Memories and Legacies

Today I celebrated the life of a dear friend of mine. She was an inspiration, a mentor, a teacher full of wisdom and my friend. She was my Sunday school teacher. She challenged me, she taught me with love, she helped me search for answers, and helped when I couldn't find them. I already miss her very much and I will continue to remember how very blessed I am to have known her. 

As I think about the life she lived I am reminded that the Bible says our days are numbered here on earth. Psalm 34:4-5 "Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. 5 My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath."

Each moment of our lives is precious and we should strive to make it count for something greater than ourselves. I, like many others will remember this special lady and her legacy will live on. She inspired me to live a life of sacrifice, of serving, and of sharing my faith.


1 Corinthians 13:1-10 "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angles, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps not record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears."

This special lady showed love to all those she met and never withheld an opportunity to share the love and good news of Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. If I have learned anything from her; it is that I will learn to love. I will be bold and be guided by only the one true God Himself. I am grateful to have met her and will miss her dearly, but I will also continue to strive to do better because I saw that she was able to do it.

A Higher Calling

Tonight I was finishing up some planning for worship tomorrow at church. Some stuff has been going on and it's just a shame that God's people act the way they do. The "it's all about me" attitude needs to go! Come on people. So, here are my thoughts on the way the church and God's people should act like.  

 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2  "When the Church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. Then the world is made to listen to its message"- Martin Lloyd Jones 

  

 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts says the Lord. Isaiah 55:9  

  

Called Me Higher - By All Sons and Daughters 

  

I could just sit I could just sit and wait for all Your goodness Hope to feel Your presence And I could just stay I could just stay right where I am and hope to feel You Hope to feel something again  And I could hold on I could hold on to who I am and never let You change me from the inside And I could be safe I could be safe here in Your arms and never leave home Never let these walls down  But You have called me higher You have called me deeper And I will go where You will lead me Lord You have called me higher   

So this is my prayer -  

Father, what a honor it is for us to gather in Your presence this very day. Lord, we are here to worship You, to give glory to Your Name and to lay ourselves down in surrender to You. We ask that You show us the next step we are to take, that You guide us in Your way and that we forget about what we want or what our plans may be. Lord we ask that You reveal Yourself in such a way that we cannot help but to live for You. Lord we want our lives to be a living sacrifice pleasing to you. Father we know that there is non good not one and that Lord You don't need us to complete Your plan but Lord that you want us and that you love us is overwhelming. You are Lord of all in the good and bad and we ask that as You continue to work in our lives You would move us out of the way Father that You would take us instead by the hand and lead. Lord we give You a portion of the blessings you have given to us and we trust Lord that You will do with them what you please. Thank you for loving us so much more then we will ever know. In Jesus name. Amen  

 This is typical worship leading: a scripture, a quote, a worship song and a prayer. I covered all the bases ;)  

You Can Always Count on Change

Hello Readers,
I wanted to share a few things that I have learned so far in this wonderful year of 2015. I began the year without having any New Year resolutions which was a first for me. I am very fond of my lists! Although I didn't have a formal list of things I must do, I did expect 2015 to be a year of change. I was really ready for something great to happen in my life. I entered the year ready for excitement. I knew there would be challenges to overcome and most likely things I didn't want to do necessarily but I am ready for anything!

Last night I finished reading a book recommended to me by one of my professors titled "Who Moved My Cheese?" Its just a short book packed with some really helpful strategies for dealing with change. I mean lets face it, who really likes change? If you are one who actually does, congratulations because life is full of change.

Change is inevitable. I feel like my life is changing more this year than ever. I am having to think about what I'll do after college. I have to plan for my career. I have never liked answering these questions but they are really important now and I need to figure out what to do next. I am absolutely terrified of the future. Life has been pretty easy up until this point and I don't want to have to deal with such worries. I like being comfortable but guess what? That's my own human desire to be comfortable. If God says "drop everything and follow me" am I willing to do that? I would love to say yes but boy is that ever frightening!

Here are two scripture passages to think about and I have probably shared them before but they are still relevant and will continue to be.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know that plans I have for you" says the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Thank goodness somebody has a plan!)

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I am trusting in the One who hold the map of my life. I may only see pieces of it at a time but I know that those parts I do see are directed by God and God alone so why not trust Him.

Jill Emily