Lessons from 2014 make for a stronger 2015

It's New Year's Eve time for reflection on the last 365 days.....

This could be a long draw out post, but it won't. Too much to do today before heading to my home away from home. (No I'm not talking about work, I'm talking about Hendersonville). The lessons from 2014 could fill a book. I've written more blogs this year than in years past, and there were still countless blogs that never made it to the computer. Those blogs stayed between God and I. One day they may be ready to type, but I'll let Him tell me when. 2014 was a busy almost whirlwind year. Looking back on it now, it had to be to propel me to this season, this point in my life. There is a shift going on in the world, in the heavenly atmosphere...things are changing, but the One who has never changed knew exactly where we would be at this time in history. He knew before Jesus ever was born how the events of 2014 would impact society. It's time to push down the fences and choose a side. It's time to make sure the light of His love shines through. It's time to listen when He says move and listen when He says do. Quit reasoning away that voice when you know it's Him.

I learned a lot in 2014, but the most important thing(and I'm ashamed to say this at 32) is that I finally saw me as He sees me. I can now look in a mirror and see me through His eyes and not my own. I know how to say Hush it to the enemy when those feelings come into play. Looking back over 2014, I can see how God put me where He wanted me right when He wanted me there. I can also sadly see some things I missed all because I was "too busy" or not focused on what He had called me to do. Those are moments not to look on with regret, but to look on and remember to not let 2015 have any of those. Moments are never wasted if we allow Him to use them to make us stronger. 

As you think back on 2014, smile at the 365 days that have passed. Even for the days that made you cry, smile because He carried you through them sweet readers. God has even more amazing things in store for 2015 I can feel it and I believe it.  Give Him your ALL(feelings, thoughts, chains(He already has the keys), situations, YOU) and watch Him move in this upcoming year. You say it's impossible, He says just watch. Trust means letting Him guide and stepping where He steps. Trust is knowing that regardless of how you feel or what others around you say, He's got your this and that because He has you! Trust not only unlocks chains, it breaks them to the point of not being able to find them again.

More to come tomorrow ;-)
Enjoy the last of 2014...
~Melissa

Just give me Jesus....

I heard the Jeremy Camp song on the radio yesterday......and it has stuck. I've actually been trying to pull up the YouTube video so I could add it in here, but it's not working. I'll take that as God wants me to just type first. There is a part in the song that says...you can have all of this world, just give me Jesus. December has been a different kind of month for me. It's like I finally got off the mountain and found my way headed to the next part of the journey. I can't explain it, but finally things clicked. God hasn't changed some aspects of my situation, but He's changed me. So many times we ask and ask for Him to change something, but He's waiting on us to let Him change us. What's changed? I finally listened. I wish I could tell you I slowed down and listened, but I didn't. I finally got tired of going around and around the same mountain. I got tired of the Motions. Discernment has always been there, but oh how precious I've found it to be lately. God's longing to show us ourselves through His eyes. He's longing to peel back the layers of our heart so He can show us just how it works. Too many times we apologize for the heart He gave us. It's not too big and we aren't too slow. Things don't always have to be planned out, but learning to listen when He says go and to apologize when you realize you've missed Him is priceless! God's plan always prevails, the choice becomes get in the middle of it or be left out.

Know who you are in Him. Get so lost in Him that you have to look through His eyes to find yourself. When you know who you are in Him, who He has called you to be, and what He has called you to do......the peace is beyond understanding. When you break the chain of people pleasing and finally move forward in the I'm the me He made me to be, the peace is beyond understanding. Word of caution(and I've learned the hard way.....)....be careful as you walk forward of who you let speak into your life. Well meaning people will try to "speak" into your life. Always run their words by the Spirit of the One who called you and is living inside of you. I've witnessed this more than once over the last couple of weeks. Something happens on the inside of you when the words being spoken are truth in love and are a part of His plan. There is also something that happens on the inside of you when the words are not from Him....that uneasiness in your Spirit is there for a reason. Let Him take care of those words ;-) When God is moving in your life, the enemy takes notice. Remember it says in scripture more than once that the demons and evil spirits knew who He was. What the enemy means to discourage you, should encourage you. God hasn't counted you out even though it may "feel" like it. In fact, what is going on right now is a shifting and a falling into place. God's moving things around to accomplish His plan and purpose for not only your life, but the lives of those who He has planned for you to minister to. The One who has called you is faithful and He will do it. 

At His Feet,
~Melissa 

God has someone who needs to hear this tonight. The enemy has tried to keep it from being posted. (I'm in my third browser to finish it). God just be you and do what you do. May the One who needs to read it, read it. The seeds you placed in my hand, I place back in yours to plant and then make grow. Thank you for letting me be the me, You called me to be.

Peace vs. Chaos

I told someone yesterday that there had to be a blog in the day. God doesn't waste a moment, He uses all of our feelings, all of our diamond days for His glory as long as we let Him. This morning the verse 1 Corinthians 14:33 has been in my Spirit. It says God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. Looking through the various translations of this verse, chaos and confusion are also used for disorder. This time of the year emotions are on a heightened state. People are running around in busy mode, but let's not forget what should be our focus of the day. If you are feeling chaos and a sense of disorder...stop. Go back and look at your day, your week, your moments....where did you slide from peace to that sense of chaos?  Now run back as fast as you can ;-)

I don't know about you, but once you have felt His peace you don't want to lose it. Peace amiss the storm, peace knowing He's got it all under control, Peace knowing He's got you......that sense of chaos and disorder is NOT something you want to feel. Now once you run back to that moment of peace, ask Him to show you where you took a turn. Which window did you open that let the enemy in? What door do you need to shut? It may not be a physical door you can shut, but you can stay focused when around that door on the One who has called you. (Remember He is faithful and He will do it). He doesn't leave you to fight the storm alone. Trust is sleeping in the boat letting Him worry about where the boat is headed and what it is about to encounter.

My week started out with peace, but it ended with a feeling of chaos. Through lots of tears and sorting it out, I found where I took a turn. I found the window that I left opened. Sometimes we open windows in our state of busyness and don't realize they are open until we find ourselves in a state of chaos and disorder.  Run back and close the window.....God will help you. I may blog about some more of that in detail later, but not right now. God's still working on healing the scars the chaos left. I'm so thankful He uses them to make us stronger though. The enemy would love for us to stay defeated....don't let him win! Don't stay in the state of chaos, disorder, and confusion....It's not of God and not what He has planned for your journey. He wants you to learn from those chaotic, confusing moments and move forward. God has a unique plan and the more you find out about it, the more the enemy seeks to make you forget it. Be who He made you to be. People can either like that person or move on, but regardless He is smiling(which is what it is all about in the end!).

Peace in Him also creates a confidence in Him. Word of caution...let Him be the words that come out of your mouth. As you start to see in His mirror of confidence, it will start to show on your outside. It may not always be well received by others. Stay focused on Him and let Him take are of the words and shinning through to others. Stay focused on Him and let Him worry about letting others see Him.

Focused on the journey,
~Melissa

The other side of the mountain....

The Bowlings have a song(which is #1 this month by the way) called "I Know Enough". This song has ministered to me in more ways than one since I first heard it. However this week, God has taken it to a new level.

"I’ve been on the other side of the mountain
 Seen the night give way to day
 Delivered over and over
When it seemed there was no way
Been rescued by mercy, lifted by love
I may not know much
But I know enough"

From the start of this week till now, I've watched God move this mountain climber. I had asked Him to move the mountain, actually it was probably more like beginning. I was tired, burned out, and wanted Him to do what I didn't believe I had the strength to do. I needed God to breathe life into me again or at least re-inflate what I had let out. How many know that so many times we ask God to move the mountains in our lives, when most of the times He wants to show us we are strong enough to climb that mountain with His help? The mountain will defeat us if we never realize we are strong enough to climb it. We have to trust Him enough to let His will happen. If we keep doubting ourselves, please others more than Him, and let our feelings dictate our actions, we will stay on one side of the mountain. Once you put it all(and He means ALL) in His hands, get ready. He moves as only He can and does what He has been wanting to do all along. He can break the chains of people pleasing and show you how much confidence you can have when you seek to only please Him. He can take a meeting headed in one direction and when He intervenes, a 180 happens(in a good way). He can take a feeling and replace it with peace. Peace that you would put into words if you could, but the they just can't be found. His peace doesn't always mean you know how it is going to work out, but you know Who is going to work it all out. Stay strong and walk with confidence forward on the journey with Him. Peace comes with confidence not because you think you can do anything, but because you know He can do EVERYTHING!.

