This past week's memory verse:
Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in MERCY, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by GRACE you have been saved.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
1 Peter 1:8
Here we go...
The plan:
1 verse (or so) to memorize each and every week.
The challenges:
Time, busyness, laziness.
The goals:
To know the Word in my heart. That it becomes a daily part of life.
My beautiful friend Kristy thought up this ingenious plan. We are relying on each other, helping hold the other person accountable.
3 weeks have successfully come and gone and this week I finally thought about blogging this process! So here we go, 1 verse to memorize every single week will be posted up here on this baby blog. I hope y'all are challenged and inspired to get out of your comfort zone with the Lord.
1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
The plan:
1 verse (or so) to memorize each and every week.
The challenges:
Time, busyness, laziness.
The goals:
To know the Word in my heart. That it becomes a daily part of life.
My beautiful friend Kristy thought up this ingenious plan. We are relying on each other, helping hold the other person accountable.
3 weeks have successfully come and gone and this week I finally thought about blogging this process! So here we go, 1 verse to memorize every single week will be posted up here on this baby blog. I hope y'all are challenged and inspired to get out of your comfort zone with the Lord.
1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
Monday, October 22, 2012
Stillness
Is it impossible for moments of stillness to become a reality? Are moments of nothing, no agenda, no to-do list, no plan, a desired reality never to be reached? What would it require to allow simple moments of calmness to permeate the constant busyness?
These moments of stillness are what I require. I need moments of time in which nothing is occurring. I need moments of no worry, especially no worry in the lack of something to fill my time.
This lack of peace, this lack of rest, is a huge problem with our generation. Living in the technological age the lack of times and places to unplug and pause exponentially decreases than for our parents' generation.
What are the long term effects of this lack of unconnection? How can we better take advantage of the benefits of short, but powerful pauses in the everyday-life?
These moments of stillness are what I require. I need moments of time in which nothing is occurring. I need moments of no worry, especially no worry in the lack of something to fill my time.
This lack of peace, this lack of rest, is a huge problem with our generation. Living in the technological age the lack of times and places to unplug and pause exponentially decreases than for our parents' generation.
What are the long term effects of this lack of unconnection? How can we better take advantage of the benefits of short, but powerful pauses in the everyday-life?
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Unexpected Sunday
It is Sunday morning, a time when I am usually surrounded by a community with shared beliefs and ideas, but today I find myself alone, by myself with time for self reflection. After missing the bus to church this morning I was frustrated. Frustrated with myself for taking that extra five minutes to grab a little more of precious shut-eye. Frustrated that the whole house was gone. Frustrated with being on crutches and not being able to simply walk to church.
This frustration is the complete opposite emotion I want on a Sunday morning, but I could not stop it.
Then something clicked. The wise question of why? popped in my head and my heart. Why was I frustrated? Why am I stuck on something that is unchangeable? Realizing my one dimensional thinking, I decided to embrace this unexpected Sunday morning.
This morning I realized again my need for control, for routine in life. Church is truly one of the biggest blessings in my life; the worship works on my heart in unfathomable ways and there is something special about hearing the Word of God proclaimed in the city of Madison. Church is a necessary part of being a Christian and the community that comes with it is crucial. But for me specifically, I get stuck in the routine of church. I view church as a community in which you have to go to experience. This idea right there, the routine and the desire to attend a church in a building is fundamentally wrong.
Since when did Jesus teach us that church was held every Sunday morning in a building? Since when can community worship and study the Word only during one specific time?
Sitting here seemingly alone, with no one home, I feel more connected to a community then I do many Sunday morning at church. I am excited to dive into the Word with the knowledge that around the world, many are doing the same.
I have gotten so caught up in the routine that I have forgotten the true definition of church. I have forgotten the large number of believers who have no chance to develop a routine because of persecution and lack of a "church" to meet in.
I pray that I continue to see church outside of a building. That I worship God everywhere, that I praise Him in my actions and in my life. I pray to lose that sense of routine and revel in the power of meeting Sunday mornings. I praise You for this unexpected Sunday.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Praise the Lord, my soul
Once again I find myself blogging from a coffee shop chair. I can't even help it that I find, in these pauses in life while sippin on coffee, my blogger mind takes off.
This weekend I am headed to Chicago for a Young Life college leader weekend!!
I am so excited for a chance for fellowship and community, and especially, the opportunity for a refocusing of my mind and spirit.
This spring semester has flown by and in that whirlwind, especially in the last couple weeks, I have found it harder and harder to fully connect and engage with God's love. Falling into the routine of waking up and getting into the word has somehow changed in the last few weeks becoming another thing to check off the to-do list rather than a integral focus point of my day ahead.
