Forgiveness

Today, I sat down on the couch next to my mom and said "There's something I need you to know, and that is that I forgive you, you may have already guessed that by the way I've acted but I need you to hear those words, see, that (last year when she told me things about her and my dad's relationship that I had not known before then) was by far the hardest thing that has happened to me so far in my life and because of it I stopped going to church" she said "you lost faith?" I said "yes, I stopped going to church and really felt that I couldn't trust God because tho He didn't cause all those things to happen, He didn't cause the people I'm supposed to be able to trust more than any others to lie to me my whole life, but He allowed it and so I decided I couldn't trust Him anymore. So whether you know it or not, I came here to run away. But God has made all those things new. He has used those things to the good and He has rebuilt my foundation" Then she asked me why is it that God allows bad things to happen if He is good and I went into the truth that true Love must happen in freedom, talked to her about Adam and Eve...it was AMAZING A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. We talked about hell and why people go there, we talked about the difference between Jesus and God...WOW...all these hard topics, that I've been built up in as I've heard the preaching at Austin Stone. It was so incredible! And we have 9 more days together on the road...

I feel like forgiveness is so key, and really, when we begin to understand the depths of God's forgiveness toward us, when we begin to see the bigger picture of how He truly DOES work ALL THINGS to the good of those who ARE CALLED according to His purpose...man...its so powerful guys!

I can't believe I was already to talk to my mom about so much today and share so much truth with her already! I really can't wait for the rest of this trip! God is so amazing guys! I feel like that statement is not enough to really describe my heart toward Him but those are the only words I can think of for now.

I don't know how often I will be able to check back here over the next nine days but I will write you more when I get back to Boise unless I get the chance to write while on the road.

In awe,
Em

Joy in Obedience-My journey begins

I was standing with the rest of the congregation singing songs of praise, and as I sang I looked up at the worship leader Andy, and then at the people around me and I saw how they all, like me, were filled with so much awe and wonder and hope and joy in God and His Mighty Love for them and God really began to speak to me “If you stay here in Austin, it will be good for you, you will be able to continue to enjoy the blessings of this amazing church and the close friendships w/the ladies in your community group, and the connections you are making to the film world here, yes, it will be really good for you, but it will do nothing for your family who still doesn’t know this awe and wonder and hope and joy in My Love. What’s it going to be? Who’s Kingdom do you want to build? Yours and stay here or Mine and follow me back to Boise to share the Love that I’ve shown you with your family. And so with tears rushing down my face I said “Your’s Lord, I will follow You anywhere and I will lay all these blessings that You have given me here down and trust You.”

That was almost two months ago. Now it is less than a week til I actually leave Austin and follow the Lord back to Boise. Yes, in some people’s eyes it may appear foolish for me to be giving up all these opportunities here and go somewhere where I may not have the same opportunities and connections to the film world. It may seem to some as foolishness to be walking away from such an amazing life here. And it would be foolishness if I was building my Kingdom. If I was truly seeking after “The American Dream” then yes, to leave all that I have here behind and go home to Boise, Idaho would be absolutely stupid. But I am NOT chasing The American Dream…The Dream I am chasing is much larger than that, it’s the Dream and Reality of a new heaven and a new earth. The day is coming closer and closer as each day passes by and that day, that Dream is worth everything I have. I long for the day when I will be able to see Jesus face to face, to be forever in the Presence of Him who loves me beyond anything I will ever, as long as Eternity lasts, fully grasp.

This season in Austin has been the most amazing season of my life! Last year at this time of the year I was barely hanging on, I was trying to put one foot in front of the other, cuz my foundation had been destroyed, my world had been nearly shattered and my faith had been greatly damaged. But God is FAITHFUL and God is GOOD. His love is relentless and He has passionately loved me since before the foundations of the world. And He, in His faithfulness and goodness let my foundation be destroyed so that He could rebuild my foundation on the Mighty Rock of His Love.

So come Friday, I will be headed out of Austin, with my mom on a nine day drive back to Idaho. I go trusting God to be the God that makes ALL THINGS possible! Trusting that I was at one time darkness but I an NOW light! I will be a light to my family and I am praying that they will see my good works and glorify my Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:15-16)

Check back to hear the stories as they unfold, to all of my friends and Family in Austin, THANK YOU! I love you dearly and will be forever grateful for the ways God has used you to help build me up and prepare me for this journey. For my other friends who are checking in as well, thank you too, for your part in my life, for sharing your life with me!

To Him, be the Glory and Praise Today and forever,
Em