Posted in General Posts by Emily Milroy on 3/15/2012
As I walk into the Panera on Tyrone and 66th street in St. Petersburg, Florida I peer around the corner checking to see if my table is available....just as I see it is not one of the workers comes up to me and says, "I am sorry your table is taken mam". I sit at a table not too far from it and there I wait until one of the booths become available. It is a small 2 seater booth...cozy, comforting, and small. Once settled in my booth I order the same thing as always...a hot tea, English breakfast of course. This is just one example in my life of how I like going the same places, I like getting the same things, I like sitting at the same tables to the point where people I don't know, know that I sit there! Some people don't enjoy going to the same coffee shop, restaurant, park, mall, or grocery store....but not me. Why would I want to go to a different Publix (grocery store) where the layout could be different? This is also probably why I don't get the best deals on chicken which my mother is always encouraging me to go here go there is a better price difference!
I would not pick change. I would pick to do things the same. I am realizing the Lord knows this about me and He intentionally draws me out of my, "Panera booth" and he sets me in change. He sets me in places that are unfamiliar and challenging and cause me to rely much more on Him then I would otherwise. He takes me on these wild adventures that I never would have planned for myself.
After traveling the world doing missions in 11 countries in 11 months the Lord moves me back to Florida for 7 months, then out to San Diego, California for 6 months where my sister and I literally drove across the country in a grand marquis that is 15 years old and I have had the car since I was 16 years old!!... and we just found out Ryan got Seattle, Washington this week!! I am beginning to think the Lord likes change in my life J
Moving out to San Diego has drawn me into a deeper relationship with the Lord where I have learned to trust him more and more. I started a brand new job that feels way over my head, is hard, and has definitely caused me a few sleepless nights and tears, living on my own for the first time in my little cottage, not having any friends out here, and learning these CRAZY freeways!!! I never considered myself a small town girl until I came out here and realized wow yes I am! what in the world are all these roads going over top of on another?!?! People think probably that it was easy moving out here because I had Ryan, but there have been many challenges in the other areas of my life. Ryan has done an amazing job at supporting and loving me in this season but it doesn't mean it still has not been really hard. Opposite to what movies make moving across the country for be near the love of your life out to look like (love you ryanJ ) it is by no means easy! My job alone stretches me more then I could have ever imagined.
What I am learning is to walk in more faith like Abraham did. "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, OBEYED and went even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country...for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" Heb. 11:8-10.
This was the verse that led me out to San Diego one night in Florida before I even talked about it with Ryan. And this is the verse the Lord brought me to again for Ryan and Seattle. I am learning that our dreams are sometimes just that, they are OUR dreams. They are our desires and the things we want. But sometimes the things that I want are not the Lords dreams or plans for our life. Otherwise I might be in Africa right now, serving God yes, but not because He drew me out there but because I wanted to be there...those were my plans as I was on the world race, but not the Lords plans...have you ever had this happen to you where you keep thinking but Lord I would be doingYOUR work why not do this or join this ministry or team??
...The truth is, they are unwilling to die to themselves. They don't understand that dying is the key to living, that with abandonment abundant life springs forth, that with abandonment comes a supernatural peace, a supernatural hope...
...We get impatient...we don't feel like there is enough immediate payback...we're lonely and we may be facing some kind of wilderness experience, we don't want to wait for God to fill our needs...so we settle for a temporary filling...
I am learning about abandonment and how true abandonment in your life brings such abundance and fruit. The dreams you never thought you had become what you could never live without. Because when you walk in obedience to a place or into a season the Lord calls you to it becomes so much greater and rewarding then desperately trying to hold onto "your dream" and not change.
I was talking to one of my best friends a couple nights ago who reminded me that everything in our flesh tries to run from any area that may cause us to suffer, be a hardship, or tough in this life. But through the suffering, the tears, and the hardships are often what we are called to that we may know Him better.
What is the Panera booth in your life? What do you not want to change, let go of, or let God prune in your life? Is God calling you to a different job, into a relationship or to leave one, to move somewhere new, to do missions, to have a child, to adopt, to come in humility to your spouse and change the way you are approaching him or her, is He calling you to move things around in your schedule to be able to lead young men and women to help the younger generation to grow in the Lord? Are you on the verge of getting divorced and God is calling you to obey what He has spoken and remain as one where there WILL be abundance to follow?
Please always feel free to email me wanting to talk about the change or difficult decisions you are making in your life right now that we may uplift and encourage one another! Also, if you have been in a season of change before and the Lord taught you something please share it with me J I love you all and love hearing from you! Have a wonderful day, Em
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Posted in General Posts by Emily Milroy on 3/15/2012
As I walk into the Panera on Tyrone and 66th street in St. Petersburg, Florida I peer around the corner checking to see if my table is available....just as I see it is not one of the workers comes up to me and says, "I am sorry your table is taken mam". I sit at a table not too far from it and there I wait until one of the booths become available. It is a small 2 seater booth...cozy, comforting, and small. Once settled in my booth I order the same thing as always...a hot tea, English breakfast of course. This is just one example in my life of how I like going the same places, I like getting the same things, I like sitting at the same tables to the point where people I don't know, know that I sit there! Some people don't enjoy going to the same coffee shop, restaurant, park, mall, or grocery store....but not me. Why would I want to go to a different Publix (grocery store) where the layout could be different? This is also probably why I don't get the best deals on chicken which my mother is always encouraging me to go here go there is a better price difference!
