It's all about perspective

Where's your focus at as you end this Monday? Are you thinking about everything you didn't get finished or are you able to smile at what did go right today? Let's get honest and real for a minute. Things are not going to go your way, there will be more added to the list than taken off, and most people are not going to understand. It's OKAY.  There are a lot of things I could focus on about today, things that could make my blood boil, things that could ruffle my feathers, things that could make me feel overwhelmed and stressed to the max. However, God did some amazing(big) things today ;-). All I can think about is the fact that He held my best friend's precious grandmother's hand today during surgery and she came through just fine. Those are the things that matter.

So many times we schedule ourselves right out of a blessing. Don't get so stuck on what you have to get done during the day, that you miss out on what He has planned. It may be those extra few minutes just to show someone you care. Give the few minutes you don't think you have away, and trust God to give them back ten fold. A minute showing love to someone is never wasted. Was every minute of my day perfect, nope, but I am a lot closer than I used to be ;-) I didn't do everything right today, but God knows that and tomorrow is a new day.

Love when you can and as much as you can especially when it's not easy or convienent. It will come back to you, He promised ;-)

Who you are is so much more than what you do for a living every day, let the world see who you are not just what you do. What you do may be forgotten in a day, but who you are will stick. I'm a paperwork queen, I'm a teacher, and I'm a technology guru, but that's just what I do. I'm also a daughter, make that a princess of the Most High, and I'm so in love with Him that I can hear Him whisper most of the time.

Your to-do list is a part of what you do, but don't let it be who you are. Sometimes you have to slow down and remember what really matters, it's not always on a list. Love those God has placed in your life and show them, they may never say thank you, but one day He'll let you see.

Until next time
~Melissa

One last thing: Local blog readers.....Sometimes God gives you a desire in your heart/shows you a door, only to see if you have the faith to open the door. With that being said, I'm working on putting fear in its place and I hope to one day step out from behind this computer screen. What exactly does that mean? Well He's still writing that part, but if you are local and read this blog and He brings something to mind where you may need a speaker or someone to share, what you read is how He writes. Email me for more details melissamann00@gmail.com or message me on Facebook. This is a huge step for me, because I'm perfectly content to just be a blogger, but God doesn't always call us to be content.

Just thinking.......

This one should be pretty short, just a few thoughts to start the week. I'm still swallowing this perspective God's been showing me. Six days in now and slowly coming down on the other side of this mountain.

• The hardest person to pray for is the one who has stabbed the knife in your back while smiling to your face, but if you want peace and freedom...pray for them and not just that God would deal with them but that God would bless them. In other words, trust God to take care of how you were wronged, you do your part and do what He said. ##love walk 101
• Be careful what you pray for and when. Prayer is a POWERFUL thing, and it is up to God's timing of how and when those prayers are answered. You may pray for something and it be four years down the line before you start to see the answer to that prayer. #Don't get mad when God grants your requests, when it's time. It may not always be when you want, but it's always when you need.
• Treasure the God friends you have in your life. Those who no matter how long it's been since you have talked, your relationship is built on God and NOTHING can separate you from that friendship. #Those friends will be there when the world is not and will love you for you.
• Do something that doesn't "feel" right, so you don't have time in your schedule as you see it to get involoved in that ministry at church, but deep down you know you should. Sign up and trust God to work the rest out. #Work shouldn't be all that defines you
• The older you get, the more you need to realize what balance looks like. When God is the author of your to-do list, He then becomes responsible for helping you get it finished ;-) #Do your part, and He'll do His
• We put too much stock in what others "think" about us. Love people and trust God to handle them. Like is what we do in the flesh, love is what we do in Him. It's not always easy to love someone who doesn't like you. #love means seeing them through His eyes
• He gave you a gift, step out of the boat, put fear in its place, and OPEN IT!!!!!!! Too many times we delay God because we say it's just not time....He determines the timing, not us. Who determines time anyway? Not us....#What blessing have we missed because it just wasn't time?
• You are special, God has a plan for you, now pick your self up from self induced pity party, and move on to what He's called you to. #for someone tonight

Not my typical blog, but I was just thinking for a few minutes. I haven't arrived, but I am so much closer than I used to be. I have dreams and visions that only God can give, I have a strong urge to do some things I know I'm not doing, but that boat is comfortable. Here's to stepping out of the boat and in my next 30 years opening that gift that He gave. (yes I turn 30 in May and I'm slowly coming to grasp with that reality....it's an answered prayer that I can type it without crying.). You know what, here's to stepping out of the boat before I turn 30, I trust Him and I fully believe those dreams He gives us are a for a reason. If He gives you the picture, He's going to let you walk it out(that may have been just for me, but that's what I just got told ;-) gonna hold you to that one God.)

