Saturday, August 29, 2015

Let's Talk About Prayer!

Hey everyone!
      So this is my third day in El Salvador, and I'm going to be honest, it's pretty overwhelming.  As soon as we arrived I was surrounded by new smells, sights, and people.  It was hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that this would be my new home.  It was nothing like the clean modern streets of America that I was used to.
     When we arrived at the Global Year House, we were surprised with new paint for our bedrooms, which was great because it made the room feel like our's.  My roommates (Brooke, Lane, Emma) and I stayed up late into the night painting, unpacking, and putting up pictures.  As I hung the pictures on my wall, each one seemed to tug at my heart.  I miss home.  I miss my family and friends. I miss being able to pour out my thoughts and feelings to those who know me best.  But that's where the Lord corrected me.
     No one knows me better than the Lord.  Psalms 139 verses 15 and 16 say, "My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." And no one loves me like the Lord.. "But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting to those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children (Psalms 103:17)."
   As the Lord reminded me of these truths, I began to pour out my thoughts and feelings to Him.  I told Him how I missed my house and the people I love.  I told Him how I can't imagine this place ever being home.  And I told Him that I just wanted to look pretty, because due to the lack of AC in the house, my hair has been resembling a stretched out cotton ball. Not cute.
    And as I laid each burden at His feet, it was like taking off a winter jacket.  I felt lighter.  I didn't feel as weighed down by my heart ache.  Do I still miss home? Yes.  Did my hair all the sudden look good? Nope.  But I knew that I had just entrusted my worries with a mighty mighty God, a God that can not be conquered.  A God that is able and wants to hold my heart.
    It astounds me that I'm even able to come before such a God.  Friend, we are not worthy of a relationship with Jesus, but He wants to know us!  He desires a relationship with us so much that He, our perfect savior, died a shameful ugly death so we could come before Him.  What love can compare?
    I don't know about you, but I will not forsake the opportunity to come before the King of this universe, the King that loves you and I, and pour my heart out to Him.  He wants us to.  Jesus says in Mathew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  So I will come to the foot of the cross and trust that He will pour His peace over me.  I pray that you, reader, will do the same.  There is nothing too heavy, complicated, or shameful for our God.

7 comments:

  1. I'm so excited for you! I loved the hair comment! It made me cry😂. Your AMAZING! God will use you. I love you so much💗💗💗💗

    ReplyDelete
  2. Okay so emojis don't work:p. Sorry. Aunt Carrie is a big dork!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Emily!! Know that I am praying for you daily. I soooo remember those first days in Guatemala in language school. Trying to fix my hair and makeup with a hand held mirror was not easy and I can remember thinking, "But I have to look okay!!" I finally discovered that I could balance it on the couch. Whew! God is faithful and He will guide you through all the tough times. I never sent my email: it's ossweat@oneclay.net Love you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You, my dear girl, are an inspiration. Your home, friends, family and especially your momma miss you terribly, but I'm learning quickly that I would rather have you in God's will than anywhere else. You have been selected to go to El Salvador for a reason and your crazy fro won't stop God from using you. :D I love you immensely.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello baby girl, I simply want to thank you for such beautiful words. I look forward to sitting down with you some day and reading your entries again so we can reflect on the countless times that you were able to lift up praise to God for pulling you through tough times. You're going to be spectacular in your role while serving in El Salvador...you have no choice, we are all praying for you so it's a done deal. I love you kiddo.

    ReplyDelete
  6. i am not a good reader but this kept me going :)

    ReplyDelete