e-devotional

My Failure.

2009-11-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

Tonight we went to help feed the homeless students (of Monarch school) and their families Thanksgiving dinner. There were about 300 people who were living in shelters, on the streets or in low-income apartments. I was assigned to a table with a mother, Judith and her four children. Her husband has been sent back to Mexico due to a visa mistake and they cannot afford to appeal it right now. She has no job and is struggling to make it each month.

As I got to talking to Judith, I started to ask about any needs she currently had. I could tell it was hard for her to talk about it, but she began to tell me about the apartment they live in and how they have no furniture. I could tell she felt ashamed.

I once heard that most people can relate to your failures more than your successes. Most of us don’t like sharing those because we are also ashamed. I knew in this moment that I had the opportunity to share with Judith a failure of mine. With tears in my eyes I looked at Judith and said, "I have lived in an empty apartment once too. As an adult, we can handle it and make it through. But as a mom, I know what it feels like to have your child look you in the eyes and ask "Mommy, is this our home? Why don’t we have any furniture?" (Granted we still had our stuff in Las Vegas, we just couldn’t afford to transport it to Oregon at the time. My husband still had a job--our situation was not nearly as dire as Judith’s, but for about 6 months time, we did experience a small dose of her current reality)

Judith broke down in tears and began to explain how they once had a home in Sacramento. They weren’t rich but their children were blessed with toys, beds and most things they could ask for. They have been through so much loss and transition that one of her children has had to see a counselor because he isn’t adjusting well.

In that moment of one mother speaking to another, I understood why I went through that difficult season of my life. So that I could relate to people like Judith. So that I could look her in the eyes and tell her that I know what it feels like to lose your home, have your husband lose his job, move in with family, live in an empty apartment or to feel like you’ve failed as a parent. Through that entire season, I asked God, "WHY?" and my time with Judith was a moment when I finally had an answer to that question. So I can help. So I can reach. So I can relate. Offering Judith a story of any success of mine would be useless, but it was my story of failure that gave her comfort and hope.

In this economy the face of homelessness and lack has changed. People in need are all around us, and they certainly can’t relate to our promotions at work, our amazing talents, or our latest splurge at Nordstroms. Be real. Be transparent. Talk more about your failures than your successes and you just might find yourself a lot more relevant when you do.

Thanks for reading,
Mel

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
　
　
Make a donation to Monarch School here. They provide education for about 100 homeless children from preschool through high school in the San Diego area. Contact me at millers.sd@gmail.com if you would like to donate directly to Judith and her family. 　

Break it up.

2009-11-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

"Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap in mercy;
break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till He comes and rains righteousness on you." Hosea 10:12
　
Before a farmer can successfully plant crops he has to first break up all the unplowed ground. If he doesn’t do this, planting seeds would be strenuous and unfruitful. Have you ever tried planting a seed in hard, stiff soil? It is nearly impossible. Did you know you have a choice whether or not you receive from God? God wants to plant something in your life but He is unable to if your ground is fallow (unplowed).

We can easily close ourselves off to hearing his voice or direction by hardening our hearts. Most of the time our hearts aren’t completely hardened...just hardened in some areas. We see fruit bearing in one area of our life, but then in another we remain hardened and therefore stagnant.

If we really want to produce fruit (ie, see RESULTS) we have to be willing to let God work on those hard spots. The plowing will not be comfortable, but you have to want to see the fruit more than you want to avoid the discomfort or pain.

I have had some hard spots in my heart in the past. Before God could plant a blessing in those spots I had to first allow him to break up my insecurity, fear, worry, and unforgiveness. There were painful moments of confession with God, but it felt liberating to trade my heart dirt for His abounding grace.

I love the last part of this verse; For it is time to seek the Lord. You have settled for unfruitfulness for far too long. Are you ready to seek the Lord and let Him break up that unplowed ground?

Thanks for reading,
Mel

　

The right place at the right time.

2009-11-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

I applied to 5 different colleges. I wasn’t one of those people who knew exactly where I wanted to go, so I decided to lay my options out on the table (adding up the application fees, it turned out to be a dumb idea!) I got accepted into four of those and laid all of the informational folders out in front of me. One was in Washington because that is where all my friends were going. Two were in San Diego, because...it’s San Diego! The last one was in a small town in Oregon and it would probably be the first one I would toss out of the mix.

It wasn’t the most rational way of choosing, but over the process of time I realized there was only one that felt right. I desperately wanted to be in sunny San Diego, or with my friends in a new place...but that little folder with the simple tree on it with the word "Linfield"written in purple kept my attention. There was something about that folder that felt right, and something about that campus that felt right. I couldn’t put my finger on it...but even as someone who wasn’t following Christ at the time, I still felt a divine leading.

Linfield College in rainy McMinnville, Oregon would capture four years of my life. Four of the most vital, life-changing and monumental years of my life. It was there that I came to truly know Christ and begin to follow him wholeheartedly. It was there that I met the most amazing man whom I married right after college. We now have two of the most precious kids and are still serving God and enjoying life more and more each day. I often wonder when I look back at how differently my life would have been if I had chosen another place.

Acts 17: 26-28 "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

The scripture says that there is a time and a place for our dwelling and it is so that we will come to seek him and find him. Linfield College in rainy McMinnville, Oregon was my time and place. It was in finding Him that I found life (and a super hot, Godly husband)...and ironically, God did eventually call me to San Diego...bummer! :)

I hope that you chose to follow the peace in your heart and that still small voice. It is amazing in that small obedience the large blessings that can come from simply being where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there. Trust that if you are following His plan, it is the right place at the right time.

Thanks for reading!
Mel Miller

Bless the Lord and His people.

2009-11-02T09:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had First Sunday at Urban. It is an event we plan on doing the First Sunday of every month that collects the donations and resources from our church members and distributes them to anyone in need in our church and community. We fed 80 people and gave away a ton of furniture, household items and clothing. We started setting up at 9am and when we got there, an abundance of donations just kept coming in. We had heaps to sort through!

It was an honor to be placed in charge of the event, but I had one concern. I am great at planning events, but my weakness is that I can get focused on productivity and not on people. I prayed that morning that I would remain at peace, have fun and not allow myself to get stressed out or focused to much on the details. As I was in the car with my husband, I sounded a little crazy. After we got done praying, I made a declaration out loud. It was not really to anyone in particular, but more so to make my choice, my decision solidified. I said something like, "I will not get stressed today. I will have fun, have a smile on my face and focus on people and not on productivity. If something slips through the cracks I will still keep my peace and keep my smile. I will be the type of person that is a pleasure to be around and not reproduce stress to those around me." I am not one to "look in the mirror and tell myself I am beautiful" or any of those self-help methods, but I recognized that I can pray all I want but ultimately it is a choice. I can choose peace. I can choose joy. I can choose to have my focus on the right things and to have an attitude that I would be proud to have become contagious!