I may not know much, but I know enough. I know what it's like to worry about things and to let those things snowball into bigger things. I also know what it's like to trust Him and walk in that trust. The latter may not be the easiest, but once you experience that peace that passes all understanding.....it makes anything else seem just wrong.

On the journey,
~Melissa

My heart.....

On to the blog I wanted to write earlier and it just wouldn't come....the words are ready to flow now.

A smile on the face or a "it's fine" does not always mean that everything is. We tend to get so busy that we neglect to slow down and really listen to what people have to say. We see a smile on their face or look at them as they must be fine their status said so and move on with our day. When those may be the ones who are secretly crying out for just an ear to listen. They are ones that know in their heart God's walking with them, but oh how they wish their head would be quiet. They shed tears in the car, in the shower, or in bed at night because they hold it in when others are around. Tears are not a sign of weakness, in fact tears are sign of movement. Tears mean something is either breaking or being put back together. Tears mean growth. Holding them in and ignoring that you have those feelings leads to a cold heart, a lukewarm spirit, and an attitude that just wants to give up. Now let's get real for a few minutes. I'm thankful for friends who see past the smile. Friends who just know when something is up even though they may be a state away. I'm thankful for friends who listen and remind you of His promises. The last year and half have been a struggle, more so the last five months. Busyness has crowded out quiet and I've plastered the smile to just keep trying to convince myself I didn't feel like I was drowning. Life is tough and you can only walk on water when you maintain a focus on Him. Take it off for a second and you will go under and "feel" like you are drowning. Best news is....put your focus back on Him and start walking on top of the water again.
I got my focus off of for a couple of hours today and to say I started drowning would be an understatement. The best thing that happened was my visit to the chiropractor. It forced me for a few minutes to get quiet and focus(what else can you do on a traction table) and to say God started speaking life back into me would be an understatement.  God breathed peace that I still don't understand, but thankful I am.

God has revealed more than I could blog about in the last 72 hours. He's reminded me of the call on my life. He's reminded me of who I am in Him despite what others say or think. He's reminded me grace is a daily thing and new each day, use what He's provided for today, there will be more tomorrow. He's revealed promise after promise. He's reminded me of who He is in me. God's been turning the heat up with a fire that only He could light. The enemy wanted me to see myself through the eyes of others(as just a "special education teacher", as just a "single female"....yep those have been words used in the last week even), but God broke through. Precious friends spoke life back into me Sunday night and reminded me that I was an anointed child of the Most High and that He was my covering. Confident in myself...no, but confident in what He can do...more than ever. He's the same God that has walked me through the two darkest days of my life and not only walked me through them, but took them in His hands and worked them for my good. He's the same God who has spoken words for me to share over the years that to say they were on timing would be an understatement. He's not just up to something, He's doing a new thing. A confident thing where I walk forward letting the stress go and remembering that it can not defeat me. Thankful the enemy sees me as a threat...one day he'll back off and learn. Until then my God is greater and the plans that are still are in store are for my good and the best is still to come!

Regardless of what the world(or well meaning people) have told you....if you are a Christian and have a relationship with the Most High....He knows your name. He not only knows your name, but He knows your voice. He knows when you are asking for something from the heart or when you are asking from your feelings. He knows when you are hurting and He knows when you are hiding. Defeat is not from God and He doesn't give up. He will tell you when it's time to move on, but until then press on knowing that He will grow the seeds you are planting in His time. God has a story written just for you and only He knows the end.  You are precious and He loves you more than you could ever know.

Confident on the journey,
~Melissa

Word for the day...He will do it

This may have been just for me, but just in case someone else needs to hear it. Here is my conversation with God from just a little while ago. This is not the blog I intended or thought I would write tonight, but the course of today has produced this one.


The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 

He did more than just whisper this verse to me tonight. He pretty much said it very loudly. I needed it that way though. I didn't expect the rain to fall like it did today, or the fog to be like it was tonight. I had things that I needed to accomplish today, but God had another plan. He needed me to get still for a minute and listen to Him. He needed me to pause my busy mind and listen to what He knew I needed to hear. 

Has the word or promises God planted in your heart taken root yet? Does it feel like the seeds that He planted are about to be washed away from the storms that seem to keep coming? Rest assured God is faithful and what HE promised He will bring to past. It may feel like it's about to be washed away, but it's not. The enemy doesn't like seed, and he will do what he can to make you forget the promises God gave you. God wants you to know that the word He gave you, the promises He made are still true. He has called you to the season you are in and not because He is going to make the storm pass, but because He wants you to learn to sleep with Him during the storm. It may feel like you are in this alone, but you aren't. The One who is walking alongside of you knows more about the storm than anyone. He knows the parts that will be played, the words that will be said, and the actions that will be displayed. God called you, He's faithful and as the verse says above He will do it. It doesn't say He might or He will think about it, but He will do it. God takes care of those who trust in Him and walk with Him. Remember where He's carried you through before and what He has already done. So many times we forget those moves of the past because we are so focused on what we need Him to do now. Along this journey God moves more than just us, but He begins to move through us. The one who is in you is greater than the storm. There is a rainbow through this storm, hold on. Did you hear it? God just whispered peace not to the storm, but to your heart. He wants to shine through you while you rest and trust Him. Oh how He wants us to put our feelings in His hands, but that's a blog for another day. There is an anointing that comes after the storm. 

He knows your heart....Do you?

So November has been a month of revelation and growing(in more ways than one). During one of my lovely truth sessions with God, He asked me a question. So many times I've been known to quote and say how thankful I am that He knows my heart. So He asked me, if I know my heart. I sat there with a puzzled look and I think He could tell. He went on to explain. So many times we are thankful that He knows us and sees our heart, but have we ever stopped to look at our heart the way He does. Why do we apologize for things that are a part of the way He made us? I've often times said I care too much or my heart is too big and I told Him this week how sorry I was for those statements. We can never care too much or have a heart too big. He made us that way for a reason. Now our focus may get off and we may care about the wrong things too much or let our heart be focused on fleshly things for too long, but caring and having a big heart are part of what makes me me. God forgive me for the times when I have apologized for the heart you gave me, my heart. Help me to always see it the way you see it!

Take a minute today to let Him show you your heart the way He sees it. Then take that revelation and walk forward into the next season of your journey. Seeing yourself and your heart the way God does unlocks chains that allow you to freely walk from one season to the next. Stay focused on those truths and remember the chains have been unlocked and broken.

How blessed and sweet it is when we realize the keys to unlock the chains the and the stones to slay the giant have been in our hands all along. How even sweeter it is when we realize the power to use both has been inside us as well. #He'sgotthis

Retracing Steps.....

This past week I was reading through Luke and read the story of when Jesus was 12 again. This was a story I had read multiple times over the years, but this time it had a whole new meaning.  The passage I'm referring to is Luke 2:41-52. Allow me to share a few of the truths and/or nuggets He shared with me.

 Verse 43: After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it

How many times do we start back home or to the land of comfort only not realizing we have left Jesus behind? Think about every mountain top "experience" you have had over your journey with Him(or at least the last couple). As you headed back home from the mountain top experience, did you take Him with you? or were you so caught up in the routine of heading back home that you didn't realize it. How many times have you started on a journey only not to be unaware that you left Him behind? 

44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.

Let me park on that first sentence for a second. Oh my how this stepped on my toes and painted such a picture of what I'm sure most of us have done more than once. How many times have we started on our journey, thinking we were walking with Him? How many times have we gotten ahead of Him only to realize, wait a minute, where did He go? I think we all have had times on this journey where we have gotten ahead of Him only to stop and realize oops. How many times have we gone longer than a day before we realized the One we thought we were walking with, is really behind us? 

You know how the story ends. They find Him sitting among the teachers right where they left Him. He lovingly told His parents, why did you search for me, didn't you know I would be about my Father's business? 

