Rotuma

Well I thought I wasn’t going to have time to blog or even be on the internet but I was wrong. I’m currently in Fiji and have been here for 6 days. It’s super hot but not as hot as I thought It was going to be. Its about 120 degrees but the humidity isn’t awful. We are staying with an amazing family and the food here is so good but so bad for you and the portions are huge! Its actually very rude not to take a lot of food and you have to eat all that you take. We have done some evangelism in the market and on the streets of Nadi. It’s a very highly populated Muslim area. There is a mosque right in the middle of town. The people are really nice but it’s because we are white and we are looked upon as pretty neat people apparently, probably because they just want our money though. We went to the hospital to perform some miracles and God showed up. When Kevin and Matt prayed for people who need surgeries they would go back and the nurse would say that they left that afternoon without the need of the procedure. Its really random how we were just aloud to go up to anyone in the hospital and ask them if they needed prayer. However God planted seeds and showed up in some pretty cool ways.  Tonight we are going to a massive youth conference and get to dance in front of everyone and hopefully God shows up in a big way. Then on Saturday is our first free day and we get to go to the beach and then were meeting up for Manuels birthday at a pizza shop so it will be cool to see the other teams again. We also get to take over the church service this Sunday and I’m lead singer which is kind a random because I didn’t even do the music and worship DTS but its always been a secret dream of mine so I’m super excited! Then we have training on how to lead kids camps on Monday and Tuesday all day and we get to meet up with the other 2 teams which is pretty cool. Then on Wednesday we plan to get on the Boat for Rotuma which is a 3 day boat ride !! It will be crazy!! Then in Rotuma we will be leading kids camps and doing lots of friendship evangelism and eating a lot of food because that Is there love language.

LAST POST BEFOER OUTREACH!

Hey guys this is my last post till February. We leave for Fiji tomorrow at 5 am and its so sad to say goodbye to people we have become so close too. I have distance myself but not to the point of being totally hidden. I can’t explain how these 12 weeks have totally transformed my life. I’m so excited to start this new adventure with people i hardly know and share the love of Christ to strangers. God is up to huge things for these next 2 months. I’m expecting miracles and for the kingdom to be expanded. Please continue to pray for me and my team; Amanda, Matt, Clayton, Kevin, Matchuie, Kristin, and Carly. We are all so random yet perfect together. Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Love you all ! 

Amazing Love

          Ahh!! Sorry for again not being consistent in updating, like i said earlier we have been so busy !! So i will try to catch you up on what God has been doing in my life the last couple of weeks. I have still been learning the lesson on how to receive Gods love. I have discovered that it is hard for me to receive love from others because i feel as if my story isn’t worth it or a big enough concern to worry about. However this is a lie from the devil because every thing i have gone  through can be a testimony to use for Gods glory and i need to stop under estimating my problems because that helps no one. I have also learned that i have had a lot of built up anger and rejection that i won’t fully go into but i had some resentment for God because i felt as if i had to say good bye to every good friend that i had because i was on a different journey. However God is faithful and goodbyes aren’t really goodbyes and its better to have loved then not love at all. Also with being here its really hard to know that in 2 months i will have to say goodbye to everyone i became family with and that destroys me. However i’m learning not to distance myself from others because “its easier” to say goodbye when you have begun to drift. So instead i’m finishing this last week before we split up into our outreach groups on a strong note of friendship. 

I have also learned that i have put God into a lot of boxes. God is a God who we as humans will never understand so we need to stop breaking him down into equations just to ease our little minds. We need to have more faith, after all faith is what makes love grow deeper with him. I need to do less talking and a lot more loving. I want God to be God, not just what i have created him to be. I need to have more fear of the Lord, he is a God of love but i under estimate him all the time. This concept got me thinking about how much i trust him. Do i really trust him enough to give him everything? Do i trust him enough to give him the right to have a husband to have kids or a house? Do i trust him enough to give him my dreams to do great things? I get so caught up in what will i do for him next year and worry about where i should staff but do i take time to trust him in this moment? Its easier to say that i will do this amazing thing for him in the future but all i have is this moment to listen to the Spirit. Sometimes this is scarier because what if the Spirit tells me to go somewhere now not in 5 months when i will get all the money together. I’m learning that this moment is the only true moment i have to love and what i do right now will effect my future so i need to live in the moment now, not tomorrow. 

