Job

I am not sure you knew this but I have been reading through the Bible since July 2010, it has been 16 months and I am only in Job. Sometimes in the past year and a bit I have been so frustrated by the fact that I felt as if I had made no progress on reading through the Bible, it was so frustrating to look forward and see how much I had to read, or look bad and see how little I had read. But now I am have reached Job, this was a book that I was dreading, whenever I read it before it was because I felt like I should just so I could say I had read it like a good Christian. 

But when was the last time any of you have sat down and read job, not just reading it to finish it but to just soak in God's word. Job is powerful, I mean it starts out with God bragging about Job 'Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”' (Job 1:8 NIV) God is bragging about Job like a proud father brags about his children. So God tells Satan that he believes in Job and Satan can test him, he can take everything about the man, but not harm Job himself. Still Job doesn't turn away from God he remains faithful, so then Satan challenges God again “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. ⁵ But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 2:4), so God relents again trusting Job to remain faithful, his only condition is that Satan cannot kill Job. Again Satan goes and strikes Job with illness that causes him to be covered in soars all over his body. Still Job does not curse God instead he says "...Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10)

Job is special, lets be honest most people (and by most I mean most likely everyone) does not have everything taken away from us including our health, family, homes, everything and act like Job. Job grieves yes, but he hasn't sinned yet, blaming God for this, Job has not stopped worshiping.

I love that verse "...Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" God does not promise us that our lives are going to be filled with happiness, God does not promise that our lives are going to be easy. Actually its the opposite we can look throughout the Bible, both old and new testaments and find that the peoples lives who followed God where in fact not easy at all. We will find that they are constantly being attacked whether verbally or physically because they are different and people don't like different. 

If we are going to be different, if we are going to follow God we should accept the good AND the bad, the hard, the messy, the scary, everything. This life is about so much more then happiness. 

My life began....again...Part 2

If you have ever met me you will know that I am a someone who is shy around people I don't know well, this stems from the fact that I don't trust easily. I don't trust the people who I first meet because I am instantly thinking, what if they don't like me, what if they hurt me, because of these thoughts that are going through my head I stay silent in hopes that I can fade into the background. When God started to break off my fear He did it in tangible ways, He gave me joy that overwhelmed my fear to the point where I was able to  be who I am. Which is opinionated, talks to much, outgoing, adventurous, loves to laugh, and sometimes just a little crazy. I forgot to be silent and instead yearned to get to know my team, I wanted to know their names, their stories, joys, hurts, everything, so I asked questions. I was assertive, I was anything but the wallflower that I should have wanted to be.

The team of shy people dance

We are being set free right here

Its funny because on the second day of training camp they asked the students to ask the Lord what He wanted to tell them about our teams. The training team each team to know what God was calling our teams into, so the students specifically were told to ask him for specific words. It was amazing because so many of them got the word freedom.  God wanted to give us freedom from all the lies, fears, brokenness, hurt, all the things that were holding us back from Him. Freedom was poured out from the Lord on to my team and it started in me and spread, the Lord set every person on my team free. Even more so though my team was going to be used to bring freedom to many they met on the field and even off later when they got home.

I don't know if you can see but you can actually see the changes starting. The smiles get bigger

I will write more about this later but let me tell you this signifies a lot of freedom for my team.

These first to two blogs where about how God set me free and next I will tell you about how he set the rest free. It is story that brings me such great joy that I literally dance and weep because my heart is so full of gratitude and love for the Lord who decided to love us so much. This trip taught me so much about the Love our Abba has for us. Our Abba sent Jesus (His son) to earth to set us free, I lived in a cage for far to long the door has been open and ocassionally I would step back in when I started to wander from my God. No more. Freedom is mine, it was paid for with a price and I want to take my free gift and run with it.

My life began....again...

I struggle with writing about my team because how do I even begin, so maybe I will restart and start at the beginning...

The Banner welcoming my team to training camp

It was another hot humid day in Georgia they day my participants came, the leaders had been already been in Georgia for three days preparing our hearts and minds so that we would be ready to lead our teams. It was a time of refreshing community, we were poured into, encouraged, loved, nothing could have prepared us better for what was coming.

However refreshing and wonderful time together as leaders was it was always tinged with just a little bit of anxiousness because we could not wait for our new families to arrive, we felt ready, it was time.

June 15 was almost as good as Christmas morning with everyone getting up with the knowledge and anticipation that today was the day. The students would all be here tonight, by tonight we could say goodbye to personal space, sleep, carefree days for a month. It was something we were all willing to do with joy in our hearts.