How many times do we head out on our journey only to realize we got ahead of Him? How many moments and missteps does it take before we realize we aren't walking with Him but ahead of Him? We frantically and anxiously go on a search, but guess what? He never moved, we did.  He has always been right where He said He would be. 

Thankful Post

I didn't join in the 30 days of Thankfulness this year on FB. It wasn't because I'm not thankful, part of it is I'm growing tired of the drama associated with FB, but early on this month I decided I would rather put everything in a blog. This way on those days when I would rather complain than be grateful, I can pull the blog back up. I'm also finding it is an amazing way to reflect on what could be known as a rather unusual month. So here it is, my 30 days of thankfulness ;-) Word of Warning: Slightly Lengthy post ;-)

1. First and foremost I'm thankful for a Heavenly Daddy who loves me beyond my comprehension and Who demonstrates daily just how much He loves me and understands me!
2. Thankful for my earthly parents. The older I get the closer we grow. This season of life is one where I see them as friends. I'm thankful (most days) that I inherited my dad's love for technology. Now if only I had learned to cook like him ;-) I couldn't go in as many directions and have my hands in as many fires as I do without mom. She helps me stay sane. (During IEP season that isn't so easy). 
3. I'm thankful for opportunities. I see them now as open doors. God opens doors for us in seasons where He knows we can handle it. The enemy opens doors in seasons where our flesh wants it. There is a difference and I'm learning that. 2014 has held memories and professional opportunities that I never would have dreamed. 
4. I'm thankful to work where I do. It's been a rough start settling in, but I finally see how God has put the pieces together. It's not always easy, but the struggle is productive. I've grown more in the last few months, personally and professionally. I feel blessed to be able to teach in the community where I live. 
5. Thankful for friends who love me for me! 
6. Thankful for His word! I've read some passages lately with fresh eyes. Oh how He has poured out. Blogs to come soon ;-) 
7. Thankful for girls' nights and chances to relax after a crazy week! 
8. Thankful for my girls group at church. I had forgotten how much fun just telling others about being His Princess could be ;-) I am in awe of God opportunities and thankful to finally listen. 
9. Thankful for the chance to make a difference. I'll be honest I've struggled over the last couple of months and asked God more than once if I was doing what I was supposed to be doing, where He wanted me to be doing it at. I've wrestled with just wanting His peace on this. I found it when I slowed down and let Him show me the last couple of months through His eyes. We can get so caught up in busyness that we forget to just be who He made us to be. 
10. Thankful for rest....sleep and a chance to relax are wonderful things. 
11. Thankful for an awesome church family. I love our worship times at BBC. 
12. Thankful for dad's chicken and dressing. It's not Thanksgiving without this dish ;-) 
13. Thankful for Netflix. I know this may seem silly, but it was so nice to wake up and put Gilmore Girls on and just laugh. Laughter is good for the soul ;-) 
14. Thankful for the chance to pour into the lives of kids at school and church. It's a responsibility and a privilege I do not take lightly. God gave me a focus for the year this summer and I've tried to keep that focus the main thing. It's not always about what you teach, but how you teach. Show them they matter and they can make a difference, in turn you may be handing them the keys to change their world. 
15. Thankful for opportunities that mean stepping out of your comfort zone(i.e. presenting at an Assistant Principal's meeting or leading a Robotics club that is way above your techie comprehension). 
16. Thankful for sweet revelations and whispers from Him. I wish I could let you in on the sweet whispers He and I shared last night as I laid a lot of feelings and excuses on Him. He replied with His ever so sweet truths for each one. 
17. Thankful for Social Media....even with all of the drama and times I would love to just disconnect(and yes I've learned to do that some finally), it is nice to be able to stay connected to people you don't get to see as often as you would like. 
18. Thankful for closed windows. (Yep there is a blog there too!)
19. Thankful for books! I have reignited a passion for Reading. I had forgotten over the years how relaxing it can be just to read for FUN! (Thankful for an Overdrive app that lets me check out books from the library too.)
20. Thankful for memories. There are times when they bring smiles and times when they bring tears, but oh how priceless they are. 
21. Thankful for the opportunity to watch kiddos grow in their gifts at MMIS. The opportunity to see kiddos who I remember as little ones leading FCA is amazing. It is precious watching them grow in so many ways. 
22. Thankful for time in the nursery at church. Times when both sweet toddlers fall asleep in your arms. Priceless! 
23. Thankful for the chance to still stay in touch with kids I've taught over the years. 
24. Thankful for music. I love lyrics and I love when certain songs get in my Spirit. God uses songs to minister on many days. 
25. Thankful for Advocare! I would hate to see a day without my Spark. (For those of you who drink coffee...same difference) 
26. Thankful for my Nashville family. Family isn't always about blood, but about a Spirit that says You are Mine. I love these people more than words and am so thankful they love me! 
27. Thankful for Madison Academy. I grew up with some amazing teachers who taught me what being a teacher was all about. I'm the teacher I am today because of them. 
28. Thankful for Alabama Football and Kentucky Basketball! I never was a sports person growing up, but the older I have become the more I have grown to love watching these two sports and teams play! 
29. Thankful for the first journal I ever received from my middle school English teacher, whom I now call friend. It started a writing thing ;-) even though I didn't understand it then. 
30. Thankful for YOU! If you had asked me in high school if I thought I would have ever written a blog, I would have been quick to reply NO! My middle school and high school English teachers would actually have agreed with you, I was not a fan of writing assignments, but they both in their unique ways planted seeds in me that I didn't realize would one day be watered by Him. I'm still not the best at it yet, but I'm learning and letting Him lead this process. 

The Power to Crush

Luke 10:19 
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you

What does that verse mean exactly? It means as Christians we have authority to trample, crush, step on snakes and scorpions. How does this apply to our daily lives? It means that we have the power and the ability to step on and overcome the triggers, the rocks, the hurdles the enemy throws in our paths.  So many times we don't realize that the enemy is sneaky and will use our weaknesses to our own detriment(often times becomes we have told him what they were!) Let's get real and practical for a minute, I'll use some of my own examples ;-)  We have the power to not indulge ourselves and eat a Little Debbie cake just because we feel stressed. It's not even December and those Christmas tree cakes and I are already at war. Everything in moderation, but why do they have to taste so good? To each their own, but yes God and I did discuss Christmas tree cakes last night. We have the power to not react. If we would not play the what if game in our heads and the well if they would just, we would be a lot happier. God said love. God said rest. God didn't say burn yourself out trying to please everyone but Him. 

God has given us the power to say no to the things that our flesh would like to say yes to. Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. You know what is right and just for you, follow it and let others follow what He has told them to do. It's our own actions He will ask us about one day, not others. Put your feelings in His hands and watch Him do more than you could imagine. He doesn't waste a moment, trust me. If you will let Him, He can turn Eeyore days into diamond days. God has put the stones in our hand to slay the giants we face. Now do you believe in yourself as much as He does? 

One last thing.....God doesn't like excuses pure and simple. We can tell Him what we aren't all day long, but He has a truth for each and every one. He doesn't have time for us to sit there and be like Moses and tell Him we aren't the best speakers in the world. He knows where our weaknesses are, He put them there. He doesn't see them as excuses, He sees them as chances to shine through. Lay how you see yourself at His feet and pick up how He sees you. It will change your world when you finally(finally) let that truth sink in. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, so quit fighting against yourself.  

If this blog steps on your toes, remember He stepped on mine with it first ;-) Too good of a word not to share. 

Just my heart....

