A Merrrrrry Christmas!

I hope everybody had a merry Christmas.

As usual, ours was a laid-back, lay-around-and-eat-all-you-can weekend. It's amazing how things change when you get older. The nicest thing about Christmas is not presents or food to me, but just the relaxation of having the business closed and everyone at home together just spending time, playing music, playing games and watching a movie. Of course, spending our Christmas Eve in our new church, worshipping and celebrating our Savior's birth was the most beautiful memory.

Well, I have to admit I did get a little bored over the weekend...so I spent some time playing around with my camera...

And I took pictures of my eye:

and myself:

and waaay too many videos of my adorable, beautiful, hilarious, talented, kooky little sister, Anna. Here's a precious picture from our Christmas. What personalities...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

By the way, this is my favorite Christmas related story ever!

Happy Birthday, Christopher!

Yesterday my little brother turned 15! I can't believe it...

15 years ago, my sister and I stayed at my grandma's house the day after Christmas. It's because mommy was in the hospital having "the baby." Mommy and daddy didn't want to find out the gender of "the baby", but I knew it was a boy. When mommy and daddy told Jessica and I that we were going to have a new baby, we were outside on the back deck. We were so excited we jumped up and down until the deck shook and they made us stop. But I had always wanted a big brother, and since that was an impossibility, I knew I would get a little brother.

So we were playing the new board game, 'Sorry!' that we got for Christmas, on the floor of mamaw's living room, and everytime the phone rang, mamaw would jump up, thinking it was my daddy calling from the hospital. The next day, mommy and daddy and the baby were home. I remember pulling in the driveway, so excited to see if mommy wasn't fat anymore and to see the new baby...

Jessica and I raced into the door and there on the sofa sat mommy and daddy...and on the floor in a baby carrier was the baby.

Mom and Dad named him Christopher Gordon. His middle name is after daddy's name. His first name means "Christ-Bearer."

I am amazed on how Chris has grown up. I can't believe it's been 15 years. I am proud and grateful for the example of Christ he has become even at his young age, and the way he has grown in his faith. He is developing into a strong leader his younger (and older) siblings can look up to, and has a sense of discernment that goes beyond his age. And after years of worrying that he won't grow out of the white cowboy boots, purple cape, and Revolutionary hat stage - he has developed quite the sense of fashion. A result of having two older sisters and growing up listening to them talk about clothes. He is a hard worker and also very artistic. He loves music, photography, and building things.

I am grateful for my "little-big" brother. You make me laugh and you inspire me.

Thanks for getting me hooked on Jack Johnson. I should have listened to you months ago. ;)

I love you.

Happy Birthday!

The PRINCE OF PEACE

"Show us they MERCY, O LORD, and grant us THY SALVATION...

Surely His MERCY is nigh unto them that fear him, that is GLORY may dwell in our land,

MERCY and TRUTH are met together...

RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE have KISSED EACH OTHER...

TRUTH shall SPRING out of the earth...

And RIGHTEOUSNESS shall look down from HEAVEN...

Yea, the LORD shall give that which is GOOD; and our land shall yield her increase...

RIGHTEOUSNESS shall GO BEFORE HIM; and shall SET US IN THE WAY OF HIS STEPS."
Psalm 85:7, 9-13


"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath VISITED and REDEEMED his people, and hath raised up a HORN OF SALVATION for us in the house of his servant David; and he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oat which he sware unto our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in HOLINESS and RIGHTEOUSNESS before him and ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE...

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the HIGHEST: and shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways...

To give KNOWLEDGE of SALVATION unto his people by the REMISSION OF THEIR SINS...

Through the TENDER MERCIES of GOD; whereby the

DAYSPRING FROM ON HIGH...

hath visited...us.

To give LIGHT to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death...

And to GUIDE our feet into the WAY OF PEACE."
Luke 1:68-79

O Holy Night!

Bon Nwel!

Merry Christmas!

O Love!

