Take delight in HIM!

Hey everyone!

I realize I haven't written on this blog since November, whoops! I thought maybe I should update you all on what is going on in my life.

In these past few months, God has been teaching me a lot. I've learned that when you fully surrender everything, taking delight in the Lord, He will give you what you what, the desires of your heart. My favorite and most evident verse in my life right now is Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

I really like the way that this one is worded...

God has really been showing me that this verse is ever so true. Surrendering everything to God is really comforting knowing that He has a plan for your life and He is in control. (Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.") A quote I like to remind myself of is "We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us" - Joseph Campbell. It is not easy to surrender yourself and everything about you, but I promise, it is worth it. You have to trust that God will be with you and guide you and take control of your life. Trust in the Lord with all your heart - Proverbs 3:5. Surrender is a word with a huge meaning that needs to be taken seriously. "Don't ask God to guide your steps if you're not willing to move your feet." This quote has a lot of meaning behind it. When you ask God to guide you, you have to be willing to give Him everything. You can't say, "God, I want you to have control over where I go to college, but I don't think I can give you control over this boy I like".

I decided to give up Facebook and Twitter for February, March, and April because I find myself on them when I could be doing much better things. This has to do with surrender, also. Giving up those social medias to spend more time in my community and working to strengthen and grow my relationship with God. Focusing on these things will remind me what is really important in my life, instead of just being on the internet. Although, I will get on to update you about Mission Year related things, such as blogs, donating, and just updates!; I just didn't want it to be taking up all my time, like it did.

The above has been some big things going on in my life the past few months. I have to trust that God knows what He is doing with my life.

Last night, I was talking with a friend about how much I have grown since we met. She said "You've already come this far in the past 4 months, imagine what will happen in the next 4 months". People that I see daily here in Philadelphia and friends and family back home tell me about how much I've grown since I've been in Mission Year. Growth in the way of my personality and with God. I also believe I have grown a lot; stepping out of my comfort zone and working on being fearless. I've learned a lot from God about myself, too. He has taught me that I'm a lot stronger than I hold myself to. I can be a pretty negative person towards myself and degrade myself, but I've been learning that when I talk negative about myself, I start to believe it; but deep down I know that what I'm saying about myself isn't true. "No one has the right to make you feel worthless, not even you." I've been working on being a more positive person, just in general, and showing love to everyone. There are times when I do slip, but then God reminds me to show love.

Right now, in my life, is the closest I've ever been to God and it is awesome just seeing His good works and how He is working in my life. He must become greater; I must become less - John 3:30

Another verse that is big in my life is Proverbs 4:23 - Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

That is pretty much all I can think of at the moment, and I will work on updating this more to keep you up to date with my life! (:

Love Drive!!!

Hello all you lovely people!(:
I realize I haven't written on here in quite some time, but I just want you all to be aware of what is happening in Mission Year this February!

When you show someone else that you love them, you are the hands and feet of Jesus. Your gift to Mission Year this month is a great way to show your neighbors that you love them. 

Your support enables our team members serving in Houston, Atlanta and Philadelphia to live alongside and love their neighbors. It has been a transforming year for our teams so far, but they need your help to continue their journey for the next six months. 

With your gifts and our team members work on the ground, God is being honored, the poor are being cared for and the Kingdom of God has advanced. But we cannot continue spreading love and being the hands and feet of Jesus without your help. 

Please consider making a special love offering toward Mission Year this Valentine's month. Donations of $50 or more receive one of our limited edition t-shirts.

Love Your Neighbor T - $50
We're introducing our first-ever Team Member Designed shirt!
Houston Arts Team Member, Cara Eads created this T!
Alternative Apparel vintage-soft basic crew
Men's and Women's sizes available

Love God.
Love People. - $65
We have gone to new lengths this year to offer you an updated version of your all time favorite traditional T.
Alternative Apparel soft jersey poly-cotton blend, eco-friendly
Unisex sizes available
Love both shirts?
For a donation of $100, we will send you both.

You can go to https://missionyear.org/love/ to look at the shirts and to donate!! You are all awesome!(:

Jesus Mindset

THIS IS NOT WHAT I WROTE AND I DO NOT TAKE CREDIT FOR IT!

I thought this blog was very inspiring and I wanted to share it all with you. My friend wrote this on his blog and I was touched by it.

“Don’t stop the madness
Don’t stop the chaos
Don’t stop the pain surrounding me
Don’t be afraid to break my heart
Just bring me down to my knees”

Lord, I do not simply want a ‘hallmark’ type of relationship with you. I don’t want a relationship where I only come to you when things are bad or only when things are good. I want you in my life, in my mind every second of every day of every year for the rest of my life. I want you to break me down, I want you to break my heart. Make me broken lord.

For everything that I do that disgusts you, break me down. I want every distraction, every sin out. I so violently want them out lord. I willingly want you to break me down lord. Make me broken so that I can take everything and put you in it’s place. You are my father, my friend, my love, my family, my SAVIOR.

We cannot just ask for our sin to be gone. We can’t just kind of want it out. We need to want it. We need to fight every urge to sin. We need to make war with every sin. We need to be willing to give up our whole lives for the amazing and powerful man who gave up his life.

So lord I ask again, make me broken. Bring me to my knees. Show me every little thing in my life I must give up. I so badly want to please you and give you my ENTIRE life.

Proverbs 31 woman!

Proverbs 31 Woman!

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears The Lord is to be praised. - Proverbs 31:30

A noble girl is worth more than diamonds.

Her family can trust her because she’s always trustworthy.

She gets home by her curfew, obeys her parents and keeps her word.

She’s easy to be around, and she makes other people’s lives better.

She expands her mind by being willing to learn different kinds of skills and subjects.

She gets up in the morning without being crabby and helps around the house even more that what’s required of her.