I would not pick change. I would pick to do things the same. I am realizing the Lord knows this about me and He intentionally draws me out of my, "Panera booth" and he sets me in change. He sets me in places that are unfamiliar and challenging and cause me to rely much more on Him then I would otherwise. He takes me on these wild adventures that I never would have planned for myself.
After traveling the world doing missions in 11 countries in 11 months the Lord moves me back to Florida for 7 months, then out to San Diego, California for 6 months where my sister and I literally drove across the country in a grand marquis that is 15 years old and I have had the car since I was 16 years old!!... and we just found out Ryan got Seattle, Washington this week!! I am beginning to think the Lord likes change in my life J
Moving out to San Diego has drawn me into a deeper relationship with the Lord where I have learned to trust him more and more. I started a brand new job that feels way over my head, is hard, and has definitely caused me a few sleepless nights and tears, living on my own for the first time in my little cottage, not having any friends out here, and learning these CRAZY freeways!!! I never considered myself a small town girl until I came out here and realized wow yes I am! what in the world are all these roads going over top of on another?!?! People think probably that it was easy moving out here because I had Ryan, but there have been many challenges in the other areas of my life. Ryan has done an amazing job at supporting and loving me in this season but it doesn't mean it still has not been really hard. Opposite to what movies make moving across the country for be near the love of your life out to look like (love you ryanJ ) it is by no means easy! My job alone stretches me more then I could have ever imagined.
What I am learning is to walk in more faith like Abraham did. "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, OBEYED and went even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country...for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" Heb. 11:8-10.
This was the verse that led me out to San Diego one night in Florida before I even talked about it with Ryan. And this is the verse the Lord brought me to again for Ryan and Seattle. I am learning that our dreams are sometimes just that, they are OUR dreams. They are our desires and the things we want. But sometimes the things that I want are not the Lords dreams or plans for our life. Otherwise I might be in Africa right now, serving God yes, but not because He drew me out there but because I wanted to be there...those were my plans as I was on the world race, but not the Lords plans...have you ever had this happen to you where you keep thinking but Lord I would be doingYOUR work why not do this or join this ministry or team??
...The truth is, they are unwilling to die to themselves. They don't understand that dying is the key to living, that with abandonment abundant life springs forth, that with abandonment comes a supernatural peace, a supernatural hope...
...We get impatient...we don't feel like there is enough immediate payback...we're lonely and we may be facing some kind of wilderness experience, we don't want to wait for God to fill our needs...so we settle for a temporary filling...
I am learning about abandonment and how true abandonment in your life brings such abundance and fruit. The dreams you never thought you had become what you could never live without. Because when you walk in obedience to a place or into a season the Lord calls you to it becomes so much greater and rewarding then desperately trying to hold onto "your dream" and not change.
I was talking to one of my best friends a couple nights ago who reminded me that everything in our flesh tries to run from any area that may cause us to suffer, be a hardship, or tough in this life. But through the suffering, the tears, and the hardships are often what we are called to that we may know Him better.
What is the Panera booth in your life? What do you not want to change, let go of, or let God prune in your life? Is God calling you to a different job, into a relationship or to leave one, to move somewhere new, to do missions, to have a child, to adopt, to come in humility to your spouse and change the way you are approaching him or her, is He calling you to move things around in your schedule to be able to lead young men and women to help the younger generation to grow in the Lord? Are you on the verge of getting divorced and God is calling you to obey what He has spoken and remain as one where there WILL be abundance to follow?
Please always feel free to email me wanting to talk about the change or difficult decisions you are making in your life right now that we may uplift and encourage one another! Also, if you have been in a season of change before and the Lord taught you something please share it with me J I love you all and love hearing from you! Have a wonderful day, Em
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Posted in General Posts by Emily Milroy on 11/11/2011
Not one has been sold...
As most of you have read in the last few blogs, it has been a struggle to be home...difficult in so many ways, challenges I did not except to encounter upon returning home to... It has been a road filled with many emotions, ups and downs...
Little did I know the Lord had great plans to help heal my heart through headbands.......
The Lord prompted my heart about 1 month ago to start a small ministry called Headbands for HOPE. All the headbands, ear warmers, and bobby pins are handmade and ALL PROFITS go towards the prevention of human sex trafficking. As I prayed about if this was really what the Lord wanted he spoke yes's and also said, "You will donate $1,000 by Christmas"...
When I heard this I had peace...As I told people these things many scrunched their faces up and said, "Hmm really...$1000 by Christmas, you know Emily that is a LOT of headbands...you will have to sell at least 100 headbands!!"
This entire headband making ministry was His idea and so I continued to have peace and just continued right on making those headbands along with MUCH support from family and friends!! With help we were able to make 65 headbands to have ready to go waiting to see how the Lord was going to use these...
One night my mom came home from bible study and said, "Come downstairs when you are done reading." I didn't want to go downstairs because I was all snuggled up reading , but I figured she had found a great deal on some headbands and was super excited! You guys all know how Dagmar gets when she finds a great deal :) So I went downstairs to have her direct me to a table where I saw a check written out for $1,000...
... this woman heard about Headbands for HOPE and that all profits go towards human trafficking, and asked if she could make a donation. I have never even met this woman... she heard from the Lord, and she responded.
