We can't be afraid of the people who we need to minister to

So many things have happened this year is incredible. We have a new campus pastor and his love for ministry and young adults is evident. He is such a willing vessel for the Lord and just watching the student body transform as they encounter God, is breath-taking.

With that being said Dr. Qualls preached an awesome message and it really spoke to me. She asked us if we are willing to be the ones to go to a place where people are unreached, the places where people say that we shouldn't go to, and the areas where it's known for a bad rep. That challenged me immensely. It made me think and ask God if I'm willing to go into those dark place and show God's love. I often wonder what will happen if those dark places were reached. How much difference would it make if one person was willing to be the light? ONE person to be that candle light, to show how awesome our God is. If only they could get to experience what the Lord has for them. 

She proceeds to mention how people might question your major or question if you should change it or ask if it will be able to make a living. I have struggled with that because I'm a Biblical studies major and I get a number of questions on whether I know what I'm doing or if it will bring in enough money. People tried convincing me that I should change my major or they thought they knew what was best for me. But I know that where God has called, he will provide. It helped widen my perspective on what I could really do with my degree and honestly it opened up the possibility of me thinking about whether I would ever consider being a missionary. Which if you knew me, I love culture and I want to travel the world. 

The Lord has definitely been working in my life this school year. Being a DL on my floor has helped me realize that I don't have everything together and I need the Lord more than ever.It has helped me with knowing that I'm responsible for the girls on my floor and I just want them to experience God and show them that there is just so much more. He has shown me that the promises that He has for me are not void. Although some of them haven't happened yet doesn't mean they will never happen. The Lord has been challenging me more than ever and I'm excited to see what He's going to do, with the girls' on my floor, in my friends' life, and in my life. I'm just so excited. 

I wrote all of this to say, continue press in and pray through the tough times. Don't try to pray out of the situation because God maybe wants you to learn something from it to help you grow and trust Him. Don't let people try to talk you out of what God has called you to do. It may sound crazy sometimes, but He will empower you and give you those abilities because He has specifically called you. Don't be afraid to be the light in other people's life and show them Christ and don't be afraid to be the one willing to go where no one is willing to go to minister to people and show God's love. 

Already?

Oh, my word. time has surely flown by. Another summer here and gone. There will be so many areas that are going to be different, another phase of newness. I feel like I should be getting used to this newness idea but it still can be a little scary at times.

The Lord has definitely been showing me His goodness and His mercy. He has been teaching me to not put Him in a box and put borders around Him anymore. For He can do so much but we hinder ourselves in disbelief. He is so irresistible and so wonderful to talk to. He has been rekindling my fire that I have extinguished. We need to be relentless in seeking his face and reading His Word.

I'm excited to see what this school year brings. I'm excited to see all of the new people that I will meet. I'm excited to see how the Lord will use me in the leadership role that I have on the floor.

There are so many exciting things to bringing in a new school year.

These two songs have been stuck in my head forever. So, I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do!

                                                   (Your Name is Glorious-Kim Walker-Smith)

                                                        (Dance-Kim Walker-Smith)
                                           

Heartache

I have been really missing my mom lately. I just wish I could vent to her and cry to her like a little baby and have her look at me with great concern, a person who I can go on our awkward shopping trips with, a person that I could count on not saying a word to anyone if I asked her not to. I really miss her spunky personality, smile, and her random stupid jokes that made me laugh even though I didn't know what the heck she said--either way she was funny.

I wish I could go back and change all of the times that I was so harsh and mean to her. I wish I could have taken the time to hang out with her and got to know her even more than I already did.

I'm just having a bad day with missing her lately. I'm normally not like this but I feel like this is the perfect time to just wallow in sadness for a bit.

I wish I could have said I love you to her one last time.

I miss her.

I'm done ranting now. I'm sorry

-Emily

Heavy Heart

The Lord definitely has been dealing with my heart this week, especially during spiritual emphasis week. The guy that preached was spot on and I thought there was going to be a revival break out during worship at the night services. But I wanted to talk about a topic that has stirring in my heart for around 2 hours now.

