It's a heartbreak like none other, because everything might not turn out all right. In fact, everything very well might turn out the worst I could ever imagine. It is heartbreak that entails sobbing for hours before I sleep, days spent in a solemn daze, hours on the brink of tears. It entails a constant plea to God, because there is literally nothing I can do. It is my heart breaking into millions of pieces for my unbelieving friend. For the injustice she suffered in her life that pushed her to reject the Lord, to scorn Him, to deny His existence. And I plead for mercy on her behalf, because I don't know what else to do. How can I stitch together a life so broken by someone else's sin?
How great is the love The Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us, is that it did not know Him.
-Melody
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Disgusted
Tonight is one of those nights when I get a glimpse of how revolting I really am.
Did I really get so frustrated when people were trying to give me well-meaning advice that I spoke harshly and had to leave to compose myself? Don't I do that to other people?
Did I really fall in to that sin? Don't I judge when other people do that?
I am going to be a pastor's wife. A PASTOR'S WIFE!! Do you know that used to excite me? Do you know that long before I even took an interest in the opposite gender I wanted to be a pastor's wife because I was so blown away by how God could use them to influence women in the church? Do you know I considered it an incredibly high privilege?!
My life is made up of jumping from one failure to the next right now, with God's mercy keeping me from falling.
My running thought is "How can I even be a semi-adequate wife when I look at my life of sin and realize I hardly know myself?"
My concluding thought contains something about how I could never be a role model to women in a church, much less a tool that God would want to use. All the pastor's wives I know are quiet, and proper, and kind, and don't talk a lot. And I am just an awkward, blubbering mess of clumsiness.
This is what I desire: That every thought be captive to Christ. That every word be said in love. That every action be motivated to glorify Him.
I desire it, but I want to desire it more. I want to crave it more than anything. I want to feel like I am spiritually dehydrated when I am not quenching my thirst for the Lord.
WHY don't I feel that way? How can I possibly become complacent? What crowds my mind so much that I fail to recognize the singular significance of God in my life?
I need to confess something... When I was in the Home Economics program at Bible college, I was surrounded by women who were viewed by the Christian community as prime examples of a Proverbs 31 woman. And my thought the entire semester was that I couldn't be like them. It simply wasn't going to happen. What if I feel so passionately about a bad interpretation of a passage of scripture that I get worked up about it? What if I get so excited about a truth that I find in scripture that I just can't communicate it adequately because my words get jumbled up? What if I am feeling broken, or sympathetic, or moved, and I weep? Because there was no place for that among these women. There was no place for a fiery spirit. There was no place for passion. There was only a place for the traditional, and all else was squelched.
I have always wished to be like those women. I have always thought someday I would be. But I am starting to understand that I wont. People kept telling me I would "rock the boat" in the Home Ec department, I understood why.
There is no place in the traditional conservative christian community for free-spirited, fiery personalities that want to be passionate. Nobody wants to dwell on the story of Jesus being overcome with fury and driving people from the temple with a whips. They want to dwell on the fact that a girl is wearing leggings and therefore must have an immodest heart. They want to be offended when a Christian uses "cuss" words, though much stronger words are used in the Bible and the only instruction given is not to use the Lord's name in vain. They want to leave a church when a pastor that they have idolized sins, but they fail to realize that even in its corruptness, the church of Corinth was the Lord's.
With that, my thoughts that resulted from a night lacking sleep are over.
Melody
Did I really get so frustrated when people were trying to give me well-meaning advice that I spoke harshly and had to leave to compose myself? Don't I do that to other people?
Did I really fall in to that sin? Don't I judge when other people do that?
I am going to be a pastor's wife. A PASTOR'S WIFE!! Do you know that used to excite me? Do you know that long before I even took an interest in the opposite gender I wanted to be a pastor's wife because I was so blown away by how God could use them to influence women in the church? Do you know I considered it an incredibly high privilege?!
My life is made up of jumping from one failure to the next right now, with God's mercy keeping me from falling.
My running thought is "How can I even be a semi-adequate wife when I look at my life of sin and realize I hardly know myself?"
My concluding thought contains something about how I could never be a role model to women in a church, much less a tool that God would want to use. All the pastor's wives I know are quiet, and proper, and kind, and don't talk a lot. And I am just an awkward, blubbering mess of clumsiness.
This is what I desire: That every thought be captive to Christ. That every word be said in love. That every action be motivated to glorify Him.
I desire it, but I want to desire it more. I want to crave it more than anything. I want to feel like I am spiritually dehydrated when I am not quenching my thirst for the Lord.
WHY don't I feel that way? How can I possibly become complacent? What crowds my mind so much that I fail to recognize the singular significance of God in my life?
I need to confess something... When I was in the Home Economics program at Bible college, I was surrounded by women who were viewed by the Christian community as prime examples of a Proverbs 31 woman. And my thought the entire semester was that I couldn't be like them. It simply wasn't going to happen. What if I feel so passionately about a bad interpretation of a passage of scripture that I get worked up about it? What if I get so excited about a truth that I find in scripture that I just can't communicate it adequately because my words get jumbled up? What if I am feeling broken, or sympathetic, or moved, and I weep? Because there was no place for that among these women. There was no place for a fiery spirit. There was no place for passion. There was only a place for the traditional, and all else was squelched.
I have always wished to be like those women. I have always thought someday I would be. But I am starting to understand that I wont. People kept telling me I would "rock the boat" in the Home Ec department, I understood why.
There is no place in the traditional conservative christian community for free-spirited, fiery personalities that want to be passionate. Nobody wants to dwell on the story of Jesus being overcome with fury and driving people from the temple with a whips. They want to dwell on the fact that a girl is wearing leggings and therefore must have an immodest heart. They want to be offended when a Christian uses "cuss" words, though much stronger words are used in the Bible and the only instruction given is not to use the Lord's name in vain. They want to leave a church when a pastor that they have idolized sins, but they fail to realize that even in its corruptness, the church of Corinth was the Lord's.
With that, my thoughts that resulted from a night lacking sleep are over.
Melody
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Growth Spurt
I feel like I am in a growth spurt. Not physically, but in maturity and generally in life. Last year at this time, I was twitterpainted by a guy who seemed to be everything I had ever looked for in a significant other. I knew where I was going to go to school for the next two years. I knew where I wanted to live. I had ideas for what I wanted to do long-term. But God had different ideas. This guy I was interested in ended up not being the one for me. To my understanding we semi-mutually broke up, but a few months of crying and heart-break followed. Through that I realized I needed certain attributes and character traits in a spouse that I had never considered. My dream school turned into a nightmare and my constant struggle was controlling my emotions as I felt battered emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I couldn't keep up with anything and I lacked a strong friend group. And at the end of possibly the most draining and difficult period of my life, I met the man I am now engaged to.
