ruminate grace

ru·mi·nate [roo-muh-neyt] : to chew over and over; to meditate on; ponder.

I've recently discovered the power of ruminating. Heather pointed out this word a while back and ever since it has been very much a part of our daily vocabulary. Ruminating can be a great thing... it can also be a very unhealthy thing.

A lot of us have a tendency to chew on the same worries and fears for a long time. We keep playing them over and over in our minds until we see them as reality. This is what keeps us from moving forward in life. Truth gets muddied with our fears, the words and opinions of others, and our own desires until we can no longer see it clearly.

our feelings, our thoughts, are not always true.

But something that is literally changing my life is this: when I feel overwhelmed, or when I can't decipher what is the truth...the best thing I can do is ruminate God's word...His promises to me, what He says about me. Because that is truth. It is also good for me to think about God's grace, what He's done for me. And not just His all-encompassing grace, but the grace He shows me in the tiniest ways, every moment, every day.

Today I'm choosing to think about how His power is perfected in my weakness. His grace is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:8). I honestly sometimes feel crazy, like I'm trying to do the impossible. And well maybe I am. And maybe that's when we see God's power at work.

There will always be trials and we might not always know what's best but I will search for truth, and hold on to the truth I find.

<3 em

news, news, NEWS.

this is a season of change

I graduated college in May, and May was so different from what June held and June was so different from the July that has just ended. August and into fall holds new adventure and all the fullness of God if I can just reach out and take it.


there are some things about life that I've been learning:

I want to tell everyone something. Every day I become less content with who I am, with where I am, with what I'm doing. If we are not searching for the "more" God has for us, then where are we going? really. My soul aches to be moved to deeper places. And I'm only interested in things that are real, gritty, alive and moving. What's the use in hiding or running away from what truly makes our heart beat? "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (john 8:32)

And I found out that I belong in the moment. After all, that is where we find God...it's where we see grace: in the smallness of life. For the first time, the word "freedom" is starting to mean something to me. Until now I never understood that I was free to go and do and dream and laugh and dance and love, without shame. Shame does not have power over me. I want my life to be so full that there is no more room for doubt, or fear.

so, i'm going.
I go to be a part of the lives of the people who stole my heart over a year ago.
I'm going to be a vessel of this freedom.

I leave for the Dominican Republic in September (yes, 2011) to live all of this out and be with those people, loving them...Christ through me. Heather, Christine and I will be living in Monte Cristi, serving the community and seeking the Lord to learn how to disciple, invest, and bring change. Please pray that these hearts that we serve will be opened to the love of God.

***If you would like to know more about what I'll be doing and/or how you can support me, send me an email (emilee.cook@gmail.com)! I would love to send you more info than you probably even want.
There is also a link to directly support me on this page, to your right :)


more to come...

all i know.

It is now, around the start of my last semester of college, when I constantly get the question, "So, what are your plans after you graduate?" These are the words I dread, probably not unlike most people my age.

It's not that I'm not excited to share my plan, it's just that I haven't filled in all the details yet. Some very important details. I spent the week before Christmas visiting most of my Dominican friends and the orphanages where I had worked over the summer. It was so good for my heart, and I was reminded of the country's desperate need for discipleship. God has given me a place, the DR, and he has given me a vision of restoration and hope for the people there, but I am still waiting on him to reveal what it's all going to look like. Being there again caused me to rethink my previous plans and realize that everything has to start from the ground up; I can't just barge into a country and do things my way. My main goal for the DR, and in life in general, is to raise up leaders... people of God who are sold out, radical followers. So even though it is scary, I am completely okay with being in this place of waiting on the Spirit's leading, simply waiting and seeking the will of God. But still so excited to see what is coming!

Being in the DR again also renewed my passion and love for Dominican people and life there in general. Here are some pictures from my trip!

Nena and I in Monte Cristi at a special service/dinner.

me with some beloved Jaibon boys, Galan and Imanol.

Jacqueline and her boys the day we went to La Caya to visit her parents.

me with Jacqueline and Heather, my hermanitas.

All I know is, God is good. He's going to use me to bring more of his beauty and more of his kingdom to earth if I trust him. And he is going to lead me, one little detail at a time :)