I posted another new post... but you'll need to go to the new URL to read it. If you haven't switched over your RSS feed yet, you may want to do so. :)
http://praisehiminsong.blogspot.com/2011/10/indian-summer.html
Love,
EJ
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
URL for new site is fixed
I've fixed the URL for the new site. Sorry about that!
www.praisehiminsong.blogspot.com
If you are currently following the blog with an RSS feed or a blog reader, you'll want to make sure you change that over so you can get updates.
Thanks! :)
EJ
www.praisehiminsong.blogspot.com
If you are currently following the blog with an RSS feed or a blog reader, you'll want to make sure you change that over so you can get updates.
Thanks! :)
EJ
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Erin Joy has moved!!!
Well... not really. I still live in a dorm room on a campus in a city in a country in a world.... yeah.
The new URL for this blog is http://www.praisehiminsong.blogspot.com/
If you have been following Erin Joy, please note that all future updates will go on this site. All the posts have been moved over to the new address.
This address will still be here, and I won't take it down for a while.
With love from an absolute doll,
Erin Joy
The new URL for this blog is http://www.praisehiminsong.blogspot.com/
If you have been following Erin Joy, please note that all future updates will go on this site. All the posts have been moved over to the new address.
This address will still be here, and I won't take it down for a while.
With love from an absolute doll,
Erin Joy
Sunday, September 11, 2011
And so I wait, with eager longing
A friend asked me just today what God has been teaching me through the past two weeks. I wasn't sure how to answer -- and then I remembered.
In the midst of hurt and frustration, Jesus met me one day.
It was in choir. It was the end of the day. I was sick of being sick. Tuesday, I was barely making it through the day, and sat throughout choir rehearsal without singing a single note. I was frustrated, I was pushing my way through the day, and I had my mind on what the doctor was going to tell me that Thursday.
And then we had our choir devotions. As one of the student leaders shared about the life of singer Rich Mullins, she played a song that left me in tears.
Jesus met me through this song. As it played, I stopped to let the words of the chorus wash over me. "And if I can't, let me fall on the grace.... And if I weep, let me weep as a man who is longing for his home."
Longing for home. All of a sudden, the earthly hopes and dreams I so easily cling to seemed to pale in comparison with the heavenly reality. My heart felt reminded that this world is just a passing moment, that it is not my home.
Romans 8:18-21 reads, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.... in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay." (ESV, emphasis mine)
Friends, if the creation waits with eager longing for that glory, for that restoration, why does it take sickness for me to long for it? I, who feel the effects of the physical curse, but also the sin nature?
Why does my heart have a list of things I want to accomplish before my Savior comes for me? Why don't I wish that He would come and redeem this world so that I can glorify Him more perfectly?
And there, sitting in a choir chair surrounded by forty women, my heart was longing. As I wiped away the tears and left the room, I praised God for breaking my heart of its earthly focus.
So now, I wait, with eager longing, because one day my body will be set free from its bondage to decay.
With love from an absolute doll,
Erin Joy
P.S. -- For those wanting an update on my health, the basic gist is that the specialist thinks I have more going on than just asthma and that it's very treatable with therapy. I still have more tests, and would appreciate your prayers. Things are looking up!
P.P.S. -- The song shared in choir was "If I Stand" by Rich Mullins. Look soon for a post on the list of songs God has used to encourage me over the past few weeks.
In the midst of hurt and frustration, Jesus met me one day.
It was in choir. It was the end of the day. I was sick of being sick. Tuesday, I was barely making it through the day, and sat throughout choir rehearsal without singing a single note. I was frustrated, I was pushing my way through the day, and I had my mind on what the doctor was going to tell me that Thursday.
And then we had our choir devotions. As one of the student leaders shared about the life of singer Rich Mullins, she played a song that left me in tears.
Jesus met me through this song. As it played, I stopped to let the words of the chorus wash over me. "And if I can't, let me fall on the grace.... And if I weep, let me weep as a man who is longing for his home."
Longing for home. All of a sudden, the earthly hopes and dreams I so easily cling to seemed to pale in comparison with the heavenly reality. My heart felt reminded that this world is just a passing moment, that it is not my home.
