Don't Waste Your Impact

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

A New Song

   Wow! Its been a while since I have posted! :D I guess the holidays have been keeping me pretty busy! :) First Thanksgiving, and then Christmas, and now we are coming up in just a couple of days on our New Years holiday.

   Its funny the mixed emotions that come with the new year, some people just are so excited and throw a HUGE party and can't wait for the new number of the year. And others are well, not so excited, maybe because they have something really BIG coming up in the new year that they aren't looking forward to. And then there are people who are like me and are sorta kinda in between the two.

   A popular question that's asked around this holiday is, "What is your new year resolution?"
Lets think about exactly what that word means for a moment...RESOLUTION... I Googled it and this is what I found;

Resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something. Or the action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter.

So lets re-ask that question again, this time using a different wording;

"What's your firm decision to do or not to do something in the New Year?"

   This is a question that always stumped me, and it always takes me a while to think about it and decide. In thinking what my new years resolution would be, this verse has been on my heart lately and I thought I would share it with you;

   Psalm 149:1
"Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints."

   In thinking about this verse I asked myself, whats that mean? "Sing to the Lord a new song?" Should we take that literally and sing a new song to the Lord everyday?

I came to the conclusion soon after that this is not what the verse meant particularly. Sure its great to sing songs to praise God, and if you want to sing a new one everyday, have at it. But thinking further on this verse, I thought this is what it means;

   Colossians 3:17
   "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

   Now, you may have gone through the same thing I have gone through, and thought to yourself, "I am not really doing anything to glorify God. I am just a normal average person. I am not risking my life in China to be a missionary, or working in Orphanage in Africa... etc. etc." The main point being, you don't feel like your doing anything to glorify God.

   This is a lie that the enemy LOVES to tell us. Just because we are not risking our lives to share the gospel, does not mean we are not glorifying God. There are MANY ways to glorify God, (or to sing a new song to the Lord.)

   Sometimes, its washing dishes, (even if it isn't your turn ;) ) helping out a neighbor, babysitting some kiddos for a couple while they do their shopping, it can even be such a small thing like smiling when you walk into the grocery store, or saying thank you to the waiter who brought you, your drink in the restaurant you went to with your family.

   Now, understandably you may be thinking, how does simple little things like that glorify God? Let me tell you a cheerful spirit, ALWAYS blesses other people. Cheerful spirits (especially while your working) shows people that you have a joy. "Where does your joy come from?" Someone may ask. "Why, my joy comes from the Lord!" You could answer.

   Isn't it rather popular for children (especially teenagers) when they are asked to do something roll their eyes and say whatever? What a testimony is it then, for a young person to have a cheerful spirit while they do the job they are given?

   Now, this is hard, but with the Lords help, we can do it. Its not going to happen EVERY time we are asked to do something obviously, because we all fall short of the glory of God, but that's what we should be striving for. That's what I think singing a new song means, glorifying God in EVERYTHING we do.

   And in answer to anyone who wants to know, this is my new years resolution, to glorify God in everything I do. :D

   May God give you the joy and strength to Shine for His glory!

Psalm 149:1
"Sing to the Lord a new song,
And His praise in the assembly of saints."

Monday, November 11, 2013

Contentment in the Lord

Lately the Lord has been teaching me to be content. I have been wanting to do a blog post about contentment for a while, but didn't exactly know how to do it and what to say. :) I think the Lord wanted to teach me a bit more about contentment before I sat down and started to write about it. :) ha ha. :D

I want to share with you something that the Lord has been putting on my heart recently. Alright, lets face it, weather we are discontent because we are single, or we don't have a job, or we don't know what to do with our lives, or we want more money, or maybe there isn't any chocolate in the house and that's why were upset (can you relate? :D) we ALL struggle with discontentment. It may not all be the same kind of discontentment, but we all struggle with it.

I have been struggling with being discontent. I was frustrated because it seemed like hard things were happening to me and my family, one after the other. It was the day before my sisters birthday, I was tired and not in the best of moods. I had been trying to fill up my discontentment and frustration with other things, trying to put myself in a good mood. It wasn't working. I was on Pinterest looking at clothes and movies... I stopped and typed in the search engine, "encouraging Bible verses." Which wasn't anything unusual, I often look for encouraging Bible verses to share. I scrolled down the choices, scanning verses, pinning the ones that I thought were encouraging, but my bad mood was still there. And then I saw one verse, and this is what it was,

Psalm 34:4-5
"I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant and their faces were not ashamed."

