I might as well say it now, I'm a music freak. I LOVE music. I play the piano as a hobby, and sing at the top of my lungs when my parents are gone. :D I don't listen to any secular music other than classical and piano.
Music is a gift from God. It's also my favorite way to worship Him. Art in general portrays things in a different light, and music in particular. I can't tell you how many times I have grasped a biblical concept through a song. Just today I was listening to the song "Perfect Peace." It is a very simple, yet beautiful song telling how God will give us perfect peace. Honestly I had never thought about that before. That God will give us peace in a situation. His perfect peace at that.
A lot of people have quiet times in the morning, or sing some hymns. For me (not that I don't have a "quiet time") I wait until I'm home alone, and play worship songs for hours while singing my heart out to Him. Those are my favorite times. And when I can't sleep at night, I turn on my piano music.
Out of all the gifts God has given, I would say music is one of my favorites. I think of music in general as a form of worship. That is why I dislike listening to secular music. Not that it has anything good in it anyways.
~Melody
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Beauty of the Snow!
The Lord has blessed us with snow here! It is so beautiful! The world outside the window looks like it was sprinkled with powdered sugar. And when the sun shows its face, everything sparkles like diamonds.
It came just in time for my relatives who flew in from the Philippians yesterday! They are going to be speaking at my church's missions conference this coming week. :D Last night was spent swapping missionary stories around the table. I can't wait until the rest of my relatives come! I love family reunions! Another thing I am thankful for today: Extended family who are Christians.
Here are some pics:
It came just in time for my relatives who flew in from the Philippians yesterday! They are going to be speaking at my church's missions conference this coming week. :D Last night was spent swapping missionary stories around the table. I can't wait until the rest of my relatives come! I love family reunions! Another thing I am thankful for today: Extended family who are Christians.
Here are some pics:
We got more snow last night, but it's too cold to go outside and snap pictures. :)
~Melody
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
To live is Christ
Here's a thought I had last night. When Jesus went into heaven He said He was coming back. (John 14:28.) Now pretty much all of his followers assumed He was returning in their life times. Could that be one of the reasons they all preached the gospel so fervently? Nowadays we have seen that Jesus hasn't come back yet, and while we know He will, it could be another 2000 years from now! Or it could be in an hour. So we do send out missionaries, but we tend to think that we have time before He returns.
As Jesus rose back into heaven after saying He would come back, I can picture the disciples thinking, "He's coming back! Oh my goodness! He might be coming back in a couple of days! I need to go tell everyone I know about Him!" And even as the years progressed that still might be thinking that he would come back before they died.
Most of us Christians have grown way to comfortable. Obviously there are some people God has called to the mission field and others that God has called to stay at home, but even at home we need to be missionaries. We are afraid to share the gospel because it is out of our comfort zone, we might mess up, it might make your friendship with that person weird, it might ruin your reputation, etc. The disciples honestly didn't care about that stuff. I mean Paul wasn't afraid to send letters to churches confronting them on areas where they had stumbled. That definitely might have affected the way they felt about Him.
If the 12 disciples were here today, that would say we were wimps and caught up in worldly pleasures. And they would be completely right.
~Melody
As Jesus rose back into heaven after saying He would come back, I can picture the disciples thinking, "He's coming back! Oh my goodness! He might be coming back in a couple of days! I need to go tell everyone I know about Him!" And even as the years progressed that still might be thinking that he would come back before they died.
Most of us Christians have grown way to comfortable. Obviously there are some people God has called to the mission field and others that God has called to stay at home, but even at home we need to be missionaries. We are afraid to share the gospel because it is out of our comfort zone, we might mess up, it might make your friendship with that person weird, it might ruin your reputation, etc. The disciples honestly didn't care about that stuff. I mean Paul wasn't afraid to send letters to churches confronting them on areas where they had stumbled. That definitely might have affected the way they felt about Him.
If the 12 disciples were here today, that would say we were wimps and caught up in worldly pleasures. And they would be completely right.
~Melody
Sunday, February 20, 2011
A Wonderful Sunday
I had a wonderful day today. I spent the entire day with my church family, learning, laughing, and socializing. I had church and Sunday school, then I had choir practice, then I had youth group. What could be better then spending a day with your spiritual family a.k.a. your best friends? They did give me a cold, but I love them anyways.