The Israelites in 2 Chronicles 31 had a lot more heaps than I did to deal with, but the leaders had an attitude of gladness throughout the celebration and after. The leaders attitude (in Ch. 30) caused the community to want to continue the Passover feast for an extra 7 days! It also (in Ch. 31) caused them (while following a newly established commandment - which are not always followed with popularity) to give in excess to the leadership to support them! Verse 8 describes the true heart of the leadership, "In the third month they began laying them in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. And when Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and His people Israel."

As Christ-followers we are leaders and people are looking to us watching our responses. In situations where we "should" be stressed, will we still keep our peace? In situations where we "should" be focused on productivity, will we still take the time to focus on people? In situations where we "should" be running around like a chicken with our head cut off, will we still keep a smile on our face and an attitude of joy? These are the types of differences that we have that make people stop and wonder, "what is different about that person?" In an economy where everyone is stressed about money, safety, security or an uncertain future we can choose to lead the way with an attitude that blesses the Lord and his people.

Jesus said in Matthew 12 that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as our self. Whether in church or in the workplace it is God's desire that our focus be on these two things. The details may or may not all work out as planned, but the important things is we kept our focus on the truly important things. Our whole team had a great time at First Sunday and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. There is always room for improvement, but those things didn’t matter. What mattered is that through First Sunday and our service yesterday that we blessed the Lord and we blessed people.

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

　

Don't become lunch.

2009-10-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2: 42-47

My husband asked for the "Planet Earth" DVD set for Christmas a few years back. The images are all beautiful images from remote regions around the world including everything from rare animals to unique caves. When we put it on, we have to be watchful during many of the animal scenes (the predator-prey relationship is a little too graphic for my 3 year old!). The same thing seems to happen every time. The predator stays a distance away but keeps his eyes on the herd. Then when one wanders slightly away from the herd, it becomes lunch.

The predator doesn’t dare attack one that is staying snugly within the herd, of course he realizes that he would be the one in danger if that were the case. He only attacks the one that isolates itself. The one that decides he can do it on his own.

The scriptures about the early church in Acts remind me of the vital community we are called to have with one another as believers. They were a herd - All the believers were together, they had all things in common, they met daily and ate together regularly. The scripture doesn’t say any of them were related (although some of them may have been), but it describes a family. When someone was in need they started selling their possessions to provide for that person! Meeting together daily, eating together and meeting each other’s needs...that sounds like a family to me!

My husband and I have been praying a lot for God’s blessings and provision lately. The other day someone from our church offered to pay for Brandon’s shoes he had to get for work. We thanked them but said no. As I laid in bed that night the Holy Spirit convicted me and said, "Don’t pray for my blessings if you are going to refuse them when offered to you."

The root of the issue is pride. When we begin to have the attitude of, "I got this. I can do it on my own," we become like the animal who strays from it’s pack. A community is offered to us, a family, a support system, friends and confidants. Yet, for prideful reasons we can choose to isolate ourselves or simply reject the benefits within the community. We are all prone to wandering in one area or another. There is friendship within the herd, but those who still stray because of fear of rejection. There is spiritual strength within a herd, but those who still wander from reluctance of what they will have to give up or confess. There is confidants within the pack, but those who will stray because they have trust issues. Hopefully it doesn’t take us getting nipped in the butt by the enemy for us to realize how vulnerable we are in our isolation!
　
Some may not understand the importance of church, or why our family packed up and moved to San Diego to be a part of this community of believers, but we have learned the importance of staying in the herd. The only herd that me, myself and I form is one that looks like a tasty piece of lunch to the enemy!

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
　
Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

　
　

Some things are better left unsaid.

2009-10-19T16:11:00.000-07:00

John 12: 49-50 "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."

I have once heard that if you want to be more like Jesus, read the gospels...and then read them again. We can learn a lot about how Jesus walked the earth, responded to situations and most of all how he interacted with people from reading what those closest to him wrote. The cliche saying "What would Jesus do?" is something we can easily answer if we study his word more and become more familiar with who He is. In this passage in John, we see Jesus explaining that he only says what the Father tells him to say. This is so powerful, because it means he could have always had the best comeback line, the most witty response or the most eloquent speech to impress those around him–-but he realized he was subject to say only what His Father told him to say!

Jesus was the most concise communicator. He often spoke only two or three powerful words to ignite action..."Woman be healed" or "Rise up and walk." He made his point without making a lofty speech. He said only what the father told him to say.

I don’t know about you, but I fail in this area sometimes. I respond out of emotion rather than taking the time to sit, pray, wait and then respond. I have learned some vital communication lessons along the way that have helped me to have less failure stories to add to my book. Here are a few:

Stay issue focused, not people focused
When we are upset, it is easy to point the finger and go on verbal diatribes. Only later do we realize we only meant half of what we said. We let the issue that frustrated us direct our frustrations towards the person. Issues can be resolved, but an individual cannot be changed by anyone but God. We can’t change who a person is, God made them that way for a reason. However we can help them change behaviors and habits if we bring it in the right way.

Be constructive, not condemning
Which is more fruitful; that I call my husband a lazy slob or that I ask him to improve on picking up his clothes off the bathroom floor? Why is it that after thousands of years of humans attacking each other through condemnation, that we still expect to see results from this? Have the "turn or burn" signs ever saved anyone? Have the picketers against gays or abortionists with hateful messages ever convinced anyone to change their beliefs? Prov. 18:21 says, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat of it’s fruit." Our words can bring life if they are backed with a spirit of love and not of judgement.

Speak only what is necessary
If Jesus only spoke the words that the Father told him to speak, how much more so should we start keeping our mouth shut until we know that we are supposed to open it? I am challenged on this every day, when I hear something from God, will I try to interpret it more or just be the courier and deliver it as it was packaged? As humans we always try to interpret, add to it or make it as elaborate and impressive as possible but if we follow Jesus example we will only speak what is necessary.
　
The pressure is off! You don’t have to have all the right answers or responses! Follow his lead and if the Father isn’t giving any instructions, perhaps some things are better left unsaid.

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　

Are the scales tipped?

2009-10-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

When I first got saved I had a lot of zeal. God had done a great work in my life and I was excited and eager to share it with my college campus. I was hungry for more of God and found myself involved in some nightly revival meetings at a nearby church. At first it wasn’t bad, but after a few times of going it started getting a little...strange. People were barking like dogs, convulsing and making me feel like I wasn’t quite spiritual enough because I hadn’t been taken up to heaven in visions.

Before I was saved, I had been to churches that left me bored and unchanged. They read scriptures but failed to deliver a practical application of those scriptures to help me apply them to my life. We sang hymns, but half of what I was singing I didn’t understand. There were a lot of rules and "don’ts" explained but not a lot of "do’s" to help me live with purpose.

