One Day You Will

It's been such a wonderful morning. I woke up about 7 this morning and couldn't fall back to sleep. I was sitting around thinking I needed to do something, then I thought... hmm I think I'll climb Pinnacle Mountain. I'm so happy when God gives me feelings like that. He blessed me through so much today, I tackled my mountain today. :). It's a hard road on the way up when you take the road less traveled (aka the east summit haha) but so worth it when you reach the top and feel the breeze. God is so good and blesses me without end!

Also, great song...
"One Day You Will" by Lady Antebellum!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB_rRIWoGAA

Happiness and Joy.

I was listening to one of the christian radio stations and there was an excerpt on the difference between happiness and joy.

Simply stated:
Happiness is something temporary. If I gave you 1 million dollars, you'd be happy, right? If I took it away, well, let's just say you'd not be too happy.
Joy is contagious, promising and unending. Joy can mark an important occasion in your life or can persevere through even the deepest pain.

I thought about it more. There is a difference. I get happy about things: seeing people, having good things happen to me, being happy with a person for a long period of time and etc. Then if you really think about it, sometimes you won't always see the people you want to, sometimes bad things happen to good people and sometimes the people you love walk out of your life. We fall into sadness, depression, questioning and hurt.

Joy comes from deep within. True joy comes from Jesus Christ. I realized through it all, I still continue to trust in the one I call Savior and make my heart his. I still have the same JOY in Christ as I did when I walked down the isle at 8 years old and claimed him as my Eternal Father. My happiness may become robbed but my JOY... my HOPE.. my FAITH last forever in God. If all happiness in this world stemmed not from one person or one thing but from the JOY we receive from the Lord, the world would be so different. In these times, I need to remind myself that I have the best kind of joy in my heart that surpasses any happiness that I may become robbed of. I challenge myself and you to stem your happiness in life off the JOY you receive in the name of Jesus Christ.

I choose JOY.

Live. Laugh. Love.

Melissa

By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North

This song.. just floored me. It's for me. God has a way of speaking to you when you need it the most. Thank you God for constantly showing me that you are holding me.


Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

Live. Laugh. Love.

Melissa

Trying...

Isaiah 41:10 says:
Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will
strengthen you, I will help you, I will hold you up with my righteous hand.

"Fear not, for I am with you": In my darkest of times... when I feel completely alone, I have to remember to thank God for this assurance he has given me. He IS ALWAYS with me. I haven't thanked him enough or aknowledged that enough today.

"Do not be dismayed, for I am your God": To be dismayed by defintion is: to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble. Why? Because he IS MY God. He will never leave me.. "or forsake me." Thank you God... for being my ultimate love that made the universe and the stars... yet you still choose to call me your own.

"I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will hold you up with my righteous hand" When I am literally face flat on the floor and broken hearted... my God gives me endurance to press on, he heals my heart and holds me up as I walk on. I need to remember this more too..

Isaiah 41:10 is a beautiful verse. It's a reminder that I not only need right now... but many people might need it to. My God, your God, THE God of the universe... is a forever God who is your "daddy" and your ulimate love... perfection... and he is always by your side when the going gets tough. Pray that I understand this concept more and more. I know these days ahead won't be easy like I hoped, but they will build my character and my love with the Lord... a lot stronger.

Live. Laugh. Love. ANYWAY.

Melissa

Operation: Save a Smile and the Dorcas House

Today was a big day for me. Operation: Save a Smile had its first donation. 70 toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss went to the ladies and children of the Dorcas House. I was absolutley thrilled to have the opportunity and it's something that I will carry with me for a long time. You can learn a lot through other women and through others if you just listen.

I was really humbled from this experience. I was really nervous these past couple of days stressing over what I should say and how long should it be. I had a formal lesson all played out in my head to give to these 20 some odd women and 30 kids. The Lord has a good way in working in situations like these and taking hold of it in such a way work can be done for him.

I walked in expecting to see people waiting. But a little girl was having a birthday party, so I set my things in a corner.. kind of unsure how I would get others attention and how I would go about this. My mom gave me some valuable advice: Go talk to them. So I walked over and instead of talking my dental hygiene jargon, I experienced these ladies... this little girls birthday. I got to know these ladies on a different level than as a dental professional. I walked back over to the table and was swarmed with questions and wants for toothbrushes. there were tons of kids hanging on my mom. The love and appreciation from these women and children was contagious... people with really nothing to call their own except their clothing... people with "nothing"... had everything in their heart. The Lord humbled me... he taught me to just listen to these women and their story. How beautiful... talk about being humbled.

