So during the month of December, I'm going to try a new writing schedule on this website.  It will hopefully help me keep my articles in a more organized manner and it will help you know a little more of what to expect when you check back here each day.  This will be an experimental format for December only at this point, but if I like it and if you like it, then I'll keep it on through the beginning of next year, so be sure to let me know what you think.  Check out the schedule:

Sunday: I'll post some of my poetry and songs that I've written.  For an example, check out my last poem, Special People.

Monday: This will mainly be reserved for my photography.  Every Monday I'll post a picture or two- usually from places I've traveled- and talk about it a little.  Occasionally, I'll still use Monday for articles.  Here's an example of a photography article, with a picture I took when I was in Kenya, Africa. 

Tuesday: I'll review books on this day from a Christian perspective.  Check out my latest book review. 

Wednesday: Here is where I'll continue to write articles from previous months, such as my modest trends, charity reviews, and such.  These topics will be quite varied.  Check out my last modest trends article.

Thursday: I'll post a Christian devotion on this day about varying topics.  Here's an example.

Friday: I will either give five songs that are appropriate for Christian listeners that I'm currently listening to on my iPod or I'll review a popular music artist.  Want to see one of my artist reviews?  Click here.

Saturday: Today I will post news and updates going on with EmilythePerson.com or I will give a journal entry or funny story from the week.  This day can also be used for a random article. 

What do you think about this schedule?  I'm curious to see how it feels over the next few weeks.  Stay tuned.   

I officially am a member of DailyBooth.  It's basically a social networking site where you document your life with pictures.  Since I take pictures of just about everything to the point where my friends call me a picture hoarder, I think I'm going to like this site.  Do you have a DailyBooth? 

Follow me?  :)
https://dailybooth.com/EmilyisSmiling

Tomorrow is the big day.  The 30 Days of Kindness will begin on October 1st.  It's going to work a little something like this: I'll begin the day's blog post with the challenge and the challenge requirements, and later in the day, I'll be posting photos, videos, or stories of what I did during this challenge.  I'll also be sharing tomorrow's challenge so you can have more time to plan.  The next day, I'll do the same thing. 

If you would like to participate in the 30 Days of Kindness, then please comment below!  If you're a fellow blogger, feel free to post about these challenges on your blog.  Send the link to me and I'll share your blog with my readers.  If you're a YouTuber, send me the links to your videos.  If you're a photographer, I'll share your pictures.  If you love to write, I'll post your stories.

This challenge was originally designed for Christians, so some of the challenges will be faith-based.  However, if you're not a Christian and you would still like to participate in this challenge, feel free to replace those days with a secular alternative.  For example, if the day's challenge is to leave ten encouraging Bible verses in various locations, leave out ten encouraging quotes.  If the challenge is to give away a Bible, give away one of your favorite books instead.  I would love for anyone to participate in this challenge.  Our world needs more kindness.

Share the link to this article on your Facebook or MySpace page.  Feel free to participate with your friends. 

Here is the planned schedule:
October 1: Smile at a stranger
October 2: Say hi to a stranger
October 3: Compliment a stranger
October 4: Give a stranger a hug
October 5: Leave a dollar for someone to find
October 6: Leave an encouraging note on a mirror
October 7: Donate five dollars to a charity or to someone who needs the money
October 8: Leave an encouraging note somewhere
October 9: Donate clothes to a needy person
October 10: Hug ten people
October 11: Make a snack for your friends
October 12: Leave an encouraging note for a friend
October 13: Compliment ten people
October 14: Personally encourage a friend
October 15: Take someone out for coffee/ice cream
October 16: Offer to do an odd job for the elderly
October 17: Give food to a homeless person (if you can't find one, leave food for someone who needs it)
October 18: Offer to help out around the house
October 19: Pay for someone's lunch
October 20: Volunteer your time
October 21: Leave an anonymous letter of encouragement on the windshield of a stranger's car
October 22: Leave a Bible somewhere (or give one away)
October 23: Give away a pair of shoes
October 24: Write a letter to someone you admire and give it to them
October 25: Leave ten encouraging notes/quotes/Bible verses
October 26: Write an encouraging note to a service worker
October 27: Pray for someone you know
October 28: Pray for someone you don't know
October 29: Leave five dollar bills in different places (or give them away)
October 30: Buy someone a thoughtful gift
October 31: Your idea

We have a week left before the month-long kindness challenge begins.  I'll go ahead and post the schedule of kind gestures today, so you can begin planning a week in advance.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, during thirty days of October, my friends and I will be sharing deliberate acts of kindness.  We're trying to bring back the habit of kind gestures, especially amongst fellow Christians.  We're also trying to show that Christians aren't stuck-up.  We are loving.  We're like our Father.  We're like our Savior.