We both knew within the first month that we wanted to be married eventually, though he was much more sure of it than I was initially. I would venture to say he knew within the first week that he wanted to make me his wife. The past 5 months have been unique to say the least.
You mature in a different way when your best friend (soon to be other half) is by your side giving input on the matters of your life. You find reactions that are stifled when talking to anyone else suddenly emerge. In a lot of ways you find out how terrible of a person you are. But you also become extra motivated to become more Christ-like.
I changed in the process of moving to a different state by myself, making huge school-related decisions, mostly supporting myself, and getting in a serious relationship. I believe if I met the person I was last year I wouldn't know her. I would probably be embarrassed for her. And as I prepare to go home, find myself wondering if past foolishness or immaturity will loom over me. For a few friendships I wish I could just have a blank slate and start over.
But I take great comfort in God's grace that is extended to me. And on a less spiritual level, I take great comfort in knowing I don't have to do life on this earth alone. The future is much less intimidating when you're with your soul mate.
~Melody
We both knew within the first month that we wanted to be married eventually, though he was much more sure of it than I was initially. I would venture to say he knew within the first week that he wanted to make me his wife. The past 5 months have been unique to say the least.
You mature in a different way when your best friend (soon to be other half) is by your side giving input on the matters of your life. You find reactions that are stifled when talking to anyone else suddenly emerge. In a lot of ways you find out how terrible of a person you are. But you also become extra motivated to become more Christ-like.
I changed in the process of moving to a different state by myself, making huge school-related decisions, mostly supporting myself, and getting in a serious relationship. I believe if I met the person I was last year I wouldn't know her. I would probably be embarrassed for her. And as I prepare to go home, find myself wondering if past foolishness or immaturity will loom over me. For a few friendships I wish I could just have a blank slate and start over.
But I take great comfort in God's grace that is extended to me. And on a less spiritual level, I take great comfort in knowing I don't have to do life on this earth alone. The future is much less intimidating when you're with your soul mate.
~Melody
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Easter
It is Easter Sunday. As I listened to the sermon in church this morning, my mind wandered to all of my friends who are slipping in their faith... they tried for so long to swim on their own that they gave in and are letting themselves drown, rather than grabbing the life preserver that God has extended to them.
What was running through their minds today?
Phrases in the sermon caught my attention such as "held to a standard of perfection," "seen as perfect because of Christ," and "God is not fair. Fairness would result in our destruction. He is just. He is merciful. He is gracious. He is loving."
What do words like these mean to them? What do they think Easter is even celebrating? Do they push it from their minds so they don't have to think about it an own up to it? Do they lie to themselves and concoct a way of convincing themselves it is a fraud?
How I long to see the scales fall from their eyes... to see their clouded vision cleared. I feel guilty not having a cheerful spirit on the day that the human race was given an escape from eternal death, but my heart aches for the ones I love who can't appreciate these words or be overwhelmed with thankfulness that they are true and they apply to them.
~Melody
What was running through their minds today?
Phrases in the sermon caught my attention such as "held to a standard of perfection," "seen as perfect because of Christ," and "God is not fair. Fairness would result in our destruction. He is just. He is merciful. He is gracious. He is loving."
What do words like these mean to them? What do they think Easter is even celebrating? Do they push it from their minds so they don't have to think about it an own up to it? Do they lie to themselves and concoct a way of convincing themselves it is a fraud?
How I long to see the scales fall from their eyes... to see their clouded vision cleared. I feel guilty not having a cheerful spirit on the day that the human race was given an escape from eternal death, but my heart aches for the ones I love who can't appreciate these words or be overwhelmed with thankfulness that they are true and they apply to them.
~Melody
Saturday, March 14, 2015
A series of random thoughts
I tend to open my mouth before considering what the repercussions for what I am about to say. Too many times I say something or react to something with no intention of it being offensive, but entirely am. People who have known me for a long time either know that I didn't intend it offensively, or are blunt enough to be like "That is totally inconsiderate" and then I can explain it. But people who haven't picked up on my awkwarness in relaying thoughts and dont know my intentions either don't say anything but I can tell from their body language that my reputation just belly flopped, or they will try to subtly (which is never actually subtle) combat it.
It is so hard to differentiate between God's leading and one's own desires. It is also hard to distinguish between God's leading and obstacles you need to push through.
I was struck by this thought in the Gospel Primer.... The term "power of God" is reserved for salvation. In a more root term, the gospel. We perceive epic things in nature as exhibiting God's power, which they do, but even greater than that is the work God is doing in ME. More so... How awesome a God I serve who extended his powerful grace to me through the gospel.
I am not extremely talented at anything to cause people to gawk at me... None of the common things like sports, music, or art. But I was reminded by a friend that God makes every person exactly how He wants them for his purposes with his choice of talents. I think that God has given me gifts, as He gives everyone. If I consider it long enough, I supposeI have known for a long time what I am inclined towards and what areas of life I excel in... I have just always hoped I would develop some more noticeable worldly talent. I realized tonight why that is foolish: Paul had more of a right to boast than any in the Corinthian church and still chose to boast in Christ. But boasting in himself could have so easily been a temptation. I have to wonder if God knows how inclined my heart is towards pride and for that reason gave me very little to boast in by the world's standards so that I wouldn't have to overcome (or succumb) to that temptation.
The warm evenings here are making me extremely nostalgic and homesick. I long for evening spent with friends conversing while dangling our toes in a lake, laying in the grass, or sitting around a bonfire that is just getting going as the sun sets. More than anything I miss my family back home and my brothers and sisters in Christ who have been with me through thick and thin.
~Melody
It is so hard to differentiate between God's leading and one's own desires. It is also hard to distinguish between God's leading and obstacles you need to push through.
I was struck by this thought in the Gospel Primer.... The term "power of God" is reserved for salvation. In a more root term, the gospel. We perceive epic things in nature as exhibiting God's power, which they do, but even greater than that is the work God is doing in ME. More so... How awesome a God I serve who extended his powerful grace to me through the gospel.
I am not extremely talented at anything to cause people to gawk at me... None of the common things like sports, music, or art. But I was reminded by a friend that God makes every person exactly how He wants them for his purposes with his choice of talents. I think that God has given me gifts, as He gives everyone. If I consider it long enough, I supposeI have known for a long time what I am inclined towards and what areas of life I excel in... I have just always hoped I would develop some more noticeable worldly talent. I realized tonight why that is foolish: Paul had more of a right to boast than any in the Corinthian church and still chose to boast in Christ. But boasting in himself could have so easily been a temptation. I have to wonder if God knows how inclined my heart is towards pride and for that reason gave me very little to boast in by the world's standards so that I wouldn't have to overcome (or succumb) to that temptation.
The warm evenings here are making me extremely nostalgic and homesick. I long for evening spent with friends conversing while dangling our toes in a lake, laying in the grass, or sitting around a bonfire that is just getting going as the sun sets. More than anything I miss my family back home and my brothers and sisters in Christ who have been with me through thick and thin.
