Morning Elegances

I love mornings like this, when you wake up in enough time before class to actually have a time to just be. A shower, all dolled up for the day ahead, then sit down with some coffee. I'm not worried about anything really even though I know the hectic day I have ahead. It feels good not to have to rush off to class in a deliriously conscious state. I am awake, I have put into order a rough draft of what my day will look like, possibly with a few changes.

All in all, it's just another day to revel in God's glory, making him the purpose in each step I take this day and every other. I have a feeling today is going to be a productive day, a day where I am headstrong and ready to get stuff done. Each day I feel like this I give all the praise to God because, honestly, it's not very often I get in these moods, especially when there is this much to be done.

In the broad spectrum of things there is much more to be done than just schoolwork. That is a microcosm compared to the enormity of a job we are REALLY here to do. But we have a God that is greater than that enormity and he will see it finished and be glorified in it. Don't know about you but I'm pretty excited to be a part of the solution and see it finalized. Good stuff, no TV show can beat this stuff in the ratings.

Well there's my morning spiel.

All to God

Is This Your Good Ear?

Today at church we were about to do "special" music when my preacher and his wife get up there at the pulpit and my preacher stands beside his wife and his wife says "is this your good ear?" Well you all know me, sometimes I hear something as simple as this and it makes me start thinking.

My preacher and his wife have been together for what seems like forever. They were leading us in "special" music today and my preacher has one ear that is I think completely deaf or almost there. The way she asked "is this your good ear?" made me think about old married couples. Then in turn made me think about being in an old married couple lifestyle obviously with someone.

I have come to terms with the possibility that I may for the rest of my life be a single person. I am ok with this, today just made me think about how my life would be at that stage in life when you have someone that has been with you through everything. Seems really great when you think about a lifespan spent with someone and when you get to a certain point you start asking each other "is this your good ear?"

Well those were my thoughts at that particular moment in the church service. This wasn't what I focused on but it did make me think a little bit. Now you might be thinking "Emilie, what does this have anything to do with you aspiring to be a missionary?" Well the fact is, is that if you are a single female going into the mission field, there aren't many men who will go with you. I say single female because the statistics are that it is easier for a male who wants to be a missionary to find a woman who would follow him and have the same passion for the people. Now I'm not saying it's impossible for us ladies, however it is something to consider.

It's not something to be depressed about, honestly I can live a life happily without finding someone. But it does warm my heart to see couples who have been through life together and still remain together and end up having to say "is this your good ear?"

Ok enough of my crazy thoughts. Thanks for humoring me :)

All to God

Such a Stinker Today

I have to be honest, I was a really big stinker today. My moods were not the happiest for the majority of the day. I hate it when I disappoint myself and am like this around others and make them suffer me through the day. I know I'm only human and we are allowed to have days like these, but mine seem to come at the worst times.

Anyway, just had to be honest, tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am going to do better. I love the ones I am around and will be around. I have a lot to be thankful for, I'm going to try to focus on that.

Thanks be to God that there are people in my life willing to suffer me on days where I am not the greatest.

All to God

Academics, Indeed Stressors

So I'm sitting here in a slightly "redecorated" home, a wall is orange in the living room and the kitchen is green and tan. I like it, it is a welcome change to this house, as will be the new carpet my mom wants to get. So as I sit with my coffee and my house in utter disarray I cannot help but think something completely unrelated to everything I've just written.

I guess the Christmas feeling hasn't really arrived yet. People keep talking about Christmas and quite frankly I forget it's so close. This is not to say that I keep forgetting about our Savior's birth, I remember that all the time, it doesn't take a holiday or a nativity scene to stir up emotions about the Messiah's miraculous birth. Maybe it will come soon, I love Christmas, I love that I get to see my family which should be a more frequent occurrence looking at how close we live to one another.

Maybe I've just been living with a bunch of pressure and stress lately that it has taken over a lot of the things in the near future that are less stressful. I mean our final exams are in a few weeks and after that, thats it, not like mid-terms where you can pick it up, no...your done. So this is kind of making me twinge a little inside just talking about it. Projects are due soon, other tests that have to be taken because of those days away because of the NMC.

Lots to do...not a lot of time, Christmas is far down the list of things to be focused on. I hate that, but such is life. I'll just keep praying that it can all get done smoothly and efficiently.

All to God.

Post-NMC

Well we are back, after an 11 hour car ride we made it. I took a glorious shower that cleaned all of me, not just my hair and bird bathing it for four days. Let's just say, it's always a welcome thing to come back too.

Anyway, the convention was a few things this year, awesome, hectic, and as always, a giver of perspective. It was awesome because it was hectic, it was hectic because it was awesome, these go hand in hand. This year was very different from years previous, I had people there that I hadn't seen in a while, which normally doesn't happen. Not just a few people but a good chunk of people, and I'm so glad I got to spend what little and choppy time I had with them. They are great people and they make my life a little better every time I get to spend time with them.

