"that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine"
I've been reading through the book of Romans and this verse really stood out to me. Paul's desire to be mutually encouraged by other believers is inspiring. I never realized how great of a blessing other believers are in my walk with Christ.
The knowledge of those wiser then me, the zeal of a new believer, the vulnerability of a close friend, the questions of a seeker.
We have all been the seeker, the zealous new believer, the vulnerable close friend and some of use are already pouring out wisdom to other believers.
God designed us to be in relationship with each other. To pour into the new believer, to help the seeker find answers, to be the vulnerable friend and to seek wisdom.
Being at a school with other believers I forget the power a new believer has on my heart. I forget what it's like to be so on fire for Christ and to excitedly search the scriptures, truly wanting to know more.
Paul says in Romans 12:11 "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit"
If you're anything like me, those words are a little confusing, so I looked a few of them up, I translated it like this, "Do not be lazy in enthusiasm, be passionate in spirit".
A friend told me recently, "Remember, in everything, we can find Christ"
Where ever you are at, Christ will meet you there.
He is all and He is in all. Colossians 3:11
Melanie
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Being two places at once
Whenever I get home from school it's a flood of emotions. Don't get me wrong, I am so so so happy to be home with my sister and my mom, I love them dearly, but I cannot help but feel like something is missing.
My emotions range from happiness one moment to sadness the next. Really, I'm an emotional wreck for the first week.
I've processed through why I am feeling what I am feeling and I came to a few conclusions.
1. Trying to make two places home is hard work
I chose to go away to school, I desired to move out, live on my own, and experience college. I wanted the community of a dorm, I wanted the freedom that college brought and I wanted the independence. That being said, two weeks before I moved away, my childhood house was sold and we were moving to a new town. It was a lot to take in. Not only was I moving away, but when I returned for breaks, it would be in a brand new house, a new neighborhood, and neighbors who I didn't know. It was hard.
I was battling to make Cedarville my home at the same time I was trying to make Toledo my home.
I did not think it was possible to have my heart in two places at once.
2. Community is everything to me.
Wherever I find myself, now or in the future, I know that this statement is true. Community is something I love, something I value, something I cherish. During high school I had a great community and great friends but I knew this was going to come to an end when I moved away. I knew I was going to have to start over and that terrified me. My first year of college, I found 4 best friends. I found my community. We could not be more different, but I love them the same.
Hilary, my spunky roommate and accountability partner. She is so special to me. We have had two years together and we are fully prepared for our third year as roommates. I've learned to appreciate her and value the time I have with her because it is rare, but all the more special. We could not be more opposite, but our strengths are enhanced through each other. I thank God for "randomly" giving me a life long friend.
Lauren, my understandable and loving friend. She shows me grace everyday and I am thankful for that. She teaches me through her innocence and loves me despite my OCDness. She makes me laugh until I cannot breathe and I love it. I thank our RA's for setting up a freshmen dinner that first week otherwise we would not of met. God knew what He was doing :)
Chelsea, my adventurous and free spirited friend. She shows me what it means to love those in need. Never have I met someone more willing to leave something so familiar and so comfortable to serve in an uncomfortable and dangerous area. I admire that. I desire that kind of faith. Chelsea, you teach me the power of love and I thank God for you.
Victoria, my polar opposite friend. Let's face it, we could not be more different and I love it. I love it because I know this friendship is not one I chose, but one He chose. Regardless of where we are at, how many miles separate us, you are still one of my best friends. Your heart is incredible. You give when you have nothing and you love unconditionally. God has shown me how to love others through you.
In Toledo, my community changes. I still have my friends from school, but in a different way. We connect via text, phone, skype and the occasional visits.
My sister will always be my best friend, my community in both places.
Sister, my beautiful, strong, and loving friend. You teach me to dream and to be free. You teach me to learn exactly what it means to be me and to embrace who I am. We are silly, yet serious, we laugh and cry and I wouldn't change one thing about you. You are you and because of this you bless me and countless others. I thank God for giving me not only the best big sister, but also the greatest and most loyal best friend.
3. I am learning my purpose at school and at home...they look very different.
At school I am an RA, a student, a friend and an employee. I have a purpose and I love it. I feel like I am where I belong and I trust the One who placed me there.
At home, my purpose changes. I am not an RA and I am not a student. Sometimes, I feel like I don't have a purpose and that is hard.
