January 15th: A gift worn, given away, and shared
Worn- favorite pajama pants mom got me for Christmas two or three years ago. They're wearing thin and have a hole or two from being worn so much, but they are my absolute favorite!
Given Away- smiles, hugs, and words of encouragement. I gave a scrapbook to my boyfriend once that was probably one of my favorite gifts I've ever given away.
Shared- time and memories with my family, my friends, my church family, peers, and people around me. Every day is a gift and I am blessed beyond words to share it with the people I do.
January 16th: Three witnessed blessings
1. Michael and Landon's baptism at the beach on a youth trip. (My little brother and my "big brother!") It was pretty awesome and something I'm going to always remember.
2. Being in a church service the other day and during the invitational seven or eight people stood up and said they accepted Jesus. How cool is that?
3. Watching/listening to kids in Sunday school at church talking about Jesus.
January 17th: laughter, prayer, quiet
Laughter- I'm thankful that I know how to laugh at myself when I do goofy things. I've got about a million "Melissa moments" so if your ever down and need a laugh feel free to give me a call. I'm thankful for the friends and family members that can make me laugh when I'm having a really crummy day. :)
Prayer- I'm thankful that God always knows what's on my heart. There are days when I feel very lost, hurt, or angry and those are the days when I have a hard time coming up with words to say. I'm also thankful that He already knows what I need before I even ask Him.
Quiet- driving and listening to music. I know that's not "quiet" per say but when I'm able to sing as loudly and off key as I feel like to, it makes me smile. :)
January 18th: 3 gifts from Gods word
1. Knowing That we can come to the throne of God with confidence (Hebrews 4:16)
2. We are saved by grace through our faith, not by any thing we've done. (Ephesians 2:8)
3. That I can give God all of my anxieties , and know he'll take care of me. (1 Peter 5:7)
January 19th: three gifts that might have never been
1. I may not have become part of my church family if my uncle had not told me about a bible study that his friend was starting at her church when I was in 7th grade
2 and 3. If I hadn't gotten diabetes then I don't think I'd be nearly as close to people like Brandon, if I didn't have my migraines that would be something that my best friend Struggles with that I would be unable to to really understand. If I didn't suffer with anxiety then I wouldn't be able to identify with my friends that do. So I think the gifts of really strong friendships wouldn't be if I didn't have the certain medical conditions that I do.
January 20th: 3 things only seen up close
1. People's likes and dislikes, their heart, struggles, etc. you have to pay close attention to see those things
2. The little scratch on my car next to the big scratch on my car where I hit a green electric box thing....the big noticeable scratch on my car is from when I hit a wall. Don't judge. Lol I'm thankful for my safety.
3. Ants. I hate bugs. But it's a cool reminder because of God cares about a teeeeeeeeeeeeeey tinnnnnnnnnnnnny thing like that, He must really care about us!
January 21st: a gift in sky, water, and memory
Sky: sunset
Water: can the beach in general count? Waves, salt water, fish, sand, seashells, etc.
Memory: family vacations
January 22nd: wrinkled, smoothed, and unfolded
Wrinkled: lol my nose when I laugh really hard
Smoothed: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or vanilla wafers in peanut butter. Smooth is just a word that reminds me of Jif...ha!!!!!
Unfolded: I'm SUPREMELY thankful to unfold my clean clothes every day that my mom takes the time to wash, dry, and fold. I don't tell her thank you enough for how awesome she is
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
"Let Me Bless You"
This is the devotion from Jesus Calling today. i just really needed to hear this and wanted to share.
"Let Me bless you with My grace and Peace. Open your heart and mind to receive all that I have for you. Do not be ashamed of your emptiness. Instead, view it as the optimal condition for being filled with My Peace.