O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. O light that followest all my way, I yield my flickering torch to thee; My heart restores its borrowed ray, That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day May brighter, fairer be. O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain, That morn shall tearless be. O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life’s glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms red Life that shall endless be.

Music from the Sky

I love Debussy.

I love this song. I'm having a love affair with it.

Well, then...it is lucky for me that my sister is learning it for her Winter Quarter and I get to hear her practice it all the time.



I have been posting too many videos...a very shoddy excuse for blog posts. But it's so easy!

I don't know where my title came from...that's what it sounds like to me. Oh, maybe because that crazy man whistles it on that astronomy TV show...but it does sound like stars twinkling.

Waltz in Swing Time

Winter is a time for nostalgia.

When I was a younger I wanted to be an actress. (OK - well, I still do, I just have accepted that I am not) and dancing just went right along with that. I love dancing.

I've never danced, but I know I love it.

When I was younger I would dress up in heels and flowing skirt and go dance in our barn. Because it was big...lound...echo-y. I would imitate Ginger Rogers because I loved watching Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire movies. (Eek...actually, it doesn't seem that long ago.) They are really dumb, though. Really, really dumb. Because movie writers would have to write scripts around the song/dance acts and that resulted in stupid plots. I grew up watching those black-and-white, film noir,glamorous, artistic older movies. They have a special place in my heart.

I was thinking about some of those Rogers/Astaire movies with a nostalgic longing this week and thought about placing a hold on some of them throught the library. But then, I found the dance scenes on YouTube...and since those are the best parts...who needs the movies?

I mean, come on...who wouldn't want to be Ginger Rogers?

Reverse Thinking

Your Love is Strong

Perfection

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire - wanting nothing." James 1:3-4

The Bible has a lot to say about patience. Patience, Longsuffering, Endurance...they are all bound up in each other. Longsuffering and Endurance are active - I see them in my mind's eye as men, struggling, sweating as they drag that daily cross up the dusty road. Patience -she - as the Biblical grammar states - is also active. But in a different way. Gently, femininely Patience works tirelessly within our hearts, while Endurance and Longsuffering are revealed through our actions. Patience works harder, night and day, in every Trial, Temptation, Joy, or Circumstance (such as babysitting two rambunctious children, as I am now) to make us - perfect. She may seem unloving, and uncaring at times - bitter beyond bearing...but like a firm mother, she knows what is best, and desires to present us to God in Christ Jesus - lacking nothing.

Do not resent Patience. She is your Friend.

I have always loved quotes..quotes, proverbs, poetry. I started a journal when I was probably about 10 years old, to collect any quotes or proverbs I would come across. Yes, I was a nerdy homeschooler that way. I remember standing in line for the diving board at a public swimming pool one summer. I couldn't have been any older then 10. Possibly 11. Maybe. The line of kids in front of me was long. When one child jumped off of the diving board it took awhile, because the next child was not allowed to dive until the child in the pool had reached the ladder. It was a safety precaution, to eliminate underwater concussions from children bonking heads. There was a hawk-eyed life guard sitting right there making sure we didn't have any fun - I mean, making sure we stayed safe. The little boy in front of me was voicing his frustration openly -

"Come on! Come on! Come on! Get outta the water!!" He would yell, wave his hands and dance around every time another child dove off. I looked solemnly down at him. He turned and faced me still yelling and hyper. When he paused for breathe, I looked down dramatically and quoted from memory, with all the ageless wisdom I could muster, my favorite German proverb:

"Patience is a bitter plant that has a sweet fruit." I told him.

"Huh?"

He looked at me with a wrinkled forehead and his mouth hanging open...he was silent about five seconds then he turned back and kept on yelling - my youthful pearl of wisdom lost on him. I remember this story so well...how deeply that proverb affected me when I first read it - simply because I like the metaphor.

