He wins!

Last week Emilie got amped after reading John 1:5 from her Bible.
She enthusiastically shared, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

Her enthusiasm came a few days after we'd had a discouraging conversation about our culture and the immorality in it that is tolerated and promoted.  At one point during the discussion I resembled the generations who've gone before me as I echoed their disheartening conclusion, "it's going to be much worse for your generation than it was for mine."     

Darkness can bring out the Debbie Downer in me.

But God- through Emilie.
 

After she read John's words she energetically proclaimed what she was discerning from the scripture, "The Light illuminates and shines in the darkness. THE DARKNESS CANNOT OVERPOWER THE MARVELOUS LIGHT! The sin in the world seems to be overpowering Truth, but God's Light overpowers ALL the darkness. God is powerful! I feel Hope." 

Emilie reminded this Debbie Downer that no matter how dark it gets- Jesus wins.
Boom Ya! (as our friend Spinner says it-  Emilie and I might actually be dorky enough to have exclaimed that during our conversation).

This encouragement from God's word for Emilie (and me) could not have come at a better time as she begins high school tomorrow. Like her big bro, she's ditching home school and stepping onto the public school scene.

She's excited to go.

Because today is the last day I don't have to share her (boo hoo) with the anyone (except Josie) I started it off by calling dibs on sitting beside her in church.  When Emilie worships she reaches in deep and pours out praise.  I wanted to be next to her. 

As we worshiped I leaned in close, and sang harmony to her lovely melody. We came toward to kiss together.  *love*   Then this mama pressed into God- the Truth and Light and Hope Emilie knows- placed my hand on her and bathed her in prayer with the fitting song the congregation sang-    

Promise maker, promise keeper
You finish what you begin
Our provision through the desert
You see it through 'til the end
You see it through 'til the end

The Lord our God is ever faithful
Never changing through the ages
From this darkness You will lead us
And forever we will say
You're the Lord our God

In the silence, in the waiting
Still we can know You are good
All Your plans are for Your glory
Yes, we can know You are good
Yes, we can know You are good

The Lord our God is ever faithful
Never changing through the ages
From this darkness You will lead us
And forever we will say
You're the Lord our God

We won't move without You
We won't move without You
You're the light of all and all that we need
(Lord, You're everything
Lord, we trust You
We're in your hands)

The Lord our God is ever faithful
Never changing through the ages
From this darkness You will lead us
And forever we will say
You're the Lord our God
And forever we will say
You're the Lord our God

The Lord Our God, Kritian Stanfill

Hmmm.
He will finish what He has begun in Emilie (and each one of us).
Though everything around us changes He is constant.
Though we don't understand His ways, we trust that He is good and uses every situation for His "Big glory."  (as Emilie us to say it when praying The Lord's Prayer when she was 3)
He is the Light of all and all that we need.
Even in the midst of darkness He will lead (look at how He is already leading Emilie!)
And best of all- He is the LORD our God!
(I feel the need to insert another "Boom Ya!" here) 
Who goes before, beside, and behind Emilie on the wild adventure of high school.

Live in Peace,