I am looking forward to this weekend in the hope that I can be broken out of the monotony and fall back in love with God's love.
My spirit and my soul, where it is today is captured by the David in Psalm 103:
1 Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, my soul.
This weekend I am headed to Chicago for a Young Life college leader weekend!!
I am so excited for a chance for fellowship and community, and especially, the opportunity for a refocusing of my mind and spirit.
This spring semester has flown by and in that whirlwind, especially in the last couple weeks, I have found it harder and harder to fully connect and engage with God's love. Falling into the routine of waking up and getting into the word has somehow changed in the last few weeks becoming another thing to check off the to-do list rather than a integral focus point of my day ahead.
I am looking forward to this weekend in the hope that I can be broken out of the monotony and fall back in love with God's love.
My spirit and my soul, where it is today is captured by the David in Psalm 103:
1 Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, my soul.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Coffee Shop Discoveries
Hello, my new love. I am so happy I have found this hidden gem of a coffee shop overlooking the waters of Lake Monona.
It is here that I am I am realizing just how much more I need to be thankful and prayerful for the little gems in live that God has so amazingly provided me with. I have been so caught up these past few weeks that I feel as if I am caught in the middle of a tornado with my life swirling and whirling speedily around my head. I feel almost out of control, everything is moving so quickly that I have forgotten God's tiny moments of goodness He gives me every day.
Give me pause, Lord. Let me take in the wonderful hidden gems You have provided me with. Center my life around Your glory and Your goodness.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Grateful
How much in my life do I take for granted?
Think about this question as you go through your day today and as you live life this upcoming week; you might be surprised.
Think about this question as you go through your day today; you might be surprised.
I know I was.
Think about this question as you go through your day today and as you live life this upcoming week; you might be surprised.
Think about this question as you go through your day today; you might be surprised.
I know I was.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Today's Discoveries
Today is great, but weird. And as Cecily put it, "it is leap day, no wonder why everything feels weird!" Those are my thoughts exactly. On this day that comes only once every four years I cannot explain the weird, good but crappy-ness of this day. Today, this is my attempt to put together the good, and the weird, of this leap day 2012.
So here it is the good the bad and the weird, Leap Day edition:
Good:
- It was spring-y outside this morning on my walk to class (a nice 48 degrees and sunny and windy morning).
- Waking up slowly.
- Catching up with friends.
Bad:
- As I left class the sky turned ominous-looking and, see ya later Mr.Sun rain is on its way.
- Wanting to snuggle under my favorite blanket all day long.
- Having an exam to study for while having absolutely no motivation.
Weird:
- Wisconsin weather in general is just inexplicable and crazy, but I have learned that Patagonia is my best friend in these weird weather times.
- Having a coffee pot break thus making our kitchen a steam room complete with foggy windows.
Another Really Really Really Good:
God. He knows exactly how I am feeling through this weird day without giving me the ability to express it. Through the Word, He has been sending me words of comfort and wisdom and giving me purpose in these seemingly insignificant days.
Today, He is teaching me how to Pray, how to be constantly in conversation with Him. He is teaching me that prayer is an amazing form of WORSHIP.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. -Colossians 4:2
I will strive to do just that. Today, I am striving to devote myself to worshiping Christ in prayer. I am striving to be watchful of the little things in my life on this day being thankful for each and every weird thing.
Happy Leap Day
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
72 Days of Freedom
72 Days for the 27 million
Starting yesterday Passoncity Church in Atlanta, Georgia began this period of 72 days last night.
This art installation created at Passion in January was rebuilt and now stands at the Church being a visual reminder of the 27 million people in the world that are trapped in slavery right at this moment.
Modern day slavery is real.
The human trafficking industry is thought to bring in around $32 billion dollars.
Indifference is not an option.
These 72 days, from February 27 to May 8, are meant for prayer, reflection, and action. For more information on what you can do and for specific topics to pray for visit the website: 72daysforfreedom.com
This art installation created at Passion in January was rebuilt and now stands at the Church being a visual reminder of the 27 million people in the world that are trapped in slavery right at this moment.
Modern day slavery is real.
The human trafficking industry is thought to bring in around $32 billion dollars.
Indifference is not an option.
These 72 days, from February 27 to May 8, are meant for prayer, reflection, and action. For more information on what you can do and for specific topics to pray for visit the website: 72daysforfreedom.com
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Servant's Heart
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others about yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of others.
Philippians 2:3-4
Lord, prepare in me a servant's heart. Let me serve without being served, expecting nothing in return.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
True Silence
A very wise person gave this to me to read:
True silence is a suspension bridge that a soul in love with God builds to cross the dark, frightening gullies of its own mind, the strange chasms of temptation, the depthless precipices of its own fears that impede its way to God.
