My Man Spurg.

Y'all know how I love Charles Spurgeon. He's the man.

I read this and wanted to share it...

Psalm 138:8 "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me."

He who has begun will carry on the work which is being wrought within my soul. The Lord is concerned about everything that concerns me. All that is now good, but not perfect, the Lord will watch over, preserve, and carry out to completion. This is a great comfort. I could not perfect the work of grace myself. Of that I am quite sure, for I fail every day and have only held on so long as I have because the Lord has helped me. If the Lord were to leave me, all my past experience would go for nothing, and I should perish from the way. But the Lord will continue to bless me. He will perfect my faith, my love, my character, my lifework. He will do this because He has begun a work in me. He gave me the concern I feel, and, in a measure, He has fulfilled my gracious aspirations. He never leaves a work unfinished; this would not be for His glory, nor would it be like Him. He knows how to accomplish His gracious design, and though my own evil nature and the world and the devil all conspire to hinder Him, I do not doubt His promise. He will perfect that which concerneth me, and I will praise Him forever. Lord, let Thy gracious work make some advance this day!

It's a Beautiful Thing

Wow...oh wow.

Yesterday was a powerful day at the Stone. Sunday's are incredible. Something that I love that we have started doing is after we sound check in the morning, we gather in the green room to have a little devo/worship/communion time before the service starts.

On Easter Sunday Todd Agnew led us in a devo/worship time...it was a sweet sweet time preparing our hearts for worship. We then took communion together. Matt went around with the cup to dip our cracker in and he got to me and looked me in the eyes and said, "Emily...this is the greatest thing that has ever happened in your life...this was done for you."
Oh my heart.
The GREATEST thing that has ever happened in my life...JESUS.

So yesterday Matt preached on the recession, suffering and trusting God.
(Isaiah 45:5-7)
HEAVY and GOOD.
You need to go and listen to it. now.
With a message like that and the set list that we did. MAN! Powerful day.
Here are some quotes from the sermon...
"In light of suffering...Sometimes trusting God means that we don't come down from the cross."
"As believers we have got to come to a place where we suffer well."
"Christians never suffer without purpose."
"God will bring us to the doorstep of death so we will turn our eyes to the only one who can raise us from the dead."

After the message we sang "It Is Well With My Soul".
It is humbling to be on stage looking out over the people worshiping. People with their hands up, light in their eyes, people on their knees, faces to the ground...and tears.
During one of the services there was a gal sitting in the front row right in front of me and when we got up to sing the last set I noticed that she was crying...hard. I heard her in my in-ear's. My heart moved as I saw her face and her body shaking from crying.
As we started singing It Is Well, she leaned over with her head down crying harder. Pretty soon people around her starting laying their hands on her back...praying for her...showing her that they were there, that she is loved & being prayed for. Her body continued to shake as she cried harder.
I immediately started praying for her as I sang "When peace like a river attendeth my way...when sorrows like sea billows roll...whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say...it is well...it is well with my soul"
God is glorified.

Another service I saw a mom and daughter sitting together. I don't know their situation but I know that she was hurting. The mom was crying hard and the daughter had her arms around her hugging her and kissing her cheek and wiping her tears away. I saw the mom's lips moving as she sang through her tears, "It is well...with my soul...it is well, it is well with my soul"
God is glorified.

I heard more stories and saw more faces with tears throughout the day and night. God broke through to a lot of people yesterday. What I love is that it doesn't end there. God doesn't work like that, He doesn't just work for a day and be done. He will continue to use the craziness that happened yesterday to stir in hearts and move people to live for Him fully and be conformed to His image.
God is glorified.

During the 7:00 service (I LOVE the 7...they go nuts.) after we sang It Is Well, Aaron went into "Our God Reigns" (not planned...love it!)...it was awesome. Proclaiming that God reigns FOREVER. In light of suffering, He REIGNS! We ended with Blessed Be Your Name. "...my heart will choose to say...Lord blessed be Your name."

We sat down at the end and Aaron and I looked at each other and gave the look of "what in the world just happened." and the nod of "that was crazy". In Aaron's words..."Things just got silly".
It was one of the most powerful days. So humbled and grateful to be in the midst of what God is doing.
It's a beautiful thing.

I Miss You

So I'm "missing" a lot lately. I'm missing my short hair, I'm missing my truck, I'm missing my family, I'm missing my nephews and my niece. Thankfully my personalized google desktop countdown says that there are only 29 days until the Wild Ward Women Weekend. I'm not sure if Austin is ready for it. As excited as I am about seeing my mom and my sisters, the kiddos won't be along :( Which will make for some late nights and sleeping in...that I KNOW my sisters are excited for...but no kiddos. :( I miss them. They grow up fast, when I'm not there to see them everyday. Laura has some amazing Noah stories on her blog. CLASSIC. Jill has a video of sweet Sam doing an amazing job on a song about John 3:16. There's all sorts of good stuff on their blogs. I'm thankful that they do a good job of updating it with stories, pics and videos. That helps. But sometimes you just need some hugs, snuggles and smooches. Sam likes to send me some "love" in the mail. That helps too.
Here are some recent pics of the sweet ones...
The oldest Jackson Davis...I can't believe how grown up he is! SO handsome!Noah Joseph...this pic is actually old news...he now has BOTH front teeth missing!My sweet lovely Lily Margaret giving the thumbs up! That's my girl!
William Parker, I seriously can't get enough of that smile...Samuel Asher...he's a stinker can you tell?!Little man Maxwell Thomas...his dimples are the best!
oh man...I need them all. right now would be great.

Missing my Short Hair

I miss my short hair.
What do I do?!
Short hair:Long hair:wow. I'm really cheesy.