~Melody
Monday, February 2, 2015
The formula to find Mr. Right
A few weeks ago I asked a close, married, friend of mine how important physical attraction was for a relationship. At that point I hadn't even met the quirky guy I now call my boyfriend. Her response was kind of funny... She said something along the lines of "Well I guess sometimes I see guys who are handsome, and most people would probably say they are better looking than my husband, but it doesn't really occur to me or seem to matter. There is no one else I'd want to be with."
I used to think there was a certain formula for what was needed to find the right guy. I had to be a certain percentage attracted to his personality, his looks, and his faith. With his godliness overarching it all. I laugh at that now because I can't think of a single formula to fit my relationship with my tea-loving barista. Yes I find him more attractive than any guy I know... some girls would disagree with me. His quirky personality is fantastic but occasionally drives me crazy... I don't think I would want it any other way though. His godly attitude amazes me. We share of a disdain for sports and love of adventuring outdoors. We both value honesty and are open, real, and blunt (actually that's usually just me) despite uncomfortableness or awkwardness (which we both seem immune to). I like coffee, he doesn't. He likes rock climbing, I'd fall to my death. I love ballroom dancing, he rave dances in the youth group sound booth with his roommates. He is incredibly smart and talented at practically everything, I can... um..... make food. But he is my best friend. He hasn't replaced my very dear girl friends back home, but he has made his own place in my heart.
And he loves me. I know that because he is patient with me when I'm fickle. I know that because he is kind to me when I am grumpy. I know because he is respectful towards me and never rude. I know because he often does what I'd prefer to do rather than what he would prefer. I know because he never gets angry and never remembers stupid things I have said or done. Mostly I know this because he strives to honor God with our relationship and draws me nearer to Christ. He tells me what I need to hear not what I want to hear when it comes to areas of my life I should work on. And yet, he never asks me to be anything but myself.
In the end we are both human. We are both going to make mistakes. But we know that, and expect that, and love has a way of covering over mistakes.
I don't know what kind of formula for Mr. Right that is.... But it is perfect for me.
-Melody
I used to think there was a certain formula for what was needed to find the right guy. I had to be a certain percentage attracted to his personality, his looks, and his faith. With his godliness overarching it all. I laugh at that now because I can't think of a single formula to fit my relationship with my tea-loving barista. Yes I find him more attractive than any guy I know... some girls would disagree with me. His quirky personality is fantastic but occasionally drives me crazy... I don't think I would want it any other way though. His godly attitude amazes me. We share of a disdain for sports and love of adventuring outdoors. We both value honesty and are open, real, and blunt (actually that's usually just me) despite uncomfortableness or awkwardness (which we both seem immune to). I like coffee, he doesn't. He likes rock climbing, I'd fall to my death. I love ballroom dancing, he rave dances in the youth group sound booth with his roommates. He is incredibly smart and talented at practically everything, I can... um..... make food. But he is my best friend. He hasn't replaced my very dear girl friends back home, but he has made his own place in my heart.
And he loves me. I know that because he is patient with me when I'm fickle. I know that because he is kind to me when I am grumpy. I know because he is respectful towards me and never rude. I know because he often does what I'd prefer to do rather than what he would prefer. I know because he never gets angry and never remembers stupid things I have said or done. Mostly I know this because he strives to honor God with our relationship and draws me nearer to Christ. He tells me what I need to hear not what I want to hear when it comes to areas of my life I should work on. And yet, he never asks me to be anything but myself.
In the end we are both human. We are both going to make mistakes. But we know that, and expect that, and love has a way of covering over mistakes.
I don't know what kind of formula for Mr. Right that is.... But it is perfect for me.
-Melody
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Running
A quick side note: For the past week I have felt the need to run. Something about running just helps my mind work through everything. When I start off, I feel free and invincible. I sprint because I'm so glad to be running. I soon slow to my normal steady pace, and before long my lungs start to burn and I consciously control my breathing. This is also the point at which my mind is dwelling on what has been plaguing me and I start praying silently because suddenly that is the obvious solution. As a lot of my runs end, eventually I am reminded that I ate something I was allergic to that day and I have to slow to a walk or sit down because the stomach cramps are so bad. I return to the house feeling dejected and weak, and able to do nothing more than lift my concerns and weaknesses before God. But I don't know... somewhere in all of that something got accomplished.
~Melody
~Melody
Monday, January 26, 2015
Help Me To Love
Lord, give me strength to remain composed when I am wronged. Help me show grace to those who don't realize the weight of their words and actions. Help me to love those who don't deserve it in my eyes because You love me and I don't deserve it.
This past week has been hard emotionally. Due to some words and actions from my employer, I've felt attacked emotionally in some of the most tender parts of my being. As feelings of homesickness creep back and add to all that, my greatest desire is to curl up in a ball on my bed and cry for a very long time.
This week is going to be a very long one.
~Melody
This past week has been hard emotionally. Due to some words and actions from my employer, I've felt attacked emotionally in some of the most tender parts of my being. As feelings of homesickness creep back and add to all that, my greatest desire is to curl up in a ball on my bed and cry for a very long time.
This week is going to be a very long one.
~Melody
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Heavy thoughts
"Jesus I pray, take all my mistakes. Throw them away, destroy them for my
sake. Jesus I call out 'cause I'm sorry. Because I fall so short of your
glory.
Jesus I plead please purify me. Make my heart glean, drench me with your mercy. Jesus I pray... I love you I need you. For the rest of my days I swear I will seek you."
I rediscovered this song the other day and it filled me with such nostalgia and peace. It is a wonderful reminder that when I feel like I am inadequate and a failure, Christ will always cleanse me of my past sins and remove them from me. This is something I will never tire of hearing.
Being back in Chelan has been interesting. On the one hand, I am once again captivated by the extra dose of beauty God seems to have bequeathed Chelan with. But on the other hand, I am struck over and over again by the reality that I am not a child anymore and the concerns that saturate my mind for my dear friends over here are very legitimate. Gone are the carefree days of hot chocolate, snowball fights, and Disney movies. Don't get me wrong, we still do all that... but long talks over tea or coffee center around managing finances, finding a job, and avoiding debt in college. Snowball fights have turned to walks in the snow spent discussing family dissonance and peers we care about who are not following the Lord or not doing anything with their lives. Movies have become more rare to watch since we have less spare time, and are often half ignored while any romance in them triggers thoughts of hurtful breakups. What happened here?
These heavy conversations and concerns cause my mind to veer from desiring independence and adventure, to simply wanting security and consistency. This world makes me weep. It sickens me and it saddens me to my inmost being. Not because there is hunger, illness, and pain in the world... But because there is malice and selfishness and wickedness. The worst is when I see it in myself and am struck by what a deplorable being I am and how great my Lord is to forgive me again and again.