My church is starting another church, and today we had the people who are going out to be a part of it, prayed over. It was bitter sweet. We were all happy because we knew they were following the Lord's guiding, but it was bitter because they are family. Its hard to see them go, and tears were gathering in my eyes as we prayed for them.
In youth group my absolutely awesome youth pastor was teaching on Luke 6:41-42. Its was a great reminder not to be judgemental. As he was teaching, I was thinking about how much I would miss them all if I left. I have attended 3 different churches in my life time, and the one thing that has taught me is to not take my church for granted.
Sorry I haven't been posting any insights I've had lately. I have been negelcting to talk to God as much as I usually do throughout the day, so I've been kind of out of the loop of what He wants to show me. :(
~Melody
My church is starting another church, and today we had the people who are going out to be a part of it, prayed over. It was bitter sweet. We were all happy because we knew they were following the Lord's guiding, but it was bitter because they are family. Its hard to see them go, and tears were gathering in my eyes as we prayed for them.
In youth group my absolutely awesome youth pastor was teaching on Luke 6:41-42. Its was a great reminder not to be judgemental. As he was teaching, I was thinking about how much I would miss them all if I left. I have attended 3 different churches in my life time, and the one thing that has taught me is to not take my church for granted.
Sorry I haven't been posting any insights I've had lately. I have been negelcting to talk to God as much as I usually do throughout the day, so I've been kind of out of the loop of what He wants to show me. :(
~Melody
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
God on the slopes
I want to share an experience I had today when I went skiing. Personally, I love skiing. There is something about gliding over the snow so fast you feel like you are flying that appeals to me. I love going over small jumps and catching a few seconds of air. I love alpine skiing. As long as it doesn't end up being cross-country skiing (I strongly dislike cross-country skiing) and as long as the slope I am on is in my range of physical ability.
The place I was skiing had added quite a few new runs and chairs that I had not tried out yet. I normally know this place like the back of my hand, but I was getting thrown off by all the new chairs and runs.
On my second run I did the trail that is as far as you can go to the right. I then remembered I had a skiing lessons, and a friend to meet, so I decided to race down to the lodge. I run into a chair lift I have never seen before. The rest of the hill behind the chairlift is blocked off, so I must go up the chair lift. So I ride the chair lift up, convince myself that I know where I am, and head off in the direction I think the lodge is. How wrong I am. To make matters worse, it is snowing, and I am freezing.
I race in the direction of the lodge (in my mind that is) when really I am going in the wrong direction. I end up at another chair lift. I ask the worker at the bottom what the quickest way is to get back to the main lodge. He tells me to take a left at the top of the chair lift and follow the boundary on my right for a while, then take a green run back to the lodge. As I ride it up, I look down and become uneasy. I have never seen this territory before. Also, there is almost no snow that is packed down, and I hate skiing in powder. As I get to the top I try to remember what the worker told me. I am utterly lost. Did he tell me to keep the boundary on my left? Or on my right? I see the boundary to my left and decide he said to go that way. I am basically cross-country skiing, and up hill sometimes too. I keep telling myself that I'm almost there. Not knowing how far from the truth my thoughts are. I check my phone. No reception.
I start pleading to God to give me strength. I feel like crying, but I know it wont help me at all. As the tears collecting in my eyes steam up my goggles, I keep trudging along wishing it would start going down hill. Finally it does, but then it is so steep and the powder is so thick, that I know I can not ski it. I have been talking to God for a while now. Thanking Him for giving me strength. At this point, I ask him to give me courage, and to help me. I decide that I don't want to get injured way out here, so I take off my skis, collect my skis and poles in my arms, and slide down the hill on my bum. It worked surprisingly well. At the bottom of the hill I started hiking, because the powder was up to my waist, and I would get nowhere on skis. So I hike until I come to some one's ski tracks, then I use there ski tracks as something solid so I can get my skis back on. I take out my cell phone and call my friend I was going to meet. (I suddenly have reception?) I tell her I am hopelessly lost, and will try to get to the lodge as soon as I can. Her mom and my mom are with her and they try to figure out where I am, but ended up not helping at all. I ski through the trees, and eventually come out at the bottom of the chair lift.