Signature Dance Moves=Good Times

Kate and I are heading out today to lead worship for a women's retreat with some people from her home church. We are heading west to a retreat center.
I'm really looking forward to getting away for the weekend and spending lots of time with God. Leading worship is still sometimes scary for me...I just don't like the talking part. I'm learning more and more about releasing it all and letting the Spirit lead and trusting Him that when He wants me to talk He will give me words and when He wants me to just sing...I'll just sing.
I like to just sing and worship.
We practiced last night at Jimmy's, since we needed a keyboard, and it was a sweet sweet time. Kate and I are both dealing with some crazy allergy issues, she was dealing with some nasal blockage and I was dealing with some crazy throat weirdness. So it made for some interesting sounds...but it is so fun to do music together. God has gifted her with amazing talent and creativity...it seems that when we get together to work on stuff, God gives us sweet creativity in putting songs together. I'm excited about how this has come together.
It also seems that when we get together to work on stuff...we get REAL silly. Let's just say that some fun music was being played on the piano while I pulled out one of my signature dance moves, water was spit out from laughing so hard, opera singing to It is Well, wheezing and on the ground laughing all took place. We thought we were safe being in the laundry room with the door closed on one end of the house...but when we were finished we walked out to Jimmy shaking his head saying, "y'all are hilarious!"
BUSTED.
Whatevs. You know how we do...
I'm tired today and the craziness that has been non-stop the last two weeks has started catching up to me. I'm praying for unbelievable strength and energy. Please pray!
I fell asleep going to the bathroom at work. No joke! I'm not quite sure how long I was in there, but I'm sure my co-worker was wondering what in the world was going on!
That's definitely not normal.
I'm loving this song lately, I sang it Tuesday night when Jimmy, Poetry For a King and I led worship for Texas Lutheran University's FCA group.
We're singing it this weekend too...

None But Jesus

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored

When You call I won't refuse
Each new day again I'll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos and confusion
I know You're sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will

When You call I won't delay
This my song through all my days

All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord
Forevermore

There is nothing I want more than Jesus. He is all I need and all I desire. ALL my delight is in Him, ALL my hope, ALL my strength.
HE IS GOOD!!

Relevant Magazine Features Malatya!

The Malatya film is featured on the main page of the Relevant Magazine website! AWESOME! I posted about this the other day.

Kids Stuff Video

This video was played for the kids @ Austin Stone for Easter. So thankful for the children's ministry there!

(HT Becca)

Malatya

A couple of my friends from church have put together this amazing documentary called Malatya. It's about the first martyrs of the Turkish church. Here is an article that Justin Taylor put on his blog about it...

April 18, 2007, two Turkish Christians and a German missionary were tortured and killed inside a Bible Publishing house in Malatya, Turkey.

Summer 2008, two young filmmakers from Texas set out to create Malatya, a documentary exploring how three Christian martyrs have shaken the nation’s roots.

Necati Aydin, Uğur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske were tied to their chairs, tortured with butcher knives and killed for worshiping Christ. Semse Aydin and Susanne Geske, the wives of Necati and Tilmann, both contributed to the film. Echoing Christ’s words from the cross, they’ve publicly forgiven those guilty of their husbands’ deaths. Resources for Christian counseling are scarce in Turkey, a country of nearly 72 million, 99.8 percent of which is Muslim. This has left their surviving families and friends with little human support to lean on in a nationwide church of around 3,000 believers. The joy they find is purely in the hope of their sovereign God working through this time of trial for His glory and their good.

Testimony from leaders of the Turkish church shows even before the martyrdom, Turkish Christians faced persecution. They were unlawfully jailed, interrogated about their activities and even tortured. The deaths of these men have crossed a new line. Attacks and attempted murders have increased since the Malatya martyrdom. The current leader of the Turkish Protestant Alliance, Zekai Tanyar, told the filmmakers, "Before this, I would have said that we do suffer, but I wouldn't call the Turkish Church 'the Persecuted Church,' but all of a sudden, we are the persecuted church."

Turkish pastors revealed to the filmmakers the rise in persecution following the martyrdom has led many in the church to quit attending their fellowships or fall away from their faith all together. Others however have grown bolder in ministry, both in the sharing of their faith and serving in their churches, fully aware any church could be the next victim of violence.

Malatya also covers how the ongoing trial against the murder suspects has gained nationwide coverage in Turkey, where religious freedom is established by law. While some Turks think any Christian in Turkey must be a foreigner, and likely a subversive, thus championing the martyrdom in the name of patriotism, others despise the martyrdom as a hate crime. Turks now face a cultural dilemma: for the first since the founding of their republic, Turkish Christians were martyred.

Malatya is scheduled for DVD release across the globe April 18, 2009, the two-year anniversary of the martyrdom. Screenings are scheduled from Austin to Brazil, the UK, Germany, South Africa, Australia and more.

They have rented out Galaxy Highland Theaters on Saturday April 18 to show the premiere! You can get tickets on the website.
Also, you can watch the trailer, schedule a screening or buy the DVD on the website.
www.malatyafilm.com
I had the amazing honor to be a very small part of this documentary. My friend Jimmy and I recorded a version of the Rich Mullins song "I Will Sing". The song is played at the beginning of the movie. It's powerful.
God is very much glorified in all of this, and it's amazing to think that this story is going to be told all across the world.
Voice of the Martyrs has come under this project and has been supporting them and will be distributing it all over the world as well.
God is HUGE.
Check it out and get the word out.

Easter Sunday

Sunday. Easter. Jesus.

It was a beautiful day. Probably one of the most powerful Sundays we've had at Austin Stone.
We led worship with a choir and it was amazing. Matt brought a strong message of defining what a Christ follower should look like. You can listen to it here.
Here is a quote from his sermon that I loved:
"We all have sinned against an infinite God and we all deserve an infinite punishment...But God stepped in and took on infinite punishment through Jesus Christ...so we can have infinite life."
It was a crazy Sunday...with the first two services in the morning we had already reached around 4,000 people! We still had our two evening services to go! They were both packed out too! So many people that got to experience the power of God and many unbelievers who got to hear the truth of the gospel!! God is GOOD!!
Here are some pics that some people took of the day...At the end of Matt's sermon there was a video done by Jeremy Rodgers of different people in our church who have experienced the power of Jesus in their lives.
It is SO powerful. I've seen this done before, with the cardboard signs...and I have always been so moved by it. This time they are people I know....I seriously cried um...4 out of the 4 services!
So beautiful to see lives that have been changed by the power of the cross and the power of the resurrection! I love it!
These people are real. They truly have been captivated by Christ's love and have been transformed by HIS power.
Here is the video...

Cardboard Stories from The Austin Stone on Vimeo.

