Receiving His REST

it's that time again - putting together another mix. =)
*soon to be heard exclusively in the office at Liberty Church*

14 songs. (7+7=doubly perfect?!)
haha, totally just came up with that. awesome.

Almost time for another countdown list, too - He has declared NEW things & they're all springing forth! =) woot. I perceive it! It would be so easy to be apprehensive and doubtful when I'm about to start new things...new people, new places, new lessons...new mercies & new grace, too! :)
But - never, will He leave me. Never, will He forsake me.

Exodus 33:13-15 (New Living Translation)

¹³ If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”

¹⁴ The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”

¹⁵ Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.

guess what? --> He's going with me. In fact, He's already paved the way. *just insert 'Emily' where it says "Moses" in verse 14. :) (omg! againn with the #14!)

1 Kings 8:55-57 (New Living Translation)

⁵⁵ He stood and in a loud voice blessed the entire congregation of Israel:

⁵⁶ “Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses. ⁵⁷ May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us.

(can I be part of that "entire congregation of Israel?") mm, "not one word has failed!!!" Yes and amen...He is only finishing the GOOD work He's already started. hallelujah. goodnight.

Window of weakness

Alrighty...jotted down these initial thoughts about a week ago - time to share! :)
(I'm also finally filling out my FAFSA paperwork online, and it's taking a while to "process your (my) information" at one part...so I'm distracting myself.)

So I've recently realized, that when I'm meeting someone new or catching up with an old friend, one of the first topics I bring up is my weaknesses. (mostly MS, because God is continuing to unfold His purposes through it, and reach out to more people than I ever thought possible! Also, various broken bones/torn ligaments...hehe, I have plentyyy of stories. praise God.)
But really - why is it so easy to talk about my physical imperfections & weaknesses?
*enter, Sarah Young's Jesus Lives devotional (p326, to be exact)...

"Actually, the very things that trouble you most - your weaknesses and wounds - are of greatest use to Me in helping others, for I have shone into your heart the Light of the knowledge of My Glory. This much Light and Glory simply cannot be contained within you! Your wounds and weaknesses provide openings through which some of this glorious Light spills out of you into the world. By letting your humble, hurting parts be exposed, you allow My Light to sine through you into others' lives. Thus, your neediness and hurts, consecrated to Me, become treasures in My kingdom."

((GLORY to God!))
Reminds me that a friend asked me a couple months ago, "Why do you think you've been injured/hurt so many times?" and I didn't have a very succinct/thorough answer...

Well, it all makes sense now!

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." - 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

weakness - cracked - clay pot - light seeps out - power belongs to God...
We can all relate to some form of weakness...if we can simply be humble enough to let it be a window that God can come through! (ps - this process hurts. and is pretty humiliating. and kinda long, now that I think about it. but WORTH. IT.)

Also, I know that I'm not worried about what I say, because (as I continue to abide in Christ & seek Him first!) it's the Holy Spirit that's speaking through me...=)

Now I know. ((hallelujah))

REJOICE that we get to be clay pots! Jesus, come break and shake whatever You can! dude...I am SO incredibly blessed! (do you love how God can be so LITERAL sometimes??) :)

ahhhh, that EVERY DAY I could be a Light that shines Your Name!!!! (Hillsong...love it.)


***also! Just now discovered Psalm 94 today (last week)?! amazing. ESV this morning, AMP tonight. love ittt.


¹¹The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vain (empty and futile--only a breath).

¹²Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law,

¹³That You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity, until the [inevitable] pit of corruption is dug for the wicked.

¹⁴For the Lord will not cast off nor spurn His people, neither will He abandon His heritage.

¹⁵For justice will return to the [uncompromisingly] righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

(annnnd my favorite 2 verses for today/yesterday/forever):

¹⁸When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.

¹⁹In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!

sheesh...just a pot full of vain thoughts - yet, He loves me. =)

Current thoughts =)

(Psalm 57) NLT (for Mary! ;)

⁷ My heart is confident in you, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!
⁸ Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
⁹ I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
¹⁰ For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.

