look only to Him

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:25-31 NIV)

With every post I write, it comes from what the Lord has been showing me. Lately, he keeps telling me to trust Him. That is always a lot easier said than done. And, I obviously, haven't completely done that, because he keeps telling me.

You know, it's so easy for us to be like Peter. At first, he wasn't really sure it was the Lord. And that's okay for us to make sure it is Him before proceeding. We certainly don't want to step into unknown territory without being certain that it's Him. So, not being sure, Peter asked Jesus to verify it was truly Him. Once he did, Peter jumped boldly from the boat to meet his Lord on the water. He was walking along just fine until he looked at his circumstances. When his eyes were fixed on Jesus, knowing that He, and He alone, had called him, he stayed afloat. But, as soon as Peter looked at all of the turmoil about him, he began to sink. He began to not trust. He began to doubt.

You know what's so awesome about impossible situations? God gets to show Himself through them. He gets to show His majesty, power, and He always proves to be victorious. But, we do have a choice to make in order for that to happen. We have to trust Him. We can't look to the left or the right, but have to keep our eyes firmly fixed upon Him.

Recently, the Lord gave me a vision. In the vision, I was standing on a road in what looked like New York City. To the left and right were buildings. There were also people milling about. Straight ahead of me was this awesome, blinding light. This incomprehensible light was my Lord. In the vision, I was looking and was drawn to the light, but being curious wanted to look at the buildings. There was only one building that had anything written on it. It was what I already knew to be. All of the other buildings were blank. I began to feel panicky, not knowing what would come next. God spoke to me so clearly and said, "Don't worry about what's in the buildings or what they should be. Keep your eyes on me. Stay focused on me. Look neither to the left or the right. And, I will fill in all the blanks. I will lead you when you don't yet know what to do with them. Just keep walking towards me. Don't be concerned by your circumstances. I work best in impossible circumstances. Keep me first, and everything else will fall into place."

I had forgotten the promise from that vision until I read that scripture from Matthew. As I continue to put my faith and trust in the Lord for my own situation in life, I hope you will, too. Look to Him. Get in His word. Build your faith. "For faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

Tests

Job 1:1-22

Do you ever think about how terrible you have it? I know that seems odd, but seriously, how often do you go through things and just can't believe how bad it is? I know that I, for one, am guilty of this. Sometimes, I may think to myself, "Lord, how will I get out of this? When will it be over, God?" I too often find myself in a complaining mode. I may not complain out loud, but in my mind, I think it.

However, God is so much bigger than my circumstance. This past weekend, I was privileged to hear Pastor Debbie Gamble speak. She said something that struck me. She said, "You may not have control over your circumstance, but you do have control over your atmosphere."

I considered Job. He had everything going for him. Satan approached the Lord and asked to take things away from him to prove that Job would indeed curse God. God said, "Ok, let's see what he does, but do not bring harm on the man himself." (my translation).

So Satan proceeds to take all of his animals and destroy them (his wealth) and kills his sons and daughters (his lineage, future). Satan was sure that Job would curse God, but instead Job says, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:21 NIV). The chapter goes on to say, "In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." (Job 1:22 NIV).
Now I don't know about you but I know that it would have been pretty hard for me to not ask God why he did that. Job didn't do this. The word even says that it would be a sin to charge God with wrongdoing. Wow!

In the New Testament, it says that, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 NIV). I want to persevere and stand the test. I want the Lord to tell me, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Father, forgive me for charging you with wrongdoing. Give me grace to withstand the test. Help me to control my atmosphere regardless of my circumstance. I love you, Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.

just be you

So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27 NIV)

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13, 14 NIV)

How often do you feel like you just aren't good enough? Do you ever feel like you don't have the skills and abilities like another person? Or think, "I am not as pretty as her," or, " she/he is more qualified for this"? It is so easy to fall into the comparison game. Women, especially, have a hard time with comparing themselves to others. Our very culture sends these messages all the time. It tells us that we have to have the right clothes to be enough, the right haircut to be enough, the right figure, the right complexion, the right car. The list could go on and on. 

But, the Word of the Most High God says, "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). How awesome is this! In the scripture reference above, it says that God has made us in His own image! He has made us like him. When he knit me together, He thought, "Let me give her this characteristic of mine, and let me make her like me in this." 

