Year Four

1) SENIOR YEAR.

2) Gawgeous roommates.

3) Faithful Lord.

4) Daniel Squarite family.

5) Enjoyable major.

6) Solid church.

7) Humorous family.

8) Delightful job.

9) Exciting possibilities.

10) Wide open future.

This is perhaps the over-positive list about my current life situation. There could be a few negativish and slightly humorous additions, such as:

1) Fear of boys.

2) Temperamental car.

3) Frightful level of time commitments.

4) Probable caffeine overdosage.

5) Danger of initiation into adulthood.

6) Facebook overload

7) Etc....

But, despite positive or negative musings on this life of mine, one characteristic always stays the same and is constant throughout all: the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1 says "...to the praise of his glorious grace." That's what I want this year to be about. I want the purpose of every piece of every day to be His glory. I want to make his grace, that is so big and incredible, more famous to those around me. I want to be a "God-publicist." Is that term even appropriate in this context? All I know, is that He deserves the praise of his creation, and too many people on Clemson's campus don't know how great He is! I want to get after that, and I want to see the population of believers here rise up with a passion to get after that as well.

So, here comes a year to remember...

Party in the IN-DI-A

So... I went to India this summer. India. How would I sum up an experience like this one in a few sentences? Well, God is a big god. This summer he did big things. He taught me a lot about himself and a lot about how to live a life that is completely reliant on him day by day. How to really care about the souls of millions and take action to love on those he brings into my path with boldness. Our team became a family. We made incredible friendships. I developed a new passion for life in India and vision for my future. I would say it was a life-changing time. :)

And I spoke too soon...

Well, as you can see, I haven't shared any heartwarming stories of my life at home recently. This is because I am not home. Surprise! After an incredible weekend in Edisto with the India team, I came back to Clemson and was blessed with an awesome job as a nanny to four children. Five year old triplets plus little Wyatt. It has been an interesting ride so far, learning how to have patience, discipline well, serve without expecting anything back, and have fun like a kid again. I will have to post some pictures as soon as possible, they are the cutest little things. :)

In other news, I bought a longboard!! It's about time. Hurrah!

EmHomeLife

So perhaps no one else will find my life at home as interesting or exciting as I do. But I've found that when at home, there is a time or two every couple of hours that I suddenly have an intense longing to call up a friend and share a moment that just warmed my heart, the pride I feel for a sibling, or the hilarious adventure that I just went on.

Unfortunately, these times just aren't the same to others as to myself. The exact position I'm in is due to the intersection of the time in history and my experiences in society (as us Sociologists would say it). Therefore no one will ever experience what I do in quite the same way I do.

So here's my solution: I will write about this phenomenon I call Emhomelife. Whether you read or not, I will be logging my favorite times with my favorite family... but feel free to read. ;)

The times you doubt me, when you can't feel
The times that you've questioned 'Is this for real?'
The times you're broken, the times that you mend
The times you hate me and the times that you bend
My love is over, its underneath
It's inside, it's in between,
Those times you're healing
And when your heart breaks
The times that you feel like you've fallen from grace
The times you're hurting
The times that you heal
The times you go hungry and are tempted to steal
In times of confusion and chaos and pain
I'm there in your sorrow under the weight of your shame
I'm there through your heartache
I'm there in the storms
My love I will keep you by my power alone
Don't care where you've fallen, where you have been
I'll never forsake you
My love never ends, it never ends.

10th Avenue North "Times"

TYPICAL TUESDAY

Hey God,
You are the true love, the one that I adore. God, I cheat on you so often. I walk down that wedding aisle with you looking on with love and joy, and I turn aside and look at other lovers. I elevate the opinions and affirmation of my peers to the position only you should hold in my life. I get more excited about their approval of me than the satisfaction that you are offering to me in yourself. I am SO SORRY. Jesus, you have done so much for me. You have given me grace in every area of life, even though I am dreadfully sinful. I deserve nothing, but you have heaped blessings on me anyway. You’ve called me to be your lover, your bride, your dear child. I so desire to live in that daily, to experience that beautiful romance that you have prepared for me.

But my sin gets in the way. I get so focused on it, and my failure to please you daily that I lose sight of the fact that you have redeemed me. You have already paid the price for my sin, and although you call me to be sanctified, and to strive for perfection, you don’t judge me or punish me for the sins I commit. I am already forgiven. You see me as righteous!!

Please give me focus on you! Despite being overwhelmed with things to remember, people to pour into, assignments to complete, subjects to study, friends with expectations, I pray that I would be overwhelmed with your love and acceptance. Overwhelmed with the fact that despite all my gross sin, you love me. That nothing I do will ever make you love me less. PRAISE YOU.

Please receive the glory from my life today. Remind me that I am not the only one dealing with sin, and that you will never give me more than I can handle. Get my focus off myself, and show me how to encourage my brothers and sisters, and bring glory to your name.