It is easy to touch up your outward appearance, to look as if you have it all together. Your attempts to look good can fool most people. But I see straight through you, into the depths of your being. There is no place for pretense in your relationship with Me. Rejoice in the relief of being fully understood. Talk with Me about your struggles and feelings of inadequacy. Little by little, I will transform your weaknesses into strengths. Remember that your relationship with Me is saturated in grace. Therefore, nothing that you do or don’t do can separate you from My Presence.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
—1 Samuel 16:7
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 8:38–39"
"Let Me bless you with My grace and Peace. Open your heart and mind to receive all that I have for you. Do not be ashamed of your emptiness. Instead, view it as the optimal condition for being filled with My Peace.
It is easy to touch up your outward appearance, to look as if you have it all together. Your attempts to look good can fool most people. But I see straight through you, into the depths of your being. There is no place for pretense in your relationship with Me. Rejoice in the relief of being fully understood. Talk with Me about your struggles and feelings of inadequacy. Little by little, I will transform your weaknesses into strengths. Remember that your relationship with Me is saturated in grace. Therefore, nothing that you do or don’t do can separate you from My Presence.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
—1 Samuel 16:7
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 8:38–39"
One Thousand Gifts (Jan 12-14)
January 12th: Above, below and beside
Above- Sunshine (even though it's seriously lacking today and we're dealing with crummy gross memphis weather! It's still there though!)
Below- the piles of things under my bed. I'm thankful to live in a country where I have a safe place to sleep at night and freedom to throw whatever I want to under my bed! (as long as mom doesn't find out. Shhh!)
Beside-books on my side table.
January 13th: 3 Things about yourself that you are grateful for
1. The way I'm determined and passionate about certain things. If I set my mind to it I know I can do anything, and if it's something I love then you'll probably have a hard time pulling me away from it. Haha it gets me in trouble occasionally like when I spend twice as much time on my English homework instead of doing my Algebra, or work on something for my middle school girls instead of doing an essay that's due the next day.
2. My height. I love being tall, you should try it sometimes Angie Jennings! <---- it gives me little snide jokes like that that i can make to my mom and other short friends/ family members. Ha! Just kidding.
3. My love for people. I love to talk, I love to listen to stories, I love helping people, I just really love being around people. I'm grateful for that bc it's given me opportunities to learn from all sorts of people: young and old!
January 14th: 3 startling graces from God
1. His unconditional love for me. I still don't totally understand this one. No matter how many times I screw up He still loves me. And it's crazy how He reminds me sometimes!! I was on the way home yesterday and I said something along the lines of "God I'm feeling really anxious and far from you, and I don't feel like you're listening to me at all." And then, frustrated,I put my iPod on shuffle and two or three songs in a row came on that we're singing ab Gods peace and love for His children. How cool is that?
2. He isn't mad at me for messing up. It goes with His love for us but it deserves its own number because His mercy and forgiveness really blows my mind.
3. He is patient with me. When I try to control things and insist on doing everything myself He doesn't yell at me and strike me with lightning or anything like that. He waits for me to realize I can't do anything without Him, ask for his forgiveness, and allow Him to show me what He has in store for me. This is kind of a continuing cycle between me and God. I'm learning and its getting better, but I'm amazed by how patient He is with me.
Our church's women's ministry is doing "one thousand gifts" where we post three things we are thankful for every day onto a private page on Facebook. I am really bad at keeping up with stuff like that, and I like to comment and explain the reasons I pick certain things, so I figured doing this through the blog is a better idea. :)
Above- Sunshine (even though it's seriously lacking today and we're dealing with crummy gross memphis weather! It's still there though!)
Below- the piles of things under my bed. I'm thankful to live in a country where I have a safe place to sleep at night and freedom to throw whatever I want to under my bed! (as long as mom doesn't find out. Shhh!)
Beside-books on my side table.
January 13th: 3 Things about yourself that you are grateful for
1. The way I'm determined and passionate about certain things. If I set my mind to it I know I can do anything, and if it's something I love then you'll probably have a hard time pulling me away from it. Haha it gets me in trouble occasionally like when I spend twice as much time on my English homework instead of doing my Algebra, or work on something for my middle school girls instead of doing an essay that's due the next day.