I looked it up to make sure it was a Bible verse. It was. ;) God used that verse that someone had posted to click something inside of me. I realized I was looking for my contentment in all the wrong places. I wasn't seeking the Lord. I was not looking to the Lord for my contentment. I knew if I kept on like I was, I would be miserable. No matter what was happening to me, I still had things to be thankful for. Betsy, Cory Ten Booms sister told her in the prison camps, to be thankful for the lice, because it kept the soldiers away so they could have their Bible studies and were able to teach the other women. If Betsy could find things to be thankful for in a dirty prison camp where she was being tortured constantly, then I think I can, in my circumstances find things to be thankful for.

Why am I sharing this with you? Well, to help you to remember, to look to the Lord for your contentment. Its so easy to get caught up in other things, movies, books, music, Internet, sports, etc. etc. that we loose sight of where our joy comes from. We are to "Let our light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." (Matt. 5:16) What light is that? The joy that the Lord has given us! That only He can provide!

So look to Him for your contentment! Don't try looking for it anywhere else, it doesn't work, believe me. ;) He gave up so much for us, what are we willing to do for Him? If He calls us to be joyful and content in what He has given us, then by golly, lets do it! For the One who saved our lives from damnation to Hell. The True Super Hero! It is not easy, but dying on the cross I don't think was easy for Jesus. So, rest your contentment in Him, and let your light shine!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Beach Pictures. :)

Hi everyone! Man it has been forever since I have written! Sorry its been so long! Life has gotten soooo crazy busy! It is that time of year I sopouse. :)

I thought I would do something a little different this time and post some pictures of our vacation.

So without further a do' I present the pictures of our vacation to Laguna Beach FL! The Lord blessed us with such amazing weather! We had such a marvelous and relaxing time! :)

Ah, lovely!

   Psalm 103:1 "Bless the Lord oh my soul,
   and all that is within me bless His Holy name!"

This little guy posed for me! :D

Its a SAILBOAT! ISN'T That cool?!?! :)

Glad to finally be there! :D

Oh yeah! :)

Lets go swimming! :)

Believe or not, this isn't photoshopped! :D

Cutest couple on the beach! :D

My lovely sister. :) I love this pic! Look at the lighting from the sunset on her hair! So pretty!

Psalm 19:1 "The Heavens declare the glory of God,

and the firmament shows His handiwork."

On our 3rd day there, we went to St. Andrews and the water was so beautiful! We saw so much sea life, it was beautiful! :D

We have the towels, so we wouldn't get anymore sunburnt. :) When we got home we all had evidence on our red faces! :D lol! :)

Isn't this beautiful?! :D

A flower by the pool. :)

Supergirl! Haha! :D

Well, thats all for now! Thanks for checkin in! :D May the Lord bless you and keep you! :D

Monday, September 16, 2013

Shine and Make Them Wonder Whatcha Got!

   When people suffer they are expected to fall. Its what our world says happens. Or is supposed to happen. It is what is expected of us. Whatever happens whether its, loosing a loved one, a car wreck, a friend betrays you, maybe your house was for-closed on, maybe you lost your job, maybe you are screaming internally wondering why God would let this happen to you. You feel like your world is falling apart. You feel like you just can't make it.

   This is normal. Everyone feels this at some point in their life. The truth of the matter is you can't make it. At least not on our own strength. I read this, this morning in my devotions:

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (emphasis added)
"We are hard pressed on EVERY side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--"

   We are hard pressed from every side, but we are not destroyed. Why are we not destroyed? I found that answer in Isaiah. :)

Isaiah 41:13
"For I, the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, "Fear not I am with you, I will help you."

   The Lord promises that He is going to help us through this. He says we shouldn't be afraid. So, the reason we, as Followers of Christ are not destroyed when we are hard pressed is because we have Christ on our side, and if our God is for us, whom could ever stop us?

   So, why talk about falling in struggle? Remember what I said above, it's expected of the world.  Stop and think about that for a minute. So, we are expected to fall, but God promises that He "will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear." (1 Corinthians 10:13). He promises He is going to help us and will be right there with us. So what does all that mean?

