How's About Ya?

How's About Ya?  That is a Northern Irish way of saying, "How are you doing?"  Well, may I first apologize for the small blogging hiatus I took for the last few weeks . . . Tanner and I have been rather busy in school.  We just finished our first round of assignments, and we are glad to have our essays all polished off and turned in.  It was a privilege to study and prepare our essays as we learned new things about God’s word and how it affects and influences our daily lives. 

 

I guess last time I blogged we were about to go on the C.S. Lewis tour around Belfast.  It was an absolutely fabulous tour!  We were able to see Little Lea, the house C.S. Lewis grew up in and we most certainly spotted a certain lamppost on the tour!  It was amazing to see how much of Lewis’ growing up in Belfast really did influence his writings.  I am looking forward to reading The Pilgrim’s Regress, as C.S. Lewis composed this entire work in Belfast documenting his return to the Christian faith after abandoning it for some time.

 

School has been going well.  I have thoroughly enjoyed all my classes, but I particularly enjoyed a class we had a few days ago specifically discussing the book of Isaiah.  We focused particularly on the first chapter.  For those of you familiar with Isaiah 1:17, then you probably know why I particularly enjoyed the class.  The verse states, “Learn to do right!  Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”  As I am learning in my Old Testament Prophet Books class, many prophets came with a message regarding pure worship of God, one involving a life wholly committed to God AND social justice.  Isaiah is speaking on behalf of God to the Israelite nation when he addresses the issue of true worship.  While the Israelites were busy with their worship rituals, making sacrifices and joining together in church services, the marginalized were completely forgotten about and disregarded.  Why was this an issue worth addressing?  In a predominantly patriarchal society, if the husband or father went missing, so did the protection and the provision for all other family members.  If a modern day prophet appeared in our churches in America, would he bring a similar message?  Please hear me say that church IS important and our bible studies ARE necessary.  But perhaps we busy ourselves so much so inside the walls of the church that we forget what is decaying on the outside.  It is my prayer that the church can continually be a people that love God and worship him through worship both within the church walls and out.  As Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).

 

This past week has been bittersweet as we remembered Maria on the 21^st.  I miss her.  I am sad that I haven’t seen her in 524 days.  I miss so much the way Mom would do her hair in the sloppy side bun.  I miss how she laughed; she could cackle with the best of them.  I guess I could go on and on as I miss every part her, but perhaps what I miss the most is the joy she brought.  If I could only hear my mom laugh again at Maria’s complete social aloofness, or hear my three sisters playing together as beautifully as any three sisters could, or watch Caleb come in the living room and pick Maria up only to spin her around a few times and gently toss her onto the couch, or watch Will Franklin teach her Randy Jackson’s “Yo Yo Yo Dawg” voice, or overhear my Dad lovingly explain to Maria why she can’t just throw absolute tantrums every time she wants her way . . . and her precious apologies were thoroughly endearing.  Because of the beauty of Jesus, and the gift he brought us with eternal life, confirms that I will absolutely see Maria again.  I can’t wait to awake from this dream to see the face of Jesus, the one who redeems and walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death and the even the dark caves of doubt and anger.  What a glorious day!  And, I know that Maria will be right behind him, with her face covered in crumbs and her hair tossed up in a bun!  What a marvelous sight!

 

So, what else has been going on with us in Northern Ireland?  Well . . . we are currently on fall break and we are heading on Monday, October 26^th to travel down to the south of the Irish Isle.  Hopefully we will make it to Cork to see the Blarney Castle and maybe Tanner will kiss the Blarney Stone.  I think I will carry a wet wipe with me so he can wipe the germs off of the stone wherever he chooses to kiss it!  We are road tripping with a few friends from Bible College, so it shall be a blast!  We will post photos when we get back!

 

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.  We are honored and blessed by your support in our adventure here in Northern Ireland.  Please continue to pray that God will mold us during this year, and that Tanner and I will be willing to follow Him wherever He may call us.  

Comments

[Courtney]

Yay! I was so excited to read an update....I can hear your excitement about all that you are experiencing. I will pray that you make the most of each day and truly delight in the Lord. Thanks for your words Emily!

[Tori]

Thank you for taking us along with
you and Tanner to Ireland.
May the Lord bless you both.
It is wonderful to read your site
and to be blessed at the same time.
What a wonderful family you are.
What a beautiful big sister you are we miss Maria too.
I wish that you, Shaeoy, and Stevey Joy didn't have to go through such a heartache.
God Bless you and Tanner and
all of your families.

[MT]

Praying for you!

[Vanessa Schaecher (from Nebraska)]

Wow! A lot going on there. Continuing to keep you & Tanner and your family in my prayers.

[lori in nc]

So glad for an update on you guys!! Continuing to keep you both in my prayers and so thankful for young people with your heart for Him.

[Karyne Whalen]

I'm so glad you are loving your experience in Norn Iron!! My grandparents were born in N. Ireland so I have been over to visit many times to visit the relatives. I love it! All the best...praying for you, Karyne

[Julie]

Hey, appreciate the opportunity to learn a new language! Seriously though, thanks for sharing your journey, especially for opening my eyes and the eyes of so many others to our responsibility to the widows and orphans... Hmmm, that lamppost does look familiar... Did you happen to be playing hide and seek just before spotting it? God bless you, Tanner and your fellow school mates!

[Lori Mullican]

Hey Em...love reading the posts. I continue to pray God's mercy upon your school work, adventures and particularly your marriage as you and Tanner engage each other and the work of Christ in Ireland.
miss you guys...

