I am Moving to Iowa!

It was 8 years ago that I packed the back of my truck and my friend Hilary and I took off on an adventure. We were leaving our families and friends in Iowa and headed to the great state of Texas.  The last 8 years have been some of the most challenging, yet most beautiful years of my life. Austin brought so much to my life...an amazing church, an amazing ministry, an amazing community of friends and families that I have gotten to live life with, and a love for tex-mex and breafast tacos.  Most of all I am thankful for Jesus and what He has done in my life over the last 8 years. He has truly changed my life in so many ways.

Over the last several months I have felt God nudge me a little, well actually...more like a big ole shove, and I started praying and surrendering my life in Austin to God, being willing to go where He wanted, do what He wanted. As I prayed, He kept laying Iowa on my heart but I started closing my arms to Him and pushing back. IOWA?!?! REALLY?!?!? I'm pretty sure I even praying something like this..."God send me to Africa, send me to Asia, the Middle East...NOT IOWA!!!"  But as He kept pursuing me in my pushing back I couldn't help but see how He was confirming ALL OVER THE PLACE that I was supposed to go back to Iowa.

So...I AM MOVING BACK TO IOWA!!! It is all so bittersweet. I am so so so excited to be close to my family. I'm excited to reconnect with old friends. I'm excited for something new. BUT when I really sit and think about all that I am leaving and everyone I will be leaving here in Austin, my insides hurt a lot and I just sit and cry for a little while. This has been my home for the last 8 years.

But this is what I know...I know that I am supposed to go back to Iowa. God has so kindly confirmed this and made it so clear through His word, through my community, through my heart change, through many many different circumstances and I know that His plans are GOOD. He has something for me in Iowa and I'm excited to see what that is! Jesus is worth it. He is worth leaving my comfort here in Austin. He is worth leaving my good good friends who I do life with on a daily basis. He is worth leaving the Austin Stone Community Church where I have had some of the most amazing experiences. He is worth leaving the multitude of stores and restaurants that have spoiled me so much. He is worth leaving an amazing job where I get to love on special needs kiddos and orphans. He is worth it all. Being obedient to His calling is worth it. HARD...but worth it. I have to trust Him and choose to believe it. Lord, MAKE MY HEART BELIEVE!

So I will move July 26th! My time in Austin is coming to a close very quickly. If you think of it, please pray for me.  Please pray that the details will all come together how they should and that God would continue to provide the finances I need to make this move. Pray for my heart as I am definitely grieving leaving my life here. God has been so good and so faithful in this whole process and it has made me love Him more deeply and trust Him more faithfully. For that, I am truly thankful and again...He is so worth it.

Iowa City, here I come!

7in7 Day 1: Standing Beside

I wrote this song with a heavy heart today as I found out a dear friend of mine was shot and killed. My heart breaks for his wife and son. I want to wrap my arms around Anita and just hold her for awhile. She has been on my heart every since I found out the news this morning. So I wrote a song to her.

Standing Beside

I know you can't see through these tears
But I'm here for you

I know you don't understand
But I know what is true

HE'S STANDING BESIDE, THE ONE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE
HIS EYES NOW SEE, WHAT WE CAN ONLY DREAM
NO TEARS, NO PAIN - NO FEARS, NO SHAME

I won't tell you time will heal
'cause your time stands still

There will be a day when you'll be there
And you'll see him again

HE'S STANDING BESIDE, THE ONE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE
HIS EYES NOW CAN SEE, WHAT WE CAN ONLY DREAM
NO TEARS, NO PAIN - NO FEARS, NO SHAME

hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

Knowing You, Jesus

Lots of people have asked about the new song we sang on Sunday. It's taken from an old song & some of our amazing songwriters added a bit to it.
Here are the lyrics:

Knowing You, Jesus

verse1:
All I once held dear built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain now I count as loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this

chorus:
Knowing you, Jesus
Knowing you
There is no greater aim
In your presence here
My joy is found
There is no higher gain

verse2:
Now my heart's desire is to know you more
To be found in you, and known as yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All surpassing gift of righteousness

(chorus)

bridge:
Your love is higher
Your glory brighter
My hope is set on you
My greatest longing
Is found in knowing
My hope is set on you

verse3:
Oh to know the power of your risen life
And to know you in your suffering
To become like you in your death my Lord
So with you to live and never die

(chorus)
(bridge)

7in7 Day 2: My Dear

So this song had me in some tears as I was writing it. Over the last several months I have had fostering/adopting on my heart so heavily. I feel the Lord is leading me towards this and I've been praying SO MUCH about this. So it has been on my heart a lot and so I thought I would write a song for my future babies.

