...There's Just Somethin About That Name...

I've been hearing a lot about worry and doubt these days, mainly from myself. As you might have read in earlier posts, I've been so confused as to what my future holds. Now that I've finally picked a major, after 4 very long years, I'm super excited. But now what? Will I stay here? Will I make new friends in my new department? Will I have the money to pay my car payment this month? Will I get to go to Africa? Will I.... All these doubts and all these worries are completely legit, completely understandable, and completely dumb! Who am I to question the God of the universe? This huge perfect God that cared enough for me and you to plan so delicately put into place. I get so frustrated with myself thinking about all this things, when really I just need to rely on Him for all the answers that I need and all the comfort I could use!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the Peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6-7

I know I've blogged about it before, but it's a subject that so relates to just about everyone.



Another subject that's been on my mind a lot is the snow. Who would have thought it would snow, not only once, but three times in Frisco, TX in a span of two weeks?! It was truly a Christmas surprise, and possibly a miracle! As I watched the snow fall from somewhere too high for me to fathom, to the ground I noticed just how beautiful and pure it is. I began to think about God and just who He is, who I'm not, and everything His grace covers to make good again. It's amazing how much I can mess things up! I take things into my own hands, and make them even messier, but, just like the snow, God covers all that is ugly and wrong, then everything melts and it's all washed away and you get to start all over again. I'm just so in awe of Him today. Man what an awesome God we serve!!
Well, that's all I have for today! Sorry if I'm all over the place! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I'll be talking to you real soon!
Forever His,
EmilyJo

Your future's so dull you should bring a flashlight?

It's a Tuesday night that started like any other Tuesday night. Ella got off work over an hour late because her evil boss assigned her the biggest project of the year just three hours before the deadline. She has worked her butt off trying to please her so she could keep her job, so she could support herself, but more importantly so she could afford her much needed vacation. Ella pulls into the driveway to see her boyfriend of four years waiting for her on the front porch. He had a foolish grin on his face as she grabbed her purse and laptop bag and walked up the sidewalk shuffling through the endless pile of bills she had received in the mail that day. "Yep, just a normal Tuesday night", she thought as she arrived at the door in front of her boyfriend, Frank. "Let's go for a drive", he says as he takes the heavy computer out of her hand. Being too tired to argue, she nods her head and gets into his car. They were driving around for what seemed like hours until they arrived in Central Park. Ella had always loved this park ever since she moved to the Big City to pursue her career as a journalist, well and Frank. As they began to stroll through the constant line of trees with leaves that were falling effortlessly, she couldn't help but think about the events from the day. Her awful boss, the ridiculous last minute project... again... and Frank. Sweet Frank had no idea she wasn't even thinking about him. She didn't even notice they had stopped walking. They were on a bridge surrounded by candle light. Frank, fumbling for something in his pocket. Could this be it?? Could this really be happening...

You know being this far into my college career and learning this much about life in general, I feel as though I should have way more figured out! I mean, where is my life going? What am I going to be doing for the next five years? Where is this road I've chosen leading me in the next year?

How do you turn what seems like a dull future into a bright one? All these questions are without answers. You ever feel like you're headed down a road that has a huge orange and white sign saying "dead end"? I mean picking a career path, deciding where to live, where to go, who to associate with?? It seems like the questions are limitless and answers are nonexistent.

It seems like people, like in the story above, don't even have things figured out and they've been in "the real world" for years. I guess it just takes a little less doubt and a lot more trust. God has a plan for us right? A plan to help us and not to harm us... sound familiar?? Do you think it's selfish to doubt, when you know in your heart of hearts there's a plan. And not only is there a plan, but there is this huge, beautiful, perfect plan that the God of the universe has so thoughtfully and graciously planned out. You know, if we weren't such stupid humans, life would go significantly smoother... does anyone feel the same way as me?

I hope this finds you having an awesome weekend! I cannot believe it's already Christmas time!! I love you all more than you know!
Forever His,
EmilyJo

Lead Me to the Cross

The other day, I was riding around with my family, enjoying the few precious moments that we all actually get to spend altogether, all of us. We were deep in conversation about Andrew's latest bathroom stories and who has the worst farts, when I looked out the window and noticed something in the sky that I've never really appreciated before. The sky was overcast and gloomy and I noticed that this huge beautiful sky that was so delicately placed had merged with some distant city lights creating an orange color. I never noticed the merging of the two worlds. Something that man created, making something that God created breathtaking. I don't know, it was just so beautiful and such an awesome reminder of Christ's willingness to allow us to be His hands and His feet. It was incredible

In other news, everyone needs to look up the song "Lead Me to the Cross" by Hillsong United.

"Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out.

Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down.

Rid me of myself I belong to You.

Lead me to the cross."

Man, I'm so praying that Christ leads me to the cross this week. That He reminds me of my purpose and His love for me. I hope you and yours had an awesome Thanksgiving! I'm so sad it's over, and I'm SO not ready to get back to the real world tomorrow! I love you all more than you know!

Forever His,

EmilyJo

I Couldn't Resist...

Since it's Thanksgiving week, I thought I would make a list of everything I'm grateful for. So here goes nothing!