Paul said we shine like stars in the universe. A light needs dark to shine in... So my resolve is to take advantage of the dense darkness of this world that threatens to engulf me, and use it to contrast the love of Christ that I pray is reflected in me. Following Christ is not a lighthearted matter. It is more joyful than anything in this world, but it is also of the utmost seriousness. Also ignorance is not the way to approach the world. It is okay to let your heart break for them. Jesus' did. We live as foreigners here. I pray that I will always remember that.
My heart isn't breaking for the poor, the sick or the hungry, it breaks for the sinful.
~Melody
My heart isn't breaking for the poor, the sick or the hungry, it breaks for the sinful.
~Melody
Friday, January 9, 2015
My comfort zone is under expansion
I promise I am still alive. I thought about posting a lot over the past 2 months, but I wasn't entirely sure how. I am living outside of the bubble of what I know right now... So many things are foreign to me. So I think I will just ramble for a while...
Two months ago in my foolish finite desires, I wanted more than anything to move back to my beloved northwest and forget the last 5 months of stress, homesickness, and critical professors had ever existed. I had an idea of a plan to come back for one semester, live off campus, and just audit bible classes and work. If I am being entirely honest, I was hoping I wouldn't find a place to live off-campus so that I would have to return home and throw this plan out the window. But through a church family that has practically adopted me, God provided a place to live that wanted practically no compensation. At this point I was so done with trying to plan my own life, since every plan I had ever had of missions and college had fallen through within the last couple months. I figured if God wanted me down in California for 4-5 more months, who was I to argue?
So around this time, this guy came into the picture. My co-worker. Though I denied it at the time, I must admit I did like him a lot. I told everyone who asked that I had no interest past friendship, though in my mind I knew I was smitten. But I really had no interest in being in a relationship with him. After a few unsuccessful incidents of following up crushes in my past, I really loved my independence and lack of drama. I especially didn't want to be tied down to someone in California, a place where I had felt trapped for the past few months. So I resolved to push aside any feelings I had for him and simply try to become good friends with this guy. His faith was so evident from the first time I worked with him, and I like to invest in friendships with people like that. My resolve to just be friends with this guy soon became rooted in the assumption that he would never be seriously interested in me and that he probably had someone he was interested in anyways, or at least oodles of christian girls with their eyes on him... He is a worship leader after all.
Apparently he was very obvious about the fact that he liked me... I didn't catch on. After a little while I asked my roommate what she thought of it all, and she said she thought that he was a little bit interested but not seriously. I told her honestly "If he asked me out I would say yes," which was more significant for me to admit to out loud than for her to hear. I still strongly assumed nothing would come of all this.
It is terribly heartbreaking when the best thing a man ever did for his family was remove himself from their lives. I do not say that lightly or without consideration. In fact I don't think I could ever bring myself to say that suicide is anything less than an awful reality of this depraved, sin-saturated world... But it came as a long-awaited end to oppression and abuse from a father to this co-worker whom had made an impression on me. I didn't know this yet, all I knew was that he had lost his father on thanksgiving, and my heart went out to him. Through a few texts I was once again blown away by this guy's amazing faith in God. His attitude through the situation was like nothing I had ever seen.
A week later we talked for 45 minutes after work. This was the first time we had really been able to just talk, and if we had the time, I am convinced we would have talked all night. But it was cut short by his ride arriving, and we parted with a "let's hang out some time." That night he texted me and I decided to use my one skip for class to go hiking with him. Again, at this point I was thinking he was only interested in friendship and I wanted to be able to support him in any way I could.
I think you can see where all this is going... We started hanging out a lot. Like.... multiple times every day... And shortly after he made it clear that he had intentions to pursue me if the interest was mutual. And he has been my boyfriend for a little over a month now.
To sum up this past month and a half would mostly be to say it has been a time of growth and change. There have been a lot of fun adventures tied in there, but more than anything I have started to come to terms with things I have always just pushed out of my mind because I never had to seriously consider them. I never thought I could feel so emotionally tied to someone that personal independence wouldn't even occur to me anymore. The realization that I no longer valued my independence as a single person hit me pretty hard and freaked me out quite a lot for a while. It still does a bit, but I'm adjusting. I have occasional days when this whole thing and the prospect of long-term scares me enough that I am ready to proclaim that I have the spiritual gift of celibacy and retreat to what I am familiar with... but I really am convinced this is God's will, if not for the long run, for the time being. And this guy... He has shown me patience, kindness, and goodness to no end despite me voicing all my fears, failures, and frustrations. I never imagined anyone outside of my family would ever care for me quite this much, and I never considered anyone would be this inclined towards me.
~Melody
Two months ago in my foolish finite desires, I wanted more than anything to move back to my beloved northwest and forget the last 5 months of stress, homesickness, and critical professors had ever existed. I had an idea of a plan to come back for one semester, live off campus, and just audit bible classes and work. If I am being entirely honest, I was hoping I wouldn't find a place to live off-campus so that I would have to return home and throw this plan out the window. But through a church family that has practically adopted me, God provided a place to live that wanted practically no compensation. At this point I was so done with trying to plan my own life, since every plan I had ever had of missions and college had fallen through within the last couple months. I figured if God wanted me down in California for 4-5 more months, who was I to argue?
So around this time, this guy came into the picture. My co-worker. Though I denied it at the time, I must admit I did like him a lot. I told everyone who asked that I had no interest past friendship, though in my mind I knew I was smitten. But I really had no interest in being in a relationship with him. After a few unsuccessful incidents of following up crushes in my past, I really loved my independence and lack of drama. I especially didn't want to be tied down to someone in California, a place where I had felt trapped for the past few months. So I resolved to push aside any feelings I had for him and simply try to become good friends with this guy. His faith was so evident from the first time I worked with him, and I like to invest in friendships with people like that. My resolve to just be friends with this guy soon became rooted in the assumption that he would never be seriously interested in me and that he probably had someone he was interested in anyways, or at least oodles of christian girls with their eyes on him... He is a worship leader after all.
Apparently he was very obvious about the fact that he liked me... I didn't catch on. After a little while I asked my roommate what she thought of it all, and she said she thought that he was a little bit interested but not seriously. I told her honestly "If he asked me out I would say yes," which was more significant for me to admit to out loud than for her to hear. I still strongly assumed nothing would come of all this.
It is terribly heartbreaking when the best thing a man ever did for his family was remove himself from their lives. I do not say that lightly or without consideration. In fact I don't think I could ever bring myself to say that suicide is anything less than an awful reality of this depraved, sin-saturated world... But it came as a long-awaited end to oppression and abuse from a father to this co-worker whom had made an impression on me. I didn't know this yet, all I knew was that he had lost his father on thanksgiving, and my heart went out to him. Through a few texts I was once again blown away by this guy's amazing faith in God. His attitude through the situation was like nothing I had ever seen.