2. My height. I love being tall, you should try it sometimes Angie Jennings! <---- it gives me little snide jokes like that that i can make to my mom and other short friends/ family members. Ha! Just kidding.
3. My love for people. I love to talk, I love to listen to stories, I love helping people, I just really love being around people. I'm grateful for that bc it's given me opportunities to learn from all sorts of people: young and old!
January 14th: 3 startling graces from God
1. His unconditional love for me. I still don't totally understand this one. No matter how many times I screw up He still loves me. And it's crazy how He reminds me sometimes!! I was on the way home yesterday and I said something along the lines of "God I'm feeling really anxious and far from you, and I don't feel like you're listening to me at all." And then, frustrated,I put my iPod on shuffle and two or three songs in a row came on that we're singing ab Gods peace and love for His children. How cool is that?
2. He isn't mad at me for messing up. It goes with His love for us but it deserves its own number because His mercy and forgiveness really blows my mind.
3. He is patient with me. When I try to control things and insist on doing everything myself He doesn't yell at me and strike me with lightning or anything like that. He waits for me to realize I can't do anything without Him, ask for his forgiveness, and allow Him to show me what He has in store for me. This is kind of a continuing cycle between me and God. I'm learning and its getting better, but I'm amazed by how patient He is with me.
Our church's women's ministry is doing "one thousand gifts" where we post three things we are thankful for every day onto a private page on Facebook. I am really bad at keeping up with stuff like that, and I like to comment and explain the reasons I pick certain things, so I figured doing this through the blog is a better idea. :)
Friday, January 11, 2013
One Thousand Gifts (Jan 1 - Jan 11)
January 1st: Three things heard
Music! (All of it! Today I've been in a Taylor Swift mood...)
Birds while I'm walking through the park
The bell telling me it's time to leave school and start the weekend
January 2nd: Outside, Inside, on your plate
Beautiful Weather
My Dog
Haha, a microwave Lean Cuisine meal
January 3rd: three graces you've heard
a teacher telling someone else I was doing a good job
my grandmother laughing and smiling and talking
talking with a friend while walking through the park
January 4th: A gift old, new, and blue
A bouquet of paper flowers
new earrings
blue T-shirt that has a coffee cup on it that says "Espresso Your Heart to God"
January 5th: Something you are making, reading, seeing
reading "Not a Fan" on my nook (reccomend!!!)
making a cross stitch Owl...it isn't coming along very quickly...
seeing a bunch of smiling faces
January 6th: one thing in your bag, your fridge, your heart
My bag- homework (I'm thankful for my education in general. I may not always like school but I'm thankful I have the opportunity to go.)
My fridge- Sugar free minute maid (in a can) lemonade
My heart- Jesus
January 7th: three graces from people you love
Forgiveness when I've done something wrong
Encouragement when I'm having a hard time
Advice and wisdom when i need it
January 8th: dusky light, surprising reflection, lovely shadow
A sunset! (tonight's was really pretty. It's been raining the past few days and it's really cool how God made something so beautiful right after something cold, wet, and yucky)
The conviction I have felt while reading the book "Not a Fan."
(this one was hard) the shadow of the bartlett police man car that was driving behind me earlier. Not thankful for the nervous wreck it made me for that four or five blocks, but I'm thankful we have police officers and firefighters to help keep us safe.
January 9th: a gift held, passed by, sat with
My ipod touch
the beach
Jesus Calling devotional my bible study leaders, Angela and Jessica, gave to me for Christmas (2011)
January 10th: A gift sour, sweet, just right
Sour Patch Kids (Christmas color special edition)
Great grandmother's fried pies
Not too hot, not too cold, coffee or tea my mom makes me before I walk out the door for school
January 11th: 3 yellow gifts of fresh mercy
Sunflowers to remind me to face the Son (stretching it a bit but it counts!)
