All you need is LOVE

…and as many clichés as you can get your hands on…

 

I wrote the following when I was finishing up my senior year in high school. I wanted to share it, because although a couple of the particulars may be different for each of us, I feel that it projects how a lot of us feel sometimes. Life is hard: it can be tiring and challenging. So count your blessings and thank the Good Lord for all He does for you and never stop reaching to fulfill the Universal Vocation we all have: a Call to Holiness. If you do that, if you never stop trying to be Holy, if you keep hope that you can one day be a Saint, one in Heaven with God, you’ll never fail. What beauty there is in that! Hold fast and have hope. Some of this may sound cliché, I’ll admit it. But, sometimes, we need a dose of cliché, Amen?

 

 

I am in love. I am weak. I am strong. I am proud of what I am. Jesus has made me whole. He fills me with his love. All I need to do is remember to turn to him in my times of need. When I have given all of His love out and need refilling. When I do not know which way to turn, I need to evoke the wisdom and strength of the Most Holy Spirit.

What makes it hard: I am so tired. I am very stressed out. Right now I am simply exhausted and ready to give up. I want to throw up my white flag and surrender so badly. I am afraid of what will happen if I keep going. But, what will happen? Will I love and be loved? Will I find the TRUE happiness that I have always longed for? Why is that so hard to accept? It is hard because it is not what the world has taught me. It is not what my parents really taught me. It is not what I have taught myself. I have gone all my life knowing what I will do. I will go to school and get a Ph.D. and I will be comfortable financially and I will go on mission trips and at some point I will get married and have children. I have had a lot of goals in my life. They have slowly morphed in my life into different images, ideas, and happenings. There are few things that have remained consistent. All I know that I want to do is serve Jesus. That would be my ideal situation. It has not been until recently that I wanted to do that. Well, at least since I wanted to truly do that. I thought I did. But I wasn’t doing what He wanted for me. I was chugging along waiting for a miracle that will never come, and it shouldn’t. It shouldn’t come, because that is not what I need to do to serve the Lord. I need to grow. I need to grow my patience, grow my spirit, and grow in His love. That is the only thing I am really, really, sure of. I am sure he wants me to love. What better way to do that than to raise children in His love? Than to bring children into a world that often gets distorted views of what is right and what is wrong, and allows people to fall into a secular religion, and lead them away from that. Lead them into the love of God. Allow them to come to know happiness beyond compare in the stronghold of Christ. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? So for now, I don’t know what tomorrow brings. What I do know, is that I love Jesus, my Lord and Savior. I know that I want the Holy Spirit to envelop me with its wisdom, courage, and love. I do know that I am thankful to God for putting so many options at my disposal to toil over. I am just thankful. How could I not be? Life may be hard, but I have more to say thank you for than I could ever say now; but I will try. Thank you, Lord, for love. For the love of a family. For the love of friends. For the intimate love, Lord that you have blessed my life with so abundantly. I ask you to let me love all who love me with your grace every day. Allow me to be transparent with Your love, so that we may glorify you. I thank you, Jesus, for dying; but more than that, Jesus, I thank you for living in me every day through the power of Your Spirit. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Will change really do us good?

The Thought

Many people struggle with the idea of change. I know I do. Change knows how to provoke the fight or flight response in us. Am I ready? Is this really happening? What will happen next? How will I know if this the right kind of change?

Jesus lets us know the answer to whether change is good or bad with His life. He was constantly moving. Going. CHANGING. He spoke to everyone. He ministered to everyone. He touched everyone’s heart. He loved everyone.

The challenge

When everyone is involved, we have to change and evolve. We are now His hands and feet. We must be willing to minister to all that we meet as He did in His brief time on Earth. And to do that, we must be willing to get our feet, hands, and most importantly, our hearts moving and changing. Different people, different needs.  Are you ready to evolve like Christ did so you can address the needs you are surrounded by? It’s no accident that these things are to your right and left or that they lay above or below you. God is quite intentional. Let’s try to be intentional, too. Let God change you. Let Him adapt you to what you’re surrounded by. Let Him mold and shape you in the unique way that (a) only He can, and (b) only YOU are intended to be shaped. Remember that He is creating you for a role nobody else can fill. Embrace it. Live it. When struggle presents itself, lift it. Sacrifice it. Above all of this, LOVE IT.

The scripture

“For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are rational, it is for you. For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died.”