Gospel Centered Living

I have been blessed over and over by the The Stewart family and how they live out their lives in view of the gospel. It is a beautiful thing and I pray that God would continue to teach me and mold me into a woman who lives out and responds by covering the gospel over my life. I also pray that if the Lord blesses me with a family some day that I would raise them up and train them in godliness and with the gospel. Kimberly does an amazing job of sharing her process with this on her blog. She is real and honest, it is so beautiful. Please check it out!
When I think about having kids someday... as much as I can't wait and am so excited...it freaks me out. I have this thought that I'm going to totally mess them up.
Here is a little excerpt from a recent post where she was talking about how God redeems our failures, and she was sharing a story (a poop story...awesome!) about how she responded to her son, WesleyGrant, and how she had to ask his forgiveness, for not responding in a way that was in line with the gospel:

But the good news about the gospel is that it leads me to my savior who for freedom set me free (galatians 5:1) I am no longer bound to work for my approval...but I am fully approved in Jesus! My idol will always condemn me... it can offer no forgiveness...as I continue to look back over the same thing with the idols of my heart, it seems so crazy that I would ever turn to them...my savior gives not only forgiveness, but grants me righteousness guaranteed to be a right standing with god. I am free!
So, as the Spirit disclosed the things of the Father...I knew I was wrong and needed to make it right with WG. That is what is so hard about being a parent...seeing your failures effect your own children. Stew always tells me,
"Don't worry...you will scar them...but Jesus will redeem all their scars!"
And so with that hope, I went back into WG's room. I told him why I got angry and that the bible instructs me differently and I did not obey God. I told him that it was not his fault that mommy got angry. I told him I was wrong and sorry for my actions. I told him that Jesus is our only hope. He may not fully comprehend...but more we are starting habits...I guess tha is part of the redemption happening in my failures...we are passing on "I was wrong" and leaving behind "silence and lack of confession". So then I can hope in Jesus...that as he is making me more like Him, he will point my son to Himself as well...so know that you will scar your children...but our savior has a great redeeming plan both for our lives and theirs...hope in Jesus, the redeemer of all our failures.

SO good!
Another thing that she had posted at some point was a list of things that they were passing on in their family and things they were leaving behind. Such a great list and reminder of living in a way that is glorifying to Jesus...here is the list...

Passing On-- Family traditions
Leaving Behind -- Individualism

Passing On -- Worldview through the Gospel
Leaving Behind -- Worldview through man-centeredness

Passing On -- I love you
Leaving Behind -- Silence/Assumption

Passing On -- Failures are okay
Leaving Behind -- You control everything

Passing On -- Trust Jesus
Leaving Behind -- Worry

Passing On -- You are just like the poor
Leaving Behind -- There are no poor

Passing On -- I was wrong/Forgiveness
Leaving Behind -- Anger & Bitterness

Passing On -- World outside of America
Leaving Behind -- World is America

Passing On -- Security in Christ
Leaving Behind -- Security in Money

Passing On -- Others are first
Leaving Behind -- Others are second

Passing On -- Acceptance of suffering
Leaving Behind -- Comfort is true life

Passing On -- Courage is trusting YAWEH
Leaving Behind -- Safety is in your hands

Passing On -- We are sinners
Leaving Behind -- We are good

Passing On -- Jesus is the way, truth & life
Leaving Behind -- Your way is truth & life

That is gospel-centered living.
Thanks Kimberly for writing these posts! You are beautiful and such a blessing!!!

He Is Good.

Unbelievable.
This last Tuesday night was our First Tuesday Prayer meeting and it is always a powerful night...but there was something different about that night. Still trying to process through that one.
I seriously thought Jesus was coming back!
I really thought that I was going to open my eyes and see Him right in front of me. It was a powerful, powerful night.
Aaron led the night with worship and prayer and I had the privilege to help him lead worship. I'm always so humbled when God calls me to do this, He is so big and I am so small. Leading people into His presence seems like a huge deal when you think about the greatness of God.
It is a huge deal...He's famous and I am not.
Seems crazy that He would use a broken, messed up, unfaithful sinner like me.
But He likes to do that.
I came Tuesday night broken...my heart and my soul sort of felt like it had been crumpled and ripped up. God has been showing me the condition of my heart and it has not been fun. But it's good...because God is good.
In God showing me the condition of my heart, there was a sweet brokenness that led me to a deep place with Jesus of desiring Him more. I have cried out numerous times this week, "You are all I want...You are all I need". I knew coming to prayer and leading worship was going to be intense. When there is a deepness in your heart for Jesus in the middle of brokenness...He is going to do amazing, powerful things in worship. And He did.
One of the songs that we did was a new song that Aaron wrote. God is all over this song. It was POWERFUL! SO good. The name of Jesus is beautiful.
Here are the words:

There is a name that moves
A name so wonderful
The pow'r to rend the Heavens
And the peace to still the storm

His name is Jesus, Jesus
The Lamb of God the Lord Most High
He is Jesus

There is a name that loves
A name so wonderful
The One that loves the sinner
And heals the broken heart

His name is Jesus, Jesus
The Lamb of God, the Lord Most High
He is Jesus

All glory and fame
Be unto the One who reigns, Yes You reign
All Heaven and earth
Rejoice at the sound of Your name, of Your name

There is a name that saves
A name so wonderful
His blood has sealed our pardon
Through the triumph of the cross

Oh man...my heart is welling up with Hallelujahs as I type this out and sing it in my head! Just want to dance!
It's a beautiful thing to be on the stage looking out over the jam packed room full of people SHOUTING out songs to Him, hands raised, people getting after it. It's humbling and it makes me so full. God is truly truly amazing.
God's timing is funny sometimes.
I also got to lead worship last night at my Recovery class that I'm taking. With all that God is doing in my heart this week and through this class I felt God leading me to do two songs that talked about God being enough. The first song was "This is Our God" from Hillsong. (I mentioned this song in a previous post)
I encouraged them to fall at Jesus' feet and what a beautiful thing it is that we can come to Him as we are.
"Your grace is enough, more than I need"
"I am restored, I am redeemed by Your Spirit I am free"
"I will fall at Your feet, I will fall at Your feet...and I will worship You here"
"Freely You gave it all for us, surrendered Your life upon that cross, Great is the love poured out for all...this is Our God. Lifted on high from death to life, forever our God is glorified Servant and King, rescued the world...this is our God"

God is so good. He has called me to worship Him, to lead in that and be used by Him with my life. I love that during a time where my heart is being refined and torn apart to get at the junk...He is allowing healing and beauty to happen in the midst of the call He has put on my life. It is putting a great confidence in me that God is the controller and that He is capable of using me despite being weak, broken and incapable of holding it together. That is when He gets GREAT glory!
I LOVE IT!
These next couple of weeks are going to be crazy. Crazy good.
Leading worship for Easter services with Aaron, Andy and a big choir...leading worship with Jimmy and a band next Tuesday night down by San Marcos...Kate and I are leading worship for a women's conference just outside of Houston the weekend of the 17th...then a Mom's prayer night for the Stone on the 21st.
whoah.
God is good!!!
SO GOOD!

