encounters.

“They are lonely Sundays over here. Only the Word makes a true community.” –Dietrich Bonhoeffer (during his time in America.)

  First of all, happy Lord's day, y'all. Regardless of everything that I might say in this post, I love Sunday. I do indeed love the fellowship, the worship, the learning, and the rest.
 
  This morning I was just given a huge burden {again} for life together; community. Turns out, that is what this morning’s sermon was on. I smile at the fact that I was already planning on coming to you with this message from lil’ ol’ me before I even knew what the sermon was on.

  Over and over, I shake my head at our happy little Sunday morning gig. How are we going to pursue real relationships if we don't first show one another that we need them? How can we have authenticity in our churches if we are first not vulnerable?

  Yesterday, I was reading Bonhoeffer in the car and was captivated by Bonhoeffer’s words about church in America. He was hungry for Jesus… His thoughts on sermons in America often went something like this, “…too much analysis and too little Gospel.” I love my church. There is no other place I’d rather be. Since going to Africa, however, I have been dissatisfied with our enthusiasm and authenticity. Real church, to me, isn’t sitting in a pew {kind of} listening to a sermon. That is a huge part of church. Real church to me, though, is sharing a meal together and sharing our stories. I shared about being home schooled and my dear Ugandan friend shared about being the first Christian in his Muslim family. Real church to me is hugging my friends and sincerely asking how they are. Real church is in the raised hands, the whispers of praise. It’s when I had to leave right before the sermon began and I hugged my Ugandan Grandmother. With her heavy accent and tears beginning to fall, she hugged me close and said, “I love you and will miss you dearie.” I find Jesus in talking like an absolute nerd with my pastor hovering over my textbook. The bottom line here:

Church is not Sunday morning. Sunday morning is when the Church meets.

  I’m hungry for more of Jesus. After reading page after page of Bonhoeffer’s words about the American church I told Him I was done with this. I was done settling for less in relationship with Him. Settling in my prayer time, settling in my reading of His Word.

  As an introvert, I would much rather “do it alone”, as we discussed this morning. Honestly, that would be an ideal reality. There are MANY days I want to stay home, but 99.9% of the time, I never regret going. I am always blessed and am hopefully blessing someone else in the process.You can be sitting with your church family and still be alone. It takes effort to connect. It takes effort to still meet with your friends, mentors, and acquaintances. It’s worth the struggle. The obstacles of friends’ busyness, screwed up priorities, and lack of passion.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” --Hebrews 10:24-25

  See? We didn’t make this up. No matter how much I often dislike meeting face to face or addressing conflict, the Word says to not give up meeting together. Some times that is easy, on other days it’s a sacrifice. One day it’s convenient… the next you’re meeting your best friend for coffee and because of that you’ll be up until after midnight finishing homework. Some days it’s a life-giving lunch break and the next it’s a hard afternoon text saying that it won’t work again this week. Speaking of texts, don't depend on them. Social media is fun & I take apart in a lot of it. However, never underestimate the power of letting someone know that they're worth than that to you. Let them know they are more than words on a screen or a text sent because that's all you had time for. Use all of that to God's glory, continue using it for encouragement, but know that that will never replace meeting together.


“There hardly ever seem to be ‘encounters’ in this great country, in which the one can always avoid the other. But where there is no encounter, where liberty is the only unifying factor, one naturally knows nothing of the community which is created through encounter. The whole life together is completely different as a result. Community in our sense, whether cultural or ecclesiastical, cannot develop there. Is that true?” -Bonhoeffer

  Fact is, I can’t convict you to go to coffee or confess your sins to one another. I can’t make other people read Bonhoeffer’s word about the American church. I can’t even convince my friends to meet with me most weeks. What I can do, though, is make sure I am on track. If I’m making a true effort to encourage everyone around me, to stay in His Word, and to stay in His Presence, that is all I can do.

  After all, that’s a pretty spectacular to-do list.

Don’t give up meeting with one another.
Stay in God’s word.
Stay in His Presence.


Happy Sunday, y’all. Don’t give up.

Your truly,
Emilee

{written on Sunday afternoon, October 20th.}

memories of His faithfulness.