Thankfully I had some Godly people in my life who could direct me to a church that had a wonderful balance of worshiping in spirit and in truth. Jesus talks about this balance when he meets the Samaritan woman in John 4: 4-26

"Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

We can’t have one or the other in our lives, it must be both. If we have spirit only, we live a Christian life that looks a lot like a yo-yo diet. It is feelings-based only and when hard times come and we don’t "feel" God, we can easily turn to something else that makes us "feel" good. Our faith cannot be based on experiences only, because whether we intend to or not, our relationship with God becomes less about Him and more about getting our next experience.
Yet we cannot veer to the side of truth only either. We then begin to become about rules, legalism and religion rather than relationship. This can lead to a life that is puffed up with knowledge but lacking a humble communion with God.

You may be going through a season where you don’t "feel" God, but could it be a time where your faith is being tested to make sure you have both spirit AND truth. When God seems distant, it helps to study the scriptures and know that "He will never leave us or forsake us." It adds another level of depth to your relationship with God when you are grounded in the word and in truth. It adds an element that is vital to your foundation, leaving you unshakable by the enemy, false doctrines and the storms of life.

On the other hand you may be going through a season where all that head knowledge is getting in the way of having a heartfelt communion with God. What a great opportunity to strive for humility and experience God. Many intellectuals have a hard time letting go of the "I’ll believe it when I see it" mentality, but as Christians we are called to walk by faith and not by sight. Worshiping in spirit is also vital to our relationship with God, without it we can become like the prideful pharisees who were convinced they knew God because of their knowledge of the scriptures.

What about you today? Are the scales tipped in one direction or are you worshiping in spirit and truth?

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

　
　
　

The third member of my marriage.

2009-10-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

When my husband and I did our premarital counseling it was recommended that we make a habit of praying and reading the Bible together for our first year of marriage. The wonderful part about that habit, is that you are inviting the Lord into your home, family and decisions. You invite him into your conversations, your movie selections, your time management and your attitude towards one another. When I am mad at my husband, I don’t call my girlfriend who will always choose my side! I call on Jesus, who is on both sides and his aim is to make our marriage as harmonious as possible. I know that he will convict and challenge me just as much as he will my husband, and when we come together we both usually have things to apologize for that God convicted us about. We quickly realized that Jesus was the third member of our marriage and we could not make any major decisions without his leading.

When reading much of the Old Testament, the relationship between God and his people can become confusing. What most people forget is that God wanted a marriage with his people. He was so passionate about being in a relationship with his people, that it grieved his heart when they turned their backs on him. Every moment of wrath was intended to restore the marriage and turn them to repentance and every moment of restoration was to prove his love and faithfulness.

In Ezekiel 36, the Lord is declaring his wrath on all the nations that have mistreated his bride, Israel. He doesn’t do it for their sake or because they deserved it (vs. 22), he did it because he had a point to prove: That he was holy and faithful. No one was going to trample over his people! He not only was going to punish the guilty nations, but he was going to bless the Israelites more than he ever had! He was going to gather them back to their land, cleanse them, forgive them, bless them with and abundance of crops, rebuild their ruins, give them a new heart that will enable them to follow his decrees, and bless them with numerous descendants. What a beautiful love story of complete forgiveness, redemption and blessing! To me, it is a story of a protective, merciful and loving husband who is taking his bride back!

Last night my husband and I were sitting on the couch and God showed up! (He didn’t show up in the flesh but we felt His presence come right in the middle of a conversation we were having.) We were talking about how grateful we are, and all of a sudden we sat with tears in our eyes knowing that the third member of our marriage was near. We may not be able to tangibly see him, but he is the glue that holds our marriage and family together. Our love story was written by him, and we will continue to allow him to be the author.

When we are making a decision we usually call the person who will agree with what we already want to do. Many times we intentionally don’t go to God because we already know what He will say, and we don’t want to hear it! But that is not a marriage! God is not as concerned with the martial status box you check as he is with your marital status with Him. What about your life? Is he the third member, the other member or have you left him waiting at the alter?

Thanks for reading and responding,

Melissa Miller

Let God do His Job.

2009-10-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

I’ll admit that every now and then I get a little paranoid about the swine flu. The media has hyped it so much that my maternal mind can easily wander into worst-case scenarios. First I start over-analyzing every cough, sneeze, and sniffle that comes from my little ones. Strange dreams lately? Must be the swine flu! Unusual bowel movement? Swine flu! My husband now has a facebook account?! He must not be feeling well! Swine flu! I begin to think of the end times, the mark of the beast and how I can plan to go hide in the mountains to protect my children! (Okay before you turn me into the local psychiatric ward, please know I am exhaggerating!) I realize that my train of thought is silly, but if we let a thought of fear run wild, it can run us right into a pitfall!

In 1 Chronicles 21, David takes a Census of all the land. It was a sin, and many scholars have often debated why this was wrong in God’s eyes. I believe for a moment, David needed assurance of victory. He felt overwhelmed, fearful and uncertain but instead of looking to God has his source of victory he began to look at himself and his abilities and resources. He told Joab to go and count the Isrealites so that he would know the capacity of his troops. Although Joab advised against it, David overruled him and sinned against the Lord.

In Ezekiel 31 God is dealing with Pharaoh for the same reason. He looked to his own strength, became prideful, and God said he was going to bring down the nation because of it. Sure, Egypt was majestic and flourishing and David had a great number of troops but in both situations God was there to remind him that their trust should not be in those things, but rather in HIM.There are many uncertainties we face in life that if we focus on them for too long we can easily take our eyes off of God as our protector and provider and we begin to put ourselves in that role. We can have all the resources, abilities, support and strength in the world, but if our trust is in those things we will be disappointed.

When you hear news about troubling times, don’t run to the hills in fear, check your bank account for security, or go buy loads of protective swine flu gear. Of course use natural wisdom and have things in order, but don't put your hope and trust in those things. There is a saying, "prayerlessness is pride." When we don’t run to God about our concerns and fears, we are essentially saying "I can do this on my own." Let God do his job as your providor, protector, comfort, healer, peace, and strength. It is a heavy load to bear trying to figure it out on your own, but He will gladly take his place as Lord of All if you let him.

The Promise or the Process?

2009-09-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

One of the books I love to read to my daughter is called "The Best Neighbor Contest." It is a book about Mickey Mouse and his friends who all come together to see who can come up with the best idea to bless the neighborhood. All the friends come up with elaborate and creative ideas, it is Goofy (who lacks any idea) who goes around and just serves everyone else’s. As you can guess, once everyone realizes that it was Goofy behind the scenes who made it all happen with out any recognition– he wins the "Best Neighbor Award." I love reading this story to my daughter to impart into her the importance of servitude.

In 1 Chronicles 11, we see David anointed as king over Israel. The testimony of this story is not that he was anointed, but that he was finally anointed. It was 20 years prior to that official anointing, that God has anointed him through Samuel. God had given David a promise and it took 20 years for it to come to pass. After years of serving he get’s his "Best Neighbor Award!"
What did David do during that 20 years of waiting? Verse 2 tells us that even while Saul was king, David was the one who lead Israel on their military campaigns. Before those years he spent his time as a shepherd. God had called him a leader and he did not wait for an official title to put that into practice! If he was not yet released to lead people, he got some practice leading sheep! If he was not yet recognized as king, he still got great experience by leading Israel’s army. He did what he was called by GOD to do, whether MAN recognized it or not.