Patience may seem bitter - her gentle ways cruel as she walks calmly through the gated garden of your heart, plowing and cutting and trimming - working hard in her gray, threadbare dress spun by Love. Her presence may seem unassuming, but you are always aware of the painful strokes of her hoe. Diligently, teaching us selflessly, she works and tends to purify our ways and to bring us into the fulness of JOY.

To make our hearts a place for a Weary Head to rest. A hidden garden, with high walls and an ornate gate. A spiritual paradise in full bloom - a myriad of shade and dancing sunlight, fertile ground, and delicious fruit tended by the calloused hands of Patience herself.

And roses. Many, many roses. Fragrant and thoughtful...some white in shameless purity.

Some stained deep crimson by the blood of the Savior.

Perfection.

Beware of Ishmael

Winter is a good time for disillusionment.

That is what I always try to protect myself from in these months. Perspective helps - so does laughing, visiting friends, planning trips, Christmas lights, and family movie times.

Oh, and prayer. And Scripture.

Maybe it's just part of growing up. Everyone has their times of the year when they start to reflect. Looking back at only my short twenty years, I'm surprised at the paths I've been taken on. I can't wait to see what else is ahead.

 If I can keep discouragement away.

My sister and I went out Saturday night - met a friend at the mall and went out to eat. We've know R---- for years. Literally. We grew up in the same church, under a lot of the same circumstances: home schooled, big family, old house, family-owned business, conservative values - some family's more legalistic than others. She and my sister go to the same college, and "school talk" dominated much of the conversation.

"So how about you, Emily?" She asked, as we both paused in Old Navy and browsed some scarves, "You have any school plans?"

"Yeah..." I replied

"What? What was that look for?" She asked.

"I don't know. I do have some plans. I'm starting a long distance degree in Christian Counseling from a seminary in January - but it's unaccredited, so...I still want to start in Sinclair next fall and get an Associates in Communications. Anyway, that's the plan...." I finished with a smile.

R---- gave an approving look, "That's cool. Stick to your plan."

 She turned to me, suddenly and her voice intensified, "Because as much as I would love to believe in Prince Charming and that he'll just come riding up - it won't happen. You have to make plans for yourself."

I took in what she said, and teased her a little for her "words of wisdom." But I know her too well. And I know myself. It is all too attractive to think discouragingly. Too tempting to believe in the necessity of self-sufficiency. R---- plays that role well - but that's all it is: a role. For all her big talk, she is like every other wounded, vulnerable, waiting young lady. Because no matter how you were raised, or how good you are - you will be wounded. That's what happens in a world of sin. Ugly, sickening sin. What is so easy to "forget", is where sin abounds, grace much, much more abounds!

"My goal in life is to never live with someone else again. After six brothers - are you kidding me? I'm serious!" She said as we made our way through the Saturday night shopping crowds. We chose to ignore that comment.

Because later, sitting the quiet restaurant booth, after finishing our meals, she told on herself.

"I'm in a Bible study with several other girls and we're praying for each of our requests specifically. My request was that either God would allow something to happen with "this guy", or that I would get over him and neither has happened. God is answered all the other girls requests, and I feel like God is ignoring me."

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their wings, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Wait, I say, wait on the Lord."

But she knows the Scriptures. She was raised in them as we were as well. And sometimes it's just hard to hold on. That's why God tells us to pray for faith. Pray, pray, pray...

Lord, I believe...help Thou my unbelief!"

Rebekah said she texted her older, wiser, married sister.

"Tell me again," She wrote, "why it's important to wait on God?"

The answer?

"Because if you don't, Ishmael happens."

"I thought that was a really cool answer," R---- said.

I agree.

I Love This Song

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;

Thou my best thought, by day or by night;

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my Light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, be Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord;

Thou my great Father - I, Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach Heaven's joys - O bright Heaven's sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befalls;

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of All!

- Ancient Irish Hymn

 Make this my prayer, O Lord.

