What He Showed Me This Week

God absolutely amazes me all the time, and this week has been yet another opportunity to see His glory at work. Earlier this week, we helped a homeless man by putting the need out on Facebook and via email, and God's people responded. He has a warm place to stay, food, necessities, and we have more cash to help him even further. Most people from here know him, and know enough of his story to know it was not an easy help. He has some mental instability.... we think from being in a war. God told us to help, and so we did, and so did others... some from as far away as Texas!!! When we dropped him off at the motel, the ladies in the lobby were so struck by what we were doing, they offered up food and snacks. It's the ripple effect. When you show God's love, people respond in kind.

This week  I also got hit by satan with some of my old hurts and hang ups. Sometimes I feel like I'm still this scared, silly little kid who has rage issues and I get hung up on all the bad things I did when I was not walking with Jesus. I know it was an attack, and a pretty major one at that, but I still felt like I was hiding the "me" that I thought I had grown away from, and "me" was still here. I shed some major tears over that at CR on Friday.  Saturday was wonderful, between starting a new sermon series with Ben from Mars Hill Church and then leading kidmo's worship at our church. This morning we got up and went to an infant church, Grace Hills. This was their THIRD official service, and it was amazing. The music and sermon were filled with the Spirit. We felt called to help out.. not to leave our church, which we LOVE, but to help out. I'm not sure how that will look, but I know it's what God is asking us to do. I have a tiny bit of discernment, which means I don't always know what God is planning (and really, WHO DOES????) but I know that He is planning something. I'm curious to see how that will work out. It was funny when we came home, Ben was telling Vaughn and Shelley about checking out a new church, at the movie theater. I guess he is sarcastic too often, because they really thought we went to watch a movie, lol. Nope, we really went to church in a movie theater, and it was awesome.

Last night I talked on Facebook with one of my closest ladies in Christ, who is one of my best friends, as well as my "aunt"... She's actually my cousin if you follow the relationship lines, but she's always been my aunt to me. I just love being surrounded by women who are living life according to what Jesus is calling them to do, even when it's hard. It helps to have other ladies I can bounce my feelings, doubts, and questions off of and they get what I'm asking. He puts people in our lives to support us in our journey to seek and grow in Him. Tonight I was talking to my friend again, and we decided to fast together to seek His plan for us, and to hear Him more. She is doing the Daniel fast, and I'm fasting from facebook and pinterest. When I think about what takes the most time away from my family and my Savior... well... that would be facebook and pinterest. I love talking to my friends and family on facebook and seeing God at work in their lives, and I love pinterest for the recipes and crafts and other things I find on there. I can spend hours between the two, hours that I could be devoting to more important things... like my family, my marriage, and my Savior.

So.... my question to you is this... What do you spend too much time on? What takes you away from the important things in life? What is God calling you to do, that you aren't hearing because you are too busy? I'm busy too, but I also waste a lot of time that I shouldn't. Believe me, I understand wanting "mindless entertainment" sometimes.... but is your mindless entertainment a "sometimes" or an "all the time"? If you find you are falling into the trap of spending too much time on other things, then I ask you to pray about what God wants you to change. Turn everything off, and just go to a quiet spot and PRAY. Pray for His guidance, His understanding, His love... pray that He shows you what you need to change and how He wants you to use your gifts. This is a gift I didn't even know I had.... and yeah, I may not be very good at it, but it's coming straight from my heart, where Jesus is fully involved. Maybe your gift is serving others in the community.... maybe it's serving people in another country by way of missions.... maybe it's financial support of missions or those serving in the community... maybe it's prayer.... maybe it is serving in the children's ministries at your church... maybe ... maybe... maybe... There are so many different ways He will use you if you just let Him. He uses all parts of the body.. hands, feet, heart, head, arms.... to do His work. You won't know what He wants you to use until you ask Him....

Oh, and one more thing... I found a new scripture this week that I love:

And they have conquered him (the enemy) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Revelation 12:11

The parentheses are my addition to it. What a powerful verse! By the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.... What will be your testimony? Will you love your life, or NOT love it even to death? I know which I am striving for....... God Bless my friends!!!!!

Consider It Joy

Did you ever wonder what that means? " Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." James 1:2. I really had no clue until I got closer to God, and faced all the trials we have faced. There are days I struggle with it though. How can I be joyful when life is falling apart around me? When sickness, strife, financial woes, and all the other stuff that goes wrong happens on an almost daily basis, how do you find joy?

