La de da..........

Um...I am sure you all think I have fallen off the face of the earth! Good news! I haven't!

So many things have happened and they are all pretty amazing!!! The main thing is my AWESOME boyfriend - Blake! He is THE BEST ever! And I am not biased...lol. I am so extremely blessed. I thank God everyday for him. :)

And another thing, first semester of college is OVER! I didn't do too badly. I am just so happy to have it done...haha...LAME!

And work has been busy, too busy. :(

Okay, this is a short and boring post...hope you're still awake. :P

In His Grip,
*Mel

So...

Wow! So I realized that it's been awhile. Just to let you all know, I have not yet died under the college workload. I'm only up to my waist in papers and homework, but...it is rising. :P

My first semester is flying by! I'm halfway through! And yes, my grades so far have been great! Praise God! At least all my studying is paying off...

Mission28 ROCKS!! I have to say that the highlight of my week is Thursday nights: the BIG meetings! I meet new people and catch up with friends. :) I'm so blessed to have a Christian group that I can be part of on campus; it definitely helps with staying strong in the Christ!

I'm working more now. There was one point where I only worked once in two weeks! But that's all behind me, and I'm scheduled full-force. Good and bad at the same time, but certainly more on the good side. haha

I am now on Fall Break...but it sure doesn't seem like it. :( I actually have more homework than normal. I'm asking, "What's with that?!" *sigh* Oh well...life never takes a break no matter what the season is! It just keeps on rolling. If it did stop, that would get mighty boring really quickly...some random thoughts for you all to deeply meditate upon. Hahaha JK!

Anyway, I am rambling on and on...so I better stop here and next time I pick it up, I hope it makes more sense. :)

In His grip!
*Mel

The Lost Get Found by Britt Nicole

V.1
Hello my friend
I remember when you were
So alive with your wide eyes
Then the light that you had in your heart was stolen
Now you say that it ain't worth stayin'
You wanna run but you're hesitatin'
I'm talkin' to me

Ch.
Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

V.2
So when you get the chance
Are you gonna take it?
There's a really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it
There's a girl on the streets, she's cryin'
There's a man whose faith is dyin'
Love is calling you

Ch.
Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

Bridge:
Why do we go with the flow
Or take an easier road?
Why are we playin' it safe?
Love came to show us the way
Love is a chance we should take
I'm movin' out of the way

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

So when you get the chance
Are you gonna take it?
There's a really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it

A More Beautiful You by Johnny Diaz

V. 1
Little girl, fourteen, flipping through a magazine,
Says she wants to look that way.
But her hair isn't straight, her body isn't fake,
And she's always felt overweight.
Little girl, fourteen, I wish that you could see
The beauty is within your heart.
And you were made with such care
Your skin, your body, and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are.

Ch.
There could never be a more beautiful you.
Don't buy the lies, disguises, and hoops they make you jump through.
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do.
So there could never be a more beautiful you.

V. 2
Little girl, twenty-one, the things that you've already done,
Anything to get ahead.
And you say you've got a man, but he's got another plan
He only wants what you'll do instead.
Well little girl, twenty-one, you never thought this would come,
You starve yourself to play the part.
But I can promise you there's a man who's love is true,
And He'll treat you like the jewel you are.

Ch.
There could never be a more beautiful you.
Don't buy the lies, disguises, and hoops they make you jump through.
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do.
So there could never be a more beautiful you.

Bridge:
So turn around, you're not too far
To back away, be who you are,
To change your path, go another way.
It's not too late, you can be saved.
If you feel depressed with past regrets,
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear, they can all be washed away
By the One who's strong, can right your wrongs
Can ride your fears, dry all your tears,
And change the way you look at this big world.
He will take your dark, distorted view
And with His light, He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl.

Ch.
There could never be a more beautiful you.
Don't buy the lies, disguises, and hoops they make you jump through.
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do.
So there could never be a more beautiful you.
There could never be a more beautiful you...

Verse of the Day!

Psalm 103:1-5 -

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, all my soul, and forget not all his benefits -

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

What I've been up to.

So...the second week of college is over! Homework has piled up. :(

This week has been really good for me. God's been working in my life to stretch my comfort zone and learn to trust Him.

For example, I struggle with meeting new people. So I tend toward fear of man. I'm afraid of what people might think of me...their first impressions of me. I don't want to say something stupid. So God has really stretched me in this area. First, He has brought a bunch of guys into my life. Yes, through M28. It took me awhile to become comfortable talking to them (believe it or not, the world is made up of girls AND guys!). So I've grown in that area.

