Hello from Forever Ago

Welcome back to blogging Emily! I can barely believe it's been so long since I've been motivated to write last. Hopefully my post will be good enough to make up for it. ;)

Up and down, up and down, up, and down again. That is how my life has felt as of lately. Sometimes I'm at a total peace with my life, and other times all I want to go do is cry and cry. These last few months have been a trying few months, and I've long since figured out being a Christian isn't always easy. Some days I feel so close to Jesus, and other days it feels like He's a million miles away.

It was one if these million-miles-away days God decided to hit me with something. I have been reading the book of Nehemiah in my Bible lately, and to tell the truth I have found it extremely boring and dull. There are so many names and description about every single bolt in the wall, I wonder why God even put it in the Bible in the first place. All I knew is that I didn't feel like I was learning anything from it at all. So a couple weeks ago when I drudgenly opened my Bible to read, that was when God decided to teach me something. The people of Judah were constantly under hardship and persecution when rebuilding the wall for their city. But even so, instead of giving into depair and giving up, the people perservered. Instead of becoming down with all the junk, God actually made them stronger and more encouraged than when they first begun. It was as if God was telling me that it even though the book of Nehemiah seemed long and boring, to keep on perservering through it, because He still had things to teach me. God always has something to teach us, it's just up to us to open our hearts and listen.

-Emily

Summer!

Woop! Yes summer's finally here! No more homework stress, un-needed (or unwanted) drama; just warm, relaxing summer. And although I could just do exactly what I want to do sometimes- absolutely nothing - I'm finding the more I give into the pure happyness of doing absolutely nothing, the more my spirit seems to become idle and lazy. So, in a few short minutes, I am going to take my newly acquired license and go job searching. The first place to search? The Christian bookstore of course! As I have already been offered a job there, I'm going to go see if that offer still stands. :) Wish me luck!! I'll write more later. :)

- Emily

Why Talk the Talk?

It’s hard living like a Christian, no doubt. There are so many things you have to put aside that so much of the world seems to find totally okay and normal. You probably alreadyknow that long list of things we as Christians have to stay away from: Greed, lust, immodesty, pride, acting out in anger…the list goes on and on. But one that really has been standing out to me lately is something that everyone – even Christians- seem just to shake off and find completely normal. That something has a few names to go with it; cussing, cursing, and swearing are just a few out of many. It’s so common, even people who call themselves Christians get pulled into it. I mean their just words right? It won’t harm anyone or anything and it’s used so much it honestly doesn’t even sound bad anymore.


James 3:10
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

I was thinking about this topic today and a thought suddenly occurred to me, why DO people cuss? If these words they were saying were not considered cuss words, would they still use them? Why is cussing such a big deal? I then realized that it is not what the words mean that make people say them so often, it is the want and need all of us as human beings want: acceptance. If majorities of the people around us cuss, it’s just by our sinful nature we want to as well. We have this desire to fit in and be noticed. If that is what it takes, many people don’t care if what they say is rude and vulgar. And after awhile of saying these things just to fit in, they become a habit.


Of course, you may be thinking, “Well nowhere in the Bible does it say not to cuss. It just says not to take the Lord’s name in vain.” While the Bible does not address the world’s standard of cussing directly, the Bible does have a number of verses addressing vulgar speech such as cussing.

Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Proverbs 8:15
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

These verses prove that anything corrupt coming out of your mouth is a sin. Not just the few words the world calls cussing. Think about it- that means talking about someone badly behind there back is Biblical “cussing” as well as saying rude and hurtful things to family members, friends, or anyone else.


It’s hard for me to believe that I’m writing an essay about this. I used to have quite the mouth before I met my Savior only a few short months ago. I know from experience unfortunately that the only reason I started saying these words the world considers “in” is because of the reasons I listed above. I wanted to fit in and be accepted and eventually that need for acceptance became a habit. I know it may bring acceptance for awhile, but it ends up leaving you feeling broken and empty on the inside. Jesus is the reason I’m breathing, and I don’t want just to breathe. I want to live passionately and completely for my Lord and God. And if doing that means not being to fit in from time to time, well bring it on! I want people to not only see that I’m living for Christ, I want them to hear it.


One last short paragraph before I’m done. Why should I not cuss? What do I get from it? The answer is found clearly and simply in Psalms:

Psalms 24:3-5
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart,who does not lift up his soul to what is falseand does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Hmm…gifts of blessing and righteousness or bitter thoughts and anger? If you know the Lord and want to follow Him, you know which one you should choose. Don’t just walk the walk, make sure you talk the talk.