She knows the value of money and doesn't waste it.

She works hard and does her best at school, never settling for “good enough.”

Whatever she tries, she always has a good attitude and gives it her best shot.

She isn't lazy.

She is kind and compassionate to everyone, regardless of popularity or personality.

She looks for ways to help those who have less that she does.

She makes wise choices and thinks ahead so she won’t have regrets later.

Her family is proud of the choices she makes.

She carries herself with strength and dignity, not making a fool of herself.

She doesn’t gossip, gripe, lie, insult, or offer unwanted opinions.

She reads God’s Word and seeks Him for wisdom.

Her beauty doesn’t come from what she wears or how her hair looks.

Her personality is sincere, not self-gratifying and fake.

She is beautiful because she is filled with passion for God.

Proverbs 31:10-31 #GodlyWoman
#PursueToBeAGodlyWoman!

Also, this is a really cool blog to read...

http://inhisgraces.blogspot.com/2011/01/proverbs-31-journey-faith-fear.html

Pray. Relax. Let go. Let God take over.

One way to think of the word surrender is: to give oneself up completely, as into the power of another; submit. To go along with the word surrender comes trust. Trust is a confident expectation of something; hope.

The past week or so, I have been learning to let go of my wants/desires and give them to God. Giving those things up to let God handle them takes a lot of trust. To let go is not to cut myself off, it's the realization that I can't control another. I've realized that I can't control other people, or their feelings, and I just need to let God take care of it.

Sometimes it takes a while to realize what you need to do in order to grow closer to God. I've realized that letting go of what I want is one of the hardest, but most important priorities to be able to grow. I know it is going to be an everyday struggle, but I also know how strong of a person I will become. "Letting go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands." I am definitely not going to be perfect at this, but I will be trying my hardest. " You can't reach for anything new if your hands are still full of yesterday's junk."

“Once we surrender our self to God completely, He will take care of us in every way.” Not only am I giving up me wants/desires, I also surrender myself. I give my whole self to God; to let him take care of my life. I know He will take care of my life. My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways - Proverbs 23:26.

"The past is like an anchor holding us back, you have to let go of who you are to become who you will be." 

Letting go is to become the best I can be. I had to learn to do whatever God told me in His Word and in my heart to do, and it has been worth it. Do you want everything God has for you? Be willing to do everything He asks of you.

"To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and to cherish the moments." We cannot do anything apart from Jesus. Trust in God and lean on Him for everything. We honor Him when we show our dependence on Him by asking for help for big things and little ones. I encourage you to lean on God and ask Him to help you with all kinds of things, little things as well as big things.

I've let God do what He wants to do in my life. I let Him show me that I was prideful, haughty, obnoxious, selfish, self-centered, and hard to get along with. I've let Him show me these things because the truth about our behavior will set us free. John 8:32 - Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Love yourself by submitting to the work He wants to do in your life. Don't resist; let Him do it and see what good results from it.

"To let go is to fear less, trust in God more, and freely give the love that He's given to me."

Close your eyes, clear your heart and let it go.

Be FEARLESS!

Be Fearless! 

These past couple weeks, I have been doing a lot of sitting back a listening; listening to God. People usually ask me “what has God been saying to you lately", or "what has He been teaching you?” and I never knew how to answer because I wasn’t listening for Him.

A few weekends ago, I went to a restore retreat at Teen Haven Camp; I work at Teen Haven. I was a little nervous at first, because I am not an outgoing person. I slowly talked to a few people there and became comfortable. We played some awesome games and had a great time. 

While eating dinner on Saturday night, a lady named Diana was sitting next to me. The conversation started small, with little chats about “how are you” and “what do you like to do”. Then, sooner than later, the conversation progressed. We started talking about fears. She mentioned how she liked getting up in front of groups and talking to people and just being outgoing. She continued by asking me what I liked to do and I told her that what she liked to do are my fears. After I mentioned that, she talked to me about being fearless. She talked about how I shouldn’t be afraid to voice my opinion and worry about what others think about me. We also talked about how I shouldn’t let what others think and say effect what I think and say. The basics of the conversation were about trying to find out who I am in Christ and letting God take control.

Let Go(d). Be FEARLESS! 


A few days later, I went on a walk with Chanea; I work with her. She decided that since I wouldn’t talk to her, she would step up and ask me to go on a walk. At first, I was a little shy and didn’t know what to say. She kept asking me questions to get me to open up. Half way through the walk, I became a little more comfortable and opened up more. We got to the topic about what I like to do, and again I said that I wasn’t a big fan of getting in front of people and talking in groups. She followed that up by asking why. This caught me off guard a little bit because I didn’t really know how to answer that question. I guess I never really had to think of a reason for being shy, I just always was. She finally got me to answer the question. I responded with “I don’t like stepping out of my comfort zone” and “I stay in my safe box”. The conversation continued by going into details about how I need to “step out” and do something that makes me “comfortably uncomfortable”. I then told her that while I was at Mission Year, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and just open up as a person. I wanted to be able to do anything with out thinking I would be judged or be too afraid. I didn’t want to be known at the girls who never talks. After all that, she asked me if I could make a list of my fears to overcome during the year. Making the list made me realize how many things, little or big, I am too afraid to do and gave me motivation to start stepping up, stepping out, and being fearless.

Only the beginning

Hey guys! I hope you're all doing fantastic because I am! Philly is treating me pretty well. I love my team, they are awesome(: . The first few weeks were training/orientation but I start my service site job on Monday!(Sep 17). You're letters/cards/words of encouragement are still so greatly appreciated! There hasn't been a day where I wanted to go back home. I love it here in Philly and wouldn't trade my team for anyone else! I am able to talk on Fridays, at any time. I hope to hear from you! Love you all!

-Emily