[Claudine T in MD]

(((Emily)))

Thankful to hear of all the wonderful things God is doing in and through you. I would love to be there myself simply to take the class on Old Testament Prophets.

As a new believer nearly 20 years ago, the Lord immediately burdened my heart for the "oppressed and least." Within the Church, however, there wasn't much mention at that time for our part in reaching any of them. As one who loves and CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THE WORD OF GOD, I found myself becoming one of those "stuck within the walls of the Church" too much.

I agree totally in regular church attendance and service as well as Bible studies and such. In "not forsaking the assembling together with other believers...and in ...studying to show yourself approved...handling accurately the Word of Truth." However, I strongly believe if we remain within the walls of the Church and surround ourselves primarily with those we know within the Church, we quickly become stagnant, always BEING filled but never POURING out to others. And, with any water that stagnates for too long, we well...to quote Jesus elsewhere in the Word...[we] "stinketh." Stagnant water doesn't smell...or look...very nice.

I'll confess those years were painful to me, because I literally stuck out like a sore thumb. I struggled with doubt (as I was raised in a completely unbelieving atmosphere & thought these other Christians must know better) and anger -- WHERE IS YOUR COMPASSION??? WHERE IS THE LOVE AND MERCY OF CHRIST??? WHY DON'T THE LEAST MATTER??? I eventually, although not intentionally, became one of those "four-wall people." I had four children one after the other and, well, the Church often doesn't much like kids "taggin' along" to visit the least - they might "get in the way."

It was a number of long, dark years for me, wondering where my place was and why I had received this burden. And, please, if anybody reads this and 1) thinks I think I'm anything because of it, you are COMPLETELY mistaken, or 2) judges me because I really felt like I was the only one burdened, read Jeremiah...or Isaiah...or Psalms for that matter.

My purpose for commenting here is 1) to thank you...THANK YOU...for not letting the fire of the Holy Spirit die because of your beyond-belief suffering, 2) to THANK YOU for hearing the heartbeat of God AND for putting into ACTION what you heard, 3) to THANK YOU for persevering and shining the light of Jesus Christ...to the ends of the earth...for a display of HIS splendor...for being a "living epistle known and read of all men" even in the darkest hours of your life.

I believe you and your family will one day run into the arms of Jesus and truly hear, "WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT..."

Until then, please know that you have brightened the days of, and stirred the heart of, a desperate mother...desperate for a fresh passion for Jesus, and for His heart.

I pray the Lord would continue to give you "everything you need for [this] life and for godliness." May He surround you daily with songs of deliverance as you "abide in Him and He in you." May He continue to hold your hearts and "bind up your wounds." He is "a shield about you, your glory, and the lifter of your head...MANY will SEE and fear and put their trust in HIM" because of your surrender to His loving plan and trust in His faithfulness.

"Behold, He is coming quickly!" Until then, precious sister, hold on...yes...hold on...to the hem of His garment. I have no doubt that Maria will be the first of many to run to welcome you on THAT DAY!

With love and prayers,

Claudine T in MD

[Terry]

God bless you two beautiful kids! I'm not a parent but I feel proud of you both like a parent. You are such wonderful examples to all ages but especially to young people as you. To say thank you for sharing this special journey with us would be an understatement. We are blessed.

[Stephen Gulley]

HEY!!! Its Stephen Gulley. So nuts to see where you are. Tanner is a stud. are you at bible college? which one? I am emailing you to tell you a friend of mine is adopting and I'm steering him and his wife toward Show Hope. I wanted to get him savvy on the best moves to take here at the start to get connected with yall! He is Brian Eastland. A churchplanter on the Seattle Team. Ok, holla back. stephengulley@gmail.com

[twitter.com/SDGfrontrowgirl]

Emily and Tanner,

Glad to hear the classes are going well.So indwelling,deep extension of learning of our great God.Sounds like you are adjusting well.

I love you and Tanner so much and praying for you my dear friends.If you ever need anything please let me know.So glad and happy for you.Praying for healing in your lives too.Love you my sis in Christ!Keep up the God work,we love you out here!!

Stephanie G
Charlotte,NC

[Christine Gordon and Family]

love your blogs; great reminders of eternal things. longing for the day when we will see...until then praying that I will love and show hope to those who need it most!
praying with excitement for you and Tanner! hope you had a sweet trip!
will look forward to your next blog!

[JC]

Thank you for sharing such honest thoughts and intimate memories of your sister. I teared up through the end of the paragraph. Especially your family's interactions with her.

I've only realized now, after you mentioned your dad teaching Maria, that I've never personally experienced or seen my parents parenting a young child since I don't have younger siblings. I wondered if I would have played a part in the parenting department, or would I just not interfere with my parents ways. Very interesting concept.

I know met some young Christians from Belfast when I was in England. I really liked what their Pastor spoke about during the conference that I was at. There's a sense of history embedded in his faith. Now that you and Tanner are there, I'm reminded of it - and wish I was there learning. Anyway....haha, I totally did not expect to be writing so much. God bless you both.

[Susan Mary]

Emily,
I truly enjoy reading your blog. Brings a smile to my face and warms my heart. I swear I can SEE the images you describe about Maria and your family, and hear the sounds of her laughter. You have a wonderful voice in your writing. I'm the one who keeps asking you to write a book with your mom. So here it goes again. Please write a book with your mom!!!!!! Love to you and Tanner!

[Araba Yarışı Oyunları]

So glad for an update on you guys!! Continuing to keep you both in my prayers and so thankful for young people with your heart for Him.
http://www.bentenoyunlari.org http://www.komikoyunlar.net http://arabayarisioyunlari.com http://www.zekaoyunlarim.com http://www.oyunzamani.com