With My Own Two Hands

I can change the world
With my own two hands
Make it a better place
With my own two hands
Make it a kinder place
With my own two hands
With my own

With my own two hands
I can make peace on earth
With my own two hands
I can clean up the earth
With my own two hands
I can reach out to you
With my own two hands
With my own

With my own two hands
I'm going to make it a brighter place
With my own two hands
I'm going to make it a safer place
With my own two hands
I'm going to help the human race
With my own two hands
With my own

With my own two hands
I can hold you
With my own two hands
I can comfort you
With my own two hands
But you've got to use
Use your own two hands

Use your own
Use your own two hands
With our own
With our own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands


- Jack Johnson

Psalm 16

"Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust...The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lots. The lines are fallen in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the LORD who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope. For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither will Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of JOY; at Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore."

HaPpY

Things that make me happy:

- The beautiful moon we have had the past several nights.

- Busy, busy lunch rushes

- The perfect shade of lipstick

- Children singing Christmas songs

- My younger sister Anna, playing her original composition on the piano

- Hot coffee

- CLEP tests. (Well, the tests themselves don't make me happy, but the idea makes me happy. Especially Introductory Psychology....yuck)

- Cute kitties

- Christmas lights...(even though they are a pathetic waste of electricity...but, that's my Grinch-like alter-ego trying to get out...)

- A good night's sleep

- Warm fires

- Laughing

- Ibuprofen...

:)

Wonderful Life

Beautiful is in the sky
Watch it slowly
All our time is flying by, too fast
Where we're headed is so clear

It can feel like nowhere.
But everything we need is here, right now

'Cause the sun is shining
And the world is alive

Everything's all right
And all we've ever needed
It's a perfect day to be alive
So no more waiting now
For a wonderful life
'Cause it's a wonderful life right now

Beautiful is in the eyes
Of a friend or a stranger
Souls searching in disguise, for love
We're all planning our escape
To something higher
But there is a better way to live

'Cause the sun is shining
And the whole wide world is alive and...

Everything's all right
And all we've ever needed
It's a perfect day to be alive
So no more waiting now
For a wonderful life
'Cause it's a wonderful life right now

And the sun is shining
And it's so good to feel alive!

- Natalie Grant

Star Light, Star Bright

I got out of the car last night after getting home from a concert with my sister. It was dark, cold and frosty. I happened to look up and gasped. Not a cloud was in the sky, and stretched all across like a dazzling display of jewelry, was a starry sky. I even leaned against the car and stood staring for several minutes, even though it was icy cold.

I have to admit this - somehow the stars look even  more beautiful even the winter. I don't why...maybe, it's because the distant specks of light seem warm in the cold weather...but that's how my silly mind works.

Earlier yesterday I watched the latest Nasa rocket launch live on FoxNews. It's always a breathtaking display of what man has been able to accomplish through science. Later last night as I stared up at the sky, the cargo rocket had already completed it's three and a half hour journey of orbiting the Earth three times at 17,000 m.p.h., and crash landed in the Pacific ocean.

But when I see the stars and think about the One who put them there - all that man can do is blown away.

Stars are amazing to me because they have always been there. For thousands of years, men have stared up at the same stars, whose light has traveled billions of light years to reach us. These stars that you can stare at in the sky and somebody thousands of miles away can be looking. These same stars, who sing aloud their praise to God, and whose massiveness and energy and distance make us look like a speck in the cosmos...

"The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork..." Psalm 19:1

Thank you, God, for Your beautiful stars. reminders of Your great Love.

:)

Glory to the Righteous One

After the Judgement and grief of Isaiah so far - it is a relief to read through chapters 25-27. It is a song of Praise. Praise for God's Salvation, His People, and His Victory.

Isaiah had to bear lot. He was young and somewhat insecure when God first called him to be a prophet for Him. He had to bear the burden of the weighty message God had for His people. Isaiah was given a look into the grief and torment that would consume the earth "in that day" - the day when Christ stands on the earth and judges His creation.