Yellow T shirt that I bought on Destin FL Youth trip to remind me of the beach and fun times with youth group. Reminds me of the first destin FL trip we went on. I became a christian on that trip. God's mercy saved me! :)
Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal. He's really big and makes a great pillow. I sleep at night on him. I wake up in the morning. God's mercies are new every morning. (also stretching it, but it also works)
Church's women's ministry started doing "one Thousand Gifts" where we list 3 things we are thankful for every day. I already know I'm not going to remember to post every day so I'll post it on my blog and update/catch up as often as I can in various posts. :)
Music! (All of it! Today I've been in a Taylor Swift mood...)
Birds while I'm walking through the park
The bell telling me it's time to leave school and start the weekend
January 2nd: Outside, Inside, on your plate
Beautiful Weather
My Dog
Haha, a microwave Lean Cuisine meal
January 3rd: three graces you've heard
a teacher telling someone else I was doing a good job
my grandmother laughing and smiling and talking
talking with a friend while walking through the park
January 4th: A gift old, new, and blue
A bouquet of paper flowers
new earrings
blue T-shirt that has a coffee cup on it that says "Espresso Your Heart to God"
January 5th: Something you are making, reading, seeing
reading "Not a Fan" on my nook (reccomend!!!)
making a cross stitch Owl...it isn't coming along very quickly...
seeing a bunch of smiling faces
January 6th: one thing in your bag, your fridge, your heart
My bag- homework (I'm thankful for my education in general. I may not always like school but I'm thankful I have the opportunity to go.)
My fridge- Sugar free minute maid (in a can) lemonade
My heart- Jesus
January 7th: three graces from people you love
Forgiveness when I've done something wrong
Encouragement when I'm having a hard time
Advice and wisdom when i need it
January 8th: dusky light, surprising reflection, lovely shadow
A sunset! (tonight's was really pretty. It's been raining the past few days and it's really cool how God made something so beautiful right after something cold, wet, and yucky)
The conviction I have felt while reading the book "Not a Fan."
(this one was hard) the shadow of the bartlett police man car that was driving behind me earlier. Not thankful for the nervous wreck it made me for that four or five blocks, but I'm thankful we have police officers and firefighters to help keep us safe.
January 9th: a gift held, passed by, sat with
My ipod touch
the beach
Jesus Calling devotional my bible study leaders, Angela and Jessica, gave to me for Christmas (2011)
January 10th: A gift sour, sweet, just right
Sour Patch Kids (Christmas color special edition)
Great grandmother's fried pies
Not too hot, not too cold, coffee or tea my mom makes me before I walk out the door for school
January 11th: 3 yellow gifts of fresh mercy
Sunflowers to remind me to face the Son (stretching it a bit but it counts!)
Yellow T shirt that I bought on Destin FL Youth trip to remind me of the beach and fun times with youth group. Reminds me of the first destin FL trip we went on. I became a christian on that trip. God's mercy saved me! :)
Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal. He's really big and makes a great pillow. I sleep at night on him. I wake up in the morning. God's mercies are new every morning. (also stretching it, but it also works)
Church's women's ministry started doing "one Thousand Gifts" where we list 3 things we are thankful for every day. I already know I'm not going to remember to post every day so I'll post it on my blog and update/catch up as often as I can in various posts. :)
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
"After You"
Here's my little happy to share with you today:
I walked out of house this morning with my hair pulled up, sweatpants on, a solid red Tshirt, and a pair of sneakers. It was one of those days! It's gross outside, it's cold, and I want to crawl back under the covers and sleep!! Today, on three different occasions, three different boys went out of their way and held a door open for me. Not just propping a door open with their hand as they walk in, actually opening a door and stepping aside. One even threw in an "after you." These weren't grown ups either! Three high school boys. Three high school boys that I don't know. Three strangers. See my point? On some days, I'm impressed if boys at my school say "excuse me" after they belch. I'm not saying girls are perfect members of society with impeccable mannerisms. I've seen girls who can belch the alphabet to the tune of "Old MacDonalad." (Not really...that would be impressive though.) I'm just saying that stereotypically, high school boys just don't show off their manners like they show off how many noises their armpits make before the teacher comes back into the room.