God knows that it is the process is more valuable than the promotion. It is the learning, growing and flourishing in the Lord that will hold our most valuable memories and experiences. What is more important: that we be called Pastor or that people are getting pastored? That we be called teacher or that people are getting taught? That we be called actor, coach, doctor, leader, mother, father (fill in the blank), or that we are helping people with our gift no matter what the level we are at?

I think we can learn a lot from David (and Goofy!), the promise or the reward will come – but if our eyes are focused on that we are missing the joy of the process. The point is that in everything we do, it is unto the Lord. We do not wait for someone to recognize our talent before we start using that talent for some good! There is such an incredible joy that comes in knowing what God has called you to do, and doing it unto Him no matter what!

If God has given you a promise, what are you doing in the process?

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

Laughing in the Dark.

2009-09-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

My adorable son Bishop!

Last night my husband and I laid our 1 year old son down to sleep in his crib. A few moments later we were in the kitchen and we heard what we thought was crying. We approached his door to find out what the noise was all about and realized what we heard was laughter. It is pitch black in his bedroom and he was laying in his crib laughing hysterically for about 15 minutes. We still do not understand what he was laughing about. Angels? The brush of his blanket against his foot? Was he spilling milk all over his face from his bottle? I do not know, but I do know that as an adult I don’t often find myself laughing in the dark.

In the dark, there isn’t much that looks funny or makes you joyful. Usually the dark promotes only the desire to go to sleep or be afraid. It seems to be the same with a dark season of life. We want to escape from our hardship or fear it...but we know as Christians, God wants us to take his hand and trust that he is leading us somewhere even when we can’t see it.

Isn’t this the essence of what distinguishes us from the world? That although we walk through the shadow of the valley of death we fear no evil because He is with us. Although we go through hardships and trials we still have the peace that surpasses understanding to guard our hearts and minds. That although we sit in pitch black not being able to see what is ahead of us, we can have a smile on our face and laughter in our belly knowing that God has it all in control.
　
Luke 13:10-12 "Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God."

There was no way this woman could raise herself up. During dark and difficult times, our pride would like us to continue to try and work it out on our own. We convince ourselves that we are strong enough to handle it and we don’t need God’s help or other people’s. Even though the woman didn’t ask to be healed, Jesus still called to her and laid his healing hands on her. It was then that she stood up and began to glorify God.

When you can’t raise yourself up in dark times, will you allow God to touch you and heal you? When doing it on your own doesn’t seem to be working, will you allow God to take your hand and lead you through the darkness? Will you experience the peace and joy that comes with his spirit that causes even a grown up to wonder why he finds himself laughing in the dark?

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

Who's patting your back?

2009-09-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

I recently read an article about a generous priest. He dresses in his full garb and is known for walking through the poor neighborhoods handing out money. There were many photos of him handing out money, standing in front of large donation checks and receiving recognition and honor for his generosity. My first thought was, "Wow that is wonderful. What a generous man!" My second thought was, "Wait a second! Is that even Biblical?" I read through Matthew 6:1-18, where it talks about giving, praying and fasting. In giving we are not to announce it, to the point where we don’t even let our left hand know what our right hand is giving! In praying we are not to pray to receive the attention of man, but rather go behind closed doors to make our petitions. In fasting, we are to intentionally make sure we don’t look like we are fasting...Do you see a theme here?

The priest may have been trying to remain anonymous and it was others that started to put it on display...I will not judge where his heart is at in the matter, but it did spark something in me that caused me to reflect on how God would like our faith to be demonstrated. God knows that if our acts of kindness are seen by the public eye we can start to feel pretty good about ourselves! Giving to the poor is never a bad thing, but God knows when we begin to receive the praise from man for our giving our focus can easily shift from a generous act, to an act of attention and pride. God gives us these scriptures as an exercise in remaining humble. Do we desire to receive the credit for our demonstration of kindness, or are we satisfied with knowing that God sees everything that is done in secret and will reward us accordingly? (Verse 4)

In 2 Kings 20:12-20, King Hezekiah was visited by envoys from Babylon and he showed them every treasure in his kingdom. The Lord was displeased with Hezekiah’s act because it was done to impress man rather than to glorify God. The prophet told Hezekiah that because of this act, there would come a time when everything in his palace, and even some of his descendants would be carried off to Babylon. King Hezekiah had done many wonderful things for the Lord and God had blessed him greatly. In this instant, he allowed those things to become about him rather than about God. Before we go casting a stone at Hezekiah, how many times have we done the same thing in our own lives? How many times have we told someone we were fasting with the motivation to appear holy? How many times have we given something and made sure that it was noticed or recognized? What about simply accomplishing something, and making sure we receive the credit for that accomplishment or idea? I know I am guilty!

The reality is, that it feels pretty good when we receive the credit for something...but it feels even better when we receive our reward from the Lord! I realize at times I am tempted to make it known that I am giving, fasting or praying. It is in those moments that I realize that is all-the-more a reason to exercise my humility and not say anything at all. For the people that make it a point to receive the praise from men, God says that they have received their reward in full (vs. 3). How many blessings from God have we traded for a little recognition from man?

I challenge you today to live for an audience of One. The only words that truly matter when it is all said and done are His words to you, "Well done good and faithful servant." Pleasing and honoring Him in our actions should be our hearts desire, and receiving God’s pat on the back will be much more rewarding than any man’s.

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　

Follow the Leader

2009-09-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

John 2:1-10
"On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"

When you ask the average American how they are doing, they often answer "tired!" or "busy!" We have said yes to so many things in our lives, that we often find ourselves overwhelmed, overworked, busy and tired! Most of the things we are doing are probably good things...but are they things that God has called us to do? God only has to give us enough grace and anointing to do what he has called us to do, not everything we think is a good idea.

Jesus’ mother says something powerful in this passage, "Whatever he says to you, do it." In other words - follow the leader! It was at Jesus’ command - at HIS leading that they followed and a miracle took place. I believe that if we applied this simple principle to our lives, we would also begin to see miracles take place.

The tricky part is waiting for his instructions. We may be anxious for something to take place in our lives, but rushing into decisions and commitments can often become like the person who races to the red light. Have you ever wondered why people do that? What is the point? Why would you spend all the effort to speed and swerve through cars, only to have to slam on the breaks when you get to the existing red light? When you take a step in a direction you were not called to take, you end up like the frustrated driver sitting at the stop light wondering why you can’t make any progress.

