dreams because we belong to a big God!
Emily
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Something short but sweet.
Today is the day when I looked in the mirror at myself and said..."Oh yeah! I remember her!"
I love nature. I love painting. I love birds. I love rain. I love music. I love laughing and being really goofy! I lost myself for a little while to the ways of the world, and let myself forget about how beautiful God has made me inside and out.
If you are feeling discouraged about who you are, remember that you are beautiful just the way God made you. Don't let the world influence your perception of yourself. Laugh more! Life is fun! There are so many things to be grateful for.
"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God"
Psalm 40:8
Be free!!
Emily
I love nature. I love painting. I love birds. I love rain. I love music. I love laughing and being really goofy! I lost myself for a little while to the ways of the world, and let myself forget about how beautiful God has made me inside and out.
If you are feeling discouraged about who you are, remember that you are beautiful just the way God made you. Don't let the world influence your perception of yourself. Laugh more! Life is fun! There are so many things to be grateful for.
"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God"
Psalm 40:8
Be free!!
Emily
Monday, January 2, 2012
Life looks different now...
"And after the storm,
I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up,
on my knees and out of luck,
I look up."
- After the Storm
Mumford & Sons
This song is a piece of art that I cherish very much. Its lyrics are timeless and it teaches me how to be calm and patient as I wait on God. It has taken a while for me to finally understand the power of faith. I see now that I cannot control my life, and that I shouldn't even want to. God has proven Himself time and time again, and His hands are the only hands that I will ever trust with my life. God is changing me into a completely different person. He has taught me how to truly love myself, by helping me understand the way that He loves me. He has revealed to me a pathway for my life that looks so much better than the one I would have chosen for myself.
For the longest time, I have desired to be an actress in film and to be a very accomplished choreographer. I have been determined to achieve these goals, whether God approved or not. I was always scared to give my dreams and desires over to God because I feared that I would never see my dreams come true. God has taught me so much throughout my life, but I feel that I have learned the most about myself in the last few weeks. I now see that giving my dreams and desires to God is one of the most freeing things I could possibly ever do for my life. A life that is controlled by my ways and my plans for myself offers no freedom in who God has created me to be. I have believed many lies fed to me throughout my life, but I can finally see through one of the biggest lies that I have believed for so long. The lie was the idea that I would never be happy unless I achieved my plans for my life. This lie kept me imprisoned in my own ways and kept me from believing in God's amazing plan for my life. My desire to see my dreams come true made me into a stone; unable to appreciate life in the present.
For such a long time I have dreamed of a future that brought about answered dreams, freedom, and joy. But the amazing thing that I see now is that the future that I have been dreaming of is not a future that I could plan for myself. The future of answered dreams, freedom, and joy can only be given to me by my Creator. He knows EVERYTHING that I need. I have completely given over my desires to Him because I know that He knows what is best, even if that means that I will never see my plan for my life come to fruition. I understand faith more than I ever have, and I can only attribute this HUGE change in myself to God.
"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you...So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation" 1 Peter 5:10
This new journey of my life is about Him teaching me to walk day by day. One of my greatest fears is letting the present moment go by without striving for my ideal future. But the present is all that I have, and it is BEAUTIFUL. God is teaching me all of these things, and I thank Him for this. I now experience freedom on a daily basis, because God is here and now. God does want me to have a beautiful future, but He really wants me to find love and meaning in every moment that I am alive. He is teaching me to "walk by faith and not by sight", and I understand that this is the best possible way to live life!
"And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair."
I dream of a future that brings true love, freedom, and many flowers. And I know that I can trust my Creator with EVERYTHING.
I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up,
on my knees and out of luck,
I look up."
- After the Storm
Mumford & Sons
This song is a piece of art that I cherish very much. Its lyrics are timeless and it teaches me how to be calm and patient as I wait on God. It has taken a while for me to finally understand the power of faith. I see now that I cannot control my life, and that I shouldn't even want to. God has proven Himself time and time again, and His hands are the only hands that I will ever trust with my life. God is changing me into a completely different person. He has taught me how to truly love myself, by helping me understand the way that He loves me. He has revealed to me a pathway for my life that looks so much better than the one I would have chosen for myself.
For the longest time, I have desired to be an actress in film and to be a very accomplished choreographer. I have been determined to achieve these goals, whether God approved or not. I was always scared to give my dreams and desires over to God because I feared that I would never see my dreams come true. God has taught me so much throughout my life, but I feel that I have learned the most about myself in the last few weeks. I now see that giving my dreams and desires to God is one of the most freeing things I could possibly ever do for my life. A life that is controlled by my ways and my plans for myself offers no freedom in who God has created me to be. I have believed many lies fed to me throughout my life, but I can finally see through one of the biggest lies that I have believed for so long. The lie was the idea that I would never be happy unless I achieved my plans for my life. This lie kept me imprisoned in my own ways and kept me from believing in God's amazing plan for my life. My desire to see my dreams come true made me into a stone; unable to appreciate life in the present.
For such a long time I have dreamed of a future that brought about answered dreams, freedom, and joy. But the amazing thing that I see now is that the future that I have been dreaming of is not a future that I could plan for myself. The future of answered dreams, freedom, and joy can only be given to me by my Creator. He knows EVERYTHING that I need. I have completely given over my desires to Him because I know that He knows what is best, even if that means that I will never see my plan for my life come to fruition. I understand faith more than I ever have, and I can only attribute this HUGE change in myself to God.
"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you...So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation" 1 Peter 5:10
This new journey of my life is about Him teaching me to walk day by day. One of my greatest fears is letting the present moment go by without striving for my ideal future. But the present is all that I have, and it is BEAUTIFUL. God is teaching me all of these things, and I thank Him for this. I now experience freedom on a daily basis, because God is here and now. God does want me to have a beautiful future, but He really wants me to find love and meaning in every moment that I am alive. He is teaching me to "walk by faith and not by sight", and I understand that this is the best possible way to live life!
"And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair."
I dream of a future that brings true love, freedom, and many flowers. And I know that I can trust my Creator with EVERYTHING.
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