Little Things

The Lord has His own way of getting our attention, and calling us to a higher standard, often with a lesson in humility.  Several months ago, I passed a candy wrapper lying on the grass on campus, and dismissed it.  Did it occur to me to pick up this isolated and unusual eye sore on our otherwise beautiful place called Emmanuel?  I honestly think it might of, ever so swiftly, but after all, I was dressed in my best clothes.   I clearly did not see it as my job to help keep my campus clean.  The very next day, I listened to a sermon about  Christ-like humility. The Pastor challenged listeners to never walk past a piece of trash because you think you are too good to pick it up!  God can be so direct when He wants to be!  Guess what happened the next time I was on campus?  Right!  There was piece of trash on the ground. Only this time it was a green, wet, used napkin.  As a nurse, I can easily imagine the colonies of bacteria busily multiplying on this wet environment, but I didn't dare walk by.  At least I recognized this divine test when I saw it!  I picked up the contaminated napkin and deposited it appropriately, but with a sense of satisfaction.  I was happy to be serving the Lord, walking in the light, in however humble a way He chooses.  It's obeying in the little things, that we build a character to withstand the bigger tests in life. Nothing that we do is too small for God to notice, and all the we do matters, perhaps especially the little things.  Melissa knew the importance of surrendering everything to the Lord. So I hope you are walking with Jesus in every way today, and feel that same deep joy of knowing you are serving the King of Kings!  Blessings~ JBM

Joy

I was reading a refection (March 7) today that explained how we can feel joy even in the midst of difficulties and even sorrow.  The author explained that it is the tough parts of life that bring us close to God and help us really feel His love!   When we draw near the throne in times of pain, we are lifted above our circumstances in a way that gives us irrational joy, an exuberance in life, an exhilaration in feeling God's love for us! We are not joyful FOR the difficulty or even in spite of difficulty, we are joyful in the midst of difficulty! Why, because feeling God's love is SO amazing. When the Creator of the Universe says "I love you" in the small details of our lives, you feel a deep joy.  Melissa spoke of this joy when she wrote in the last months of her life, "I can hardly contain my joy in the Lord."  Now I finally get it!  She felt God next to her at a level of intimacy that was beyond description.  And so shall we, as we draw near to our loving Lord in all circumstances, knowing that He is big enough to lift us up above everything and anything!  May God bless you today! - JBM

Spreading Joy

Yesterday, I picked up a book on my shelf that a student had given me, Addie Johnson's The Little Book of Thank You's.  I wasn't looking for a thank you, but a pick-me-up.  In this book, I had tucked the thank you note that this student had included with the gift: a hand-written treasure far more precious than the price of any book.  She described my impact on the class in such positive terms that reading it again and again puts fuel in my tank to keep nourishing and giving to the world.  Such is the power of sincere, specific, positive affirmation.  Telling someone exactly what you appreciate about them gives the best kind of energy and joy for living, a precious gift of confirmation of their worth and value, a concrete expression of Christian love. Such words take time, effort, careful thought and emotional energy--all precious and scarce resources, making the gift that much  more priceless!  But I can think of no better way to spend my time and energy than spreading such joy!  Melissa  knew this precious talent and left me many wonderful cards and even an "Ode to Mom", now framed on my wall.  These are forever gifts, for they touch our self-esteem, our very souls. So, next time a positive thought crosses your mind about someone, be sure to share the joy with them.  Maybe this blog made you think of someone special in your life?  Write them a note, so they can pull it out and read it again and again to refuel and spread more joy into a hurting world.  Have a great day! -  JBM

Changed

I've been reading Melissa's journal that she kept in the Fall of 2002, when she was first diagnosed with cancer.  The night she learned of her disease, she came home and cried to God.  The Lord came to her in a brilliant light through her window in the middle of the night.  There was  a peace that came over her, and never left her.  In her journal, she repeatedly writes about acquaintances remarking about her peace and her friends seeing her so changed.  Yet, she doesn't feel changed. She's just going about her business being Melissa, but feeling incredibly loved by God in a way that just astounds her!  In the Fall of 2002, after major abdominal surgery and 3 months into horrific chemotherapy that stripped her of even her eyelashes and eyebrows, Melissa states "I'm the happiest I've ever been!"  This statement from a popular party girl in High School, who always got attention for her stunning looks and quick wit.  Despite the suffering of her treatment, - she did suffer - God's love for her surpassed the worse pain and changed her for the better without her even realizing it.  God's love is really remarkable. Melissa also writes about how all relationships need time and effort, and our relationship with God is no different.  So that's the key. Stay prayerful. Fill our minds with God's words. And keep looking up-- to the source of Melissa's joy, her Lord.  Happy Easter. 