Haleigh and Miranda on the Bus on the way to AIM from the aiport

They arrived just as we knew they would some were scared, some tearful, some with seemingly no fear, they were there standing around and you could just see in their eyes that they were terrified. They wanted to be loved, accepted and just so afraid that they wouldn't find it within their team. The funny thing is that up until that moment I fought the very same fears. I was afraid that my team wouldn't like me, that my co-leaders would be sad that they had to have me on their team. But in that moment of seeing my first participant I didn't care, something in me changed. God spoke to me, He told me that everything would be alright, I would be loved just as much as I already loved my team. That no matter through the hard times Abba loved me.

Ashley and Jesse on the bus from the Airport

In that moment I felt like I was really starting to get a new understanding of that Love.  In that moment that I saw Haleigh (she was the first one I saw), I knew I loved her with my whole heart that she would be there for life. I also knew this love that I had for her wasn't something that I would be capable without Christ giving it to me and if God could just implant this type of Love in me, how much better His love was for me was. How much stronger and all encompassing it was overwhelming and I could feel no fear, it was gone in a moment, Love overcame it.

My team and their 'things' at training camp

To Be Continue...

PS. I am still not fully funded, in the next post I will post the exact number but it is still over $1000 please be praying that I would remain faithful in this time to the fact that God always provides.

David

I have been reading through the Old Testament for the past year and am currently find myself in 2 Kings. The thing that has really struck me in the last couple of months is David, God is constantly God is saving Judea and even Israel because of His (God's) great love for David. This made me really think about David's story, what about it was so amazing that made God love him so much.

David obviously wasn't perfect, that can be witnessed when reading about his affair with Bathsheba where he had her husband killed because she was pregnant with his child. So if David wasn't perfect why did God love him so much? It's amazing how God hears our questions even when they are not spoken aloud, I have to tell you I have never heard so many sermons preached that talked about David in such a short time span in my life. I have also been led to so many verses lately about how much God loved David and why.

So here is what I have learned, yes David was a sinner. We are all sinners, since Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the garden we have all been sinners. David however gave his whole being into God's work, so immediately when Nathan came to him in (2 Samuel 12) he saw that he had sinned against the Lord and repented. God spared David because He knew that he was sincere in his repentance but David could not escape without some sort of punishment because sadly he would likely not have learned his lesson. His son died, but still David worship the Lord.

I love reading about David and God's love for David, I feel that there is so much for me to learn from him. Yes he was a sinner, but he loved God with his whole being. He wasn't afraid to show him any emotion, the psalms are filled with love, anger, sadness, all written by David. He felt things with everything he had because he was searching for the Lords heart and all these things are felt by the Lord. How Beautiful. This is something I want to eagerly chase after. 

Donald Miller

I have been a big Donald Miller fan for years but lately he has once again drawn my attention. He writes in such an honest manner about the things in life that actually matter. I just finished reading father fiction (formerly To own a dragon) and I don't want to say it changed my life because it didn't but it definitely showed me some areas in my life that I need to step up in. It really challenged me spiritually to stop accepting crap from past and to continue to trust in the Lord.

Anyways I stumbled upon his blog today and came across this...read it, it speaks truth.

http://donmilleris.com/2011/08/02/how-to-live-a-great-love-story/

Eastmore

Last night we were again invited to another school, this time it was at an all girls high school.  We did what has been our normal program, drama, preaching, testamonies, songs. This time however none of walked out of those doors wondering "did anyone hear us? Did God use us in any way?, etc". We know that God was moving in that room because after the program was over the girls rushed the team, begging to hear more testamonies from those on the team who hadn't spoken, they were exclaiming how wonderful and meaningful they thought the drama was to them. This alone would have been refreshing for the team but God carried it one step further. The girls asked awesome questions because they too wanted a deeper relationship with Jesus. Another praise is that  two of the girls who were in the audience sought out one of our girls on the team and confessed that they wanted to know Jesus too. They were right then in prayer in which they prayed that they would know the LOVE of God because they believed that Jesus died on the cross.

It was a powerful night for everyone. So powerful in fact they have invited the team back on sunday to hold a service for the whole school because last night we only had a portion of the students and they want us to speak to everyone in the school.

Thank you for your prayers already but we ask now that you be in prayer for sunday that we again be able to reach the students and build them up. Also we ask you to pray for those who want to know Jesus that they would continue with this hunger even long after we are gone. Thank you all!!

Bye!


This is another post that is taken from the trip blog

Singing in the Rain

This was a blog that was written and posted on my team blog site about our trip, but I thought I would share in on here as well....


