Always knowing

Good things happen
Along with the bad
It's the way this world works
We look to much at the bad
We focus on the negative
Why not look to the good
And start each day with the son in our hearts?
How is that we are almost programed
To hate what opposes us
To hate the challenges
Why not embarce what you are given
Take it as a chnace to grow
Our hearts slowly grow cold
Until there is no feeling left
And you lay there only numb
Don't let your fire go out
Don't be left in the shadow of death
Revive the fire that once lit the world
Bring it back to dominate the ice
Hold tight to what you believe in
Don't be swayed even though temptations are strong
You're stonger with the son lighting the world
Step into it with a knowing heart
Always knowing that things can be better

A lesson on purity

Issues with purity have never been things I wanted to know about. But here I am writing to you about it. Staying pure nowadays isn't easy. In fact, it's really tough! I'm not some perfect girl, and I'll never claim to be. Now you may even ask why I'm writing this, since it'll get personal, but I'm writing this because it's something we all have or will struggle with in our lives. There are hundreds of ways to be impure , but really only one way to be pure: to follow God and obey his commands. Psalms 119:9 says "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word." In 1 Corinthians 6 it talks about sexual immorality. There's a part that I really liked in verse 15... "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take members of Christ and unite them with prostitutes? Never!" Think about it... are you going to be looking at porn with Jesus looking over your shoulder? Are you going to be sleeping around with Christ with you? Are you going to be messing around with Jesus sitting right there? Honestly, if it can be labeled as impurity, you shouldn't be doing it! In my opinion anyway. You know how I said I wasn't perfect? Well, I've struggled impurity a lot before, and it sucks. Being impure covers lusting after someone and thinking impure thoughts. Now how many of us can truly say something like that has never gone through our minds. Scriptures says to flee from sexual immorality because you're sinning against your own body! (1 Cor. 6:18). But then look back to verse 15: not only are you sinning against your own body, but Christ's because you are part of his body. When it comes to impurity... let your "yes" be yes and "no", no.

Bless y'all,
Emily Elizabeth

The not so great compromise

I find myself trying to compromise with God all the time. I pray to do better when I know in my heart that I'm going to do it again. I basically say to myself "I'll do this, then ask God to forgive me" which is the WRONG thing to do. What kind of chosen people(1 Peter 2:9) are we if we're going to preach the Good News then do the opposite. A lot of us as Christians are a bunch of hypocrites, we don't do what we tell other people to. It's probably my biggest problem. I love to help people, but I really couldn't because I was so far away from God. It's like I was letting Satan further and further inside my heart. The heart I had claimed belonged to God was pretty much being handed off to the Devil. I knew I had to fix something and learn to speak up about what was going on, I hated being so far from God. I prayed to Him for the words to speak, and he gave them to me and helped me find the courage to get it out. If we keep everything inside it's going to fester and begin to tear us apart slowly. Scripture says to obey God's word. So quit doing what you're doing, take up the cross and follow Jesus.

Do what you know in your heart is right,
Emily Elizabeth

Be thankful!

You might pray a lot... you might pray a little, I have no idea. But do we thank God when you pray? Heck, do we even realize all that He has done for us? We pray for something... then we get what we prayed for, but we don't turn and go "Hey God, that was awesome! You've done some pretty spiffy things for me. Thanks!" It's more like, "Wow, imagine that luck!" We've got to realize that God is behind all of these awesome things that happen! He is the ultimate good guy! He's like Super Man... but better! 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says to thank God in all circumstances. Which means even if you've just been punched in the face... don't mope around and think about how unfair it was, but thank God that you did not just have your arm chopped off. Look for the positive things in a world of negative. God thinks that's really cool!!! If you have the respect for God to thank Him for the small stuff, you're awesome in my book and I should hope in God's book too! So yeah...

God bless you cool people,
Emily Elizabeth

Friends and family

Sing a song to match my thoughts
But in my my throat my voice is caught
The tears they come, a smile I'll wear
It's happiness beyond compare
Insults come, they bring me down
My cries from the floor make little sound
My Savior comes to rescue me
He reminds me of my family
And angels sent from heaven as friends
Always a hand they offer, a shoulder they lend
Why beat myself up so instantly?
They're blessings that help me see
Thank you for always being here
You mean the most, my dear, my dear
In my heart you hold a place
It's no longer locked inside a case
God came to you and gave the key
The key that let my heart be free