As I thought about the girls the money would go to I smiled...I turned around and looked around my dining room....65 headbands lay all over the room and not one had been sold. God in his amazing faithfulness fulfilled his promise. God didn't need the headbands to make the $1,000 he promised, He won the battle Himself.
It made me think of Gideon...how the Lord asked him to prepare an army, finally settle on the 300 men for battle. And what happened the day of the battle? The Lord won the battle, Gideon and his men never actually fought.
Also, I told you all I was reading my bible upstairs before walking down...the last thing I read was Colossians 3:15, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts..." and guess what verse was big and bold at the top of the check...Colossians 3:15. Out of ALL the 31,000 plus verses in the bible...wow.
The Lord has now raised almost 3,000 dollars and it is not even Christmas yet :)
There will be times in your life God will call YOU to walk in obedience and have faith WITHOUT sight that God will and can do what he promises. And sometimes God calls you to something "strange" something that will make people scrunch their faces, unsure of whether this can actually happen, and like Noah, people may not understand what the Lord has called YOU to.
My encouragement to you if GO, DO, BE where the Lord wants you to be and do what he wants you to do. He will never let you down and he WILL fulfill his promises. He is not a God of empty promises. Walk in FAITH not out of SIGHT!
HOW YOU CAN YOU HELP?
You can REALLY help in many ways!!
You can send...
- Fabric-scraps, new, ANYTHING!
- Headbands- really any kind!
- Hot glue gun sticks
- Any kind of cute buttons, pearls, embellishments I could put on a headband
- Hot glue guns (the ones that use the smaller glue stick
You can send these to:
Emily Milroy
4821 Burlington Ave. North
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
And check out Headbands for HOPE's website at
This would be a GREAT help!!! Thanks so much!!
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Posted in General Posts by Emily Milroy on 10/13/2011
Last weekend in California, I got a picture of Christ and His crazy love for me...my hope is that as you read this blog you will see yourself, your situation, your struggles, and the crazy love God has for you.........
.....upset I woke at 5:30 am, as the sun was rising, showered, got dressed, made the bed, put my shoes on and tip toed past Ryan sleeping on the couch. I didn't leave a note, didn't bring my cell phone, and didn't let him know where I was going...
I was upset from the night before and less than 6 hours later I was running away...tired of feeling I was the one always upset...tired of how quickly the anxiety and low feelings could wash over me (read the last blog entitled 'A Restless Heart in Waiting') knowing that the last thing this man probably wanted to do was wake up to a crying, sad girl on his morning to sleep in, yet again dealing with issues and emotions that have come since being back in the U.S. and dealing with my own frustration. So I split.......
Mad and upset I yelled at the Lord, "I am all alone! I am alone walking down this road... physically and emotionally I feel so alone!" I kept walking until I hit the beach, walking down the beach before settling by the water, wanting to think and pray...As you probably gathered from the last blog, many times, even when something small happens, it feels huge and I feel my emotions spiraling out of control, feeling there is nothing I can do to stop the low feelings from hitting...it feels like you are so tired, you just collapse...
I picked up small shells and I made a heart out of them in the sand. I looked at it and thought this looks like my own heart, broken for the nations, in a million pieces and places these days, deflated, and sometimes feeling that it could so easily just crumble...
As I stood to leave not 5 feet away stood Ryan. He put his arms around me, held me close, and said, "Emily, I love you." Shocked to see him there I asked how he found me......."When I woke up and found you were gone I set out to look for you, I started on the far end and walked the length of this beach looking for you." Bitterness, anger, or annoyance held no place in his eyes.
After we talked for a bit we headed back to his apartment......."Can I make you eggs to eat?" he asked. While he cooked I still felt overwhelmed and tired, so I laid down...not moments passed before I was crying again. He found me, tears streaming down my face and a puddle of tears on the bedspread. I didn't even open my eyes when he sat next to me, ashamed that yet again I was upset and feeling so weak. I might as well have been a rag doll the way he had to scoop me up into his arms and as mine fell to my side he put his around me and said, "Emily, I would die for you I love you so much. I don't want you to be sad...I have loved you as long as I have known you, my love for you is unconditional." Even after that it still took me the rest of the day to shake out of the depression, anxious feelings, and mood. And do you know what else? There was this man, loving, serving, lifting me up, protecting me, treating me to a wonderful day picking apples in an orchard, apple pie, buying me my favorite tea from South Africa, taking me to lunch, and even paying for me to feed some random llamas J
I didn't treat him well that day...I purposely left the apartment not waking him, not leaving a note, not bringing my phone...my message was clear. I didn't deserve his kindness, humility, love, patience, and gentleness but it was all that I saw.
Not until I was on the plane returning home did I see the symbolism of that day. The Lord showed me that that is exactly the kind of crazy love that He has for me. How often do we run from the Lord, don't turn to Him, or think He has had it with us messing up AGAIN and AGAIN...embarrassed, ashamed, frustrated with ourselves and our own sin, we don't know what else to do sometimes so we "make our beds," we "clean" ourselves up with our OWN soap and water, we hide the pain, brokenness, shame, guilt, loneliness, depression, and mistakes with some new clothes, makeup, or a clean shave and we head out the door......barely holding on in the inside but to the rest of the world it appears our beds are made and our lives are in order.