The team was invited to hold a service at one of the local public schools in Eburru.  The plan was that we would sing a few songs, someone would preach, a few others would share some testimonies and the team would share a drama.

Before the team headed out, Scott prayed that all expectations would be destroyed.  It's a good thing our hearts were prepared because things did not go as planned.  We were originally were supposed to have 90 minutes, but we were quickly informed that plans had changed and we only had 40 minutes.  Almost right after arriving, the rain clouds started rolling in and down came the rain.

Instead of worrying, the team just went with it.  They cut short the signing, went straight to the drama in order to read the kids for the message which was to be delivered by Matt.  The kids were just mesmerized.  It didn't matter that we were all being soaked, they could not get enough of what He was doing.  After the preaching we decided that it would be best to send the kids home since it was still pouring out and everyone was getting thoroughly soaked.  The team intended to just sing as they were leaving, but instead they began to sing their hearts out to the Lord.  It was as if each person on the team was all alone with only the Lord in front of them.  It was one of the most powerful moments of the trip so far.


This is the song the team was singing in the rain...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_t_87NyHx0

In Gainesville

Well I am in Gainesville for Leader Training before I leave with my team for Kenya. This time has already been great, I have been so incredibly blessed by the Lord by the peace that He has given me about everything about this trip. He 100% brought everything together so that I am here now this trip is all about Him and not about me, because if it had been up to me I wouldn't be here. But I am so glad I am, the time I spend here really do bring me closer to the Lord.
The lead up to this trip was a whirlwind in which everything was always calm and everything aligned so that I would be able to leave on time with just about everything I needed for this trip. The Lord as always was/is faithful.
Alright well the Lord has been so faithful already and I know that this trip in the Lords hands which is why I am not worried but, I still have not met my fund raising goal of $2500 USD for this trip. This is in the Lords and hands but I do ask that if you feel called to donate, please do. Its easy. I will walk you through it step by step.
 Go to the link above.
-  Under the "Choose Program" drop down button select: Ambassador
-  Type my name into "Full Participants Name" section: Ashley Emery
-  Type in the dollar amount you've chosen to give.
-  Click "Continue" to proceed with the donation.

If you want a support letter then please email me or leave a comment and I will get that to you. Any other questions or comments please ask and I will be happy to answer them.

Thanks!!!!

Manning and Helser

Have you ever read Brennan Manning...? No well you should, he's fantastic.

Seriously if you haven't read him or if you have you should take a look at Furious Longing of God. It is just so simple and powerful

Also if you are a fan of Jason Upton or just good music listen to this guy (Jonathan David Helser) he is amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GeVf1XQOPg&feature=related

Different

Last week I got to go to the Coast for a wonderful week full of meeting new friends and visiting old ones. It was a week full of surprises some happy and some different, the details I think I will save for another day. For now I will share some pictures and tell you to check out the two bands that I had the pleasure of spending time with while I was there.
First Zerbin
http://www.zerbinmusic.com/
which my dear friends boyfriends band, they are pretty fantastic and Love the Lord which makes them even better.
Next is The Most Blessed Man, check him out on myspace or facebook, this man is incredibly talented.
Now for some pictures...

The Blizzard we started our trip in...

My Beautiful friends

8 Day old Puppies on the Island

Wouldn't be a proper adventure without proper reading material

Nothing better then watching movies with a little puppy

Our drive home was much better then the one home

Well thats the end for now, I will post some more another day.

Bye

The Lords Heart

"When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
But the more I called Israel,
the further they went from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
I let them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love;
I lifted the yoke from their neck
and bent down to feed them.

Will they not return to Egypt
and will not Assyria rule over them
because they refuse to repent?
Swords will flash in their cities,
will destroy the bars of their gates
and put an end to their plans.
My people are determined to turn from me.
Even if they call to the Most High,
he will by no means exalt them.

How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is changed within me;
all my compassion is aroused.
I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I turn and devestate Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man--
the Holy One among you.
I will not come in wrath.
They will follow the Lord;
he will roar like a lion.
When he roars,
his children will come trembling from the west.
They will come trembling
like birds from Egypt,
like doves from Assyria.
I will settle them in their homes,
declares the Lord."

Hosea 11:1-11

This verse just taught me a lot about the Lords heart. You can hear the yearning He feels for His people. The pain He feels because they turn their backs on him, but you can also hear the pride He feels in His people when He speaks of teaching them how to walk. These verses speak of the Lords heart and it is not scary or mean, it is truly Love as evidenced in these few short verses

Coming Soon...

