"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to help those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too."
This past week God has been reminding me of his mercies and his comfort in new ways. I am trying to learn how to rejoice always, how to dwell on the mercies of our God and Father, and how to trust by faith what I can't see by sight. I'm so prone to complain about my struggles and ask God "Why am I this way?" Rather than ask Him, "God how can you be glorified through my struggle? How can your joy be completed through my struggles?"
This Scripture is such a comfort to every struggling child of God. We live in a fallen world, our bodies, our relationships, everything around us has been marred by the sinfulness of humanity. But praise God, His mercy abounds and His mercy is over all that He has made (Ps 145). He is good to all, and He does not treat us as our sins deserve, but He sent Jesus the Christ as a suffering servant, who gave His life as a ransom for many. And praise God, He is not dead, but He lives now. And because He lives, we have hope and we will overcome because if we have died with Christ, we will also be raised with Him.
My struggle with depression is new in many ways and it is easy to feel burdened by the weight of it and knowing that there is fullness of joy in God's presence, yet still the heavy burden of depression...Fighting to cling to His promises because He never breaks a purpose...And he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering flax...Jesus said our Father is kind to the ungrateful and the evil...That's you and me...He is not kind to those that deserve his kindness, no one does! But praise God we can not be discouraged because He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil!
Delighting in the tender mercies of our God with you,
Emily
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
"I lost my keeeeeeeyyyys, in the great unknown..."
"I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use"
I have a feeling Francesca Battistelli thought she was writing about her morning not mine, but this LITERALLY was what my Thursday looked like. I had already taken two tests that week and had a day to study for a midterm, along with 3 other assignments, labs and write-ups. Surprisingly, I was not overwhelmed.
Tired? yes.
Overwhelmed? no.
Time and time again God has proven himself to me, and has gotten me through much more difficult tasks. Why would I not trust Him with this?
As I was leaving class with a classmate/friend, I casually put my hands in my handy dandy pocket with the expectation of grabbing those wonderful metal engine igniters- and they were not there. Me and my friend searched everywhere to no avail. (did I mention my family was also not picking up their phones?) My gracious friend decided to take me to her house so we could go ahead and start studying for our midterm, and I could try to work out this whole no keys ordeal.
Midterm- that had totally slipped my mind! No keys- how would I get home to where the food was? (I'm always thinking about food) and sleep- my poor bed. I know I probably wouldn't get much sleep with this midterm but I would like the option.
Overwhelmed? I was getting there.
I finally was able to communicate with my family and they were on a house wide search for a spare- which we were not sure existed.
"God, please help me find my keys, please give me peace" I mumbled to myself.
Assuming I was talking to her, my friend popped her head into the room and asked me what I said, (man do I find myself looking like a crazy person quite often) "I'm just talking to God!" no big deal :)
and this is where God blew me away.
"I wanted to talk to you about that..." She said and then she told me about her religious background and asked me about mine (and another Jesus lovin' (loved) classmate)and how she wanted something like that. I got to spend at LEAST 30 min just talking about Jesus. Can my day get any better? Not too much.
But it did! I got to pray for her to know truth with my family as they brought the only spare key they could find. Thankfully it was mine. I also found my original key at the campus police station, the bus driver had turned it in.
You may not be prone to loose things like me, but in one way or another you don't measure up. Our God- Our great, big, wonderful, creator, still sees fit to use you as He does me, even with all our faults and failures. It absolutely baffles me.
because I suck.
But as God tells Paul and also tells my heart- "My grace is all you need because my power works best in weakness" I will boast in my weakness. (and boy do I have plenty of that)
I have nothing but Christ to boast in! He is faithful. He will not abandon me.
Until The Whole World Hears,
EP
And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use"
I have a feeling Francesca Battistelli thought she was writing about her morning not mine, but this LITERALLY was what my Thursday looked like. I had already taken two tests that week and had a day to study for a midterm, along with 3 other assignments, labs and write-ups. Surprisingly, I was not overwhelmed.
Tired? yes.
Overwhelmed? no.
Time and time again God has proven himself to me, and has gotten me through much more difficult tasks. Why would I not trust Him with this?
As I was leaving class with a classmate/friend, I casually put my hands in my handy dandy pocket with the expectation of grabbing those wonderful metal engine igniters- and they were not there. Me and my friend searched everywhere to no avail. (did I mention my family was also not picking up their phones?) My gracious friend decided to take me to her house so we could go ahead and start studying for our midterm, and I could try to work out this whole no keys ordeal.