Alsooo, excerpt from C.S. Lewis' The Four Loves (read it if you haven't already...hehe, might need a dictionary beside you, but it's worth it!)~

"Need-love cries to God from our poverty; Gift-love longs to serve, or even to suffer for, God; Appreciative love says: "We give thanks to thee for thy great glory." Need-love says of a woman "I cannot live without her"; Gift-love longs to give her happiness, comfort, protection - if possible, wealth; Appreciative love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him, will not be wholly dejected by losing her, would rather have it so than never to have seen her at all." - C.S. Lewis


Today, I'm feeling appreciative, humbled, and blessed beyond all measure.

14+ hours later...

I really do enjoy road trips...paha, when the car is MOVING! :)
(traffic really wasn't that awful) God is good. We're all home now...the few days went by so quickly! But, I'm happy to be home. Back to some routine, tying up loose ends, and spending time with friendz before school starts in October, woohoo!


Such a beautiful weekend up east ~ new states, new people...didn't know a step out of my 'comfort zone' would end up feeling so comfortable! I was seriously received so warmly everywhere I went...I didn't expect to be able to open up/share freely with so many people! (ok, by "so many" I guess it was really a handful, but still.) And for as busy as I was, by Saturday night I was ready to bust (in a good way) with all that God was pouring into me. (yikes & glory to God!)

*verses that stuck with me through the weekend* (no really - abiding & quoting all day long...it was/IS glorious!!) 2 Corinthians 9:6-8~

⁶The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency (contentment) in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

I had all the grace I could ever hope to have! Anything was possible! (btw - this is also present tense truth, not just a one time episode) Thankful for the reminder of why I went up north in the first place - to give cheerfully & wholeheartedly!
So freeing for me, yet also heartbreaking to see others become stressed/discouraged/speaking death, because they're unaware of the sufficiency our Savior offers. ah, Father - awaken us to Your abundant love and power!


And now that I re-read that verse, it leads me to something else I've been wrestling through: bashfulness vs. meekness. (is there a difference between the 2?)

~bashful:

1. uncomfortably diffident and easily embarrassed; shy; timid.

2. indicative of, accompanied by, or proceeding from bashfulness.

3. reluctant to draw attention to oneself; shy

~meek:

1. humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others.

2. overly submissive or compliant; spiritless; tame.
3. quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on

¹² But I will leave within you
the meek and humble,
who trust in the name of the LORD.

¹³ The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid." (Zephaniah 3)

¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. (Psalm 37)

⁵Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5)

(I couldn't find "bashful" in the Bible...and by "I" I of course mean Biblegateway.)
hm....could be synonyms? Except meekness is a form of gentleness (which is a fruit of the Spirit)...maybe the worldly part of being bashful comes from the "reluctancy"? (sounds rather lukewarm to me...and dangerously close to walking in fear.) But I don't think meek people are uncomfortable like bashful people are; I think sincere meekness has to stem from humility, working to be secure with your calm demeanor. (I would honestly love some feedback on this point - am I cherry picking verses to justify my own behavior, or am I a coward?) I want to be that "meek and humble" person who trusts in the Name of the Lord.


also~
Is silence a bad thing? Like, is it ok to sit next to someone and not be chattering the whole time? I don't know, sometimes I'm just content to be. Like, you're just so grateful to even be there, that you don't want to spoil it. You know? Like, I don't want whatever I "have to add" to ruin something.
((But He says, Cease striving and know that I Am God.))

*ohhhh, my Lord - I want to know You...

I want to "make the most of every opportunity" (Col 4:5) but I wonder if I'm doing a sufficient job? I want to receive correction in this area if it's needed, but I also cannot get stuck on past events that I can't change. (Learn something and move forward...not sticking around to wallow in regrets.)

¹²Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Philippians 3)

I was so encouraged by Him this morning ~ "Emily, your path may be curved, narrow and upward - but it is also level and lighted, that you may RUN after Me. Take heart and praise Me still, because I Am all around you."
=)
((do you ever just take the time to listen and realize how in love God is with you??))