~Until next time sweet readers.....Thank you for reading this sweet journey that God and I have been on ;-) The journey's not about me...
~Melissa

Are you done yet?

Last week God asked me the question you see in the title above. To me I thought it was silly, after all I'd laid it all at His feet(more than once) mind you. Little did I know He would begin to show me what He meant. I had such high hopes for this past weekend(especially since it was a long one), but God had other plans. I spent the weekend on the couch sick. It was a good chance to gain some perspective. There is a peace He can give with a good dose of perspective, but it's costly. Are you done with caring what others think? Are you done with worrying about if what you are doing is right because it doesn't feel that way? Are you done with talking about what's bothering you and still trying to figure it out? Why is it so hard to love other people and not love ourselves? Do what you do because He cares, not because anyone else does. Do what you know is right, not because it feels right. Trust your heart, He does. Sometimes we try so hard to change those in our lives to make it easier for us, but the truth is, the only person we can change is ourselves. Love yourself enough to do your best regardless of what anyone else thinks. Hear me when I say, it's going to hurt. Putting the flesh in its place(aka as crucifying the flesh)...HURTS. We want others to care and to notice what we do, but is that really why we should do what we do? He reminded me of that verse, about humbling yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up. Get to the point where you do what you do because He cares, not because anyone else is going to care or give you anything in return. I'll be honest, I'm in the middle of walking this out. God challenged me to a few things and this blog is just a start to the things that are still to come. There are some days when you just want to SCREAM out, when the volcanno wants to irrupt and you want to make it known how you feel. Sometimes despite how you must feel, you gotta trust Him to make it right in the end. What does that mean? Keep your mouth closed and do what He's told you to do. When someone asks you to go one mile, go two if you can. Do what is right for those in your daily walk, just because it's right. It's going to hurt when others get away with not doing as much, when others take credit for things you had a part in, when others critize what you do....but keep your mouth shut and trust Him. This is easier said than done, because the flesh wants what it wants. So when you fall down(and you will), get back up, tell Him you're sorry, and keep moving forward. When we do things His way, we begin to see through His eyes.

Have I made it to this place where I can do this easily? NO and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to do it easily because I need Him more than ever. It takes His strength to keep my mouth shut and some days I still fail at that. (I'm not saying you can't have someone who you can vent to, share your heart with, and just let off your frustrations, but I am saying to be careful who that is). It takes His strength when you see how others see what you do, to keep doing what's right regardless of what they think. It takes strength to love yourself as He does, and not listen to what the world says. You know why you do what you do and so does He. The world may never understand it, but trust Him to shine through as only He can. Perspective is not always easy, but when you can grasp a hold of His, it comes with a peace that makes it worth while. I've made it three days with this perspective, so far so good. I have stumbled a few times, but I haven't fell down yet. I know it may come in time, but I am happy with the direction I'm headed in. I can see the other side of this mountain finally and I'm not going down the way I came up!

So are you done yet with trying to do things your way? He had a reason for why He said to do things the way He did, it's time we start listening ;-)

Until next time
~Melissa

Be YOU

 If I've learned anything from this past week, it's be YOU. I'm not talking about the You that others want you to be, the you others try to force you to be, or even the you others expect you to be. I'm talking about the you He created you to be. So many times we neglect the you we were destined to be in search of the you that others want you to be. God broke the mold when He made you!! You are going to be frustrated when you continually keep trying to place yourself in that box. There is a peace and a joy when you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, and what He has planned for you to do(whatever that passion may be). Some days you will have to play the role that others want you to be, that's life unfortunately. Find time to be the You He made you to be amidst the craziness. Don't apologize for the you He made you to be. He about knocked me upside of the head last week with that one. He made you that way for a reason and there is something(or somethings) in life that only you can do. That passion you feel is a part of that heart He put inside of you. It may not always be easily  understood by others, but that's okay. His heart will stand the test of time. There are things that you enjoy that others find overwhelming, share when you can. For me it's technology. I've come to love sharing technology with other teachers and using it in whole and small groups with students. I told someone late last week, you make time for passions regardless of what position you may hold. Be true to the you He made you to be. Find that love, that passion and seek to share it with others. If you don't feel it's time, keep working on it in private, in time He'll let it be shown. Don't get frustrated when others don't see it, keep doing what you know He's called you to do and what is right and trust Him to work out the rest.