   I met a family once who had just been through a terrible tornado. Their father, jumped on top of some of his children to save their lives as their house came crashing down on top of them. All 13 children and mother survived, but to save his children, the father of the family gave his life. This family had lost their father and their husband. I could not imagine the grief it must have caused them. When I met them a year after the tornado I was so deeply impacted. Never before had I seen such joy written on the faces of this family. The kind way in which they spoke to others was so kind! They were such a joy and blessing to get to talk to. I was told later that what the children and mother had agreed on after the tornado was to pray that they would not become bitter towards God. I will never forget this story. After this family had been through such a terrible thing, loosing their father and their home in the tornado and many of the children being injured, their one wish and hope was to pray that their hearts would not be bitter towards God.

   That's what that means. When we are expected to fall by the world, that is when we must shine. That is a opportunity to be a strong testimony for the Gospel. People are always amazed to see someone else shining when they know that, that someone is either struggling or just went through some terrible things. That is when we stand out. That is when people are going to notice us as Christians most. Maybe that's a time when we can make an impact on this world for Jesus Christ.

   That is not to say that everything is going to be easy. Quiet the opposite, its going to be hard. That's why, when we have most of the darkness around us, is when our light is going to be noticed.

   Maybe your struggling with something as your read this. Maybe you really can't feel like you can make an impact, that you can't shine. Well, on your strength you can't. That's why you have God on your side. He will hold your right hand and help you shine through the darkness. Maybe now is the moment that God's calling you to make your impact, through this struggle. Don't waste it!

   "Shine, Make 'em wonder what you've got, Make 'em wish that they were not, On the outside looking bored, Shine, Let it shine before all men, Let 'em see good works, and then, Let 'em glorify the Lord! ~Newsboys Chorus to "Shine"

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Thankfulness

Psalm 19:14

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer."

Recently I have been thinking about glorifying God. Not just in what I do, but in what I say and think. Talking and thinking may seem like a really small way to glorify God, but it does. I have been thinking about thinking the way I think. I have been trying to focus on the good in my life and not the bad things that are happen to me or the bad things that are happening in the world. So today to help me with that I thought I would say 10 things I was thankful for. :)

1. The faithful love of my Lord and Savior.

2. That Jesus Christ is my Heavenly Father.

3. The Bible, what a helper in our lives!

4. My wonderful parents that are so patient and help me out so much.

5. My awesome siblings that make me laugh and are such a joy to be around.

6. My awesome friends who will cry with me, crack me up and are there for me.

7. All the kids that I work with. They are such a joy.

8. My sweet cats! :D

9. Good, clean, enjoyable books.

10. Chocolate. (where would we be without it. :D)

So what are you thankful for today? You certainly do not have to comment and say what you are thankful for (I would love it if you did though :) ) but i would encourage you to say something your thankful for to the Lord. Because without His grace and mercy we wouldn't have anything. :)

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

The Ability To Glorify

So, the other day I was having a really rotten day. Not a normal rotten day, but a really rotten day. I was struggling, I was fed up, I was angry, I was not someone who you wanted to be around that particular day. So, I went outside to clear my head. To think. To try and reason things out.
There's a place in our yard to the side, behind a island of tree's near our woods, where I used to go when I was a little girl. I smiled despite feeling rotten as I walked down the trail towards my little "corner", I remember walking this trail many times before, with a stick in my hand, pretending it was a golden scepter and that I was a princess in my own imaginary world. Life somehow is so much simpler when we're younger...
Anyways as I reached my corner I sat down on one of the fallen logs and started to think and to pray. I sat there for about half an hour. I cried out to God asking, why again, did we have to go through this? How many times, God?
I have a habit of leaning my chin into my hands when I think, so I stared at the ground while I was thinking and praying. When I was done I looked up, and somewhere in the near far distance, I heard a bird singing. I looked around and noticed that the tree's were starting to loose some of their leaves. Some of the leaves on the ground had already turned yellow and red, and then some were still on the tree's shinning a magnificent green color. It had been raining that day and the sun was just coming out from behind a cloud. I started to think about the bird I was hearing. It was so cute and so happy to hear him (or her) just singing out, like no one was listening. I thought about what it takes to hear a little bird singing. It takes ears and ear drums of course, but it also is the ability to hear. I looked around at the all the different colors of the leaves and the sun shinning and it takes to see. It takes, eyes and all the muscles in your eye's, but it also takes the ability to see. Sherlock Holmes once said, "There are millions of people who see things every day, but do not observe." It takes ability to see and hear. It takes thinking about things to notice them because we take all of this for granted. What about if there was a different way of communicating with each other besides hearing each other? What if God just made the world black and white? What if God didn't give us the ability to hear things and see things?
So why did God give us the gift of seeing colors and hearing beautiful things? To give glory to His name.
Psalm 19:1
"The heavens declare the glory of God and firmament shows His handiwork."
He gave us the gift of our senses to glorify Him.
James 1:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