And now - the good news.

Isaiah reaches out beginning in Chapter 25, with an intensely personal cry - "Lord, thou art MY God..."


MY God.

My Strength. My Refuge. My Shade. (25:4)

"...I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." (vs. 1)

God is always on the side of the poor, the needy, the distressed. Jesus told us, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."

He will bring down the proud city. He will bring down His enemies and those that tread on His people. The Jewish people, and His children through Christ's righteousness around the globe. He will bring shade in the heat, and refuge in the blast of the storm. He will swallow up death in VICTORY and wipe away all tears. And then...we will celebrate.

A celebration that Christ has been looking forward to since that last time He sat and ate with His disciples:

"But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day, when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." (Matthew 26:29)

His bride, the Church of Christ gathered from all over the world, will sit and eat with Him. He will serve us Himself, and sit and fellowship with us.

"And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. (25:6) And he will destroy in the mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations." (25:7)

God will host a lavish, loving, "inaugural" celebration with us, and take away all manner of separation. Somehow, to me, the promise in this verse is not just the cloud of spiritual darkness that separates people, but language barriers and cultural differences and prejudices, so that believers from every nation, tongue and tribe will be able to fellowship and worship together, as Kingdom Citizens.  No "Cross-Cultural Communications" course necessary! And what a day that will be!

Chapter 26 begins with describing the safety and protection that Christ's rule will bring to the city of Jerusalem and essentially, the earth.

"And in that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. OPEN YE THE GATES, that the righteous nation which keepeth truth may enter in."

Have you seen Jerusalem recently? Israel is one on of the most heavily guarded countries in the world - and for good reason. The enemies of God's people are everywhere on the face of this world.

But not so during the Millennial reign of Christ. Righteousness, Truth and Salvation will keep the city of Zion, and the whole world. Highways will be built to those open gates, and all who desire can enter in.

Can you imagine?

It's difficult to wait.

"O LORD," Isaiah cries in verse 8, "have we waited for Thee! the desire of our soul is Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee. With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early: for when Thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."

For thousands of years the Jewish people have waited om their Messiah. When He came - they did not know Him. Now, still they wait - not understanding that when He comes again, He comes to Judge and to restore. And now, His people through Christ's righteousness - the Church, combined of Jews and Gentiles - await His second return.

And He is coming.

But He will not be humble this time.

No infant form.

No stable.

No manger.

No persecution.

He is coming as the King of King and the Lord of Lords.

Tell them.

They need to know.

"Even so come Lord Jesus..."

Map tann

Thank You

I am sitting in the restaurant, ready to start studying the notes of my Bible study, and blog about my discoveries. Larry just walked in the door with a cup of hot coffee and an apple turnover for me. It was pleasant, comfortable...thoughtful. It reminded me of the core lesson in this past week's Bible study.

Praise God.

Sometimes it's just a thoughtless phrase..."Well, praise the Lord." We sings songs and hymns about it, and read Psalms...but do we do it as a thoughtful, intent action - as much as we should? And what do we do it for?

One of the most convicting things that Jane said on Monday nights lecture seemed rather cliched. She presented the idea of keeping a list things we are thankful for - things to praise God for everyday.

"Why don't I do that?" I had to ask myself...

It is so easy to complain. So, so easy. Why should it be hard to praise God - all the time? Point in case:

I hate snow. I. Hate. It. And sometimes I want everyone to know. All of those happy, ignorant people who slather the social websites with their exultations on the beauty and fun of snow. I wish I could tell ALL of them:

"Ahem, excuse me, people! For all of you out there who think that snow is pretty and fun, please remember that snow was NOT in God's original design of creation. Snow means cold - which means death and barrenness. It is destructive and miserable. For those of you who live in warmer climates, which might get three-four inches of snow during the winter months, or have only seen it in pictures, OR live in small neighborhoods, where your brother gets out and shovels your tiny driveway before you go outside, salt trucks go up and down your neighborhood street early in the morning and the wind is blocked by buildings - you don't know what you're talking about. You've never been snowed in by four foot drifts that form five minutes after you've shoveled your sidewalk, caused by 40 mph sub-zero winds whipping across acres and acres of empty cornfields and blowing through your layers of clothes like icy needles and even through the cracks of your bedroom window. So please, remember - snow is NOT fun! It is anything, but that."