I know it's the week of Thanksgiving, and I'll get to that post later on this week, but for a moment I just need to blog my heart. I've felt my way through the last couple of weeks, in fact probably the last month and a half. It's not a fun place to be. What I know has become clouded with what I feel simply because I allowed what I feel to become louder than what I know. God doesn't call us to feel our way through the day, He calls us to feel His way through the day. Easier said than done...just being honest. We all want to be a part of the group and to be included. We all want to know what we are doing is appreciated and/or matters to someone. We all have the fleshly need to hear job well done. Sometimes though God calls us to a place of just hearing Him say well done. He calls us to a season where the encouragement we seek can only can from Him. This is a season of preparation. A season where we at some point we wake up and realize the stone to knock our Goliath down has been in our hands all along. A season where we not only realize we have the stone, but we put it in the sling and launch it. The enemy isn't worried about us learning we have the stone in our hand as long as we never figure out we have the strength to launch it. It's time to knock the Goliath down. It's time to put aside the comments of others and walk in the anointing and the calling you know God has placed on your life. It's time to quit letting others put you in a box and it's time for the fire that has been smoldering to burn brightly. It's time to quit straddling the line and the fence and basically being lukewarm. Lukewarm happens when you stop caring. Lukewarm happens when you start caring more about what others say than what God says. Lukewarm happens when you please people and forget to love people. Lukewarm happens when you put yourself on the bottom of the list and forget it's all about balance. God took a day to rest and renew, there is a balance to the way He designed life to be. Lukewarm happens when feelings become your thoughts and therefore become your words. Lukewarm happens when you plaster that smile on your face, ignore the true feelings inside, and play the part in the script someone else handed you. Lukewarm happens when you quit being You. God designed you to feel a certain way, be a certain way, and do a certain way. He designed you to be you, not the you others tell you are, but the you He told you that you are.  Lukewarm happens when we go through the motions because we don't want to feel what He wants us to feel, but instead feel what others want us to feel. 

Have you given God all of you? Think carefully before you quickly answer yes. Do you still feel the way you want to feel about things or the way He wants you to feel about things? At some point in our journeys with Him, we realize that we hid some of those feelings deep down hoping that we could hold on to them for awhile. When He said give Him everything, He meant it all. He knows we aren't perfect, but in His hands He can mold us into a masterpiece that He already sees. It's time we look in His mirror. 

One step at a time along this journey of mine,

~Melissa 

Lessons from the Week...A little heart and a lot of Him

Oh me I've been from the woodshed to His feet this week. I've laid it down, picked it back up again, and realized how heavy it was so I laid it down again. (Praying I remember to leave it alone this time). I've had Him ask me some very blunt questions, re-ignite a fire I had let burn out again, and I've found that the best source of encouragement can sometimes be my God and me time.

Lesson 1: The enemy is out there roaring and looking for you. The brighter the fire the more he seems to seek. Thursday I was headed out the door and seemed to miss the bottom step. Mind you, I've gone down that same step for 20 years now, but some how on this day I missed it. I gracefully floated down (Thanks to my teacher bag) so the fall was kind of easy. I went on and headed to work, but as the day went on I wished I had gone back to bed. It was one thing after another Thursday and by the end of it I felt worn. On my drive back from home bound student, God got really plain. So many times we fall down however easy it may feel at the time, but the hardest part seems to be getting back up and pressing on. The enemy would have loved for me to have crawled back in bed, pulled the covers over my head, and called it a day. So he did what he could to keep trying to knock me down inside during the day. I wish I could say it didn't work, but there were tears at one point. God's faithful though. I learned through that day, God had a plan in that struggle and it was to shake loose of some stuff. I woke up the next day with a new song in my Spirit and a smile on my face. Mountain them wasn't going to defeat me. (Looking back now I also can see the closer we get to where He has planned for us to be, the more the enemy tries to knock us down. Wednesday I had one of those days where I knew I was right where He wants me for this season.)

Lesson 2: Out of balance adjustments needed.....I finally made my way to a chiropractor last week. This will be a blog in itself at some point, but I never realized how much my physical life represented my spiritual life as well. The chiropractor was amazed at how out of balance I was and in need of an adjustment. God's been taking the truth and writing on it all week. I'll share more about that soon.

God meets you where are. He's not waiting on someone else to see the diamond that you are, He's waiting on you to see it. So many times we let what others say about us and how they want us to be cloud how we see ourselves. I know I have struggled with this for awhile. Each time though He has been faithful to remind me who He says that I am and pick me back up again. God's stretched my faith over the last year or so, by stretching me. So many times we get comfortable that we forget to get up and walk forward. The changing of seasons is never easy(hello I want summer/fall back), but there is beauty to be found in each new period. God knows where our hearts lie and He is faithful to send us what we need when we need it. Just as the Israelites got the manna they needed for each day, He gives us what we need for the day at hand. Worrying about tomorrow, only results in spoiled manna because you aren't taking time to enjoy today. Quit apologizing for the diamond that's inside of you and walk out the calling He called you to. Shine and let Him take care of the rest. You dim your only light by worrying what others think and how they are going to react. You alone know what God has called you to do and who He has called you to be. Also got a few reminders this week of some of those windows He told me to shut that I opened back up again. Windows God wants shut need to be locked and not just closed for a season. He shuts them for a reason, but when we open them we let in those things He didn't plan for our day. (stress, worry etc.). Most of all this week I've been reminded of the truth He wrote on my heart so long ago, You are stronger than you think you are...remember I made you! So many times we question our own strength, but we forget to rely on the One inside of us. With Him we can move mountains!

Blessings this week as you stay focused on the journey,
~Melissa

Trust....

God just took Proverbs 3:5-6 and about did an upside down number on me. Not that I should be surprised after the amazing Sunday this has been....but something tells me this is something I've been told before, but for the first time I heard it. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

6 

in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart(even the part you think you gave Him, but you took back when someone gave it to you). 

and lean not on your own understanding (Don't rely on how you feel. Overwhelmed, stressed are just feelings. If you truly believe God's got it because He has you.....then smile and move on!) 

in all your ways submit to him (Give it ALL to Him....even the part you just tried to reason with Him about....is it really more important than what He thinks anyway?)

and he will make your paths straight (He will show you where to step at every turn...)

Words for today: Trust Him with what He has told you to do. He knows your heart better than anyone else. Quit analyzing everything, stressing about the details, and let the feeling of overwhelm run your thoughts. Life happens, the world gets in the way a lot of the times, but He is greater than any thought the world can slide in to your video screen. He didn't call you to be overwhelmed and even though you may feel that way, it's okay. Feed the truth that God is working everything for your good and is giving you what you need to take care of what comes your way instead of feeding the feeling of how am I ever going to get all of this finished. Do what He has called you to do, be who He has called you to be, and trust that He is responsible for putting the rest in place. 

Too many times we let the expectations of the world drown out the truth of His word. We let the lists of man drive us more than the lists of God. He said love people not please them. There is a difference. 

At some point He plainly says to us, "You say you trust me with words, now show me. Let me handle the this and that that are troubling you.  Come to me when you start to feel overwhelmed and let me feed your soul."  (So many times we run to others be in person or on social media and all they do is feed our feelings instead of feeding the truth we know in our hearts. We go seeking encouragement from man, but God whispers the best encouragement of all...."I've got you!". ) 

Where ever you are at today, He knows your heart. Let Him speak to those places that only you and He know about it. He knows the words you have poured out in your journal and are on the tablet of your heart. Trust Him with those feelings and watch Him show you just how much He loves you! 

Be You....

Alright time for one of those heart to heart posts because well I've been to the woodshed with God over the last couple of days. He was nice, but rather blunt.  October was a revelation month. It was a time of taking in, listening, and thinking about changes that I needed to make for me. I wanted to start putting those into place for November, but how many know when you start to take it to the next level with God, the enemy gets mad? So the same old rocks that I knew I was strong enough to step over and/or walk on got thrown in my path again. Important truth....our thoughts lead to our feelings. If we continue to think about things that are going to lead us to feeling stressed....guess what, we end up stressed. If we think about things that are going to lead us to feeling worried...guess what, we end up worried. Get the picture....let it sink in. It takes time....

I'm thankful He loves me. I'm thankful He smiles through all of my tears, my doubts, and my questions. I'm thankful He loves me like He does and trusts me more than I trust myself. I'm thankful He knows how strong I am (even when I seem to not get the message). I'm thankful He forgives the pity parties, panic moments, and the people pleasing worry phases.

At some point last night when God and I were discussing(well He was talking, I was listening) about my day....He plainly said "Do you trust me or not sweet girl?" At some point, He wants us to move past the words of I trust you to the actions of I trust you. At some point in our journey, we have to take our faith up a notch and let some things go. At some point in our journey being who He has called us to be and made us to be becomes more important than being who we think others want us to be.