I remember my sister telling me something over Christmas break and it has stuck with me ever since. She told me that just because I don't have the same purpose I have at school doesn't mean I do not have a purpose at home. Maybe my purpose at home is to grow, read, write, relax and do things that I enjoy because when the semester starts, these things are harder to do.
Words of wisdom right there sister, thank you :)
I know that a lot of college students who move away wrestle with this and I want to challenge you, just because you feel like you do not have a purpose now that you are home, does not mean that you don't.
Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
My emotions range from happiness one moment to sadness the next. Really, I'm an emotional wreck for the first week.
I've processed through why I am feeling what I am feeling and I came to a few conclusions.
1. Trying to make two places home is hard work
I chose to go away to school, I desired to move out, live on my own, and experience college. I wanted the community of a dorm, I wanted the freedom that college brought and I wanted the independence. That being said, two weeks before I moved away, my childhood house was sold and we were moving to a new town. It was a lot to take in. Not only was I moving away, but when I returned for breaks, it would be in a brand new house, a new neighborhood, and neighbors who I didn't know. It was hard.
I was battling to make Cedarville my home at the same time I was trying to make Toledo my home.
I did not think it was possible to have my heart in two places at once.
2. Community is everything to me.
Wherever I find myself, now or in the future, I know that this statement is true. Community is something I love, something I value, something I cherish. During high school I had a great community and great friends but I knew this was going to come to an end when I moved away. I knew I was going to have to start over and that terrified me. My first year of college, I found 4 best friends. I found my community. We could not be more different, but I love them the same.
Hilary, my spunky roommate and accountability partner. She is so special to me. We have had two years together and we are fully prepared for our third year as roommates. I've learned to appreciate her and value the time I have with her because it is rare, but all the more special. We could not be more opposite, but our strengths are enhanced through each other. I thank God for "randomly" giving me a life long friend.
Lauren, my understandable and loving friend. She shows me grace everyday and I am thankful for that. She teaches me through her innocence and loves me despite my OCDness. She makes me laugh until I cannot breathe and I love it. I thank our RA's for setting up a freshmen dinner that first week otherwise we would not of met. God knew what He was doing :)
Chelsea, my adventurous and free spirited friend. She shows me what it means to love those in need. Never have I met someone more willing to leave something so familiar and so comfortable to serve in an uncomfortable and dangerous area. I admire that. I desire that kind of faith. Chelsea, you teach me the power of love and I thank God for you.
Victoria, my polar opposite friend. Let's face it, we could not be more different and I love it. I love it because I know this friendship is not one I chose, but one He chose. Regardless of where we are at, how many miles separate us, you are still one of my best friends. Your heart is incredible. You give when you have nothing and you love unconditionally. God has shown me how to love others through you.
In Toledo, my community changes. I still have my friends from school, but in a different way. We connect via text, phone, skype and the occasional visits.
My sister will always be my best friend, my community in both places.
Sister, my beautiful, strong, and loving friend. You teach me to dream and to be free. You teach me to learn exactly what it means to be me and to embrace who I am. We are silly, yet serious, we laugh and cry and I wouldn't change one thing about you. You are you and because of this you bless me and countless others. I thank God for giving me not only the best big sister, but also the greatest and most loyal best friend.
3. I am learning my purpose at school and at home...they look very different.
At school I am an RA, a student, a friend and an employee. I have a purpose and I love it. I feel like I am where I belong and I trust the One who placed me there.
At home, my purpose changes. I am not an RA and I am not a student. Sometimes, I feel like I don't have a purpose and that is hard.
I remember my sister telling me something over Christmas break and it has stuck with me ever since. She told me that just because I don't have the same purpose I have at school doesn't mean I do not have a purpose at home. Maybe my purpose at home is to grow, read, write, relax and do things that I enjoy because when the semester starts, these things are harder to do.
Words of wisdom right there sister, thank you :)
I know that a lot of college students who move away wrestle with this and I want to challenge you, just because you feel like you do not have a purpose now that you are home, does not mean that you don't.
Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace"
Your purpose looks different then mine, but you do have one at home...find it.
Melanie
This got me thinking.
Thought I would pass it on.
Enjoy :)
"I know that he married a pridefully independent woman that could potentially ruin him, yet he loves her the same"
http://juliannamorlet.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-been-good-year.html
Thought I would pass it on.
Enjoy :)
"I know that he married a pridefully independent woman that could potentially ruin him, yet he loves her the same"
http://juliannamorlet.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-been-good-year.html
Monday, April 16, 2012
Bitterness
"Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger"
Ephesians 4:26
This verse hasn't always settled with me well. I am an internal, therefore sometimes I need to go to bed angry in order to finish processing why I am angry, don't I?