God said, "Even with your brokenness and your mistakes, when you feel overwhelmed at having to draw near to Me over the same issue you have been struggling with, guess what? I am here. When you run away, I will come looking for you. I would walk the whole length of the beach to find you. And when I find you I would rejoice, take you in my arms, and remind you that you are loved.......disappointment and anger would not be in My eyes. When you cry, broken, unable to lift your own arms to wrap them around Me, I have you my child......I have loved you with an unconditional love. I have died for you."
The beauty of the picture the Lord continues to show me is found in all the times I have sat on the beach feeling alone or in despair only to turn and find Him standing there saying, come to Me, My daughter, I have been looking for you, waiting for you. Nothing you do, nothing you have done, can overwhelm God to the point that He doesn't want you, He doesn't love you, and He wouldn't come looking for you. He died for you, showing the depth of His love true.
My heart behind this blog is for you to imagine that it is you on that beach...what are you running from, hiding from, broken about, depressed about, or feeling ashamed or lost about? I can promise you if you take a moment to stop looking at your shattered heart of sadness or guilt and look beside you, there you will find Christ with open arms...
This blog is dedicated to Ryan.......Ryan, thank you for being a man after God's own heart, that you pursue Him each day to learn more about His character. I see your character and heart being shaped more and more each year by Him. You embody so much of Christ's humility, love, strength, patience, and forgiveness. You continue to demonstrate Christ's love to me in so many ways, thank you for being a window into the Lord's love. I know these last 4 months have not been easy on you either and I can't thank you enough for continuing to love and pursue me even when times are hard. I love you, Em
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Posted in General Posts by Emily Milroy on 9/14/2011
I can't believe it has been 3 months since returning back to the States and "adjusting" back to life as I knew it before...A handful of people have asked me since I have been home if I ever thought of writing another blog...if I was honest I usually just gave some kind of ho-hum answer to pacify them and moved on. It crossed my mind people may be wondering about how the transition back was going, but to be honest these last 3 months in some ways have been harder then anything I ever encountered around the world...maybe it was my own pride, maybe it was hoping to figure a few more things out first, or maybe I was stuck in my own fear, afraid to let anyone else in on the truth....
But through the Lord leading me these last several weeks and someone today asking me to consider writing again, I know without a doubt I am not supposed to have things figured out before I write and I am to lay down all my pride of what this blog may do to any "missionary image" anyone may have of me...so here goes...
The honest raw truth...Since being back in America I have struggled with anxiety, not finding fulfillment or happiness in things I used to be passionate about, fatigue, focusing on or remembering things... I get distracted easily, loneliness, not feeling a sense of belonging, numb to everything around me, feeling that I don't fit in here, crying or feeling really upset and not even exactly knowing why...not one specific thing just everything...I have struggled greatly with finding and understanding my purpose in life...where I am supposed to live, what I am supposed to do, what I should get involved with, who I am supposed to do life with, who I should pour into, who may want to pour into me...I have struggled greatly with moving back in with my mom. Instead of initially being grateful for this opportunity to live in a house with my mother and sister I felt like everyone was looking at me thinking "wow looks like she didn't make it on her own" ...my outlook left me constantly spinning and thinking about how I could get out instead of why God may have placed me here...I find too many times that as people talk about different applications on their new I-phone, the latest technology, or the awesome deals at the mall sometimes unintentionally I zone out, and find myself back in Africa going hut to hut sharing the word of God or in Haiti working at the orphanage. It is not that these things are wrong or bad I just have spent a year without them. I am not great at checking my email or spending time updating my life on facebook...I usually just want to delete my facebook account actually!...the transition back has been anything but easy...ever had those moments you just stop and look around, watching everyone moving, talking, lots of noise, and you wonder is this my life? Is this what I do now? Is this real?
...to be perfectly honest, absolutely nothing in my life is set right now, nor do I have anything permanently set for my future...in two months my job as an occupational therapist will be over because I was only hired for a few months...and after that I don't know the next step...
What I am learning...
... I am learning that it is much easier to trust God when you can see what next week or next month holds...the waiting seasons of life are some of the hardest...when you are super busy in life you long to slow down and when you have more time then you are used to, you feel like time is moving very slowly...I am learning I have a restless heart that longs to know the plans of my life because I am a planner...I over think things...
...I am learning a lot about trust and patience in the seeming dullness of the routine of life and that this is the best preparation for the larger opportunity which God may send you on...God is working, He is faithful, and he wants me to wait... My prayer is that I will understand that at times I am called to do my duty by doing nothing, to work by keeping still, to serve by waiting...I can fully trust God's methods and His clock...to learn strong faith is to endure great trials, to stand firm amid severe testing... Sometimes the grandest character is grown in the hardships...God did not promise us that in this life everything would be easy or fun, but He promises us He will always be with us...there is rain before a rainbow...when sight ceases faith steps in...
...blindly walking into beauty is what I say about my life these days J I believe that there is something beautiful God is walking me into in the future but I honestly do not know what that is right now...and the waiting has been very difficult...
...but I am going to CHOOSE to count it all as joy, I am going to continue to praise God for the deliverance that will come, I am going to keep walking forward blindly believing that one day this part of my life and the struggles that have come will one day be a testimony of the Lord's faithfulness, that the season I am in now will serve to glorify God, and I will choose to continue everyday to pray that the Lord uses my days to bless others by showing them love, for this was the ministry of Christ and it will be mine too...