This Is Our God

This song is touching my soul last night and today. SO good!
"Your grace is enough, more than I need, at Your word I will believe.
I wait for You, draw near again. Let Your Spirit make me new"

Struggle

My friend Kate shared this song with me, and it wrecked me.
I've been getting wrecked out a lot lately...can you tell?!
SO GOOD!
Her friend Jamie Lipe wrote and recorded this song "Struggle". She is on staff at River City House of Prayer in San Antonio...

Here are the lyrics:

I was starting to believe the fear that was slowly crippling me
I was starting to embrace all the many things he told me as if it were the truth
he told me I was weak, that I would fail, that I shouldn't even try
Inadequate, not good enough, lacking so much that I needed to succeed.
Oh God, how could you allow me to dream so big, here I sit vulnerable to all
I just want to be held tight in the arms of security knowing everything will be ok
You've given me abilities and therefore expect a response but God it's a big responsibility
Examination of my heart, it's what you've caused me to do
Now I see how much I've been running.
But no more will I run, no more will I run away from the things you've called me to do
NO
NO more will I sit, crippled with fear, I'm tired of not living

Now to you everyone listening, I want to encourage you.
Don't let fear hold you back from what you know God has called you to do
For you have not been given,
No you have not been given a spirit of fear, not not a spirit of fear
But a spirit of power of love and of a sound mind, so take it and run, take it and run.
Reach for the sky and everything it holds for you
Don't look back to the things I've said you could never be.
Someone great lives inside you just waiting to come out
To be made known, you've gotta choose to make Him known.
Take the time to realize who you are

Don't be quiet, don't be silent now
Don't let fear hold you down
Don't let it steal your life away
For in the end when all has ended and you assess, have no regrets
So now, declare him loud, declare him strong
For he has declared His love for you
Declare Him loud, declare Him strong
For nothing else matters now
Declare Him now, declare Him strong, strong, strong
No more holding back

Earthly Comforts Are Loaned

I read this, this morning, on a blog and it wrecked me.
CH Spurgeon does that to me a lot.
Here is what He says:

"Earthly comforts are loaned. They are not gifts, for all that we possess is God's property. He has only lent them, and what he lends He has a right to take. We hold possessions and friends on a lease that can be terminated at the Supreme Owner's option. Therefore, do not complain when God takes His own. In a world where thorns and briars grow, it is natural that some sharp points will pierce you.
The world swarms with thieves, deceivers, and slanderers, with losses in business, crosses in our expectations, false or fickle friends, and with sickness and death. Little wonder our joys are stolen. Our Master warns that our habitation is not theft-proof. "Do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal." (Matt. 6:19)
Beloved, because of these, calamities may be expected, let us be prepared. Hold all things loosely. Hold them as though you did not have them. Look at them as fleeting; never expect them to remain. Never make mortal things your gods. If you do, your heart will be broken when they are taken, and you will cry with Micah, "You have taken away my gods which I made." (Judges 18:24)

Spiritual Inventory

My friend Fabs shared this article today from Apostles Church. It was VERY convicting.
It's taking a spiritual inventory of your life and asking some hard questions....here are the questions that the author and pastor JR Vassar, wrote:

Do I love Jesus with a demonstrable love? Is there anything or anyone that I love more deeply than Jesus or pursue more intensely than Jesus?

Do I look forward to spending time with Jesus in the Scriptures and in prayer? Do I miss out on other things to spend time with Him?

Am I regularly discovering new things in the Word of God that impact my daily life?

Do I sincerely desire and intend to obey God in every area of my life? Do I sincerely desire purity of heart, mind and body?

Do I sense the Holy Spirit's presence in my life leading me and strengthening me? (If He were to leave my life, would I sense a great loss?)

Do I sincerely confess my sins to God with a broken heart? When did I last weep over sin in my life?

Is there anything in my life I am hiding from others that I am afraid will be exposed?

Is there anything in my life right now that I know displeases God, but I am not willing to repent of?

Do I spontaneously and whole-heartedly give thanks to God for saving me by His grace?

Do I give my resources regularly and sacrificially to see God's purposes for this world fulfilled?

Is my life marked more by thanksgiving or by complaining and criticizing?

Do I sincerely love others and seek their good as passionately as I seek my own? Am I as patient and forgiving toward others' failures as I am toward my own?

Do I show genuine humility toward others? When have I recently sacrificed my time and money for the good of others?

Am I able to admit when I am wrong and able to say to others, "I am sorry, please forgive me." Or, am I slow to admit failure and do I make excuses for my behavior?

Have I forgiven others the wrong done to me? Or, do I have bitterness toward others who have wronged me?

Am I currently grieving the Holy Spirit with unloving attitudes and harmful actions toward others?

Do I truly desire for my friends to know Jesus and honor him with their lives? Do I earnestly pray for His increased fame and renown in my city?

"Are You Sleeping"

This has got to be one of the cutest things ever.
My sweet Max grunting a tune.
LOVE IT!
My favorite part is the last line that he does. At the end it sort of sounds like he does a "hey"!
So cute.
Check it out on my sister's blog.

Proverbs 3

I was reading Proverbs 3 this morning and looked up the Message translation to read how they put it...and I loved this :

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try and figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all of this.

Limited Edition Print Being Sold to Support Adoption

Check this out and do something, this is taken off of my friend Bush's website:

For one week only my photograph, ‘The Only Magic I Still Believe In Is Love’ , is being sold on a website called www.wallblank.com. Wall Blank is donating 100% of the proceeds in order to support the wonderful ministry of Abba Fund. Abba Fund is a ministry that helps people adopt by offering them interest-free loans. The cost of Adoption can be overwhelming, but Abba Fund is there to help people like yourself and I in this process. Abba Fund makes it possible for people to make an incredible difference in the life of a child through adoption.

If you have a heart for adoption and a heart for helping…now’s your chance. go right now to www.wallblank.com and PURCHASE a limited edition print of ‘The Only Magic I Still Believe In Is Love’. They are only printing 150 prints and selling them for $25.00. Get yours while they last. After they are sold out there won’t be anymore printed anytime soon. I won’t receive any money from these prints. Maris and I simply believe in Adoption, and we want to do all we can to help other families experience this tremendous joy. These prints could raise $3,750 for Abba Fund. Let’s get this done!!!

“This world is a dark and broken place. It is full of hurt and dying people that are imprisoned by the merciless enemy of poverty. Wars, hate, racism, religion, hunger, poverty, and greed encompass a fallen world full of fallen men. There is a lack of faith, hope, and love. There is a need for restoration and renewal. There is a need for justice and change. Many live as if there is nothing left to hope in. Many live as if there is nothing left good to believe in. I have to believe that there is good left in people. I have to believe that we can make a difference. I have to believe that we can bring change to this broken world. I have to believe in justice. I have to believe that there is hope. I have to believe in love.”

