Made for relationship

Today I listened to my friend Amy talk about friendship on her radio show.  Coming home from a weekend like this leads one to think about friendship, about connection, about how our Creator intended for us to be in relationship with others.

Relationships that allow us to take off our grown up hats and put on our play time hats (or boas and beads as the case may be)

Relationships that allow us to relax.  To lean back into the knowledge that we are accepted for who we are in this moment.

Relationships that allow us to celebrate each others success without thought of competition or glory.

Relationships that make our hearts smile and our spirit sing

~A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words~

Author Unknown

Today I am thankful for my friends.  What are you thankful for?

Expect the Unexpected

Today for Thankful Thursday, our host Lynne chose the theme of being thankful for the unexpected.

Ha! That could be the theme of my life so I decided to do a little time line post of how God took the unexpected (to me, not to Him) and worked it for good in my life.

• Time in foster care When I was a tween girl my family imploded.  The result was myself (and eventually my brothers) being removed from our home for a time.  While I am fortunate that my time in foster care  was not long term (about a year and then I went to live with my grandparents) I am thankful for it now.  It softened my heart and created a passion in me for orphans and foster children to have forever families.
• Teen pregnancy While it can be argued that pregnancy should not have surprised me, given my promiscuous lifestyle at the time, I was nonetheless shocked when I learned I was pregnant at 16.  Those of you that know the rest of the story know that being a teen mom is what led me to finding the redeeming grace of Jesus.  How can I not be thankful for that?
• Chronic Illness I certainly never imagined that diseases I cannot control would have such an impact on my life.  But, like only He can, God has used my inability to maintain my previous break-neck speed lifestyle to woo me back to His side.  I have such a feeling of purpose and peace that I didn’t know before I became ill.

I could go on and on about the way God has used unexpected trials to produce unlimited blessings and growth in my life.  And I am so thankful for every one!

The Waiting Game

Back in the spring of 2006, God put a strong call on my life.  I argued with Him (while crying, laughing and driving down a dangerous stretch of highway).  I told Him He definitely had the wrong girl.  But, God can be persistent (in case you didn’t know that).

Fast forward three and a half years and I somehow figure I should get out my measuring stick (so to speak)…see how far I’ve come towards that plan.

Of course, I do not measure up to my own expectations.

And then I start saying things like this “I should be farther along with {x, y, z}.  If I’m ever going to fulfill this burden on my heart I should at least be at point {j, k, l} by now” and “I knew I was unworthy of this call, God got this one wrong” and “I should be doing more to make this happen” and “what did I do wrong?”

Interestingly enough, the sermon at last night’s midweek service was on Psalm 23.  And I learned something I did not know.  The valley of the shadow of death referred to in verse 4 translates from the Hebrew into the valley of swirling shadows.

Hmmm, swirling shadows.  Could this be shadows such as:

a period or instance of gloom, unhappiness, mistrust, doubt, dissension, or the like, as in friendship or one’s life?

OR

a dominant or pervasive threat, influence, or atmosphere, esp. one causing gloom, fear, doubt, or the like? (definitions courtesy of dictionary.com)

Could it be that the enemy wants me to be surrounded by the swirling shadows of mistrust and doubt?

Could it be that God is leading me through the last three and a half years, not in abandonment of the vision He provided, but in preparation for it?

Is it not in the valleys of life that we stand to learn the most?

So, today I am thankful for the promise of Romans 8 (if you have time read the WHOLE chapter) especially, verses 15, 18-21, 28-31, 37-39.

Exactly what I needed to hear this morning:

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship [or daughter-ship, in my case] and by Him we cry Abba, Father.  Romans 8:15

Oh, yes!  That is all I need to do- cry out to Him who is with me all the time. The One who is faithful to complete the good work in and through me for His glory (and in His timing).  God’s measuring stick does not compute accomplishment or human “doings”.  He cares far more that I am leaning on Him throughout the journey.

For more Thankful Thursday posts, click here.

Uniquely You

Today, joining with Laurie from Women Taking a Stand, we are being thankful for uniqueness.

I think my readers are painfully aware of the things that make me unique so I thought I would point out some things I am thankful for about the ways the people I love are special to me, because of their quirks unique qualities.

My hubby~ God wired Mike to be cheap fiscally responsible.  I have learned so much from him about being a good steward (enough to write a Bible study about it LOL)  God also made Mike to be even-tempered- ALL THE TIME! Is it possible God knew he would be married to a spaz like me someday and someone would need to be able to be level headed? Hmmmm….

My oldest~ Sometimes with all the trials we have faced raising Jason, it can be easy to overlook the ways that God made him special.  God gave Jason a creative spirit…he is a talented artist, appreciates music and has a flair for fashion all his own.  He have him an innate stubbornness that helped him survive the early years of his life before he came to us.  God ALWAYS knows what He is doing!

