Fear Not!

In the traditional Christmas story, the angel Gabriel first came to Zechariah, who was frightened at the sight of this heavenly messenger.  Gabriel's first words were: "Fear not."  Later in the story, Gabriel came to Mary, also saying, "Fear not."   The night Jesus was born, the angels came to the shepherds, first saying, "Fear not!"  Do you see a theme here?  Although the sight of a holy messenger triggers our terror, God never wants us to be afraid!  The whole point of Jesus coming to earth is so that we will never be afraid to go to God: never afraid of God's rejection, never afraid of God's condemnation, never afraid of God's judgment no matter what we have done!   Why?  Because every mistake we have ever made or mean thing we have ever done is erased by Jesus coming and taking the blame for us.  We are forgiven through Him who is Lord, and all we need to do is accept this gift: just believe in Jesus.  ~ What are you afraid of?  God says "Fear not" to any and all your concerns.  The Bible says "fear not" 365 times*, one of every day of the year. So, we need to joyfully trust God's unconditional love for us, God's complete forgiveness of all past and future mistakes, and God's promise to provide for us, turning our fears into faith in Jesus Christ this coming year. How do we get this faith?  Turning to God.  The more we talk to God in prayer, the more we will feel His love and forgiveness. Melissa conquered her fears by focusing on helpful scripture verses that she posted on her mirror and wrote down in her journal. This year, fear not.  Move boldly to the throne of forgiveness, knowing that your loving heavenly Father has already paid for your mistakes and waits patiently to show you just how much He loves you.  Blessings~JBM

*Warren, R. (2015). Saddleback Church, Sermon Archives.

All You Need Is Love

We all want to make a significant contribution in this world. We want to make a difference. We want our lives to matter. We want to be remembered beyond our lifespan. Many people spend their lives building things or acquiring things to prove their importance. Think McMansions. But they are all wrong. Only three things will last: faith, hope, & love. The most powerful is love. You will be remembered for how you love. You build an eternal legacy by how well you love. You get to take your heart with you to heaven. " People are not remembered for what they make. People are remembered for what they gave away."* It is not acquisitions or achievements that matter in life, but relationships. Loving God and loving people are the ultimate goals, the eternal work, really the only things that matter. So on this Valentine's Day, spread love everywhere. Show loving kindness to everyone, especially those who are hard to love. Because it the end, such invisible work is the only actions that will last forever.  Sending you love ~JBM


*Warren, R. (Feb 6, 2014). 40 days of love: Love matters most, Part 1,.2-6-14,  Daily Hope with Rick Warren Podcast

Transitions

Transition is painful.  Change is hard.  We quickly get used to things they way they are and only discomfort will prompt us to make a move.  Fall is a season of transitions, which always make me more anxious. My security gets shaken by change.  I unconsiously worry about my ability to handle new situations.  Melissa had the answer to feeling so threatened: "Lord, let me gaze upon you as I glance at my circumstances." (Melissa's Prayer Journal, p.62.)  I have an index card posted on my kitchen cabinet with a Bible verse: "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things on earth."  (Col 3:2).  Melissa knew that the more we place our security in God's provision and love for us, the less rattled we will be by the white water churning under our feet!  I need a lot of reminders to channel my thoughts in the right direction, but remembering ALL the ways God has provided in the past and continues to bless me every day, helps to really calm me down. So, if you have some threatening clouds over your head or waves crashing around you, keep your eyes on Jesus. Blessings always- JBM   

Role Model

I had a precious opportunity to honor Melissa in a brief ceremony dedicating a terrace in her memory.  As her friends shared their memories of her, I was struck again by how much she reached out to others, even in the last months and days of her life.  She had a clear mission: to support other people and to share God's love.  She lived this mission at every opportunity until her last breath.  When time gets short, our priorities become more clear, as did Melissa's.  I tend to get so caught up in my own concerns, my own "to-do" list, making it so difficulty to focus on others.  When God places a need in my path, I get frustrated at the interruption of my plans, rather than seeing this opportunity as God's provision for my ministry to others.  Melissa had no such cloudy vision.  She knew every interaction was another chance to give God's love to others, and she made each contact count.... every day she lived. She coped with her lungs filling with cancer by making every day count to bring God's love to a hurting world.  I want my focus to be the same.  I want to realize petty, little worries have no place in my life.  Each day is a precious opportunity to give comfort and love to every person we meet.  I pray for that razor-sharp focus on being an Ambassador for Christ, which only possible through constant connection with the Holy Spirit. So, I'll keep trying to stay connected with prayer, renewed by God's Word, and focused on what really matters: sharing God's love.  Blessings-  JB