The other day I took a trip down memory lane and was reading through one of my old journals. I found my journal entry from October 17, 2012 and was reminded of His faithfulness; of the last year's struggles.

Two weeks ago today - right now - I sat in this place, beneath the cross rich with the Holy Spirit. In those two weeks we have more knowledge than before. Unlike two weeks ago we know how to string words together to be put on the prayer list. Grandpa Kerwin has cancer. Over all, we are praying that he would accept Christ wholly. ... I came to the realization that I needed this. I needed a day of unspoken for joy. Although circumstances have changed and drama has flared up I still can feel God's invisible love - like the wind turning my nose red & making the pages twist & turn. Wind is invisible, but Peter saw it. As I see His love for us, the yellow leaves about my head, the cross before me, countless words of encouragement later - God is good. I am still in love. I will not be shaken by drought or storm. God, know my thoughts & hear my prayers... and seal these thoughts. Know the deeper intent of my being's prayers & groans. May I live like You did, Jesus. Thank-you for the people you have brought into my path. ... I must go, but I know that You go with me. I cannot stand without You. Thank-You for this crazy mercy, joy, and hope. ...

 Y'all know how it ended. However, redemption still won. Grandpa DID accept Jesus! For this, we praise Him still.We miss Grandpa more than you know every single day, but we know that He knew what He was doing. Working it all out for His glory, whether we believe it or not. Praying for y'all. Be blessed!

Two signs of God's faithfulness: the unchanging truth of the gospel & the changing color of the leaves.

Yours truly,
Emilee

happy october.

October.

I can't say that I have a favorite month. I have my favorite parts of every single one, but October seems to enchant me. This post is to celebrate autumn & all of it's simple joys.



"My ghostly pumpkins, the pale vanguard of fall, are stationed at the front door beneath the abandoned web of a fat spider the size of a quarter that fell dead some days ago. The truth is, while I love all of fall’s post card nonsense, the sweaters and burning leaves, I really love it for the telltale cool winds, the dark encroaching, the days like sucking your breath in through your teeth. It’s ...
the brilliant last gasp of all that was hardly promised in spring, that swelled in summer. I love to watch it all burn up in a fit, all smoldering colors and trembling before it falls silent. Autumn is my memento mori, and I never feel more alive than when the leaves are dying all around me. The twilight is brilliant; in death’s theatrics, there is a promise: this is not it, you’ll be ok." ~Beth Kirby (localmilkblog.com)

 

Y'all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee. Hot tea. Coziness.

 

 

This is a handmade card my camp roomie recently sent to me. I thank the Lord for sending her my way in His perfect timing. We've known each other since third grade. :)  

 

 

 

 

Leaves are turning. Anticipation.

 

 

For the million little ways He shows us He loves us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything is so different. Yet, everything is so familiar. It's Him going before us in every season.

The world is spinning hurriedly by & the Lord reminds us that He has gone before us. It truly will be okay. Friends start driving, you start going to dances, little girls look up to you, friends come & go.... Life seems to start over in every exciting & terrifying way. Thus far, October has been like that for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's to terrifying new seasons, chasing dreams, turning leaves, hot drinks, & big books.

 

 

Happy October!

 

 

His Peculiar Treasure,

Emilee

 

 

our home sweet home of one year.

A year ago today.

Last year on September 29, 2012 we moved into this house.

It seems like yesterday.

It's hard to believe just last year my Grandpa was helping us move & this year he's not even here.

It's been a roller coaster of a year... a lovely one, but a challenging one.

We had a lot of awesome help from some of our favorite people!

We hosted a little at our old house up the road, but it's fun to see how much more this larger house has allowed us to welcome even more people into our home more often. Great to have more  fellowship and ministry opportunities right here in our own home!

Contrary to last fall, I'm hoping we can spend more time enjoying our house this season... as you know, we were barely AT our house last fall due to taking care of my Grandpa. So, here's to more front porch swinging, movie nights, & Jacuzzi baths! ;)

Uganda & this street are my top two places that I hope to live at some point 'when I grow up'. :)  My love for this place is sincere, y'all.