If you're a blogger like me, I invite you to share this thirty-day challenge, posting a little something about your kind gesture each day.  If you do, I would love it if you linked back to this original site.  I'll also be sharing the links to blogs that participate in this challenge on this site.  If you love to take photos, then document your daily act of kindness and send your pictures to me at emilytheperson@yahoo.com or post a link below.  I'll feature them on this blog!  Make YouTube videos and send me the links.  Share your stories in the comments below.  I would love for anyone to participate in this, Christian or not. 

Here is the planned schedule so far.  It is still subject to changes at this point:
October 1: Smile at a stranger
October 2: Say hi to a stranger
October 3: Compliment a stranger
October 4: Give a stranger a hug
October 5: Leave a dollar somewhere for someone to find
October 6: Leave an encouraging note on a mirror
October 7: Donate five dollars to a charity or to someone who needs the money
October 8: Leave an encouraging Bible verse somewhere
October 9: Donate clothes to a shelter or to a needy person
October 10: Hug ten people
October 11: Make a snack for your friends
October 12: Leave an encouraging note for a friend
October 13: Compliment ten people
October 14: Personally encourage a friend
October 15: Take someone out for coffee/ice cream
October 16: Offer to do an odd job for the elderly
October 17: Give food to a homeless person (if you can't find one, leave food for someone who needs it)
October 18: Offer to help out around the house
October 19: Pay for someone's lunch
October 20: Volunteer your time
October 21: Leave an anonymous letter of encouragement on the windshield of a stranger's car
October 22: Leave a Bible somewhere (or give one away)
October 23: Give away a pair of shoes
October 24: Write a letter to someone you admire and give it to them
October 25: Leave ten encouraging notes/quotes/Bible verses
October 26: Write an encouraging note to a service worker
October 27: Pray for someone you know
October 28: Pray for someone you don't know
October 29: Leave five dollar bills in different places (or give them away)
October 30: Buy someone a thoughtful gift
October 31: Your idea

I would like to go ahead and post this challenge two weeks in advance.  During thirty days of October, my friends and I have decided to be shining examples for Jesus Christ by deliberately giving a gesture of kindness during each of those days.  I want as many people as possible to participate in this, especially if you are a Christian who struggles with the apathy, timidity, and shyness that so many Christians have today... and I think we all struggle with those things. 

We can be united as one, sharing God's love everywhere we turn. 

If you would like to participate in this challenge, then please comment below.  If you're a fellow blogger, then feel free to take on this thirty day challenge as part of your blog!  If you like to take pictures, send them to me at emilytheperson@yahoo.com or give me a photobucket link in the comments below, and I will feature them on my blog. 

October can be a month for expressing kindness and sharing the love of Jesus.  And perhaps after we have deliberately shared acts of kindness for thirty days straight, kindness will become a habit that will be a natural part of our lives.

I'm rallying supporters here.

Who's with me?

That's right.  I got this idea from a fellow blogger.  I think this list of 30 topics is a great way for the readers to get to know the blogger.  So for the next 30 days starting tomorrow (September 1), I will be answering a question from the list, along with other topics on my schedule.  Here is the list below:

Day 1: A favorite song
Day 2: A favorite movie
Day 3: A favorite book
Day 4: A favorite quote
Day 5: A favorite pair of shoes
Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive
Day 7: Five things you couldn't possibly live without
Day 8: A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life
Day 9: A photo you have taken
Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11: A photo of you taken recently
Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding
Day 13: Five strange facts about you
Day 14: A vacation you would like to take
Day 15: Five funny fears
Day 16: A song that makes you cry
Day 17: An art piece
Day 18: A photo of your favorite room in your house
Day 19: A talent of yours
Day 20: A food you like and a food you do not like
Day 21: Something you know you do differently than most people
Day 22: A website you like
Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered
Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love
Day 25: A recipe
Day 26: A childhood memory
Day 27: A physical feature you love
Day 28: A scar you have and its story
Day 29: Hopes, dreams, and plans you have for the next 365 days
Day 30: A motto or philosophy

I'm excited about this, so please feel free to leave me a comment on each of these days, telling me facts about you!