And then just being the first to introduce myself to somebody. Initiating the conversation. He has done this through my college classes, when I'm seated next to people I don't know. And also at the M28 big meeting. That was an excellent starter situation, because the point of the big meetings is to greet and meet visitors.

And also with the ODs, we have to knock on doors and it's a little scary doing that for the first time. I didn't know how the students would react. But God got me through the first OD!

I'm so glad, though, that God is working in me like this! It's exciting to know that He's shaping me to become stronger in my weaknesses.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

I anticipate all that the Lord is going to do this year in college and M28. It's so exciting to see God work!!! Praise Him!

In His Grip,
*Mel

First Day of College!

So...I finished my first day of college today at 4:45 p.m.

Yes, it was quite a relief mostly because I wanted to go home and eat!

This is how my day played out:

1. Got up at 6:30 (very early for me!). Got ready to leave for campus.

2. Left for campus around 8:00. Encountered some slight parking problems, but found a spot at the top level of East Deck 2 (approximately around 8:20). My car baked in the sun for the whole duration of the day...meaning it was an oven by the time I got back!

3. Headed out for Sanford and Moore dorms to help out with the survey booth. Asked several people directions to the buildings...all were quite helpful. Proof: I got there! :)

4. I read my Bible for about 30 minutes while I waited for Charlotte to arrive with the rest of the team.

5. Started setting up the booths around 9:15. Blocked students' path so that they would fill out the survey to win an iTunes giftcard (good for them), and we could add them to our contacts for possible outreach (good for us). They also got a FREE popsicle of their choice color or flavor. haha!

6. Left for my FIRST class at 10:45 with Stephanie Hellman keeping me from getting lost. Ran into Chad Harris and Joe Hawkins on the way. Arrived at Fretwell on time! Yes! Had my math class...funny teacher. I think I'm going to like this class. *gasp* Did I just say that I might like a math class?! Oh, yes. (Had nothing to eat.)

7. After math, I immediately set out for my next destination since I only had 15 minutes to get there! Asked a couple people how to get to the building. Got to the class in the nick of time! And I'm in Japanese class...yes, you read it right: Japanese class. The teacher has the thickest accent imaginable! I understood "study guide" and a few more words. But I did learn to say "How do you do?" and "glad to meet you" in Japanese. I'm excited! So class got over in 30 minutes! I had an hour to kill...conversed with some classmates. (Had nothing to eat.)

8. Then off to the Smith building for English. Nice teacher...but kind of crude. :( (Had nothing to eat.)

9. Then 15 minutes to get to my next class: Liberal Studies 1202 - World War 2. Good teacher...no final exams in this class!!! So happy...:) (Had nothing to eat.)

10. Wow! This is getting long...please bear with me...I'm almost...done! Left campus and drove to the overcrowded Gray's Bookstore to pick up my math and Japanese books. Stood in line for 20 minutes...getting hungrier by the second.

11. Drove through much traffic, but got home safe and sound!

12. This is the most important: I FINALLY GOT TO EAT!!!!


Thanks for reading, I hope I didn't bore you to death. :)

In His Grip,
*Mel

My New Hat!

I got this great looking hat from Ross. I highly recommend shopping there for all you, my trendy friends. You can find the absolutely cutest tops and what not that are in style for way under $10 each! I shopped there and got 9 tops for $50 dollars! Good deal!

So here's my hat...

Verse of the Day!

1 Peter 2:1-10 ~ Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:

"See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
"The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,"

and,

"A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall."

They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Retreat!! :)

The M28 Freshman/Sophmore Retreat went extremely well! Thank you, God!

It was a 2 1/2 hour drive to Cedar Mountain, and we stayed at Terra Nova Center in Hideaway Lodge. The building accomodations was complete except for the mold or allergin in it. I had an allergic reaction and almost lost my voice! :(

Anyway, we did some really fun things. On Friday afternoon, we swam in a little lake. The weeds at the bottom grossed us girls out! haha! Then we played King of the Dock. Obviously, none of the girls won. The guys really got into it! It was an hilarious game to watch! I wish I had thought of bringing my camera on the dock. As it turned out, I left my camera behind during the best times to take pictures. :( I am really disappointed in myself. I will post pictures that others took once I get them. :)

After the lake, some of us girls and the guys played two-hand touch football. That game rocked!! My team won!!!

Then we had a huge spaghetti and salad meal after which we played bloody potato. I'll have to explain that game in person.


Then we played poker using reeses pieces for "money". We stayed up 'til midnight playing!


Then Anna pulled a prank on Tim for what he did at the LT retreat. She froze one of his shoes in the a bucket of water!! The next morning he looks for his shoe and finds it in the freezer! He was initially upset, but I think he got over it. Needless to say, he did not wear his shoes on the hike!