Romans 8:18-21 reads, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.... in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay." (ESV, emphasis mine)
Friends, if the creation waits with eager longing for that glory, for that restoration, why does it take sickness for me to long for it? I, who feel the effects of the physical curse, but also the sin nature?
Why does my heart have a list of things I want to accomplish before my Savior comes for me? Why don't I wish that He would come and redeem this world so that I can glorify Him more perfectly?
And there, sitting in a choir chair surrounded by forty women, my heart was longing. As I wiped away the tears and left the room, I praised God for breaking my heart of its earthly focus.
So now, I wait, with eager longing, because one day my body will be set free from its bondage to decay.
With love from an absolute doll,
Erin Joy
P.S. -- For those wanting an update on my health, the basic gist is that the specialist thinks I have more going on than just asthma and that it's very treatable with therapy. I still have more tests, and would appreciate your prayers. Things are looking up!
P.P.S. -- The song shared in choir was "If I Stand" by Rich Mullins. Look soon for a post on the list of songs God has used to encourage me over the past few weeks.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
I didn't plan on this
When I laid out the plan for my life five years ago, it looked a little different than it does today.
I planned to major in piano, go on for at least a master's degree and maybe a doctorate. I planned to perform, to teach, to travel. I wanted to live in a city, to enjoy having easy access to concerts and coffee. I planned to practice for hours on end, to be able to easily play whatever pieces I wanted to play, and to do everything my heart desired.
Chronic asthma wasn't in the plan.
This week, I experienced another setback as my lungs tried to adjust to the city, and ended up in a doctor's office getting another round of intensive medication.
Caring friends have asked questions as I've opened the year with another episode of sickness, and this year, I have to explain that this is normal now.
Normal. When I planned out "normal" five years ago, it didn't mean cutting pieces out of my senior recital program so I could physically handle it. It didn't mean traveling with a nebulizer machine, face masks, licorice tea, and a daily pile of prescription medications. It didn't mean rationing my energy and dropping everything for a doctor's appointment. It didn't mean learning to say, "I can't."
Normal was supposed to be different. This wasn't my plan.
And as I grope with the new definition of "normal," I ask why. I wrestle with God. I beg for an explanation. In my heart, I scream, "This isn't fair!"
Then, I'm reminded of a simple truth.
Life isn't fair.
Life isn't about my plans, it isn't about my dreams, it isn't about my desire for normal -- whatever "normal" is. It's about glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. I was created to serve Him, and He rejoices over me with singing. (Zeph. 3:17)
And as unfair as it seems to go through this for some purpose that I can't even see, I'm reminded of the greatest example of all...
It doesn't fit my definition of "fair" that Christ took the punishment for my sin. My Savior didn't lead a "normal" life, where He got to fulfill every dream and ambition without obstruction. The Creator of the universe dealt with pain and suffering as He lived and died on this earth, glorifying the Father and serving me.
And incredibly enough, we read in Scripture that this was all part of the plan.
With love from an absolute doll,
Erin Joy
I planned to major in piano, go on for at least a master's degree and maybe a doctorate. I planned to perform, to teach, to travel. I wanted to live in a city, to enjoy having easy access to concerts and coffee. I planned to practice for hours on end, to be able to easily play whatever pieces I wanted to play, and to do everything my heart desired.
Chronic asthma wasn't in the plan.
This week, I experienced another setback as my lungs tried to adjust to the city, and ended up in a doctor's office getting another round of intensive medication.
Caring friends have asked questions as I've opened the year with another episode of sickness, and this year, I have to explain that this is normal now.
Normal. When I planned out "normal" five years ago, it didn't mean cutting pieces out of my senior recital program so I could physically handle it. It didn't mean traveling with a nebulizer machine, face masks, licorice tea, and a daily pile of prescription medications. It didn't mean rationing my energy and dropping everything for a doctor's appointment. It didn't mean learning to say, "I can't."
Normal was supposed to be different. This wasn't my plan.
And as I grope with the new definition of "normal," I ask why. I wrestle with God. I beg for an explanation. In my heart, I scream, "This isn't fair!"
Then, I'm reminded of a simple truth.
Life isn't fair.
Life isn't about my plans, it isn't about my dreams, it isn't about my desire for normal -- whatever "normal" is. It's about glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. I was created to serve Him, and He rejoices over me with singing. (Zeph. 3:17)
And as unfair as it seems to go through this for some purpose that I can't even see, I'm reminded of the greatest example of all...