I believe we would experience a lot less frustration and a lot more miracles if we would learn to follow his lead. There are many people who are burnt-out, exhausted and running races they were never called to run. They become uptight with those around them and wonder why they can’t seem to produce any fruit. Is it that they are trying so hard to "do good" that they forget to follow the leader? I don't know about you, but I don't want to spend all my time and energy climbing to the top of a ladder only to discover I have been climbing the wrong ladder all along!

This is why I love my church so much. Urban (http://www.lifeaturban.com/) has decided not to have certain ministries, not because they think they are bad, but because God hasn't said to do it yet! Our pastors have commited not to do something because it is they way churches have traditionally done it in the past, but to follow His lead. I believe Urban will be spared from fruitless ministries and frustrations because we are committed to waiting for God to speak before we act.

The disciples may have not understood why they needed to follow his instructions, but nevertheless they obeyed. They filled the pots with water, and took them over to the master of the feast. After the water was turned into wine (not just any wine, but the best wine!), I am sure the disciples were amazed at this miracle and thankful they chose to follow his instructions. Nothing beats His amazing grace that enables you to do almost effortlessly what you could never do on your own with all the strength and effort you have. This is the kind of grace that rests on our lives when we are in His perfect will.

Pray. Wait. Pray some more. Follow the leader, and he will show you exactly what he wants you to do. It is a simple formula for miracles: "Whatever He tells you to do, do it."

Thanks for reading and responding,

Melissa Miller

It was my idea!

2009-09-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

2 Kings 13:15-19 Elisha said, "Get a bow and some arrows," and he did so. "Take the bow in your hands," he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. "Open the east window," he said, and he opened it. "Shoot!" Elisha said, and he shot. "The LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!" Elisha declared. "You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek." Then he said, "Take the arrows," and the king took them. Elisha told him, "Strike the ground." He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times."

I was bewildered by Elisha’s request for the King to shoot arrows to the ground. Somehow that, along with shooting one out the window, related to him having victory over the Arameans. I still don’t completely understand how the one thing relates to the other...but I also don’t understand why Jesus had to mix spit with dirt and rub it on the blind man’s eyes for his sight to be restored! God works in mysterious ways!

My theory is perhaps the king needed to learn how to submit to God (through the prophet’s commands), even when he didn’t understand it. There have been many times when I felt that still small voice or a check in my spirit leading me in a certain direction. The test isn’t when the small voice or the check makes sense...the test is when I don’t understand. Will I obey anyway, or will I wait to find out the hard way? When everything seems perfect in the natural, but in the spiritual I feel uneasy, will I still trust that God knows best?

I have learned that true submission, is obeying as if it was your own idea! We can get pretty excited about something that is our own idea, but sometimes when we have to follow through with someone else’s (especially when we don’t agree) we can sometimes do so with a poor attitude. I can imagine the king thought the prophets commands were silly. He may have laxly shot an arrow out the window, and a few at the ground...but he didn’t submit as if it was his own idea. He lacked a passionate follow-through. The king didn’t put his whole heart into it, and therefore didn’t get the full and complete blessing.
　
Col. 3:23-24 says "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

Heartily means with all of your heart. Even when God’s requests don’t make sense, will you still obey with all of your heart? Will you still submit heartily as if it were your own idea? Will you do it with a spirit of excellence as unto the Lord?

Joyce Meyer says, "If you want to be radically and outrageously blessed you have to be radically and outrageously obedient!" The next time God whispers something into your heart, I pray that instead of a spirit of reluctance you would respond with radical obedience, as if it was your own idea. You may be only a couple more arrows away from your full victory!

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

　
　
　
　

Microwaved Miracles

2009-09-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

2 Kings 5:8-14 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel." So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, 'Wash, and be clean'? "So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Naaman wanted an easy fix and was angry when he was told he wouldn’t get it. He wanted Elisha to come wave his hand over him and for the leprosy to instantly disappear. He became angry when he was told he would actually have to go work for his breakthrough.

Why is it that we walk into church and get frustrated when we don’t see immediate results? We become focused on ourselves at times thinking that the service was somehow about us getting our microwaved miracle. Some people do get radical and instant breakthroughs - and that is awesome! But the reality is most of us have to work out our struggles in the process of continual and habitual obedience. God does instantly transform situations, and I have seen it happen, but He doesn't do it every time! Sometimes He is cooking up a testimony in our lives that can only be made in a crock pot! If I have a choice between a crock pot meal and a microwaved meal, I know the slow cooked meal tastes better but sometimes I am just impatient. Are we willing to wait for something that God is creating in our life that will take time, but taste better?

What if our breakthrough lies in simply obeying what the man of God says? Elisha's words of wisdom may have not been the answer Naaman was looking for, but they still provided a solution to his issue if he was willing to give it some effort. The practical and Biblical teachings that we receive on a weekly basis may not instantly change our lives, but through daily application we will begin to see some amazing progress! A financial breakthrough may not fall from the sky or magically appear in my bank account, but through application of wise financial principles--the same results can be achieved. I have seen in my own life relationships that seemed irreconcilable become completely restored. It wasn't instantaneous, but through prayer, time and forgiveness a miracle did happen. Does it make it any less of a miracle because it took time? No! In fact, it made us appreciate the value of those miracles even more because they took time and appropriation.

I love that Naaman didn’t give up. He had a Godly servant nearby who could remind him that although it might not come instantly, the report is still a good report! Don't be discouraged, even though it might take more time and effort than you thought it would -- it is still a good report from the Lord.

Don’t give up on church or God because the change you desire isn’t coming as quick as you wanted or the way that you wanted. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it! (Phil. 1:6) It may not be a microwave miracle, but through the process of your obedience and God's faithfulness, your breakthrough will certainly come!

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

Church

2009-08-29T22:39:00.000-07:00

Church. Some have stuck it out, some have found another church and some have just plain given up on church all together! Sam Chand says "The difference between reality and expectation is conflict."

The expectation is that the pastors are perfect or that the church is perfect. The reality is the minute any one person walks into a church, it becomes imperfect. The difference: Conflict!

I will never forget years ago, when I was smacked in the face with this reality. I held my pastors up on a pedestal, until I got close enough to them to realize they had faults and failures just like me. Not only were they not perfect, the ministries of the church were not perfect! I had ideas of what could be improved, and found myself standing on the sidelines complaining and finger-pointing.

I listened to a message that week by TD Jakes. He said "The very thing that bugs you, is the very thing you are called to." What a thought...you mean the thing that I am vehement about is the role I was meant to fill? You mean I actually have to be the change I want to see?! What a concept! Ghandi says "Be the change you want to see in the world." I say, do that...and include the church!

My husband and I had a decision to make. We could stick it out, find another church or give up on church altogether. I suppose the other option would be to start our own church...but you better have a strong desire and calling for that one! We have neither! As you can imagine we stuck it out. Our years of choosing to "be the change" turned into the most fruitful years of our lives. Not only did we grow, but we were helping others grow and experiencing great joy and fulfillment in the process. While so many can look back on their church experiences with a bad taste in their mouth, we have nothing bad to say. It was not perfect and it was full of imperfect people, but we decided to become too busy helping people to notice.

