Pants That Flood

If you ladies are anything like me, this crazy thing called life is always so busy and ever changing. Between work, family, friends, church, paying bills, running errands and all of the other things that life throws our way, we often get so caught up in it all that we forget to stop and take time to see the world around us... and more importantly, to see what God wants us to see.

Three weeks ago I was having one of the busiest days of my life when God brought it to a screeching halt. I had just loaded all of my groceries into my car and was pulling out of the Walmart parking lot when I began mentally complaining about how there just aren't enough hours in the day. My thoughts went from complaining about time, to praying about finances, then from praying about finances to all of the things I want/don't have. It was during this very selfish, albeit human, moment that I looked up from my steering wheel and saw him... an older man, with a shaggy beard, wearing a belt that was a little too big, to hold up his pants that were a little too short. He looked at me, gave me a half-hearted smile, and continued on his way. And then there I was, trying my hardest to choke back a flood of tears. 

It was during this moment that God clearly spoke to me with His tender voice saying, "You, my daughter, have boots on your feet and a jacket to protect you from the cold. He is in a only thin shirt and ragged pants that don't even cover his ankles. You are in a warm car that is packed full with groceries, and he is barely able to make ends meet enough to be able to eat. You have more than some people will ever get to have and you still aren't content. He has little, yet He is content in me alone." Woah. God officially had my full attention. I never would have thought that God would have used a man in an outfit that didn't quite fit, on a cold day in January, to unveil my selfishness and make me get honest with myself about where my priorities lie but, He did... and it changed my life. 

Matthew 6:19-21 says "Don't store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Also read Hebrews 13:5)

So, I ask you today... what do you place your treasures in? Do you place them in the cutest clothes or most expensive bag? Or do you place them in the hands of our Heavenly Father? Is your happiness determined by the amount of likes you get on instagram post, or is your heart content and filled with the joy of the Lord? Do you feel secure only after a paycheck hits your bank account, or does your security come from the promises and blessings from our Savior? 

Today's prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for all of the blessing that you have given me. Help me to remember what's important, and to keep you at the forefront of my priorities. God, show me the things that I have prioritized above my time with You, and help me assess my priorities and keep You at the top of my list. May I always be thankful for the life that I have and if I ever forget, may you always remind me of the man that had pants that flood. For I am blessed beyond measure. 

Thank You Jesus, I love you. 

He Brought You To It

We hear it all the time. It is probably one of the most popular sayings for times that are anything other than positive. A break-up, a death, a divorce, losing a job... "He brought you to it, He will bring you through it."
I have heard that little phrase so many times that I have almost become numb to the comfort it is supposed to bring.

Today, while in my car having my very on private karaoke session, that phrase popped into my mind and I couldn't shake Gods voice speaking over mine saying, "I brought them to it but, they wont let me bring them through it."

Woah.
I mean, woah.

That hit me so hard and let me tell you, it gave me a completely new perspective of that saying. It gave me new way of thinking about God when it comes to getting through the tough situations that we will inevitably go through in this life.

How often do we say that little phrase to ourselves? How often do we tell it to other people? And when we say it, do we really mean it? Because, if we really believe that He will bring us through something then we need to be prepared to do what He tells us to do in order to get through it, even if it is something we're not comfortable with.

So often I have prayed about a situation, prayed that God would bring me through something... but, I wasn't willing to give up anything. I wanted Him to take the bad yet, I wasn't willing to let go of the things that I thought were good but were actually keeping me in the place that I was praying to get out of.

You see, when you ask God to bring you through something you need to remember that you are dealing with a God who has no limitations, who is all knowing, and whose plan for you is far better than any plan you could come up with on your own.
So, I have decided that it is time we change the saying...

"He brought you to it, will you let Him bring you through it?"

Will you?
Will you be willing to lay down your wants, desires, plans and ideas and fully rely on Him and follow the direction He has for your life?

Clinging onto Him and letting go of you is the only way to truly learn how to let God bring you through something.

Let Him take your life and put it on a brand new, beautiful path.
    Let Him take your heart and heal it from the inside out.
        Let Him him take your troubles and heartache.
            Let Him lead.
                 Let Him love.
                     Let Him bring you through it.

Love always, Em

All My Single Ladies!

  Hello beautiful ladies of the Internet!

So before I jump into what this post is really all about, let me start off by saying that I am not a professional writer, so do not expect perfection here. I am not an english major, and I haven't been blogging for years and years. But, what I do have is a true love for the Lord and a calling that he has placed on my heart, right now, at 12:07 in the morning, and as scared and as nervous as I am to share my heart with you all... I am going to listen to Him on this. 

  So, New Years Eve is upon us (did 2015 fly by or what?) and all day I have been thinking about what I am going to do tonight. What am I going to wear? How will I do my makeup? Where am I going to go? You know, all of the typical going out for the night questions; when it hit me that maybe the actual clothes I will have on, isn't the most important thing that I will be wearing tonight.

I mean glitter and sparkles are nice, but is that really what matters? 

Is that really all I want people to see when they look at me? And ladies, is that really all you want people to see when they look at you?

When you're a single lady on New Years

there is always one particular thing on your mind that stands out above the other 10 million things going on in your head, don't even sit there and pretend like you aren't thinking of that New Years kiss or what cute guys will be seeing you tonight. But can I ask you something?  

Is a cute outfit, makeup, and some heels the only thing you want these guys to see? 

Being a single lady, and a child of God, I am constantly thinking of my future husband and waiting on the day that we finally meet... and I'm sure your are too. Did you know that you can honor your future husband before you ever even meet him? Tonight, as you're out with your friends, I challenge you to keep your future husband on your mind. 

I challenge you to dress, speak, and act in a way that would honor, not only him, but honor God. Carry yourself as the confident and beautiful woman God created you to be. 

  When men look at you tonight what do you want them to see? Do you want them to see surface level beauty that will eventually fade away? Or do you want them to see God's love and God's light radiating out of every part of you?

The choice is up to you. 

Sure it would be so easy to grab that drink just like everybody else, but easy isn't what God has called us to do. 

I challenge you single ladies to live your life in such a way tonight that, in order to get to you, a man will have no choice but to meet God first. And a man that is willing to do that ladies, is a man worth paying attention to. 

Trust me, I know that you will see some very handsome and very charming men tonight... But let me let you in on a secret that I learned the hard way, those good looks and that charm mean absolutely nothing if he doesn't have a heart for God.  Looks and charm will fade, but the love of Christ is eternal.

If a man cannot lead you with the love of God in his heart, then leave him be. 

Instead wait, wait for the man that God is preparing for you. And in your wait, don't lose patience. Don't give up and decide to settle if God doesn't put him in your life right away. I'm not saying the waiting is easy because believe me, the waiting is hard. 

But your time of waiting is also the BEST time for you to draw closer to God, and to prepare yourself to meet the man that is being prepared for you. 

It's a New Year ladies, and this year I challenge you (and myself as well) to be more than just beauty on the surface. 

Because we were made for more. 

Xoxo Em