My Dear

I am confident that you are mine
You have taken up my heart over time
Oh oh oh, ohh, ohh, oh oh

I will let the angels hold you tonight
I will trust that the timing is right
When I can hold you in my arms
And keep you safe from this world's harm

I wanna show you things that you will love
I will smile and thank the Lord above
Oh oh oh, ohh, ohh, oh oh

I will let the angels hold you tonight
I will trust that the timing is right
When I can hold you in my arms
And keep you safe from this world's harm

I wait for you, my dear
I love you so , my dear
I'm praying for you to come home, oh oh

But I will let the angels hold you tonight
I will trust that the timing is right
When I can hold you in my arms
And keep you safe from this world's harm
Oh oh oh, ohh, ohh, oh oh

7in7 Day 1: You Are Near

It's that time of year again. Where all of us artists go crazy for 7 days.
I've been SO sick the last several days and so don't mind the roughness of this recording.

This song is called You Are Near.



When I can't see the light
Let me shine for You
When I'm lost and in the fight
Help me cry to You

You are are near
Jesus You are near
Help me believe You
That You are near

When I can't find the way
Help me see Your face
When I've wandered far away
Help me feel Your grace

You are near
Jesus You are near
Help me believe You
That You are near

When I doubt you in fear
Help me stand for You
When I'm drenched in all my tears
Help me sing to You


You are near
Jesus You are near
Help me believe You
That You are near

Promise Cards for Christmas!

"These scriptures were the exact thing I needed to read today." 

"I have them sitting on my desk at work and I read them throughout the day. It makes working a little more enjoyable!" 

"I gave them to a friend who has cancer and she was so encourage by these promises and will sit and read through them while she is getting her chemo treatment."

It has been so encouraging to hear back from people who have purchased some promise cards & scripture cards to see how God has used them!  Each one has their own story and I love to see God's word be alive and active through these cards!

Christmas time is coming up and these cards could be a great gift idea...or a stocking stuffer!! Or they can be "just because"! Even if you got a bundle for yourself...that is ok too! 

These new and improved cards are now at a lower price!! $15!!

So here is the deal...

• It's a 4x6 index sized card 
• Promise Card: Truth on the front, scripture on the back.
  Scripture Card: Scripture reference on the front, scripture on the back.
  (they can also be made one-sided)
• Each uniquely designed & professionally copied.
• $15 for a bundle of 5 cards. (plus shipping)
• Put them in your bag, use them as bookmarks, put them on your mirror, stick them on the refrigerator, put them next to your bed to read at night or in the morning, pin them on the bulletin board at work, stick them in your car...the options are endless!
• Keep them for yourself or buy them for a friend!

Check out these slideshows of some examples: (each picture is front & back)

Promise Cards:
  

Scripture Cards:

If you are interested in purchasing a bundle, email me at emilyward527@gmail.com 
I will send you a list of all the promises that you can choose from, or you can let me know if there are specific promises or verses you want...or I can make a bundle for you!

Feel free to pass this along to anyone who would be interested...blog about it...tweet about it...get the word out!

**My hope and prayer for these cards is that they would not be empty words you read over and over and over but my prayer over each card that I make is that the Spirit of God who breathes life, would move powerfully through these truths and through these scriptures to encourage, inspire and change life. He is alive and active, His word is alive and active...let HIM move your heart.**

King of Love

We have a few new songs that we have been singing at church. They are SO good. I'm so thankful for the amazing songwriters that I get to work & sing with each Sunday. I learn so much from them!
Hopefully they will be on our next worship album so that y'all can get your hands on them and worship throughout the week!

I wanted to share one of them with you called, King of Love. It was written from an old hymn and with a new bridge that is so strong to end the song with...here are the lyrics:

The King of love my shepherd is
Whose goodness never faileth
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth
From heights above to cavern low
With constant love He feedeth

Corrupt and foolish oft I stray
Yet in His love He sought me
And on His shoulders gently laid
He brought me home rejoicing
In deaths dark vale I fear no ill
With thee dear Lord beside me
Thy rod and staff my comfort still
Thy cross before to guide me

Thou set a table in my sight
Abundant grace bestoweth
All of Thy kindness my delight
From heaven's storehouse floweth
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never
Good Shepherd may I sing Thy praise 
Within Thy house forever
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never
Good Shepherd may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever

My lips will praise
Oh King of love
Who sealed my heart
For realms above 
In sin and shame
Came mercy's flood
I run to You
Oh King of love

I just love it so much. I love the picture of my Shepherd gently laying me on His shoulders and bringing me home. There have been so many times that He has come after me like this. I stray so easily. So thankful for this good Shepherd.