But I don't say that. That's mean. I wouldn't want to be responsible for ruining anyone's delusions - I mean - illusion of snow.

Still - as much as I am NOT a snow person, when the wind calms, and the clouds clear and the sun shines on the acres and acres of pure, white, sparkling snow that spread all around my property - there is really nothing like that real life picture to remind me of the reality of God's promise -

"Come now, let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow..." Isaiah 1:18

"Thank you God, for the beautiful picture you have given me through Your creation of snow, of the work You faithfully do in my soul."

So instead of keeping a record of the 2, 931 reasons why I hate snow, cold and winter in general...why not keep a record of the work God does? Even the little things that make me happy - small and inconsequential - can be little gifts from a loving Father.

Thank you for warm fires...

Thank you for good friends - who kindly bring me hot food and warm coffee to share together...

Thank you for the good business we have had, and the faithful customers who come out even in 14 degrees F....

Thank you I have a home, bed and food for my mouth.

Thank you for laughter, which makes EVERYTHING better...

Thank you I do not have to live in the middle of instability and riots...

Thank you for Your Word - which is always the same and always perfect...

Thank you for love...

Lesson learned.

In Better Hands

It's hard to stand on shifting sand,

It's hard to shine in the shadow of the night.

You can't be free if you don't reach for help.

And you can't love if you don't love yourself.

But there is hope when my faith runs out.

'Cause I'm in better hands now.

It's like the sun shining when the rain is pouring down;
It's like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground.
So take this heart of mine, there's no doubt
That I'm in better hands now.

I am strong, all because of You,
I stand in awe of every mountain that you move;
I am changed; yesterday is gone;
I am safe, from this moment on.
And there's no fear when the night comes 'round
'Cause I'm in better hands now.

It's like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down;
It's like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground.
So take this heart of mine, there's no doubt
That I'm in better hands now.

-  Natalie Grant

Grace

Think about grace.

Really think about it.

Think about it's power in you. Think about the power of Christ.

"But the God of ALL grace, who has called us unto His eternal GLORY by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you

PERFECT,

STABLISH,

STRENTHEN,

SETTLE you."

I Peter 5:10

God calls us, as His children, Saints in Light, to be perfect, holy and righteous. Yet, be reminded, that it is His work IN you. He will do the perfecting, the stablishing, the strengthening and settle you on a sure foundation.

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48

"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto ALL pleasing, being fruitful in EVERY good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

STRENGTHENED with ALL MIGHT

according to His

GLORIOUS POWER

with ALL patience and longsuffering with

JOYFULNESS."

Colossians 1:10-11

As you are CALLED, so will you be STRENGTHENED.

Unto "ALL PLEASING" - so, with "ALL MIGHT."

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so

WALK

YE

IN

HIM.

ROOTED and STABLISHED

in the faith, as ye have been taught,

Abounding therein

WITH THANKSGIVING."

Colossians 2:6-7

It is a glorious truth.

One that we, one that I, at least, must remind myself daily.

Of the truth of GRACE.

Of the truth of the power of CHRIST.

We are all a working progress...

"Till we all come in the unity of faith,

and of the knowledge of the

Son of God,

unto a

PERFECT man,

Unto the measure of the

STATURE

of the FULNESS OF CHRIST."

Ephesians 4:13



But still...

We are seated with Christ in the heavenlies.

We have an inheritance with the Saints in Light.

We are His workmanship - and He knows what He doing, and what the final masterpiece will be He has in mind for each of us.

We are Temples of the Holy Ghost.

