I just wanted to say that I saw my very first shooting star last night. It was amazing. It made me think. I guess things that are in our lives for just a moment have that effect on us, however long the moment. But when you sit and look at all those other stars, it just amazes you. The sky here is so clear. Lights aren't everywhere and you can see so many in the sky. I really love it here.
Ps... I know I forgot to say it in my last post, but I saw Brian McLaren speak last sunday night.... it was awesome. It definately made me do some thinking. I love God.
Also... a quote from Titanic... I know it seems random, but it's not...
"nothing to do but wait... wait to die... wait to live... wait for an absolution... that would never come."
Waiting seems to be the prominate thing in my life. Guess it's helping me to build patience....
Also... A shout out to my cousin Heather who turned 21 today and my best friend Mel who turned 20... I love you guys and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
Just the begining...
Once upon a time, in a place far away, a banana fell in love with a beautiful berry princess. Being young and hot for one another, the two got married and soon started having little bananaberry babies. We recently stumbled upon these delicious little fruits and decided that the time was right to create a delicious little drink in homage to the "fruits of their labors." Found, by Kat, on the side of a jones soda bottle at Jumpin Java. Just thought that was a great way to start this post, for no real reason other than it made us laugh
Well I guess one thing I've been wanting to write about it my new found "Patriotism". With taking this American History class, things seem so different to me then they had before. I am prouder to be an American than I ever have been in my life. It's new for me and I absolutely love it!
WOO-HOO! I just found out some amazing news!!! They just called me... I found out that I don't have to worry about the Sallie Mae loan that I have out because they are taking care of it!!! Woo-hoo! It's going into forbearance, which basically means that there will be a couple of dollars of interest for these last few months, but then when I start school in the fall, it goes into deferment and I don't pay it until I graduate in 4 years, and no interest will be collecting. It was past due and it looked bad on my credit (they clear that up as soon as it goes into forbearance) and I did not have the money to pay for it. God is so awesome. When you trust Him to take care of things, He really comes through. I'm just in awe.
I have some new found friends that are just simply awesome. Jess, Manda, Jeremy, and all the rest. Everyone seems to be so great. My Kitty is visiting me. I love having her here. She's simply one of the most awesome girls I know. And clearly one of the best friends I've ever had.
I have been doing a lot of learning and growing. It's so amazing to have things finally start to click... here is a list of books that have helped to revolutionize my relationship with Christ... you should pick up a few and check them out.... Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren, The Story We Find Ourselves In by Brian McLaren, The Last Word, and the Word After That by Brian McLaren, The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren (which I've only read half of and plan to reread after I finish Velvet Elvis), Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell (which I'm only about a third of the way through, but has already started so much churning in my mind). Books that are still on my reading list... A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren, Aqua Church by Lenard Sweet, and The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. These books have sparked many new thoughts and ideas, fresh new ways of looking at and approaching things (Esspecially the Bible and the teachings of Jesus), many wonderful conversations, and most importantly many talks with God, where He has changed me, shown me parts of myself I hadn't seen before, revealed to me a way to be what I say I am, new desires and feelings, and just completely renewed my heart in the desire I have to FOLLOW IN THE WAYS OF JESUS CHRIST. I'm amazed and awe-struck by God.
I hope that all of you that are reading this take time to really examine what it is you believe and why you do. I know at the very begining of this journey, it seemed as though in the words of McLaren "I was losing my faith", it was just because I was questioning the things I was brought up believing were the truth. Even though this is still just the begining, I feel so radically different. I will continue to post on here some of the dramatic ideas I've been bouncing around with, somethings are just between me, God and some close friends. Pray for me. I appreciate it.
In Love,
Meliss
Well I guess one thing I've been wanting to write about it my new found "Patriotism". With taking this American History class, things seem so different to me then they had before. I am prouder to be an American than I ever have been in my life. It's new for me and I absolutely love it!
WOO-HOO! I just found out some amazing news!!! They just called me... I found out that I don't have to worry about the Sallie Mae loan that I have out because they are taking care of it!!! Woo-hoo! It's going into forbearance, which basically means that there will be a couple of dollars of interest for these last few months, but then when I start school in the fall, it goes into deferment and I don't pay it until I graduate in 4 years, and no interest will be collecting. It was past due and it looked bad on my credit (they clear that up as soon as it goes into forbearance) and I did not have the money to pay for it. God is so awesome. When you trust Him to take care of things, He really comes through. I'm just in awe.
I have some new found friends that are just simply awesome. Jess, Manda, Jeremy, and all the rest. Everyone seems to be so great. My Kitty is visiting me. I love having her here. She's simply one of the most awesome girls I know. And clearly one of the best friends I've ever had.