It's not easy going to God's woodshed, but it always brings about revelation. God created us for a calling and a purpose. He desires for us to trust Him to show us that when it's time, and then once we know to walk it out. I'm sure He grows tired(at least He does with me) of when I continue to compare myself with others. Lesson: Comparing yourself with others only brings condemnation and that's not from God.  Be who He made you to be and be happy with that. God gave you the heart He did for a reason, quit apologizing for it. Our part is to be who He made us to be. As long as we do that, He takes care of the rest. That dear readers is a truth that once comprehended is life changing.


Stay focused on the journey,
~Melissa

Uncomfortable?

It would take multiple blog posts to put into words everything He has spoken into my life over the last few months, particularly this past month. So many times I think we find ourselves in an uncomfortable situation, be it us or the situation, and we ask Him for a way out. We stake our ground and plant our feet and say that's it God I'm standing until you move. When all along God's already given us what we need to not only find our way out of this situation, but through it. In short, uncomfortable is not always a bad thing. At some point on this faith journey, it finally clicks. It finally makes sense that we grow stronger through some "things" than if He were to take us out of them altogether. Our Heavenly Daddy knows what we need. He knows if He needs to speak to our storms or to speak to His child. Trust comes in at this point. Trust is taking on step even when you aren't sure where to step after that. Trust is walking knowing He hold the flashlight in one hand and yours in the other.

Trust is more than words. It's action behind those words. Are we trusting when we complain or worry? He's hit me upside the head with this one. So many times we think we are just sharing our burdens with someone or seeking "advice. Honesty check: He bluntly asked me how do you feel after your sharing session? This doesn't mean you can't confide in someone if you need just need to vent or need someone to listen, but know who you are venting to. Too many times we seek for those who will feed our flesh and join in the complaint, instead of running to those who feed our soul and join us in prayer. Know the difference and keep that door closed to the enemy.

I've learned knowing God's plan and knowing His timing are two different things. Sometimes God reveals His plan for our lives and wants us to just trust Him for the timing. Don't jump ahead of God just because you feel uncomfortable somewhere. It may turn out God has you right where He wants you for this season of your journey.  He knows my heart's desire. At some point I finally realized, I was holding on to that piece still and had to let it go. There is a freedom that comes when we let go of what we know our heart desires and we know He has called us to do, and let Him write out the details. We can be focused on making His plan work for our future, that we miss the beauty of His plan of today.

Seasons are changing around us now. Fall is in the air (although this weekend it felt like Winter). I love watching the trees go through the season change. Despite the changes on the outside, the roots and foundation of the tree remain secure. If you have ever watched a Bradford Pear in a wind storm or tornado, you know that the stronger the foundation(trunk) of a tree, the better they can withstand the changing of seasons.  You may be in a season right now where it seems like the leaves are changing colors, but remember with the season changes comes growth. The seasons changing indicate time passing.

This past week I learned the beauty in disconnecting. I know I made God laugh when I complained(whined) about an email and He said...you have the power to fix that. So many times we take on more than He ever intended for us to carry simply because we forget who He made us to be. He made us to live our lives to please an audience of One...Him. When we lose sight of that, our focus shifts and we start to sink.

God has called us all. It may be that you are still trying to find the details of your calling, but be patient. He will reveal them in time. It may be that you have found out what He has called you to do, armor up. The more we see God's view on our day and our lives, the more the enemy tries to throw a rock or hurdle in our path. I am more than convinced that the more we walk in our calling despite the rocks and hurdles, the more the enemy gets nervous. Don't forget that as a child of the Most High, you have the power inside of you to tell the devil to be quiet. Pay attention to the gift of discernment and protect your heart. God has incredible plans in store!

Focused on the journey,
~Melissa

He said come....

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.…

Laying in bed last night and wide awake and God's writing a blog. I wanted to sleep, but God was writing....I probably should have gotten up and typed this late last night, but then again it was late. He took a part the verses above as we discussed my day last night. The blog is a peek into that discussion ;-)

These verses were not part of my quiet time Bible Reading or even my devotional, they were His whisper to me last night. It seems like I've been on an up hill run for the past couple of months and I'm tired. I'm exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally. I also realized over the break a couple of weeks ago I was exhausted spiritually. That's a blog for another day because I truly didn't realize you could get to that point. God has a way of letting us have our moment to wear ourselves out to realize His way was the better way. Apparently that's a lesson I have yet to master. I learn it, but forget it way too quickly. So back to the verses above... 

Come to Me: God said we have to go to Him when we are tired. In other words, ask Him for help, when you are overwhelmed, when you are stressed, when you are frustrated, and when you are just plain tired. He knows our minds, but He is also waiting on us to realize we are not superwomen. We serve an amazing super God who wants us to rely on Him to get through the day(and the massive to-do list). He doesn't say complain, but come. Don't plop down mad about how things are going and get stuck. Crawl up in His lap and know that He knows your heart. If you find yourself plopped down, look up...He's got an outstretched hand waiting on you. 

all who are weary and heavy-laden: At some point in our journey this describes us all. When we say yes to more than we should, it is us on a daily basis. (Hey I'm learning...). God knows the journey is tough. He knows the enemy is going to do everything He can to wear us down and make us feel defeated and deflated. 

and I will give you rest: Pretty simple....not I might or I'll think about it, but I will give you rest. Now this doesn't mean you are going to sleep the problem away, or watch it float away on a cloud. It's a peace of knowing He's got this. It's Him whispering in your ear....It's Mine, because you are Mine. 

Take my Yoke upon you and learn from Me: When oxen are yoked together they both are carrying the load. Share it with Him and let Him do His part. Learn His way of doing things....Do what He says and He'll take care of the rest. 

for I am gentle and humble in heart and YOU will find rest for your souls: This is the part that stepped ALL over my toes. It's not about what others think. It's not about how others make you feel. It's not about what others do. Do what He asked you to do and rest in that fact. When we truly seek to live our lives for an audience of One, the rest falls into place. We can rest in Him when know that He is all that matters. Too many times we let what others think, what others say, and how others may make us feel dictate what we think, how we speak, and how we feel about ourselves. That is not how He planned for it to be. Live life for Him. Do what you can with all that you can and leave the rest in His hands. Quit seeking the applause of men or the recognition your flesh thinks you may need. Do it because He said to and leave the claps for His hands. 

Planted on the journey,

~Melissa 

Message Mondays

Monday is the day when it seems easiest to be defeated. We start the day with the greatest of intentions only to end the day feeling like a failure. Oh how feelings can really mess with our heads. Let me just get real for a few minutes. My Monday was crazy.....it appears that is the norm lately. If I'm being honest I'm pulled in one too many directions and as hard as I try I know I'm not super woman. I serve a super God, but even He knows I have limitations. I have a difficult time with confrontation and will usually do what I can to avoid it. I know the word no is powerful and productive, but the whole confrontation thing gets in my way. That being said, God is working on it...but for now I'm a work in progress. For every revelation He pours out, obedience must follow. The enemy knows my weak spots, but unfortunately it's because I have told him. The power of life and death really are in the tongue. Oh how some days I just want to pause my mouth and let my heart take over. God knows my heart and even when my mind gets overwhelmed with the shear magnitude of what there is to do, He knows where my heart's focus is. Believe me I'm thankful for that. I some times wish sometimes I could open my heart and display what I know is on the inside.

I spent my time on the way home telling the enemy to shut it. At some point we have to do that and take a minute to remind ourselves what HE says. The more the arrows come the harder it is to stand. The more we want to sit down or run away, the harder it is to stand. He said to stand...when you have done all you can stand. You wouldn't feel the push of resistance if you weren't right where He wants you to be. Muscles are made stronger with resistance and as hard as it is in the moment, God has a plan for all of the mess Mondays seem to bring.

Why does the enemy pick Mondays to throw it all at us? I asked God that question today. At one point I was seriously like really, one more thing today God.....but regardless of what I felt like I could take...God knew what I could handle. (and some days He has to convince us of what we can handle). God reminded me of a Monday so very long ago. See Friday the world was gray and cloudy, Sunday the Son(sun) came out and brought the promise of Monday. Monday is a day of a promise. A day when the lion is roaming about because the saints are armed and ready. The enemy is most worried about us on Mondays because of Sunday. So why else does the enemy throw it all at us on Monday? Because if he can get us to sit down on Monday, then he can do what he wants the rest of the week. God said stand. Stand when you have done all you can and know that is a victory within itself.