I guess we have to start with what joy is... The dictionary states it is something that brings great pleasure and happiness. Ok, I get that. But how can you find joy in the midst of strife? Let's see what the Biblical scholars say... The happy state that results in knowing and serving God. Yeah, ok, that makes a lot more sense! So by serving God, even deep in the pit, I can find joy. So when I see someone suffering and I seek to help them, even on my "bad days" I'm finding joy. When I offer up myself to do God's will and whatever He asks of me, I find joy. When life hands me lemons, God shows me His version of lemonade... pure joy.

So today was awful. My teen hurt her knee... the doctor's office called an hour before her appointment to tell me they couldn't see her because she turned 18... the doctor at the clinic we went to couldn't give us crutches and prescribed some, but no one could help us.... I got hit with the migraine to end all migraines and ended up puking.... the kids were punks.... just one of those days. We've had a few of those days lately. In the midst of it though, I heard from the family we helped a few weeks ago, and they have moved to Eureka Springs and are praising God for the blessings in the midst of their troubles. The other family travelling home to Idaho made it safe and sound with the provisions that God gave them. A great friend sent me a reminder of the teaching this weekend..... Our pastor preached on the "light afflictions" that occur in our lives that lead to the "eternal weight of glory." This really struck me. In fact, it has been my mantra since Saturday night. Light afflictions equals lemons and strife while eternal weight of glory equals joy.... pure joy. The joy of knowing that EVERYTHING that happens here will be nothing compared to the wonderful things we'll experience in heaven. That nothing satan throws at us will matter..... that the love that God gives us is the most important thing..... That we can rest on the fact that it is all worth it in the end.......

Walking

How do you know if you are on the right path? Is it a feeling? Or the things that happen? Is it a gaining of something? What clues you in?

For me, the path I've been on for the last few years hasn't been easy. It's gotten harder and harder the closer I've gotten to God. I struggle with whether I'm following His will or mine at times. Sometimes it's hard to hear what He's asking me to do. Other times, though, it's so very clear.

It's been almost a year since He told me to quit my job during an intense prayer day. Even then, I questioned it. His response? "Daughter, why are you doubting me? Have I not taken care of you this entire time?" WHOA.... What do you say to that??? Uh, yes, sir... You have. And You do. So despite the fact that we would become a family with no "real" income, I quit my job. It was one of the hardest things I've done. However, the blessings that have happened in the last year have been unbelievable.

We've had many things go wrong, and many people look down on us for not doing what we "should" be doing. The thing they don't understand is we don't live life for the world. We live life for God, and for the promise that we will be with Him when this life is done. The choices we make are based on prayer and trying our hardest to live life for Him, and not ourselves. In the last year, I've gotten closer to Him than I've ever been before. We've had really difficult times, but the joys of knowing God is with us and giving us exactly what we need when we need it has been awesome. When I doubt, He shows me how silly I am. When I question, He gives me an answer, usually in the most unbelievable way. When I'm sad, He shows me love. When I'm happy, He shows me even more love.

I prayed one night for direction, that I wanted to be doing what He wants me to do. The next day, my good friend Kathy called me and asked if I would join her and Jen, who I was also friends with but didn't know very well, in a Discipleship class. Talk about God's timing being perfect!!! We began our study, and while I still think I am very young in my faith, this has brought me closer and closer to Him. It has also brought me closer to them, and they have become some of my best friends. When I have a problem, they are among the first I call, if not the first. We have grown closer in our faith, and closer in our relationship. Satan attacks us constantly, and it's almost funny sometimes to see it coming. They always seem to be when we are in a crucial moment of learning how to be closer to God. For instance, Saturday at lunch our girls, 5 and 6, asked to be baptized, to die to self and live life for Jesus. That night, Jonah started puking.  We always meet on Tuesdays, and this week Jen's daughters are sick. In the last few months, we've all battled intense migraines, illnesses that should only last a few days that last for weeks, and struggles with kids, family and friends. And yeah, I get that the average person is probably rolling their eyes right now and saying, "Really, Mel, everyone deals with that kind of stuff". But.... when you live life for God, you KNOW when it's Satan. And you know how to battle him. You pray. And pray. And pray..... pray without ceasing.