 

 

I just wanted to let all of you know that I got through my wisdom teeth operation without much trouble. 

My friends even took a video of me if you'd like to check that out on my YouTube vlog channel....here.

Check in tomorrow because I will have a short article. :)

Tomorrow morning at 8:45, I will be getting my wisdom teeth out.  I am nervous... actually, nervous doesn't even describe the level of worry and panic I feel right now.  In my life, I've only had two baby teeth pulled, I've never had surgery, I've never broken a bone, I've never gotten stitches... honestly, this is going to be the biggest 'operation' done on my body so far. 

Have you gotten your wisdom teeth out?

Do you have any suggestions?  Advice?  Encouragements?  Horror stories? (let's hope not!)

Overall, I'd definitely appreciate your prayers. 

1.)  My newest YouTube channel - TheLifeofEmily - is up and running.  I've recently posted a video where I share my testimony if you would like to check that out.  If you aren't aware of my music channel -EmilythePerson - then I will also give you the link for that.  I will be posting a new song on there within the next few days.

2.)  An article of mine was recently featured in the Christian Relief Fund newsletter.  If you haven't subscribed to the CRF newsletter, do so right now!  Please consider sponsoring a child with this organization if you are not already.  CRF is following God's plan to care for the needy.  They feed these kids, clothe them, educate them, and share the good news of Jesus with their entire families.

3.)  I will be taking a sabbatical from EmilythePerson.com during June 7-June 11.  I will be at a camp for inner city kids.  I may write one or two articles and put them on schedule to post for one or two days during this time, but don't expect much, if any, as I will not have access to a computer.  I will, however, post a few stories about my experience at camp after I return, so you can look forward to that!  I would also appreciate your prayers.

4.)  This may seem a little random, but B.Reith (whose music I reviewed in one of my featured artist blogs that you can view here) has started up his new website.  He has also begun to blog and his latest article was amazing.  It encouraged me so much in my walk with the Lord.  If you would like to see B.Reith's amazing article, my comment, and his response to me (yeah!!) then click here.  You will most definitely be inspired by what B.Reith has to say about stepping outside of your comfort zone.

5.)  During the summer, I'm going to try to keep posting frequent blogs, but I may be writing on an every-other-day basis (unless I'm out of town) because of the craziness of my schedule right now.  This news update isn't my usual thing, for those of you who are reading my blog for the first time... here are Sunday's and Monday's posts if you want to see a little more of what I usually write.  

I have recently joined a website called inkpop.  It is basically a website for writers of teen literature.  I have posted the first three chapters of one of my stories- Awaken the Music- on this site.  If I become one of the top five "picked" writers on inkpop, then my story will be read by editors of Harper Collins.

Sooo I was wondering if you would like to make an account on inkpop and read my story here.  If you like what you read, then please, please, please pick my story.  I would definitely like it to be checked out by these editors.  And you can add me as a friend!  This is my profile. 

Also, if you're a member of inkpop, send me a message.  I'm EmilyisSmiling.  I'd love to check out your work. 

Here's the description of my story, Awaken the Music.  I'd love for you to check it out.

I know I haven't posted anything for about four days.
After tomorrow, I officially have nothing to do for school, so I can write more.
Thank you for all of you who have hung tight this last week.
I'll be writing tomorrow.
Have a great rest of your day.

In case you have not subscribed to my YouTube channel, I would like to announce that I put up my song "Show Me Beauty" on there... so if you liked the words, then hopefully you will like the tune as well.  Hopefully. :)

The Video. 

Well.  What do you think?

Okay, I'd like to give a couple of updates.

One- I was going to post a new American Idol review, but I just didn't have the heart to even sit down and waste two hours of my life watching that show.  Does anybody else feel that this season is going downhill fast? 

Two- It's coming close to the end of the school year.  Because of this, my schedule is mashed full of last minute studying and preparations for the summer.  Because of this, for the next few weeks, I'm only going to be posting about three to four blogs a week until the chaotic-ness of my life goes down a little... so bear with me!

I hope you have an amazing rest of your day.

I would like to let you guys know that I have published an article today for the brand new and quickly growing blog called Popsickle.

Popsickle is a blog published by the ministry Swing the Sickle.  This blog explores pop culture and Christianity, and it weekly discusses reasons why Christianity is relevant to culture.  The articles posted so far (especially mine, haha!) have been engaging, encouraging, and helpful for growing Christians.

Check out my guest post here and be sure to leave a comment.  You may want to subscribe to Popsickle while you're at it. 