-2 Corinthians 5: 13-14

 

“So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”

-2 Corinthians 5:17

Read on here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/5

The Thought


Hide and Seek—a pastime that most of us find trailing through our childhood memories. Everyone has that funny story about when they found someone hiding in the middle of the room, when they outsmarted everyone (including Mom and Dad!) and remained in hiding for what seemed like eternity, or being tickled to death when they were finally found! Although the stories differ (and feel free to share one of your hide and seek stories with me in the “comments” section!!), we all have them.


I like to think of our relationship with God like a game of Hide and Seek. First of all, God has “hidden” little treasures all over the world and sprinkled them through our days and our lives, and He desires so badly for us to seek out these treasures! They are each a little gift laid out just for us to find!


Secondly, God has given us the ability to “hide.” Although God’s omniscience affords Him the ability to know everything, He allows us the gift of free will, to do with as we like.  We have each heard that God has a plan for us, but how often are we willing to be patient enough for Him to reveal that plan? Or to jump off a ledge He’s calling us to, when we really just want to sit tight, because we like and are comfortable with the view from where we’re at? Or to simply trust that His plan far outweighs the one our minds are capable of conjuring up—forgetting that He made the mind that is doing this conjuring? God allows us to hide from His will, His grace, His peace, His beauty. We can choose to see these things as Holy and from Him, or we can hide in our meager intelligence and think that we’re capable of creating peace, grace, a divine plan, or true beauty.


The Challenge


When we think about hiding from God’s will or love in our lives and relying on our own strength, what are we really doing? Like Adam and Eve, are we hiding from something we know is still present, even in our hiding spot? Do we recognize that no matter how “good” our hiding spot may be, God still knows us? He knows our deepest desires, our longings, our weaknesses and strengths, He knows our entire hearts. Let Him know you and learn to know Him. As with any healthy relationship, we need to allow love to enter our hearts while also allowing love to pour out from our own hearts into the one we are in relationship with.

As a start to allowing God into your heart more, accept God’s Hide and Seek challenge! Today, find just 5 things that God has “hidden” for you! It could be an unexpected visit, call, or letter from a loved one, it could be an extra hour freed up that you did not anticipate having, it could be a beautiful sunset or a pretty flower that popped up in your front yard, it could be an extra hug, kiss, or I love you from a dear one. Whatever it is, when you lie in bed tonight, think of 5. By no means do you have to stop at 5, but make that a minimum for the day. Tomorrow, challenge yourself to find 6, then 7…keep going up until it becomes such a habit for you to recognize and thank God for His treasures, that you do not even need to count anymore! I’ve heard it takes 40 days to make a habit—why not go for that goal? Keep it up for 40 days and nights and allow yourself to love God by recognizing His tremendous love for you.


The Scripture
 

“The LORD God then called to the man and asked him: Where are you? He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid.’” –Genesis 3: 9-10

Read on here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.” -Proverbs 3: 5-6

Read on here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/scripture.cfm?bk=Proverbs&ch=3

Sorry to the readers! It's been a while! I will absolutely begin the series on the fruits of the Holy Spirit VERY soon...

I am 16 days into being married...I'm officially a MRS.!! Needless to say...it's been s beautiful whirlwind! I will post pics as soon as I get them. We have some of our engagement pictures up on the photographers website, www.hollycarlylephotography.com. I couldn't have possibly imagined our nuptials to have been any better! God was so present in this sacrament for my husband, Richard and I. It is so beautiful to watch his Grace and Spirit flow so freely through each of us to the other. I truly see God in him so much more every day.

For now, today is his first day at work, mine was yesterday. I am the youth ministry and Confirmation coordinator at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Bakersfield, CA. We are almost half way through our second year of ministry!! I can't believe how fast it has blown by! Our parish is only two years old and meeting in a high school auditorium. We have our land for the church and hope to begin building very soon. I am continually amazed to watch God work in such powerful ways through all of the beautiful young hearts God has given me the privilege to serve. He is so present in them, even they don't know the true power their words, actions, and LIVES hold at times.

Now that I have my primary vocation as a wife, and my secondary and a youth ministry coordinator and spiritual mother to many, I am anxious to see how God will innately shift priorities in my life. It is a wonderful feeling to know that God trusts me so much. Absolutely scary at the same time...but nonetheless...I will let "wonderful" triumph in my heart! :)

Let me give a yes to Christ with my whole life as our mother Mary did, and relinquish my heart to His...

"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived 13 a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her."

 

Luke 1: 26-38

Source: http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/index.shtml

Hey Bloggers! I am going to be doing a nine-post mini-series on the fruits of the Holy Spirit! Be sure to read Galatians 5: 22, and while you're at it...you should just read the whole book of Galatians, it's only 6 chapters long! Be sure to comment as we go along and share you thoughts on each post.

