Sorry to the readers! It's been a while! 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

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