I am truly speechless and overflowing with gratitude as I type these words. Reality has been flipped upside down for me in the past two months and God has already begun to radically show me the box I have put him in for 18 years is so much smaller than who HE IS!!
by God’s mercy, the imitation of Jesus from those who have supported me, the sacrificial generosity, and the excitement and passion to send and make disciples of all the nations – God has provided the exact amount I need to GO.. I AM FULLY FUNDED!!!
My heart is overfilled with joy, and all I can do these days is thank God for being such a good friend. It’s hard to explain this feeling of gratitude but I want to try and explain it through the way Jesus has been opening my eyes lately to surrender and showing me through yielding our control to His unexplainable, sovereign, and intentional plan beauty surrounds us.
Through providing for my needs he has encouraged me to look beside myself, recognize, and ACT on the needs around me. He has challenged my definition of generous giving without hesitation, and He has truly opened my eyes to appreciate the people, beauty, and uniqueness all around me.
With this He has also opened my eyes to the reality of the approaching bitter-sweet goodbyes that have truly made me recognize and overflow with gratitude to experience the joy within the day to day moments.
I want to share a few joys I have experienced recently that for so long I have taken for granted:
the sweetness of sunday mornings to connect with and talk to so many beautiful souls, the privilege to serve and talk each Thursday with amazing people at the food pantry. Laughter from the unruh kiddos when spinning them 20 mph on their tire swing. Sleeping in the tent I will be living in for 6 weeks that Kim Antonell bought for me (thank you i LOVE it!). The pure excitement when digging for worms with Laelah building worm dominions. Bible study in bradford with amazing girls asking humbling questions. the smiles of my friends and the beauty of laughter. The talent and uniqueness of every single person in the church youth band. the beauty in the sunsets outside my window every night at 8 pm. Family walks around the block and the joy of celebrating graduations, summer, and birthdays!
These specific experiences and the sweetness of them will be something I wont get to experience in 100 days when I leave – but I am confident they will remind me there is so much joy within each moment wherever I am.
The Lord’s provision and prompt to shift my eyes from my own needs and instead be present and find Jesus in every moment no matter what it is, have made me so thankful for every single person I am blessed to know. I am confident these Goodbyes will be hard, but oh how thankful I am to have people that it’s hard to say goodbye to.
In seasons of mundane, in seasons of excitement, & in seasons of moving on Jesus is right there with us. In foreign countries & in Massachusetts Jesus is right here with us. In the day to day there is joy to be explored & there is Jesus’s love to experience. I thank every single one of you who has prayed, financially supported, and encouraged me. It has not only lifted a weight off my shoulders but has given me room to see beauty in each day. It all has meant the world to me, and I pray this blog encourages you of Jesus’ amazing and intentional provision but also is a reminder to trust in him for our needs so we are able to look beside our self and find joy in loving others!
I’m daily humbled, and in awe of the goodness of the Lord, I pray I am slow to forget His provision, quick to see His beauty in every person and experience I am privileged with, and eager to depend on His will.
don’t forget to love BOLDLY and imitate our maker!
– E
Sounds wonderful, Emily. You are truly growing in Christ! Keep your eyes on Him and keep seeing Him in everyday life!
Praying for you
Jeanette Davis
That last paragraph is a life key. Be daily humbled and in awe of his goodness. You’re old enough to know that somedays that’s easy, and somedays that’s a choice.
Excitedly looking forward to meeting you in September!!
That’s Awesome! Happy for you and the work He is doing already in you. Praying that the mission starts long before we leave!