It's a head on collision

No really. I've been pretty uninspired lately... I was at a writers block until five minutes ago. I was packing my backpack ad I saw my Bible in there. I prayed to God, "Lord please inspire me to write..." I got that far and the verse Isaiah 22:3 popped into my head. I mean... I knew God knows my thoughts, but that was hardcore. It was like... whoosh. It goes something like this... "All your leaders have fled together, they have been captured without using the bow. All you who were caught were taken prisoner together, having fled while the enemy was still far away." Now I knew what I was going to write the moment I read it. I was like, dude... no way. We all run away from our problems so quickly if there is an escape route, but it's almost like we're running towards our problems! Don't things seem to hit you more quickly by trying to flee? Maybe it's just me, I have no idea. That was a prophecy about Jerusalem. They were trying to run from the enemy, but got caught that much sooner. If running doesn't work, try God.And that never seems to work. We've got to greet our ordeals face to face. A line in Isaiah 14:2 says "They will make captives of the captors and rule over their oppressors." When we face our problems... that's what is going to happen. We will overcome them and stand high over evil. Isaiah 14:7 says "The lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing." So basically... you're going to be overly happy about it. Once you deal with your problems... things are pretty snazzy! Say a silent 'yay!' now. Please don't run, but turn and stand on the battle field ready to fight.

Behind the mask

I wish you see who I really am
I'm not some washed up version of you
I'm a girl who wants to change the world
A girl who's heart hurts when others do
I just want people to treat me right
And not pity me or laugh
Just see the girl behind the mask...
See the girl who cares
Don't give up so easily, I'm there!
But with me you have to do some digging
I've kept my face hidden for too long
If you really know me, I laugh a lot
I cry, I sing
I hurt, I bleed

Think about it, come on, think.

How dare you call them foolish men
As you lounge in the family den
You sit and watch your plasma screen
While they fight so your grass stays green
In the Land of the Free
I wish you could simply see
That they are dying for you
So tha our anthem will always ring true
"The war solves nothing" you say again
No thought you give it, not now, not then
But if you sit and really think
That a man dies as you blink
Would you still look at them with a cynical eye?
The cynic that watches our young men die
To convict the soldiers with your heart
Then stand in church and sing "How great Thou art"
Is utter foolishness all in all
How can you sit and laugh while soldiers fall
To be free is maybe the greatest gift
So now you watch my right hand lift
To salute the ones who died out of love
And hope to meet them up above

An end and a beginning

There is always something really sad about December to me. We count down all year until the fateful day of December 25, but when the hours and minutes dwindle down to December 26, our hearts seem to grow heavy. Heavy because the Holy day is over, heavy because school starts back, or heavy because the year is coming to an end. Memories flood back into your mind of the past year and you wish to make more joyful ones. I know I'm not ready for it to end. The start of new things always seems scary, yet inviting; confusing, yet clear. Are we afraid of what's to come? Of what the future holds for us? The new year opens so many doors for you! You have a chance to start anew and define yourself. You have another chapter to fill full of adventures!!! The past year is such a small fraction of the life you have to live. The coming year is awaiting you to come and make memories with it, to walk not yet taken by anyone before. Don't look at the new year as a dragon ready to eat all of your hopes and dreams, but as the Lord waiting to use you for wonderful things. His loving hand will guide you through each day if you let him. It's so cliche, but with every closed door, another one opens.

A sin is a sin

I once talked to a girl who said she had accepted her "fate" of going to Hell because she thought her sins were too big. She said that she "tried the whole God thing" and it didn't work out. It broke me heart to hear her talk like that. She's a work of art by God and I hoped so dearly that she could see that. I'm here to tell whoever is reading this that all sins can be forgiven, but it's your choice. 1 John 1:9 says that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." A sin is a sin. Either a lie or adultery or anything, God WILL forgive you. That does NOT mean it's okay to look at porn or lie to your parents, but you can be forgiven if you're like "God, I know what I have done is wrong and I need your forgiveness. Please help me to stay close to you." There are a million different ways to say it, but you get the point right? Acts 13:38 says "Therefore, my brothers(sisters are included...), I want you to know that hrough Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you." God didn't send his one and only Son to die to watch him suffer. He loves us so much that He send His Son to die for the world (John 3:16). If you think you've done too much wrong, think again. Your sins can be forgiven if you admit them to God. Think about it.

God bless,
Emily

I just don't know

Am I a liar? A Hypocrite? A failure? A Fiend?
How many times have I tried to fly with broken wings?
A jump and begin to soar
But it's not long until I fall to the floor
I never meant to disappoint you
I just wanted to be happy too
I've done so much wrong through out this year
Have I broken all that I held so dear?
When did everything begin to change?
In my heart, a feeling so strange
A heart break that never heals
From the family that shuffles and deals

To the ones who have been there

Dealing with this pain
Sometime seems unbearable
Seeing through the dark
Sometimes seems impossible
I've been given angels
Ones from heaven in the form of friends
We all sing a song of praise
We smile and know
That we're always there
In the pain and the sorrow
Each one is loved so dearly
They are treasures in our heart
A rare jewel that isn't to be let go
No matter where life takes you
Always will you stay with me
Never will you leave my heart
Distance means nothing to us
Because we're all so close
I'll see you again, this I know
Don't forget the good times
We cannot cease to live
Because love keeps us alive
Always and forever
I promise to be your friend
Like the stars in the sky
Our friendship is unmeasurable
Always growing, always forgiving

Get me a mood ring please!