Joyously in Jesus,

Emily

The Thought

Water boils at 212°. Not 211°. Not 210°.

It's amazing how we can  be so close, yet so far from our intrinsic Godly desires. Do you ever find yourself stuck on 211° in your faith--so close, yet simultaneously so far from that full boil? Sure, you've got a lot invested. You think, "I am really on fire...I am doing great..." But, somewhere inside you hear the whisper that says, "You could do better..." That's God. That is when God is calling you to breach 212°. He wants a full boil from you, His precious child...not a simmer.

The Challenge

God calls us in the Book of Revelation, to avoid being lukewarm in our faith at all costs. Even 211°, regardless of how close it may be to boiling, is still lukewarm. We have to jump on top of the fire, release all of our natural inhibitions, and TRUST that CHRIST will care for and guide each one of us. So, TODAY, when that moment comes and you have a decision to make--jump on that fire and start a full boil, or squeak by--JUMP. TRUST. HOPE. Leave the rest up to the Man that created you. Leave it up to the Man that died for you. The Man that rescued you and granted you true and abundant life within His great love (John 10:10).

The Scripture

"I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

Revelations 3: 15-16

To read on, visit: http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/revelation/revelation3.htm

"...I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."

John 10:10

To read on, visit: http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/john/john10.htm



Joyously in Jesus,

Emily

Matt Maher - The Journey of Alive Again: Incarnation (2 of 4) from Provident Label Group on Vimeo.

What's Your Favorite Piece?

THE THOUGHT:

It's amazing how God works.

One minute chaos...the next, unsurpassed peace.

All of it, part of His truly divine plan.

I feel so blessed to be able to witness God's wonderful grace and mercy. There are so many things happening all of the time. It is hard to even tell what's what sometimes, confusion is rampant. But, that grace sweeps in, picks up all the pieces and BAM! You've got a 5,000 piece jigsaw puzzle that He manages to whip together in less than a blink of your eye!

THE CHALLENGE:

TODAY, not tomorrow, or the next day, or next week, month...year, but TODAY, take the opportunity to step back and see your jigsaw puzzle. You might not even see it. I know we all have those moments where we think, "ME? I don't have anything going for myself..." Well, change that. Make it old news. If it slips into your mind, even momentarily, think of YOUR JIGSAW! Do whatever you need...post a picture on your bathroom mirror (or my personal favorite, use EXPO pens on your mirror!), make a list of things, draw a picture, wear a special piece of jewelry, paint your nails a certain color, make a piece of art and hang it up in your home, ANYTHING! Let your imagination run wild! Do something, though, to remind yourself of how God lovingly cut out each puzzle piece, even when though it hurt sometimes, and made it into a beautiful masterpiece! Just keep reminding yourself how awesome your "Dad" is, how hard He has worked to make YOU the masterpiece.

THE SCRIPTURE:

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope. When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart"

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

To read on, visit: 

http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/jeremiah/jeremiah29.htm 

Bloom!

"And then the time came when the

RISK

it took to remain

TIGHT IN A BUD

was GREATER than the

RISK

it took to

BLOSSOM."

-Anais Nin-

Do some GREAT work...

Here is a GREAT link for GREAT work. Encouraging is an understatement. It is from this guy named Michael Bungay Stainer, founder of "Box of Crayons," which releases some excellent email-based "workshops," that consist of short, but entirely provocative questions that will put a fire in your belly without a doubt. This link is great, you can download a free chapter of his book, as well as turn to some of the free online resources. DO IT.

www.domoregreatwork.com

SATAN'S PLAN

My Inspiration!

The Call of Jeremiah

"The word of the LORD came to me thus:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
"Ah, Lord God!" I said,
"I know not how to speak; I am too young."

But the LORD answered me,

Say not "I am too young."
To whomever I send you, you shall go;
whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Have no fear before them,
because I am with you to deliever you, says
the LORD.

Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying,

See, I place my words in your mouth!
This day I set you
over nations and over kingdoms,
To root up and to tear down,
to destroy and to demolish,,
to build and to plant."

~Jeremiah 1: 4-10~

Finding MY funk...!

Trying to find your funk is like trying to find where you fit. Where you belong. Where you will root and BLOSSOM. This blog is about that journey for one woman in Christ. I hope you all receive some insight into this joyful heart's love for Jesus and her quest to fufill His mission to love! You will find scripture resources, links to Mmmmmazing sites and fun stuff, hopefully some laughs, smiles, tears, and most importantly...some joy in our Brother and Savior, JESUS!

Peace of Christ Jesus be with you all!

Joyously in Jesus,

Emily