My middle boy- Jared and I are so much alike I often forget to be thankful for his strengths and just get annoyed.  He is a great debater- wants to be a lawyer when he gets older (good choice!)  He is athletic and competitive.  At the same time, he has a sweet spirit (that is less evident with the whole being 13 thing) and is so good with babies and older people.  God has also given him a desire to do things the right way and the boy can’t lie (he tells on himself).

My youngest boy- Unique is the first word we use to describe Matt.  Matt marches to the beat of his own drum, God has given him a strong sense of worth, regardless of what other’s say or think.  I envy that!  And God did that on purpose because Matt gets bullied and picked on, and he just let’s it roll off his back and prays for the kids being mean to him.  Yet, when it comes to other people that are hurting or being mistreated, Matt has the most compassionate desire to help them.

I could go on and on with how God has placed unique people in my life, the perfect people to be my friends.

But I will leave you with this thought from Psalm 139: 13-14:

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

God truly does know how to take each of His unique creations and place us together to form something truly special- a family.

Whose unique qualities are you thankful for today?

Thankful no matter what…

Today’s theme for Thankful Thursday is trials.  I think that is an appropriate topic for me to write about given the events of the last few weeks (or my whole life if you want to get technical).

Some of you may remember that I broke out in (what they thought were) hives about six weeks ago.  After almost a month with no relief, the results of a skin biopsy revealed that the hives were actually lupus.  Further testing revealed that I have systemic lupus (and my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is still also accurate).

The lupus diagnosis hit me kind of hard.  I am normally a pretty positive, give it to God, don’t worry about what you can’t control kind of gal.

I don’t know if it was because this was so unexpected r maybe because I am just human, but I felt sorry for myself with a capital S for a good week.

Isn’t it somebody else’s turn to have some problems?

Why does so and so go through life with no worries and they aren’t even walking with the Lord?

Haven’t I proven myself faithful to You yet, Lord?

I didn’t want to feel that way and prayed that God would help me crawl out of my funk…and He is never One to let me down when I ask for direction.

Ironically (or not) it was the word’s in the book of Job that turned my attitude around:

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.  I have no peace, no quietness, I have no rest, but only turmoil. Job 3:25-26

Yup that is exactly where I was- keeping myself up at night with the “what-if’s”, the fear of the unknown, googling all the complications that can come from having two complicated autoimmune disorders…

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?…have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place?…Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind? (from the book of Job)

Ouch! God reminded me through those verses and snippets of life experiences He has already brought me through, that I am gfocusing on the wrong thing.  I should not be focusing on the trial but the comforting promise that God already has it handled. This is no surprise to Him.

So, my answer to being thankful and having peace through difficult circumstances also comes from the book of Job (Job’s answer to God and mine too)

I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2-3

I’m not worried.  I’m not mad.  I am thankful that I have a God carrying these burdens for me.  I just have to remember to give Him my burdens each time they rear their ugly heads.

Thankful through the valley

This week, participating in National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness week, I made a conscious effort to not grumble or complain.  That is almost impossible but I did try.  Then I remembered that today would be Thankful Thursday and I could utter (or write, really) the words that very few people understand…I am thankful that I have multiple sclerosis.

Have you ever faced a valley time in your life?  A dark place, an obstacle so much bigger than you, a situation that seemed hopeless?  In Psalm 23 it says this:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:4

The valley of the shadow of death is referring to those dark periods, those valleys I referenced above.  In II Corinthians 12:9, Jesus says “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”.

You see, friends, it is when I am my weakest that His incomparable strength can truly be seen.  It is when my flesh is rendered useless that His will can be accomplished.  If I was still my “able-bodied” self, I would be back in the rat race of life, corporate America and checking off boxes on my good Christian list.

Attend church- check.

Volunteer at free clinic- check.

Put money in the offering plate- check.

But I didn’t know Jesus then. I hadn’t let Him fill all my empty spaces.

And now, post-MS diagnosis, post-independent, career woman Melissa I can finally say I am set free, through the precious blood of Jesus, from needing to strive to please Him, from having to accomplish anything in my own power, from having to earn my space.  Jesus knows me and every day I know Him more.

That is why I am thankful for this illness.  It brought me to a place where I can know my Jesus.  If that is what it took, how can I not be thankful for it?

What are you thankful for today?

Joy Cometh!

That is something Beth Moore said in her study on the fruit of the Spirit- Joy cometh!  Isn’t that a wonderful promise?  I have held on to it since I participated in that study last year. 

Psalm 16:11 says You have made known to me the path of life: you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasure at your right hand.

If you are wondering where joy can be found, the answer is in the presence of our Most High God.  There is so much good that goes on in our lives and if we are having trouble seeing our blessings all we have to do is ask God to reveal them to us and He WILL!

I am thankful for:

• The amazing experience(s) I had at the She Speaks conference last weekend!
• The awakened Spirit of discernment the Lord has provided me with to weed out relationships, commitments and opportunities that are not His will for my life
• My precious family including my little puppy, Chloe that are all happy to see me after I have been away
• The gift and power that comes from prayer
• a full coffee pot waiting for me in the morning

Proverbs 15:15 says that “the cheerful heart has a continual feast” and I would add to that regardless of what is going on in their lives.  Joy is a choice, available through our relationship with Jesus.  Choose joy today!  Join us at Grace Alone for more Thankful Thursday posts.