I want to be like Joseph, the Lord spoke to him and he went, the Lord told him to stay and wait and he did, then the Lord told him to move again and he did...
So for now you can find me in St. Pete, Florida....waiting J
...I believe this blog was written for someone that it may encourage...to know that you are not alone... something I have written may be familiar to you or similar to what you once experienced but have never shared with anyone. If that is you please feel free to email me, emily.milroy@gmail.com, I would love to talk with you or pray with you...
Pictures of some of the reasons I miss being overseas so much :)...
**If you can't see these pictures, click on the link in your email**
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Posted in General Posts by Emily Milroy on 5/18/2011
Is the grass greener on the other side?
Truth: This month has been one of the hardest for me on the race...anxiety, fears, and an overwhelming heaviness met me every morning this month at 7 AM before I could even open my eyes...I cried at least twice a day, sometimes not even sure what over...I was really attacked from the enemy this month trying to dismiss this last 11 months and what God has done...I struggled through the first 2 ½ weeks of this month feeling bipolar each day, sobbing one moment and feeling peaceful the next...I felt like someone was literally squeezing my heart...this continued day in and day out...
...I started to have so much anxiety hearing about my friends and teammates plans for when they get back...realizing I did not have anything close to a 5-year plan, I don't even have a 6 month plan! I started hearing lies from the enemy saying, "Look at you just going right back to where you lived a year ago, nothing has changed this year, you are just going straight back to America to pick up where you left off...all that you have seen this year, and you are "just" going home." I felt so incredibly overwhelmed that I did not know what I was doing when I got off the race. Some mornings I just didn't want to open my eyes knowing what the day would bring...but of course you can't ever fall back asleep when are so discontent...
Truth: God had me start looking at the heart and root of the issue...this is what he showed me. I was at church a week ago and during worship I prayed for a word from Him, begged for something, anything to give my heart peace and rest. What I heard loud and clear was, "Dance with me Em." Side note-I love when I hear God call me Em instead of Emily J I said, "I am dancing with you Lord, I have been." And He said, "Yes, your hands are in mine but you are not really dancing to the song of today."
I did not completely understand until He gave me this vision...He was right, I was dancing but I was constantly looking over my shoulder at the things from my past, regrets from the race, the feeling of I could have done more, should have done this different, and looking back wishing it wasn't over...then looking over His shoulder at the future trying desperately to figure out what I was supposed to do when I got home and watching what everyone else was doing.
Then God said, "You are so caught up with and concerned that the music has changed and the old dance steps are gone that you are going to miss the dance of today and the new steps I am teaching you." Have you ever tried to learn a new dance while you are fighting with not wanting to learn the new steps? Or have you ever tried to learn new dance steps while instead of paying attention to your own dance you are watching those dancing around you?
Truth: God also gave me another vision that day...I was in a pasture, my pasture, but I was over by the fence and I was holding onto the fence jumping up trying to look in other pastures around me. God showed me that I was walking in the spirit of comparison, trying to look at everyone else's pasture and what God was showing them about what they were doing after the race. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23: 1-3. God asked me if I really believed that he would give everyone else a green pasture but me dead brown grass in mine. He said, "Emily if you take a moment to stop jumping up and down and turn around, you will find I have placed you in a green pasture filled with flowers, life, and new growth." The grass isn't greener on the other side, it's a lie the enemy tries to convince us of time and time again throughout life. Take some time today if you are struggling with this and read psalm 23 and take a look in your own pasture and where God has placed you... and know that it is good and the grass is green.
Truth: Third thing God used to teach me...this story was given to me by my little sister...There was this special Olympics tournament and there was one precious boy who came in very last, WAY behind everyone else. Everyone had already finished and everyone lined up to cheer on this boy and help him to be encouraged to finish. He finally finished and then they went to the awards ceremony. His parents were proud he finished but felt bad he came in dead last...then at the award ceremony it came the time for them to hand out the first place award, and they called the boy's name. His parents thought it must be a joke or must have heard it wrong, but they said his name again, for first place! When they asked why he came in first place even though he finished last, the judges replied- He was the only one who stayed in his own lane! :)
So moral of the story is STAY IN YOUR LANE...run the race the Lord has marked out for YOU not for someone around you! Remember that God has it all planned out, and his plan for you is to stay in your own lane, run your race, look not to the right or to the left but look straight at Jesus!!
This is what God has been teaching me this month; I hope that something in here God uses to speak to you in your own life too! God has been showing up BIG time this month and I have really felt like what it means to be carried by Jesus when I am weak. I have seen Him work in the ministry we are a part of and use me even though my flesh has been weak, He has been strong, and he has been my strength.
Pray for me my last couple weeks on the race that God would continue to carry me through, send me His peace...pray for the time that is coming to say goodbye to my team that I have without a doubt spent more time with in this year then I will one day in my first year of marriage J pray for the excitement and overwhelming feelings of coming home. Pray for my contentment in being ok with not having answers of what I am doing next and to not compare my journey with anyone else's. And pray that no matter what I would continue to dance THIS dance, run THIS race marked out for me J
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Posted in General Posts by Emily Milroy on 5/18/2011
*Just realized I never posted this from end of last month!
You simply loved me, so that I may simply love others...