A week later we talked for 45 minutes after work. This was the first time we had really been able to just talk, and if we had the time, I am convinced we would have talked all night. But it was cut short by his ride arriving, and we parted with a "let's hang out some time." That night he texted me and I decided to use my one skip for class to go hiking with him. Again, at this point I was thinking he was only interested in friendship and I wanted to be able to support him in any way I could.
I think you can see where all this is going... We started hanging out a lot. Like.... multiple times every day... And shortly after he made it clear that he had intentions to pursue me if the interest was mutual. And he has been my boyfriend for a little over a month now.
To sum up this past month and a half would mostly be to say it has been a time of growth and change. There have been a lot of fun adventures tied in there, but more than anything I have started to come to terms with things I have always just pushed out of my mind because I never had to seriously consider them. I never thought I could feel so emotionally tied to someone that personal independence wouldn't even occur to me anymore. The realization that I no longer valued my independence as a single person hit me pretty hard and freaked me out quite a lot for a while. It still does a bit, but I'm adjusting. I have occasional days when this whole thing and the prospect of long-term scares me enough that I am ready to proclaim that I have the spiritual gift of celibacy and retreat to what I am familiar with... but I really am convinced this is God's will, if not for the long run, for the time being. And this guy... He has shown me patience, kindness, and goodness to no end despite me voicing all my fears, failures, and frustrations. I never imagined anyone outside of my family would ever care for me quite this much, and I never considered anyone would be this inclined towards me.
~Melody
Friday, November 28, 2014
Perspective. The big picture.
Home is all I can think about, it really is. I am so homesick. I practice self-control on a daily basis by not letting myself melt into a puddle of tears, and trying not to talk about it with people who have heard me speak of it far too much. But tonight something far more important occupies my thoughts. A tragedy occurred yesterday to a friend and co-worker who is one of the most exuberant cheerful guys I know, as well as a brother in Christ. I found my heart aching for him during my shift. And being ashamed of how selfish and petty my thoughts have been. I really wish I knew him better at this time because more than anything I desire to be of some comfort to him. I can't even imagine having to process this.
Another thought I had was that I wish I could long for heaven like I long for my home state now. With the mindset that I am not going to live here for a significant amount of time and keeping up my relationships back home because I know I am returning shortly. If only I could always live in view of eternity.
It's funny... Everyone insisted I would love bible college. Truth be told, it has been one of the hardest experiences in my life. Never before have I worked so hard only to feel like such a failure. I have learned to show grace to teachers who don't show it to me, as well as to not expect teachers to hold themselves to the same standards they expect from me. I have learned that my best is not going to be good enough for some people, and I am starting (just starting) to grasp that that is okay. I am beginning to accept that it is impossible to please everyone, and that everyone has a different idea of what I should do with my life, but it doesn't actually matter. I am starting to understand that it is okay to not be able to handle something when you feel like you should be able to. Do I love Bible college? No. Am I glad I came? I think so. I am not entirely sure yet. I am positive I don't want to go through all of this again though. Something I have learned, is that for someone who is already grounded in their faith, bible college is one of the harder places to grow in Christ. I know that sounds weird, but you're in a Christian bubble. Your life becomes so saturated in Bible verses, christianese, and "serving" opportunities, that you forget any of it is significant. You stop seeing the contrast of Christ and the world, and this results in becoming passive in your faith. Never before have I learned so well how to talk the talk without walking the walk. I LOVE the knowledge of the Bible that I have acquired here, but I hate how far I have slid backwards in having a personal relationship with God.
I miss my brothers and sisters in Christ back home more than almost anything. I would give anything to be home now... Or even a day sooner.
~Melody
Another thought I had was that I wish I could long for heaven like I long for my home state now. With the mindset that I am not going to live here for a significant amount of time and keeping up my relationships back home because I know I am returning shortly. If only I could always live in view of eternity.
It's funny... Everyone insisted I would love bible college. Truth be told, it has been one of the hardest experiences in my life. Never before have I worked so hard only to feel like such a failure. I have learned to show grace to teachers who don't show it to me, as well as to not expect teachers to hold themselves to the same standards they expect from me. I have learned that my best is not going to be good enough for some people, and I am starting (just starting) to grasp that that is okay. I am beginning to accept that it is impossible to please everyone, and that everyone has a different idea of what I should do with my life, but it doesn't actually matter. I am starting to understand that it is okay to not be able to handle something when you feel like you should be able to. Do I love Bible college? No. Am I glad I came? I think so. I am not entirely sure yet. I am positive I don't want to go through all of this again though. Something I have learned, is that for someone who is already grounded in their faith, bible college is one of the harder places to grow in Christ. I know that sounds weird, but you're in a Christian bubble. Your life becomes so saturated in Bible verses, christianese, and "serving" opportunities, that you forget any of it is significant. You stop seeing the contrast of Christ and the world, and this results in becoming passive in your faith. Never before have I learned so well how to talk the talk without walking the walk. I LOVE the knowledge of the Bible that I have acquired here, but I hate how far I have slid backwards in having a personal relationship with God.
I miss my brothers and sisters in Christ back home more than almost anything. I would give anything to be home now... Or even a day sooner.
~Melody
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Just what's on my heart tonight
One of my biggest struggles being here is that I don't have friends who have grown up with me. And in regard to my friends who are here... I think I confuse them and annoy them. They don't understand why I'm randomly melancholy, or why I cry and the only explanation I can give is that I am in a new place trying to start a new life. Or that I go from hyper to zero energy because sometimes I hit a wall and just can't convince myself to be energetic anymore. They don't understand why something like a downpour can bring immense peace and joy to my soul.
I am sad because no matter how hard I try to be consistently outgoing and cheerful, I fail miserably because I simply don't have the energy to. It's almost funny that people back home used to call me bubbly... Because that is so far from what I am today. Sometimes when my biggest temptation is to be a complete grouch because I am so stressed and sleep-deprived, my solution is to just remain silent. I hate all this. I feel like I am being a terrible example of Christ and am not bringing glory to Him in this place. And I am trying so hard...
I guess tonight I am just realizing how much I fail people and let them down. Also how much I fail God. I am not the kind of friend that the people around me deserve, I can't seem to do well enough in school, and through my major I am constantly remind of every way I fall short of being the woman God desires me to be. I feel like I am watching myself become this grumpy inconsistent person that I despise and there is nothing I can do about it.
~Melody
I am sad because no matter how hard I try to be consistently outgoing and cheerful, I fail miserably because I simply don't have the energy to. It's almost funny that people back home used to call me bubbly... Because that is so far from what I am today. Sometimes when my biggest temptation is to be a complete grouch because I am so stressed and sleep-deprived, my solution is to just remain silent. I hate all this. I feel like I am being a terrible example of Christ and am not bringing glory to Him in this place. And I am trying so hard...