I hope you're encouraged, my friends...press forward! He is worth it!

Let Go

"Your presence is all I am longing for Here in the secret place You nearness is all I am waiting for Here in the quiet place, here in the secret place My soul waits for You, alone..."

Once again, God has been pouring and revealing and planting so much Truth within me...but it's all in progress, like I can't sum it all up yet. (ie, the 2 posts I started earlier this week, but couldn't quite finish (until tonight)...it's as if the more I went into it, the harder it became to wrap my head around all of it, so I just stopped - I'm not sure if that's correct.)

I asked Him to put me back in awe, back in a state of childlike wonder (amazed by You!). Didn't realize that would come with a hefty dose of humility. Something neat - prayer works! =) I get so excited when I meet answered prayers...the Lord be exalted! haha, I also noticed a difference in my post titles (so far) for this month - they're not nice, ambiguous phrases - they're much more imperative. (I think that's how I'm finally learning to receive words that God gives me - definite. not optional.)
Spend time with Me. Believe what I say. Cast your cares at My feet - and leave them there.

"I will sing from the overflow of love in my heart Lifting high my response to Who He is in my life"

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. ~Romans 5:5

It's not my hope; it's His hope, through me...and that's the only reason I cannot be disappointed! Because His way is perfect, and I find my refuge in Him (Psalm 18:30).
Thankful ~ that I know this week will be a significant step outside of my comfort zone. and I'm not prepared. but God is! I'm honored, excited and even laughing at how unique God's plans are...=)

*Psalm 37...(AMP)
⁵Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.
....
⁷Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.
⁸Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself--it tends only to evildoing.
⁹For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord [in the end] shall inherit the earth.
¹⁰For yet a little while, and the evildoers will be no more; though you look with care where they used to be, they will not be found.
¹¹But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
....
²³The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].

(Proverbs 20:24)~ A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?


Nice. If I don't quite understand why things are happening or where I'm being led - I must be doing something right. =) glory.
Also, totally receiving portions of Misty Edward's song, "Soul Cry" ~

"Hunger is an escort to the deeper things of you"
....
"Yesterday's depth is feeling really shallow - I've gotta go deeper, deeper still"

hm. sleepy now. something about spending time with my church family on Saturday nights, that wraps up some things, then fires up other things, and puts me on a blogging spree! =D ah, feels so good to take my time, and spend time in His Presence like this. Also (ugh, I need a different word...like moreover...further more...in addition...not to mention...paha, or I should just stop speaking/typing. oops.)
haha, ANYway (ah! perfect.), I Sabbathed today! Slept in, started my packing, figured out dance wardrobe, did some laundry, had a SUPER encouraging coffee date with a friend, got emptied out/filled up at church, laughed w/frands at dinner....=) just enjoyed a slower pace. *and Katherine! - now I have more of a concept/ideas for "Sabbath"*

To wrap up this Sabbath, I shall leave you with "My Life - According to iTunes." (you know, those quizzes where you put your library on shuffle, and whatever song you land on is the answer) hehe, Abbie and I must've spent an hour on this one evening last week...too funny. you should try it. =]

My life according to iTunes:

1.) How am I feeling today? Stay - Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs (pahaha, this just made us think of Dirty Dancing...totally did not apply)

2.) Where will I get Married? The King - Lecrae (sure, like IN the King/abiding in Him...it works....but, "these self-proclaimed kings braggin' cuz they on chrome, but 26 inches is a PRETTY LOW THRONE!" =) love this song.)

3.) What is my best friend's theme song? Oh Well - Sho Baraka (hm, it probably is..)

4.) What is/was highschool like? Your Grace is Enough - Worship Ensemble (truth. His grace was/IS enough!)

5.) What is the best thing about me? You Never Let Go - Matt Redman (yes! The best thing about me is HIM!)

