This Memorial Day Weekend

Many of us will be out and about at BBQ's this weekend enjoying the extra day off (I know we will be), but let's be sure to stop and remember the ones for whom Memorial Day is dedicated.

I have friends who have considered it a privilege to have served our country faithfully and with great honor. Those same friends will be remembering and possibly mourning on Monday friends and comrades who, unlike themselves, didn't make it home. I have another friend whose son is today serving overseas. This friend on Monday will be missing her child likely hoping and praying that by next years Memorial Day BBQ he'll be beside her grabbing a hotdog off the grill. There's a young guy at the local WaWa where I buy my lunch who leaves for bootcamp any day now to experience what - only time will tell.

Let us all take time this weekend to remember and pray for the families and friends of our fallen soldiers. Pray for those currently serving. And if you and I happen to cross paths with someone who is or has served in the military, I pray we remember to thank them. Even if it feels awkward, it might just make their day.

Let's make their day because they certainly helped make ours.

Be Blessed.
Melanie

O My Soul

Why so downcast, O My Soul?
What do you have to complain about, really?
Your life is so blessed don't you forget.
Even if the day is quite dreary.

This mood has been growing for days now though.
For you haven't taken time to pray
Over the cares and concerns that are within you.
Now your pity-party's well under way.

God showed you some things that He wants to change
Then others showed you some more.
You then added to that the list that you have
And burdened yourself to the floor.

Well, pick yourself up oh doubt-prone soul
And take it to God in prayer!
The only opinion that truly will matter
You'll find when you take yourself there.

God reveals what He does not to make you feel bad
He's revealing the chains that need breaking.
And He'll be faithful, if you let Him, to break those chains
And offer freedom that's yours for the taking.

So rejoice oh my soul and be happy within me;
Your salvation draweth nigh!
Keep your eyes set on Jesus for in Him you will find
That on eagles wings, you will fly!

God is Good

I have been wanting to sit down for days now and write a new post but I've had a terrible case of blogger's block (love that term). That and I've got piles of laundry to be folded and put away. I so hate to do laundry (hence part of the reason it's been sitting for days). Do you think we'll have to do laundry in Heaven? Will glorified bodies need clean clothes everyday? Perhaps so. Jesus does have an affinity for washing whiter than snow.(sorry. couldn't resist that one). He's better than any bleach alternative for sure. (ok, I'll stop)

Besides I have something cool to share. Well cool to me, anyway. Yesterday I got to enjoy the first of a three-session teaching by Beth Moore called Measureless Love. No homework, just teaching. Well, it was wonderful. What made it more wonderful was God's hand in all of it as evidenced by a number of testimonies I heard. This one's mine.

Throughout yesterday's video, Beth spoke about a number of things that I had just prayed about that very morning as well as during the last couple of weeks. She also talked about things that were in her study called Believing God which I had done about 4 years ago. What was interesting about that was that I had just pulled out my BG workbook the night before and was reviewing some of the very things she spoke of in the video. I cracked up. God is so funny to me sometimes.

But here was the coolest thing. One of the biggest changes to come out of the Believing God study was a desire to grow beyond mediocrity in my life. What I mean by that is my excitement in and about Jesus and how that carries over into every other part of my life. When I first became a new believer in Christ, I was so excited about it. My sins were forgiven and I was a new creature in Christ. My life had a purpose and the question that I was missing something in my life was answered. Unfortunately, over the years, that excitement diminished and I eventually grew fairly stagnant in my walk with Him. I was certainly saved, still loved God and was often involved in church to some degree but was by and large a "pew warmer" for years. I saw and knew people who seemed to have great passion for God but I had come to think that was for the ones with special "callings" on their lives - missionaries, pastors, pastors' wives (yes I so believe that is a calling), church leaders and such. It was like revelation to me to learn during Believing God that God does not call any of us to a life of mediocrity. This theme has popped up off and on during the last few years and was a strong message to me during this year studying the tabernacle in A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place. God certainly does nothing half way.

I looked up the word mediocre on dictionary.com yesterday and here's some of what I found. Mediocre: average, commonplace, cut & dried, garden-variety, indifferent, run-of-the-mill, undistinguised, unexceptional, unremarkable. Now does that sound anything like our God, the God whose very Spirit lives in us if we call Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior? Absolutely not. That being the case, how can I ever be satisfied with anything less than being "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Eph 3:14-19) As Beth said, "Anything less is unacceptable." I agree whole-heartedly but what do I do with that?

Something else I recently began trying to put into regular practice during my prayer time is praying scripture but until yesterday it didn't even occur to me to do that over my desire to live beyond mediocrity. Even if it had occured to me, I doubt I would have known what scripture to use. Well, hey, this might be a good one.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

Yes, God is so good.

Be blessed.
Melanie

For My Mom

I wrote this a number of years ago for my mom and decided to honor her here as well. Plus, it helps keep my standing as her favorite! I know, mom, you "love us all the same." yeah, yeah, yeah. blah, blah, blah. Love you.

