2011 Picture Recap

Hi friends!

Here is a link to a book I put together to capture our 2011 memories...or atleast show what a camera caputred :)

Enjoy!

Ps...Some 2011 pictures are in another book I made about a year and half ago and therefore not in this book.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZuWTFo2bsWbrY&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET

Challenging God's faithfulness?

God’s faithfulness is ever present even in the most unseen ways.

I experienced this when I went to see a neurologist for my shaking and then was sent to a Rheumatologist for having too many antibodies. Long story short, I found out that I’m perfect candidate for a progressive autoimmune disease. Yet, I cannot be formally diagnosed for this disease because it has not progressed to the point where I’m externally exhibiting the common symptoms of this disease. This news was hard to grasp, confusing, and until a few weeks ago, upsetting. It was upsetting because I was not concerned about a progressive autoimmune disease, I wanted to know why I shake! Instead my pursuit was completely derailed by one blood test. I’m glad, thankful, grateful, to know about this disease, but it does not answer the questions I have about my shaking.

That sums up the conversations, or more aptly put, complaints I shared with God the first few weeks after my “diagnosis” – or lack thereof.

Then while taking a breath from all my complaining, I was convicted as I realized God’s faithfulness.

Allow me to reiterate the word progressive. Progress is a favorite word of politician’s, and we American’s like to hear it because we like to be going somewhere. The American Dream. Generally the word progress is indicative of going somewhere better. That is not the case with this disease. Yet here I sit a perfect storm for this disease yet all is well. That is faithfulness, God’s faithfulness.

There is more to faithfulness than what we can see. there is a whole component of what we cannot see that exemplifies God’s faithfulness.

Recognizing this has given me hope. I don’t know why I shake. I just know it’s uncomfortable, humbling, and annoying. Yet neither did I know about this disease. What does that tell me about God?

God knows.  Because of Him, I know about this disease and am prepared to fight its progression, and all this before the disease has even seriously affected me! Therefore, I do not have to worry about my shaking. I realize now that God is before me when it comes to my health. I used to worry that he was dropping the ball or that I was handed the short straw and demanded to suffer, but I know he has me completely in his arms. And may I rest well there.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? (Psalm 139:7)

Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:24)

The Importance of Knowing How You Are Different

I’m different.
Not in a way that makes me better than you
Nor in a way that places me below you.
This is only possible because
you are different too.
Surprised?
Confused?
All–all–of humanity are His image bearers.
That is what (should) bind us all–all–together.
Yet, just as He did with the flowers
He gave us an array of differences.
To Him we are a beautiful arrangement.
Do we see all–all–of humanity that way?
We ignore and suppress how he uniquely formed us
and struggle to love how he uniquely formed others.
How did he uniquely form you?
Discover how you are different.
Proclaim how you are different.
The importance of knowing how you are different
cannot be understated.
It’s invaluable.
A powerful weapon in this dark world;
which is why it’s important for me to tell you,
I’m different.
People who accept being different,
who embrace being different,
will make a difference in this dark world.
They will be a brilliant light sending out beams of hope.
To the
disenfranchised,
mistreated,
undervalued,
less fortunate.
Those are the people who society points to and says,
“They’re different.”
But,
if you can re-program your soul,
embrace being different,
then you are ready to embrace all–all–humanity.
Just like Jesus did.

For most of my life I’ve struggled at embracing and loving how God formed me. God is helping to reconcile how I see myself to how he sees me. When we don’t love ourselves, we are hindered from fully loving others. We become distracted by how others see us, which limits us from loving others. The other day I watched a video of a man with Downs Syndrome testify of how he accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord. Many things about this video caught my attention, specifically how he described himself, different. I heard him say that word and immediately thought, “what a beautiful way to describe yourself.” Shortly after, God gave me these verses.

Transitions Are Like Vitamins

Transitions are tough.

They are like a One-A-Day vitamin.

You gag trying to swallow it.