So every gift that God gives us is from Him and Him alone and He gives it to us for His glory. Pretty cool huh? :)
It's so easy to get caught up in our daily lives and become so absorbed in what we are doing and just take for granted everything around us. I do it every single day. So today, remember to stop and maybe listen to the birds, look around at all the colors of the outdoors around you, look at the baby you hold in your arms, and marvel at the work that God has done. Praise Him from whom all blessings flow. Give Him the honor due to his name. Thank Him for His good and perfect gifts. Above all remember to give God the glory.
"May the Lord bless you and keep you and the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you, may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-26
~Emma :)

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

The Beauty Of The Storm

So I know in my last post I did a introduction to what I said was going to be a series of post about the armor of God, and I fully intend to do the series of post, I am excited about them, but today I felt like the Lord was leading me to write about something else.
Recently I have been learning about trusting the Lord. Learning to trust the Lord is a hard... very hard thing. Why is it so hard? I think it's because we, as humans, think that love is to be shown through giving me everything that I want. This is plain selfishness This of course is normal to sinful human beings. We are all guilty of it. I am not saying that celebrating someone (a birthday for example) is wrong. Totally the opposite, your celebrating life. But when it becomes a thing where all you want is people to "worship" you and give you what you want, then that is sin.
But God loves in a different sort of way. A way that isn't selfish. God loves us, that's why He sends opportunities like hard struggles for us to trust Him. Wow! That's a little confusing isn't it? I know it is for me. I keep thinking, "God you love me, why did you let this happen to me?"
I wonder if God ever shakes his head and says, "You just don't get it do you Emma?" Or "How many times am I gonna have to teach you this lesson?" I know I would if I was Him. ;)
The past two weeks have been a struggle for me. There was many a time I wondered what exactly God was doing, and if He really cared why would He let this happen to me? In the back of my mind I knew that God did care and that God wasn't going to let me walk through this alone, but still I began to doubt... doubt is a terrible thing, because once its in your head, it's there and it can totally bring you down. With struggling with my doubt I began to feel frustrated with myself thinking, "Emma! You know the truth!! How many times have you been through this before?! You know God is still there and He loves you and is never going to leave you, so what's wrong with you?!"
I began to think yesterday how I needed to stop focusing so much on what was wrong in my life and start focusing on the blessings in my life. So I was saying in my head what I was thankful for throughout the day. That night in our family devotions my dad read this scripture;
John 10:27-30
"My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."
Poppa then asked the question, "What does Jesus promise to those who follow Him? How does that make you feel?"
I felt like I had been hit with a sledgehammer with the name realization. It was a peaceful kind of hit with a sledgehammer though. I felt like doing a face-palm right then and there and saying, "I GET IT!"
I smiled as I said, "He promises and no one can snatch us out of His hands. We are His children. That makes me feel comforted."
And comforted was the exact word. I felt more peaceful then I had in a long time. I felt the comfort of knowing that God was with me, He loved me, not because anything I had done to deserve it, but because He is a merciful grace giving God. And that He wasn't going to leave me. That He would help me through not just this struggle, but all of my struggles.
I walked outside last night to get some fresh air and stopped to admire the sky. It was just about to rain, and I could hear thunder in the distance, but the sky was beautiful. There was a circle of storm clouds and through the middle of the circle there was a ray of sunshine, and it made me think, "Wow, God can make the most beautiful things even out of a storm."
God can make the most wonderful thing come out of a struggle, just like making a storm beautiful. All we have to do is trust Him. Because how loving is He, after He saves us, to call us His children or sheep, and promises that no one can pluck us out of His hand. I cannot think of a more loving Father.
Maybe your going through something hard. If so, I hope that somehow God has used my ramblings to encourage you. I hope and pray for you that you will grow in your struggle and learn to trust the Lord. And that you would remember that God is a loving Father and that He, "Will never leave you, nor forsake you."