I guess tonight I am just realizing how much I fail people and let them down. Also how much I fail God. I am not the kind of friend that the people around me deserve, I can't seem to do well enough in school, and through my major I am constantly remind of every way I fall short of being the woman God desires me to be. I feel like I am watching myself become this grumpy inconsistent person that I despise and there is nothing I can do about it.
~Melody
Friday, November 7, 2014
Some cool things I have been learning
Umm.... So I started this post a couple weeks ago... and I have come to accept that it isn't going to get finished... But here you go!
Alright, so I have been gaining such a deeper understanding of the Old Testament through my OT Survey 1 class. And there are all these connections and meanings that I am learning about, and I'd like to share them, since they kind of blow my mind!
The Hebrew word used for "create" in Genesis is "bara". This word always has God as the subject. God can create, whereas men can only copy. This is the same word David uses in Psalm 51:10 when he says "Create in me a clean heart O God." I especially found this cool because David is implying that a clean heart has never been there and he desires God to create it within him.
When the serpent is speaking to Eve, he is speaking in 2nd person PLURAL. So Adam was certainly with her.
When Adam and Eve's eyes were opened after eating the fruit from the tree (Genesis 3:7), the terminology is the same as it used when Jesus opens the eyes for the two men on the road to Arimathea in Luke 24.
Aaaaand maybe I will post more later.
~Melody
Alright, so I have been gaining such a deeper understanding of the Old Testament through my OT Survey 1 class. And there are all these connections and meanings that I am learning about, and I'd like to share them, since they kind of blow my mind!
The Hebrew word used for "create" in Genesis is "bara". This word always has God as the subject. God can create, whereas men can only copy. This is the same word David uses in Psalm 51:10 when he says "Create in me a clean heart O God." I especially found this cool because David is implying that a clean heart has never been there and he desires God to create it within him.
When the serpent is speaking to Eve, he is speaking in 2nd person PLURAL. So Adam was certainly with her.
When Adam and Eve's eyes were opened after eating the fruit from the tree (Genesis 3:7), the terminology is the same as it used when Jesus opens the eyes for the two men on the road to Arimathea in Luke 24.
Aaaaand maybe I will post more later.
~Melody
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Recognizing Beauty In The Desert
I was driving today and I glanced around, and for one of the first times since I have been here I found myself in awe of the beauty of the shrub-covered rolling desert hills. The fact that I was admiring them even caught me off guard. They are indeed beautiful, and it is not that I have never appreciated the beauty of California, but every time I sit on the ridge behind the dorms and look out at the sun dipping below the hills, I find myself in another place. Back home. Whether it be sitting on the roof in Chelan to watch the stars come out, or the moment of elation when I reach the peak of the mountain I have been climbing, or the cool relief of night air that refreshes me after swing dancing, or even the soft stillness as I sit by the water and listen to its whispers. But never had I been able to look out and just appreciate the desert view in itself, without having to daydream of fond memories back home. Suddenly those textured sage-green hills were beautiful in and of themselves. And I feel myself adjusting just a little bit more
On the note of adjusting, my food allergies have started giving me trouble again. This makes life difficult... and is making me rethink whether missions is really where God is leading me. Ultimately my plans for the future are entirely up in the air... And my earthly desires change from day to day. But ultimately my desire is that God's will be done, and I know that his plan for my life is what my future will be, so I'm not too anxious about it.
~Melody
On the note of adjusting, my food allergies have started giving me trouble again. This makes life difficult... and is making me rethink whether missions is really where God is leading me. Ultimately my plans for the future are entirely up in the air... And my earthly desires change from day to day. But ultimately my desire is that God's will be done, and I know that his plan for my life is what my future will be, so I'm not too anxious about it.
~Melody
Monday, September 29, 2014
Very Blessed
So many times these days I find myself wanting to write a post or thinking of something I should share, but the sheer amount of ways God is working in my life blows me away, and I don't even know where to start. But here are a couple things.
I am so blessed by my roommate. I have been praying for her since April, even before I met her, and I am convinced there isn't another person on this campus who would fit me better. I simply adore her and our contrasting personalities get along so well. Due to a health condition, I stay up with her late into the night frequently, but I feel so privileged to do so! She says that God gave her me as a roommate because He knew I could handle it, but I feel like God brought me here to bless me through her. Because I would rather be up until 3am helping such a wonderful sister in Christ than sleeping. It's not even a question.
I am absolutely loving the spontaneity of college life. Our late-night adventures are going to be some of my best memories from college. I know that already. Sometimes college life gets so dull and bogged down with homework. But I think God knows when I'm about to lose my sanity from hours of homework, and the next thing I know I'm running into the ocean at midnight with friends.
I am learning that some weeks are simply going to be harder than others. Some will fly by and others will drag on forever. For assignments, when it rains it pours. I either have a week that is practically void of homework, or I have a big assignment for every class due on the same day. So I get ahead when I can, and try to rely on God for Peace through the rest of it.
Spontaneous blessings are great. They're fun to give to people, and they're fun to receive. Some common ones are making a bed, doing the dishes, vacuuming the room, giving food/coffee, leaving a nice note, or even just telling someone you are praying for them. I love that college gives so many opportunities for small blessings like this.
The conversations are wonderful. I love the debates, discussions, and rants. I love the shallow silly ones, the ones that seek counsel, the confessing ones, the ones that seek to find a solution, and ones of desperation, the ones that express love, and the ones of sharing in homesickness. Talking is marvelous therapy and listening is like getting a little bit clearer view of who that person is. What if every person was a blurry blob until we got to know them? The more we learned about them and really got to know them, the clearer we could see them. Wouldn't that be marvelous?
I am learning to rely on God more and more every day. Whether it is asking God to help me be loving and respectful to a teacher I dislike, or asking for motivation to get me through homework, or to take away feelings of home sickness, I am becoming more and more aware of God's hand in every aspect of my life. And the more I see that and stop trying to make my own decisions, the more content and at peace I am.
I think that is all for now. I have homework to do. :)
~Melody
I am so blessed by my roommate. I have been praying for her since April, even before I met her, and I am convinced there isn't another person on this campus who would fit me better. I simply adore her and our contrasting personalities get along so well. Due to a health condition, I stay up with her late into the night frequently, but I feel so privileged to do so! She says that God gave her me as a roommate because He knew I could handle it, but I feel like God brought me here to bless me through her. Because I would rather be up until 3am helping such a wonderful sister in Christ than sleeping. It's not even a question.
I am absolutely loving the spontaneity of college life. Our late-night adventures are going to be some of my best memories from college. I know that already. Sometimes college life gets so dull and bogged down with homework. But I think God knows when I'm about to lose my sanity from hours of homework, and the next thing I know I'm running into the ocean at midnight with friends.