Its bigger than a peppermint.

Can’t they come in smaller sizes?

Gulping down water,

the vitamin scrapes against your throat

and rests somewhere

between your mouth

and stomach.

More water is needed.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

…15 minutes later

….nausea is your name.

Who tries taking a vitamin on an empty stomach?

You did.

Tomorrow comes,

its time to take your vitamin.

The memory of yesterday

is not forgotten today.

This time you have a plan.

You take a knife and slice

the vitamin in ha          lf.

With ease and confidence,

you swallow those halves.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

…15 minutes later

….nausea is your name.

Who tries taking a vitamin on an empty stomach?

You did,

again.

Tomorrow comes,

its time to take your vitamin.

The memory of yesterday

is not forgotten today.

This time you have a plan.

You swallow your halved vitamin,

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

And eat a piece of toast and jelly.

Coming Soon...

I’m a sucker for Coming Soon signs. In the mall, on the road, postings in the newspapers–check, check, check! I will go out of my way to read these signs. Watch out because that may mean running a curb! The busybody in me likes to know these things so that I can report them to my husband, dog, mom, and anyone else who has ears to hear.

Something I’ve noticed and come to envy are the owners of these Coming Soon properties because they are able to hide whatever it is that is coming soon. They get to board up their mess and leave only a pretty sign for the world to view. While I would love to gawk at their construction and disarray, I must resign to reading the Coming Soon sign a few times and then getting on with my day.

I wish I could enclose myself in a private space, display a Coming Soon sign and wait for the Lord’s return. “Coming soon a fully redeemed perfected Emily.” If there is good reason for property owners to cover up their mess, isn’t there good reason to hide mine? It would be great to hide my weakened body, rarely do I feel like I’m in picture perfect physical and emotional condition.

But I believe that God would want something else, something completely opposite. Which is exactly why I’m writing this post. Here is a verse that helped me form this belief:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Over the past several weeks I’ve thought a lot about this verse, which is why I believe that God’s plan is not for me to be hid but for me to be on display so that his light can shine forth, casting truth and grace into the dark world. I draw hope in this: Believers are the jars of clay and the power of God, manifested in Christ, is the treasure.

We, the vessel are worthless without the treasure that was trustingly sent to us. Therefore, proclaiming the incredible transforming power of the gospel is our most worthy pursuit. As long as the gospel is being displayed through us, the vessel, everything is going accordingly (at least that is what I’ve come to expectantly hope in).

But that is easier said than done! We want bodies that can do more than just proclaim the gospel. Who has heard someone say, “My body gets me from point A to point B, what more could I ask for?” No way! We only say that about the jalopy we drove until we had enough money to buy a new car. We want a body that attracts a spouse, performs well enough to keep a steady job, allows for life-goals to be accomplished, and survives long enough to see grand children. Hear me out, I’m not discounting 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, I’m just looking at things from another angle.

It was good for me to be reminded that the treasure is the gospel and not my body, which in this verse is referred to as the jar of clay. My body has failed me many times; often it moves in ways that are beyond my control. I rejoice in knowing that the real thing to treasure is the indwelling Holy Spirit. This treasure is indestructible and is what I should focus on others noticing Many times I am ashamed by the way my body behaves. If only I treasured my body less.

A couple months ago I went to a Wal-mart, which is currently expanding to become a Super Wal-mart. While there I saw an Excuse Our Mess sign and thought to myself, “Whatever it takes to get a Super Wal-mart!” Who could not be excited about that! I was grateful that this proprietor allowed me to shop at the store, regardless of the construction, instead of closing up shop and putting up barriers or paper over the windows. I’m sure it would be bad business for Wal-mart to do so, the store is crazy-busy whenever I go. Likewise, it would be absurd for me (or any believer) to hide in a closet; the Gospel needs to be proclaimed! How freeing it would be to have the same approach, to carry an Excuse My Mess sign as opposed to hiding behind a Coming Soon sign.