Struggling

I've been struggling with God...... again.  I've actually found myself arguing with Him.  I argue with God fairly often. It gets me nowhere.  I don't recommend it.  This time the struggle is over time.... again.  I want time to do what I want to do.  I fail to recognize His sovereignty in my life to give me time I need to do His will, not mine.  Of course, my failure to acknowledge God's control over my circumstances is just another form of rebellion that I don't want to admit to.  I know in my head that He will provide what I need to do His will.  The hard part is submitting to His plan, not mine!!  I want to accomplish what I want to accomplish and then I'll be glad to do His bidding as well.  The Lord doesn't work that way.  I have to get my head in line with His.  How do I do this?  How do I let go of precious goals and hand them over?   First I choose to obey, secondly, I pray out loud and hand my goals to God and, lastly, I ask for His help with my feelings to follow: His help letting go.  I actually got to a place of peace this week by following that three-step recipe.  Of course,  I have to repeat these steps over and over, because I'm so stubborn and have such a hard time giving things over to the Lord.  I am happy to report that prayer works, again and again.  This is how Melissa was able to give over her entire life,-- how long she had to live, -- even when she had her whole life ahead of her.  Prayer. Asking God to help us to trust.  And He does. So, I'll keep praying.  Hope you do, too!  Blessings - JB

Fear or Faith

I have been challenged with an overwhelming task: writing a book.  I did this to myself, mind you.  I deliberately took time off of my usual job to write a book.  It sounded like a good idea at the time, until I sat down and looked at that blank screen. Then I wanted to shoot myself!! What made me think I could write a book?  Had I lost my mind??  Fear paralyzed me.  So I threw myself at the mercy of God.  He sent me comfort and direction in a sermon, a phone call from a friend, and my dear husband.  I started writing, still racked with insecurity, but I just started.   Two weeks later, I was done.  The entire book was completed in it's first draft.  I can't begin to tell you how relieved I felt!   The Lord answered my prayer, but first I had to sit down and take the first steps, even though I was still afraid.  I just started writing in faith that He would give me words. And He did! We have to take the first steps on our own.  When Jesus healed people, he told them to first do something- "Get up".  The healing happened when the sick obeyed Jesus with their first movement.  We have to respond to God by following His words, surrendering to His will, doing what we know we are suppose to do!  The difference between living a life of fear or faith is choosing to follow Jesus- wherever He leads.  The miracles will just happen.  Melissa knew better than anyone taking steps of faith when life is uncertain.  That's why prayer was her constant companion, the most effective way to stay calm and feel God's peace.  May you live this week with the eyes of faith, taking each step with Jesus.  Amen!

Conquering Anxiety

"Everybody needs a half hour daily with God, unless you are really, really, really busy..................... then you need an hour."  An outburst of laughter from the listeners followed these words.  Who has time for reflecting, praying, meditating when life comes at us in double barrels?   Yet, truer words were never spoken!  The more we remember that Someone with endless power, limitless energy, immeasurable goodness, and total love stands next to us to help us through everything, the calmer we can be!  And, being mere humans, we have to work at remembering we are not alone-- with notes on the mirror or CD's in the car or whatever it takes to stay focused on God.  When my Dad's health began to deteriorate, my Mom asked me to embroider her a sampler for her wall:  "Lord, help me to remember that nothing will happen today that you and I can't handle."  She hung it on the wall facing her bed, so it was the first thing she saw as she got up every morning. And kneeling in prayer was the last thing she did before getting into bed each night. Melissa used "Our Daily Bread" books to read before retiring.  Those are the routines that keep us calm in every storm, and afloat in every hurricane!  So, I will make myself read the reflection on my computer "homepage" before logging into my email today, because conquering anxiety requires focusing on the Lord. Blessings on your day!

Lists

I make lists almost every day.  I'm so afraid I will forget something important, that my lists make me feel more secure. Having my "to-do" on paper lowers my anxiety. Melissa made lists, too.  In her   personal prayer journal , she lists people to pray for and things for which she was grateful. Those are the good kind of lists!  My lists are more a function of my anxiety. The more anxious I am, the more lists I make.  Yesterday, I made three lists all at the same time!  Then I picked up a prayer book that my "adopted" daughter just gave me. The author spoke told of a Bible story where Jesus is being served in Martha's home, but Mary just sits with Jesus and doesn't help out. The punch line is "you are concerned about so many things, but really only one thing is necessary."  Luke 10:41-43.   Only one thing is necessary: listening to Jesus.  I don't have to do everything or be everything. I only have to do what God calls me to do. "It is impossible to do everything that others want you to do, so you have to do what God wants you to do,"  my favorite quote from   The Purpose Driven Life . So, I will continue to write lists, because it does lower my anxiety, but I must also remember to put "pray" on that list, or maybe more importantly, "listen".  Listen to God, which always brings me peace.  May God's peace be with you this day!