So here goes the perspective. Well there was more perspective than this given at the convention, this was just very prominent. I realized there was something I had to do that I never really ever had to do. That was not hang out with people I hadn't seen for months for a prolonged period of time. This time each time I was with them, it had to be essentially short, sweet, and memorable. Call me sheltered, or what have you but I am still learning these things about being a missionary. You meet people who impact your life so much yet every time you see them there are so many, that you have to spread yourself or neglect. Fortunately I could run around, and gladly so, to be with all of them for a short time at least.

Dang, and then you have to say good bye for who knows how long. This is something I've known but every time it kinda hurts a little. Which I shouldn't grow callous to but should learn how to handle it a bit better. Plus there is just lots of things swirling around in this head that I think God is trying to work out, decisions, decisions. Well there it is post-NMC and I was so happy to go, hang out, love, laugh, learn, and grow nearer to God throughout.

All to God

Pre-NMC continued

Well there are a few wee hours until we all cram into a convoy of cars and drive off into the sunrise to Lexington KY to the National Missionary Convention. I am immensely excited about what God is going to do there this year. I am ecstatic about how many from school are going, it is an overwhelming difference from last year and even more of a dramatically drastic difference than the year before.

As I was (am) packing I started to think pretty hard about the ones who are going and what a crazy cool thing it is to have so many experience this. However, I am praying that it is more than a roadtrip and a couple of days away from campus to all of us. I hope everyone really understands the opportunity there and the great people there are to meet. I hope above all else that they can be open to the Holy Spirit's guiding and really gain something. It may seem like a silly annual conference to some, but I guess I am a little biased for a couple of reasons: 1) I want to be a missionary, 2) This convention is one of the major things that opened my eyes and took part in changing my life.

So yeah I am in prayer tonight that people will see. As of right now we've only three hours until lift off, as much as I am ready I want to prepare. Prepare spiritually, which sounds super deep and stuff, but I honestly just want to pray for everyone going. For peace among the group. For unity. For companionship, fellowship, laughter, and accountability. I should nap a little while before leaving. It'll be a good time.

All to God.

Pre-NMC

It's that time of year again, the missionary superbowl for the United States. I. Am. Stoked. Like people who "pre-game" before a football game, well a little less drunk....or not at all, yeah thats me right now.

ANYWAYS, I am so grateful that I get to go to this every year. To hear missionaries and to be a part of something so huge is beyond me. I love this convention, I love the emotions it stirs, I love the hearts it breaks, I love the drive it gives. I cannot say enough good things about it. I'm excited about the conversations we will all have, out of 52 people from school, someone has to be moved by this, someone who hasn't really given tons of thought about being a missionary. I am excited and open to have conversations.

It's like a revival of sorts.

It's nice to be somewhere completely surrounded by what you love.

It's gonna be a good flippin time!

All to God

I'm sick

I'm sick.

I'm sick of these things.

I'm sick of the things that tear us apart.

I'm sick of constantly rejecting unity.

I'm sick of love not spreading through a place like this.

A heart like mine.

I'm sick of apathy.

I'm sick of the comfort we have.

I'm sick of superiority.

I'm sick of hate.

I'm sick of the jealousy that roams through this place.

Through a heart like mine.

I'm sick of death.

I'm sick of pain.

I'm sick of disease.

I'm sick of murder, the murder of anything.

Murder that seizes even a heart like mine.

I'm sick.

I'm made well.

I'm made well of these things.

I'm made well of the things that tore us a part.

I'm made well because of overthrowing disunity.

I'm made well because of love that mends.

That mends a heart like mine.

I'm made well because of rejecting apathy.

I'm made well because I cannot be comfortable.

I'm made well because of superiority.

I'm made well because of overcoming hate.

I'm made well because jealousy cannot be found.

Even in a heart like mine.

I'm made well because death has lost it's grip.

I'm made well because pain will cease to exist.

I'm made well because disease will be left without a victim.

I'm made well because murder is no longer anywhere to be seen.

Even in a heart like mine.

He will make all things new.

He will heal every wound.

Death is overcome.

In this my soul is satisfied.

I am no longer sick.

I am forgiven.

I am healed by His grace.

He will make all things new.

All to God.

Yeah PCCoC!

This past weekend my church held the "Women Under Construction" conference. I must say I did not even fathom how popular it had become over the past years they had been having it. I didn't even really understand what all would be taking place. But I figured I should attend since I am indeed a young woman of Poplar Chapel. So I went not really knowing what it would all entail other than my sister was speaking and well...God.

So I get there in the knick of time from Elizabeth City to join in with a doughnut and some coffee. Not ten minutes later it was time for the big shabang. It was enjoyable I loved seeing everyone there even if I didn't know about 3/4 of the crowd yet probably about 85% or more are in fact related to me. But I loved it, especially when the older women would stare at me to figure out who the heck I was because they just knew I looked so darn familiar. It must be nice to be older and feel free to stare for long periods of time just to figure out who someone is or who they belong too.

Anywho, I found that most of the speakers should have felt their calling in life to be comedians. They spoke about women in their lives and the crazy things they said or did and I looked at Katie and asked, "why have we never met these people?" Our little church holding something so big for the community of churches in our small town, I know this could turn into something that could impact the surrounding areas if only we would pray about it and prepare it. I loved being in the midst of so many women, most well above my age but don't let the human capsule fool you, they are just as youthful and quick as you and I.