Turn Your Eyes

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things on earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

Waiting

This is stirring my soul this afternoon... SO good!!

"If we imagine happiness to be found in furious pursuit, we will end up in a rage at the unsatisfying results. If on the other hand we set ourselves to pursue the wise and loving and holy will of our heavenly father, we will find that happiness comes-quietly, in unexpected ways, and surprisingly often as the by-product of sacrifice. Waiting is a form of suffering-the difficulty of self restraint, the anguish of unfulfilled longing, the bewilderment of unaswered prayer, flesh and heart failing, soul breaking.
These are indeed tribulations, and tribulation is the curriculum if we are to learn patience. We want answers now, right now, but we are required at times to walk in darkness. Nevertheless, God is in the darkness. (psalm 62:5) In him alone lie our security, our confidence, our trust. A spirit of restlessness and resistance can never wait, but one who believes he is loved with an everlasting love and knows that underneath are the everlasting arms will find strength and peace. God is the waiting."
--Elisabeth Elliot

You'll Come

I'm loving this song...by the one and only Brooke Fraser. (my favorite)

I have decided
I have resolved
To wait upon you Lord
My rock and redeemer
Shield and reward
I'll wait upon the Lord

As surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us
Certain as the dawn appears

You'll come
Let Your glory fall as You respond to us
Spirit rain
Flood into our thirsty hearts again
You'll come
You'll come

We are not shaken
We are not moved
We wait upon You Lord
Mighty deliverer
Triumph and truth
We wait upon the Lord

Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed

Afternoon Walk

I went for my afternoon walk to the post office for work...it is BEAUTIFUL out today. I really want the afternoon off. I want to sit in the sun. Take a nap. Read a book. Listen to my ipod. Pray. Work gets in the way of so much outside goodness. :(
I took this pic. Everything is SO green and then you have this splash of purple. I LOVE it!

Haitian Creations

I bought the cutest bag. It's from Haitian Creations. These bags are made from the hands of some of the most beautiful women in Haiti! This organization is amazing. They have several programs from pre-natal classes to sewing classes. It offers jobs so that these women can take care of themselves and their families.
Go check out these bags and buy one.

Goodness.

God is good!
Yesterday was an amazing day at church. I am humbled that I get to be a small part of what God is doing at Austin Stone, to see His hand and experience the Spirit moving powerfully in that place...it's incredible.
I had the privilege of getting to sing with Mr. Todd Agnew. It was awesome.
Here was the set list:

Hosanna (Hillsong)
Here I Am to Worship
Reign in Us (Starfield)
Jeff Mangum-preached
communion---You are Good (Todd Agnew)
Amazing Grace (Tomlin's version)

Jeff Mangum preached and completely NAILED it. Man...it was good. You'll have to podcast it. I could sense the Spirit moving and God releasing a lot of bondage and giving sweet freedom in that place. He talked about letting the resurrection power that comes from Jesus break us and give us newness. He talked about how it was completely possible to sit at church, be moved by the Spirit, sing worship songs, lead groups but never be completely changed by the resurrection power of Jesus. There needs to be a sweet brokenness when we start dealing with junk in our lives and when we submit to His discipline. It's crappy and hard...but necessary to get from ugly to beautiful.
After Jeff's message we had communion. I love communion. For so long in my life it had been a "ritual". Something that you just go through the motions with.
But it has turned into something so beautiful for me, reflecting on Jesus and what was done at the cross...His body...His blood.
We sang this song during communion called You Are Good. It was a song that Todd wrote...on Wednesday. Who does that?! He was thinking and praying about songs for communion and it just came out. It was incredible and COMPLETELY GOD. We sang this song over them as they took communion and reflected on the cross. Here are the lyrics:

This cup of suffering is so sweet
Sweeter than all this world offers me
The nails, pierced Your hands and Your feet
Your blood spilled so we could taste and see
Taste and see that You are good
You are good, You are good

You are good
More precious than silver, sweeter than wine
You are good
Righteous, mercy, and justice divine
Oh, You are good

Man...it was powerful. I'm thinking a lot about yesterday and I am amazed at God's goodness. I know He is good, when I think on that...He always shows me more, allows me to experience this more. I'm truly humbled and thankful.

All My iPhone Peeps...please respond!

I'm taking the plunge. After work today I will be boarding the iphone train.
I'm real excited! Everyone that I have talked to about this says that "my life will never be the same".
wow.
So...what I need from y'all is anything helpful for useful I need to know about this guy (iphone).
What apps do you love and what apps do I absolutely need?
Let me know. I need any useful information you can give me!

I Freak Out Sometimes

I find myself freaking out sometimes when I'm asked to lead worship.
That might sound silly...because that's what I do. I lead worship. I believe that it is what God has called me to do. In my imperfectness...in my weakness...in my inability to do it...He calls me to do it. Crazy.
I'm ok when I'm singing on Sundays with the bands it's mostly when I'm asked to LEAD lead worship. Like...the actual one doing the leading...that I start freaking out. I start battling all of the lies that satan likes to feed me.
God keeps giving me opportunities to lead. It's crazy. I'm being stretched and it's good. God is ALWAYS glorified and He ALWAYS shows up and does amazing things in worship when I say "yes" to these opportunities. It is NOT me.
I'm not the best at it...I make mistakes...I'm not the best musician...but God does something and allows people to hear what HE wants them to hear. It's powerful. God is truly GLORIFIED in our smallness.
Anyway...I was thinking about all of that this morning and I came in to my email to a Spurgeon devo that was AMAZING! I love how God works.
Here it is...

Despise Not Thy Youth

"Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold I cannot speak; for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak." (Jeremiah 1:6-7)

Jeremiah was young and felt a natural shrinking when sent upon a great errand by the Lord; but He who sent him would not have him say, "I am a child". What he was in himself must not be mentioned but lost in the consideration that he was chosen to speak for God. He had not to think out and invent a message nor to choose an audience: he was to speak what God commanded and speak where God sent him, and this he would be enabled to do in strength not his own. Is it not so with some young preacher or teacher who may read these lines? God knows how young you are and how slender are your knowledge and experience; but if He chooses to send you, it is not for you to shrink from the heavenly call. God will magnify Himself in our feebleness. If you were as old as Methuselah, how much would your years help you? If you were as wise as Solomon, you might be equally as willful as he. Keep you to your message, and it will be your wisdom; follow your marching orders, and they will be your discretion.

Wild Ward Women Weekend!