It was absolutely amazing this month to get cards from so many people and even packages in the mail! This was the first time that people could send anything and I was overwhelmed by how many people did! It really touched my heart in a way that receiving a letter or package before ever has...then again I have never received a package while being overseas!
The most touching part for me was the thought and care behind it...it was getting the little bracelet my little cousin picked out himself, the special bookmarks his brother picked out, the gum and mints from my childhood from my dad, all the specially picked out princess stuff from my sister, the Easter package my mom sent with tons of Easter supplies for crafts to do with the kids we live with and all the encouraging words I received through letters and the adorable dolphin picture drawn on the front J
It's that in each package whether the person knew it or not they were blessing so many people then they may have originally thought! With the plastic eggs combined from the packages we were able to do an Easter egg hunt with the kids, their FIRST EASTER EGG hunt ever! Luke and Paul the eggs you decorated were specially made for 4 kids first Easter Egg hunt of their life J Special huh? J The Disney movie my mom sent, Tangled, happened to be the kids FAVORITE movie of all times and they were so very excited to watch it when it arrived and I will be leaving it with them as a parting gift! I could go on and on but here is the point, on the world race you learn to share everything you have with the people around you. And more then ever before I am amazed at how God works, through the hearts of my loved ones blessing me with their gifts of love, some of them happened to be the exactly what the kids here talked about for the first few weeks! And BAM there it is sent from America!!
As my mom has always taught me how important presentation is of a gift by making our Easter baskets look so nice, I worked hard on trying to make a laundry basket look nice too! I used the ribbon you sent mom... From the 8 of us also going through all our own things as well as some of the Easter things sent overseas we were able to make a beautiful basket of treasures for the kids FIRST EASTER EGG BASKET J I learned putting that basket together what it feels like to be a parent, why all those years when I asked how can this be as much fun for you as for me when you don't have a gift?? Now I understand full well. Because when those kids came running in to the living room to see their Easter basket it hit me, this is what it feels like. This is the joy you get in blessing your children, this is the joy a parent feels in blessing their own kids, this is the joy the Lord has blessing His children...
It was also through this experience that I learned something about my own heart. Love is not something that I hold onto with both hands, holding on as if it will never come again. I believe that one of the reasons that I have found it easy to freely give love is because of the love I have been shown in my life through my community of family and friends.
I have a mother who has shown me gentleness and how to take the time to stop, sit, and listen and care for another person no matter well fed, hungry, rich, or poor, how to make things special for others, even the small things.
I have a father who generously gives and buys for other people when they are in need. I have tangibly seem my father my whole life provide for my needs in a roof over my head, clothes, helping me all the way through college and all my life growing up he poured out love to my friends too, taking us all to do fun things.
I have a sister who has taught me how to love freely and forgive freely. It is through her example I have learned what it means to forgive 70 times 7. Watched her serve others and me in love...devoting so much time to planning mission trips and finding nursing homes for dear friends.
I have been shown love through my extended family all my life. They have greatly supported me in every area. They speak words of life over me and have continued to believe in me as well as the path God has me on.
I have friends that I have grown up with all my life since I was 11 years old. They have seen me through good times and hard times and have loved me. Friends I met in collegeand after college that loved me through some big years of growth and realizations. All these friends have demonstrated how to love someone and walk through life beside them. And each one of them has greatly supported me this year on the race.
The Lord has blessed me with amazing neighbors, pastors, and co-workers that have really taken the time to get to know my heart, people in the church who love on me miles away and love on my mom when both her kids aren't there J
The list could go on and on but this last week what I have learned is...freely I have received, so freely I give. I realized this doesn't just apply to tangible things in my life but love also. It is through YOU, everyone taking the time to even read this blog right now, it is through YOUR love, support, and encouragement throughout my life that has enabled me to pour out love to 11 different countries and so many people along the way.
I wanted to thank you all for every prayer, every email, every word, and every moment that you have spent with me throughout my life, sitting with me sharing our hearts over tea or holding me as I cry in your arms. All the times that may have seemed small I have thought about this last 11 months and I now realize how much your love and care all these years prepared me to love the nations.
The love you have poured into me over the years has now been poured out onto others around the world and I sincerely thank you.
You simply loved me, so that I may simply love others.
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Posted in General Posts by Emily Milroy on 5/3/2011
Make a 14
Dollar Difference!
This month I
find myself in a suburb of Kuala Lampur, Malaysia... working at a
restaurant. While this might not sound like typical missions work, let
me tell you a little bit about why it is so important.
There is a
situation in Burma, which you may or may not know about. About a month
ago, the Burmese government transformed from a military dictatorship to a
democracy, much to the approval of the western world and united
nations. You may have even read about it. But what you probably don't
know is that the elected officials in Burma are now the Generals that
were in charge of it during the dictatorship, they just have a new fancy
name. Now these men are, as our Burmese Cultural Coach called them,
"not a people of mercy." They are known for the rape, plundering and
torture of the outlying tribal people in Burma, and are still conducting
such practices now, under the guise of being elected officials.
This has caused a large flood of the tribal people, which are mostly
Christian tribes, to be displaced, terrorized, or forcefully removed of
their homes. So they make their way through the jungles of Thailand,
and swamps of Malaysia to Kuala Lampur, where large groups of them
congregate in refugee communities. Then for about 3 years they stay
waiting for diplomacy to allow them to be relocated to different
countries, since they cannot go home, and the Malaysian Government will
not allow them citizenship for fear of over crowding.