So as I was listening, and yes I was listening I had an itch to draw on the program they gave us. So I did. So let me share.

I don't know it's little conferences like these that show me the potential in our little church. If only more voices could be heard a little clearer, some pretty sweet things could come of this. I love that little country church thats striving to reach it's community and eventually the world.

All to God

A World Lined in Ink

Well, I have the whole world on my arm. Ok, so that some of you are not confused, I recently got a tattoo of the world...no not a globe, a flat map. It's on the under side of my left arm, up near my BULGING bicep. Yeah, I'm not that muscular. Anyways, I love it, I love it because A) it's my very last tattoo, B) It's my (your, our) mission field.

Yeah I have the whole world on my arm, and I look at it everyday. It's the only tattoo of mine that isn't covered up completely all the time unless I have a long sleeve shirt on. I see it all the time and many emotions come over me when I look at it. The first is superficial, how stinkin SWEET it looks, the second is wow, this is a tiny little place we have. When I really focus on it I look it over and imagine the people in each place. I wonder what their lives are like right at this moment, I wonder if they know Jesus. By the way that would be the third if you were counting.

I don't have a picture of it or I would post it up here, guess you'll just have to come find me to see it :). I carry the world around on my body now, not because I worship it, not because I am of it, not even because I am in it temporarily, I carry it because Jesus carried it. I am not comparing myself to Jesus, Just as John the Baptist says "One is coming who I am not worthy to untie his sandals". I carry the world in my heart and as a physical reminder because I know what it needs, Jesus Christ. I have heard about the suffering of those held in bondage and maybe in some way whether big or small I can help out.

I carry the world with me because I cannot forget about the way He came to save it and how we must go spread the good news.

All to God

My Parish

"The world is my Parish" John Wesley a famous Anglican minister said this phrase. Now Wesley's ministry was very biased and somewhat strict, however I have to say this phrase struck me. You may be thinking what the heck is a Parish? I tried answering this question in class and was completely wrong...I try to be smart.

A parish by definition is: an ecclesiastical district having it's own church and member of the clergy. Well Mr. Wesley wanted to preach, and different "members of the clergy" kept telling him he couldn't preach in such and such a place because they already had a parish, which meant they had their own established church and clergymen. So Wesley, frustrated and just wanting to preach the word of God, made the statement "The world is my Parish". By this he meant that wherever God sent him he would preach no matter if there was a parish there or not.

I guess in thinking about ministry as a missionary you kind of have to have this mindset. Just finish the statement with something relevant to today "The world is my ______". I guess the first thing about my future ministry I would say "The world is my classroom" so I think there are two aspects to my phrase. The second I think would be "The world is my small group". As funny as that sounds, small groups that are established in churches are there to become very close to one another and help each other. Granted it is impossible to become close and help everyone in the world the way I would want too, but I think it still applies. There are leaders in small groups, I aspire to be the leader at least for as long as God wants me to take position of leader.

I just thought it was interesting although I don't agree with a lot of what Wesley did in his ministry, I respect him for first being willing to above anything else spread the word of God. Secondly, for seeing that preaching the gospel is not made for man to legislate but for God to designate. Thanks for the tidbit Wesley.

All to God.

Going to the Playground

Thus far I have been a part of the academic system for about 15 years now (kindergarten-junior year of college). Now I know people go to school for years and years almost ceasing to never be without a classroom. However 15 years is a major chunk of my life. I mean get this there were only 5 years of my life that no school was happening at all ever. I have seen the inside of a classroom for years and years and years. I am so excited to say that it is a major possibility that I will be done with classrooms and tests, quizzes, homework, lectures etc in the year 2012. According to the Mayans this is a pretty sketchy year to graduate, good thing I'm not Mayan.

I've often wondered how life was back in the day where an education system was not established. I mean I would only guess that the people learned from experience and what their parents taught them. I would also guess that these were important lessons of survival and things of that sort, feeding your family with the lack of "employment" because, well there were literally no jobs to be had.

Well it's been a good ride on the academic train somewhat, but my eagerness is overbearing and my patience is waning. Not that I don't value what I am learning about or not find it interesting, I love learning it, but I'm ready to hop off this train, however just because I'm ready doesn't mean I really am. I know I am eager which is good but also patience is indeed a virtue, God knows when I am ready and he will send me as soon as possible. Don't worry I have perspective on this whole eager thing, but I'm kinda like a little kid with it. It's like when a kid is so eager to go to the playground but first he/she has to finish his/her lunch. They need the food because it sustains them and gives them energy to run, jump, climb, and different stuff that they will do on the playground. The kid says to the mother "mom I'm ready to PLAY!!!" but the mother says "honey you need to finish your lunch because later you'll be asking for food and it won't even be supper time yet." God wants me to eat my lunch first so later I won't be asking for food when it's not time to eat again.

He just wants me to be prepared, and I know I'm not quite yet. Just a few more nibbles on my sandwich and I'll be able to go play. Patience, such an annoying word, but oh so useful.

All to God