Hi, my name is Emily and I am attending USF through a college close to home, I am doing an elementary education program that will take two years to complete. I have a wonderful family. I am the oldest of 4 kids and have great parents who love one another and their kids. I have learned so much in the past year about myself and my Creator.
"Your adornment must not be merely external- braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."
It's the inside that matters. It doesn't matter what's on the outside or whether you have the best outfit on. The Lord looks at the heart. That's a scary thought sometimes. My heart is far from perfect. But God looks at my heart and sees the blood of Christ that renews it and makes it clean. It's all about: My heart, Christ's home.
I am a sinner. After so many years of going to church and being saved I forget that. Not that I think I am perfect, but I consider myself to be somewhat mature. I've studied God's Word, not like I know everything, but I know how to study it. I struggle with things, but it always seems to be inside of me, personal. I guess I kind of pride myself with being able to hide my emotions well. Pastor Randy once told me to have a few close friends and only break down among those few. I think I do that. I struggle with things, but they are never really evident outside things. Except this... The other day I realized what an unproductive day I had. I talk to people and tell them that I am busy all the time. A good busy. Then I realized any free time I had was mostly wasted. I have a problem. I was reading 2 Peter 1. This chapter contains a list of fruits or evident things in a believer's life that would show they are walking with the Lord. I read them and evaluated myself on each one. Fail: Self control aka impulse mastery. It's the 5th one on the list. Because I choose to waste time or lie around, I am hurting myself. I need to be decisive and make a choice that glorifies God. So at the end of the day I can say, Lord I spent this amount of time talking to You or I told someone else about You or I spent this time in Your Word. I will have to answer for it all. Every second that God gave me. And with that in mind, there is an urgency to settle this issue and be the light that I need to be in this dark world. Romans 7 verses 15 and 19 have been on my mind a lot. This is exactly how I feel. The good I want to do is not what I do. Which means...I am a sinner through and through. It is only by Christ's death and resurrection that I am able to be fully accepted. *Lord, give me the strength to do what You have called me to do. Let it ALL bring glory to You.*