I never knew what that meant til I got closer to Him. Now I get it. And He brings me closer and closer to Him each day. He's showing me how He wants me to serve Him. He's showing me where He wants me to go. I feel like I'm walking to Ninevah. I have NO idea what our Ninevah will be, but I know we are headed that way, so I'll keep walking. And the more I walk, the closer I'll get. Wanna walk with me? It's pretty easy, but it's also pretty hard. You'll face good times and bad. You'll be on the receiving end of happiness and sadness. You'll question and wonder. You'll receive answers, but sometimes not the ones you want. But through it all, you'll know you are headed to something wonderful!!!

Strong Enough

So I was listening to the radio on the way to the grocery store this morning, and Strong Enough by Matthew West came on. I've heard it before but had not really listened to it. So I cranked it up and started singing along, and the lyrics just hit me...
Lord, I'm not strong enough for everything we're going through, and I feel like we're at rock bottom already. We've been looking up for sometime and have seen some amazing blessings come through, so we know we're following Your will. In the last year and a half... two years really when it all began to "go downhill"... we've been blessed more times than we can count. The kids have had the best Christmases they've ever had during our rock bottom.This year, we were even able to help another family who is struggling. Ben and I have grown stronger together, with You at the utmost center of our relationship. Our necessities have been covered... utilities and rent, groceries, vehicles... even through repossession, illness, car repairs and being flat broke. Just when we think, "Ok, how is this going to come together?" YOU make it happen. Not us, You. You work through Your people... people who don't even follow you yet, people who are living the life you've called them to, and people who are just getting started.
I know You have an amazing plan for us. I see it unfolding and am prepared for whatever You are asking of us. I want to do Your will. I love how You are using us to shine Your glory. My prayer is that we continue to be open to what changes may come. That even when things get harder, which I'm certain they will, that You give us the strength to go on. That we remember that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, and that when people look at us, they don't see us, they see You. I pray that our life is a beacon to others to follow You, no matter what happens or how hard it gets and that they can do what You ask of them, joyfully. Thank You Lord Jesus, for loving us and trusting in us. Thank You for bringing us to things that are impossible for us to do on our own, and teaching us to trust in You. Thank You for allowing us to be an example, even if we think we aren't a very good one. I know that You know what is best.....

Listening to Him....

I've thought a lot about what I would write if I decided to tell the story about what God's done in our life. Where do I start? I'm not a writer. At the beginning or in the middle? I'm not totally sure... so I'm praying constantly as I write this, and God will guide my words. This week has been an amazing testimony to what He can do for us. Last Friday, we served at Laundry Love (for those of you who don't know what that is, it's a volunteering opportunity in which quarters, soap and all the needs for doing laundry are provided by volunteers, and our group prepares and serves a meal to those who could use a little love once a month... it's a fun awesome way to serve!) We had the best experience we've ever had. We met a couple, H & M, and their four kids, ages 12, 4, 2 1/2 and 1. The 12 year old came up to us before we started and asked if there was something he could do to help. We said sure, and set him up with gloves and showed him what we would be doing. He worked with us until the "stragglers" came through the line and then got himself food. In the meantime, we had figured out he was H & M's son, and the three sweet little ones were his siblings. We were amazed to watch them sit on their blanket and eat every bite of their food, quietly and calmly. Unusual for such small kids, you know? H & M came through the line and then asked if they could have seconds. The little guys got seconds too. It was about this time that we all realized they were very hungry and needed a little more love than we usually dish out each month. Once everyone had come through the line and gotten seconds if they wanted them, we packed up the food to send home with them. Their 12 year old came and asked if they could have some. We told him we were fixing them up, to not worry. Have I mentioned what a sweet, well mannered child he was??? One of the ladies in our group went to the grocery store to buy them some more food, and we left one bag out on the table, like we usually do, in case someone else was hungry. For the first time ever, that bag sat there.... and sat there.... and sat there. One lady came up to tell us how good the food was that night, and we offered it to her. She declined, saying maybe there was someone who needed it more. That NEVER happens. Usually when we put food out, it's scooped up faster than we can bag it up! So while K was at the grocery store, I talked with H & M to find out their story. They moved here from a town a couple of hours away in the hopes of being able to find better work. They had a home lined up, but that fell through when they got here. They moved into a motel with their four kids and have been hitting food banks, selling items, and doing what they could to make it. He had found a job with a temp agency, but they laid him off right before Christmas and as of this week, had not been able to go back. There'll be more to that story shortly. She's been looking for work too, but they can't afford to work a minimum wage job and pay for child care. For Christmas, she got on Craigslist and asked people for used toys that were in good shape. She said the kids had one of the best Christmases they've ever had. They had no idea Laundry Love was going on when they got there... they saw the sign after they came in, and then were amazed to be receiving a meal as well. When K got back, we gave them everything and also the lone bag that was left on the table. We got their telephone numbers and exchanged names, and I asked if it would be ok to call them and see how they were doing. They hugged us, the little kids too, which was really sweet and told us how thankful they were that we were there. On Monday, I called to invite them to our weekly Bible study, and asked if there was anything they needed. H told me she hated to ask, but was out of milk and eggs and hadn't heard from the DHS office yet.... they had applied a month ago. I took them what they needed and talked a little more, and scoped out the size of their fridge and where they were living. We made plans to go grocery shopping when I got my money on Wednesday, even though we didn't really have a lot to use. We figured God would provide what we needed later on. They were excited about coming over, so we set it up and I gave them directions, then came home and emailed and called our group to set up the meal. K came over that evening to bring stuff for us to prepare for dinner and told me she had news. She had asked to borrow her boss's Sams card so she could shop in bulk, and explained why when he asked. He gave her his Visa card and told her to get what they needed for groceries for a month! Praise the Lord!!!  He answered the need we had before it even became an issue as well as providing more than what we could have for them!!! They came over early to play and offered to help cook, as the kids played and we chatted about life. Then we had a wonderful taco meal and began Bible study. They jumped right in and participated. It was awesome! We finalized plans to get together Wednesday after my teenager got home to watch my kids.