Blogs on Monday have became therapeutic. It's a few minutes of an other wise crazy day where I operate in a sweet spot. A few minutes where I take off the lid, the mask and just be me. Not  the me others expect me to be, but the me that He made me to be. I'm finding out more about that me a little every day. I can sometimes give out more than I take in. I want to be fruitful, but still have my busy moments. Negative talk is infectious and takes the strength that only He can give to resist. The easiest thing to do is to join in when someone starts being a negative Nelly and complaining. It takes strength to not join in and let those thoughts take root. It takes strength to be productive and not just a whirlwind. (Some days are better than others). I'm not perfect, but I'm standing still a whole lot more than sitting down. If you are the one that is always giving, make sure you take time to receive back. You may not always have a person with skin on to be that encourager, that ear to listen, or even the friend who will take some of the load. God knows what you need and He will bring it to you. It may come through a song on the radio, a whisper in your ear, or a word that He knows you need right then. My one regret over the last couple of months or almost a year and half are the God moments I missed because of the Busy ones. God slow my heart down and take care of the list that others have made. I want to do yours first. Your timing matters more than mine.

Thank you for reading, enjoy your evening...
~Melissa

Messy Mondays

Mondays are not my favorite day of the week. Let's face it, when that alarm goes off I'm not a happy camper. This morning was no exception. My bed was warm and I was comfy. How dare Avalon play "It's a New Day" and signal that my sleep had come to an end. Please hear my heart...I absolutely love my job this year. I love what I do, who I work with, and where I work. I just love my sleep as well. If the day could start around 9:30 I'd be good as gold. Mondays are unique. I discover, deal with, and figure out things on Monday that I didn't even realize I had to deal with. Mondays bring out laughter at times, tears at times, and definitely smiles. Mondays are also the days when I typically second guess myself, question myself, and wonder what in the world did I do all day. I can stay focused and be productive most days, but Mondays just seem busy. Today was no different. At the end of the day I was left questioning what was it I actually accomplished today. There was nothing that could be marked off of my "list", no projects that could be filed away, and nothing that had been started seemed to be have been completed. In short Monday was a busy day. The enemy wants nothing more than to take our busy days and tie them to how we feel about ourselves. The to do list shouldn't dictate how you feel about you....God does. Give His gift of today the best you that you can and know that you have done what He asked. Too many times we put too much pressure on ourselves because we have said yes to one too many things and are trying to hold ourselves to unrealistic expectations. God said Be who I made you to be and do what I've called you to do. Pure and simple, short and sweet, He doesn't complicate His gift of today. 

I left out my specific details on purpose so He could bring your own to remembrance for you. We all have days that look like a messy Monday. I have often times referred to them as diamond days before because I have learned there is always a message, a nugget somewhere. I've learned the more the enemy tries to defeat me with thoughts about my day, and what I did or didn't do, the more God wants to speak thoughts about what He has done and is going to do. If the enemy can keep our minds focused on what didn't get done during the day, we won't be focused on what God did do during the day. If you feel like you made a mess out of your Monday or maybe your Monday was busier than you thought it should be, listen to this truth. You made a difference today. You impacted someone in your path. God knew the seeds that needed to be sown and the words that need to be spoken. He promised in His word, that it would always come back. If you were you today, He is smiling and so should you. God knew what the day held before your alarm even sounded. He wasn't surprised by anything that came your way because He knows what you can handle. There is beauty in the mess and a message in the making. You may see a mess, but God sees a message. 

Stay the course and enjoy the journey! 

~Melissa 

I don't do overwhelmed....

Before I get too far, let me explain the title...this was what God so lovingly told me Friday when I told him I'm overwhelmed. He replied with "I don't do overwhelmed...remember I've got this, move on." Oh how He knows me.....In other words He was basically telling me You are Mine and I'm running this show. I don't do overwhelmed so you don't either. God doesn't have a to-do list, so therefore He doesn't have the stress that goes along with the pressure of a to-do list. He knows how to prioritize and what needs to come first. He gets that people before paperwork, but time with Him before people. Jesus didn't let what others demanded ruffle His feathers or make Him feel stressed. He handled everything with grace and a peaceful demeanor. I want to be like Him. I want to react like Him. Days I hit the mark and other days the arrow falls short the target. I somehow can see my sweet Heavenly Daddy picking up that arrow and handing it back for me to try again. He gets it. He knows our flesh sometimes gets the best of us. He knows we get stressed, overwhelmed, and focused on pleasing others at times. He also knows that our hearts seek to please Him, and He knows that one day we will be strong enough to stop the flesh before instead of asking for forgiveness afterwards.

I have a list of what needs to do be completed, but I try not to focus on it. Focusing on the list makes me feel stressed. With feeling stressed comes negative talk, grumpiness, not feeling so great, and being overwhelmed. I've learned over the last couple of years just what stress can physically and mentally do to your body. It is not a pretty picture. God did not design us to perform at our best when we are stressed. So what do we do when those feelings come? We have two choices. One let the thoughts of stress etc. play over and over in our minds therefore feeding the flesh, or two let our mind play He's got this, He's got this, He's got this over and over. We may not feel like He has it, but just as the official whose son Jesus healed, we have to believe Him at His word. If the official had asked for some proof or doubted that God had done what He said He had, the official's son may have not been healed. However the official believed Jesus at His word and so should we. When God says come to me all you that are heavy laden(stressed, overwhelmed, tired) and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you(know that I have this under control) for it is easy. (I've got this child remember).

I don't know what your week holds, but I know who holds your week. Rest in the promise that He has it all under control. Put that promise on repeat and when the enemy tells you otherwise, remind him Whose feet your day has already been laid at.

Enjoy the journey,
~Melissa

What's your Praise cost?

I should be working on paperwork, but I have a blog that needs to come out. God started writing it this morning(well late, late last night). I honestly started to post a what about me, complaining Facebook status because today has just been chaos and that's when God reminded me of this blog. Last night I had the typical Sunday night rest (if you are a teacher or related to a teacher you know what I mean). Sunday nights are usually hard to rest and sleep because of all of the plans for the following week. I sleep very well Monday night, but Sunday seems to be my dreams of paperwork and overwhelming schedules. Most teachers I know have said the same thing, especially after a break ;-). I love what I do, but I have finally learned the stress is not productive. Doing the best I can each day, for the entire day is all that He asks me to do. It may not be all that others ask, but at some point I have to be content with it being what He wants and expects. So many times I think we forget that He didn't say save the world, He said change it. We change it by doing what He has asked us to do and by giving the gift of today our all. Oh how we forget how much He trusts us sometimes.

So the title of the blog was His question to me last night. Kari Jobe made a comment on the Dove Awards of praise till the breakthrough happens. So many times we stop short of our breakthrough because we quit praising. We start complaining or start the woe is me pity parties. How quickly we forget that He knows us better than we know ourselves. He is not surprised by our reactions, He knows our hearts. He also knows that each day we are getting stronger than we were the previous day. Don't quit praising just because the day is not going your way or even how you planned that it would.  God knows how strong you are and He knows your heart. What's your Praise worth? Is it worth complaining because the day is not going your way? Is it worth getting down on yourself because you cannot seem to get it all finished? Is it worth pleasing everyone else in the course of the day instead of pleasing the One who made the day?

What is your praise worth? How much does it cost? You and God are the only two that know what is in your Alabaster box. (Think story in the Bible and the CeCe Winnans song). Jesus understood what the perfume was worth to the woman who broke it anointed His feet with it that day.  Everyone else did not understand, but they didn't know her heart. God knows what your praise is worth. He knows what it means when you push through a day with a smile on your face when you would rather sit somewhere and pout. He knows what it means when you refrain from that pity party post and let Him remind you He's got it. (I'm not talking about the asking for prayer posts, but the pity party ones...you know what I'm talking about). He knows what you fight through that others may never see. He knows what your praise costs, let Him remind you when you need it.