God however has given me so much hope for the future and i’m really excited to see how he uses me for his glory. I’m not really sure how God will provide or even know how to truly trust in him but i plan on learning on how too, starting this moment, right now. He has planted small goals into my heart and huge goals that i can’t even believe because they seem way to good to be true but i have a lot to learn before i begin. Also i  don’t want to just love Jesus because i don’t want to go to hell i want to love him with all that i am. I want to love him for more then just my salvation.Read luke 9:23 for what true salvation is. God wants us to be more then just church attenders, he wants us to learn how to love like he loves us. 

I have been given the opportunity to take 12 weeks out of my life to get my heart focused on God. He has used this time to totally transform everything about me. He has brought up my fears, insecurities, dreams and is teaching me what to do with them. Now as the last week of receiving knowledge and training ends the time is coming to give everything i have received to the people in Fiji, Rotuma and Christchurch. I’m excited to spend two months with a group of 8 people on outreach to show the love of Jesus to people who need to hear it. It will be really challenging but God only gives us what we can handle and he will be there every step of the way. Please pray for our team as we embark on this new chapter together that will change our lives forever. 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those ho love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28

heart transplant

God is changing my heart daily! I don’t even feel like the same Emily that left 9 weeks ago. I don’t have a lot of time to blog because we have become so busy!! We are seriously doing stuff from 7 in the morning till 11 every night. Its crazy but good. God has still been teaching me how to receive love. It sounds silly but its actually a really hard lesson to learn, i didn’t realize how many walls i had up. However God is removing each stone when its needed. I am becoming more confident in Gods plans for my life. They almost seem to be to good to be true but i’m learning how to take God out of the box i’ve created him to be in. I’m learning that he is always faithful and i’ve heard testimony over and over how He has provided every need for people. This gives me confidence in His call for my life. I still need lots of confirmation before i start speaking about what He wants me to do but as of now i’m coming home for a couple of months then potentially staffing somewhere for 2 years. I’m just taking things day by day and seeing where He leads me. Its really scary to live by faith but i can’t see me doing it any other way. I love and miss you all!!!! 

Sky High

This week has been crazy! Sky diving was super awesome however it isn’t as scary as you think it would be but it is so worth it! I also walked 20 miles on friday to go to a waterfall which was really cool. I went bouldering around the base of the water fall which was fun but the water was freezing since its just now becoming spring here. I also got really bad blisters on the heels of my feet since i had to walk home from the water fall in wet shoes but i had really good conversations walking there and back so God knew what He was doing.

So let me tell you about God now! This week was life changing for me. We talked about the Lordship Of Christ with Mark Parker and God moved so much in all of us! The first thing i learned is that God is in control and this life is not about me doing great things for him its about him doing whatever He wants when He wants to do it. I still need to learn how to deny my self everyday but it is so amazing to wake up focusing on God rather then wondering about what i need to do today! 

This week was also hard because the Lord told me before i came here to New Zealand that i was going to go to India but when they called the teams for outreach I was called to Fiji. I was so upset because i was confused about what God had said. However i was able to get my frustration out without hurting anyone or making a scene and i went away to talk to the Lord directly. He calmed me down and i just felt him say that He never said when i was to go to India. So obviously that is not right now.

So continuing on with what God is speaking to me there is still so much! People have been blessing me with so much chocolate and showing me random acts of kindness and for some reason i keep feeling like i don’t deserve it. i know that God needs to humble me in order to receive not only gifts but his love. 

Yesterday was the biggest day of my life. We had the stages of going into the Temple which in the end is being consumed with Gods fire and presence. God used people to tell me that I am Loud and Radical for him and when i speak people will listen and i just have a way of being myself and changing atmospheres. God also gave Dave a vision of me sitting with 4 orphans on a rocking chair talking to them and they were so focused on what i was telling them. Then Chan got the place of India in his head and it just made me feel so much better that i did hear God when he said India but He has a different time for me. I also received that gift of tongues which is really weird but i’m growing in it and its pretty awesome !

Now i have some big news, I think the Lord is calling me to staff the next DTS which is 2 weeks after my DTS ends so i would not be able to go home to see my family or make money. I think God is telling me to stay because i didn’t really do a good job at asking or receiving money from people the first time. So with being here i have to rely on God for providing money and using others to support me which is something that is really hard for me to do cause i don’t want to feel like a burden but God is changing my heart. I trust that God is my provider and i will have no money at the end of my DTS so i’m excited to see how God works. He is a faithful God and He wouldn’t call me here if he wasn’t going to provide. I thank you for all your prayers and support!!!

