by emma | Mar 1, 2006 | Faith
“A set of flags and parameters that individual units of a side use to help decide what to do, typically to fill in details that are not specified explicitly by the units’ orders.”
I was having a conversation with a friend of mine tonight, and we got talking a little bit about doctrine. When I googled the word, I found the definition above. Which I kinda like! I’ve always had the belief that the doctrines of a church are not the most important thing about it, but when I found that definition I just thought… cool! I interpret it as meaning that the doctrines of a church etc are simply guidelines that we use to help us live out our faith practically, because God doesnt give us 100% answers on everything. Its like that verse in the Bible that talks about when the leaders of the church meet together to decide if the Gentiles had to be circumcised etc to be proper Christians… they came out saying ‘it seems good to us and to the Spirit…’… not a difinitive answers, just that it seemed right. I like it!
by emma | Feb 2, 2006 | Africa, Faith
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the world and problems in it. Hmm… thats a very wide-sweeping statement, let me refine it. I’ve been thinking a lot about poverty, and about the problems in the African continent particularly. And I’ve been challenged, humbled and heartbroken at it. I want to make a difference. How can I change the world?
A friend recently passed on a comment to me that her brother made, about how we cant change the world, but we can change the life of one person or one family, and in that way we’re changing their world. I liked that thought. The needs are so vast, so far beyond comprehension, that I often feel overwhelmed by it. ‘God, how can I make a difference, I’m just one person.’
So I hereby pledge, I will attempt to be the change I want to see in the world.
I dislike apathy. Millions of people die every day because people like you and me do nothing. Therefore, I will live passionately, be passionate for the people living and dying in poverty.
Anger wells inside me thinking about the crippling amount of debt that Third World nations suffer to repay, to us, to First World developed nations. Therefore, I will give generously, and I will give often.
The statistics are overwhelming…
30,000 children die every day due to poverty
(malnutrition, lack of clean water… preventable)
800,000 people live in one particular slum in Narobi
(half the population of Northern Ireland)
The same number of people who died in the tsunami,
die every two weeks in Africa due to HIV/AIDS.
I must fight for them. I must love them. I must be passionate. I must give.
Will you join me?
by emma | Jan 22, 2006 | Faith, Words
“May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen.”
[A Franciscan Benediction]
by emma | Jan 18, 2006 | Faith
Only me on my knees
Singing holy, holy
And somehow all that matters now is
You are holy, holy
[Nicole Nordeman]
I am spent.
This journey… its hard to find words to describe it. I’ve been taking more time lately to just be with God. Making time for just me and Him. Private praise in my bedroom. A walk along the beach in prayer. A drive with music drawing me closer to Him. Getting up earlier before school to have more time to read my Bible. And I love it.
I’m growing closer to God. And at the same time, He’s pushing me out further – giving me opportunities to witness, God-conversations with friends, opportunities to encourage and inspire. Enlarging my teritory and blessing me indeed.
Its exhilirating… and tiring. Finding a balance. I feel spent… my life poured out for Gods glory… and I’ve never felt more alive.
Those lyrics are so perfectly me right now. It’s all that matters… Lord, You are holy.
by emma | Jan 14, 2006 | Faith
Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes;
I will wall her in so she cannot find her way.
She will chase after her lovers but not catch them;
she will look for them but not find them.
[Hosea 2:6-7]
I came across this verse today when I was reading ‘Captivating’. It just hit me. This is what God is doing. Does it ever cross your mind that maybe our struggles aren’t always from the devil? I was thinking about this today. Sometimes God has to put things in our way, stop us in our tracks, to stop us doing stupid things, things He doesnt have for us. Sometimes (for example, in my disappointment in being single) God puts our struggles there to make us see that He is the only one who can truly fill our needs. The pain we experience is actually what saves us. Jesus has to thwart our plans of self-redemption, otherwise we’d never really look to Him for our complete rescue. Yes, we might ask for salvation… but we’d never truly depend on Him for eveyrthing. Inside, we wouldn’t trust.
So theres my thoughts for today… the pain is what saves me.
by emma | Jan 13, 2006 | Faith
God I want to know you more…. Please… I really just want to know you more.
Let me see your face.
I want to know you more.
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