How many times have you heard parents get so excited when they are talking about their children? They get so excited when their sweet little Sarah looks like them. Or maybe precious Yvonne has her mother's determination. Mama is so proud that she is like her. Why would we think that our Heavenly Father is any different? He loves to create us like Him. Maybe you have a compassion for hurting people. So does God. Maybe you call it like you see it. So does God. Maybe you are good with administration. So is God.  

However, just because He has made us in His image, that that does not give me the right to go acting any way that I please. I have to come to Him, seek Him, to grow with Him. When I do that, the characteristics of mine that are like His will shine forth. He longs for me to be in relationship with Him. As you begin to seek Him, get in His Word, and ask him to show you the things about you that He made like Him. He doesn't want you worrying about not being like Jasmine or like Michele. He wants you to be you. He wants you to be the person He created you to be. Seek Him and just be you.

say yes to the call

"I would like to say that I had all kinds of great ideas about what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it. I would like to say my ministry was born out of a carefully thought-out plan. These things simply aren't true, though. I was walking through life one moment at a time, blown away by what God could do through me if I simply said yes."
-Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption

I feel so much this way. Although I have certainly had thoughts about what I could do, I usually just don't know. I just want to rely so heavily on God that it doesn't matter what my 5-year, 10-year, or 20-year plan is. What really matters is my willingness to say yes to His plan. After all His word says, "Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path." (Psalm 119:105 NIV). His word never says that He gives us everything all at once. A lamp does not provide much light, only enough light to see the next step.

Lord, let me always be willing to say yes to you. Let me not worry about what man thinks of me and my lack of a plan. Your plan is so much better than any I could make anyway. In my humanness, give me grace to accept that I cannot see the full plan yet, but to fully trust you. Bless those who read this. Grant them peace in the midst of their journey. I love you, Lord.
Your child,
Emily

Fall in love...with Fall

So Fall is absolutely, hands down, my favorite time of the year.  And.....as I am sure you are aware it is rapidly approaching.  I love Fall for a lot of reasons: the air is cooler (which means boots, scarves, and light sweaters), the air is crisp and clean and the scents always remind me of times gone by, football season, and lots of fun things to do.  That being said I am planning some ideas for fall activities:

1. Enjoy football with friends by hosting a game day party. (Sure will miss my dear friends, Ashley and Steven Meadows, for this activity.)
2.  Mountain weekend trip with my hubby....providing someone watches Zoey for the weekend. Any takers?
3.  Select a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch and decorate with puffy paint.
4.  Go to the art museum.
5.  Bake some goodies and share.
6. Start Christmas shopping early.
7.  Make chili and soups and have with friends...maybe while watching some football. :)
8.  Rake leaves for someone.
9.  Take a photo for our Christmas cards.
10.  Buy fall-scented candles.
11. Enjoy coffee with friends.
12.  Be busy with the simple things and just enjoy life.
13.  Spend time with family.
14.  Go to dinner and eat outside.

This fall season, I am going to try to make the most out of the beautiful, wonderful, extraordinary life by being more simple, taking myself less seriously, and by slowing down.  Make the most of yours, too!

on the edge

Brandon and I have glass bottles on top of our refrigerator.  There are a lot up there, a collection of sorts.  One, in which, one could get lost in the crowd of other bottles.  This morning we were in the kitchen moving around, trying to get ready, and I noticed that one bottle looked like it had moved away from the rest of the bottles, closer to the back.  I suppose it had moved with all of the opening and closing of the refrigerator door.  I told Brandon, and we both looked.  We noticed that it was actually on the edge, about to fall off.  Fortunately, we noticed it in time and were able to save it from crashing to the floor.  So, with a little prodding we grouped it back with the other bottles.

As we just got it put in its proper place, the Lord began to show me how we are so much like that little bottle.  If you know the Lord, there was once a time in your life when you may have been "on the edge" so to speak.  You had drifted from your proper place and had almost fallen.  But... someone took notice of you, saw where you were, and as an extension of Christ helped you find your way.  Because that person took notice of you, you were saved.  It was that way with me.  I had drifted away, but God brought me back to His loving arms.  He noticed me.  If you don't know the Lord, maybe you feel like you are on the edge and you need to be noticed.  Know this:  God notices you.  He loves you.  He wants to bring you back to your proper place with Him.  Maybe no one has taken notice of you yet, but He has.  You are important to him.

Don't forget to notice someone this week.  As our pastor said this week, it only takes a smile, a compliment, not much.  But your little act of kindness can change the world for one person.  Change someone's world.

Love to you all- if I know you or if I don't.
~Emily