This is so good Emma. I have been struggling with this, feeling like I am just "dying," not wanting to grow or do better...and the most disturbing part is that I haven't really been caring either way.
What I need is to be personally and constantly resurrected :)
This is tough stuff and you hit the nail right on the head.
Thank you for this piece. It is well written and points to the only one who can save us, our healer Jesus Christ. I have been feeling burdened and at a spiritual low for this past week. Your words reminded me that I need to turn to God to pull me up, and not to my own weak self. Keep writing! May God bless you and keep you :)
This is so powerful, Emma. Such poignant challenges here--it reminds me somewhat of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's drive in Cost of Discipleship. Thank you for sharing!
Okay first, amazing job on the post!! I rly enjoyed it fr. And second (i'm pretty sure you already saw this because of your comment on my post but I'm required to comment to let you know) - I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. You can read more about it here
Spectacular essay, Emma ❤️ I’ll have to subscribe now. A side effect of having read this article, you see. Would not want to miss the opportunity of walking alongside a sister in the faith who mirrors my walk with the Lord.
Firstly, this reminds me of the verse: "Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin", I think Rom. 12, and the all the admonitions of NT writers to "walk in love" or "walk by faith", a moment-by-moment helpless trust in Christ, "in the same way in which you learned Christ, continue to walk".
Secondly, Salvation being a "process", and active saving through dependance (not that we lose salvation, just that it continually works through behavior/speech/actions as we lean on it completely like a child leans on their parents).
Thirdly, George McDonald sounds like a smart guy.
Fourthly, John Owen sounds smarter but not as cool as George, which I guess means George was cool and smart. I just put 2 and 2 together...well, 1 and 1.
Fifthly, don't forget to do your chores today.
Sixthly, to the reader of this comment, if you just guessed I'm Emma's dad, you are correct.
Seventhly, I'm not actually Emma's dad, but a close relative.
Eighthly, that was also a joke, I am Emma's dad.
Ninthly, I struggled to spell eighthly for about twenty seconds. Try it, it's hard.
Tenthly, you're still reading this?
Eleventhly, that sounds like a combination of eleven and Lothlorien.
Twelfthly, did you know the puritans were infamous for too many points in their sermons?
this is wonderfully written, both convicting but hopeful. This is definitely something I struggle with, and you handled it so beautifully. Thank you :)
I’ll need to come back and read this a bit more thoroughly later, but I wanted to pop in and say that I love the combos of authors from so many genres and times. It’s incredibly fun and refreshing to have Ortlund, Owen, Dickens, and MacDonald all in one place!!
This is so good Emma. I have been struggling with this, feeling like I am just "dying," not wanting to grow or do better...and the most disturbing part is that I haven't really been caring either way.
What I need is to be personally and constantly resurrected :)
This is tough stuff and you hit the nail right on the head.
Thank you, Karis! Glad to hit the nail on the head!
Same
Thank you for this piece. It is well written and points to the only one who can save us, our healer Jesus Christ. I have been feeling burdened and at a spiritual low for this past week. Your words reminded me that I need to turn to God to pull me up, and not to my own weak self. Keep writing! May God bless you and keep you :)
Thank you, Erin! That means a lot. Thank you for your thoughts, and thank you for taking the time to read mine! God bless and keep you as well. :)
Oh my goodness, Emma, this is beautiful. I’m always blown away by your articles! Thank you for writing this, friend. 💜
Thanks so much, Sienna! I really appreciate that.
A wonderful post with an important reminder!! And, I love your taste in books. More people need to read those authors, especially MacDonald.
Thank you, Anna!
Thank you! Yes, I agree; MacDonald is a must. :)
I was reading this and I realized something, I haven’t been striving to be better. Thank you for this, I needed this.
Sounds like we can relate to each other! Aw, thanks so much Ana!
This is so powerful, Emma. Such poignant challenges here--it reminds me somewhat of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's drive in Cost of Discipleship. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for your encouraging words, Karissa! I appreciate you reading.
Okay first, amazing job on the post!! I rly enjoyed it fr. And second (i'm pretty sure you already saw this because of your comment on my post but I'm required to comment to let you know) - I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. You can read more about it here
https://carsonwagner.substack.com/p/sunshine-blogger-award-nomination
Basically, you just have to make a post exactly like the one I did (the rules for the award are listed on mine). Lmk if you have any questions!
Thank you Runyan.
Thank you for taking the time to read it, my friend!
You are welcome. I should be thanking you rather for taking time to write such an amazing piece .
Spectacular essay, Emma ❤️ I’ll have to subscribe now. A side effect of having read this article, you see. Would not want to miss the opportunity of walking alongside a sister in the faith who mirrors my walk with the Lord.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Joshua! I really appreciate that.
Truthing as always, Emma! A few thoughts...
Firstly, this reminds me of the verse: "Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin", I think Rom. 12, and the all the admonitions of NT writers to "walk in love" or "walk by faith", a moment-by-moment helpless trust in Christ, "in the same way in which you learned Christ, continue to walk".
Secondly, Salvation being a "process", and active saving through dependance (not that we lose salvation, just that it continually works through behavior/speech/actions as we lean on it completely like a child leans on their parents).
Thirdly, George McDonald sounds like a smart guy.
Fourthly, John Owen sounds smarter but not as cool as George, which I guess means George was cool and smart. I just put 2 and 2 together...well, 1 and 1.
Fifthly, don't forget to do your chores today.
Sixthly, to the reader of this comment, if you just guessed I'm Emma's dad, you are correct.
Seventhly, I'm not actually Emma's dad, but a close relative.
Eighthly, that was also a joke, I am Emma's dad.
Ninthly, I struggled to spell eighthly for about twenty seconds. Try it, it's hard.
Tenthly, you're still reading this?
Eleventhly, that sounds like a combination of eleven and Lothlorien.
Twelfthly, did you know the puritans were infamous for too many points in their sermons?
Firstly, those are great verses.
Secondly, I agree with your thoughts on Salvation.
Thirdly, George MacDonald was a genius.
Fourthly, good job counting.
Fifthly, I just did them...well, one of them
Sixthly, yes.
Seventhly, ...
Eighthly, haha
Ninthly, I had to refer to how you spelled it to spell it right
Tenthly, well yes
Eleventhly, I've never thought about it that way before
Twefthly, no I didn't know that. Fascinating.
this is wonderfully written, both convicting but hopeful. This is definitely something I struggle with, and you handled it so beautifully. Thank you :)
I really appreciate that! Thanks so much for reading :)
Wow. This is beautiful. 💔
Thanks for reading, Oceana!
I’ll need to come back and read this a bit more thoroughly later, but I wanted to pop in and say that I love the combos of authors from so many genres and times. It’s incredibly fun and refreshing to have Ortlund, Owen, Dickens, and MacDonald all in one place!!
Thanks so much, Susanna! Glad you liked it; pulling in all those quotes was one of my favorite parts of writing this post. :)
Such a great post! Your writing is so mature and relevant! May God continue to use you for His glory!
Thank you so much, Donna! That means so much to me.