Wednesday afternoon, another friend from our group called to see if we could come look at the van of a family she had met that day. They were travelling home to Idaho and were broken down. The mom has a kidney infection and was very sick. She was travelling with her 14 year old son, her daughter, and her daughter's husband. We couldn't fix the van, so we set out to help them in other ways. While my friend was taking them to walmart to get their oil changed, I called another friend to see if she had any ideas, and her husband met us to give them some cash for food. Between them, we were able to get them enough for a cheap hotel room, gas money for the trip, and groceries while they traveled. They were able to leave the next day, praising God for blessing them by meeting my friend and all of us working together to meet their needs. I called H and told her what was going on, and made plans to meet up with her shortly thereafter. We went to the grocery store and were able to fill her cart up with necessities for a week! On the way home, she told me again how thankful they were that they had met us. We talked about how God works to bring people together to lean on and help each other. M had gone in to work, only to be told he'd just wasted his gas money getting there as they did not need him, so we were brought into their lives at exactly the right time.

Isn't it amazing how God works sometimes? We've been serving at Laundry Love for a while now, about 18 months. This was the first time He spoke to us about a particular family and said, "These are my people. Love on them."  The blessings we've had from meeting them have been unfathomable. They are coming to our church tomorrow and are very excited about it. We talked about how God lives in each one of us, and how Jesus taught us to love one another. "Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me." Some people make excuses as to why they couldn't help in a situation such as this. We accepted what God asked us to do, and were able to bless two families in one week and experience God's love for everyone. It doesn't matter if you are poor, tattooed, pierced or homeless..... God loves each and every one of us. He doesn't discriminate and is aching for us to follow His example and love our fellow men. If we can do this when we have "nothing" to give, what's stopping you? It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, you have something to offer to someone... It may be nothing more than a "Hey, how ARE you?"..... or seeing a need and meeting it financially or physically. You are a follower of God, therefore you are equipped to give. A book I'm reading said God gave us one mouth and two ears, and we should use them accordingly. Are you stopping to listen to Him? Are you asking Him what He wants you to do, and then hearing what He tells you? Can you hear Him? If you follow Jesus, you know His teachings, and you know He wants you to love. How do you show that love? How do you let God's glory shine through you? It starts with prayer. Ask Him to show you what He wants of you, then sit quietly and listen. Receiving a blessing is awesome, but being able to allow God to use you to give a blessing, that's the best thing in the world! Knowing that you are obeying God is worth more than anything this world has to offer. Are you ready to do that? To obey is to show Him you love Him too. He honors His promises to those who obey Him. So take some time, quiet your world and pray. Let Him speak to you.... It will be the best thing you've ever done!!!