   

Surprises

I encountered several surprises last week.  Some were wonderful, and some were awful.  A few surprises were those sickening disappointments in people whom you trusted. Jesus taught that people will always let us down, that's why we must put our faith and trust in God.  Something inside of me finds it so much easier to trust that friendly smile looking at me than my Heavenly Father whom I have to work (pray) to contact.  It's a continual struggle to rely on the Lord, not on others around me, to be filled emotionally by prayer, not only hugs & smiles.  However, the more I rely on the real source of strength, the more I can serve my God and my fellow humanity.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding."  (Proverbs 3:5).  I have only to look at the scriptures Melissa used for strength in her prayer journal  to feel strengthened and encouraged!  Thank you, Princess, for showing us the way!

Rainbows!

I received a photo of a rainbow this week that meant a great deal.  Rainbows symbolize all the facets of strengths and gifts in each of us.  Some people have stronger reds, and others stronger blues, but we all have many beautiful colors that make up our spectrum.  The sender of the rainbow was responding to this metaphor, sending me a thank you for appreciating her rainbow.  She had just left my final exam, and the clouds parted to display the lovely sight in a particularly timely way.  Melissa viewed Rainbows as gifts from heaven to brighten her day, even writing a poem about them. "So if you're having a day, when its raining only on you, let the little things cheer you up, that's what you must do. You'll find that a little sun, will go a long way; It creates a rainbow in your rain, and will surely brighten your day."  I think she actually was having a very bad day when she was given a rainbow encounter, and then wrote this poem.  Melissa once reminded me that rainbows also symbolize hope and the promises of God .Genesis 9:12-14  Rainbows are gifts of hope from heaven, for those who are looking upward to see them & recognize the gift!  So, keep looking for those little signs, in the sky or in an email or in a hug from a friend. God sends us blessings every day. We just need to stay tuned with the eyes of faith to see them. Blessings on your day today! 

Easy Conversation

I listened to Melissa's second church witness this week, "The Power of Prayer."  I have it on video, and gave a copy to a local church, who are using Melissa's Prayer Journal in several of their groups. As I watched Melissa deliver her speech again, I thought about how much I need to follow her advice. She talks about including God in our daily comings and goings. She describes an easy conversation that never ends, like an invisible playmate for a child, Someone always there who likes you!  The difference is that God is not just in our imaginations--He really IS there, and not only likes us, but loves us more deeply than we can imagine. And when we join in the conversation, we begin to see and feel His response and His love.  God blesses me when I least expect it in the most surprising ways, which I can more readily see when I do think to pray!  For example, as I searched just now for Melissa's witness on the web, I found a great book review of  Melissa's Prayer Journal--- What a GIFT!!  Book Review.   .....So, this week, I'll try to follow Melissa's example and pray when I'm driving to work, or doing the dishes, or brushing my teeth. I'll try to keep that dialog going, so my invisible Friend and Lord can keep my emotional tank filled with His love! Amen. Melissa's The Power Of Prayer

Lists

I'm really good at making "to do" lists.  I make one almost every day.   I rarely accomplish all that I want to on that day, so the lists linger into the next day.  I rarely make lists of all the good things in my life, unless I discipline myself to do so. On the contrary, I so easily fall into ruminating about problems or a rude remark or a harsh word, allowing it to dwell in my mind like a slow poison seeping through my consciousness.  Melissa did just the opposite!  Even with big problems in her life, she made a point of  thanking God for all the blessings of the day. In her prayer journal, she would first bring a problem to God, and then turn to thanksgiving, filling her thoughts with all the good things in her life.  I'm trying to follow Melissa's example. When I find myself focusing on the negative, I pull out my gratitude journal and make a list of all the things for which I have to be thankful. It never fails to put me in the right mood and mindset.  Today, among many other things, I am grateful to you for reading this!  God bless!  Melissa's Lists

Encountering Adversity

Aversity- bad things happen to good people, both tragic and small.  We live in a broken world and stuff happens, sometimes awful things happen.  Melissa is my role model for handling adversity: She clung to her God.  She refused to feel sorry for herself or see her cancer as "bad luck".  She chose to trust her God; she chose to believe He had a bigger plan; and she chose to live every day in the light of the Lord.  And what impact did that have?  It changed everything!  Rather than be bitter and angry,  Melissa felt God's love every day in little ways, because she had chosen to put on the eyes of faith!  She trusted God, not because she understood His plan, but because she felt His grace. She trusted in Who she knew, not what she understood.  As a result, all of us around her marveled at her power, her conviction, her strength, her ability to feel confident, even as her body was being destroyed.  She told her friends, "Guys, I know where I am going."   She was not a victim of circumstance, but a precious daughter held in the hands of her Lord.  So, when things go wrong for me, I try to see them as part of a plan.  Rather than allowing circumstances to dictate my life, I choose to trust our Faithful Creator, just as Melissa did!   see Melissa's Faith

Keeping Perspective

I so easily loose my sense of balance!  Deadlines hit, demands spiral and I begin to see everything as urgent.  But Melissa had the right priorities: put God first and everything else falls in place!  Once God is at the top of my list, everything else becomes less important in light of eternity, and my blood pressure immediately goes down!  Keeping perspective means focusing on all that matters, loving others and drinking in the presence of God.  It's a constant struggle for me to maintain that balance, but God is always there to catch me as I tumble, and set me back on track with a smile on my face after I fall. Thank  you, Lord!