And So.... The
restaurant! We are working at an American Food restaurant called
Kennedy's run by Peter and Ian Loh, a father and son team of Malaysian
nationals that use the restaurant to raise funds for mission work to aid
these Burmese refugees. They sell hamburgers in order to provide the
displaced families with English Classes, regular schooling, and church
services among other ministries including job training for
ex-prostitutes. Basically, these are amazing people, who have a heart
to serve and a great respect for the Race and everything that it stands
for... going into the world to see God and provide freedom. They have
even set up a World Race wall to promote us and all that we do, and to
provide a space for us to talk openly about Jesus in a Muslim country!
This
brings me to what you can do! The restaurant is just
getting up and running, and currently is in various states of staging
and decorating. There have been 24 teams of racers to go through the
doors here, painting and staffing and coordinating improvements. But
what we need is a little bit of America in Malaysia. So. If you would
consider getting involved in helping this restaurant get off the ground
I'm going to ask you to do something!
Get a box of AMERICA
together! Pack a Small Priority Mail Flat Rate box with maps,
pictures of you and your friends, license plates, posters, doodles,
magazines, college logo things (baseball caps, shirts, banners, pendent, posters), hats, books and other things and send them over...really anything that is American and would remind people of America! It may
seem like something silly to you, but this restaurant supplies the
community with desperately necessary programs and it needs you to help
take ownership in that.
With some effort from you all we could REALLY
impact an entire community by investing in the engine behind their
ministry. So if you are a part of a small group, get together and do
one as a group. Or do one as a family or an individual. (Mama... this sounds like the thing for you!) There are no rules!
Here is the shipping Information:
Ian Loh c/o
Kennedy's
No. 20-1 (Ground Floor), Jalan PJU 5/5
Dataran
Sunway, Kota Damansura
47810 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Best
Way To Ship!
United States Postal Service
Priority Mail SMALL International Flat Rate Boxes.
They come in
different sizes (but stick with the small one), and will ship to
anywhere in the world for the same price. You can also pack them as
heavy as 4 pounds (So pack like a World Racer.... smash and squish that
stuff in there!) They cost 13.95 to send!
Can't wait to see what you all
come up with. And because it is my last month on the field I hope you
will help PUSH this along, and really take the opportunity to help this
ministry! And if you have any suggestions leave them in the comment box
below so others can see and think about it too!
And pass this
along to anyone you think would be interested in doing this! It would
be a great thing for a CLASSROOM to sponsor and do!
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Posted in General Posts by Emily Milroy on 4/27/2011
Part Two:
This one may not make sense to everyone and it is hard to fully explain 10 months of feelings through written words...but I will try, and if you don't see my point at the end, no worries because writing this is healing for my own heart J
In coming on the world race we are encouraged to walk in freedom, not in law, and to find out who you are and about your identity in Christ. It hit me month 10, in some ways I was walking in more freedom before coming on this mission trip. Where to even begin...the first 3 months of the WR I realized that I was different then people on my squad in ways. Many didn't really understand me and I felt out of place...people made comments asking me if I fell out of a Disney movie or about my life being perfect and they didn't fully hear me when I tried to explain...this is the world race and people are just more adventurous, wild, rougher, and tougher even for lack of better words to describe my squad that I dearly love. Please make sure to hear my heart in that, I LOVE these people SO much and not walking fully in who I am, that's on me. I just felt too "girly and gentle" for the world race, in everything from my heart to my headbands J
So in being on the world race when I saw the way some responded to the way I spoke about the Lord or about the things I enjoyed doing back home and they didn't really understand, I think I just started pulling away from those things. Not that I fully gave up my identity by any means but I didn't outwardly act or talk like I used to...I pulled a classic, "just trying to fit in with the crowd".
I struggled to show my heart fully... until this month with these 7 other girls. So the Lord put it on my heart to also blog about it and let myself walk in the freedom of knowing that anyone could read this blog J so here goes...
I believe that I am the daughter of a King, a princess, that I have been redeemed, loved, and forgiven by a God that chose me first, loved me first, and by knowing Jesus Christ my life has been radically changed in every way... I love Disney and princess movies because God always uses them to speak to my heart...my favorite Disney princess is Ariel... At home I have a diamond crown I wear when I do my quiet time which the Lord uses in so many ways...and actually right before this month God told me to buy one because of what he was going to do this month, so now I have a tiny crown out here in Thailand with me too... A huge part of my heart in coming on the race (my best friend Nicole painted this vision for me actually J) was in each country to tell the young to older girls that they were princesses and so incredibly precious to God, beautiful, loved, and chosen to be set apart... I have watched this vision take action each month and it has been amazing... Even though life is tough and I shed lots of tears, I see life greatly as a beautiful fairy tale, the most beautiful love story of all time, one in which the leading role is played by the most amazing Savior I have ever known... People say I smile like a girl in love, because I am...I have been redeemed and forgiven by a God that takes my breath away each day with His heart, grace, blessings, and when I look at nature, the clouds, mountains, and ocean, my eyes are wet with tears as I am in awe of His creation and beauty... I am overwhelmed all the time by God's love and the way He scoops me up off the ground when I am broken before him... I trust God more then anyone and there is no one I would rather run to... He is the one who covers me with a peace that is unexplainable... Many people say it is a walk through life with the Lord but I say it's a dance...because to me it is, I chose a few years ago to place both hands in His and he gave me a vision that I haven't shared with everyone, but here goes J
Four years ago I struggled to forgive myself of many mistakes I had made in my life, felt the weight of my sins heavily on me...God gave me this vision, I was standing there with a white dress on that had been torn, ripped, and black smear marks were all over it. Christ was standing next to me holding out a perfectly white dress saying I have this for you, this new dress, new life, forgiveness, purity, redemption, but you have to choose to put it on. I did and the next vision he gave me was one of us dancing together with the new white dress on, hair down, sun shinning, smiling ear to ear, and looking right at Jesus, choosing to dance my way through life holding onto him...