Is the church missing so many vital elements because the gap-fillers became angry spectators? Do we have holes in the ministry because passionate and gifted people have simply allowed bitterness and offense to creep into their hearts? What would the church look like if those who had a passion for the poor didn’t get mad a the church for not reaching the poor, but instead started to lead by example? I have seen successful ministries started from one person just trying to be the change within the four walls of an imperfect church!

I hear many stories from offended and hurt people. I am not saying some of those stories weren’t justified...there are certain situations when such serious immorality and injustice is taking place that it is much better that the person find another church! There are certian churches that are not leading people in the right direction and even Jesus became indignant with these (Matthew 21:12-14).

For those that have given up on church all-together, does that mean your salvation is in question? No! The church doesn’t save you, Jesus does. My pastor, Ben Brinkman says "Going to church doesn’t save you, but it sure helps keep you saved." He compared it to going on dates with his wife. Was going on dates what got him married? It helped, but no. However, going on dates with his wife will sure help keep him married! For those that are against "organized religion" I pray that it doesn’t hinder your relationship with Him, but I do believe that finding the right community of believers provides great support and strength.

What is church supposed to look like? Acts 2: 42-47 gives us a great model:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

Hopefully you can find a church that follows this Biblical model, and if you are already in one then just remember to be the change!

Thanks for reading and responding!
Melissa Miller
　
　
　
　
　
　

Graciousness

2009-08-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

{graciousness}
kind and warmly courteous
tactful
compassionate
indulgent
charming
graceful
elegant and with good taste

Graciousness is not something that has come naturally to me, but in being married to my husband and watching his example he has helped me to cultivate more graciousness in my life. He doesn’t often correct me (because he is a smart husband!) but when he does, it is done with such graciousness that it becomes easy for me to receive that correction and work on that area of my life.

The Bible is full of scriptures that remind us that God is gracious. He always comes to us with graciousness many times before he comes to us with a hammer. The hammer should only come after countless times of grace given, which is where we miss the mark as humans.
Graciousness is perhaps the most wise attribute that we can add to communication with others in our lives. It is generally not what we say but how we say it. Ecclesiastes 10:12 says "The words of a wise man’s lips are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up."

It is so important to make sure an element of graciousness is added specifically to emails. We have all learned that the hard way! We can’t hear the tone of the email, and because we can’t it leads to mis-communication...and we find ourselves saying "No, I never meant it that way!" A very practical way of doing this is just adding a simple smiley face at the end of your email. It’s pretty simple - colon, closed-parentheses! :)

For those of us that God has given us a leadership role - whether we are leading in the church, at our workplace or to our children – there is a greater responsibility to be gracious. We are showing those whom we are leading what it means to be a leader. When they become a leader themselves they will follow the pattern that we have given them. If we allow graciousness to be evident in our leadership, we will create generations of gracious people who come after us. If we approach people impulsively, emotionally or harshly it will create a pattern of people who think being a leader means being overbearing.

Proverbs 11:16 says, "A gracious woman retains honor." We will have the respect and honor of those around us because trust is earned through graciousness. When my husband does have to speak with me about something serious, I do not fear or resist those conversations because I know with all my heart it will be presented with love and graciousness.

We are all guilty of speaking to harshly at times, and mostly it comes out to those we are most familiar with such as our spouse or family. It is sad that we become so comfortable with those we love that we lose the same respect and graciousness that we show to other people. If the Holy Spirit lives inside of us and He is gracious, it is possible for us to have this attribute at work in our life!

I challenge you to take a moment before you speak and ask God to help you be gracious in your responses. You will be amazed at how much weight it takes off of difficult conversations and how it opens the door for more trust and openess in your relationships. I look forward to hearing some good reports!

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller
　
　

Don't give up, just pace yourself.

2009-08-24T09:25:00.001-07:00

I will never forget the first time (and last) that I ran the 400 meter race. I was a pole vaulter, not a runner but because our coach needed a spot filled I was the lucky one chosen for the task. I did not have any advice or training on how to approach this race, I just knew to run as fast as I could. When the gun went off, I was feeling pretty good about myself. As I looked around me I realized I was passing everyone! Soon enough, I had a strong lead. I thought for a moment I had missed my calling! Was I meant to be an Olympic 400 meter runner and I didn’t know it? As soon as I was feeling good about myself, I got a little tired. Okay, A LOT tired. I hit a wall. I was panting and exhausted and running on empty. I watched helplessly as every last runner passed me by to reach that finish line. I crossed that line completely out of breath and with my tail between my legs.

I think the 400 meter race is a lot like life. We could achieve so much more if we were better equipped to run the race. Rather than seeking wisdom before-hand, many times we go at it on our own and experience burn-out, weariness and discouragement. As I was reading 1 Kings 19:1-9 Elijah was running for his life. He ran into the desert, sat under a tree and prayed that he would die.

(Verse 4) "But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"

He was so exhausted, weary and discouraged that he felt like giving up. The most amazing part about this passage is that the Lord didn’t do anything super-spiritual - he just gave him food, a drink and rest.

(Verses 5-8) "Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel
touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat." Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel
of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you." So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God."

Joyce Meyer says, "We need to keep the door closed to the enemy. Many times the door is not some big spiritual issue that we have to seek out. Many times it is some simple, practical area of our life that we have become almost too spiritual to pay any attention to...we have a practical, natural side of our lives that we have to take care of. If we don’t it will end up hurting our spiritual side."

Could it be that in making minor adjustments to our life, we could go from being burnt-out to steadfast? Could it be that if we sought wisdom before the race we could spare ourselves from discouragement and frustration? What would it look like if we chose not to quit but to instead pace ourselves?

It is the little things we take for granted that we later realize weren’t little things after all. Rest. Relaxation. Eating right. Avoiding over-commitment. Financial discipline. Balance!

I encourage you today - don’t give up, just pace yourself!

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller
　
　

Your dream, RIGHT NOW!

2009-08-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

If someone asks me "what is your dream" it becomes a hard question for me to answer. It has shifted and changed so much in the past five years and at times it incorporates many different elements that I often have no idea how they relate to one another (God knows). I want to speak, travel and write. I want to have a Christian talk show, a children’s dream center and a women’s ministry. My husband and I want to go to the nations and help rebuild communities and help teach them how to become economically independent. Most of all, I have said that all these things will be a means to an end. They will be a means to be able to advocate for children’s rights and the injustice that happens to them internationally.

Recently my husband and I have decided to put on a benefit concert to support IJM and their efforts towards ending child trafficking. It has been a long time coming for us to be able to take action for this cause, but finally we are able to do something with this burden on our hearts. Although it has been taking up a lot of my time and myself and a few others are working many hours to make it a success, there has been an overwhelming joy and excitement in the whole process.

