Love...

Today is Valentine's Day. A day that our culture has chosen to remind every one to take time to make sure they let the special person in their life know that they love them. Flowers, candy, Teddy bears...chocolate! I  really love the thought of this day. I think it's awesome for people to spend time with the person (people) they love. 


It's also a day that is know as SAD: Singles Awareness Day. (Just a bit of humor in the post) I find that it's a day that single people can tend to get depressed over, they don't have that special someone to give/receive the affection they desire. 


Shouldn't every day be Valentine's Day? 
I was just thinking...God is the true essence and definition of Love. The kind of love that I want to live. The kind of love that is worth dying for. He has chosen to love us unconditionally, every moment of every day. Wouldn't it be awful if He only decided to shower us with His Spirit and love one day out of the year? 


So in closing, let's remember Christ's daily love and chose to make sure we share it every day. Whether you are married, in a relationship, or single...pour it upon your parents, siblings and those you come in contact with-in abundance!!!! 
Love you!
-Em

A Trip to Haiti

My Dad and 2 sisters have taken a week long trip to Haiti. As you know, we adopted Mercy and Noah 13 years ago from Haiti. This is Mercy's first trip back. So far everything has been going really well. The Hatian ladies and children have had lots of fun playing with the girls' hair and Mercy and Elsie are sure having fun with the children and babies!

         

I would like to ask for prayer. In the past week, there have been three robberies-including 2 men being shot and in critical condition. The people concerned are missionaries, and Haitians connected to American missions (white people). While I am not in fear for my family, I do realize that they could be in a potentially dangerous place, and would covet your prayers for their safety!
Thanks!

Maybe I'm Amazed!

Sometimes I read through scriptures, and a portion just jumps off the page. Well the verses below were of no exception:


"...And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them..." Jer. 32


I find these verses so comforting, such a promise from God. He loves us so deeply, He cares for us, He rejoices in us- His creation.  I was reminded once again of His love and goodness. It is one thing to know it in your head, and another to KNOW it in your heart. I have been finding these truths impressed upon my heart. When you can feel His love and presence in your life-it is indescribable. 
"I LOVE you God!!!!!!"
-Em

Family

Family-all together for the first time in 2 years!

Delighting in God

Psalm 37 says : "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your ways to the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass."

I have been pondering and thinking about this. I don't think that this means that God will give us every desire we have-as long as we are delighting in Him. Oh, we have lot's of desires...a new car, computer, better job, more friends... None of these things are wrong, in fact I think God delights in blessing us with these things. I think that part of this is actually as we delight in God, our desires turn into HIS desires.  Delighting in God also produces the willingness to count all things as loss for the sake of knowing Christ. 
I know for a fact that God does want to give us the deep desires of our hearts. Since He knows the plans that He has for us (Jer. 29:11) I think He gives us some of the yearnings and longings in our hearts-just so we can find our delight and fulfillment in Him, then He blesses us. It's all part of a plan to get to know Him better. What do you think? Just a thought I had...

So, together, let's keep seeking Him and delighting in Him! It is such a privilege and honor to serve the God that we serve. I wouldn't trade in a million.

Emily

Those who Hope (trust) in the Lord...

Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, 

they will walk and not be faint.

                                                           Is. 40:31

Trusting God...

Trusting God can be a huge work-out. Not in the sense of getting on the treadmill and running, more like bench pressing I think. Brace yourself, take a deep breath and lift that heavy bar up over your head. Lower it-and start over again. That moment when you raise your hands and say "I surrender Lord, I trust you to lead and guide me." Sometimes it can be running though-running the race and finishing well. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim. 4:7) 


Finding that all consuming passion to serve and trust God doesn't happen at once. I find that as soon as I think "I'm strong-I can bench #150" God tells me it's time to move to #175 and #200...and I still have so much to learn. I think in the past year God has taught me so much about Himself. In ways that I could never have imagined. I find myself delighting in Him, and He in me. Isn't it an awesome feeling when you know God is pleased with you? 


Since moving in with my cousin, I have been stretched (and still am) in ways that I could never imagine. There have been times when I have wanted to pack my bags and RUN home to my little family. These feelings have been coupled with the realization that has made this whole experience so amazing. I KNOW God wants me here. It's that test of faith still...why? My life verse for the past 1-1/2 years has been Jeremiah 29:11 "For I KNOW the plans I have for you" saith the Lord "plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." How can you not get excited when you read this PROMISE. It doesn't say "Oh, I think I know what your life will be...yeah maybe this or that...still not sure though". It says He knows. Oh, how I rejoice in this knowledge. 


So, in closing-in the times of life when the clouds of doubt and fear billow around you-remember this. God delights in you, rest in that knowledge and that He does know what He is doing. He has plans, marvelous, wonderful plans. Trust in the Lord. He will not let you down. Rest in Him. He is good. 


"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will bring it to pass." Ps. 37:4-5


I hope that this might have brought some encouragement when/if you read this. Tonight I was feeling simply worn out and exhausted from a very tiring day- not just physically either. I felt like writing-mostly to relax and write what I was thinking...and this is what the Lord brought to mind as I was praying so I penned the words. My prayer and trust is that "my song through endless ages will be-Jesus led me all the way." -Emily