I chose to put my hands in his and look directly at him, chose to be led, chose to move to the rhythm of his music...I feel his love so deeply, I feel protected, I feel wanted and cherished, I feel him catch me when I am broken and falling...Feel the joy and all the smiles that dancing with someone brings. The words abundance and restoration were what God spoke over this month while I was in China praying about Thailand. I learned this month that my abunDANCE is found in Jesus. This dance with him is the abundance.
I love sitting down with a friend to hear what is on their heart. I love hard, am gentle, cry at sad things easily, I am motherly, I will usually place my hand on you while you are talking or crying, when no one is around I dance a lot to worship music, I cry all the time with the Lord not because I am sad but overwhelmed with his love, I'll cry if I see you cry, writing people notes or giving gifts is how I show you I love you, I like girly things like tea parties or wearing dresses. I will randomly just start twirling around in public places like a grocery store or airport if the shoes I am wearing will allow it.
I may be on the world race but here is the truth, I don't love to hike even though I have in every country because my teammates like it, I do love getting to the top though J... I don't really like to camp and live in a tent. Not because the tent isn't spacious enough but I feel alone in the tent and I miss sleeping close to other people and I am afraid of the dark. It's month ten and no, I have not gotten more used to or much braver with bugs. I still scream like a girl when one comes running or hopping towards me.
I am on the WR but I have not gotten tougher or rougher in those ways...I have gotten stronger in heart and spirit through what God has done in and through me this year. I have realized my heart is tender...each month loving the people around me flows out of me feeling like I have forever with them, I invest in the people and places I am in, and then at the end of every month I cry leaving it... and I have learned, that is ok J
So this is who I am. Some of these things I tried to change about myself this year while living in the community that I have been because I wanted to fit in more and I wanted people to understand me... If anything who God has made me to be and the heart he has given me for him and for others has only grown stronger and I have a better appreciation for the spirit God has placed inside me. Because now I know what it is like not to fully walk in who I am and I also know what it feels like to have that restored inside me J I have discovered the freedom in being different and being set apart and I won't again be afraid to walk fully in who God made me to be.
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Posted in General Posts by Emily Milroy on 4/27/2011
Many of the blogs I have written on the world race are to give my amazing family, friends, and supporters a better idea of the culture, ministry, to uplift, encourage, or challenge you, and things God is teaching me around the world. This blog however is a little different, these are things the Lord has called me to lay down and humbly share with you about my heart. Two things on my heart that I need to be transparent about not just with my team but also with you. To walk fully free, laying down that I won't walk in what others think of me, this goes more with part 2 J
Part One:
The first one comes from 1 Timothy 1:12-16, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful appointing me to his service...The grace of the Lord was poured out on me abundantly...Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinner-of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe..."
Sometimes I get the impression that people think that what I am doing out here is "better" then doing missions in America. Also, that by doing something like this I may be stronger in my faith, not struggling with things that they are struggling with...so in this blog I just need to dispel any thoughts of that and I need to humble myself in saying one of the things I have learned on the world race is that I need God's mercy more than anything, I need his grace, I need his love. Just because I am traveling to 11 countries in 11 months sharing the word of God doesn't for a second mean I am above sin, making mistakes, or completely making a mess of things. Just like everyone else I need Christ, I need forgiveness, and I need His patience.
I want you to know that everything and anything you are doing for the kingdom is important. The conversation you had with the woman at the grocery store to encourage her, the person you sat with and prayed with after church, the child in need you shared your food with, the homeless man you sat down to talk to on the streets, the neighbor that you cooked a meal for, the youth that you pour into, your very own children you are raising in the word of God, the bible study you show up to each week and speak life into those people, the church that you lead, the kindness you show to your family, friends, and people you meet, the teenage skater kids you go and watch skate board on Tuesday afternoons, the ministry you behind the scenes pray for, the children you teach in 3rd grade, the people you take care of in the hospital as a nurse and show love to them in one of their greatest times of need, the younger girls/boys you take under your wing and help lead them to the Lord and walk through life with, the clothes you donate, the money you give to missionaries to support them, the people you offer a drink to when they are thirsty, food to the hungry....I could go on and on...and if you read close enough you will probably find many of these things are what you are doing right now. Things that I have been encouraged by and have taught me many lessons. I have been just as encouraged by you this year and have learned so much from the lives that you lead and the way you pour yourselves out to the calling God has placed in your life. I am extremely blessed to know all of you and glean insight from your lives and the way you walk out your faith. You all are amazing and I am so blessed to know each one of you.
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