As I reflected on why this is so exciting, I realized something. This is my dream. I am living my dream right now–TODAY!!! I always thought about my dream as off in the distant future, after I have had this platform or this experience on my resume, then I would be able to do what was really on my heart. It is probably the case for most of us...we are waiting for someone to promote us, recognize our "talents" or give us the green light to pursue what we really want. If our dream is really about people, then we will be reaching people RIGHT NOW! If our dream is really about helping others, then we will be helping others TODAY! If our dream is simply not about ourselves, then there shouldn’t be any reason we can’t be experiencing an overwhelming joy and excitement EVERY DAY in the journey of walking with God and making a difference in the lives of others.

Matthew 5: 13-15 says "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Many times we get focused on the part that says we should be put on a stand. We like the sound of being promoted, but we forget that we are first must be a light before anyone is going to want to put us on a stand. I am not going to put a broken lamp on a stand – that lamp is useless! What was the purpose? To be a light to everyone in the house. Being put on a stand is only a means to let light shine on more people. We should stop focusing on whether or not we have a stand, and just start focusing on being a light!

I pray that your dream doesn’t become about you. I pray that you can see past the "what" into the "why." I challenge you to examine your motives, stop looking for promotion and begin to live in your dream RIGHT NOW!

Stream or a Swamp?

2009-08-14T09:55:00.000-07:00

The other day, my family and I went to Balboa park. We have not fully explored this massive park, so we went down a different trail that we haven’t been down before. As we went down the trail we noticed what looked like a small stream off to the left of us. As we walked closer, we realized that it wasn’t a stream it was actually a small swamp. It was pretty nasty and although the rest of my family was fascinated by it, I was ready to move on. I didn’t really want to look at it’s murky waters or the creepy little worms swimming in it, it was gross!

Ezekiel 47:9-12 "Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."

Ezekiel describes two different bodies of water: swamps and rivers. The river is described as a place that flows where life abides and flourishes. There are living creatures and fish inside, and trees with fruit blossoming grow abundantly along the banks. However, the swamps don’t give out. They remain stagnant and devoid of life. A swamp might look like a stream from far away, but as you draw closer you realize it is not a pretty sight!

One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 11:25 "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." The reason I love this scripture so much, is I have seen it come true in my life time after time. Whenever I start to get focused on myself, I start to feel dissatisfied and discontent, God is faithful to remind me to keep my eyes on him and on serving others. As soon as I start to focus on how I can refresh someone else, I immediately start to feel refreshed myself. It is a picture of a stream, constantly being refreshed itself but then taking that refreshment and giving it away.

Our lives should be an example of a stream. John 7:38 says, "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." It is amazing that people are searching so hard for what to add to their lives to make it better, and adding things is not bad, but if you keep adding and don’t ever give anything away that still makes you a swamp!

As we seek to know and understand Him better we are receiving life. The problem comes when we start to get stagnant and forget to be a stream – one that gives out! Giving of our time, money, words of encouragement, love, and our knowledge of the truth are ways that we can practice being a stream and not a swamp. It is in those simple acts of giving that we walk away feeling that we ourselves have been refreshed It is a beautiful life-giving cycle that we can sometimes loose sight of in the chaos of life.

My husband and I have had a burden for children ever since we became parents. We have used the excuse that we have two children and don’t have a lot of time to get involved with organizations that are making a difference. I watched a video of a child slave who was 10 years old working at a brick-kiln. With no breaks and little food or rest, he slaved away every single day hauling heavy bricks. He has nothing to look forward to. I realized in that moment that if I worked as hard in a few months as that boy does in a single day, I could make a huge difference! After watching a clip of him working a 14 hour day my excuse of not having enough time, was not an excuse anymore.

I don’t know about you, but it is a story like that child’s that ignites me to be a stream and not a swamp. We are blessed to be a blessing! We are blessed with time to be able to give time to someone else! Blessed with finances to be able to give out to those in need! The knowledge of the truth to be able to share that with someone who doesn’t know. I really believe, once we start to put this into practice we will experience a greater refreshment in our own souls than we ever thought possible.
　
Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller
　
　
　
　
　
　

The right peeps -- Edited! :)

2009-08-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

In Mark 5:35-43 A ruler named Jairus came to Jesus because his daughter had just died. Those around him told Jairus not to bother Jesus, that it was over and she was dead. Jairus was a loving father who was holding on to any hope that Jesus could save her. When Jesus came to the house where all the people were crying and wailing over the dead girl, he proclaimed "The child is not dead but asleep." They laughed at him. Jesus took the girl’s hand, told her to get up and she immediately got up and started walking around. The scripture says that the people were astonished. I would have loved to have been in the room when it happened.

There were three kinds of people in this passage.
1. The Distracting
2. The Discouraging
3. The Faith-filled
　
The distracting people were the ones who were good intentioned but pessimistic. These were the ones that told Jairus that his daughter was dead and asked "Why bother Jesus anymore?" These are the people in our lives that might love and care about us, but aren’t always looking at life with an attitude of faith. They might look at your circumstances or dreams through their own filters of failure and disappointment, so they like to try to help you "not to get your hopes up." They might mean well, but they don't always have the wisdom to offer that comes from faith. We can most certainly be a light to these people and help guide them in the right direction, but we must make sure to filter thier advice through the word of God when it comes to our circumstances or dreams.

The discouraging people are the ones that blatantly laughed at Jesus when he gave them the good news that she was not dead but asleep. Even when he spoke life, encouragement and hope into the situation they still chose not to believe. These people are like crabs! Have you ever heard what a crabs do when they are thrown into a bucket? When one crab climbs to the top, the other one pulls it down back into the bucket. You don’t even need a lid, because the are just too busy dragging each other down! Even when something good happens in our lives –when a word of hope or encouragement comes–we have to watch out for crabby advice that wants to tear down and discourage.

Lastly, Jairus gives us a great example of someone who remained faith filled. Despite the report of others–or even what he had seen for himself–he still chose to trust in God for a miracle. The wisdom we heed from others can make a huge difference in our character and destiny. Beware of those that would try to distract you from Jesus, or the crabs that would try to tear you down. We should not push these people out of our lives, but rather be a light to them and stay focused on what God has to say about you and your future!

Thank you for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

Post a comment! Questions for reflection and response:
1. Can you identify any discouraging wisdom or advice that someone has given you?
2. How can you filter that advice through the word of God?
　
　
　
　

Sneaky little Fox!

2009-08-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

　
When my husband played football in college the team’s motto was "Forget about it." They had it written on the back of their shirts in bright red letters to remind them to forget about any past failures or shortcomings. The coach recognized that if the team entered into the playing field with discouraging thoughts, it would affect their ability to have victory. Smart coach. He recognized that such a little thing holds great consequences.