True silence is the speech of lovers. For only love knows its beauty, completeness, and utter joy. True silence is a garden enclosed, where alone the soul can meet its God. it is a sealed foundation that he along can unseal to slacken the soul's intimate thirst for him.
True silence is a key to the immense and flaming heart of God. it is the beginning of a divine courtship that will end only in the immense, creative, fruitful, loving silence of final union with the Beloved.
True silence is a suspension bridge that a soul in love with God builds to cross the dark, frightening gullies of its own mind, the strange chasms of temptation, the depthless precipices of its own fears that impede its way to God.
True silence is the speech of lovers. For only love knows its beauty, completeness, and utter joy. True silence is a garden enclosed, where alone the soul can meet its God. it is a sealed foundation that he along can unseal to slacken the soul's intimate thirst for him.
True silence is a key to the immense and flaming heart of God. it is the beginning of a divine courtship that will end only in the immense, creative, fruitful, loving silence of final union with the Beloved.
-Catherine de hueck Doherty, Poustinia
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Running running running
I love running. That is just one of those crazy things about me. I love everything about it. I especially love that I get to run everyday with an amazing group of girls. Running track at UW Madison is the one of the greatest things I get to experience in my college career. I love each workout, although many kick my butt, and I love every long run.
Running the 800m has challenged me in ways I never thought possible. I never had to rely on God and His power in workouts before running track in college. I have slowly learned what it looks like to rely on Christ in every aspect of my life, using prayer to strengthen my mind and my body.
Last night, after many injuries (a torn ACL and ongoing plantar fasciitis) and setbacks and three years of training, I finally got to race wearing the Wisconsin jersey!!! This was the most amazing experience. The excitement of my coach and my teammates made that race unforgettable. I ran the 600m last night, and despite not running the best time in the world, I had so much fun. I have found my love for racing again and cannot wait for outdoor season to start up. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to represent my university doing something I so dearly love.
 |
| Liz and I after running the 600m at the Red & White Open (2/17). |
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
True Love
Song of Solomon 2:10-13
My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come and the voice if the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.
So happy to be a part of this amazing love story.
My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come and the voice if the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.
So happy to be a part of this amazing love story.
Friday, February 10, 2012
The Future
The future is a vast, unknown place where hope and dreams can be fulfilled or be changed completely. The future is scary, yet exciting. The future will soon become the present and then the past. It is in this ever changing aspect of time that I find the most uncertainty, but along with that uncertainty I also find exciting moments of hope. I have always struggled with the concept of future and what my life will look like a couple months or years from now. Somedays I find it hard to concentrate on the present moments that God has given to me. I tend to lose focus, gazing into the future while dreaming about what is to come. This sense of being lost in the present has come to full force in the past few weeks.
A few weeks ago I got an amazing phone call. I had applied for an internship to work at Saranac Village (a Young Life camp in the Adirondack Mountains) late fall. After volunteering a month last August at Saranac, my heart was touched in ways I never dreamed possible. I absolutely fell in love with the atmosphere that this particular Young Life camp offered. The final week I was there, after a few great and insightful conversations, the wheel was set in motion for me to consider applying for an summer-long internship position.
After a lot of prayer about what this upcoming summer would look like and a lot of wondering where God really wanted me, I took that final step and started filling out the application. Then it was out of my hands.
Almost two weeks ago as I was walking to class I got the call. I was officially offered one of nineteen intern positions at Saranac and I was going to be one of the waterfront interns.
Honestly, I am still have moments when this does not seem like a reality, that I dreamt it all. But, somehow, someway God has given me this amazing opportunity to serve Him, touching the lives of college and high school students this summer. I feel so incredibly blessed to be doing what I love, working on the water all the while worshiping Christ and letting His light shine out from the work I do. I could not have asked for a better way for my summer, and I am especially excited to see just what God is going to do in me and for me in this experience.
This is one of those things that I just want to get up and dance and celebrate everyday. At the same time, thought, I am scared that I am looking towards the future too much. I pray that I keep my head in the present, loving my amazing roommates and friends, just being present. I can only hope that I keep my head on straight and fully enjoy the last few months of my Junior year of college.
A few weeks ago I got an amazing phone call. I had applied for an internship to work at Saranac Village (a Young Life camp in the Adirondack Mountains) late fall. After volunteering a month last August at Saranac, my heart was touched in ways I never dreamed possible. I absolutely fell in love with the atmosphere that this particular Young Life camp offered. The final week I was there, after a few great and insightful conversations, the wheel was set in motion for me to consider applying for an summer-long internship position.