Well, no.
I don't believe God gave us this command in Ephesians just to be overlooked.
If it was something humans naturally did, would God need to command this of us?
No again.
I've discovered when I go to bed angry, bitterness begins to seep into my heart and then that bitterness begins to grow.
I know what bitterness feels like. I've battled it all my life. I've let bitterness seep into my heart and have control over me. And quite frankly, I don't want it controlling me anymore.
Obviously God understands the destroying ability bitterness has on human hearts therefore he commands us to not let the sun go down with our anger.
All of a sudden, this passage isn't quite so unsettling.
It all makes sense.
Yes anger is real, yes I do get angry, but I don't have to let it control me.
I need to control my anger, not let my anger control me.
Melanie
Ephesians 4:26
This verse hasn't always settled with me well. I am an internal, therefore sometimes I need to go to bed angry in order to finish processing why I am angry, don't I?
Well, no.
I don't believe God gave us this command in Ephesians just to be overlooked.
If it was something humans naturally did, would God need to command this of us?
No again.
I've discovered when I go to bed angry, bitterness begins to seep into my heart and then that bitterness begins to grow.
I know what bitterness feels like. I've battled it all my life. I've let bitterness seep into my heart and have control over me. And quite frankly, I don't want it controlling me anymore.
Obviously God understands the destroying ability bitterness has on human hearts therefore he commands us to not let the sun go down with our anger.
All of a sudden, this passage isn't quite so unsettling.
It all makes sense.
Yes anger is real, yes I do get angry, but I don't have to let it control me.
I need to control my anger, not let my anger control me.
Melanie
Saturday, April 14, 2012
I have been on a journey to find myself.
I have learned that I am incredibly independent.
This can be good and this can be very bad. I realized that my independence can make me stubborn, something I need to work on, but I also realized that my independence inhibits my ability to depend on friends, family, and if I’m not careful, God.
I grew up believing that I needed to be independent. I believed that I needed to be able to support myself because there are “no guarantees” in life. I believed I didn’t need to depend on anyone because I was told I needed to take care of myself.
As much as I admire the women who taught me these things all my life, I discovered I can depend on people; it’s called a community.
God has been teaching me the importance of friendship and loyalty and the difference it makes in my life when people come along side of me and feel with me.
Sometimes words are painful, sometimes they sting, but they also have the power to speak truth.
I’ve also learned that I am an internal. Well, I’ve known that because my sister’s been pointing that out for years. But I’ve recently discovered just what this means.
It means that, I process in my head before I am ready to discuss what I am feeling. It also means I can’t always process with people because I walk away from conversations even more confused then when I went in.
I’ve found that society tries to change internals. We live in a world where people believe in immediate fixing. We desire a quick and easy solution but sometimes quick and easy isn’t always right. Sometimes we need to think and process and internalize and that is okay too.
Internals can’t be externals and externals can’t be internals but I do believe we compliment each other.
My sister and I are quite the pair. I learn from her and she learns from me. She is an external and I am an internal. It has taken us years to appreciate this about ourselves and about each other. I just thought she was strange for always talking about how she was feeling and she thought I was normal for suppressing how was feeling. She wished she could be like me and secretly I wished I could be like her. At least she understood how she was feeling.
I appreciate her bold personality and I appreciate her ability to teach me. Sometimes I think she knows me better then I know myself. Maybe that’s why God made us sisters, someone has to understand me ;)
Melanie
Thursday, April 12, 2012
1 Peter 3:11
"...let him seek peace and pursue it"
Food for the soul.
God is teaching me.
He's teaching me about friendship, about relationships, about myself, about loyalty, about trust, about love, about what it means to truly love Him.
Even though it may seem at times like this world cannot get any harder, or the pain cannot get any worse, I know I was not made for this world, and that brings my heart peace.
I know that my trials and my pain allow me to grow.
James wrote a whole book on it! I read the book of James today and it taught me to persevere through trials because it produces steadfastness, be doers of the word, tame my tongue, be slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to anger, wisdom is from God, live for today and enjoy the present, and never stop praying.
I'm learning from James. His wisdom is from above and I desire such wisdom.
Food for the soul.
God is teaching me.
He's teaching me about friendship, about relationships, about myself, about loyalty, about trust, about love, about what it means to truly love Him.
Even though it may seem at times like this world cannot get any harder, or the pain cannot get any worse, I know I was not made for this world, and that brings my heart peace.