Then we went and saw some really cool waterfalls! I got brave enough to jump one! It was soooo much fun!! Although, I felt really stupid for thinking of doing it, but I would definitely do it again!
And we also slid down some other waterfalls. Three Hispanic dudes were showing off and doing crazy things that could have gotten them seriously hurt. They were quite amusing!

Basically, that's about it. Oh, and Tyler LeVan taught from 1Peter 2:1-10. Excellent message! Just what I needed to hear for my first year in college and M28.

I'll post that Scripture passage next time. :)

In His Grip,
*Mel


p.s. Sorry for not getting any pictures in. :((((((

Tomorrow!!!

I am so excited about tomorrow!! I'm going to the Freshman/Sophmore Retreat!! Gonna meet all the interns, connect with all the other new M28ers, and have a BLAST!! I'm going to remember to bring my camera so that I can post pictures!!!!! :))))))

College starts in a little over a week! Ahhhh! Ok, much as it's exciting...shopping for the best deals on textbooks is /not/ fun. Especially if the books are expensive and there are many editions of the book and if the book doesn't appear anywhere or the online stores are out of stock.......you get the idea. Yeah, so...pros and cons.

Anyway...I thought I'd post since it's been a week since the last one. :(

Don't worry, I don't think I'll run out of anything to post about. :)

In His Grip,
*Mel

M28!

Yes! M28 is finally starting tonight! I am soooo excited! New people to befriend and new experiences to live out.

This also means that my first year of college is right around the corner...I am excited and apprehensive at the same time. I have no idea how hard my classes are going to be, no idea if my teachers are going to be fair, no idea how fast I'm going to learn where all my classes are (hopefully learn that very quickly), some idea about how to relate to non-Christians, and no idea exactly how busy "busy" will be. :-)

Hope you understood the previous sentence. ;-)

So...I am staring into the great unknown which will eventually become a "known". Can't wait for that to happen...:-)

Anyway, God knows everything, and I trust Him to help me not only survive, but thrive in the busy environment.

Peace,
*Mel

Verse of the Day

Psalm 19:7-11 ~ The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

whew!...

On Tuesday, I got together with a friend. As I opened my purse to look for my keys, I discovered I didn't have them with me! I looked in the car and the keys were right on the driver's seat! I had locked the car and a sinking sensation came over me..."I guess I'll have to call my parents and have one of them drive to where I was and give me another set of keys."

But first I tried the passenger side door and...it opened! I couldn't believe it! I had locked all the doors and this one just happened to not lock! I'm pretty sure God ordained that. :)

Needless to say, I was very relieved and thankful to God for working this situation out. I love to see when God works!

40th Anniversary of First Landing on the Moon!

Today, July 20, 2009 is the 40th anniversary of man's first step on the moon! It is incredible what we have done and accomplished since then! Although, these are amazing things done by man, God has ordained them. And space exploration only serves to increase a Christian's trust in God and His amazing power! What a mighty God we serve!!


How astounding it is that this God who made the universe by the word of His mouth would LOVE us! What a mind-blowing reality! We should never cease to be amazed and awed by God's AMAZING love!!!


Let us fear God and love and serve Him all the more! He deserves everything we've got, because He has given us EVERYTHING He has: Himself!





Yahweh FLOORS me!! He should shock all of us.





Think about it.





Here is a picture of the first men on the moon:

^

From left: Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong, and Chris Kraft

I couldn't upload a video of the first landing, but you can check it out on http://www.nasa.gov/.

In Him,

*Mel

Just plain AWESOME!

Here are some incredible pictures of the universe that point to the AWESOMENESS of our Almighty God!!

Psalm 19:1-4 ~ The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

Drama Camp

I had a lot of fun watching the drama camp performance today. Everyone did such an excellent job! So many talents...thank God for wholesome entertainment. :)

I especially liked the Prodigal Son skit...that was just plain hilarious!! I was laughing soooo hard!

With all the reports that this year's drama camp wouldn't be as good as previous years', I was really impressed.

Hope you all enjoyed it, too!

Quote

I've been starting to study The Joy of Fearing God by Jerry Bridges. I thought this was a good thing point he made.
"Any sphere of knowledge you're engaged in--every aspect of your workaday world--should be to you as a believer a source of wonder and worship and should be used as a means of glorifying God. And it will be if you enjoy the fear of God. Finally, we must consider the most important knowledge of all. Jesus said, 'Now this is eternal life: that they may know you , the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent' (John 17:3). In reality this is where true knowledge begins. The person who knows God and fears Him possesses something more valuable than all the combined knowledge of philosophy and science put together. The scientist and the philosopher may discover ways to improve this life; the Christian has found the way to eternal life. That the Christian's knowledge is more valuable was attested by Jesus when He said, 'What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?' (Mark 8:36-37)." The Joy of Fearing God by Jerry Bridges pg. 5.