Have a great day!

in Him,

Emily

For those of you who have been trying to comment but have encountered a "sign in" button instead, open commenting has finally been activated for everyone!  So if you want to comment... now you can.  :)

I am one of those people who loves music.  It doesn't matter what genre, what artist... so long as it sounds good, I will thrive in it.  This passion of mine can sometimes be my downfall.  It can be hard to not want to listen to the secular artists with amazing sounds, but terrible messages.  However, when I stop and listen to the actual words of a song, I suddenly realize the anti-Christian message that I have been pushing into my mind all along.  These song are pleasing to the ear... they make you want to jump up and dance.  But are they healthy to our spiritual walk with Jesus? 

Philippians 4:8, NLT, says, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." 

There are times when I have to sit back and ask myself, "Is what I am listening to honorable?  Is this song pure and admirable?  Is there truth in these lyrics?"  If the answers to any of these questions are no, then it is definitely time to begin to clean out what has piled up on my Pandora channel and my iTunes. 

Every Saturday starting with next week, I am going to write a review on a popular secular artist.  I will give you my opinion on whether their songs follow the example of Philippians 4:8.  I will use examples of their song lyrics, their lifestyles, and their personal quotations.  I will also share Bible verses that contradict what this featured artist is promoting.  I hope that not every secular artist that I feature will fail my Bible litmus test.  However, I do fear that there are artists who will fail horribly... and some of these I probably listen to on a weekly basis. 

Then, on the following Sunday, I will write a review on an admirable Christian artist who has a similar style, good music, and shares lyrics that follow the guidelines of Philippians 4:8. 

What I am trying to do will help me improve my personal choice of songs, and it will hopefully give you a glimpse of the truth behind what you might be playing into your ears.  I hope to encourage you to strengthen your spiritual walk with the Lord by only putting admirable things into your head.  

To do this, however, I would like your help.  If you have an opinion- agreement or disagreement- on what I write about an artist, then tell me.  If you would like me to review an artist on this blog- secular or Christian- then ask me, and they will most likely come up in a future blog.  Feel free to comment on each blog post, or send me an email at emilytheperson@yahoo.com, and I will try to get back to you soon.

Try to prepare your hearts and minds to accept the fact that there is a chance that what you are putting into your thoughts may not be wholesome, and ask the Lord to give you the humility and the strength to realize the truth about what He wants you to hear.  Pray about the artists that you listen to, and stay tuned for next Saturday and Sunday.
 

First off, I'd like to say... I'm sorry!  I haven't written more than one or two entries a week for the past month or so, and I really need to get my act back together and start writing.  My life has been extremely busy lately, but I am determined to get a grip.  I need to write more.  I need to post more. 

Another thing, if you want a small, mostly unheard of Christian agency to support, I would like to strongly recommend Reece's Rainbow.  It is an organization that helps raise grants to assist families that want to adopt children with physical and mental capabilities.  If you cannot afford to financially sponsor Reece's Rainbow, then you can also become a Prayer Warrior.  They will hook you up with a picture of a child and some information, and your duty is to pray over this child every day until they are adopted and given a permanent home. 

Who has been watching American Idol lately?  Lacey Brown is from my city, so check her out.  She had a slightly rocky song this week, but I'm still hoping to see her next week. 

Feel free to send me an email at emilytheperson@yahoo.com

I don't have much time tonight, but I wanted to drop in and say that I'm sorry about my recent lack of posts.  These last two weeks of my life have been incredibly busy for me, and I simply haven't had time to sit down and think about something to write.

A huge snow storm is supposed to be coming into my city tomorrow, and so I may be stuffed into my house over the next couple of days, which means that I'll be back to writing on a daily basis... and I already have some ideas forming in my mind.

Again, I apologize for my neglect, and I will most definitely write a decent post tomorrow.  

Have an amazing rest of your day.

I just wanted to let you guys know that I have been featured as the Susie Girl Featured Blog today after three days of membership!  This has definitely made my week, and I definitely feel honored and happy.

For all of you who don't know what Susie Magazine is, it is the new, revised version of Brio Magazine, and I am so excited about it!  If you liked Brio, then you will like Susie too!

If you haven't noticed already, I have begun to change the design of EmilythePerson.com.  It is still under construction, and so please bear with me while these changes are taking place.

In the meanwhile, I would like to have your feedback of what you like or dislike about the blog, and what you would prefer for me to change.  You can comment on this post, or email me at emilytheperson@yahoo.com.