Feeling Helpless

The only news we hear this week describes the unspeakable suffering and tragedy in Haiti.  Who can see the magnitude of destruction and hear the voices of desperation without feeling helpless, inadequate and overwhelmed?  When our concerns become too big for us to handle, we need Someone bigger.  Prayer is a very real and powerful intervention, for just as the angel Gabriel told Mary, nothing is impossible with God.  Our financial resources may be limited, but prayers we can give endlessly!  Melissa's prayers were full of lists of requests to God on behalf of  her friends, especially their faith.  So, let's lift up the people in Haiti, asking not only for physical healing but also for emotional strength, hope, and faith to see the arms of God even in the midst of devastation.  God comes quickly near to those who call to Him, just as Melissa found out the night she was diagnosed with cancer.  Bringing the people of Haiti before the throne of Heaven is one strong action we can take every day!

Days that Count

Melissa records a quote in her prayer journal: "Don't just count your days, make your days count" (p.32). Melissa understood that the quality of our lives comes from savoring each moment.  The time frame that keeps us hopeful is focusing on right this minute in light of eternity. So, rather than dwelling on the past year or coming decade, pay attention to the goodness of today, giving thanks for every little blessing of the moment, trusting God with the days ahead, and knowing that eternity with all its splendor and joy is yet to come!  Blessings and deep faith to you now and every moment to come.  See Melissa's Prayer Journal

Christmas Blessings

"So Lord, help us all remember that Christ is the focus now..." Melissa writes in her Advent poem.  She got it. She knew the secret of a real Christmas: focusing on Christ.  The real message isn't the manger, it's the cross.  It's not the babe, it's the Lord breaking into human history, paying the price for us, so that we can go back to paradise with Him.  Jesus was born to die, so that we can be raised and live forever.  God's love is so all encompassing, that He came in human form to bring us to Him.  So, even if we have disappointments or losses or pain of any kind this Christmas, we can be enveloped by God's love and surrounded by His promise to be with us even to the end of time.  God's amazing love is the true meaning of Christmas. May you be surrounded by His Peace and Love this Christmas and always....

Gifts

Melissa worked hard at giving thoughtful gifts.  She most often made gifts, but she also considered carefully what each person would enjoy. She noted little things, like my enjoyment of Beatle songs on the radio. One Christmas she made me a CD of Beatle tunes.  She wanted her gifts to show her love.  She made collages from magazine letters to tell friends how they were special, or prayer journals to encourage a dear friend on her own prayer journey. When she was told she had only weeks left to live, Melissa first went shopping for her sister's birthday gift and her two Dad's Father's Day gifts, and then birthday gifts of friends for that summer.    We all tend to think we have plenty of time left on earth to say "I love you" with gifts, but we never know. So, now is the time to use gifts of all kinds to show your love to those precious to you,  keeping in mind that the gift of your complete, full attention and the gift of words of  sincere affirmation and praise are always the most powerful gifts anyone can give.  Thank you for your gift of reading this blog!   

More Gifts from Melissa

Trust

"I trust you with all the dealings of my fragile heart and all the precious people held in it."  Melissa writes these words in her prayer to God as she talks about a relationship. Trust. One of the hardest things to do.  Melissa handed over to God the things she most wanted, and trusted that God would take care of her either way, no matter what happened.  Why did she believe that?  Because she felt God's love as she talked to Him.  The more we communicate with God, the more we begin to feel His love and peace. So, Melissa knew God was trustworthy and would never leave her. He would always be there for her. And He was and is and will always be....  May the peace of a trusting heart be yours this day! - 
Melissa's Mom.    More Thoughts on Trust

Smiles

Melissa loved to make people laugh and smile!  She saw the humor in everyday interactions and loved to tease.  She was quick to see the opportunity for a prank, like sending a naive friend into a clothing rack to try on pants--- and taking his picture!  Melissa created her own fun by keeping a Groucho Marx glasses with nose & mustache in her car.  She & her good friends would wear them riding around in traffic, enjoying the second-take looks from other drivers and the smiles and nods!   Melissa did her best to make every day a play day!--

So, take some time today to see the humor, laugh at your mistakes, smile at something silly, or even where a pair of funny glasses.... just to make someone smile.  What a great way to brighten the day! - Blessings... Melissa's Mom

see More About Melissa