The events of the day are not worth sacrificing your praise. The day may end in tears, but let it be tears of God I don't get it but I know You've got it. What's your praise worth? Stay focused on what He's called you to do and who He made you to be. Do not believe the lies of the world/enemy that it is worth sacrificing for a few minutes of a pity party or complaining. Your praise is worth so much more.

God thank you for knowing my heart and for knowing what my praise is worth. Strengthen me throughout the day and may Your praise be always in my mind/heart and on my lips. Thank you for sweet reminders of praise when You know the pity party is about to start. Oh how you know me so well ;-)

Have a great week readers!
~Melissa

Overwhelmed Schedule, underwhelmed soul.......

Vacation time(a true vacation) equals revelation time....I asked Him a lot and He answered. I can't say it's exactly what I had hoped for, but oh how He knows what I need. I truly think I had forgotten what it meant to relax until this week. I could not have been happier for a Fall Break where the scenery was beautiful, the friendship amazing, but most of all the schedule was non existent. In a world where we like to schedule every minute of our lives, it is peace just to let life stop for a few minutes. Caution if you have not taken the time to let life stop for a few minutes lately, I encourage it. My word of caution comes when He starts speaking during this stopped time....oh how the layers are peeled back and revelation takes place. I asked Him to see things with His eyes, but I now realize I should have asked for the grace to go with that revelation. He showed me truth, He showed me freedom, and He showed me myself. So many things I thought I knew, but this week He added the truth behind some of those "feelings". I came home ready for a new season, but the enemy was as well. I am determined more than ever to stay focused. The last year and half have been chaotic, disorganized, and just plain busy. The enemy likes when we are busy because that means we do not have time to listen. Sometimes we just have to take a step back from something and let the pressure die down. If we will take a minute a lot of times, that pressure we say we "feel" is something we put on ourselves. I know that I'm guilty of that on many levels. I am my own worst enemy when it comes to lack of self control, not being disciplined, and people pleasing. I am pretty sure I've asked God to break the people pleasing chain more than once over the last couple of months. Why do we do it to ourselves, I'm sure He's asking the same question. He has this amazing day planned for us when we wake up and we mess it up by letting the mess into our thoughts. You are what you think about and you are who you think you are. Let that sink in for a minute.....You are who you think you are. You will only be as great as you think and feel you can be. When you look in the mirror do you analyze and criticize every flaw you think you have, or do you smile and say thank you God I'm your child. God knew what He was doing when He formed you and He didn't make a mistake. We have made some bad choices over our lives that may have lead to the way we see ourselves, but God looks deeper. Ask God for a glimpse of how He sees you. Then remember that picture, because that's how He wants you to see yourself. Don't look at the day as a chance to finish that list. Look at the day as a chance to make a difference. The enemy will throw stones in your path. You decide whether they make you stumble or make you stronger. Trust God as much as He trusts you and believe in yourself the way He does. He didn't create life to be stressful, frustrating, or chaotic. When that finally sunk in, I cried. I know I've said yes to things that while they may have been good things have not been God things. I've been overwhelmed and until this week I didn't realize how much that had taken from me. When you feel overwhelmed, you lose focus. You go from walking on the water, trusting Him for each step, to doing everything you can to keep from sinking.

I'm still working my way through The Best Yes book by Lysa TerKeust, but God and I have had some serious conversations this week. He gave me some steps and now it is up to me to put them into practice. God cares about how we feel, and whether we realize it or not...He gets the overwhelmed feeling too.  I took Him my overwhelmed schedule this week and gave it to Him. He gave me some peace and now together we are going to start tackling it piece by piece. That conversation though is a blog for another day. I ended my time with Him and asked for an overwhelmed soul and an underwhelmed schedule. I want my time to be what He wants it to be. God give us the strength and the grace to see each day as you do and to stay focused on You alone. God called you to be You. Ask Him to show you who that is and then be!

What He said to me today.....

He gets it period. He understands how we can feel our way through a day, but at the same time He sits there screaming His truths at us. The more powerful the word God is trying to speak into your life, the harder the enemy is going to fight you. I know this first hand. So here are a few moments into my many conversations with God today. Maybe someone else besides me needs the words as well ;-)

• The only time of your day that should define you is your time with God. All the rest is just that part of your day. What your to-do list says, what it doesn't say, how you feel about it, or even how someone else makes you feel are not what define you. God made you, He gets to say who you are. 
• God sees today like an etch and sketch. His mercies are new every morning. Don't drag the mess of yesterday or the fear of tomorrow cloud the masterpiece of today. 
• What you think about you focus on. What you focus on plays a big part in how you feel. Change your thoughts and your focus changes. Your circumstances may not, but if your focus is set, the path becomes clear. 
• Doubt, defeat, and discouragement are not from God. Therefore when those thoughts come, push delete. God doesn't think that way about you, so why are you. 

I'm thankful He gets it. I'm thankful He knew this morning what I was fighting and has been an ever present help today. I'm thankful that He knows me well enough to love me through days like today.    

Heart moment....

Give God your heart and let Him give it back in His image. I think sometimes the scariest place we can be is with our hearts in our hands. We think we know so well what He wants for us or what His plan is for our lives, but if we will stop and listen for a few minutes...God wants to whisper to our hearts. He longs to whisper in our hearts the words we have asked Him to speak. A lot of times, He's whispering the words to us already...but we are so busy with the things of the world(mind you some of them are even good things) that we can't hear.

It would take more than one post to tell you everything He's spoken to my heart this week. I have a feeling some of it, He's been trying to say for a few months now. God knows my heart, more than that He knows what my heart desires more than anything. I've stood in my way for far too long. I've held the keys in my own hand that unlocked the door to the next part of the journey, but I only looked at them this week. So many times we pray and ask God for His plan and His will for our lives, but we forget we have to do our part. God's not going to to pick our feet up and move us from one place to the next. We have to choose. The freedom of choice has been set before us to choose to do it His way or our own way. What He desires is for our way to become His way.(In case you do not already know, He always gets His way...you decide if it's an 11 day journey or a 40 year one.). So many Christians today are walking around with light sabers in their hands not realizing all they have to do is flip a switch. God's given us the power defeat what the enemy throws our way, we choose whether or not we use the power we have to defeat it or if we let it defeat us. I've had one too many days when I've let things of the world defeat me. Think about that for a minute...how many times has your to-do list caused anxiety and tears? How many times have you let what someone said(or didn't say), what they did(or didn't do) dictate how you felt about yourself? How many times have you let keeping others happy come before doing what you know makes you happy? (This is not a prideful thing...but I think sometimes we can put ourselves on a sacrificial altar in order to try to get a pat on the back). We seek out the well done from others and forget He said give Him your all and He will say well done. Our focus has been blurry, at least I know mine has. I've tried to fit good pieces into my puzzle when God had His pieces in mind. I've tried to put pieces in one season when they were designed for another. Thank you Lord for whispers and revelation. He's still working on several areas of my life, and I know what they are...but oh how far He has brought me from.

I've been thankful and reminded so much this week of what God can do when we give Him our heart. I've been reminded how He orders our steps in ways we could never imagine. I've also been reminded that He will take care of the difference if you just give Him your all. So many times we don't realize the impact we make each and every day, but we have to trust and believe He has planted the seeds we have given Him to sow./ God let me always be faithful with what You have called me to. (FYI...if you are waiting to feel "ready" for what He has told you to do....you will be waiting for awhile.) Sometimes we have to just trust Him when He whispers "You're ready" and know He knows you better than you know yourself.

Sweet reader...regardless of what your week holds. If you are His, you have the power to take care of what ever comes your way. The to-do list will not defeat you, the world cannot squash you, and the opinions of others cannot define you. Quit giving things of the world more power. Give each day your all and know that He will take care of the rest.

Enjoy the journey,
~Melissa

What's going on today?

I know I've been quiet on the blogs lately, but I promise He's writing. I have sat down to type multiple blogs and they never seem to come out like I want them to. The words are on my heart, but they can't seem to reach my fingers. God's working....the seeds have been planted and will be fruit soon. He doesn't waste a minute or a moment.