Anyway, I know this seems like a small thing but on days like today when you feel thrown together and feel like things keep falling apart, those little things make a world of a difference. Ladies, chivalry and southern charm are not dead. ;)
I walked out of house this morning with my hair pulled up, sweatpants on, a solid red Tshirt, and a pair of sneakers. It was one of those days! It's gross outside, it's cold, and I want to crawl back under the covers and sleep!! Today, on three different occasions, three different boys went out of their way and held a door open for me. Not just propping a door open with their hand as they walk in, actually opening a door and stepping aside. One even threw in an "after you." These weren't grown ups either! Three high school boys. Three high school boys that I don't know. Three strangers. See my point? On some days, I'm impressed if boys at my school say "excuse me" after they belch. I'm not saying girls are perfect members of society with impeccable mannerisms. I've seen girls who can belch the alphabet to the tune of "Old MacDonalad." (Not really...that would be impressive though.) I'm just saying that stereotypically, high school boys just don't show off their manners like they show off how many noises their armpits make before the teacher comes back into the room.
Anyway, I know this seems like a small thing but on days like today when you feel thrown together and feel like things keep falling apart, those little things make a world of a difference. Ladies, chivalry and southern charm are not dead. ;)
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
2013 Mini Bucket List
2013. WHAT? How did that happen? Well, here we go! Here's to a year of new adventures and fun surprises! 2012 is behind us and there's nothing we can do to change it. Let's hold our heads up and look forward to all the wonderful things this year has in store for us. My biggest "goal" this year is to get healthy. I would love to come off my medication for my diabetes and get my blood sugar under control. It won't be easy, but I know I can do it if I really set my mind to it. As for the migraines I've been having, I'm hoping we finally have a medication that works for me and that they become less frequent this year! :) I don't really have the cliche list of New Year's Resolutions to show you, but I decided to make a "off-the-top-of-my-head" bucket list of things I really would like to do/accomplish this year.
Happy New Years everyone! :)
The mini 2013 Bucket List (in no particular order)
-Scrapbook all of my youth group pictures and take lots of pictures at church this year!
-Take my bike and go ride a bike trail somewhere
-Eat Wedding Cake Supreme at Jerry's Sno Cones at least once this summer
-Find a job doing something I like to do
-Read through the Bible
-Graduate High School
-Learn how to cook edible things that do not come from a microwave
-Take time to practice my photography
-Lose weight (no set amount, just try to be healthier)
-See Les Miserables (This will be marked off very soon! I've been waiting for that movie to come out for years! SOO excited!)
-Go camping with my friends
-Go canoeing with my dad (We are SOO doing that this year. We've been talking about it forEVER!)
-play "Messy Twister"
-Get out on the lake this summer
-Go on a mission trip
Happy New Years everyone! :)
The mini 2013 Bucket List (in no particular order)
-Scrapbook all of my youth group pictures and take lots of pictures at church this year!
-Take my bike and go ride a bike trail somewhere
-Eat Wedding Cake Supreme at Jerry's Sno Cones at least once this summer
-Find a job doing something I like to do
-Read through the Bible
-Graduate High School
-Learn how to cook edible things that do not come from a microwave
-Take time to practice my photography
-Lose weight (no set amount, just try to be healthier)
-See Les Miserables (This will be marked off very soon! I've been waiting for that movie to come out for years! SOO excited!)
-Go camping with my friends
-Go canoeing with my dad (We are SOO doing that this year. We've been talking about it forEVER!)
-play "Messy Twister"
-Get out on the lake this summer
-Go on a mission trip
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