Holy Spirit!

This week we are talking about relationships. Its super cool because we are not only talking about the real relationship we have with Christ but our relationships with people. We have been talking alot about marriage and discovering what we think is important for a godly marriage. I have realized that i am not as crazy as i thought i was! Dating is a worldly thing, not a Jesus follower thing. It is not bad to date but if you are dating for the game of it you got a problem. I still stand firm on the idea that i will not date without the intent of marriage in mind. When dating is a game there are a lot of temptations that are unnecessary. I’m not sure when i will find that some one but i definitely know what to look for. Number one being he must love the Lord more then he loves me.

This weekend we are going skydiving!! I can’t believe that i will be jumping out of a moving plane on saturday! Also its Erika’s birthday, my close friend and room mate here on base so today is going to be a awesome day!! I still can’t believe how much God is working in my life. I have forgiven people i thought i would always be mad at, felt compassion for people who i never thought where hurting and showing love to people who need it most. I am even learning how to share chocolate... i know crazy!! Thank you to everyone who is praying for me ... i need it !

1Cor 10

ANGEL

What to say? I have had the most amazing week ever!!  This week we talked about the Holy Spirit in lectures. The first couple of days were normal, nothing to big was revealed to me but that all changed on thursday! Mau, the speaker prayed for me and what he said blew me away! He first told me that i need to stop feeling responsible for things that are out of my control. He also told me that i need to let God fix the wounds i have from people and not try to temporarily fix them myself. Then the next thing he said was that I have a HUGE ANGEL BEHIND ME and he has been there for a while. He said i have nothing to be afraid of because God is always near. I can’t explain to you in words how it feels to have an angle behind me. But some how i really know that there is. 

On Friday during prayer God told me that he has set me apart from earthly things like drinking,drugs and sex and i never really understood why i never had the desire to even try those things. So it made sense when God said that he had been protecting me from it. God also told me not to worry about my future and not being purposeful enough. I just need to trust that God will use me in his timing, not mine.

Then during my free weekend me, Erika,Kim,Carly,Joel,Fred.David,Ben and Eric went camping to a nearby town. I can’t explain everything but God had his hand on us the hole time. We camped on a strangers farm with his permission of course and stayed in the most beautiful area i have ever been before, all for FREE! Went zorbing which is when you roll down a hill in a hamster ball with people in it with water. It was so amazing and the guy gave us all a discount and threw in a free CD of all the pictures and videos of us rolling down. It was so amazing. Then we went on this track with little plastic cars down a track on a hill and i thought we were going to go slow but they were extremely fast. I almost fell off a coupe of times because the turns were so sharp and i was going so fast. So much cooler then go carting and that is saying alot. There was so much more that happened but that is all i will go into detail about. However this camping place was the perfect place for quiet time with God we also did lots of prayer together and just really uplifted each other up. I feel as if God has given me a new family here and i’m so excited to see what he keeps doing with us. 

God keeps reminding me to let Him be the one in charge and i need to learn how to just receive his love. Its a free gift and there is nothing i can do or say to make it go away or to earn it. 

Mount Doom

God is so good even if you don’t know it yet. We did a river walk which was pretty much us walking along a river but we did it by ourselves with out any ipods so we could hear God’s voice clearly. It was so awesome ! God reminded me that my story means something and I need to proclaim his name through it. It doesn’t matter how “good” or “bad” you have been God uses everything even if the problems don’t seem that big.

I have officially completed 2 of the Lord of the Rings movies and I have to say after only a couple of bad dreams it was worth it. Plus this weekend we are going white water rafting then camping over night and then climbing Mount Doom!! Which is the mountain from Lord of The Rings… I’m not sure what the mountains real name is though. However It’s super high and there will be snow at the top!

So far this week we have been talking about Evangelism which is pretty interesting. I actually feel like this is one of my spiritual gifts. We have just been covering the basics so far but today in class Tupu, our leader, told us that God gave him a song for each of us that wasn’t Christian and mine was “Dancing Queen” it was really funny. However the Lord told him that I jut need to keep dancing for Jesus and never stop. It was sweet as !

I finished my book report and CIR a whole day and half before it was due!!! I think my procrastinating days are moving behind me .. at least I hope ! I have to read another book on Christian living for another book report so hopefully I find the right book.

