Emily's Blog

        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 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 s...

      Change can be a wonderful thing, a terrible thing, or even both. This last May I graduated high school and will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Richland next fall. This is both wonderful and scary at the same time as college is quite different from high school. Classes will be run differently and will also be harder academically. I will also have to get used to all new people. My pastor and his family are also moving away and this is very hard on me. My pastor was also my choir teacher for three years and his wife serves as a mother figure to me. I am also very close to their kids. However, whatever may come, I know I can always trust God and give my worries to because of what it says in Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Love in Christ, Emily Vanyi-Vine