God made me a really emotional person. I must go through more moods a day than anyone else on earth. I go from laughing to crying, from rejoicing to defeated, 100 to zero in a matter of seconds. But because that happens, I'm made stronger. I'm not like your average depressed teen: I don't cut, I don't run away, I don't turn to drugs or alcohol. My release is in writing. I put emotion into what I write because I can't find a better way. Some people cut or do drugs to mask over the pain. I'm not into that. I don't want the pain to stay in me, I get it out. Like the Relient K song "Let it all out, rip it out, remove it. Don't be alarmed when the wound begins to bleed." When you put your emotion on the table, it's gonna be a little while until you can cope with it. But Jesus is there to heal all wounds. Hand your troubles to Jesus, he cares that much for us that he'll take the suicidal thoughts, the anger, the pain you feel away. 1Peter 5:7 say to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." They don't want to look down from the Heavens and see you crying or to see the blood pour out from the razor cuts. Jesus will take that from you without hesitation. Lamentations 3: 19-24 goes like this "I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him'" Jeremiah wrote that because he was so sad that he couldn't help the city of Babylon. He was basically depressed about that. But he kept hope because he knew the God was there for him. He knew that God wouldn't let him stay in such sorrow, that he would persevere through it all. When times are bad and you feel like giving up, remember Jeremiah. He might not have gone through the same thing as you, but he knew depression but still held his faith. He's an amazing prophet that we can learn a lot from. A friend of my dad's wrote to me saying that death is permanent and it's not worth it AT ALL. What we go through is such a small fraction of our lives that might just fade into memory. If you've overcome awful situations, anything at all, I'd love to listen. When no one else cares, you've got me and Jesus.

Singing Praises,
Emily

Ready, Set, heave for breath

I learned something today while I was running. Yes, running. I need to get into shape. Round isn't exaclty my shape even though I pull it off nicely. Anyway, I was running and I realized that my heart isn't ready for it. Literally. I've never been the girl to go running just because I love it. I run if I need to get into shape, am running from someone, or am running towards something (Like the ice cream shop, haha.) Since I've never been a keen runner, I don't have the endurance to keep running. My muscles are weak and my lungs aren't prepared for that kind of thing. I mean, it would've helped to have eaten something before, but I didn't really think of that because I'm really suppose to be blonde... That was like 30 minutes ago and now I feel really healthy. Like I can breathe better and my heart is all YAY. It's like that whenever we try something different that might take a little out of us. The good stuff, nothing illegal! Standing up for your faith is REALLY similar to that. It's tough at first, but as you work through it, it gets a little easier as time goes on. A good verse to remember is James 1:3-4, "Because you know that testing of your faith developes perseverance. Perseverance must finsih its work so that you maybe be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Standing up for Jesus and your beliefs is testing your faith and therefore developing perseverance! There's a verse somewhere that says "Run the race to win" which is what we need to do. We're not here to try and backdown when our hearts are under pressure. We're here to give our all for Christ! God gave his only son to die for us and to let us live a good life, not so that we can go "I believe in Jesus" and then sit on our butts all day. If you can run the race in real life, can you run the race for Christ?

So sick of the worries, so sick of the pain

Project SOS came to my school the other day, and they really had me thinking about self-worth. So many people turn to sex, drugs, and alcohol to feel important. In the end it makes them feel worse. One of my favorite Bible verses is Psalms 139:13-14 which says "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful and I know that full well." God made you with care and he made you to be the amazing person you are now! Ecclesiastes 11:10 says "So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast all the troubles off your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless." Going out and partying isn't going to take the pain you feel away. Taking the pain out on your body by cutting and drinking is going to make everything worse. I need you to remember those verses; write them down something! I hate seeing people I care about sad and turning to awful things. I'm begging you to pray to God that you figure out how amazing you are. I know it, and I'm hoping that you can see it one day.

I'm so sick of the worries
So sick of the pain
So tired of waiting for a light in the rain
I'm praying to God to open my eyes
To see the person I am without all the lies
Just tell me the truth
I need nothing else
Am I beautiful? Am I great?
Do you love me or do you hate?
Leave the sugercoated truth on the curb
Give me the truth, I need to know
It'll make me stonger
It can't bring me down

God bless all of you,
Emily