I know that my trials and my pain allow me to grow.
James wrote a whole book on it! I read the book of James today and it taught me to persevere through trials because it produces steadfastness, be doers of the word, tame my tongue, be slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to anger, wisdom is from God, live for today and enjoy the present, and never stop praying.
I'm learning from James. His wisdom is from above and I desire such wisdom.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Finding Your Voice
This has been on my heart to share for awhile as I've been trying to find "my voice".
Certain circumstances have led me to understand the importance of finding my own voice and ultimately God's voice.
I feel sometimes as Christians, we have many people in our lives telling us "the best way to live" or "the right way to be in a relationship" and quite frankly, I hate it. I do not believe there is one way to live or one way to be in a relationship.
God has created each of us unique and each of us in His own image, therefore, none of us are the same. What makes humans unique is their variability. We aren't simply cookie cutter models of someone else.
I am me and you are you and that is okay.
I am an internal processor. I try to figure things out in my head before I discuss them with other people, if I don't, I end up saying things that I don't mean, don't believe, or haven't had the time to figure out on my own therefore I find myself going along with the best fit answer.
I have learned that it is okay to process internally. It is okay to not always have the answers when someone asks for them, and it is okay to be me.
It is okay to find my voice when dealing with a struggle.
I love talking to my friends about what I am going through because I desire for people to come along side of me, walk with me through my struggles, and love me despite my flaws. But sometimes, despite great intentions, I get too many voices and too many people telling me different things and it makes it harder to live. I want to always be me and never lose sight of that. I know what I was created for and I know I have a purpose but my purpose looks very different from everyone else's purpose and that is okay.
God has been teaching to me slow down, to listen, to find Him, and to find me.
I have been overwhelmed recently with a peace I cannot explain.
Even though, in moments, it feels like my world has been flipped upside down, I have peace.
Even though I am drowning in a million worksheets, papers, and exams, I have peace.
Even though I am struggling, I have peace.
And even though I may feel alone, I have peace.
I have a peace that I cannot describe but it is a peace not due to my own work, but a peace that can only come from Him.
I desire to hold on to this peace and remember what this feels like when i'm desperately searching for it.
Finding my voice has sent me on a journey, a journey of prayer, writing, processing and thinking.
But it's times like these when I know God is working because I can feel Him.
Even though conviction sucks, I am thankful for it because it is a gift.
Conviction means, God cares enough about my heart to change something in my life in order bring glory to Him and that is a gift in itself.
Melanie
Certain circumstances have led me to understand the importance of finding my own voice and ultimately God's voice.
I feel sometimes as Christians, we have many people in our lives telling us "the best way to live" or "the right way to be in a relationship" and quite frankly, I hate it. I do not believe there is one way to live or one way to be in a relationship.
God has created each of us unique and each of us in His own image, therefore, none of us are the same. What makes humans unique is their variability. We aren't simply cookie cutter models of someone else.
I am me and you are you and that is okay.
I am an internal processor. I try to figure things out in my head before I discuss them with other people, if I don't, I end up saying things that I don't mean, don't believe, or haven't had the time to figure out on my own therefore I find myself going along with the best fit answer.
I have learned that it is okay to process internally. It is okay to not always have the answers when someone asks for them, and it is okay to be me.
It is okay to find my voice when dealing with a struggle.
I love talking to my friends about what I am going through because I desire for people to come along side of me, walk with me through my struggles, and love me despite my flaws. But sometimes, despite great intentions, I get too many voices and too many people telling me different things and it makes it harder to live. I want to always be me and never lose sight of that. I know what I was created for and I know I have a purpose but my purpose looks very different from everyone else's purpose and that is okay.
God has been teaching to me slow down, to listen, to find Him, and to find me.
I have been overwhelmed recently with a peace I cannot explain.
Even though, in moments, it feels like my world has been flipped upside down, I have peace.
Even though I am drowning in a million worksheets, papers, and exams, I have peace.
Even though I am struggling, I have peace.
And even though I may feel alone, I have peace.
I have a peace that I cannot describe but it is a peace not due to my own work, but a peace that can only come from Him.
I desire to hold on to this peace and remember what this feels like when i'm desperately searching for it.
Finding my voice has sent me on a journey, a journey of prayer, writing, processing and thinking.
But it's times like these when I know God is working because I can feel Him.
Even though conviction sucks, I am thankful for it because it is a gift.
Conviction means, God cares enough about my heart to change something in my life in order bring glory to Him and that is a gift in itself.
Melanie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)