I’ve come to realize, and this has been truly hard for me to accept, perfection can not be achieved on Earth. Well, I take that back, perfection came and went through the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ. I will not taste perfection here. I wonder if my mind could even grasp what that would look like.

These are all new and fresh thoughts, I write with courageous words because I’m excited about learning more about this and I’m grateful for the formation that has already taken place.

Last year ended with a series of doctor appointments and personal research regarding a desire of mine and Jonathan’s to know why my body behaves as it does. What neurological disorder do I have? Is it progressive? Is it genetic? What can be done to relieve the jerking? Do I want a diagnosis? Its hard because I feel like nothing has changed, I need to be more patient. It’s been difficult for doctors to provide a diagnosis. We know that anxiety is a factor; But it’s not the only factor, my muscles contract come rain or shine, in peace or in stress. For now I’ve decided to focus on treating my anxiety, and one way I will do this is to seek professional counseling or behavioral therapy. The cards are still falling into place–this is a brief overview that I am sure I will provide better detail one day.

All this said, this year I hope to receive with joy the shabby tent God saved for me to occupy as I live my life out on earth. Coming soon: A fully redeemed bride and a beautiful body not just for me but for the church.

“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 NLT

Pilgrims and Martha Stewart Aside, What is Thanksgiving?

Recently I went to google.com and typed “What is Thanksgiving?” In less than a quarter of a second the computer displayed over 23 million links! Evidently, there are many ways to describe Thanksgiving. Here is my take on it:

Where to begin?
I could start in 1621, when the first American Thanksgiving feast is recorded to have taken place and end with the many things that have grown out of America’s tradition of giving thanks each fourth Thursday in November -Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, football rivalries, turkey trots, and Black Friday to name a few. But I think the best place to start is with the God of Isaac and Abraham because long before the first U.S. President, George Washington, issued the first national Thanksgiving Day Proclamation in 1789, David, a man after God’s own heart, wrote these words, “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”  (Ps. 95:2-3)

So what is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is an opportunity for us to continue celebrating God’s abundant goodness. It’s not meant to be a burden (though we often turn it into one) but an excuse or – if I may be so bold – a reason to gather with family and friends, take a break from school and work, and remember and rejoice in God’s faithfulness. The day should not only beckon the question, what am I going to serve/eat/clean/do, but also – most importantly – for what am I thankful to God? Furthermore, our attitude of thankfulness should not depend on how much food and family surround us on Thanksgiving Day. David wrote the above words during a time in his life when food was not a commodity and many of his family and friends had turned on him.

How to prepare for Thanksgiving? (Aside from Martha Stewart’s advice)
I encourage you to think outside the box and give greater meaning to your Thanksgiving Day – for yourself and your family. This may look like reading scripture, praying, singing hymns, sharing, and serving. My fondest memories of Thanksgiving are from serving and sharing – serving my mother and sisters by helping them to cook and clean, serving the homeless by waking up early on my day off, driving downtown and passing out food, and sharing with my family specific reasons that I am thankful for them and for God. Furthermore, Thanksgiving Day is a great opportunity to prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Lord. Thanksgiving is the pre-party to Christmas! All the things that we are thankful for on Thanksgiving spring from the gift of Jesus Christ.

While some of us don’t know the three essential ingredients for green bean casserole – green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and dried onions – and others, Americans included, didn’t know that pumpkin pie was probably not served at the first Thanksgiving meal, we all, no matter what country we come from, know Jesus Christ, and isn't He something to be thankful for! As Christians, we are called –invited, commissioned, entrusted –to give thanks to the Lord. We should not only give thanks on the fourth Thursday in November over a spread of turkey and stuffing, we should give thanks every day. We need to have a ThanksLIVING attitude!