6.) How is tomorrow going to be? Abba Father - Klaus feat. Kari Jobe ( =) I receive it.)

7.) What is in store for this weekend? Daily Bread - Jill Phillips (so good - He is enough)

8.) What song describes my parents? Word of God Speak - Big Daddy Weave (yeah! amen.)

9.) How is my life going? Love is Here - Tenth Avenue North (Abbie started giggling - I then reminded her the song is about JESUS. she kept laughing.)

10.) What song will they play at my funeral? Cry No More - KJ-52 (mm, cool. also reminded me of the dance Whitney did to this.)

11.) How does the world see me? Jump - Lecrae (actually, this is a really sweet point of confirmation for me, b/c I miss being able to literally jump..)

12.) What do my friends really think of me? Sweetly Broken - Daniel Bashta (praise God; I hope so.)

13.) Do people secretly lust after me? I Give You Glory - Klaus (hahaa, I don't care if they do - I'm too busy praising God!)

14.) How can I make myself happy? Stay Amazed - Klaus feat. Elizabeth Clark (AMEN.)

15.) What should I do with my life? Lean on Me - DC Talk (hehe, true. such a nice, old school song)

16.) Will I ever have children? Behold the Spirit - Trip Lee (ok)

17.) What is some good advice? Do Yo Thang! (Remix) - KJ-52 feat. B. Reith (hahaa, nice!)

18.) What do I think my current theme song is? You Say “I’m Rich” - Shane and Shane (hm, close.)

19.) What does everyone else think my current theme song is? You Hold Me Now - Hillsong (awesome. amen.)

20.) What type of men/women do you like?: Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin (heck yes!)

21.) Will you get married?: I Am Nothing - Shawn McDonald (dude. humility, much? I think so. only way for 2 to become 1.)

22.) What should I do with my love life? Selah - Hillsong (ok, love this - made me think of the AMP Bible whenver there's a "Selah," it says "Pause, and calmly think of that!" perfect. a time to pause.) =)

23.) Where will you live? I Will Run - Freddy Rodriguez (um, run after God??)

24.) What will your dying words be? Jesus Paid it All - Kristain Stanfill (perfect. done. the end.)

Be not dismayed

I'm pretty sure this trail started from Louie's "LIFT" series - look up, see WHO is walking with you, and realize that He's on your side.

last September I was told:

fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed for I Am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
~Isaiah 41:10

this past Wednesday I read:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
~Joshua 1:9

It's not 'do your best' or 'try your hardest' - it's "BE NOT."
Because we're not on our own. I AM your God. I AM with you.

I'm in such a different season right now...waiting on some things, acting on other things...and I realized that when I'm in need of patience, it's much easier to say that it's "God's timing" when a situation is moving slowly, rather than when pieces are connecting quickly and you have to move! haha, I felt so silly when this thought unfolded...like, I had gotten so used to waiting (and really, dangerously close to complacency), that when I saw the plans being established, I began questioning if this could still be God moving. Thankfully, my 'silliness' finally led to my repentance, for doubting God's attention to detail and ability to fulfill even (seemingly) petty requests. (and I'm being quite vague right now.....=/ sorry.)

The gist ~ God can move slowly. God can move quickly. But He's outside of time and space anyway, so we're not even talking/moving in the same terms. I guess my lesson would be to stand still and trust in HIS (greater) purpose, even when it seems like He's moving quicker (or slower) than I expected. annnd, this isn't anything especially new or groundbreaking. but that's ok.

*Something to be thankful for: the best co-workers in the world. =) God is so good. It had been such a long time since we'd had the chance for a nice, 2-hour lunch, with time to hear one another's hearts and discuss what God has been working on in us recently. and I really love being the youngest one there - such a helpful point of humility, and a good excuse to be picked on. =) (besides, they're old - it makes them feel better. hahahahaha!)

but really: "God didn't make you to be in a mold - He made you to be moldable." -Ashly

Yes and amen and thank you, Jesus, for the opportunity to increase my flexibility.