I have been doing a lot of learning and growing. It's so amazing to have things finally start to click... here is a list of books that have helped to revolutionize my relationship with Christ... you should pick up a few and check them out.... Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren, The Story We Find Ourselves In by Brian McLaren, The Last Word, and the Word After That by Brian McLaren, The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren (which I've only read half of and plan to reread after I finish Velvet Elvis), Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell (which I'm only about a third of the way through, but has already started so much churning in my mind). Books that are still on my reading list... A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren, Aqua Church by Lenard Sweet, and The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. These books have sparked many new thoughts and ideas, fresh new ways of looking at and approaching things (Esspecially the Bible and the teachings of Jesus), many wonderful conversations, and most importantly many talks with God, where He has changed me, shown me parts of myself I hadn't seen before, revealed to me a way to be what I say I am, new desires and feelings, and just completely renewed my heart in the desire I have to FOLLOW IN THE WAYS OF JESUS CHRIST. I'm amazed and awe-struck by God.
I hope that all of you that are reading this take time to really examine what it is you believe and why you do. I know at the very begining of this journey, it seemed as though in the words of McLaren "I was losing my faith", it was just because I was questioning the things I was brought up believing were the truth. Even though this is still just the begining, I feel so radically different. I will continue to post on here some of the dramatic ideas I've been bouncing around with, somethings are just between me, God and some close friends. Pray for me. I appreciate it.
In Love,
Meliss
Friday, July 21, 2006
The Story We Find Ourselves In
So I got home last night and could barely put the book down. I ended up staying up until 2:30 in the morning and finishing it. I got up this morning at 10:30 and started the next book in the series "The Story We Find Ourselves In"... here are a few things that I've pulled out so far...
It's none of your business who does and does not go to hell. It is your business to be warned by it and to run, not walk, in the opposite direction! It's your business to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, to love your neighbor as yourself, to have confidence in Jesus Christ and live as Jesus lived. Let the imagery of hell remind you that life is serious business, that there are real conciquences to how we live and believe and that justice and injustice ultimtely matter more than most of what people worrry about. Now stop speculating about hell and start living for Heaven.
God doesn't want to be the only reality in our lives, the only relationship in our network, the only message on our screen.
I think the story tells us that the Creator wants man and woman to find each other, as a lost part of themselves. And so in the story we have the man and the woman, naked, together, both innocent and passionate, not ashamed to see or be seen, to know and be known, to need and to be needed, to want and to enjoy another being, given by The Being.
It's as if God is the Master Artist and the world is a studio and God creates us in it to be young apprentices, God's students, learning to create too. God created us to be creators (birth, ideas, ext.).
These are just some of the things I've written in my journal to ponder. I am amazed by seeing how much God is changing so much about me. It's such an awesome feeling. Thanks Mama Kathy for listening to me ramble for so long about this. And thanks for your prayers. I love you a ton!
For the rest of you who are reading this, please keep me in your prayers because I have so much going on right now with school and work and living arangements.... so much will be changing and so much is changing in me. I am happy that things are going the way they are and I am trusting in God to lead the way. Please do the same for me :)....
Love,
Spearmint
It's none of your business who does and does not go to hell. It is your business to be warned by it and to run, not walk, in the opposite direction! It's your business to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, to love your neighbor as yourself, to have confidence in Jesus Christ and live as Jesus lived. Let the imagery of hell remind you that life is serious business, that there are real conciquences to how we live and believe and that justice and injustice ultimtely matter more than most of what people worrry about. Now stop speculating about hell and start living for Heaven.
God doesn't want to be the only reality in our lives, the only relationship in our network, the only message on our screen.
I think the story tells us that the Creator wants man and woman to find each other, as a lost part of themselves. And so in the story we have the man and the woman, naked, together, both innocent and passionate, not ashamed to see or be seen, to know and be known, to need and to be needed, to want and to enjoy another being, given by The Being.
It's as if God is the Master Artist and the world is a studio and God creates us in it to be young apprentices, God's students, learning to create too. God created us to be creators (birth, ideas, ext.).
These are just some of the things I've written in my journal to ponder. I am amazed by seeing how much God is changing so much about me. It's such an awesome feeling. Thanks Mama Kathy for listening to me ramble for so long about this. And thanks for your prayers. I love you a ton!
For the rest of you who are reading this, please keep me in your prayers because I have so much going on right now with school and work and living arangements.... so much will be changing and so much is changing in me. I am happy that things are going the way they are and I am trusting in God to lead the way. Please do the same for me :)....
Love,
Spearmint
Thursday, July 20, 2006
A New Kind of Christian
Here are some things I've been reading in A New Kind of Christian and they really are some revolutionary thoughts:
If there is a real, living, active, relevant desire of God and wisdom from God that needs to be brought to bear on our concrete life situation, then both sides (modern and postmodern) better move to the edge of their seats, start praying, start listening to each other and start reading the Bible in fresh new ways for all the wisdom they can mine from it.