So last night, we were having a conversation. If you are a new reader to the blog, you will have to go back and read some of the others I have written. God and I have developed a unique relationship over the years. He is rather blunt with me some days. Some days I need it, well every day I need it...but some days it is like a two by four upside the head. So His question last night was what's going on today? He wasn't looking for details on what was up with me...but details on if I could see how He was working in my day. So many times we get focused on what God has done in the past for us, what we want Him to do in our future, that we neglect to think about what He is doing in our present...our gift called today.

So what's He done for you today? What has He whispered to you today? What verse has spoken life to your heart? God is speaking to us every day, but are we listening? So many times we get caught up in the rush of busyness that frustration and stress take residence in our heart. We drag our worn out selves to His lap and ask Him for a word. If you are me, He calmly picks up my ear and says I've been talking to you all along. God doesn't need us to come to Him to speak...He needs us to get still and listen. Sometimes we hear Him, but aren't sure we are ready to digest what He said. Yep I've had that moment this week as well. God's moving...and Joel chapter 2...

If you are reading this and going, well God said this to me Sunday or God spoke at revival a few weeks ago.....get in the word and get a prayer time with Him....PERIOD. I've done it that way too, hear me when I say it...I've read the books others wrote, listened to the sermons others preached....and they have a place...but God wants to talk to you directly from His heart to yours as well. That intimate time with Him is priceless.....

Enjoy the journey,
~Melissa

My heart for a moment...

God I wish I knew what you were up to right now. So many things seem to be falling into place, yet at the same time so many pieces I thought were in place don't look like they fit anymore. How did you get to that part of my heart I thought I had hidden? You found what I thought I had figured it out and turned it around to show me what You had planned. I gave you my heart so many years ago and slowly I'm getting it back. You had forgotten those things that I had tried to forget. Those dreams that only You know about, those dreams that I had only told You about it. You alone have always known what my heart was meant to do and where my heart was meant to be.

Seasons are a strange thing. Just as it seems like Summer may always be here, Fall also may poke around this week. It's getting harder to know when one season starts and another ends. The change starts slowly, but then becomes more noticeable in the outward signs(trees changing etc.). Seasons in our lives are like that as well. Just as we can tell Fall is in the air this week, it is easy to know when a new season is coming in our life as well. The hardest part is knowing the timing of when the season is here to stay.

I've poured out my heart to Him so much lately and thankfully He has never grown tired of it. I feel like I've asked Him for the moon and the stars. I've asked Him for some specific answers, some whispers I knew only He could give, and for some things only my heart knew to ask for I've asked. The sweetest prayers lately are the ones where only God knows what the words are and only He knows what I've said.

I don't fit in a box period. I've always tried to stay in one because well I thought I had to, but over the last few years God has shown me the box is not me. I've got dreams and desires still deep in my heart that I've already asked God to take away if they are not a part of His plan......so far they are still there. He has taken some away, but there are a few that are still there and they make me smile because I know that one day He will bring them to pass.

Honesty moment....God gets the pity parties, He really does. It's what we do with those moments that can make or break us. Do we take those moments to Him or to the computer? Do we seek advice in His word or from the TV? Do we find a friend to vent to or one to pray with us? God gets our feelings, but He doesn't want our feelings to get us. We control them through His power. Perspective is key in the world today. God's moving and doing things that we can't see with our natural eyes. Take a minute and let Him show you through His for a minute. That precious time will speak peace to your feelings I promise....

The closer you are to walking in His will, the more the enemy seeks to devour you. The enemy can't touch you, but he can throw doubt and discouragement your way. It's up to you if you catch it or let it fall to the side. We take way too much of what the enemy throws at us. The biggest truth that has slowly gotten into my Spirit over the last month or so as I have waded through some doubt, some discouragement, and some anxiety....is that God knew it. God knew that these moments would have to come for me to see how strong I could be with Him. He knew what I lacked and needed to go through in order to walk through the calling He has placed on my life. He knew I had to get to the place where I will one day look in the mirror and not criticize what I see, but see the Princess He made me. Just being real for a minute....I am my worst critic and I've worked over time over the last sixteen months on myself. I'm tired of it. I asked God about a month ago for a new fire, a new fresh wind...He has been faithful.  The box is not from God sweet reader. (That's for someone more than just me). We all have struggles, sometimes we share them, sometimes we bear them privately. I'm not perfect...just thankful that all of the bumps and bruises have had a purpose. In the end, my heart's desire is for what I've spent all of me(my time, my life, my being) to count for Him.

Have a blessed week!
~Melissa

Will try to post some Bible study thoughts later this week....unbelievable moments with Him in my study time.

Are you mad enough yet?

I almost didn't type this blog. I almost let it stay just a journal entry between God and me....almost. I took the chance that maybe someone else will need the conversation God and I had earlier. This weekend has been one for me to just be still and listen, and He has talked and turned me around. He spoke peace and I will forever be grateful. Sometimes we get to the point where we keep asking God to fix this or that, when He wants us to just be patient and ride it out. Me I just needed Him to remind me this weekend that He had this and we were going through it together. He answered.  God and I have had some interesting conversations over the last couple of weeks, matter of fact if you look at some journal entries over the last couple of months. The last couple of weeks for sure have weighed on my heart. It's been a battle and I know that for a fact. God's been talking and the enemy has been fighting. I guess I should be flattered that he finds me a threat, but he needs to move on and realize he loses every time. God's got this and hasn't let me down yet. In fact, every time I've asked Him for a whisper over these past couple of weeks He has answered with that and oh so much more.

So you may be sitting there looking at the title going where is she going with this one, but that was the question that was posed to me earlier today when God and I were discussing some things. I've let things get to me over the last couple of weeks. I set out to do things one way and wouldn't you know the way I didn't want to do it was right there as well. (That's a blog for another day). I set out focused on where I wanted to be, but I got busy. That's typically how it starts. We get out of the boat because He says let's walk, we start off looking at Him headed on this journey and then EVERYTHING around us starts demanding our attention and we start to sink. I've sank over the past couple of weeks, just being honest. I've learned how fast stress can mess you up and what it can do to you physically. Please hear me when I say it's been a battle over the past couple of weeks, we can know in our hearts what we should be doing, but at the same time struggle with doing it. We can know we should be focused on what He has called us to do, but at the same time busyness takes its toll. We can feel like we are barely keeping our heads above water with everything that needs to be done. I've been there lately, but I'm back on top of the water now. Is the to-do list finished? Why no....but my focus is adjusted and I'm more determined than ever to stay the course.

So are you mad enough yet? Are you mad enough to get determined to take back what the enemy has taken from you(or tried to take)? Stress, Busyness, and Chaos(aka disorganization) are not from God. Think back over the last couple of years....what have those things taken from your life, your health, your finances, your time? Are you mad enough to make up your mind that you want it back? God is the restorer of things. He makes all things new and will even pay back what the enemy has taken from us. Are you mad enough yet? Are you mad enough to change your choices, to draw the line in the sand and to get serious about what He has called you to do? Are you mad enough to do it His way or do you want to keep doing it yours? God has been fighting the battles all along, but are you mad enough to fight with Him? So many times we ask Him to do what He does best, but we aren't willing(or committed enough) to do our part. The times are changing and now more than ever it is time for Christians to get off of the fence. It's time to get mad enough and put the enemy in his place. I love how Joyce Meyer talks about wanting to have power over the enemy when we have a sink full of dirty dishes. Stress is not from God. He never gives us more than we can handle for each day. Think back to the manna and the children of Israel. When we try to do more than what is planned for each day, we end up with a spoiled mess. We have grace to handle today, not tomorrow, or next week. I'm determined and am starting this month with a renewed sense of purpose knowing that the One inside me is greater than anything I am going to face.

I may go into more detail in another blog, but for now hopefully this makes sense. Until we get mad enough to change, we will keep going around the same mountain. As Christians we are joint heirs with Him....that means everything He has, we can have. It's up to us if we walk in that truth or settle for what the enemy dishes out in the form of stress, busyness, and a sense of chaos. When you finally get to the point where you are mad enough to change, get ready because God will hold you to it and He will give you a plan(at least He did for me). The seeds being planted in this season will reap a harvest only He can reap!

Enjoy the journey,
~Melissa