Thankful Thursday- My Life

Today Lynn is hosting Thankful Thursday and made the topic random.  That means I get to ramble  

I am thankful for so many things.  Sometimes in the midst of trials it is easy to get overwhelmed and forget about our blessings.  Or forget that what seems like a trial is really nothing compared to what God has gotten you through before.  Or to lose sight of the fact that there are so many people in this world who would give anything to have my life, yes my life.  Complete with the thorns and challenges.   I am blessed and highly favored.  I am a child of God.

Thank you God for:

~breath.  I am still here and I know it is by Your design.  Help me to bring glory to You every moment, every breath.

~travel.  I have been stressing about BlogHer and SheSpeaks, seemingly forgetting how I prayed for the opportunity to go to both!  So what if the house isn’t spotless before I go and I don’t find the right shoes for the parties?  I am going to learn how to be a better blogger, writer, speaker and servant of God.  Thank you Lord for the opportunity to travel, to learn and to meet some of the precious people who have touched my life online in real life.  May all I say and do be a reflection of Your glory on both trips.  Open my eyes to see what You want me to see and learn what You would have me learn.

~family.  I have been lamenting about the additional energy that my nephew requires when I should be thankful for the extra time I get to spend with him.  I have been upset with my boys for their uncooperative moments instead of relishing the times when they give of themselves without being asked.  I take my precious husband for granted.  He is infinitely patient, loving and consistent.  Thank you Jesus for the gift of family.  For entrusting me with these precious children, whether for a few days or their whole childhood, every moment with them is a gift.  Help me to remember that in those moments when I want to scream and pull my hair out.  Bring your image of them to my remembrance at those times.

~air conditioning.  Seriously, don’t want to ever have to live without it. Period.  Thank you for the genius that invented it, Father and for providing us with the resources to have it running constantly when needed.

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday-Rewards

The Bible remind us in Luke 12:34 “that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.  So often in our society we feel like we are entitled to rewards- the big house, the new car, the chic shoes.  I have been as guilty of this as anyone else.  Guilty of forgetting that my reward is eternal life.  And that life began the day I accepted Christ as my Savior.  Anything else- the frills, the comfort, the possessions that seem to mean so much truly mean nothing in the grand scheme of things.  We are called to spend ourselves for Jesus and our reward is not material.

Looking at life this way (the intensity of which is new for me)  makes me so much more appreciative of all the things I have been blessed with. 

Today, I am thankful for:

• access to healthcare and health insurance (dealing with more health issues this week increases my awareness of the millions of people that lack access to adequate health care)
• my husband’ s employment (so many are facing lay off’s and job loss, even my husband’s coworkers.  I am so grateful our financial needs are met)
• a strong marriage (while my marriage is not perfect, watching the marriages of high profile couples like Jon & Kate +8 as well as couples close to my heart disintegrate reminds me how lucky I am to have Mike)
• smart, healthy and resilient kids (life has not been easy for my children but they are still happy, well adjusted and able to recognize how blessed they are)

and I could go on and on. 

Thank you, Lord for all of the rewards I mentioned above and for all the ones I didn’t.  All of the blessings in my life, the challenges that bring me closer to you and the ability to see through any obstacle to my true reward- salvation.

Join us at Women Taking A Stand for more Thankful Thursday posts.

Thankful Thursday- True Beauty

 

Today’s Thankful Thursday theme is beauty.  My favorite verse on beauty is in I Peter 3:3-4 which says

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

First of all to expel any chances of legalism, let me clarify that I do not like this post because I think it tells women what not to wear (that is the job of Stacy on the TLC show LOL)  Just to clear that up I looked up the verse in my Matthew Henry NIV Commentary.  Braided hair was commonly worn by “lewd” women in the contextual times and adorning yourself in gold bangles and jewelry was considered sensual and excessive in that culture.  Do I believe that applies to us today? No- does it matter? No.  That is not the point of the verse.

The point of the verse is how to accomplish something of great worth in our heavenly Father’s eyes and that is by possessing a beautiful inner self, a gentle and quiet spirit.  This chapter starts off by telling women how to act and behave, even if your husband is not a believer.  When you read it in that context doesn’t it make complete sense that Paul would be talking about having a gentle and quiet spirit.  Back in Proverbs 19: 13b, we learn that a “quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping”.  Basically, we can all recognize that a nagging and argumentative approach is rarely effective when dealing with anyone, including our husbands.

What is beautiful (and most similiar to God’s Way) is a person who approaches life gently, not looking for a fight or to prove they are right, but looking for common ground.  The best witness we have (and certainly the most attractive one) is to let God’s light shine through us, through our souls.   The blood of Jesus has wiped out every piece of ugly we have.  If we choose to let that beautiful soul shine through, true beauty is reflected in our inward and outward appearance. 

And for that I am truly thankful.

 

For more Thankful Thursday posts, click here.

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