We are more than conquerors.

We are loved.

Thank you Jesus, for amazing grace!

Make Me Thy Fuel

From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher,
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary,
O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod:
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God

- Amy Carmichael

Praying for Asia Bibi

Voice of the Martyrs Ministry has done an awe-inspiring job of supporting those being imprisoned for their Christian faith around the world. They send out daily Prisoner Alerts, to whoever is willing to recieve them, so that the Church can better fulfill their role in praying and supporting those in bonds. (Hebrews 13:3)

Often the stories are unknown and not widely told - that is, where the mainstream media is concerned. However, Asia Bibi's story has attracted a large amount of internationl attention. You can read more of her story here.

Please join me and thousands of other Christians around the world as we lift up our sister in Christ.

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him shall I confess also before my Father, which is in Heaven." Matthew 10:32

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation onto everyone that believes..." Romans 1:16

"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away off all the earth: for the LORD has spoken it." Isaiah 25:8

Something's in the Air...

Something's in the air tonight
The sky's alive with a burning light
You can mark my words something's about to break

And I found myself in a bitter fight
While I've held your hand through the darkest night
Don't know where you're coming from but you're coming soon

To a kid from Oregon by way of California
All of this is more than I've ever known or seen


Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there's nothing left to choose
And here we go there's nothing left to lose

So I packed my car and I headed east
Where I felt your fire and a sweet release
There's a fire in these hills that's coming down
And I don't know much but I found you here
And I can not wait another year
Don't know where you're coming from but you're coming soon...

I can still hear the trains out my window
From Hobart Street to here in Nashville
I can still smell the pomegranates grow
And I don't know how hard this wind will blow
Or where we'll go

To a kid from Oregon by way of California
All of this is more than I've ever known or seen


Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there's nothing left to choose
And here we go there's nothing left to lose

- Matt Kearney

A Year Ago

Exactly one year ago today, I woke up to a gray, cold, wet day. I got up from bed, looked out the window, and prayed a small, but sincere prayer: "God, please help me to serve you no matter what the circumstances are." Twenty-four hours later I was on a plane bound for Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Friends, who has an extra plane ticket for their mission trip, had invited me to come with them.

I still remember Pastor Pierre's voice when I called to tell him I was in Haiti. I remember his shock at the fact that I was staying at a house along Vincent Stenio - that I was close enough to walk to Chambrun.

"You find out you are coming to Haiti - Emily, you could have ended up anywhere. You could be in Cap-Haitian, Jacmel, Jeremie...God put you right back in Chambrun...I think He is trying to tell you something! You belong here - I think you better listen!"

I can't believe it's been a year.

I would be dreadfully dishonest if I did not admit that 2010 has been one of the hardest years of my life. 2009 was beautiful, and full of promise and opportunity. Three mission trips, new friends, new church, spiritual growth, a plan I thought I could plow ahead with - but everything came to a screeching halt on January 12, 2010 and went downhill from there. Change of plans, disappointment, hurtful people and circumstances, leaving our church, losing friends...I though the last three months would end awesome...but that dream shattered when I boarded my plane back home two and a half months earlier then planned.

I will be happy to see the end of 2010.

It has been a year since I played in that orphanage...and tried to say goodbye that last night. I remember how the girls clung to me, I remember the heat and sweat and the way the car headlights cut through the darkness. I remember their tears and cries - at least twenty of them.

"Emily, please don't leave! Please, Emily - I need you! We need you!"

I promised them I would come back. I promised.

And when I came back in September I had every intention of keeping my promise. I drove by the road of the orphanage every day - but I put off my visit because I thought I had plenty of time...

It is that broken promise that keeps me awake now, and those cries through time that make me cry in the night.

But I have one thing to cling to...the burden and vision God revealed to me through those young girls and their cries and their desperation. It's why I want to go back; why I want to be a counselor; why I want to spend time and money going to school - because I love them. Because God loves them and I want to go back - to stay. And be prepared.