Yesterday the weather was so beautiful we laid out on the trampoline and played volleyball for an hour and just enjoyed everyone’s company. I still miss the food back at home so much though and really miss having a bath tub!!! Overall its amazing here and God is up to something great!!

Love

Romans 5:1-5

Heart

This week we have been learning about the father heart of God. It was way more intense then I thought it would be. So many people here don’t have a father figure in their life. I am so blessed to still have my father in the picture.  I did have some issues that I kept inside from what has happened over the years with them but you can’t expect parents to be perfect just like there is not such thing as a perfect daughter but I was able to see the brokenness that I had built up from them and have forgiven them as I hope they can forgive me for things that I have said to them.

I realized that I have a lot of anger built up and I’m not sure where the seed was planted but in these last couple of years it has been watered like crazy! I can’t blame anyone specific in my life even though some one can come to mind but  I’m still in the process of forgiving. I knew I had a problem when the guys stepped up in class  today and said that they wanted to start being real sons of God. A lot of the guys here have struggled with porn and taking advantage of women and they have been convicted this week to change there out look on things. But when the guys stood up today and the girls where asked to pray for them I couldn’t , I just froze and thought about all the hurtful encounter’s I have had with guys these last couple of years. I kept replaying hurtful things said to me and what was worse is that most of the time they had no idea they were hurting me.

This last Wednesday while I was fasting I had a friend on my heart to pray for her healing and my heart just broke for her. However as I kept praying I got this amazing peace from the Lord telling me not to worry and trust him. Then during break I got a letter from her !  God is so good and I’m so excited to see where he is taking me.  I have more and more peace each day that I am here.  This weekend we are doing a river walk , but I’m not sure what that really is  so we will see. Then after church we might hike up to this waterfall if it doesn’t rain again. It has rained really hard every Sunday for some reason. We hardly get any thunder or lightning, is which super sad.  It Is starting to warm up here which is awesome. 

This week has been really slammed with projects. This Monday we have our CIR’s due, a book report over the book “Is That Really You God?” and memorizing scripture. So it’s a lot like school only we are being taught things for 3 hours and then have 3 hours of “homework”. We also pray for about 2 hours a day along with an hour of worship so its pretty draining. Then on Friday night we got to a hangout place where kids can go to get off the streets so we plat games and have dance parties with them. Its a lot of fun to just hangout with locals and hear their stories.

So I still  have a lot to learn so please keep me in your prayers and to also keep the enemy away. The girls in my room have all been having really bad dreams and we hear random loud thumping’s on our door at night. So just pray that the enemy leaves us alone.

I love and miss you all!




Proverbs 4 

Character and Nature of God.

God is so AWESOME!!! This week has been so amazing. I have so much to say and i have no idea where to begin! So i will start with the lesson i learned about Jesus. I never realized how much Jesus truly loves us i mean i 'knew' but never experienced! Once you are captivated by Jesus there is nothing else in the world like it. I am challenged here to memorize scripture which has always been really hard for me to do but with God's help i am accomplishing it! I have also been experiencing more intimate prayer with God and the holy spirit has exploded into my life.

As far as learning about my self i didn't realize how many walls i have actually put up. I didn't understand why i felt so hurt by certain people but God is transforming my heart! We have small groups here and one person who is on staff that we tell everything to. I have learned that i didn't look at myself as worth it to God. I have always been really good at loving others but never really good at loving myself and it comes down to the fact that i don't feel worth it. I realized that even if my problems are small to everyone elses there still big to me and there my own. I cant compare myself to anyone and their story.

So far I done basic chores around the base, this week i am in charge of cooking dinner for 100 people and its so much fun! I have gone to a breakfast shelter in the morning to help feed kids before they head off to school. We do alot of intercession here and i have never worshiped God so much in my life before! This weekend we climbed up the mount and went cliff jumping into the ocean, well i wasn't aloud to jump off the cliff cause the tide was stronger then we though and when kyle went to jump in he got banged up pretty bad from the waves crashing him into the rocks and my friend Erika got pulled under. So maybe next time i will be able to jump.

This season right now is about getting right with God and allowing him to take everything. To be honest the first week i was pretty numb to the holy spirit and wasn't getting to much out of the lectures. Then one day while everyone was full of laughter i was so frustrated cause i knew all this stuff about God but i couldn't feel him. So Johelen prayed for me and said that i need to let go of the things that i knew and start over so that God can truly change me. Then Matilda came and just embraced me in her arms and told me that i was loved and gave me the verse Pslam 39:7 and it says " But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you". I had just gave him everything and i didn't know where to look and this confirmed that i should keep my gaze upon him and put my hope and trust in only him.