We've enjoyed this year very much & I'm looking forward to the few years I have left here. :)

In other exciting news, it's NATIONAL COFFEE DAY! {a.k.a. National Happy Emilee Day}
Grab a friend, drink a few more cups o' coffee than you usually would, be happy you're not unpacking your new house this time, & CELEBRATE!

See y'all soon.

In Abba,
Emilee

 

:)

To read a little bit about us hearing the news that we were moving here, click here & read my post, "move #5."

bits of life lately.

Greetings y'all!

I had every intention of adding to last year's pumpkin spice latte post. Also about Colorado. However, that won't be possible until some technical difficulties are solved.
I have taken many pictures lately with y'all in mind. Counting blessings; recording memories. Sooooo, someday soon you'll see a few more glimpses than these below.

So, who is up for some random updates from our corner of the world? Shall we?

I started school this week--the day after Labor Day, as always. It's been a interesting week adjusting to all of the changes going on in my world this fall, but school itself is going excellent. Of course, it's the first week. However, I'm excited about one certain unique textbook, writing papers in English, & literature projects. I'm reading Sense & Sensibility & simply loving every minute of it. Once I got used to the language, I have really enjoyed it. It's one of those books that you update your family & friends how it's going & nobody else probably cares. All well.

First day of school on Tuesday! I can't believe I'm a freshman. It's exciting & terrifying.

My cousin Nathaniel at his birthday celebration following his football game on Monday. He's growing up fast. Aren't we all?!?

I just finished The Help shortly after we got home from vacation in Colorado. Between my love of Mississippi, this story, & my lack in reading any fiction lately: I could barely put it down. Love this story. If anything else, it inspired me to write more stories. That alone was worth reading the book.

Several ladies from the 'gang' came over to watch Tangled at my house on their last night of summer. Love them so much.

Missing Colorado & lovin' my coffee. However, I won't drink coffee everyday until it gets cooler. I'm excited for that day to come. :)

On Thursday, our craziest of the week, we stopped by sister's tennis meet for as long as we could. On another happy note: I just started horse lessons AND got back into Greek on Thursday.

I love FaceTime. Especially with these beauties. This was our kitchen counter conference call Thursday night.

After Sunday school with the bestie! She's a pretty big deal to me. :)

This is my current favorite reminder. I have an anxious heart. Turning to Him!

On the way to Nathaniel's party, we had lunch with the Zimmer's! Love them to pieces. Jasmyn is getting so big!

Hope & Heartaches; the journal I most recently filled to the brim with musings from this peculiar treasure. It was almost painful going back & reading it all. It's authentic in every way & reading about how He was leading me through every hard & easy step along the way is a blessing.

After taking a break from all my knitting projects, I jumped back in a few weeks ago. Thus far, I've finished one orange & black scarf to wear to football games & am working on my next one. It's very soothing & one of my very favorite things to do.

I absolutely love this picture of Momma V & Auntie Diane in Colorado enjoying their Starbucks along the river. Besties of mine.

Is it cheesy to take pictures of your dog & call him handsome? If it is, I'm just gonna have to live with that title.

My sweet prayer warrior friend, Mariah. A lot of hashing, problem solving, & heart-to-hearts have taken place lately.... & with that:

Indeed it does. :(

My tease for 'pumpkin spice lattes 2013'! Ahhh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I posted this on my Instagram account a few days ago hoping it would make my followers' hearts smile, but mainly, it was so that I would, too.

Tomorrow {Sunday} afternoon Momma V  & I are headed to see Michael Buble! I'm extremely excited. A mini road trip, to be in the city, to see Michael live for the first time... what a great way to end this week! Ever since Momma told me that he was coming while I was at camp, anticipation has been building. Once again, I'm leaving you with the promise that you'll hear more about that later.

Thank-you for taking a random journey with me through life lately! 


With that, my loves, I will leave you for the night. I have church to go to in the morning... & hopefully, so do you! Whether I'll see you there or not, I pray that you will have a marvelous Lord's day! Enjoy being with your church family & praising Him together. I know I will.


Adoring away anxiety,

 

P.S. I'll let these pictures speak for themselves. I'm eager for what He has in store for us on these fall days filled with autumn activities that I look forward to year round.