It's official....the tickets are bought....the personalized google desktop countdown has started....
74 days until the Wild Ward Women Weekend...in AUSTIN!!!!
That's right...
My mom and both of my sisters are boarding a plane and flying to Austin to visit me!!!
I am SO SO SO excited.
It's going to be legendary. LEGENDARY!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday sweet Mama!!! I love you!!

Beautiful Mess

It's only Wednesday. Yesterday I was saying...It's only Tuesday.
It's been a rough week. Not gonna lie. It's been a beautiful mess.
Monday was actually fabulous. Then...not sure what happened after that. I thought Mondays were supposed to be rough and then get better from there. hmmm...
But even in the midst of poopiness, yeah...I said it...poopiness...I have been praying that God would ease my heart and that He would get rid of myself. Just take me away completely so that all I can see is HIM. It's beautiful.
God's timing is so sweet. He puts people in my life at just the right time to encourage me, pray for me, hug me, make me laugh. It's amazing.
We also had our monthly prayer meeting last night with Austin Stone. Chris, Jimmy and I led worship together and it was an incredible night. People went after it. It's a time of worship and prayer all mixed in with each other with communion at the end. It's a beautiful night. What perfect timing too. It was much needed to get on my face at His feet.
Jen shared this verse with me and, again, was fitting and perfect timing and God knew I needed to hear it. I love how the amplified bible puts it...

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.
For our light, and momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!]
Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

My Eyes on the Goal

Philippians 3:12-14
"I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward-to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back."

Twitter

It's ridiculous, but I'm doing it. I've joined the Twitter club. You can follow me @emilyward527

Compassion & Haiti

My friends Aaron Ivey and Steven Bush (from the band I sing with at church) are heading to Haiti today to spend the week with Compassion International, learning about what is going on in this country. Aaron and Bush have a huge heart for Compassion and for Haiti. As they travel and share their music, they also get a chance to share about what God is doing around the world through this organization and in the lives of these precious children. It's pretty amazing.
Follow their blogs and Twitter to hear about their week. Pray for them. Encourage them.

BLOG & TWITTER LINKS:
Bush Blog: http://stevenbush.org/
Bush Twitter:http://twitter.com/stevenbush
Ivey Blog:http://aaronivey.com/
Ivey Twitter:http://twitter.com/aaronivey

Fuzzy Ball Chair

I saw this picture on a blog this morning and decided that I just might need it. It's pretty obnoxious. But as soon as I saw it I got real sleepy. Can you imagine curling up into that chair and taking a nap?! It's a fuzzy ball chair. I love it.

My "Long" Hair

ok...so it's long for me, and there is a lot of it. It's at an awkward stage where I can't really put it up, but it gets hot. I'm going to try and keep going. We'll see how long I can get it before I chop it all off.

TX +90degrees+Long Hair=miserable

It's 90 degrees. My hair is driving me nuts. I don't know if I can handle it all the way through the summer. The last time I had long hair was in high school...in Iowa. This summer might just be hell. My hair isn't even that long yet. It's already driving me nuts.
We are supposed to get a cold front in tonight. It's supposed to get down to 49 degrees. How can that be...90 to 49 degrees?!
My head might explode.
Sorry...this wasn't a very positive post.
:)

The Scientist

Natasha Bedingfield's cover of Coldplay's The Scientist. um...amazing.

Artist Tips

Shaun Groves has a couple of really good posts on his blog the last couple of days that you should check out. SO good.
Artist Tips: Performance Enhancers
Artist Tips: Ministry Enhancers

My friend Bush, also bass player that I sing with at church, spent some time road managing for Shaun Groves. He wrote a great response to his post on Ministry Enhancers. Check it out HERE.

What Hurts the Most

Seriously. This kid is amazing. I thought my head was going to explode from laughing so hard. amazing.

Hallelujahs by Anticipation

I read this little Spurgeon devo this last week and it has blessed me over and over again. What is cool is that God has brought to mind different people who are going through hard weeks that I have gotten to share this with. God is amazing!
Read it. Read it over and over again and let it sink in...

Nahum 1:12 "Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more."

There is a limit to affliction. God sends it, and God removes it. Do you sigh and say, "When will the end be?" Remember that our griefs will surely and finally end when this poor earthly life is over, let us quietly wait and patiently endure the will of the Lord till He cometh.

Meanwhile, our Father in heaven takes away the rod when His design in using it is fully served. When He has whipped away our folly, there will be no more strokes. Or, if the affliction is sent for testing us, that our graces may glorify God, it will end when the Lord has made us bear witness to His praise. We would not wish the affliction to depart till God has gotten out of us all the honor which we can possibly yield Him.

There may today be "a great calm". Who knows how soon those raging billows will give place to a sea of glass, and the sea birds sit on the gentle waves? After long tribulation the Rail is hung up, and the wheat rests in the garner. We may, before many hours are past, be just as happy as now we are sorrowful. It is not hard for the Lord to turn night into day. He that sends the clouds can as easily clear the skies. Let us be of good cheer. It is better on before. Let us sing hallelujahs by anticipation.

iPhone

I'm getting the iPhone itch. A major itch. Even more now that my phone is GHETTO and they keep telling me that nothing is wrong with it even though it's clearly messed up.
All around me are iPhones.
I have to giggle to myself when I walk into the green room at church after singing and in the little cup holders of the canvas chairs are iPhones just hanging out.
Both bands are a little crazy about the iPhone. I love it.
I sort of want to join the iPhone team.
Should I do it?

Psalm 34

I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise.

I live and breathe God;
If things aren't going well, hear this and be happy:

Join me in spreading the news;
together let's get the word out.

God met me more than halfway,
he freed me from my anxious fears.

Look at him; give him your warmest smile.
Never hide your feelings from him.

When I was desperate, I called out,
and God got me out of a tight spot.

God's angels sets up a circle
of protection around us while we pray.

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see-
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.

Worship God if you want the best;
worship open doors to all his goodness.

Young lions on the prowl get hungry,
but God-seekers are full of God.

Come, children, listen closely;
I'll give you a lesson in God worship.

Who out there has a lust for life?
Can't wait each day to come upon beauty?

Guard your tongue from profanity,
and no more lying through your teeth.

Turn your back on sin; do something good.
Embrace peace-don't let it get away!

God keeps his eye on his friends,
his ears pick up every moan and groan.

God won't put up with rebels;
he'll cull them from the pack.

Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
ready to rescue you.

If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;
If you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath.

Disciples so often get into trouble;
still, God is there every time.

He's your bodyguard, shielding every bone;
not even a finger gets broken.