A Heritage of Love

As I look back so fondly at this life I've been given
With its ups and its downs and it's day-to-day living;
I remember with smiles and such joy in my heart.
For you, my dear mother, have played a huge part
in molding and caring and shaping, it's true.
So much of what's me comes from the love that's in you.

Thanks for artwork on lunch bags drawn lovingly each day.
And energy kept for times spent in play.
For catch in the yard with my sisters and me.
And singing on the couch to Donny and Marie.
For tuna with mustard and PB&J
Again I'll take time to say thank you this day.

For Christmas-time murals painted on windows each year,
Onlookers would come and they'd stare and they'd peer.
For Halloween stories told 'neath the table
To surpass our great fun, none would be able

Thanks for Saturday shopping and our ice cream stop
You showed me the meaning of shop 'till you drop.
For the kittens and puppies we convinced you to buy,
Your patience it seemed was in endless supply.
When giving your "pedicures" or "washing hair" on the floor
I thought I had fun; I think you had more.

I always enjoyed your "celebrity" stories;
And autoraphed pictures of stars in their glory.
I love to read books, both fiction and non.
I got that from you - you've passed that on.
Your imagination to me brings laughter and fun;
From wee little voices to songs that we'd sung.

You taught me the meaning of character and truth.
To just be myself and not be aloof.
And for times when I fell or came into harm,
You'd mend cuts and bruises or tickle my arm.

I heard you pray daily for strength when you're tired
The strength that God gave you I have to admire.
It showed up in ways like loving protection;
From caring for colds to lavish affection.

These moments of sharing were not simply fleeting.
They've grown me and shown me; these moments had meaning.
I believe they were lessons God ordained from above
to teach us His heart a lesson in love.

And the love that you learned so well from your mom
is the love that I learned from you (and then some).
My hope and my prayer is that I'll pass along
the love you have shown me so my kids will grow strong.

So thank you dear mother and God up above
For this thing that I call A Heritage of Love.

"Her children arise and call her blessed." Proverbs 31:28

A Quiz...

The following was quoted in a newsletter I received recently and I loved it so much, I decided to put here as well. Hope you enjoy.

Take this Quiz.
(by Max Lucado)

~ Name the ten wealthiest men in the world.
~ Name the last ten Heisman trophy winners.
~ Name the last ten winners of the Miss America contest.
~ Name eight people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
~ How about the last ten Academy Award winners for best picture or
the last decade's worth of World Series winners?

How did you do? With the exception of you trivia hounds, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday too well. Surprising how quickly we forget, isn't it? And what I've mentioned above are no second-rate achievements. These are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one.

~ Think of three people you enjoy spending time with.
~ Name ten people who have taught you something worthwhile.
~ Name five friends who have helped you in a difficult time.
~ List a few teachers who have aided your journey through school.
~ Name a testimony of someone whose story has inspired you.

The people who make a difference are not the ones with the credentials, but the ones with the concern, with the personal touch and impact on your life.

Whose life are you touching? You matter more than you think.

Happy Birthday to Me

Today is my birthday
I'm 41 years old.
No more a spring chicken
Or so I've been told.

Now I could spend my days
Trying to hang on to my youth.
But I don't have the energy
To tell you the truth.

And what's the point really?
Those days are past.
My energy's spent better
On things that will last.

Not that I'll sit idle.
No I'll try my best
To maintain that
With which I've been blessed.

Gray hair I will color
or occassionally pluck.
And Lord knows I could use
A little nip or a tuck.

But imperfections aside
I am happy to see
That I'm at the place in my life
I always hoped I would be.

I'm happily married
With two wonderful kids.
And God holds my life.
I'm eternally His.

So what could be better?
What more can I say?
Except Happy Birthday to me
I'm 41 today!

National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer - a day set aside for Americans to pray and intercede for America, our people and our leaders in all areas of influence.

May I encourage you today (and everyday for that matter) to remember to take some time to pray for our nation? We have so much to be thankful for. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 says "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior." Also, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Everywhere we turn in this country, there is talk of change. Change that should take place; promises that change will take place; ideas of how it should happen and who should usher it in. But God forbid that we even take one step without first seeking God's will and guidance in all humility before Him.

As blessed as we are, our nation is also in great need of prayer. Some might say as never before. One only needs to turn on the local news to see that's true. But it's not just the obvious stuff we need to pray for. God says in Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." We need to pray for God's wisdom and leading for everyone from the President right on down to you and me. Pray not only for His wisdom but also for the courage and conviction to follow that leading.

No matter one's opinion on the condition of our nation, one thing is certain, people all over this world continue to look to us for hope, for help and for influence. Let's pray that that influence would start and end with our reliance upon God.

I hope you enjoy your time in His presence. Be sure to check out www.nationaldayofprayer.org for some great information. And for those whose hearts and interests stretch beyond our borders, the Global Day of Prayer is coming up on May 11. Check out www.globaldayofprayer.com

Remember, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." Psalm 33:12

Melanie