Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

    "Turn your eyes upon Jesus! Look full in His wonderful face! And the things of earth will grow strangly dim. In the light of His glory and grace!"

    

     The past month and a half this has been the theme that God has been putting before me. In the weeks while waiting for the confirmation to go to MMR I was very frustrated and angry for not being able just go. God was asking me to focus on Him and not on what I wanted. After finally getting the ok and a week of working out schedules to get me and my horse moved I had come to where God wanted me. But my focus wasn't fully on God it was still on me. Throughout the week of S.A.L.T. and Sr. Snow Camp I had hit a wall and couldn't move forward. The Lord grasped me and said, "Jemi, where are you? Where's your focus? Your heart? I want you to look at Me and want only Me!" I couldn't get anything done without putting my focus on God. It has been a long training process but I am learning to seek the Lord more fully and live more for Christ than anything! There have been many influences in my life to challange me to live a more Christ centered life! This Journey has been amazing!

      Over the past weekend I was blessed with the oppertunity to go to the PA Horse Expo in Harrisburg. It was a weekend full of little blessings. MMR had a booth set up and also a roping station where anyone who wanted to learn to rope could come or just to practice. It was very fun to be able to teach lil' cowpokes to rope and also to meet some pretty cool people! We also were able to minister to the people of the Baptist Church in Perry County! On the way home one of our two vehicles broke down. Thankfully we hadn't actually left Harrisburg and were able to send most of the group back in the SUV and have the blessing of the McLaren boys come and help us fix the van! After an afternoon of playing games in the parking lot, and fixing the van we celebrated at Texas Roadhouse and departed around 9pm. We pulled into the Ranch at 3 am during a thunderstorm and unloaded all of our gear. It was definately an adventure and God was faithful!

             I cannot explain how happy I am to have a Heavenly Father who loves me so much that He would die for me, and who dances over me! How can I turn my face from Him when He did so much to gain me? I love my Heavenly Abba so very much!

Your Will Lord, Not Mine!

Sometimes I think I know everything. Sometimes I think I know it all.  But when I see the stars in the sky, the mountains high, the wind and sea. How You created me, I feel so small. Who am I to question You? Take this selfish heart of mine and make it new!

Cause I want, Your will not mine! Your way your time! Lord You know so much better than I! My desires but Your own, not my plans but Yours alone. Lord I want Your will, in my life!

Sometimes I think I know where you're leading me. Sometimes I think I know what the future holds. Then my plans they change, You rearrange.  All that I do to comply with You. It's my life You mold. Who am I to question You? Take this selfish heart of mine and make it new!!

Cause I want, Your will not mine! Your way your time! Lord you know so much better than I! My Desires but your own, not my plans but yours alone. Lord I want Your will! Your Kingdom come, Your will be done. On earth as it is in Heaven! Your Kingdom com, Your will be done. On earth as it is in Heaven!

Oh I want, Your will not mine! Your way your time! Lord you know so much better than I! My desires but Your own. Not my plans but Yours alone! Lord I want your will! -Rachel Mozeika

      This is a song that my dear friend Rachel Mozeika wrote while we were apprentices at Miracle Mountain Ranch together. Time and time again I have returned to these words. God has taken my plans and dreams and has rearranged them so many times; and though painful at times I see some of why He did what He did. The adventures He has taken me has molded me into the woman He wants me to be. 

      One of the newest adventures that He is sending me on is the opportunity to become an Intern at MMR in the kitchen. I am currently still waiting for the official yes to come but it is all looking up! It has been a challenge to know that there is a potential job yet being home and just waiting. Waiting for me is like when you put a treat on a dogs nose and they have to wait until the master says its ok :) Some dogs don't get it, others tip their nose down so it drops. While others, even though they don't understand, wait patiently looking to the master for the ok, and then they toss it in the air and chow down on that delicious treat. The Lord has been asking me to wait for my dream of working at the Ranch, and even though I don't understand the wait, the blessing will be all the more sweeter when I focus on Him!

        As for an update on the food allergy issue, I haven't been able to really pinpoint a whole lot. I have a Doctors appointment on the 15th of this month hopefully to get some blood tests done to find out exactly what is going on. The reactions have been random and have been becoming more diverse. Physically after every reaction I feel drained and weak. This in itself has been very hard as I like to feel strong and do hard work when I have that option. Also, this forces me to be honest with myself and others how I feel and if I can't do things. Thankfully I haven't been knocked completely off my feet yet and I am pray myself through each reaction.