The verses of scripture for my reading today meant so much:

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusts in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:3-4

The question for that reading said, "What is a steadfast mind and what are it's benefits?" I answered:

"To me, a steadfast mind is a mind with no doubts, no fears, no worries. The benefits are peace and confidence in your future, direction and purpose. A mind that is firmly established in the TRUTH and will not be swayed from that foundation at any cost or by any circumstance..."

The JOY of the LORD is my strength. I know I can rest in His peace, even when my life takes chaotic directions. There is a reason His peace is considered past understanding. There is no way else to explain it. He has given me a direction and a vision and a burden - something I didn't have even a year ago. And an iron will to carry it out. I have learned to live by the motto of the Roman Emperor Titus:  "Hasten Slowly."

I have learned to accept change, and the transition that every new and unexpected path takes - and to run towards it with open arms. I have learned to live in anticipation instead of complaining. To wait and to run.

I can't wait to see what 2011 brings.

Map tann...map vini.

Music

I don't why I decided to torture my readers by putting a playlist on my blog. I always hate opening a page and then being surprised when unfamiliar music starts pouring out of my speaker. Don't you hate it too? Like I said, I'm not sure what possessed me. And since it is December 1 and close to Christmas, it's about time for me to create a Christmas Music playlist! Oh, boy!

I love music. I cannot imagine life without it. It is one of God's greatest gifts to us. While musical ability runs in my family, music to me be continues to be very personal. I love it, I've been trained classically, and I understand it...but I'm not a performer when it comes to playing my violin. Unless I'm being paid. Isn't that pathetic? I've tried to diagnose my lack of confidence when performing on my violin and it makes no sense. I love singing, acting and public speaking. Those things do not make me nervous...at least to the extent of throwing up. But when I close my bedroom door, shut the windows and cover up the vent - I love to make music for my own personal satisfaction and emotional release.

I was five or six years old when I first introduced to the music of Antonio Vivaldi. My mom had a theatrical recording that told the story of a young girl arriving at his girl's musical boarding school in Venice, and was full of fictitious dialogue and mystery. However, it was also liberally sprinkled with Vivaldi's music, and I fell in love with the red-headed composer who had been dead for 250 years. I listened to that recording at least once a day, and acted out all of the main characters as I did so. I also begged my mom for violin lessons. Which I received.

I was happiest when I was finally able to start working on Vivaldi's violin concerto in A minor, 1st Movement. It was the song that started it all for me. And it is also the song that every Book 4 Suzuki violin student has been tortured by, since the program started. But I loved it. I can't play it very well anymore, but I still love it.

My siblings are better musicians that I am. My older sister is an amazing piano player and is pursuing her degree in music performance. She is making all As, of course. My brother was singing harmony when he was three years old and my little sister Anna, plays the piano by ear...both hands. I am not tone-deaf, but I had to teach myself to sing harmony when I was a teenager to avoid being embarrassed in chorale. I don't have perfect pitch, but after lessons with very talented music teachers, I am able to fine-tune my violin and other people's, with a musically trained ear - now very sensitive to the difference between sharp and flat. I don't have the best natural sense of rhythm - but I don't try and fake it! I had a teacher who taught me how to count, and count I do! I am not able to compose, retain music theory, or play a double clef instrument like my sister, but I have a deep appreciation for the time, effort, talent, emotional message, and professionalism that is put into songs and performances, and I understand chorale and orchestral protocol.

I am so thankful for the classical musical training I have received and for my parents for supplying it and pushing me when I did not want to perform! It has given me a strong foundation and an appreciation for the artistic expression of all kinds of music. I will always regret not going farther than I did in my training - but I look forward to reaping the benefits I received! Who knows...maybe I'm not finished...there just might be another beginning in my future!

I'm Prayin for You

Let's never forget to pray for the men of God in our lives and our brothers in Christ around the world. Satan is always at work - so must we be.