Merry Christmas from our home to yours'!

 

This time of year is especially meaningful to me because we celebrate the birth of our savior! Do you ever think about what life would be like if we had no Savior? I do, and I can imagine that I would lead a very hopeless life. Yet there are millions of people out there who don't believe or haven't yet heard. This makes me very sad because there is so much more to life than living for ourselves, or even our families and friends. I am praying for more opportunities in the coming year to share my faith with others without being ashamed or afraid of what they might think. For me this comes through building deeper relationships with those I come in contact with--my neighbors, my kids' friends and their families, people I seem to "run into" frequently. I pray the same for you this Christmas season---and also that you will see Christ in a new light and be renewed in your spirit.

Merry Christmas my friend!

Loving Him

~Mel

Thoughts

"Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you." Ephesians 4:22-24 The Message

Lord, help me to strain every thought through the sieve of your word and not allow any deceit, bitterness, jealousy, or malice any place in my heart...that I may live in the freedom of my new self, all made possible because of you.

Loving Him,

~Mel

Getting Past Ourselves

I find it amazing that old truths can still be like fresh water for my soul at times I need them. I have just started a new personal Bible Study called "Becoming a Woman of Excellence" by Cynthia Heald. It's one that I bought years ago with the intention of doing...and never did. So glad I kept it around after all this time. I am really enjoying it. The first chapter has been covering the laying off of our old selves and running with our new selves. This morning I wanted to share a quote with you by Hannah Whitall Smith:

"The greatest burden we have to carry in life is self. The most difficult thing we have to manage is self. In laying off your burdens, therefore, the first one you must get rid of is yourself. You must hand yourself...into the care and keeping of your God...He made you and therefore He understands you and knows how to manage you and you must trust Him to do it well."

This really spoke to me. There are many things that hinder me from allowing me to be free from my self: pride...thinking I can do it all by myself and being overly confident in myself; thinking I am not valuable, that there is something wrong with me and that I can't do anything right; comparing myself to others, and being preoccupied with my performance, to mention a few. It is so critical that we accept ourselves as God made us in order to live in the freedom that He gave so much for us to enjoy. Here is another quote by Jerry Bridges:

"Self acceptance is basically trusting God for who I am, disabilities or physical flaws and all. We need to learn to think as George MacDonald did when he said, "I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God's thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking."

Lord, you made me and you know me better than I know myself. Help me to see myself the way you see me and love me; help me not to look to others for approval, but only strive to please you. I want to bring glory to you and please you above all else. In Your Son's precious name, Amen.

Loving Him today,

~Mel

God is our Refuge

For the past few months I have been trying to memorize Psalm 46 with my Bible Study group. It sure doesn't get easier after you turn 40! I have it posted up on the wall in our bathroom where I dry my hair every morning, so my ritual is to tackle a new verse every couple of weeks. I finally have it down, but more than that, I have learned once again that memorizing something really makes you think about the words. I have grown to love this passage. One of the most rewarding things about memorizing scripture for me is that I can recall it exactly the moment I need it, instead of having to go scrambling for my Bible.

Here is Psalm 46:

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

³ though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

⁸ Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

⁹ He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.

¹⁰ "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

One of my all-time favorite verses has been Psalm 46:10 "Be Still, and know that I am God." It has been neat for me to have this verse in context and realize the whole Psalm is really about God being in control of our lives and that no matter what happens to me, He "is my refuge and strength." He is ALWAYS with me- "an ever present help in trouble," and "the Lord Almighty is with us." Nothing is too big for Him! I pray I will never forget Psalm 46.

Lord, help me live today knowing you are my refuge and strength and an ever present help in trouble. All I need to do is ask and you will help me with whatever situation I'm in. Thank you for being my Almighty God. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for saving me.