Verse of the day!

Psalm 52:8-9: But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.

Short post! :)

Well, work went well today. I'm exhausted, but otherwise in shape and smelling very nice. :)
I'm so thankful to God that I have a job, even though it's not a constant schedule.

This topic reminds me to pray for those who don't have jobs: my dad, Em Joy's dad, John Butler, and others in my church. Also for those men whose businesses are downsizing or just doing poorly because of the economy.

However, God knows our every need. And He will always take care of us. Come what may, we have our God!

In His Grip,
*Mel

After thoughts

Well, I had a wonderful time today at the Bible study. :) I'm so glad many were able to make it; I think this study on Ephesians is really benefitting us all.

So encouraged by everyone who shared (all of us).

God is soooo AWESOME!!! And His love to unworthy sinners is mind-blowing! He died for us, took the price for our sin on Himself, He declares us righteous in His sight, adopted us as His children (co-heirs with Christ; we've got everything God the Father bestows on Christ!), and is preparing a wonderful place for us all in heaven! God is too good!

Thank you, Lord...may you be glorified! We are clay vessels to be used for You...give us your mighty power to carry out your will and to walk the talk.

Deus semper fidelis,
*Mel

That was /close/!...

Incredible!...

This weather seems to be the right ingredient for some violent results. Well, "close only counts in hand grenades and lightning!" (hint, hint)
My mom had an empty can of paint in her hand; she stepped out the door to throw away the can, walked a few steps when all of a sudden she heard a clap of thunder! She saw the lightning and the hairs on her arms and head shot straight up; at the same time she screamed and subconsciously flung the can into the air. She lifted her hands to duck the lighting that she saw above her. Needless to say, my mom turned weak and her limbs felt like rubber. It took her awhile to get over what happened. She almost got struck by lightning!! We immediately thanked the Lord for watching over her and protecting her life and physical body. True story.

And this triggered a thought in my head: if my mom responded this way to a natural phenomenon, how much more terror did people in the Bible feel when they saw the presence of God. His brilliant light of holiness around them. Like Paul and his companions on the road to Damascus. Just a thought...

In His Grip,
*Mel

Bad news...and good news!

Well, today we heard the bad news that my dad was laid off from work. :( This was quite unexpected. No regular paychecks to come and no benefits. At first I was astonished and then by God's grace (here's the good news) my next thought was "Wait a minute! God is the one who provides!" God gave this job and then He took it away, but He should still be praised. God can certainly provide another job, maybe a better job for my dad.

In order to back this thinking up, I found some good promises right out of God's Word...Here they are. The first passage may sound very familiar, but it's a both a command and promise. And we should never tire of the promises of God "for no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:20. (Here is yet another promise!)
Matthew 6:25-33:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in the barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow.They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (my emphasis)

What promise and hope!! "If God is for us, who (or what) can be against us?"

So I end with this prayer...
Ephesians 3:20-21: Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the chruch and in Christ Jesus thoughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (my emphasis)

What bad news...but what GOOD news!! Praise God!

In Christ,
*Mel

The Most Important Message

In a person's whole life, he will receive many messages. Something as minor as a to-do list to a major call from a doctor saying, "You've got cancer!" But there's really one message that surpasses them all, and that's the gospel of Jesus Christ!
The gospel simply put is Christ died for your sins.
Why? Because "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
God loves me, you, and the entire world He has created. The world He created for His glory. But because of Adam and Eve's sin, the perfect world He created was stained. Sin could not be present in the sight of God's holiness. At that moment Man became separated from God, but even before that moment, God had His plan of salvation worked out.
Christ's death enabled us to have a relationship with the God of the universe! God calls us His children of God. "But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13
So it is because of God "that I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect." 1 Corinthians 15:10
I commit this blog to God. I pray that everything I write on here is done for His glory!
Jesus may you be glorified through one of your children.

Soli deo gloria!!

In Christ,
*Mel

Pre-intro

So ya'll...I have decided to join the blogging world! I'm surprised that I'm still awake - 10:41 PM...I know, for some of you that's EARLY.
Since it is late (for me), I'm gonna keep this note short, mostly for my sake. :P
Well, I'll log back on later...toodles.

*Melly Rose

p.s. I'll officially introduce myself and my blog at a later post. :)