I am learning that some weeks are simply going to be harder than others. Some will fly by and others will drag on forever. For assignments, when it rains it pours. I either have a week that is practically void of homework, or I have a big assignment for every class due on the same day. So I get ahead when I can, and try to rely on God for Peace through the rest of it.
Spontaneous blessings are great. They're fun to give to people, and they're fun to receive. Some common ones are making a bed, doing the dishes, vacuuming the room, giving food/coffee, leaving a nice note, or even just telling someone you are praying for them. I love that college gives so many opportunities for small blessings like this.
The conversations are wonderful. I love the debates, discussions, and rants. I love the shallow silly ones, the ones that seek counsel, the confessing ones, the ones that seek to find a solution, and ones of desperation, the ones that express love, and the ones of sharing in homesickness. Talking is marvelous therapy and listening is like getting a little bit clearer view of who that person is. What if every person was a blurry blob until we got to know them? The more we learned about them and really got to know them, the clearer we could see them. Wouldn't that be marvelous?
I am learning to rely on God more and more every day. Whether it is asking God to help me be loving and respectful to a teacher I dislike, or asking for motivation to get me through homework, or to take away feelings of home sickness, I am becoming more and more aware of God's hand in every aspect of my life. And the more I see that and stop trying to make my own decisions, the more content and at peace I am.
I think that is all for now. I have homework to do. :)
~Melody
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
College Life This Far
As I think back over the past couple weeks, it seems almost as fickle as the spring weather back home in Washington. I have so many high points and so many low points.
High points:
- Getting to worship for 2 and a half hours late into the night. I have missed singing worship music so much.
- Going to the beach spontaneously late at night and jumping in the waves with friends. I don't think I have ever felt so much elation as when I ran down the beach with my high-pitched girly squeal and jumped into the waves.
- Church on Sunday. I felt the family element of church that I have been missing.
- Seeing God sustain me through late nights of homework and days of exhaustion.
Low points:
- Very late nights of homework.
- Constantly feeling overwhelmed.
- Struggles with food.
- Homesickness.
Today has been especially hard. Last night my roommate had a 30 min long seizure. Seizures are pretty common for her, but it is still hard to see someone you love in pain. So today I am plagued with concern about her and also feeling terrible because I am still not sure if I handled in correctly. It seems that a mutual friend is upset with me for not taking her to the hospital. Mostly I am perplexed that nobody wants to let me help them or is willing to even admit that they are not alright.
My exhaustion has had me on the brink of a melt down all day... But what is slightly funny, is that rather than melting down over one of the things that happened, I came into my room and was so taken back by the grace shown to me by the RA of my dorm that I broke down.
Well anyways, God is good to me. I know He has me in His hand and what I am learning about Him is blowing me away. I feel as if I am depending on Him with every fiber of my being.
Random note:
I was incredibly blessed last week when three friend messaged me or left a phone message to tell me they were praying for me. I am so blessed with my brothers and sisters in Christ!
~Melody
High points:
- Getting to worship for 2 and a half hours late into the night. I have missed singing worship music so much.
- Going to the beach spontaneously late at night and jumping in the waves with friends. I don't think I have ever felt so much elation as when I ran down the beach with my high-pitched girly squeal and jumped into the waves.
- Church on Sunday. I felt the family element of church that I have been missing.
- Seeing God sustain me through late nights of homework and days of exhaustion.
Low points:
- Very late nights of homework.
- Constantly feeling overwhelmed.
- Struggles with food.
- Homesickness.
Today has been especially hard. Last night my roommate had a 30 min long seizure. Seizures are pretty common for her, but it is still hard to see someone you love in pain. So today I am plagued with concern about her and also feeling terrible because I am still not sure if I handled in correctly. It seems that a mutual friend is upset with me for not taking her to the hospital. Mostly I am perplexed that nobody wants to let me help them or is willing to even admit that they are not alright.
My exhaustion has had me on the brink of a melt down all day... But what is slightly funny, is that rather than melting down over one of the things that happened, I came into my room and was so taken back by the grace shown to me by the RA of my dorm that I broke down.
Well anyways, God is good to me. I know He has me in His hand and what I am learning about Him is blowing me away. I feel as if I am depending on Him with every fiber of my being.
Random note:
I was incredibly blessed last week when three friend messaged me or left a phone message to tell me they were praying for me. I am so blessed with my brothers and sisters in Christ!
~Melody
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Living in the moment
Last night I had the realization that I was going to miss this time in my life someday. That I was going to wish I could relive a lot of fond memories. I realized this as two of my classmates/dorm-mates helped me clean up my precious peanut butter that lay in a giant blob on the ramp in front of our dorm, permeated with glass shards that caused us all to bleed by the time we had cleaned up the mess. I realized this again as I sat up late into the night with my roommate, and we poured out our frustrations and worries about guys to each other, absorbing eachother's advice and encouragement, and appreciating a chance to let it all out. I had even come to this conclusion as I sat up with her during the hours of morning that are still night, trying to bring her fever down by mopping her face with a cold wash cloth, and praying that her coughing would cease so that she could fall asleep. Aren't those strange moments to miss? Yet I know I will. There will be times when I am with people and I wish I could be alone, yet there will also be lonely nights when I'd do anything for some company. There will be times I'm single when I wish I wasn't, and times when I will have a significant other, yet will wish for a moment that I was single again. But for right now, I will take each day as it comes, each assignment as it is given to me, each test as it approaches. I will take each opportunity of friendship as a blessing, each class as a chance to glean wisdom and knowledge, and every moment as a gift from God.
~Melody
~Melody
Monday, September 1, 2014
For good friends
Today as I sat down to pray for a meal, I thought "Lord, thank you for this food, and for this last day before classes start," and without even really intending to, my next thought was "Thank you Lord for good friends." ...You have no idea how blessed I suddenly felt to be able to say that. In the moment I thanked God for that, I realized that I was beginning to settle in. For so many days I had felt extremely out of place even among so many Christians, and it has only been these last few days that I feel like I can kinda sorta be myself around a few people. The previous week has been hard, struggling emotionally with friendships back home, being separated from people who hug me and listen to me, but I'm convinced I wont be entirely a recluse now! Today was spent on crazy driving/shopping/eating adventures and during dinner we were all singing veggie tales songs together in the cafeteria.
I'm still not extremely close with anyone besides my roommate, I mean I have only been here a little over a week. But I am feeling more hopeful now. Classes start tomorrow and I am really excited! But slightly apprehensive.
~Melody
I'm still not extremely close with anyone besides my roommate, I mean I have only been here a little over a week. But I am feeling more hopeful now. Classes start tomorrow and I am really excited! But slightly apprehensive.
