Baby Steps

I've wanted to start a blog for quite some time now. Me and everyone else. I suppose if I had a "Bucket List", blogging would be on it. Not that I feel I have a whole lot to say...but who knows, maybe I do and I just don't know it yet! One thing you may or may not know about me is that I'm a bit of a perfectionist. Don't judge...it's right there in the Bible next to the "cleanliness/godliness"! Anyways, this blogging thing is actually going to be tough for me. Mostly due to the fact that I take FOREVER to actually publish a blog. I read and re-read till I'm blue in the face and have completely re-written my original blog and it's become something entirely different! It drives me nuts that I do this, but I'm determined to just be myself here. Because I trust you're doing the same.

The title of my blog is a phrase from one of my favorite scriptures. It's one of those phrases that sorta haunts me-in a good way. When I was in Middle School and into High School, I was a part of my church's Bible Quiz team. Where we would memorize scriptures and then go to a church and be, well, quizzed on what we had memorized. Looking back in retrospect, I'm not sure how I feel about it, but none the less, one of the only books that I actually remember is James chapter 1. Each verse is a precious jewel (as are all scriptures, I know) but these just really spoke to me! At one point in High School I was challenged to find a "life verse" and chose James 1: 2 & 3...

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

James presents a serious challenge to believers here! Really Lord? Pure joy amidst my trials? Well, ok then. I'll do my very best because Your promise to me is that I will come out of the trial having gained perseverance. And actually, verse 4 continues with, "And perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be MATURE & COMPLETE, not lacking anything." Lord, I want that! So from these "life verses", came the title of my blog, "Considering it Pure Joy". I want my life to reflect that I am doing my very best to be joyful in all circumstances--both wonderful and difficult!

All because of Jesus,
Emily