The Bible is a family story, telling us what it means to be Children of God. It helps us to know who we are, why we're here, and where we're going.
And you enter Heaven... Heaven is a place of intense brightness, a place fragrant with goodness, a place alive with love. The presance of God seems to pervade everyone and everything, like a light that doesn't shine onto things, but rather shines out of everything, everywhere. In this place, people are humble and genuinely interested in others. They are eager to serve one another and they love to laugh and dance and be free as children. There are no inhabitions. There is nothing to hide. It is a place of true freedom, trust and intimacy. And even though it is a place of great diversity, with people of all cutlures and languages and times retaining their own uniqueness, it is a place where no one argues, no one fights, no one hates, and no one complains-- not because thy aren't allowed to, but because they don't want to, because they accept and love one another completely. They are fully alive.
This book is really helping to rejuvinate my relationship with Christ (I recommend it to everyone who loves to read and would love to discuss it with you if you do read it). Along with everything else He is doing with me right now, this is just one thing that is really awesome.
Please pray for me. I was rejected for my school loan today and so I don't really know where that leaves me... well I'm off to class... write more sometime soon!!!!
If there is a real, living, active, relevant desire of God and wisdom from God that needs to be brought to bear on our concrete life situation, then both sides (modern and postmodern) better move to the edge of their seats, start praying, start listening to each other and start reading the Bible in fresh new ways for all the wisdom they can mine from it.
The Bible is a family story, telling us what it means to be Children of God. It helps us to know who we are, why we're here, and where we're going.
And you enter Heaven... Heaven is a place of intense brightness, a place fragrant with goodness, a place alive with love. The presance of God seems to pervade everyone and everything, like a light that doesn't shine onto things, but rather shines out of everything, everywhere. In this place, people are humble and genuinely interested in others. They are eager to serve one another and they love to laugh and dance and be free as children. There are no inhabitions. There is nothing to hide. It is a place of true freedom, trust and intimacy. And even though it is a place of great diversity, with people of all cutlures and languages and times retaining their own uniqueness, it is a place where no one argues, no one fights, no one hates, and no one complains-- not because thy aren't allowed to, but because they don't want to, because they accept and love one another completely. They are fully alive.
This book is really helping to rejuvinate my relationship with Christ (I recommend it to everyone who loves to read and would love to discuss it with you if you do read it). Along with everything else He is doing with me right now, this is just one thing that is really awesome.
Please pray for me. I was rejected for my school loan today and so I don't really know where that leaves me... well I'm off to class... write more sometime soon!!!!
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Psalm 8:3-5
Well, I guess I can write a quick word or two. I've been at Jumpin Java for like 2 1/2 hours now. I pretty much live here because of the wireless access. Plus the fact that I really don't have anywhere else to go. Today was actually pretty hard. I'd been doing well for a bit there and then today it seemed as though the week caught up with me. I cried for a long while, broke down in my room for a bit, but once I kinda regained my composure it was a little better. Though at some points, I have to catch my breath because I'm still hurting. I had a really good talk with a great friend last night and for a while today and he really just helped me out. It was really good to be able to put everything that is happening into words. And he gave me a peice of his mom's advice, which if you're reading this, really helped. It's weird because people have been giving me words of wisdom that apply to other cercumstances, that I've ended up applying to this one. "You won't get the answers you need until you ask the right questions." -Sarah Harrison. It helped me to re-examine what it is I want to know and I think I've starting asking the right questions. I love my God, and one of the most amazing things about Him is that He will listen to me, and comfort me in a way that most won't. And though I question Him, He is continually there when I need Him. He just captivates my heart. Alright, I'm off to the beach. Gonna walk along the shore and have a talk with the King of all creation.
Spears
Psalm 8:3-5 When I look up and think about Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in their place, what is man, that You think of him, the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little less than the angels and gave him a crown of greatness and honor.
Spears
Psalm 8:3-5 When I look up and think about Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in their place, what is man, that You think of him, the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little less than the angels and gave him a crown of greatness and honor.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Aarrrggg!
Well, between money, friends, family, school and job issues, I see God's hands at work in my life. He is truely taking care of me. I am deeply in love with Him and I see that out of that love comes a heart that is just aching to serve Him in EVERY way possible. It's awesome to see His plan unfolding before my eyes. Every time I've started to complain the last few days, I've stopped and said "Okay back it up, so my life's not perfect? Have you taken at look at ALL of the AMAZING things that God has been doing?" And when I take a step back and look at this big picture I just have to praise Him.
Psalm 9:2-I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
He just continues to awe me and take my breath away.