It doesn't fit my definition of "fair" that Christ took the punishment for my sin. My Savior didn't lead a "normal" life, where He got to fulfill every dream and ambition without obstruction. The Creator of the universe dealt with pain and suffering as He lived and died on this earth, glorifying the Father and serving me.
And incredibly enough, we read in Scripture that this was all part of the plan.
With love from an absolute doll,
Erin Joy
Sunday, August 21, 2011
lasts and firsts
I just returned to the city after my last women's choir retreat. This weekend, reality of a sort started to sink in, and I realized some of the bittersweet moments that accompany this year.
I'm going to treasure my last year with the beautiful ladies of WCC.
I'm going to enjoy my last year with several close friends who will not be here when I come back for my final semester next fall.
This year, I'll sing in Candlelight Carols and my school's Messiah concert for the last time.
In the spring, I'll go on my last tour, and attend my last (required) Founder's Week.
But in the midst of these bittersweet moments, I'm watching freshmen enjoy their firsts, and I'm looking at a few firsts of my own.
I can go on Senior Retreat... for the first time. :)
I'll enjoy my new roomies, one of whom is at this campus for the first time.
I'll build new friendships, with people I might not have met yet.
I'll do an internship at a wonderful church.
I'll be a part of our new choir director's first year, and will be the first TA our new composition professor has had.
It's all in how you look at it... but I'm beginning to get ready for this new year's lasts and firsts. Just don't remind me about my Monday morning classes. :)
With love from an absolute doll,
Erin Joy
I'm going to treasure my last year with the beautiful ladies of WCC.
I'm going to enjoy my last year with several close friends who will not be here when I come back for my final semester next fall.
This year, I'll sing in Candlelight Carols and my school's Messiah concert for the last time.
In the spring, I'll go on my last tour, and attend my last (required) Founder's Week.
But in the midst of these bittersweet moments, I'm watching freshmen enjoy their firsts, and I'm looking at a few firsts of my own.
I can go on Senior Retreat... for the first time. :)
I'll enjoy my new roomies, one of whom is at this campus for the first time.
I'll build new friendships, with people I might not have met yet.
I'll do an internship at a wonderful church.
I'll be a part of our new choir director's first year, and will be the first TA our new composition professor has had.
It's all in how you look at it... but I'm beginning to get ready for this new year's lasts and firsts. Just don't remind me about my Monday morning classes. :)
With love from an absolute doll,
Erin Joy
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Small town journalist goes to Israel!
This summer, while working at my local newspaper, I was asked to write a series on the Israel trip I took at the beginning of the summer. Five articles in all, the series was a challenge to write and a huge help in processing the trip.
I've received permission to publish the articles here on my blog. Click the following links to find them... and I hope you enjoy! :)
R-D Reporter in Israel, Part 1
This article opens the series with an account of our concert ministry.
R-D Reporter in Israel, Part 2
This article takes the reader to Caesarea, Megiddo, Dan, and the Golan Heights.
R-D Reporter in Israel, Part 3
This article is an account of our time around the Sea of Galilee.
R-D Reporter in Israel, Part 4
This article centers on Bethlehem and Jerusalem, including the Wailing Wall and Yad Vashem.
R-D Reporter in Israel, Part 5
The desert, the Garden Tomb, and the Mount of Olives conclude the series.
With love from an absolute doll,
Erin Joy (and Kirsten)
I've received permission to publish the articles here on my blog. Click the following links to find them... and I hope you enjoy! :)
R-D Reporter in Israel, Part 1
This article opens the series with an account of our concert ministry.
R-D Reporter in Israel, Part 2
This article takes the reader to Caesarea, Megiddo, Dan, and the Golan Heights.
R-D Reporter in Israel, Part 3
This article is an account of our time around the Sea of Galilee.
R-D Reporter in Israel, Part 4
This article centers on Bethlehem and Jerusalem, including the Wailing Wall and Yad Vashem.
R-D Reporter in Israel, Part 5
The desert, the Garden Tomb, and the Mount of Olives conclude the series.
With love from an absolute doll,
Erin Joy (and Kirsten)
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