I love and miss you all !!


Psalm 34:4  Ecclesiastes 5:2-3

5 Days

  Its been 5 days and I have already had an amazing time. We have moved to our permanent location and its so beautiful!! we have a mountain view and a valley view. We live next to horses and cows with amazing green scenery. The base here is so awesome, we even have a trampoline and a huge area to play games. We have played ultimate Frisbee,football and soccer so far. I will be learning how to play rugby so I'm super stoked. I have a huge room with only 6 roommates and we all get along so great. I have friends now from Canada, Switzerland, Korea, Norway,Netherlands and Germany. There aren't as many as Americans as I thought there would be, there are only 7 of us but its super awesome to hear about where other people come from.

      
   So far as a group we have shared all our life stories and God is moving in all our life's! We have had alot of free time this week because we are still getting situated. The worship here is so awesome and everyone is so nice and I'm excited to see how God uses us all together. This Wednesday we have our first speaker who will be talking to us about the Nature of God. I feel so peaceful here and comfortable. I feel like I am in a dream and haven't woke up yet. I'm so amazed at Gods love for others and I just draw closer and closer to him everyday.

  I have been going to bed at 10 and waking up at 6 in the morning . God has been waking me up so I have been going and doing devotionals and prayer time for an hour about each  day. God is so good. I have moments of missing home but the Lord has definitely made this place feel like a home.  Please pray that the Lord is able to just move this place and transform peoples hearts. There are alot of people here who have been hurt and need healing so also pray for the students on this DTS. I know God is up to something great and I feel like we have already become a little family.

My times are in your hands - Psalm 31:15

The Lord is my light and my salvation - Psalm 27:1

I Have Arrived

After 20 hours of traveling i have arrived in New Zealand. My flight as50 degrees outside but this place is beautiful! Today has been a free day so we passed the football around, played many card games and then we will be doing community worship. It dosent feel like home yet, it feels odd, in a good way. Its exciting to meet everyone that I will becoming family with these next couple of months. Everyone is getting along but it is only the first day. I feel really comfortable here and i think this is a good fit for me. God is defenitly up to something good.

5 Days

I'm all done with working, and offically exhausted so I will be using these 5 days to recover and get everything else done. I just want to thank Jesus for being so faithful, not only did he give me the ability to work this summer but he blessed me with amazing people who want to support his kingdom. This week alone I have recieved $600 and i'm speechless. Thank you everyone who not only helped finacially support me but for all the prayers!!! I feel so loved and so blessed to have an amazing community around me ! God is so good all the time !

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
         Try me, and know my anxieties;
 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
         And lead me in the way everlasting.
                                          -Psalm 139:23-24

A Full Day

11 Days

I have become so worn out with working 65 hours a week and its finally over !!!!! I now will only be working 30 this last week. Even though with this crazy life style these last months I have still been able to find the Lord through out the day. I'm so thankful that he is the one who gives me strength and patience to make it through the day. I may be completely exhausted physically but spiritually I'm still on fire and I can only thank God for that. The song today sums up exactly how I feel =]

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.   -Ephesians 4:25-32

Trust

Trust-  confident expectation of something; Hope.

As I prepare to leave for New Zealand in a little over 2 weeks, I continue to find out more about my character. When God gave me the desire to go to New Zealand I was so excited and passionate to do his calling. However it seems that when God gives me a desire I decided to take everything into my own hands. Taking full control is not a good thing, I have no idea what made me think that I could do Gods plan all by myself. I realized my problem was following God, without God. My intentions were good but that does not always make it the wise choice. As I sit her exhausted from working a 12 hour day I can't help to wonder if my summer would of played out differently if I had put more trust into God rather then myself. I don't regret this summer, I have learned alot and met alot of wonderful people but for the future its important to keep learning. I have learned more about trusting in the Lord, I still have alot to learn but when the Lord tells me he is going to do something I need to submit to him. I need to make sure that I don't start running after something with out God holding my hand. I can only do great things with him, so I better make sure I stop being my own adviser.

  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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: 4-7

When i sing this song i am singing it to santan, I believe God will always win and if i remain in him there is no way i could be out of site, like a skysraper.

