Emily's Blog

89 years ago today, Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. was born. 55 years ago, he gave his famous I Have a Dream  speech. Doctor King's beliefs on race not only stemmed from the oppression African Americans face but also Biblical beliefs. From a purely human point of view, it should be clear that people of all races should be treated as equals. Looking from a Biblical point of view like Doctor King did, it becomes even more clear. Anyone that uses the Bible to back racism is going against God's will and nature, and is in sin. Romans 2:11 (KJV) states "For there is no respect of persons with God." God does value one over another. I am not more valuable to God than any of His other children. Galatians 3:28 (KJV) shows us that in the Gospel, to God we are all the same. He loves equally. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." As if that wasn't

      Christmas is a wonderful time for spending quality time with family we haven't seen in a while and for unwrapping presents next to the tree but I'd like to take time and think about the Greatest Gift of all, Jesus, God's only beggoten son come to Earth. He didn't come as He deserved, but He came humbly to a lowly peasent girl named Mary and a carpenter named Joseph in a manger.  The Christmas story  may begin with Bethlehem but it certainly doesn't end there.       God's gift in Bethlehem led to the greatest sacrifice this world will ever know, the cross. Before being nailed to the cross, Jesus wasn't just whipped, he was scourged. Scourging is done with "a short whip with several single or braided leather thongs of variable lengths, in which small iron balls or sharp pieces of sheep bones were tied at intervals.  For scourging, the man was stripped of his clothing, and his hands were tied to an upright post.  The back, buttocks, and leg

        Even though life is not always easy, I have so many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for my family. I love my Dad, sister, and little brother so much. They truly care about me. My Dad raised me in the Gospel and has taught me many things. He has always been there for me. My sister and brother are so kind, I don't know what I would ever do without them. I love them all so much.         I  am so thankful for my friends. They mean so much to me and I love them very much. They have made me laugh until I cried and my laugh when I was crying. My best friend has made school so much better and I am so glad we are going to college together. Other friends have helped me walk closer to the Lord and I am grateful for their prayers. Life has been so much better because I have them in it.         Most of all, I am thankful for my God. I could not make it through this life without Him. I cannot thank Him enough for all that He has done for me, but I

I recently rewatched Disney's Huchback of Notre Dame and was reminded just how much I love this song. I've always wanted to talk to Esmerelda about God. If Esmerelda was real, I would tell her that she was right. Jesus was an outcast too. In Isaiah 53:3 we read "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."' Jesus was not welcome in His own hometown of Nazareth (Luke 4:24) and the Pharisees and Sadducees hated Jesus. However, God does love and help the outcasts. In the Bible we see Jesus spending a lot of time with people who were outcasts. He talked to a Samaritan woman at a well even though Jews did not get along with Samartians (John 4:1-30) and He ate with sinners (Matthew 9:10-13). He is a friend to the friendless and a Father to the fatherless. Unlike people, God will never abandon you, even in your darkest moments. Trust in H

Two hundred forty-one years ago today, The United States of America was born. Ever since that day, our military has fought to protect our freedom. In total, at least 1.1 million U.S. Soldiers have been killed serving in U.S. wars . Freedom comes at a great price. Regardless of our country's government, there is greater kind of freedom, one that anyone anywhere can have. That is the freedom that comes through Salvation by Jesus Christ. How can we be Saved?  First, you must admit that you are a sinner and need to be saved. Second, you must repent and be willing to turn from your sin. Third, you must believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross. Fourth, you must receive through prayer, Jesus Christ into your heart and life.  As it says in John 8:36, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Today, I am thankful for the freedom that comes from living in the United States and the freedom that comes though Christ Jesus. 

Music has always had a very special place in my heart. I was in choir starting in 8th grade all the way through high school. The choir room became a refuge and my happy place at school. Whenever I was having a bad day I knew that I could at least look forward to choir. When I would get there, it helped me to cope. There have been many times when I have gone to the choir room either during a study hall or after school and just cried. My choir director Mr. Thompson (who also happens to be my pastor), has been a tremendous help to me. For some of our concerts, we would have teachers and other staff member sing with us so we needed additional rehearsals outside of class. These rehearsals would take place at 7 a.m. before school started. Because I live approximately half an hour away from where I went to high school, I would have to get up extra early, around 5:45 a.m. to get ready and out the door. On those days my choir teacher would pick me up and we would always stop and get coffee.