As for school.... We took our first test Tuesday. I took it and I was banking on just getting a C. I really thought I was going to get a D. But I said if I just get a C then I can make it up on the other 2 tests and get a B or C in the class. I could live with that. So he went through what the class got 4 A's, 6 B's, 9 C's, 6 D's and 4 F's. Well chances were if that many people got C's D's and F's it wasn't lookin too good for me. So the tests came back... I got a B+!!!!! I was ecstatic!!! A B+! If the other 2 tests are anything like that (which he said they are EXACTLY the same), then I am set. Yeah I just can't believe it!
At this point in the blog you've got to be wondering "Then what's the deal with the title?"... Well, I'm a dork. Lol. I went and saw Pirates 2 last night... It was AMAZING! (Dumb joke, I know) I just can't wait to see the 3rd one. I won't say anymore, for the sake of those who haven't seen it yet, but really, go see it.
Alright, I think I'm gonna take off and do some homework and then maybe head up to the beach for a bit.... later people
Meliss
Psalm 9:2-I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
He just continues to awe me and take my breath away.
As for school.... We took our first test Tuesday. I took it and I was banking on just getting a C. I really thought I was going to get a D. But I said if I just get a C then I can make it up on the other 2 tests and get a B or C in the class. I could live with that. So he went through what the class got 4 A's, 6 B's, 9 C's, 6 D's and 4 F's. Well chances were if that many people got C's D's and F's it wasn't lookin too good for me. So the tests came back... I got a B+!!!!! I was ecstatic!!! A B+! If the other 2 tests are anything like that (which he said they are EXACTLY the same), then I am set. Yeah I just can't believe it!
At this point in the blog you've got to be wondering "Then what's the deal with the title?"... Well, I'm a dork. Lol. I went and saw Pirates 2 last night... It was AMAZING! (Dumb joke, I know) I just can't wait to see the 3rd one. I won't say anymore, for the sake of those who haven't seen it yet, but really, go see it.
Alright, I think I'm gonna take off and do some homework and then maybe head up to the beach for a bit.... later people
Meliss
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Our God is Amazing
Well I've got a couple of minutes to update... I just wanted to say how awesome God is. God gives and He takes away and through it all He reveals Himself and His awesome plan! I love Him more today than I ever have before and I hope that I can make that same statement true tomorrow. He is SO awesome and so breath-taking.
Something He showed me last night finally got to my heart....
Matthew 5:5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."
And I finally am. I am happy with who God made me to be. I love myself. God has shown me the beauty and love He put into me when He formed me in the womb. And this is truly a feeling that can't be bought.
Yes I am going through a hard time, but in the words of Job... "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The LORD gave me everything I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!"
God showed me that He will answer my prayers, the way that He sees fit. He shows me that if I ask for something I better be ready for it. And though I wasn't ready for yesterday, I did ask for it. It was actually pretty weird. My last prayer journal entry said "I'm gonna regret saying this as soon as I do, but would you..." and I asked Him to resolve acertainn situation and byGeorgee, He did. Reading it before I wrote in my journal last night I laughed to myself. How can I even be upset when God gave me the only thing I've been asking for for the longest while now? Easy, I can't. So though I'm having a hard time I have to understand, when it starts to hurt, this is part of God's plan and it's important that I give Himcontroll of every part of my life, even if some of it's reluctant to go. I'm giving it up and I'm growing. God is turning me into the woman He made me to be and I am going to revel in every minute of it...
Alright Igota get out of here, there gonna close in a few minutes and I'm gonna go home and get some homework done.... later people
Meliss
Something He showed me last night finally got to my heart....
Matthew 5:5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."
And I finally am. I am happy with who God made me to be. I love myself. God has shown me the beauty and love He put into me when He formed me in the womb. And this is truly a feeling that can't be bought.
Yes I am going through a hard time, but in the words of Job... "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The LORD gave me everything I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!"
God showed me that He will answer my prayers, the way that He sees fit. He shows me that if I ask for something I better be ready for it. And though I wasn't ready for yesterday, I did ask for it. It was actually pretty weird. My last prayer journal entry said "I'm gonna regret saying this as soon as I do, but would you..." and I asked Him to resolve acertainn situation and byGeorgee, He did. Reading it before I wrote in my journal last night I laughed to myself. How can I even be upset when God gave me the only thing I've been asking for for the longest while now? Easy, I can't. So though I'm having a hard time I have to understand, when it starts to hurt, this is part of God's plan and it's important that I give Himcontroll of every part of my life, even if some of it's reluctant to go. I'm giving it up and I'm growing. God is turning me into the woman He made me to be and I am going to revel in every minute of it...
Alright Igota get out of here, there gonna close in a few minutes and I'm gonna go home and get some homework done.... later people
Meliss
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