        I am still praying about selling my horse and I have had a few people interested but they have fallen through. God has provided an affordable place to board her if I end up moving to MMR. Thank you Jesus for that! I don't know why He keeps providing me with the means to keep her but I know He has a plan.

       January is gone and February has come in with a blast of cold air and lots of ice. We didn't get the blizzard that some got but we did get a lot of slush that froze over. Thankfully nothing major has happened with this weather and I am thankful for that. I still cannot believe that we are already 2 months into 2011!

  Prayer Requests:

- An answer on the MMR Intern position

- Answers to all the health things going on

- Provision of a vehicle

- Matching my horse up with the perfect person

                                                                                  Praises:

                                                                                      - Safe traveling home from the Ranch

                                                                                     -Possible job

                                                                                   -God's faithfulness even when we don't understand

                                                                                   - Safety with the winter storms

         



A New Year

   


    Happy New Year everyone! 2010 is now marked in history and 2011 has started with a bang! With only a little over a week into 2011 I have been getting busy and God has been working. For new years I went to Perry County USA with some apprentice buddy's to ring in the new year in a redneck style :) This included an extremely large bonfire (at least 20ft) quarter sticks (don't ask me how we got those ;) a hollow log soaked in gasoline and lit on fire, guns, and old couches we tortured and then burned. It was a great time had by all and it was really fun to see some of my friends again.
  After recovering from the lack of sleep from new years I began searching for a job. I posted my resume on the Christain Camps and Conferences website and have received quite a few job oppertunities through that. I'm not sure what avenue I'm going to be taking at this point but God knows.
   This week I've been blessed with the oppertunity to go to Miracle Mountain Ranch for a little over a week to hang out with apprentices and talk with staff about some things. It has been such a blessing so far to be able to be around people who have the same passions and want to glorify God.
    God has been challenging me so much with multiple things. The two main things that have been going on and that you all could be praying about is where I am supposed to go, and also with all the health issues I have been having. For those of you who don't know what has been going on I have been developing food allergies. Right now I'm on an elimination diet which basically doesn't allow me to eat much of anything except veggies, fruits, chicken, rice and some other random things. I have been able to add some things back in that I've found I'm not allergic to but it is a trial and error type of thing. Please pray that we will figure out what is going on and that I will be able to accept this as something that God has for me and not have a pity party about it. God is molding me to lean on Him for everything even the little things. And teaching me to let Him be the fire in my heart and to let Him be the healer of my heart!
      Another bit of info is that I am most likely going to be selling my horse Annie. I do not want to go this route but at this point I cannot afford her and I don't know where I am going. If anyone knows of anyone who is looking for a good horse let me know.
     Thank you all for your prayers and support! God is going to do something amazing I am sure of it and nothing is too big for Him!





Elizabeth and I after a jump on the sledding hill :)



Christmas!!

Christmas is here and along with it comes family, food, parties, food, caroling, food, presents, the unfortunate lack of snow (at least in Jersey Shore), and did I mention the never ending amounts of food? But throughout all the fun and christams spirit we must remember what Christmas is all about. December 25th is the day that brought Christ to earth! The Son of God became man so that we could live forever. It boggles my mind that God would love us so much to do that! 
     Life at home has been a blessing. Since moving back home I have been working through the emotions of what I had gone through in the past 3 months. God has definatly been my rock and I return to Him every second for my strength to get through!
    One of the many blessings I have had was that we had our family Christmas on the 18th. It was so fun to have the whole family gathered around and just having fun! On Monday my dear friend Morgan was able to come over and we had a blast shopping and just hanging out.
      I am still looking for employment and have applied to several places. I know God is leading me to schooling in the fall possibly back at Miracle Mountain Ranch. Your prayers on that matter would be greatly appreciated! Also prayer on a vehicle as I am still looking for a nice car or the non existant truck that doesn't guzzle gas! :)
     I pray you all have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! May we all remember what the True meaning of Christmas is!