Love,

Emily

Psalm 139

This weekend was the 20-20 conference. Amazing.
I learned so much I can't remember any of it.
I need to sit down and process everything soon.
The weekend started out with sunflower seeds and the Book of Questions.
It ended with sickness and Imodium.
But you know what?
God is so good.

I know this is lame.

Create your own FACEinHOLE

I love my major.

An article I read today for class so exactly describes the typical hip-hop culture outfit for males that it made me chuckle. Perhaps you are not as nerdy to enjoy it as much as I did. I apologize for the offensive language in the article's title.

"Clean, oversized, carefully put together clothing is central to a hip-hop identity for African-American boys who identify with hip-hop culture. Richard Majors calls this presentation of self a 'cool pose' consisting of 'unique, expressive and conspicuous styles of demeanor, speech, gesture, clothing, hairstyle, walk, stance and handshake,' ...(Majors, 2001:211). Pants are usually several sizes too big, hanging low on a boy's waist, usually revealing a pair of boxers beneath. Shirts and sweaters are similarly oversized, often hanging down to a boy's knees. Tags are frequently left on baseball hats worn slightly askew and sit perched high on the head. Meticulously clean, unlaced athletic shoes with rolled up socks under the tongue complete a typical hip-hop outfit."

C.J. Pascoe in his article "'Dude, You're a Fag': Adolescent Masculinity and the Fag Discourse" in the publication called Sexualities

Puffs Plus

This weekend I did ClemsonLife with Catelyn and Jill.
It snowed a little.
The sermon today was on humility and gentleness.
Hello spanish exam.

Popes

I got to babysit the cutest children in the whole wide world for two hours today. What a great time. All my friends came to visit for those two hours. Funny how that works.

The Purple Painted Potty Room

Today we fixed the toilet. It was about time.

Jimmy's Doom

Today I drove back from Charleston with Andre the GPS guiding me around through a detour because of I-85 road work. I had a nice evening with the Poleynard family, but first spent an hour with lady and Mr. Cop: pictured. Unfortunately I ran into her back bumper on my way over to Lauren's house. She didn't handle it very well. After her anger subsided, I shakily handed her my information and we braved the cold while everything got taken care of. Sigh. Hello to my very first traffic ticket.

6 months later

Recently I received this letter from myself. Written during debriefing in India. Six months ago.

Emily,
Well, I've just finished serving in Bangladesh for 6 weeks. Here I am at debriefing about to leave. I don't want to forget all that God has taught me and led me towards during this time.

He's reminded me a lot about how much more there is to life than worrying about pleasing and being liked by everyone. His gospel needs to be preached and he has called me as his sower. See the eternal perspective, Emily, and all the lost people in a dark world in South Asia. They are worshiping stone and wood. They are doing the "right" things over and over again to earn heaven, to have a purpose. They don't understand that salvation is a free gift and that true joy is available to them! Despite the poverty, hunger, dirt, persecution and hopelessness that fills this place, they could have true joy. But how will they know this if no one will tell them? If no one will demonstrate Christ's love to them? How will they know if I don't forget about myself, my needs and my desires long enough to be bold and bring Him glory by sharing the good news?

He's reminded me of the incredible importance of His Word. Memorize it, meditate on it! It will come to mind in those times of battle or ministering to others. The importance of prayer: He answers it! Am I demonstrating the faith that he will answer by daily seeking His face on behalf of these people? It made such a difference to have so many people interceding for me during this time. Have the same impact.

I pray that I never forget how blessed I am to have FOOD, a home, a family who loves me and supports my relationship with Jesus, freedom to worship and share Christ. Emily, don't forget about L, T, S, J and others who are so full of joy despite so much hardship.

There is so much more. But finally, don't forget the slow pace of life in South Asia. God has used it to teach me not to pack my schedule so full. It's ok to be busy, but remember that it was those times of quiet before the Lord that he taught me so much. Those times that required patience and contentment with what seemed unproductive and awkward were the times that he brought the most opportunity.

Don't forget the SA101ers all over the US and the world who are living out the gospel. Be encouraged and go out and live what God is calling me to do: no matter the cost, no matter what others do, think or say. Remember that God and I are a team. He is enough for me. As great as life at home may be, as great as my friends and family might be, as great as this or that seems, there's a whole world out there, and God is in it.

Praise Him. In Christ Alone.

Emily

Matrimony

1. Dorcas is married!
2. She and Jason are husband and wife.
3. It was a lovely wedding.
4. After the reception we took a bunch of pictures using the smile feature on Adrian's camera.
5. Now the lovely couple is off on their honeymoon and we are left behind.
6. Tomorrow I have to leave this wonderful place and go back down south. Sigh.
7. It is also a new year. Twenty-ten. How does it feel?