Be the You He made you to be this week and rest in the fact that everything else is UNDER His feet ;-)
Until next time
~Melissa

As long as He gets the credit........

Okay so this is technically part two to yesterday's blog. If you haven't picked up on it yet, I'm walking through something and I am trying not to feel my way through. The conversations between me and God today have been interesting. I have cried my way through most of it, and then felt bad for crying about what I did. If you don't know me already, I'm an open book when I'm upset, if you look at my face you can usually tell because I get VERY red. I started apologizing to God for that, but you know that's part of me. I'm tired of apologizing because I feel too much at times, because I'm passionate about what I do, and because I'm not someone else. I'm tired of others trying to stuff me in a box that I don't fit in. I have things that He has given me to do and I just want to use them. Now that we have got that out of the way....

When you are hurt, how are you going to react? Life is going to hurt, God never promised us it would be easy. People are going to be mean and the world may not understand why you do what you do, but God does. As hard as it is, when you are hurt, you have to move on and keep doing what you know is right(regardless of who agrees with you). As long as He gets the credit, the hurt has not been wasted. As long as He get the glory, the hurt was not in vain. I don't ever want to feel a hurt and not have a point behind it. God help me to keep moving forward and doing what I know I am supposed to period. When the hurt is deep, there may be a scar, but let that scar remind you of what He's taken you through. Scars can make you stronger if you'll let Him. So life stuck a knife in you, let God pull it out and let Him make you stronger from it. You may not always see what is headed your way, but He does. He will always protect His child and keep them safe, but safe may not mean you walk away without scars. As long as He gets the credit, nothing is wasted. So thank Him, praise Him through it, and make yourself smile until you really feel like smiling.

I don't know what you are dealing with right now, I can only tell you what I've walked through this week. Whatever it is, let God take it and turn it for your good. He can only do His thing, when you let go. Letting go doesn't mean you still don't remember it.(Hello....deep wounds leave scars), but you move on. You let the scars remind you of the purpose and why you do what you do. The enemy wants nothing more than for you to feel like a failure and feel like you can't do anything. You are a precious child of the Most High, and He has given you the power to do everything He called you to do. So do it afraid, do it in pain, but do it with Him. Don't let others determine how strong you are, God is the ONLY one who should determine who you are.

Until next time......(there may be a Part 3, we'll see)
~Melissa

When life sticks a knife in you............

Let me preface this by saying, I'm not talking about those days that rock your world. I've got some precious friends that are having some of those rock your world days and my heart hurts for them. The moments I'm talking about are the moments when life sticks a knife in your back. Those moments provide you with a choice, are you going to let it stay there or are you going to let God pull it out? He never said you wouldn't have scars from the hurt, but His grace allows you to forgive(yourself and others) and to move on. When you move on there is healing. So what am I doing tonight, moving on, and letting Him get the glory for it. Nothing happens to a child of God by chance. He knows when you are hurt and when you have had all you can take. The amazing thing is when you have had all you can take, you have a choice. Don't run backwards to what is comfortable, what makes your flesh happy, what the others expect you to do. You may not be able to move forward at the moment, but stop and take a moment to regroup. Put on the praise music and just listen.  Sometimes that knife may be the neon sign you prayed for and asked God about.

My whole point in this is, when life sticks the knife in you, let God take it out(and soon). The longer you leave it in the harder it will be to heal. I have had more life lessons than I care to count this year. Have I done everything I should, no? Every time I find myself feeling hurt, I've found myself asking God what can I change about me? How can I keep this from happening next time, What can I do to move forward. Change what you can, and then leave the rest up to Him. Life is going to hurt plain and simple. It's what you do with those hurts that matter. In His time, He'll help you move on from the hurt.

I wish I could tell you I'm on the other side of this, but that blog is still to come. The knife is deep, but God's love is deeper. Don't run backwards, sit down if you need to, but let His grace keep you moving forward. The scars will still be there, and you may remember the hurt at times, but He knows that. (I have physical scars that remind me of this truth). Things are going to happen, but you have the choice to make with where you take that something.

Not sure who this is for, but God does. You make a difference. I know you don't feel like you do, but hear me when I say you make a difference. The world is better because of you and there are things you take care of that no one else could do. You are special because you are you. You have talents that make you who you are. You have gifts that only you can give. Don't keep them to yourself. Don't turn the light out on what God has lit, just because someone else doesn't agree. The world is different because of you.