I know I promised a support raising letter and it is coming but not yet, seriously its on my seriously long to do list. What else is on my to do list I know your wondering (probably not, but I feel like telling you), well I have to do two large assignments worth large portions of my grades and work and the very most exciting part, I get to do my First Aid Training this weekend. That's right I will be certified CPR level A and Standard First Aid, I have missed this type of training since graduating High School and I look forward to learning new things.
Anyways since I am on here writing a completely pointless blog I will give you a grand total of how much I need to raise by June of this year....ready.....$2187.5 and hopefully an extra $1400 so that I don't have to pay for all of my own flights to Georgia this year. So in total that would be $3587.5, I believe that both of those numbers are totally accomplish able especially because I have the Lord on my side. So keep praying for me and my fundraising fears.
Anyways I really need to stop avoiding my homework and get some of that done, but I will be back soon with the much anticipated fundraising letter.
Bye!

Oh P.S. Happy Valentines Day, I hope your Day is filled with Love because the Father Love you!!!

KENYA!!!

Thats right its official I am going to Kenya, I received this news with mixed emotions. On one hand I am so excited to be heading back to Africa, on the other hand I have never ever really desired to go to Kenya. To be honest if asked I would probably admit I would rather go to any other country in Africa before Kenya. But I have always known that the Lord would send me there so I guess now is the time, I will trust the Lord and start preparing.
I really am excited to be going to Kenya, I have been saying for years now that I wanted to explore more of Africa and I have had tons of people tell me how amazing Kenya is so now I will get to see that for myself in a few short months. So if you have been there I would love to hear your stories and gather any advise you can give me.
Now that I have been placed on a team, I must start the most dreaded part of being a missionary. The Fundraising. Seriously I have been having nightmares about this for months, but thanks to a wonderful friend I am ready to face this challenge and trust God. I still have to figure the exact cost of the trip so I will get back to you but, please start praying for me. No matter the dollar amount my pride will have to go out the window and I will need to just trust the Lord, which isn't always easy when it involves money. Also please start praying for the upcoming trip, that God would use me as a positive leader in the lives of the participants, that the participants would be ready to have God rock their worlds, etc.
So please stay tuned I will post a support letter online in the next coming week, so if the Lord leads you to donate (which I will be praying he does) then email me or comment and I will give you the information you will need to that.
So have a good week, and I will talk to you all later.
Bye!

The Holidays

You know I am a huge fan of Christmas just everything about it is happy to me, I love the carols, the shopping, the people, the family, church. I just feel that nothing can usually get me down about christmas. It is the time that we celebrate Christ's birth so how can you be sad, joy really just fills me during this season.

Sadly though this year it hardly seemed like christmas. This might have been because i was sick and in school and working all right

up until christmas. oh well I still celebrated the Lords birth by attending a excellent Christmas Eve service at Southview Alliance Church. Pastor Cliff spoke a powerful salvation message that really ministered to my heart remind how

incredibly blessed I am that I know the Lord as my Saviour.

Also over the holidays I got to spend t

ime with some very awesome people. Starting at my good friend Lindsay's open house. It was a good time, here is a picture of us there...

Then it was on to christmas at my aunts which strangely no picture were taken. One year I should really have a working camera and take pictures of my very strange but loving family.

After several well spent days with my family in Black Diamond I came to hang out with my long lost friends...

This is us on New Years watching the fireworks in Canmore. I have to admit this was one of the best New Years i can remember.

Now I know this was the cheasest post ever but I am trying to get in the hang of blogging so that when I go away this summer I can be a faithful poster of everything that is happening there.

Night

New Adventures

Well the against my own common sense and the advise and wishes of many I feel the Lord calling me away this summer. This is something that I have lost countless hours of sleep over because frankly the last time I served overseas during the summer was a very trying time. I was exhausted and never seemed to find rest, but I don't regret the time I spent in India because the Lord used it to teach me many things. I know that this time wherever I end up serving will again be a time that the Lord uses to teach me.

This summer I will be serving somewhere in the world as a high school leader with Adventures in Missions as of right now I not sure where I will be leading but leadership there and myself praying that He would make it clear where I should be.

So I ask any of you that read this to also be in prayer, that God would make it clear where it is he wants me to serve this summer. Also that you would pray that God prepares me for the coming months as I prepare to serve my team, the locals and the Lord on this great new adventure He is sending me on.

I would also love if you would pray for deliverance of the anxiety that I am feeling about the coming months. I know that this anxiety is not from the Lord but from the enemy trying to scare me away from the Lords plans.

I will work on updating this blog regularly in the coming months about my life and about the coming adventure the Lord is sending me on.

Ashley