I hope

{via}

{via}

I hope you are enjoying the sunshine.

I hope you are able to relax, away from work and school for a little while.

I hope you are enjoying memories as they happen, not caught up in the little things that don't really matter.

I hope your days are filled with warmth, laughter, iced tea, and good books.

I hope you are finding time to spend with family and friends.

I hope you have eaten too much ice cream.

I hope you are having a good summer.

Hugs,

Emily.

// inspire // pray // be unafraid // sing // study // 

Sometimes I get scared

Sometimes.

Sometimes I get scared of the future,

Sometimes I worry that I won't choose the "right" college.

Sometimes I wonder what God wants me to do with my life.

There are so many options. How can I choose out of thousands of schools? Do I want to go to a Christian college or not? What do I want to study? Is college the best route to wherever I want to go? What do I want to do?

It seems like choosing a college sets the course for the rest of my life. My father is always telling me that I don't have to try to plan out my whole life, just the next step, but that is so hard. Everyone asks me what my plans are, what I want to do with my life, but I have no idea.

Is it so wrong to want to keep everything like it is right now? Yes, I go through struggles, but life seems comparatively easy when I juxtapose it with what could happen.

It seems like everyone else my age has a plan, knows what school they want to attend, what they want to major in, and what career field they will go into.

But I don't. I want to know, but I don't.

And sometimes, I fear and worry and wonder.

camp

camp.

It is a word filled with many memories.

I have been going to camp for my whole life. I started as a staff kid, then a camper, and now I am a staff member. 

Today, I am headed off to CYIA (you can read about the program here, if you would like) which is held at the camp I attend. There, I will be learning how to present the Gospel to children, then going out into the streets to share God's plan of salvation with whomever we find. I will then teach at children's clubs for a week. I would appreciate your prayers! I will be leaving today and coming back next Friday.

What are some of your summer plans?

Hugs,

Emily.

the warrior is a child

Lately, I've been winning battles left and right

but even winners can get wounded in the fight.

People say that I'm amazing,

strong beyond my years,

but they don't see inside of me

I'm hiding all the tears.

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down.

They don't know who picks me up when no one is around.

I drop my sword and cry for just a while,

'cause deep inside this armor

the warrior is a child.

Unafraid because His armor is the best,

but even soldiers need a quiet place to rest.

People say that I'm amazing,

never face retreat,

but they don't see the enemies

that lay me at His feet.

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down.

They don't know who picks me up when no one is around.

I drop my sword and look up for a smile,

'cause deep inside this armor

the warrior is a child.

//the warrior is a child by twila paris//

I'm not that girl

I long to run out onto the wet grass and dance with the wind between the raindrops, not caring about getting soaked or muddy. I want to spin around, not caring if I make a fool of myself.

But I stop myself. That's not what I do, I say. That's not the kind of person that I am.

Well, if I'm not, why can't I be that girl? What is holding me back from being her?

I don't know. Maybe it's just that i have always been the calm one,

the cautious one,

the fearful one.

The one who doesn't do crazy things.

The one who always stays with what is safe, accepted, normal.

The one who hates being embarrassed and laughed at.

But who says I always have to be that girl?

Why can't I be both?

I don't know.

All I know is that sometimes, I don't want to be the calm, fearful girl and instead

be the one who dances in the rain.

run the race

1 Corinthians 9:24, 27

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it...

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

I have often heard and read that first verse, been told that the Christian life is a marathon race that requires training. But I had never really taken a look at the second verse. I need to continue training. I will never reach a point in my life here on earth in which there is no room for improvement in how I run. I cannot grow lax in my training and practice. If I don't, I can't really help others learn how to run because I am not running correctly. 

Just a few thoughts on this Wednesday evening.