Stretching

Stretching is important to maintain flexibility and full range of motion for our muscles and joints. But God has been stretching me a lot lately, and that's a whole different ball game. God stretches me by pulling me out of my comfort zone, calling me to do new things that I never wanted to do.... like write a blog.... or start a publishing company.  Now I feel called to make a video about Melissa and put in on the net.... maybe even Youtube!  This could be really humiliating, especially at my less photogenic stage of life. The Lord continually reminds me that it's not about me, but Him.  It's all about my helping others to get to the Source of the only real Peace and Joy available in this life, and that's a life with God.  Melissa knew all about looking for love "in all the wrong places" and finally found it with Jesus. And she never stopped trying to point her friends in the right direction, to save them the heartbreak of blind alleys and dead ends in their search for meaning, fulfillment, the ultimate relationship.  Stretching by God keeps me flexible in my thoughts and skills, but also keeps me hanging on tight to my Lord. I trust that I can do anything with God, and nothing worth doing without Him.  I'm sure that's another positive outcome of God-stretching: I remain so aware of how much I need Him.  So, I'll trust the Holy Spirit to be in my video, too.  With the help of God, whatever I do will be helpful to others, even if I never find out. What a great reassurance!  Blessings on you day!

Shout of Joy

So the truth is... I was not shouting joy.  I was sobbing.  I was in one of those terrible fits of misery, driving to the cemetery in hope that spending time at Melissa's grave would comfort me.  That's when God sent the angel.  My phone rang. I dared not pick it up, for fear it was an angry family member, who had a right to me annoyed with me because I do make mistakes. (;_;)   So, I listened to the message instead, and it was straight from heaven!!  My Angel friend said, "I just called to tell you how much I love you...."  Can you believe it?  She had just come from church and I was on her mind, so she called and said exactly what I needed to hear - words straight from the mouth of God!  "We have work to do!"   The Lord reminded me that I have a reason for being on this earth and a purpose, and it goes way beyond my emotions on any given day.  My Angel reassured me that my tears were fine: "Oh, those are just emotions!  They change all the time."  RIGHT!  God is the one who doesn't change, and when we need Him, He sends angels.  "Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5b).  Who knows what unseen Angels are around us all the time, helping us out without us even realizing it--- like Melissa!   The more I focus on the reality of God's love and providence, the more I see with eyes of faith, and I finally get to shout with Joy!!  Wishing you many Angels in your week!  

Deep Joy

I was talking with my husband this week about one of Melissa's friends who has newly discovered Jesus.  She had always believed in God, but now she expresses a new, deep joy in having Jesus as her best friend. I thought about the difference. What Melissa's friend is experiencing, and Melissa experienced, and I've experienced is more than just believing in Jesus.  It's following Him.  It's making Him number one in your life.  Why go to such extremes?  Because only by following Jesus do you experience the thrill of a lifetime!  Only by taking His hand and allowing Him to lead, do you understand the excitement in having your words, your actions and your everyday existence fit into the eternal plans of the Creator of the Universe.  Following Jesus is living The Great Adventure- not always easy, but always rewarding!   As we draw closer to God, we feel a deep joy that defies circumstance, a deep love so immense, we cannot even comprehend it!  When I was discussing this difference with my husband, he compared it to people he knew in High School who got excited about drugs:  "Hey this is GREAT!  You've got to try this!!!"  It was a perfect analogy, because being with Jesus really does make you high!  Melissa says to God, "You spoil me so much!" (p.14, Melissa's Prayer Journal), even in the midst of horrific chemotherapy treatment!  She told her church, "Once asked, He (God) granted me this amazing peace to deal with my situation." The Power of Prayer.  Melissa wanted all of her friends to grow closer to God, to feel this amazing peace. She gave The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren to one of her friends two days before she died. She wanted everyone to feel the deep joy she had holding on to the hand of Jesus. As she ended one of her prayers to the Lord (p.8, Melissa's Prayer Journal), "Amazing, you are amazing. Nothing less and everything more. I love you. Melissa".