Season of Change

The season of change has hit my life again as God has called me back home to PA. What about the horse program you may ask? Well, it is still in the building process and I tried to leave them to be successful. Why did you leave is another question? Well, there was a lot going on there that I had a hard time working with and had tried to work through but it was unchangable. Only God could make the changes needed to make the program move on. I resigned on the 9th with a 10 day notice and left on the 11th due to my boss pretty much telling me to leave asap. I am now home seeking God's will to be done in where I am to go next. The plan is to get a job for the moment and then go to school in the fall.
  Throughout this whole ordeal I have been learning to stand up for what I believe in and to follow God even when people think I'm a horrible person, try to convince me otherwise, or get super angry at me. Also to just let God have my back and not to let all the things people say about me or do to me get to me and be able to just look to Jesus and say "I'm yours and I'm following you." It's not easy and I am constantly laying myself down at the cross.
   Annie, Lilly, and I are having a blast being home and getting ready for Christmas, riding, goofing off, helping in the churches Live Nativity, and being able to relax and turn our sights to the future! :) Some amazing things have happened that have solidified the fact that I was to come home was that I got a place for my horse that isn't expensive! And also my Dad has found a truck that can haul my trailer and do what I need to do with the horses and it's in my price range!!!! Praise God now all I have to do is be able to get a job to keep it lol :)
God is good and I am very happy to be home especially with Christmas almost here! Thank you for your prayers and I would appreciate if you'd pray for a job and that I would be able to get into the school I have applied for and be able to make enought money to get there!

I am Not Skilled to Understand

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

Chorus (2x's)
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be

Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves! My Savior lives!

My Savior loves! My savior lives!

This has been my song the past few days as it has been an extremely weird, baffling, and exciting week for me. I was blessed with the gift of being able to go to Miracle Mountain Ranch's Christmas Party on Saturday. It was so much fun to be reunited with all of my Ranch family! And also meet new apprentices and get to know them!  A good friend of mine Maralynn Mulvahill was able to go with me and it was so much fun to catch up after not seeing each other for close to 2 years.

I am continually challenged to look to God instead of the things in this world as they don't last but a moment. God continually asks, "Jemi, how are you doing to handle this situation?" or "Can you still glorify me when the people around you don't and are being hard to work with?" 

There are also many decisions to make. What kind of car to get, what am I going to do after this year etc. But thankfully i don't need to know and I just have to trust the Lord.

 A couple weekends ago I was able to go with about 15 teens and 7 leaders from Young Life to
Lake Champion for their annual Fall Weekend. It was two days of intense fun with 400 teens and leaders having a blast worshiping God, having a shaving cream fight, seeing our lives flash before our eyes as we ride the 40' swing fittingly named the "Screamer". :) The teens had so much fun and it was good to see most of them connect with God, see a dream of going to a young life event fulfilled, and introduce Christ for the first time to others.

  Please keep praying for me as I am still unsure of what God is asking of me. And also for the provision of a vehicle.

Home is Where the Heart Is!

The Christmas Countdown has begun and with 28 days to go it's coming up quickly! It is definately my favorite time of year filled with snow, cookies, lights, decorated trees and a chance to spend time with family.  I have been blessed to be able to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with my parents and rest of my family! It has been a welcome relief and mini vacation from the farm to be able to come and just be with my siblings and parents. Just to be able to visit and celebrate was a pleasure. :)
In the past couple months it has been very interesting. I've had the honor of starting to teach a couple girls riding and we are planning on kicking off our riding program in January. Our horses are doing well and we are slowly adding to our herd. The barn is potentially going to be remodeled in Feb if we have enough money.
I am getting involved a ton with Young Life and that is where my heart really lies at this point. Yes, I love the horses and I will never stop loving them and working with them but I am looking beyond them and seeing what else there is out there. Young Life had their fall weekend last weekend and it was totally amazing! We piled 20 people into 4 vehicles and drove to Lake Champion in NY for a weekend of fun, music, games, shaving cream wars, 40' swings that scared the hibbie jibbies outta me, and reconnecting to a God who loves me enough to die for me!
I am still in the market for a vehicle with some prospects but it still hasn't happened yet. Continued prayer for this would be very grateful. Also, for the funds for the barn and that the teens hearts would be opened to the gospel and that we would be able to reach out to more and more kids.
Also something that God has been taking me through is that I have been developing severe food allergies. I haven't been able to pinpoint to what exactly but I will probably be going in for tests possibly in December. Please pray that we will figure out what I am allergic to and be able to figure out a way to treat it.

Two of my students and I riding

Practicing Straight lines for when we to drill team manuevers

  

A rider at the Sporthorse Cup in Syracuse