The wicked commit slow suicide;
they waste their lives hating the good.

God pays for each slave's freedom;
no one who runs to him loses out.

Oh Sweet Singleness

Monday night I had the privilege to lead worship for around 100 amazing, beautiful single women. Austin Stone had a "Singleness" talk with speaker Jennifer Lewis from Dallas. We just finished a series at church on "Marriage, Sex, Singleness and Divorce."
Seriously.
Go listen to it NOW. I'm not kidding.
Go.
NOW. It's SO good. Life changing good. GOOOO!
Anyway...I believe that Jennifer's talk was recorded, so at some point you may be able to listen to it. I'll let you know.
I always get a little freaked out when I have to lead worship on my own. Although last night I had the honor of singing alongside some amazing musicians. I actually had my own little "band". I didn't have to worry about playing my guitar I could just sing! It was freeing.
I truly believe that God was glorified in that place Monday night and that the spirit was moving powerfully in the hearts of those women, as we sang about Jesus being enough for us. That He is all we want and desire, more than anything.
Our culture looks down on singleness, we get looked at as if something is wrong with us or people feel bad for us if we are in our late 20's or 30's and we are not married. We get the "I'm sorry..." or "I'll be praying for you..." or whatever.
Singleness is a blessing! It truly is! I have the desire to be married and to have a family...that's not bad. But God is allowing me to desire Him more and more and it is ENOUGH!
I could go today or tomorrow and what would I have added to my life if all I did was think about how badly I want to get married. Marriage is temporary. There is no marriage in heaven.
Oh, that my mind would be consumed with Jesus and His goodness that WILL last FOREVER.
"O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing."-Psalm 34:8-10

Laid Bare

This is my latest song that I wrote. I wrote it for a sweet sweet friend of mine.

I imagine you there
With your smile and your empty eyes
You are letting them in
You have closed yourself off
Not aware you have lost your way
Lost among the faces
Laid bare

Love, my love I will pray for the light
To come back in your eyes again
Rain, may the rain cover over your life
Washing all your fear away
Trust in Him again

I imagine you there
With your hands lifted to the sky
You are letting Him in
Your surrender is sweet
Letting go of what holds you down
Wanting more of Him
Laid bare

Love, my love I will pray for the light
To come back in your eyes again
Rain, may the rain cover over your life
Washing all of your fear away
Trust in Him again

Laid bare...laid bare...laid bare

Flowers Round 2

What in the world!? I got another delivery of flowers today! This time...I got real hot and real nervous. I wasn't sure who these could be from!
I read the card and it turned out that it was the same exact message that my bro-in-law wrote on the other flowers that were delivered! Something got messed up...I hope that he didn't get charged twice...but I'm not complaining because my desk is full of flowers! I love it!
I think God knew I needed a little encouragement today!

Flowers for ME!

Look what got delivered to my work today...FOR ME!!!
They are sitting on my desk brightening up my day! They are from "Tex" otherwise known as my brother-in-law Joe. He has had this tradition to have flowers delivered to me at work for Valentine's Day! So sweet! I love it!

Cisco the Kid.

Meet Francisco:He's so sweet! My friend Meghan came with Cisco for a visit. Meghan is taking her nursing boards today please pray for her! So I took the day off to watch Cisco. I love him.
He got very sad all of a sudden:
And then I fed him and he was very content. He likes to eat. He's a chunk. He's about 2 months old.
Then he fell asleep:
And that has been our day so far.
It's fun playing mommy for a day. I even got to drive a mini-van.

Clarification

I did NOT write the last post. My friend Meghan is visiting and thought it would be hilarious to post as me since I was still signed on.
You all know me and know that I HATE cats.
yeah.

Cat Woman

Hi my name is Emily and I love cats. Especially cats that eat rats. YEAH~ Keepn' Austin weird

Girl Scouts

I'm pretty sure Girl Scouts are the devil. With their cuteness and luring smiles wanting you to come and buy their cookies.
Peanut Butter Patties
Thin Mints
Samoas
Oh man.

Monday's Fabulous Moment

So I would have to say today's fabulous moment came when I got this picture from my sister, Laura.It made me laugh. Jill doesn't look too amused.
If you know me at all, you know that I have a weird sinus thing going on, where one nostril will be completely plugged up, but the other one completely clear. Sometimes it switches sides. But it's real annoying.
So I like to do this little thing, as you can see in the picture, where I demonstrate this by breathing out of my nose while holding one side closed, then I switch, demonstrating how one side is completely plugged and the other side completely open.
Again, real annoying.
I went to the ENT today, because it seems that the double dose of allergy medicine isn't really helping.
They are going to take a CT of my sinuses. I was afraid that they would stick a probe thing up my nose, but he didn't do that. YES! excellent. No probing.
This post may not be all that funny to some of you, but if you know me and you have had the privilege of hearing the nostril breathing, you will appreciate it.

Sledding Extravaganza 2009

ENT in Austin? Anyone?

I'm needing an ENT. Does anyone know of a good ENT Dr. in Austin?
I need to get my nose figured out.
I've been dealing with this weird sinus thing for awhile now, and am wondering if it has been the cause of my headaches. Anyway, I've been putting it off and putting it off. It freaks me out. They are going to stick some sort of probe thing up my nose and it's not going to be fun.
Let me know if you know of anyone!

Mama's Got A New Pair of Shoes

We had a girls night Friday night. My mom and sisters and I went to Cedar Rapids and went to eat at Granite City, very tasty, and then made a trip to the Super Target. Things get crazy the later it gets, we get silly and random things happen. Like this...

My Legendary Welcome Back into Austin.

