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living for more than this world...

Sunday, February 8, 2009

My Victory Won


Dubai has forced me to think through my emotions more than usual. Anna and I hung out with some people who challenged us to be more bold and intentional about sharing our faith. My attitude was one of mockery and I'm now ashamed for that. My gut reaction was 'I'm doing just fine, thank you very much; I will share my faith with someone when I'm good and ready.' As i was walking home it was dark and the city lights were reflecting in the water. I stopped on the bridge and thought of the hymn Be Thou My Vision. I'm not doing just fine. All the things I've always been good at have not been my strengths recently.
I do fail. I'd be foolish to think otherwise.
When I was standing on the bridge God reminded me that I asked Him to stretch me this semester. I might as well let Him stretch me however and with whoever He chooses, even if its not the way I would have picked myself.
Anna's great. She strikes up conversation with anyone and everyone. She plays frisbee as often as possible and is always wanting to do something different. What would I do without her? My dad is doing well especially when i consider the stress he's under with his job. My mom is learning her way around Dubai's insane road system and doing occupational thearapy whenever she can.
I'm learning to find victory in my savior. that's where true victory lies anyway.

Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

2 comments:

foolish and broken said...

i just love you. seriously. i guess neither of us really realized how hard it is to be away from home, even when our families and anna are with us. there's something about being away from ohio that is hard. and maybe that's because it is combined with comfort. no matter what, erm, i am so incredibly proud of who you are and what you do and the ways in which you share your faith. i'm proud of anna too. you're the bomb. i can't wait to hear more stories and see all the ways God stretched you and anna while you were in dubai. if only i was coming there when i was done. but oh well. life will still be okay waiting until may 2. but i will be the first one you hug at the airport. promise me that.

Kathy T said...

Emma, you rock, babe. God has given you so many gifts and He will show you when and where to use them - I'm so glad that you and your friends are so open to everything God has in store for you. May you always be sensitive to HIS leading... And I can't wait to give you a huge hug when you get back to OHIO. Love, love, love to you and Ms. Starkey. Mama T