So a couple of my friends and I decide to go to this art walk downtown. The sad part is that at the time that it starts, any girl shouldn't go alone. Period. Luckily we had a group of guys with us-but that's beside the point. Any who, there are so many bars, dance clubs, and at least some decent coffee shops and restaurants. There are so many different kinds of people it is crazy!

Anyway, there was a group of what looked like Amish people. They had signs of silent protesting-truth be told kudos to them for not reacting to anything. Well as we were passing by, this guy had a bag of markers and a piece of cardboard. He was going around asking "Does anyone have a pocket knife so I can make a sign and make this guy's life a living Hell?" When i heard him saying that, it gripped my heart because he was so full of hatred. Eventually we made it around town and was heading towards the square to watch the flame throwers. It just so happened that we were in that general area where the Amish people were, only that guy that wanted to make a sign was there. He had a sign that basically said "F-- them"  I didn't see much of it because I was distracted by what he was saying. The guy was ridiculing the Amish guy saying "Gee maybe you should take a bath and put some perfume on." He went on and on and on. Granted I don't agree with what the Amish believe

This whole situation plus plenty of other people that looked so troubled, really bothered me. I just cant help but cry out to the Lord for them. All of these people, well the vast majority, looked so unhappy and just discontent with life.

When I got back to my dorm room I saw this video linked on FB about bullying. I decided to watch it and I cried. It also made me think about that guy with the Amish people. So I went to look up some scripture and this one stuck out at me.

"For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

When I read "....Let there be light in the darkness"  It made me think of how important it is to show the love of Christ. Whether if it's just a simple hello or a smile. Maybe giving someone a hug. (although I would only suggest hugging your friends or acquaintances, not just any random person.)

Also, when people who pass me, I'm going to try to start a new habit of praying for them. You may be planting seeds where you don't realize.

Make all things New

Whoa! Where did that summer go? I'm so excited for what this year has to bring. Granted I had to go through the decision of changing my major out of the music department but I am still ready for this new change. I also live in a different dorm, with people I sorta knew but not really. I have a new RA--who happens to be fabulous, might I add. Everything seems like new to me.

There are so many new people on campus-it's crazy! There have been people that I was friends with last year that I have become even closer with this year. I also have been making new friends, which is always a bonus.

Ever since my mom passed away I have this new perspective on a lot of things. All of the hardships, heartaches, and sorrows that I dealt with last year-never thought I would really make it mind you- have really helped me become who I am today. (Even though she passed away 4 months ago.) God has made everything like new. He has created a like new faith in me, strength, joy, praise, worry free. For He has made my mom like new, even though it wasn't the way we had imagined it. There was something that a woman said at church when she closed the message for that Sunday morning and it really struck me. I would love to share with you

She said "Don't let anyone tell you that your struggles are because of a lack of faith." whoa! that seriously hit home. She also began talking about how that's the whole part of being a Christian. Us as Christians are going to suffer for Christ's sake and it's not because of our lack of faith. If we didn't suffer for Jesus, then we would be mediocre Christians. We wouldn't be able to be much of an impact because we wouldn't see how Jesus brought us out of the suffering and increased our faith in the process.

With this everything comes up with new light, or as I like to say-Like New.

So, I guess that's my motto for this year. How everything became like new and is shinning brighter than ever.

I'm super stoked for this year. (In case you couldn't tell)

My Mom

So today, I started cleaning--I'm an emotional cleaner sometimes, and I found some of my mom's old Dr appointment stuff, cards that she has received in the past, or just some supplies that were to be restocked in her room at the nursing home. After I have found some of this stuff I just about started to cry. I mean, it's just stuff right--but they hold some sort of memory of her being home, not in a nursing home, or in Heaven. I'm not wishing her back on this Earth-no because her health was terrible-but I'm just thinking about memories. Sometimes I wonder though "If only I could give her one more hug, If only I could say one more 'I Love You.', If only we could have one more heart to heart conversation, and If only I could hear her say 'I'm proud of you, one more time." Do I wish I could have her back sometimes? Of course I do, but that would be completely selfish on my part, plus the Lord wouldn't be able to use this as a testimony for not only her life, but our lives as well. 