14The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
16You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
(Psalm 145 ~ courtesy of PCC's summer reading)

Goodness...only 6 verses, and it still reveals how He is such a God of action!
He upholds, lifts, gives, opens, satisfies, fulfills, hears, saves...and all at the proper time. His time. Not mine.
God, be glorified!
I will not be dismayed.
Because YOU. are. with. me.
May I call on You in truth, and awaken to discover how near You are.

Shut the door and open your Bible

*can't take credit for the title - found it in my notes from PCC's college gathering this past Monday night...it's not that hard to be alone with God - simply shut the door and open your Bible!*

Something I just realized, that "have I not commanded you?"
happens to rhyme with, "do you KNOW who you are talking to?!" (maybe God doesn't say it with quite that much emphasis, but that's the way I've heard Him lately.)


GOD is FOR. ME.
The MAKER of heaven and earth.
hallelujah.
I'm feeling so very put in my place. (which must mean that I had been out of my own place...)

"Because of who He is
if I'm worthy dying for,
yes this God is worth
living for because of who
He is He makes me want to
give Him more and more, so
I take my body and use it
for the glory of God
that's why I pray every day,
gotta pick up my cross, search
for the lost, no matter the cost..." --> Who He IS, Trip Lee

(is following Christ costing me anything? it should.)


mmm, Isaiah 12, ESV style~

The LORD Is My Strength and My Song

¹You will say in that day:"I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.

²"Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation."

³ With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. ⁴ And you will say in that day:

"Give thanks to the LORD,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted.

⁵ "Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
let this be made known in all the earth.
⁶Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."

:) the latest journal I filled up (just last week, actually...those 4 months flew by!) had Psalm 118:14 on everyyy single page~ "The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." He IS! and He has! Glory to God.

Found out last week that we're all *fountains*! Now, what type of fountain am I going to be? (I've read Proverbs enough times to know what a fountain of His Life ought to act/look like)

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 13:14
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

Proverbs 16:22
Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools.

Proverbs 18:4
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

(also, Psalms)

Psalm 36:9
For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.

Sooo, a fountain of life flows because of:

• a righteous mouth
• the teaching of the wise
• the fear of the Lord
• understanding

It looks like:

• a bubbling brook (flows like)

Comes from:

• His Light, God's Presence

Reading all of this, and being surrounded by people that already apply it - I can no longer claim any ignorance. (foolishness, yes; ignorance, no.) I'm humbled that God would choose to reveal such weighty insights to me, but I also have to remember that it's an honor - that His yolk is easy and His burden is light, because it all starts from and leads to sitting at His feet (ultimately).

Another good ignorance eliminator: God's Armor Bearer. (did not expect this book to impact me on so many levels!!) It was so helpful in analyzing how I order my priorities, compared to what God's priorities are...how to be an armor bearer (at the core, I think it boils down to having a genuine, servant's heart)...the importance of unity when it comes to working with/serving anyone with excellence...the need to die to my own purposes and dreams and submit them to God...haa, let me know if you want a full book report. 4 pages full of notes. so so so good.

*Significant point that I took away for my current season of life - "Run with the vision I have given her/him, and I'll (God) see to it that yours will be fulfilled."
As I'm still pursuing school and not exactly sure of what I intend to do with my degree, it's the perfect time to serve those that do know (specifically) what God has called them to do. Whether I'm working at the church, serving my pastor(s) & co-workers...at home, cleaning the kitchen to bring order & peace to my mother's life...with Refuge, pursuing one of our many projects :)...I have multiple, daily opportunities to die to myself and pour into the lives of others. I don't know if I'm supposed to have a more specific, clearer vision right now or not...I just know where & what God has called me to, today.

⁵And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.

⁶And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then]

⁷You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.
(Deuteronomy 6)

"If you do not exercise faith in life to reach a goal or vision, you will never achieve it. You are going to have to get up and work toward your goal. God blesses what you do."

Still seeking (God first).

Still trusting (God alone).

Still walking (by His side).