Discouragement is a very common emotion and its power has been very underestimated. The enemy knows that discouragement brings us one step closer to failure. The Bible says it is the little foxes that destroy the vineyards (Song of Soloman 2:15), and I believe discouragement is one of those sneaky little foxes that can destroy the vineyard of our soul. It comes subtly and discreetly but paralyzes us from both realizing and acting upon the greatness that is inside of us.
Whenever I start to feel discouraged and heavy-hearted, I claim the promise of Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (NKJV)

The word ‘thoughts’ in Hebrew is Machashaban (try saying that five times fast!) It means thought, device, plan, purpose or invention. This journey of life can become overwhelming and sometimes discouraging, but I take hope knowing that God is actually planning, inventing and setting out a great purpose for me. He is thinking about me in heaven and how he can bring me peace! The word peace in Hebrew is Shalowm (Ever heard of Shalowm in the home?), and it has many different meanings that we can claim for our lives:

1. Completeness
2. Safety
3. Soundness (clarity)
4. Welfare, Health
5. Prosperity
6. Tranquility
7. Contentment
8. Peace in friendships
9. Peace in human relationships
10. Peace with God
11. Peace from attacks or war

Isn’t it amazing that He is actually thinking, planning and plotting a way to bring you the things that are on this list! You might need multiple things from this list today (I know I do), but thankfully God does not run out of stock.

It doesn’t matter how many times you feel like you have failed or how many times your circumstances disappointed you, God has a plan for you! He is purposed in bringing you your purpose! He has not forgotten about you, his desire is to bring you a future and a hope. Tell this to yourself today, forget about past letdowns and drive out that sneaky little fox of discouragement.

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

Post a Comment! Questions for reflection and response:
1. What are some things that you find yourself discouraged about?
2. Who are the people around you that help bring encouragement?
3. What are some scriptures that bring encouragement and hope? 　
　
　
　
　
　

Higher Ground.

2009-08-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

I took the kids on a trip to see family a few weeks ago. As the plane started to elevate, the kids both sat enamored with the speed of the plane and our city drifting farther away from us. It was amazing to Hannah that the higher we went, the smaller everything below appeared. Tiny little cars, houses and pools looked like a polly-pocket wonderland to my daughter.

I flipped through an old journal the other day and ran across a scribbled note to myself that I don’t even remember writing. It said, "Your problems are not too big, your worship is just too small." It reminded me of that airplane ride. I realized that the size of my problems is all relative to how high up I choose to go. If I choose to focus on how big He is and exalt him, my problems seem like tiny specks below me.

In Mark 2:3-12 four men decided to carry a paralytic to see Jesus. However the crowd was too big and they could not get in. These determined men climbed up on top of the house (brought the paralyzed man with them) and made an opening in the roof to lower him down in hopes of getting Jesus’ attention. Jesus was amazed at their faith and healed the man.

When there seemed like there was no way this man’s problem could be fixed, they chose to get on higher ground. It was then that the began to have hope, devise a plan and make a way to come closer to Jesus. They didn’t focus on how impossible it was for a paralyzed man to be well, or how difficult it was to push through the crowd. They chose to focus on the fact that Jesus was a miracle worker – and they were relentless in finding a way to get to Him!

If you feel overwhelmed with your circumstances today, I encourage you to get on higher ground. Choose to focus on how big HE is and what your facing will seem tiny in comparison.

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

Post a comment! Questions for reflection/response:
1. What are some circumstances your facing that seem impossible?
2. How does worship help our faith in Him and His power over our circumstances?

Excuses, Excuses.

2009-08-06T23:15:00.001-07:00

I know I need to do it. It’s really not that hard. I’ll do it tomorrow. How about this God, I’ll put it on my "to do" list for next week! I will even add it to my prayer list. I will make teeny-tiny baby steps towards it (that are very non-committal) and if people ask me I will say, "I’m workin’ on it!"

Sound familiar? I think deep down inside we all know what we need to do to step towards what God has called us to do. There is something inside of us that is just afraid to do it. The enemy would like to make us believe we are not ready, too young, too old, too poor, too short, too tall, too busy – not qualified! Isn’t there a small part of us that holds on too those lies as our excuses for not accomplishing what we know we should be?

If we count ourselves qualified that means we have to run the race. No more excuses. I have known many people who are dissatisfied with the way they are, but for every excuse you negate, they have another one in their back pocket! What a shame it is to see so many people disqualify themselves before they even get started!

In Mark 1:16-20 Jesus chose four disciples to follow him. They were fishermen, young and uneducated. They didn’t have impressive pedigree or prestige, and were certainly an unlikely choice to be the understudies to the Son of God. It says that at once they followed him. They didn’t make excuses or ask questions, they just dropped everything and followed him immediately. They could have argued that they were too young or just simple fishermen, but instead they decided not to pass up the opportunity to be used by God.

Don’t disqualify yourself when God has already qualified you! (Col. 1:12) Stop making excuses and do what you know he has called you to do!

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

Post a comment! Questions for reflection/response:
1. In what areas have you felt disqualified?
2. Can you think of some Biblical men or women that God called, but they still felt disqualified?

Adjust your Filters

2009-08-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

The other day we took our kids to a 3D mini-movie at Seaworld. We all put on our special 3D glasses, and my husband and I were anxious to see how our children would react. At first the images started out pretty tame, but as it got to the climax of the ever-so-intense Sesame Street movie, Hannah started to cry. It doesn't help that nowadays they make the movies squirt water, blow air and you feel certain rumblings in your seat (or maybe that was the guy next to me?) No matter how many times we told her it was fun, she was convinced this was NOT fun! She made daddy take her out of that house of flying-cookies as fast as possible.

Without the glasses, it looks like a normal but blurry episode of Sesame Street. With the glasses it gives you filter that changes the way things appear, to the point where you feel like you can reach out and grab that scrumptious chocolate cookie crumble and eat it...me want cookie.

David's song in 2 Samuel 22:25-27 sings, "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd."

Imagine the world watching a movie about God in which everyone sees him differently. Each person has thier own set of glasses and seeing the Lord through different filters. The faithful people walk away and say, "Wow, God is SO Faithful!" The crooked people walk away and say, "Man, God is really shrewd!" Isn't it amazing that the attributes we carry in our own life affect how he reveals himself to us?

I have known people that have such a hard time forgiving others or themselves that it affects thier ability to recieve God's forgiveness and trust in his mercy. There are others I know who are incredibly generous and in turn have amazing faith in God's provision and blessing in thier own lives. Our filters can be good or bad, but nonetheless they do affect our faith--which always affects and determines what we recieve. If you look at God and sometimes don't like what you see, it isn't God that needs adjusting, it is your filters.

God honors faith--and if we take the promises of his word seriously, we will seriously get them! If we choose not to believe some of them because of our dirty filters, then we may be missing out on some great blessings! Don't make up your mind that the movie is going to be bad, stick around, adjust your filters and enjoy the journey with the Lord.

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

Post a comment! Questions for reflection/response:
1. Can you think of some filters in your life (good or bad) that have affected your relationship with God and how you percieve him?
2. What are some good filters that we should strive for?