After a lot of prayer about what this upcoming summer would look like and a lot of wondering where God really wanted me, I took that final step and started filling out the application. Then it was out of my hands.
Almost two weeks ago as I was walking to class I got the call. I was officially offered one of nineteen intern positions at Saranac and I was going to be one of the waterfront interns.
Honestly, I am still have moments when this does not seem like a reality, that I dreamt it all. But, somehow, someway God has given me this amazing opportunity to serve Him, touching the lives of college and high school students this summer. I feel so incredibly blessed to be doing what I love, working on the water all the while worshiping Christ and letting His light shine out from the work I do. I could not have asked for a better way for my summer, and I am especially excited to see just what God is going to do in me and for me in this experience.
This is one of those things that I just want to get up and dance and celebrate everyday. At the same time, thought, I am scared that I am looking towards the future too much. I pray that I keep my head in the present, loving my amazing roommates and friends, just being present. I can only hope that I keep my head on straight and fully enjoy the last few months of my Junior year of college.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
In the Life of Mel
It is officially a new year, and although this is old news (yes, I am a month late... oops!), I am still embracing the newness and the new possibilities and opportunities I have to look forward to. The start of the new semester has been filled celebrations, joy, laughter, friends, and surprises.
Also since the last time I posted, I got the amazing opportunity to travel with my family to the Dominican Republic (I can officially check that off my bucket list) for Christmas.
After the DR, I was off on another plane headed to Baltimore where I got to see some amazing people whom I worked with during the month of August at Saranac Village (a Young Life camp in upstate NY). After the ball dropped on New Years, I headed in a car to Atlanta!
Travel was my middle name during winter break. Atlanta welcomed us weary travelers with open arms as we headed to Day 1 of Passion Conference (there probably will be a few posts about this later as well). Passion was one of the best experiences of my life; being surrounded with 45,000 college students worshiping and praising God was an eye opening, once in a lifetime, experience. I was moved to actually take a stand for Justice becoming an active part in the movement of freeing the 27 million trapped in slavery today. The 4 days spent at Passion were, all in all, indescribable and life changing.
After one last worship session led by Chris Tomlin and the gang, some amazing people and I headed back on the road with our eyes focused on our final destination, Virginia. After a crazy, and semi-scary, experience through a teeny-tiny old Southern town just to find a Sonic and many gas stops later, we finally reached Ashburn, VA.
Ashburn was my home for my final 2 days of adventure. And, after a quick pit stop in DC and a delicious lunch with friends I headed back to an airport. I hopped on a plane a whopping 16 days after leaving for the DR with my family. Milwaukee bound I reflected on just how blessed I truly am in my life. Flying always provides me with the quiet time I need after a long vacation to revisit the places I have gone and the ways God worked in the situations I was placed in.
My travels were a whirlwind, but I would not have had it any other way. I got to experience a vast amount of God's beauty, both in scenery and in the way He moves in those I am surrounded with on a daily basis.
Also since the last time I posted, I got the amazing opportunity to travel with my family to the Dominican Republic (I can officially check that off my bucket list) for Christmas.
After the DR, I was off on another plane headed to Baltimore where I got to see some amazing people whom I worked with during the month of August at Saranac Village (a Young Life camp in upstate NY). After the ball dropped on New Years, I headed in a car to Atlanta!
Travel was my middle name during winter break. Atlanta welcomed us weary travelers with open arms as we headed to Day 1 of Passion Conference (there probably will be a few posts about this later as well). Passion was one of the best experiences of my life; being surrounded with 45,000 college students worshiping and praising God was an eye opening, once in a lifetime, experience. I was moved to actually take a stand for Justice becoming an active part in the movement of freeing the 27 million trapped in slavery today. The 4 days spent at Passion were, all in all, indescribable and life changing.
After one last worship session led by Chris Tomlin and the gang, some amazing people and I headed back on the road with our eyes focused on our final destination, Virginia. After a crazy, and semi-scary, experience through a teeny-tiny old Southern town just to find a Sonic and many gas stops later, we finally reached Ashburn, VA.
Ashburn was my home for my final 2 days of adventure. And, after a quick pit stop in DC and a delicious lunch with friends I headed back to an airport. I hopped on a plane a whopping 16 days after leaving for the DR with my family. Milwaukee bound I reflected on just how blessed I truly am in my life. Flying always provides me with the quiet time I need after a long vacation to revisit the places I have gone and the ways God worked in the situations I was placed in.
My travels were a whirlwind, but I would not have had it any other way. I got to experience a vast amount of God's beauty, both in scenery and in the way He moves in those I am surrounded with on a daily basis.
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