I have wasted 40 minutes tiring myself out and doing a loop. I ask the worker again, and this time follow directions. After making a few more guesses on which trails to take, I made it back to the lodge in about 30 min. I had been close to tears for quite a while, and when I walked inside and saw my friend sitting at the table, happiness, thankfulness, and relief bubbled up inside of me and I started crying. I told them more details as I sipped my hot chocolate, munched on cheetos, and tried to stop crying.
Through that, God was my comforter, my strength giver, and my rock. I know he heard me when I told Him I was weary, because He gave me strength. I know He heard me when I told Him I was lost and needed direction, because He guided me. And I know He kept me from getting, frustrated and angry.
So although I wouldn't ever want to do that again, God taught me something from it.
I figured out later, I had gone as far to the left on the slopes as I could go, to as far right on the slopes as I could go.
~Melody
The place I was skiing had added quite a few new runs and chairs that I had not tried out yet. I normally know this place like the back of my hand, but I was getting thrown off by all the new chairs and runs.
On my second run I did the trail that is as far as you can go to the right. I then remembered I had a skiing lessons, and a friend to meet, so I decided to race down to the lodge. I run into a chair lift I have never seen before. The rest of the hill behind the chairlift is blocked off, so I must go up the chair lift. So I ride the chair lift up, convince myself that I know where I am, and head off in the direction I think the lodge is. How wrong I am. To make matters worse, it is snowing, and I am freezing.
I race in the direction of the lodge (in my mind that is) when really I am going in the wrong direction. I end up at another chair lift. I ask the worker at the bottom what the quickest way is to get back to the main lodge. He tells me to take a left at the top of the chair lift and follow the boundary on my right for a while, then take a green run back to the lodge. As I ride it up, I look down and become uneasy. I have never seen this territory before. Also, there is almost no snow that is packed down, and I hate skiing in powder. As I get to the top I try to remember what the worker told me. I am utterly lost. Did he tell me to keep the boundary on my left? Or on my right? I see the boundary to my left and decide he said to go that way. I am basically cross-country skiing, and up hill sometimes too. I keep telling myself that I'm almost there. Not knowing how far from the truth my thoughts are. I check my phone. No reception.
I start pleading to God to give me strength. I feel like crying, but I know it wont help me at all. As the tears collecting in my eyes steam up my goggles, I keep trudging along wishing it would start going down hill. Finally it does, but then it is so steep and the powder is so thick, that I know I can not ski it. I have been talking to God for a while now. Thanking Him for giving me strength. At this point, I ask him to give me courage, and to help me. I decide that I don't want to get injured way out here, so I take off my skis, collect my skis and poles in my arms, and slide down the hill on my bum. It worked surprisingly well. At the bottom of the hill I started hiking, because the powder was up to my waist, and I would get nowhere on skis. So I hike until I come to some one's ski tracks, then I use there ski tracks as something solid so I can get my skis back on. I take out my cell phone and call my friend I was going to meet. (I suddenly have reception?) I tell her I am hopelessly lost, and will try to get to the lodge as soon as I can. Her mom and my mom are with her and they try to figure out where I am, but ended up not helping at all. I ski through the trees, and eventually come out at the bottom of the chair lift.
I have wasted 40 minutes tiring myself out and doing a loop. I ask the worker again, and this time follow directions. After making a few more guesses on which trails to take, I made it back to the lodge in about 30 min. I had been close to tears for quite a while, and when I walked inside and saw my friend sitting at the table, happiness, thankfulness, and relief bubbled up inside of me and I started crying. I told them more details as I sipped my hot chocolate, munched on cheetos, and tried to stop crying.
Through that, God was my comforter, my strength giver, and my rock. I know he heard me when I told Him I was weary, because He gave me strength. I know He heard me when I told Him I was lost and needed direction, because He guided me. And I know He kept me from getting, frustrated and angry.
So although I wouldn't ever want to do that again, God taught me something from it.
I figured out later, I had gone as far to the left on the slopes as I could go, to as far right on the slopes as I could go.
~Melody
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Reunion
I was thinking today of how wonderful it will be when we come face to face with Jesus Christ. I can picture myself standing before Him, finally perfected, and Him opening his arms to me and saying: "My daughter." What a glorious day that will be! All the trials of the past world will be worth it. I can imagine embracing Him and crying tears of joy. And I will spend forever and eternity with Him in paradise. Paradise in itself will be beautiful, exquisite, and out of this world... but it will seem like icing on the cake compared to meeting my Lord and Saviour face to face. True joy will overwhelm me. I'll have a happiness beyond anything experienced on this earth.