Amazement

I'm in a place of amazement by Gods love. I have joy when I should be frustrated and upset. He has consumed me. I'm so humbled by his greatness. I can't stop smiling it is strange but I'm just now starting to be revealed a new level of his love. I'm made new by him and I can't thank Him enough! Ahhh I just have been in a stage of worship and feel free. I hope everyone can experience this feeling of love and not be able to hold it in. God is so great and is always here with me! I know my God saved the day and I know his word never fails and i don't care what the world throws at me now, I'm going to be alright !!!

I'm going to post some songs that have kept me smiling big =D



   For this song called "Beautiful Things" you must close your eyes and think only of the words.

For this song you must sing it at the top of your lungs!!

This song you must Dance to it <3

 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

The Lord be with all of you.  - 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Lies

Lord I feel alone. I know that it's impossible to be alone because you are always by my side so please make your presence known. I don't want to feel this way anymore and I want to stop believing the lies that " I will never be loved". It is a rare occurrence but when it hits me, it hits me hard. So Lord please consume my thoughts so that I can hear your voice clearly. Even if these lies were true about people, it should not matter, for your love is greater then all and is the only love that saves.

God has said,
   “Never will I leave you;
   never will I forsake you.”
  So we say with confidence,
   “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
   What can mere mortals do to me?”
                                                -Hebrews 13:5-6


When I feel lonely I write it all out and now that I have done so I feel so much better. It is best to seek the Lord the moment you feel confused, alone or unloved  for He is the only one that can bring forth the truth in lies.

My new current mood, still a little distressed but God is always FAITHFUL !!

Simple

I make situations way more complicated then they should be. I am way to hard on myself. I become distracted very easily. I get nervous over stupid things, like if my hamburger has to much pepper on it but I can fly 2,000 miles with out second guessing it. I am stubborn and cut off communication easily if i feel rejected. I let my emotions get in the way of clear thinking. I do things the complicated way.

What if I tried living simple? How about living simple with God? I believe the devil tries to make my relationship with God and people complicated to distract me. Isn't the message of the Gospel simple, to love others before yourself and to love God? I don't mean that by saying it is easy to love this way but the message is clear and not confusing. If I were to love this way maybe my life would be less complicated and become more simple. I mean I would be able to not let other things bother me if I was truly focused on this command alone. What can I cut out of my life to be more simple?

““Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”  Jeremiah 32:17 

The Joy of Laughter

It amazes me how much the act of laughing can bring so much joy to my day. I was thinking about what I want my day to be consumed with and I believe that laughter should be a part in every ones day. To me laughing is refreshing. As I hung out with my friends today I realized how fortunate I am to be around them and feel comfortable. We are able to laugh with each other and it unites us. So many people put walls up and cant genuinely laugh at themselves or feel comfortable to let their walls down. I pray for people who don't have some one they can burst out and laugh with. Life is no joke but sometimes we get to caught up in things and become hard. Its important to not let emotions and our past hide the joy that Lord wants us to have. Have you laughed today?

                        When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

-Psalm 94:19

                   Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.

-Psalm 98:4

Answers

Today I have learned that God does answer prayers but sometimes there not in the way we expect them to be answered. Sometimes its not even the answer we wanted or hoped for. I have learned that even if you have friends that are christian, that doesnt mean you can always remain friends. It has been a hard and long journey but God is faithful and can see the whole picture when it comes to having friends in our life. He alone knows who will work for his glory in our life and sometimes we need to let go of people who have helped us before but now have begun to hurt us. I also have learned to always focus on God, not the problem. Becoming consumed with a problem or situation is worthless for it is always changing but God is constant and promises to always be there for us. I'm glad to know that my God is a God who is in control and knows what he is doing even if I have no idea what he is up too.

There is beauty in waiting for Gods' answers.

"Do not be afriad, for I am with you"  - Isaiah 43:5

Wonder

The Wondering has already begun on what God is up to while I'm in New Zealand. I still have 10 weeks left but my mind is already begun to day dream about what might happen to me. I'm so excited to go somewhere new and I know that the Lord will make New Zealand home the moment I arrive but I'm still a little nervous to leave. I would like to think people will miss me when I'm gone but people have lives too and friends fade, I think that is what scares me the most. God is bigger then everything, so I'm sure his plan is far better then mine so I continue to give him my all. As I take a step in faith I know he will continue to hold my hand and walk with me. I'm still in wonder but my hope is so very high.

"The word of the Lord stands Forever" - 1 peter 1:25