~Melody
Sunday, August 17, 2014
What defines me vs.What should define me
There was a saying I heard once that went something like "If the world was ruled by women, we wouldn't have any wars, just a bunch of jealous countries not talking to each other." I had to laugh, but I think about it, and among women, jealousy is probably the main sin that tears us apart. I think fondly of my group of girl friends who are all sisters in Christ, and who rarely have any squabbles. Yet I remember when I first was introduced to the group I felt extremely intimidated. Every single one of these girls seemed to have not only their appearance together, but their lives and their faith. Now I know these girls intimately, and I know their lives are far from perfect. I know they have days when they struggle in their faith just like me. I know they have fears and worries about acceptance just like I do, and what it funny is every single one of us is more insecure than we make ourselves appear to be.
This group of friends builds each other up like none other. I've hardly heard any gossip in this group. What I do hear are words of praise and affirmation. We tell each other what we like about each other's personalities and physical appearance. We look out for each other, and we're honest if there is an issue that needs to be addressed. I honestly could go on for hours about just how beautiful each of these ladies are inside and out.
A long time ago I shared a part of the reason I struggle with feelings of inadequacy in this post. In all honestly, I have days where I let feelings of inadequacy eat away at me. I think to myself that there are always going to be peers who are prettier than me, who are kinder than me, who are more obedient to God than me, who are more genuine than me, who are better with kids than me, who have more of a servants heart than me, who are smarter than me, who dress better than me, who have a better personality than me, who are better at singing, dancing, piano, horse-back riding, and skiing than me... Oh the list goes on.... It's terrible really. I don't have self-esteem issues, I just have a terrible habit of comparing myself and seeking after human approval rather than God's. This leads to nothing but dissatisfaction.
There have been times that someone has told me they were jealous of me, and I have to laugh. I see no reason why they would be. To me, all I can see are my failures. The times I let my mind sin, the judgement I have passed on people only to be ashamed right after, the unkind words that escape my lips on a daily basis, my failures in school, my freckle and acne-plagued skin along with my frizzy hair, my lack of "womanly curves" that all my female friends have, my inability to keep up on working out, my loudness, my failure to filter my speech when I should.... oh my goodness, I am a mess.
But God loves that mess. He loves me despite my downfalls, my insecurities, the ugly parts of me, and my sinful habits. Sometimes the hardest thing about being surrounded by Christians is simply the pressure to appear perfect, and to seek their approval rather than God's. I have a one friend in particular who truly knows how messed up and far from perfect I am, and yet she loves me with a Christ-like love. If our identity isn't in Christ, we are nothing. I really should stop trying to find my identity in the things I do, and rather find it in what I am: a servant to the Most High God who loves me more than anyone else will, not because of anything I have ever done; and whose purpose in life is to bring glory to God and radiate Christ. I am inadequate. So INCREDIBLY inadequate. I fall pathetically short of the bar that was set. And that is why my identity needs to be in God alone, who is the only reason I am not quite as messed up as I feel. Because He sees me as his daughter.
~Melody
This group of friends builds each other up like none other. I've hardly heard any gossip in this group. What I do hear are words of praise and affirmation. We tell each other what we like about each other's personalities and physical appearance. We look out for each other, and we're honest if there is an issue that needs to be addressed. I honestly could go on for hours about just how beautiful each of these ladies are inside and out.
A long time ago I shared a part of the reason I struggle with feelings of inadequacy in this post. In all honestly, I have days where I let feelings of inadequacy eat away at me. I think to myself that there are always going to be peers who are prettier than me, who are kinder than me, who are more obedient to God than me, who are more genuine than me, who are better with kids than me, who have more of a servants heart than me, who are smarter than me, who dress better than me, who have a better personality than me, who are better at singing, dancing, piano, horse-back riding, and skiing than me... Oh the list goes on.... It's terrible really. I don't have self-esteem issues, I just have a terrible habit of comparing myself and seeking after human approval rather than God's. This leads to nothing but dissatisfaction.
There have been times that someone has told me they were jealous of me, and I have to laugh. I see no reason why they would be. To me, all I can see are my failures. The times I let my mind sin, the judgement I have passed on people only to be ashamed right after, the unkind words that escape my lips on a daily basis, my failures in school, my freckle and acne-plagued skin along with my frizzy hair, my lack of "womanly curves" that all my female friends have, my inability to keep up on working out, my loudness, my failure to filter my speech when I should.... oh my goodness, I am a mess.
But God loves that mess. He loves me despite my downfalls, my insecurities, the ugly parts of me, and my sinful habits. Sometimes the hardest thing about being surrounded by Christians is simply the pressure to appear perfect, and to seek their approval rather than God's. I have a one friend in particular who truly knows how messed up and far from perfect I am, and yet she loves me with a Christ-like love. If our identity isn't in Christ, we are nothing. I really should stop trying to find my identity in the things I do, and rather find it in what I am: a servant to the Most High God who loves me more than anyone else will, not because of anything I have ever done; and whose purpose in life is to bring glory to God and radiate Christ. I am inadequate. So INCREDIBLY inadequate. I fall pathetically short of the bar that was set. And that is why my identity needs to be in God alone, who is the only reason I am not quite as messed up as I feel. Because He sees me as his daughter.
~Melody
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
The desert I call my heart
I am not entirely sure why, but I have always loved in the bible when it talks about God providing water in the desert for His people. An example is Psalms 78:16 which says "He brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers." Or Isaiah 48:18 "I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into springs." Maybe I love these analogies because I love water. Ever since I was little I have always been most comfortable in the water (as long as I am not freezing). My neighbors around the lake I live on used to call me a fish, and I pretty much lived in my swimsuit. This is petty, but random fact about me: whenever I think of heaven, I have always thought about swimming in the crystal sea.
Whatever the reason, I especially love the image of God taking a dry, desolate, and essentially dead place, and providing water.... basically giving it life. I adore this, because I see this take place in my life. I see parts of myself that are dry and dead, without hope of ever producing anything fruitful, and I see God bring it to life. There are many times that I cry out to God and I feel His peace overwhelm me. To me it feels as if my troubled heart is suddenly drenched, and everything is calm and alright.
One of my favorite camp songs goes like this:
God in heaven take this heart of mine
Dry and dusty but with love divine
satisfy this thirst inside you'll find
God in heaven take this, take this heart of mine
God in heaven like a gentle rain
On this desert wont You fall again
God in heaven take this, take this heart of mine
~Melody
Whatever the reason, I especially love the image of God taking a dry, desolate, and essentially dead place, and providing water.... basically giving it life. I adore this, because I see this take place in my life. I see parts of myself that are dry and dead, without hope of ever producing anything fruitful, and I see God bring it to life. There are many times that I cry out to God and I feel His peace overwhelm me. To me it feels as if my troubled heart is suddenly drenched, and everything is calm and alright.
One of my favorite camp songs goes like this:
God in heaven take this heart of mine
Dry and dusty but with love divine
satisfy this thirst inside you'll find
God in heaven take this, take this heart of mine
God in heaven like a gentle rain
On this desert wont You fall again
God in heaven take this, take this heart of mine
~Melody
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