Suppose you had a close friend. Your closest friend in fact. And you could only communicate through phone calls, and letters. And one day, you meet this friend face to face. What would that reunion be like? How much more our reunion with Jesus Christ! We have read His letters, and know some of them by heart. Some of us have written letters back. We have cried out to Him when we are frustrated and have felt his loving presence calm us.
This is why I'm not afraid to die. Like it says in Corinthians: "Where oh death is your victory? Where oh death is your sting?" The sooner I die, the sooner I will meet my Lord and be out of this fallen world. And as Paul says in Philippians: "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
~Melody
Suppose you had a close friend. Your closest friend in fact. And you could only communicate through phone calls, and letters. And one day, you meet this friend face to face. What would that reunion be like? How much more our reunion with Jesus Christ! We have read His letters, and know some of them by heart. Some of us have written letters back. We have cried out to Him when we are frustrated and have felt his loving presence calm us.
This is why I'm not afraid to die. Like it says in Corinthians: "Where oh death is your victory? Where oh death is your sting?" The sooner I die, the sooner I will meet my Lord and be out of this fallen world. And as Paul says in Philippians: "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
~Melody
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Church
I don't know what church you attend, or even if you attend one! But I want to tell you why I believe the church you attend is really important. It kind of ties in with a shortened version of my testimony.
When I was nine, I accepted Jesus into my heart after I realized I didn't recall ever saying a prayer of acceptance. At that time my family was attending a church of about 20-30 people. It was tiny. To be honest, I didn't learn anything there. I was at a spiritual stand still. For 3 years. The pastor left, and there was another family there that my parents clashed with for some reason. So we left there and started attending the church I go to now.
I was 12 at the time, and I started attending youth group, and Sunday school. I helped in the nursery during the sermon because I didn't understand it. But I started growing in my faith. I started asking question after questions. As I learned more I asked deeper questions that often the teacher, or my youth leader couldn't answer. I started reading my bible because I could actually understand it!
That summer, I went on a short mission trip with my youth group. That was the best week of my life. I grew so much in the Lord, and when I came back I just couldn't get enough of my bible. I had a hunger for the word, and a thirst for the Lord. I started listening in on the sermons one Sunday when I was too sick to work in the nursery. And to my surprise I understood what he was talking about!
You can see how big of a role my church played in my spiritual growth. It still plays a huge role. My closest friends are at church. I have trusted adults that I go to for help on anything. I have had my most fun experiences there, and my biggest learning experiences there.
I definitely wouldn't be the person I am today if I had stayed at the tiny church. And I would have missed out on some great friendships. I have visited many other churches and youth groups, and I am always glad that I attend where I do.
That is why I think a good church plays a crucial role in a believer's life.
~Melody
When I was nine, I accepted Jesus into my heart after I realized I didn't recall ever saying a prayer of acceptance. At that time my family was attending a church of about 20-30 people. It was tiny. To be honest, I didn't learn anything there. I was at a spiritual stand still. For 3 years. The pastor left, and there was another family there that my parents clashed with for some reason. So we left there and started attending the church I go to now.
I was 12 at the time, and I started attending youth group, and Sunday school. I helped in the nursery during the sermon because I didn't understand it. But I started growing in my faith. I started asking question after questions. As I learned more I asked deeper questions that often the teacher, or my youth leader couldn't answer. I started reading my bible because I could actually understand it!
That summer, I went on a short mission trip with my youth group. That was the best week of my life. I grew so much in the Lord, and when I came back I just couldn't get enough of my bible. I had a hunger for the word, and a thirst for the Lord. I started listening in on the sermons one Sunday when I was too sick to work in the nursery. And to my surprise I understood what he was talking about!
You can see how big of a role my church played in my spiritual growth. It still plays a huge role. My closest friends are at church. I have trusted adults that I go to for help on anything. I have had my most fun experiences there, and my biggest learning experiences there.
I definitely wouldn't be the person I am today if I had stayed at the tiny church. And I would have missed out on some great friendships. I have visited many other churches and youth groups, and I am always glad that I attend where I do.
That is why I think a good church plays a crucial role in a believer's life.
~Melody
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