i have read 1 John about three times in the last two weeks.

Each time there is a verse or two that GRABS my attention!

This time it was these two:

1 John 5:21:

 21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

and 1 John 3:20:

20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

i love 5:21 because it is a continual reminder to have NO idols. For some reason it's easy for me to put things before Christ in my life even though i know ultimately He is the only thing that will truly fulfill me.

i love 3:20 because it's helpful to me, being a girl :) 

Even though i am NOT an outwardly emotional girl i still tend to rely on my feelings a lot... my emotions a lot. i LOVE this verse. God is greater than my feelings! It's encouraging. 

He is so constant. So faithful! 

SO GOOD.

p.s. http://www.myspace.com/cameronernst

 ( this is my friend cameron... you should listen to his music. He's good and i'm so proud of him!!!)

dang you emily.

The Game
Here are the rules:
1. the rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. each player answers the questions about himself or herself.
3. at the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. ten years ago I was doing...
well i was ten years old... this means i had no life, i played in the ditch outside my house all the time and i was a major tom-boy.

2. Five Things on Today's To Do List:
1. fly home.
2. spend much-needed time with my Jesus.
3. pass out cheap gifts from cali.
4. get sick from being on a plane.
5. drink cooooffee!!!

3. Things I'd do if I were a billionaire
i would pay off my loans... and give money away. and be cool... wow, these are the worst answers EVER. i hate this game.


4. Three Bad Habits...
1. i twirl my hair constantly.
2. i am a VERY aggressive driver.
3. i say about three phrases over and over without realizing it... it's annoying.


5 Places you've lived:
Andover, KS
Manhattan, KS
Overland Park, KS
North Carolina
Irving, TX
Baker, OR
Roach, MO

6. 5 jobs I've had in life:
1. JCPenney (barf)
2. Vic's Popcorn (best job ever)
3. OEIE (barf)
4. Adrian's Cafe (loved it... untill it got creepy.)
5. NewSpring Church (liked it)

Wow... i have no life.
But i did go to disneyland today.
woo

sun-kissed in cali...?

i was at the beach for two hours.

i never burn... i am a lobster.

It hurts to smile.

It hurts to sleep.

It hurts to do nothing.

And i'm a baby!

i am SOOOO thrilled... summer staff starts in two weeks.

As much as i do love these mountains, and the ocean

i still stop and am thankful for the openness of the Kansas plains...

i may be the only one who sees the beauty in them,

but seriously... it can be beautiful in Kansas!

i love the sun.

p.s. i'm looking for a bike... anyone selling one???

With Divine Retribution...

This is where i was yesterday... i'm in love.

i'm so overwhelmed right now. With summer staff starting in 2ish weeks

and just really missing my friends in Manattan...

i'm a little discouraged because i feel inadequate to be

a summer staffer. Yes, i love Jesus a lot and i know He'll use me, teach me, and stretch me in tremendous ways this summer... i think i just have cold feet.

Probably Normal.

On top of all these crazy thoughts going through my head i am told this week by a friend that places i have faithfully supported for years are getting their products from sweat shops. So i am caught in this weird, weird place where i know i don't want anything to do with these organizations anymore, but knowing that means it's going to be harder to get things, probably more expensive, and honestly a struggle! But how can you continue doing the same things you've been doing once you're eyes have been opened to these huge injustices?

So there's a lot on my mind right now.

i am going to die.

Ok... read this.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24190829/

i mean seriously... apparently the use of lip gloss can increase the risk of cancer.

This is scary for multiple reasons.
One reason is this:
** My lips are not small. Not only does it take more to cover my lips, but i do so enjoy using lip gloss as well. So now not only am i increasing my chance for cancer simply because i love it, but since my lips are so large i use tons.
Second reason is this:
**Doesn't help at ALL that my favorite song happens to be entitled "Lip Gloss." So now i'm not only concerned for my lips, but my ears as well. i'm now listening to the lyrics "lip gloss." Here's an excerpt:

"Mac mac Lorial yep 'cause I'm worth it
Love the way I put it on so perfect
Wipe the corners of my mouth so I work it
When I walk down the hallway they can't say nothing
Oh oh oh my lips so luscious
The way I spice it up with the mac mac brushes
Lorial got the most watermelon crushes
That's probably is the why these boys got crushes…
'Cause My lip gloss
Is popping is popping
Is popping is popping
'Cause my lip gloss
Is popping is popping
Is popping is popping"

And this is why today, my realization is:

i am a lot closer to dying than i thought i was.

that's what i thought.

1 Thes. 5:16-24

16Be joyful always;

17pray continually;

18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19Do not put out the Spirit's fire;

20do not treat prophecies with contempt.

21Test everything. Hold on to the good.

22Avoid every kind of evil.
23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

This excites me.

It excites me because i have so much to work on and that

is what makes my walks with Christ so exciting.

His beauty makes me realize so much.

i'm excited to wake up to God.

Thrilled that He is patient, He is love, and He is grace.

Thankful that i am beautiful in His eyes.

i am complete in His eyes.

Test everything. Hold on to the good.

i like that.

To know Him and be known by Him.

He is good.

oh my dear mango...

Common food allergy reactions:

Hives, itching, or eczema
Nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, indigestion, or diarrhea
Swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, tongue, throat, or other parts of the body (called angioedema)
Wheezing, nasal congestion, or trouble breathing
Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting

Swelling of the throat and difficulty swallowing
Difficulty breathing
Rapid pulse
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or loss of consciousness
Blue color to the skin and nails

i ate a mango popsicle. Probably the best thing i've ever eaten. Real mango.
i woke up the next morning and i thought i was dying.
No, i am not joking.
Yes, this is a true story.
i've had a lot of these symptoms... i'm still waiting til my skin turns blue. So until that happens, i guess i'll just keep eating mangos. mangoes? mangos... i think it's mangoes.

i'm sorry... i couldn't help but post this. poor kid.