So I was picked up last night from the airport with legendary status.
Kate had mentioned picking me up from the airport and she said something along the lines..."Don't worry Em, your entrance into Austin will be legendary."
hmmm....
So as I rode the escalator down I saw Kate standing there all cute as ever. I thought to myself..."Ok. It's Kate. Love it." I wasn't disappointed but I was wondering what she meant by "legendary". Kate, in herself, is legendary...but for her to give herself the status just didn't seem right. It didn't matter, I was just so excited to see her.
Then out of no where Wendy comes running out from behind a big pole. She comes running full force at me, acting like a complete idiot. It was awesome. I do believe she almost took a guy out.
Let's just say I'm glad that I went to the bathroom before I came down the escalator.
So we start heading towards the baggage claim area, still laughing really hard at how ridiculous Wendy is, and out of no where Jen comes running up to me flailing her arms around and gives me a huge hug. Oh man. I love these girls.
So we are giggling and laughing, trying not to make too much of a scene, although at this point it's a little too late for that...I'm trying to figure out which bag claim number I am at and so we start heading to #5.
We are standing there waiting for the bags to come out and I see "Big Red" (to it's full 50 lb capacity) come down the chute. It starts going around on the thing and I try to go and get it. But the girls won't let me go. I get a bit concerned because I need to get my bag. I always get nervous anyways about having to get my bag off of that moving conveyor belt. "Big Red" is not so easy to pick up off of a moving thing.
At this point I'm a little confused as to why they are not letting me get my bag...and then I spot Charlotte who is standing at the back of the baggage claim and is about to grab my bag. I run full force at her eager for a Charlotte hug while the other girls run behind thinking that we will miss my bag going around, knowing our tendency for Really Long Awkward Hugs.
We grab my bag and start heading out when I notice a strange man sitting in the chairs looking all "thug-ish" with his hood on. It's Jimmy! It was hilarious.
I have the sweetest friends! I love them all! It was fun to get such a legendary welcome back into Austin! It's good to be back.
We all laughed and spent another 2o minutes in the parking lot being goofy and laughing.
The entire thing is on video. I'll see what I can do about getting it.
Legendary.
Not gonna lie...a little sad that the Instant Nun Kits did not make an appearance. Jimmy as a nun would have been amazing!

The Laughing Game

So I like to play this little game called "The Laughing Game". You basically just make up laughs...then that gets you laughing...and basically...you just laugh a lot.
I like laughing.
My mom and I played it...and I realized that I'm really bad at it. She's really good at it.
It resulted in her completely peeing her pants. I do believe a quote from her was, "I can't stop....I can't stop..." It actually happened when we were watching the video. So this video would definitely get the status of...legendary.
I basically suck at it...and look like I'm in pain. Mom was actually in pain.
Here it is...

Grandma Cop

Iowa has been amazing so far. It has been awesome being home and getting some good family time in.
There have been lots of laughs. LOTS.
Seriously, we laugh so hard...surprised right?!
Here is a video of what happened last night. Legendary.

More amazing videos to come!

TODAY!

This sweet little face is on my desktop at work and I love it. This day is going to go by SO SO slow. I leave at 3:30, Kate is picking me up to head to the airport at 4:00 and I get on my plane at 5:48. I'm so excited.
I love plane rides. It gives me good time to read and pray.
I read this, this morning and I love it. I love it over and over again.
Isaiah 61:10-11
"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness.
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations."

Clothed with salvation and wrapped in righteousness.
LOVE it!

Seriously?! Get Down With the Snuggle.

It's something ridiculous like -40 degrees in Iowa today. But I guess it's supposed to "warm up" to 15 or so when I arrive. nice. my nostril hairs will still be frozen.
Since I didn't plan ahead and order my snuggie, I guess I'll just have to snuggie with my sisters! Especially Laura who LOVES to snuggle.
I was talking to her today on the phone and told her to get ready for it. She told me I could snuggle with Jack, who I hear in the background say..."WHAT?!" all panic like. "NO!!".
It was hilarious.
c'mon snugglebugs...get down with the snuggle.

Stronger

Havin' Some Church Up In Here...

So I'm not sure why I didn't start this 2 years ago, but lately I have been listening to my ipod at work. It has been awesome. It gives me a new attitude. Music does that to me.
So today I have been listening to the song "Stronger" from Hillsong. We are singing it at my home church when I'm back on Sunday, and so I have been listening to it and getting familiar with it.
I'm sitting at my desk and it is hitting me hard. Hallelujahs are welling up in me and I seriously could jump out of my desk and start dancing. I'm seriously having some church up in here!
I even had some church up in the bathroom. yeah...I said it.
I took my ipod with me to the bathroom...went into the handicapped stall and let loose...with worship that is. There was plenty of room...So I threw my hands up in the air and danced around a bit! It was awesome!
"You have saved me it is written Christ is risen Jesus You are Lord of all"
I went to the sink to wash my hands, still gettin' down a little and a gal walked in. It was a little awkward at first, but I just smiled. She didn't make eye contact...just went straight to the stall for business. I kept on with my business.
"So let your name be lifted higher, be lifted higher, be lifted higher..."
Jesus can be worshiped anywhere yo.

Iowa. -40 degree weather. Here I Come.

Friday afternoon I get on a plane and arrive in crazy frigid temperatures. Iowa.
I'm real excited. Not so much about the negative degree weather, but real excited to see my family and friends.
I will make my sisters snuggle with me.
I will make my nephews give me hugs and I will sneak kisses.
Max will love me even though he doesn't like to make eye contact at first.
Lily Margaret and I will have some girly time and we will snuggle with lots of blankies and puppies and watch Dora or "the wittle wormaid".
We will have a dance party and everyone will dance, even bros-in-law.
"Ride, Sally Ride" will make an appearance at the Quint Christmas even if it means that I get myself into a bathing suit.
Pant wetting will happen numerous times.
It will be legendary.

Etsified.

Many of you know that my mom and my sisters are artsy fartsy. (http://thingswithwingsartjournal.blogspot.com/)
They make things. Really COOL things.
My sisters both just set up etsy shops to sell their stuff.
You all need to go there and buy stuff. Go.
Jill: Paper Prayers
Laura: Green Girl Designs

Laura is having a FREE GIVEAWAY...go to her blog and sign up for the drawing. Anyone can sign up. Even me! :) I'm going to win...but you can sign up and try if you want.

Mom...get etsified. You can do it.

Oh My Heart!

I get to see this sweetness in 10 days.

I Heart Revolution

Party Boat

So I'm at work. I sort of feel like I'm starting to get sick. My throat is feeling weird. NOT good. I thought that maybe I somehow got past all of the crazy sick people that were around me. I can't get sick. I have a party boat to be on tonight for New Years, can't get sick.
Speaking of the party boat...it's going to be legendary. Just thinking about the ride to the Party Boat, I am already envisioning peeing my pants. 6 people (1 of whom is a big guy) all in a car together. I volunteered to be in the trunk (of an SUV) Jen also volunteered to be in the trunk with me since "the big guy" may take up two seats (...but probably not, he's not that big...she was just looking for an excuse for both of us to squeeze in the trunk together...which in itself would be legendary) We've decided to pack an extra New Years outfit just in case.

Prepare Yourself...

Jill just posted this video on her blog of my mom trying out the kids "carpet skates" that they got for Christmas. Seriously my head is about to explode from laughing so hard. I love my family. I was sad that I missed out on this little incident. But 17 days baby...I'll be there with extra undies. :)