But while I'm thinking and rationalizing through all of these thoughts I felt the Lord speak to me saying "Come to me." Which reminded me of a couple of verses in Matthew 11:28-30

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'" 

After I reread that, I just started sobbing from the emptiness I felt with her not being there, I started crying out to God, and I just needed Him. While I spent time with the Lord an old hymn popped into my head and I started singing it. 

♫ "I love you Lord
and I lift my voice
to worship you,
oh my soul rejoice.

Take joy my king
in what you hear,
let it be a sweet,
sweet sound in your ear.
In your ear.

Yeah, I love you lord.
Oh, how i love you lord.
Yeah, I love you Lord.
Yeah, I love you Lord.

Take joy my King
in what you hear
let it be a sweet,sweet sound.
Let it be a sweet,sweet sound
Let it be a sweet, oh, sweet,sweet,sweet sound.
Will you let it be a ( I love you Lord)
oh, will you let it be a sweet ( I love you Lord) sweet, sweet sound.
Let it rise( I love you Lord) in your ear." ♫

After I sang that a couple of times, there was just an assurance and a peace that the Lord gave me. I'm so thankful. I also realized that I try to do a lot of this on my own and I can't. I need God's divine strength and love for every part of my life. 

Going through this little period of the Lord just breaking me was definitely something that I needed. 

It's time for me to get some sleep. 

The comforting embrace

There have been quite a bit of things on my mind lately and it seems like it's there is so much that it is effecting the way I think. Sometimes I even lose sleep over all of this.

BUT, what the Lord has really impressed it upon my heart that spending quality time with Him is super essential because we are not going to make it in our day to day lives. There is a devotion that I read about something similar and it really has touched me so I want to share it.

" Spending time alone with Me is essential for your well-being. It is not a luxury or an option; it is a necessity. Therefore, do not feel guilty about taking time to be with Me. Remember that Satan is the accuser of believers. He delights in heaping guilt feelings upon you, especially when you are enjoying My Presence. When you feel Satan's arrows of accusation, you are probably on the right track. use your shield of faith to protect yourself from him. Talk with Me about what you are experiencing, and ask Me to show you the way forward. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to Me, and I will come near to you."   Revelation 12:10; Ephesians 6:16; James 4:7-8

Not only is spending quality time with our God important, but I also feel like weeping in the presence of God is such a precious thing. I feel that way because it gives us an opportunity to express certain emotions and words that just can't be expressed normally. For the Lord holds our tears in His hands and know exactly how many tears we have cried and why we cried them. But when this happens God just wraps his arms around and just embraces us. This brought a certain verse to mind.

"For I will comfort you, there in Jerusalem like a mother comforts her child." Isaiah 66:13. 

Just think about that for one second. I have noticed when a child hits his/her head on the corner of the table and starts wailing, the mom comes to the child's rescue and picks the child up and hug him. When our Heavenly Father comforts us, I usually think of how awesome it is for our Heavenly Father to love us so much that He is willing to embrace us when we need it most.

Now THAT is the best hug that ANYONE could receive.

Now I'm the type of person that LOVE hugs, whether I'm giving or receiving them. My mind can't even fathom on how awesome it would to have Jesus in the flesh and just hug Him.

Talking about all of this has given me a peace in everything! I'm so thankful that God is so loving and caring beyond all of our understanding. I am also thankful that God loves me enough to discipline me when it's necessary.

Well I'm starting to veer a little off track here, but I want to close with this.

Don't EVER forget how much God loves and cares about every single aspect of your life. :)

I pray this brings comfort to your spirits