Part two of this blog is still to come. For now, I pray this makes sense. God's pulled the knife out, but I think I'm going to sit for now.

Until next time,
Melissa

Words I'm going to chew on all week

None of these are mine, but I have a feeling He'll use them to start writing. They have kicked started my week, now my prayer is Lord let it continue and let me just stay focused on You and You alone.  More blogs to come later on:-)

So this tweet from Joyce Meyer was perfect:
When we are truly confident and secure, the opinions of others cannot control us.

1 Corinthians 3:6-4: 7
⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. ⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
 ¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
 ¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
 ¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^[a]; ²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^{[b] 21} So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas^[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, ²³ and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
 ¹ This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. ² Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. ³ I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. ⁵ Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
 ⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. ⁷ For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

My conversations with God yesterday

It's been a deep week with Me and God...Yesterday was full of conversations. I've done my best to type them back out, because I've learned some of what I'm walking through and learning is not always just for me;-) So here is my Friday....

My conversation with God on the way to work yesterday was simply, God please send me someone that understands....(I'm not sure I just asked, I may have been more pleading). Before I move on, we ALL have days like this. We want someone with skin, someone in our day to day world, just to tell us Hey I get it, I understand what you are dealing with, or just wow didn't realize you had that much on you (You get what I mean?). I almost put that on my facebook before I went in to work, but I was afraid it would be analyzed and someone would go, God always understands etc. Yes I am fully aware that God always understands, but I also know that He knows my heart and He knew what I meant when I asked. That aside, His reply left me speechless. He simply asked me, would it change anything? Made me think, you know I'm not sure it would. Sometimes the things we ask for are not necessarily what we need, but things we want to make our flesh feel better, and make our flesh shut up.

Second conversation came not long after the first.....It was another one of those, But God moments...I asked Him why I'm dealing with so much this year, why so much struggle, why so much adversity. While some of what we go through is caused by other people, our RESPONSE is something we can change. This is something I am still walking out. I'm hesitant to call it a struggle because I'm not where I was before on it. God reminded me that when He is moving in our lives, when His plan is coming to fruition, it makes the enemy mad. Why wouldn't the enemy push all of the buttons he can to keep us locked in a frustrated, stressed state? When you are walking in your calling/gifting, that thing that only you can do, there is an amazing sense of peace, but it also makes the enemy mad. If you weren't doing what God called you to do, had planned for you to do from the very beginning, the enemy wouldn't be as scared of what you could do. Sometimes our struggles as we journey forward are proof that we are where we are supposed to be (even if we want to run;-)). When you feel like running, its then that you have to keep moving forward regardless of how hard it feels.

Conversation to end the day: "But God I just want to make a difference......" He reminded me of the verses about someone planting the seeds, someone else waters, but it is God who makes it grow. Lesson from that is that, there are going to be days when you can't see the difference you are making with your eyes, but He knows why you do what you do and He can see what you can't.  At the end of the day, you have only you to answer for. Did you do all you could with the hours you had? Don't miss out on the God moments because you are waiting on an earthquake. God may have you taking care of some little things(in your eyes) as you move to the bigger, but to God it is all the same size. He has you where you are for a reason and the talents inside of you make you who you are.

Wrapping it all up......It's been a deep week. I've asked God a lot of questions, some days I have cried through my feelings, and some days I have wanted to scream. It's tough crucifying your flesh, but I can only imagine it's nothing compared to what He went through for us. Joyce Meyer says it best, there has to be a Friday before Sunday. There has to be a crucifixion before a resurrection. I'm still in the putting flesh in it's place phase, but I can see Sunday. I can see part of the puzzle box, but it has to be in His time. It's hard to not care what others think, to keep doing the best you can and still feeling like you have failed, to keep doing all you know to do and it's not enough. It's hard to go through the week and just want that person to say to you "I understand". My encouragement for you is this, keep doing what you are doing with all that you have, where you are at. He knows your heart and He knows why you do what you do. In time, that heart will shine through to others. When the world causes you to doubt yourself, remember He believed in you first and still does!  Get victory over the little things, and you'll be amazed at what will come next. Sometimes faith means moving forward with what He's told you, even if you are the only one that knows it.  So keep doing what He's called you to sweet friend, it may not be easy, but He is never late.

and I understand ;-)
Until next time,
Melissa