In His Strength,

~Mel

He's Been Busy With Me

While I have been absent from my blog for a few months God has been hugely at work in me. I wanted to share with you what He has done. For many years I have struggled with hidden anger from past hurts. I have tried to hide it deep inside, but it always manages to rear its ugly head somehow to some unsuspecting person, usually a family member, but sometimes even a friend. I'm going to quote to you from my journal entry from September 15th:

Today is a new day for me! I have chosen to throw my suitcase of bitterness very far away and I am choosing not to be angry one more day. The bitterness I have been holding onto has gotten so bad it has reared its ugly head in so many small but big ways. Lord, you are so wonderful. Where would I be without you? Thank you for being faithful and answering my prayers to forgive. Thank you most of all for loving me through this. I'm letting it all go today. Please continue the work you began in me, now that I have submitted to you. Thank you for my "Calm My Anxious Heart" Bible Study and the ladies in my group. You have spoken and I have changed because of it. I'm quoting from the chapter I read last night on being content in relationships:

"As I look at His (Jesus) response to betrayal (Matt. 26:38-46 while in the garden of Gethsemane when He asked His friends to pray for Him and they fell asleep), I am convicted. I must be willing to overlook imperfection as Jesus did. If I insist on perfection or nothing, I'll end up with nothing. I must be willing to forgive. And if you long to be content, so must you. Unless we do our anxious hearts will not be calmed" (p. 75).

Forgiveness is not an option! "Failure to forgive not only wounds our savior but it destroys us. A lack of forgiveness causes the bitterness plant to take root in our hearts. A Christian is a candidate for confinement and unspeakable suffering until he or she fully and completely forgives others, even when others are wrong. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. Forgiveness breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. It is not a feeling but a secret choice of the heart. " (p. 77-79)

Lord, I know I cannot do this without you. Please help me to remember you and your word whenever bitterness starts to creep in. Please help me to choose to forgive and choose to look past others' faults. I feel the most free I have felt in years. Thank you. Thank you for forgiveness. Thank you for grace. And most of all, thank you for loving me through everything.

"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe that God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it." Colossians 3:12-14 The Message

Loving Him victoriously with all my heart today,

~Mel

Thirsting for Him

One of my all-time favorite Psalms and I know I have already blogged about these verses, but they are so powerful and meaningful to me.

Psalm 63

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

 ¹ O God, you are my God, 
       earnestly I seek you; 
       my soul thirsts for you, 
       my body longs for you, 
       in a dry and weary land 
       where there is no water.

 ² I have seen you in the sanctuary 
       and beheld your power and your glory.

 ³ Because your love is better than life, 
       my lips will glorify you.

 ⁴ I will praise you as long as I live, 
       and in your name I will lift up my hands.

 ⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; 
       with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

 ⁶ On my bed I remember you; 
       I think of you through the watches of the night.

 ⁷ Because you are my help, 
       I sing in the shadow of your wings.

 ⁸ My soul clings to you; 
       your right hand upholds me.

 ⁹ They who seek my life will be destroyed; 
       they will go down to the depths of the earth.

 ¹⁰ They will be given over to the sword 
       and become food for jackals.

 ¹¹ But the king will rejoice in God; 
       all who swear by God's name will praise him, 
       while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

I love how The Mesage states verse 1, "God--you're my God. I can't get enough of you!" That is exactly the way I feel. I need Him so desperately in every area of my life. I am nothing without Him! 

I am so thankful for these promises today.

Loving Him,

~Mel

Abundant Living

"The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full. " John 10:10

As Christians we have so much to look forward to in spending etrenity with Christ. But what is even better for me right now, is the life I can have with Him TODAY! The life He gives us is richer, fuller, more satisfying, gratifying, joy-filled, etc. becasue He gives us His love, guidance, mercy, forgiveness and even more blessings. In other words, eternal life starts immediately! This is so freeing to me and I have realized this more and more. My Bible commentary says it so well: "Life in Christ is lived on a higher plane becasue of His overflowing forgivness, love and guidance." It makes me think of the old hymn, "Higher Ground". Here are the words:

I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day;
Still praying as I'm onward bound,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

Refrain

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven's table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Verse Two
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

Refrain

Verse Three
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan's darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

Refrain

Verse Four
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I'll pray till Heav'n I've found,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

Refrain

Praying you find abundant life in Christ and experience that for yourself this day!

Loving Him,

Mel