[I wrote the above piece for the Trinity Wives Fellowship newsletter. Trinity Wives Fellowship is a great group of ladies whose husbands are attending seminary at TEDS (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School). Some of the wives are from America and many others are from all over the world. ]

On a personal note…
Each year Satan tries to mess up my Thanksgiving Day – maybe you can relate – I worry about preparing the food and coordinating the oven schedule and stress over strained relationships with a family and friends. This year, more than ever, my joy will be a target of Satan’s as I will celebrate Thanksgiving without family (thankfully, I have a husband to keep me company!!). Jonathan and I will be on-call at the shelter and therefore unable to leave the property. For the most part I have accepted this as an opportunity to invest in our marriage and family rather than as a sentence to do jail time. I’m eager to cook a Thanksgiving dinner on my own! We often joke that we’ve invited some of the good dogs from downstairs to join us for Thanksgiving dinner. But, I know that I must be careful with  my jokes and . I worry that in my attempt to distract my emotions with cooking and baking I may forget that Jesus will also be dining with us.  You see, we may be off from work and school on Thanksgiving day but Satan is definitely on duty – and yet, so is God!

If you are like me, prone to stressing and fussing on Thanksgiving Day, pick out a bible verse and tuck it in your apron pocket so that you are ready for battle. And remember that your battle is not with the turkey, the oven, your husband, or sister. I’ve selected Psalm 95:2-3 to memorize on Thanksgiving Day.

“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”  (Ps. 95:2-3)

More about Thanksgiving
This first Thanksgiving feast probably included: Lobster, rabbit, fish, squashes, beans, chestnuts, onions, leeks, honey, radishes, cabbage, and carrots

Today's traditional Thanksgiving feast would include: Turkey & gravy, stuffing, yams (sweet potatoes), green bean casserole (among other casseroles), mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.

Did you know that Thanksgiving Day is also observed in Canada, Liberia, The Netherlands & Norfolk Island?

For some devotionals & Bible verses on Thanksgiving go to http://www.christianity.com/thanksgiving/.

For videos & articles on the history of Thanksgiving go to http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving.

For Thanksgiving type recipes go to http://allrecipes.com/recipes/holidays-and-events/thanksgiving/

Why I don't like the B (busy) word

One of my least favorite words to describe myself is the word busy. Literally, my stomach turns whenever I use it. This has not always been the case but it is now. Some take pride or comfort in reporting to others that they are ‘busy’ while all I feel is guilt. There are many reasons why I am like this, but I think the most prominent and important reason (though not always the most prevalent reason) is due to a desire for God’s will to be done. Only with timid reserve could I reflect on how I am investing my time and concur that I’m making the best use of it with regards to God’s Kingdom. I agree that it is good to know our boundaries and responsibilities and follow through on our commitments. However, how can God use a person who has a flashing No Vacancy sign above their head to impact the world for him?

After being in a season of stillness, I am now in a season of business – another reason why the word busy has become recently burdensome. I clearly remember the quiet days during which I felt like everyone but me had somewhere to go and some reason to be. Today, a busy schedule comforts those insecurities. But should it? God loved me then and now. His purpose for me was, is, and will always be present. Just because my life got busier does not mean that it became more prevalent to God that I existed. My encouragement, whatever season you are in, don’t buy into the lie that your significance lies in your schedule or let your schedule dictate what you can or cannot do. The things God wants you to do will be things that you are able to do.

Ready or not, the holiday season is here and with it our life’s schedule will be – as Emeril would say – kicked up a notch. However, this is not an excuse to light up the No Vacancy sign or we will miss out on serving people like Joseph and Mary – you may remember that they were told on the night of our Savior’s birth that life in Bethlehem was too busy to make room for them. I’ve learned that our schedules may fluctuate between stillness and business but God is always the same. And just as God never changes, so does his desire for us to be his hands and feet – in ways that we know and in ways that we don’t know yet.

My encouragement,

give thanks to God for the things occupying your time,

reflect on where you are investing your time,

ask God what could be added or released from your schedule,

be ready for God to unexpectedly – to you, not to Him – rearrange your schedule.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7