• My awesome grandparents
• My supportive parents
• My crazy brothers
• Laughter
• Aunt Debbie!!
• Jesus
• Jesus allowing me to be His hands and feet
• Long drives
• Learning
• A good sale
• The company of good friends
• Being surrounded by love
• Music
• Flowers
• Money
• My IPhone ( I know I know.. that's a lame one! But it's so great!)
• My awesome Cousin!
• Books
• FBC Frisco
• Africa and how it changed me
• Hope of a return to Africa
• My new extended family in Florence!
• Technology
• Food on the table
• Craziness
• Chaos
• Really lame jokes
• My job
• My cat
• Worship Arts Ministry
• My car
• Electricity
• Trees
• Leaves that fall this time of year!
• Thanksgiving

Just to name a few! Give those you love extra hugs and kisses this week! I love you all more than you know!

Forever His,

EmilyJo

You get what you get...

Didn't you completely hate it when your mother used the phrase "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit"? Man, it was always the perfect reminder that life isn't fair, and that getting your way at that moment, wouldn't really make the situation any better.

Today, at work, I had a 5 year old in my program throw the biggest fit I think I've ever witnessed in my entire life. He was sitting on the floor and one of my staff asked him to get up and sit on his chair just like everyone else. Then he decided the best thing to do would be to throw himself back on the ground and scream. This was only the beginning. The fit lasted for well over an hour, screaming and crying at every word that was said to him. When his dad came to pick him up, he wanted to ask me if he earned any stickers for the day. I told him that he didn't because we had a rough day and he threw himself on the floor again. His dad picked him up, laid him over his knee, gave him two good spankings, and dismissed him to the car. On his way out, Aedan said, "thanks a lot for getting me in trouble, Miss Emily!"

At that moment, my heart sank into my stomach. At first, I felt bad for getting Aedan in trouble. But then I didn't, because it was fair that he got in trouble. It was fair that he was punished for making the first couple hours of work seem like an entire week for me and my staff. It was fair that his dad said he had to go to bed early tonight.

How often should I get that punishment? Not having my dad spank me, but for God to send me to bed without supper? How many times have I gone against what I know is right, but decided to take matters into my own hand. How many times have I thrown a fit because I didn't get my way. No one ever said life would be fair or easy. But how many times have I messed up and God picks me up off the floor, embraces me, and whispers "My beloved, welcome home".

I don't know, maybe next time instead of throwing a fit , I should step back and allow God to direct and guide me. You get what you get and you don't throw a fit. I hope this finds you having an awesome start to your week! I love you all more than you know!
Forever His,
EmilyJo

At Your Feet

Let the world fade away, I need to be alone
Simply fall on my face, here before Your throne
Father find me now, as I bow

At Your feet I sing to who You are
At Your feet I offer all my heart
At Your feet, it's You that I adore
I worship You, my Lord
The best of life for me is at Your feet

For all You have done, and how you set me free
Words of gratitude arise up
Right here on my knees, praises overflow from my soul

At Your feet I sing to who You are
At Your feet I offer all my heart
At Your feet, it's You that I adore
I worship You, my Lord
The best of life for me is at Your feet

Holy, Mighty, Worthy is the Lamb



This song just speaks to my heart. I'm not sure it needs much else. I hope you're having a great week! I love you all more than you know!
Forever His,
EmilyJo

Give me Your eyes for just one second...

Story time!
Last Friday I was walking out of the library on campus and I walked past a guy and 5 or 6 of his friends. As our paths crossed I smiled at them. I always find it endearing when a stranger smiles at me, after all you never know what kind of battles they might be facing. I could have been the first person to smile at him all day, and those kinds of moments make people feel really special. This moment, however, was far from special. He took one look at me, turned to his friends, and said loud enough for everyone around us to hear, "The girl in the orange sweater is the ugliest girl I have ever seen!!". I looked around, in hopes that everyone else around was wearing an orange sweater that morning. Sadly, it was me. The comment resonated deep within me, for what seemed like an hour, "the ugliest girl EVER". It didn't so much hurt my feelings, as it shocked me. Now, I would be completely lying if I said it didn't hurt me a little, and if I told you I didn't run to my car and cried about it, but I was shocked to find that people in their twenties, in college, still acted that way towards perfect strangers. At that moment, nothing I could say would be witty enough and nothing I could have done would have taken back that comment. It ate me up all day, and I really just beat myself up about it. Maybe if I had gotten up earlier to put on make up, or maybe if I were wearing something different, or didn't skip that one work out last week, maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't have said such a horrible thing to me. Maybe he would have thought I was beautiful. I felt like I was in middle school all over again. But then God came to the rescue. He reminded me that HE made me beautiful. To Him, I was beautiful. To Him, I don't need to be any different. And just because He's God, and He can, He romanced me back to a state of awe. It didn't matter what that random guy said to me, or how mad it made me, HE has made me better than that.

The King is enthralled by your beauty

~Psalm 45:11

I think, in our world today, we want so badly to be seen as beautiful and something that is worthy of someone's attention. Lately, I've been finding myself praying that God would give me His eyes to see something that I would normally see as flawed. A person I don't get along with, or while I'm shopping for clothes, that I wouldn't be so hard on myself as most women are. My prayer is that He would let me see the beauty that He sees, that I would find an ugly and overcast day to be something so delicately planned.

I got really upset that day, but God just reminded me of the beauty He sees in me, and all of the sudden that silly little comment meant nothing to me. That guy can say it all he wants. God has made me greater!

I just thought I'd share! I challenge you to ask for His eyes today, and maybe the girl in the cubicle next to you that sings Motown Hits between calls won't seem so bad. I think it's a great reminder that He loves her just as much as He loves you!

I hope this post finds you having a great week! You're beautiful and worthy of so much love! I love you all more than you know!
Forever His,
EmilyJo