Midterm- that had totally slipped my mind! No keys- how would I get home to where the food was? (I'm always thinking about food) and sleep- my poor bed. I know I probably wouldn't get much sleep with this midterm but I would like the option.
Overwhelmed? I was getting there.
I finally was able to communicate with my family and they were on a house wide search for a spare- which we were not sure existed.
"God, please help me find my keys, please give me peace" I mumbled to myself.
Assuming I was talking to her, my friend popped her head into the room and asked me what I said, (man do I find myself looking like a crazy person quite often) "I'm just talking to God!" no big deal :)
and this is where God blew me away.
"I wanted to talk to you about that..." She said and then she told me about her religious background and asked me about mine (and another Jesus lovin' (loved) classmate)and how she wanted something like that. I got to spend at LEAST 30 min just talking about Jesus. Can my day get any better? Not too much.
But it did! I got to pray for her to know truth with my family as they brought the only spare key they could find. Thankfully it was mine. I also found my original key at the campus police station, the bus driver had turned it in.
You may not be prone to loose things like me, but in one way or another you don't measure up. Our God- Our great, big, wonderful, creator, still sees fit to use you as He does me, even with all our faults and failures. It absolutely baffles me.
because I suck.
But as God tells Paul and also tells my heart- "My grace is all you need because my power works best in weakness" I will boast in my weakness. (and boy do I have plenty of that)
I have nothing but Christ to boast in! He is faithful. He will not abandon me.
Until The Whole World Hears,
EP
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Rejoice!
"Realize that genuine joy in God is a gift" (Piper)
This morning, I woke up to birds singing the praises of God and I was immediately reminded that all creation calls us to rejoice in Christ, and creation never stops singing his praise -- and we are his crowning work of creation, much more should we offer up praises of thanksgiving to our Father!
I am so thankful for the gift of JOY that the Father has given me today! I have struggled with depression on and off for years, and very much the last 4 months or so...I just want to thank and praise God for hearing my prayers, and restoring my joy!
In God's presence there is fullness of joy (ps 16) and we as believers are always in his presence, so there is always fullness of joy in Christ, no matter our struggles or circumstances! Praise the Lord!
Thankful for this day, that He has made...Let's rejoice and be glad in it! Thankful for the gift of joy and the Giver of joy!
Side Note: If you are in Raleigh, take time to enjoy this gorgeous spring day in January! God has smacked Raleigh in the face with an awful lot of kindness today in this beautiful weather! We always have so much to be thankful for, and this day is just icing on the cake :)
Rejoicing with you,
emily
This morning, I woke up to birds singing the praises of God and I was immediately reminded that all creation calls us to rejoice in Christ, and creation never stops singing his praise -- and we are his crowning work of creation, much more should we offer up praises of thanksgiving to our Father!
I am so thankful for the gift of JOY that the Father has given me today! I have struggled with depression on and off for years, and very much the last 4 months or so...I just want to thank and praise God for hearing my prayers, and restoring my joy!
In God's presence there is fullness of joy (ps 16) and we as believers are always in his presence, so there is always fullness of joy in Christ, no matter our struggles or circumstances! Praise the Lord!
Thankful for this day, that He has made...Let's rejoice and be glad in it! Thankful for the gift of joy and the Giver of joy!
Side Note: If you are in Raleigh, take time to enjoy this gorgeous spring day in January! God has smacked Raleigh in the face with an awful lot of kindness today in this beautiful weather! We always have so much to be thankful for, and this day is just icing on the cake :)
Rejoicing with you,
emily
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Why We are Starting this Blog
Hello Blog World!
My friend Elizabeth and I found that over and over God shows us his goodness and faithfulness in our lives, and we have to remind each other how he has shown himself faithful in the past, because we are so FORGETFUL! But God is so FAITHFUL! And, so the blog...we will record specific evidences of his faithfulness as we live life to remind us when we forget, and keep us praising Him even when life is hard!
from Psalm 103
"Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagles"
"The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" - Jesus (recorded in John 14)
My friend Elizabeth and I found that over and over God shows us his goodness and faithfulness in our lives, and we have to remind each other how he has shown himself faithful in the past, because we are so FORGETFUL! But God is so FAITHFUL! And, so the blog...we will record specific evidences of his faithfulness as we live life to remind us when we forget, and keep us praising Him even when life is hard!
from Psalm 103
"Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagles"
"The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" - Jesus (recorded in John 14)
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