-Emily

Media Mishaps

You watch TV. You listen to music. You browse the internet. Nowadays, it’s nearly impossible to avoid at least some form of technology or media. Many school assignments rely on typed essays or research. And although many times technology is helpful in getting tasks done, it can also get you so fascinated you get addicted. Think about it. How many times a day do you turn on the TV? I don’t mean just for watching a TV show either. I mean including movies, sports, and video games. And how about the computer? Apart from looking up research or typing a paper for school, how many times a week do you look up music, play games, get on facebook or just simply browse the internet? If you’re anything like me, you get so caught up in these things at times you don’t even notice how much time has passed by until the day is halfway gone. Even music can be distracting if you spend long periods of time listening to it!

Every time I spend a mass amount of the time on any form of media, I end up feeling guilty and empty. There went a whole hour, or maybe even a whole day, I could have been using for God and His glory. Now I’m not saying watching TV, browsing the internet, or listening to your iPod is a bad thing, but how much time is it taking when you could be doing something more productive?


Leviticus 19:4
Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God.

Honestly, the word idol describes this time wasted perfectly. Jesus is our Lord and our Savior who SAVED us! And we want to spend our time sitting in front of a screen or tuning out the limited time we have here on Earth? Not only is the time we spend focusing on these things wasteful; but what about WHAT we are watching and listening to? I don’t even watch the TV anymore because of all the…well, crap…that’s shown on it. And music! Many times Christians seem to think listening to bands that cuss and have perverted messages to them are not bad for them. Think again!

Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

God hates perverted speech. Listening to things such as music with ungodly messages or looking at things or watching raunchy YouTube videos in the internet not only get stuck in our minds, but are engraved in our hearts. And sooner or later, what is in our hearts will eventually come out.


Think about it like this. God is coming back to earth soon. We don’t know when, but He’s coming back. If He was to come back right now, would you really want to be seen listening to that song that is cursing Him or watching that 3 hour long movie that does not bring Him any glory? I know when he comes back; I definitely want him to be doing something that would make Him proud to call me His child!

Colossians 3:1-4
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

What do you think? Will all this technology set you mind on things above, or bring you down? Next time, before turning on the television or checking your facebook, ask yourself if what you’re doing is worthwhile when you could be doing something else more productive. You might be surprised how much more of your life you actually gain.

-Emily

Free to be Me

Today all I am writing is the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. :) It helps me remember to never change who I am for anyone...and to love every second of it. ;)

Free to be Me
by Francesca Battistelli

At twenty years of age I'm still looking for a dream
A war's already waged for my destiny
But You've already won the battle
And You've got great plans for me
Though I can’t always see'

Cause I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me

When I was just a girl
I thought I had it figured out
My life would turn out right,
and I'd make it here somehow
But things don't always come that easy
And sometimes I would doubt

Cause I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me

And you’re free to be you
Sometimes I believe that I can do anything
Yet other times I think I've got nothing good to bring
But You look at my heart and You tell me That I've got all You seek
And it’s easy to believe
Even though

I've got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me

-Emily

Storms.

Life is difficult, there's no doubt about it. There's so many temptations and traps out there; it's hard not to stumble into them. I think this really hits home for me, as I'm a sophomore in high school, and there tends to be a lot of drama at times, though I try my best to avoid it. Something I've realized lately is how easy it is to become bitter at someone or at something that's happened in your life. I myself have been struggling to not store up bitterness such as this in my heart. As 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to pray continually, that I have been doing, and I cannot put into words how much this has helped and encouraged me. Filling my heart with joy leaves no room for empty bitterness and make me feel a lot better as well. In the drama filled weeks when I wonder if it's ever going to end, I remember that God is bigger and has a plan layed out for my life exactly how he wants it to be. He has a reason for every trial and hardship I face; not to tear me down but to help me grow emotionally and spiritually. Why should I not rejoice in Him in times of trial? He give me peace, joy, courage, strength, and so much more, though I do not deserve it! He knows about every tear I cry and smile that crosses my face. Honestly, I want Him to have more records of smiles than tears. I don't want to give into what high school drama and culture says I should become. Sometimes I honestly wish that it was done and over with, but then I remember that I only get to go through high school once; and I definitely wouldn't want to just rush through it wishing it was over the whole time. I want to let my love and joy for Jesus shine through, even through the difficult storms.

After all, it's just a storm. And storms pass.

-Emily

Blessed.

Here I am, sitting at a chair in my basement in the United States. It seems so strange, as I have been in Jamaica for the past week and seldom has any time to do absolutely nothing. Its as if I had stepped into a completley different world, and then suddenly stepped back into reality. I realize how absolutely blessed I am to have a nice house, amazing parents, and close friends to get me through rough times. I also realize how extremely spoiled I am. I have more than enough clothing in my wardrobe to dress at least 5 other people for a week, not to mention warm showers, cars, air conditioning, etc...It really opens your eyes to how easy life in America is.

I should get a start on my homework now, I have a busy week!

-Emily