The Dorcas house was named after a woman named "Dorcas" or "Tabitha," as she is referred to in the bible. Dorcas did good for the name of the Lord. She helped the poor, she sewed clothes for those in need, she helped widows (you can find her story through Acts). One day Dorcas fell in and she soon died. She was raised from the dead later by Peter. Through her resurrection and good works, Dorcas spread the name of the Lord to her land in Joppa. There are tons of things to learn from a simple but extraordinary woman like Dorcas: God commands us as Christians to love the unlovable and help the needy... it is truly our testiment. It's our walk to go along with our talk and unbelievers are watching you.

The verse James 2:26 stands out to me about being like Dorcas: As the body without spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is also. My translation: Faith without action is dead. You can talk the talk all you want, but its your walk that testifies to others.

My challenge to you: Be a Dorcas for somebody. Help out a handicap individual, buy a homeless man a meal or just donate clothing you don't wear. You may think its nothing but it is my belief (and I've learned this from my parents), The Lord and his angels are found in a lot of different people. How beautiful it is, to do something small in this big scheme of things. You never know, the person you may help out is an angel in diguise... and you just pleased the Lord. Be glad and be thankful for little moments like this.

Live. Laugh. Love

Melissa

Family

I've been preparing for this pageant so much latley that I've forgotten to blog! I'm so ready for August 8th to get here and I am so lucky to have such a great support group rooting for me.

My platform Operation: Save A Smile will be donating 264 toothbrushes next week to various organization. God is so good and has a way of providing when it seems there is little to be-had. I truly believe that putting the faith in Christ with your ambitions, your dreams, your fears... ANYTHING... will result in nothing but good. I thank him so much for his undying grace for me.

My dad just celebrated his 58th birthday last weekend. It's hard to believe that 60 is that close for him! But I enjoyed celebrating his brithday and getting the whole family together. I have enjoyed staying with my parents this summer. Isn't it funny how you want nothing but to get out of the house... but when you do.. you realize there is no place like home and you long to be there sometimes. I'm so blessed to have that feeling now... and a family that I love coming home to. Gathering for my dad's birthday with myself, my dad, mom, sister and my brother-in-law (happy one year to them BTW!). It made me realize how my family has grown with the addition of Patrick, but also the bonds between my parents and my sister and I. As time goes on, these bonds strengthen in ways I can't explain. I always used to call my sister my friend. She is my best friend. She can always give me the honest truth about any situation... but she always knows how to put in such a perspective that it is exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. You can't put a price tag on the value of Family and the love you have for them.

My senior year of college (OMG) is just a couple weeks away. I can't explain what I'm thinking when I say those words... it doesn't seem possible. It will be a year of a lot of things! Growth, Happiness, Stress of boards, Savoring the last moments before I enter into the "big girl world", goodbyes, hellos and life. I look back on my college journey and think wow... What a road has God carried me on! But I'm here... I'm right where my heart wanted to be... and now I know it is where it should be. It is beautiful when your life catches up with your soul :). Amber and I will be adding a roomate on: Alex! And we are moving to a three bedroom apartment! I can't to see all the girls from school again and hopefully see more old friends this fall!

I have so many "families" in my life right now and I'm grateful! My immediate family, my friend family, my school family and my pageant family. God has blessed me in so many ways through every relationship... I have a family in Christ through him. Isn't it nice when you realize this... you are never alone, no matter how much you think you are... the Lord is always right there and provides you will some great back up. It's amazing what "being still" will do for your concious.

Live. Laugh. Love.

Melissa

Tested.

Tested. That's how I feel. Have you ever had (which I'm sure you have) moments in your life where you feel like what seems like everyone is pointing you in the face and saying "No, You Can't." It's defeating and exactly what I feel like.

There's not words you can say to push that finger out of your face and say "Yes, I will make it through." The only words are words of hope from our Savior. That can save you from such a moment of defeat.

But isn't faith in the Lord, the hardest lesson to learn. It is so easy to give once you just surrender to him and give it... but if you are as stubborn as me... it is a mighty long and bumpy road to finally surrendering everything to him. But that's the beautiful thing... He's always there waiting on you.. not matter how long it takes. God is a forever God... not a "when I feel like it" God. How blessed am I to deserve such love? I think God can be a forever God... because of everything he has gone through tough stuff. He's learned what it means to be hurt and ridiculed.

People always says "If there was a God, there wouldn't be pain in the world." Wouldn't be pain? God made the ultimate sacrifice for you and me... and that would be his very own Son to die for the sins of man... my petty stupid sins. Imagine sacrificing your own child at the expense of someone else's mistakes. That's pain. And Jesus himself.. being tortued at the expense of you and me... That is agony. So if they had to endure such monsterous amounts of agony... why do people expect to live perfectly.. in such a pain free world. It just amazes me.

Although I say I have been tested.. yeah.. i'd rather not be.. but Lord I am thankful for my trials I have been through. I get through them... and that is good enough for me. Love of the Lord, my family and everyone.. gets me through.

Live. Laugh. Love.

Melissa