Edit

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

When I was in high school, and computers had just become a fixture in almost everyone’s home, at my home we were still living in the technology stone-age. We were poor, didn’t even have a car at the time to drive to the library, so instead of using Word Perfect to write my papers they were either hand written or I used a typewriter.

Now, many of you reading this have most likely never laid hands on a typewriter much less had to write a ten page research paper on one. I will tell you, on a typewriter there is no way to go back and edit your writing. You either have to deal with the mistake you made or go back and write the page all over again. It is maddening! I remember trying to use this fancy looking white eraser to carefully erase the typo and then re-position the type ever so carefully to type in the correct letter. It was a lot of work, and even if it worked the shadow of the original letter was always there, hidden behind the correction.

On a computer, there is this handy dandy button called ‘backspace.’ This button can be used to easily go back and edit a typed mistake. Technology has made it practically painless to edit what is written, in comparison to the outdated and anxiety inducing typewriter.

Don’t you wish life had a ‘backspace’ button? You know, a way to easily go back and edit your actions, words, and choices? If you made a mistake you could simply ‘edit’ and it would be like it had never happened.

The problem is there is no way to go back and edit our past. So, what CAN we edit? We can edit our thoughts before they become our words. The root cause of the words we speak and the choices we make spring forth from our heart and take up residence in our mind.

When we allow our minds to become a cesspool of negativity, or dwell on things that are unholy, we invite the enemy into the door of our life by way of our thoughts. 

We’ve all been in the company of negative people. These people seem to never be happy and are constantly complaining about something. Hanging out with negative people can be a real emotional drain on our own spirit, and before long we find ourselves swimming in our own pool of negativity!

Philippians 2:14-15 advises us to: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be innocent and pure as God's perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky” (Good News).

So, keep in mind, we cannot go back and edit our words or actions but we CAN take captive the thoughts in our mind. I love the acronym T.H.I.N.K. When a thought enters your mind ask yourself: is it TRUE? Is it HELPFUL? Is it INSPIRING? Is it NECESSARY? Is it KIND? If the answer is ‘no’ chances are you need to re-THINK before what’s in your heart and mind rears its ugly head as hurtful or negative words and actions. 

We can all use this reminder to T.H.I.N.K. before we speak. We can choose to build up or tear down with our words. Choose wisely. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” Proverbs 18:21 (ESV).

There IS hope. You can change destructive thought patterns. Don’t let those negative thoughts consume you. Take control of your mind through prayer and praise. Nothing stops the runaway train of negativity like the power of prayer and a grateful heart of praise.

Romans 12: 2 states: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (NLT).

So, next time you find yourself ready to complain - go back and edit. The next time you hear yourself repeating that same self-defeating dialogue in your head - go back and edit. When your mind is stuck on re-run and you keep playing the hurts of the past over and over - go back and edit. If you’re angry or frustrated and are ready to ‘tell it like it is’ - go back and edit.

Go back. Pray, praise, and edit. 

Second Chances

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry.  So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” Jonah 4: 1-4 (NLT)

Remember the story of Jonah? Most of us know the part of the story where Jonah disobeys God’s calling to travel to Nineveh to proclaim His word. Jonah’s disobedience results in his being swallowed by a big fish. Jonah prays to the Lord for forgiveness while in its belly. God gives Jonah a second chance and commands the fish to spit him out on land.

Talk about a wake-up call! Don’t you think that, after being rescued from certain death, Jonah would then devote himself to a change of heart? Well, not so. Jonah obeys and travels to Nineveh to declare the word of the Lord, but when the Ninevites repent of their sins and decide to change God shows them mercy.

This makes Jonah very angry. He wants to see the Ninevites suffer for their wrongdoings. He has a hard time believing they will ever truly change.

How many times has God shown us mercy when we didn’t deserve it, yet we are all too ready to harbor bitterness and withhold mercy towards others? When someone hurts you repeatedly it is difficult to ever think they will change. The sting of disappointment runs deep, and although we may forgive it is hard to forget.

We build walls of protection to keep out those who pose a threat to us. We make a mental note in our mind and our heart never to trust that person again. The root of bitterness runs deep and can grow into all parts of our life infecting us with negative thoughts and a general distrust for others. Hebrews 12:15 cautions us to “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many” (NLT).

Grace and mercy doesn’t always come easy. This doesn’t mean that we allow ourselves to be a human punching bag, but we must, as Proverbs 4:23 says “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (NLT). We can’t allow the sins of a few to poison our heart towards showing and receiving the love of God.

We are all guilty of hurting others. None of us can cast the first stone. Remember how good it felt when you were forgiven for something wrong you had done? Remember how that made you feel? Imagine being able to pass that feeling on, pay it forward by granting second chances.

Don’t be a Jonah. Don’t allow satan to steal your joy by giving him a foothold in your life through a Jonah complex.

I am so glad that my God gives ME second chances. I would be lost without his grace and unconditional love.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 NIV).

Every Blessing,
Melodie

Lesson Learned

Then Jesus told His disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. So what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" Matthew 16:24-26 (ESV)

My heart sank as I read the note from my son’s teacher. I knew this would be one of those defining moments both in his life as a young child and my life as a parent. Just as he made his choices it was now my turn to make a choice. I could either choose to cover up my son’s sin or choose to allow him to suffer the consequences of his actions. I knew what I had to do.

Have you ever had one of those moments when your heart just sank to the floor as you discovered something disappointing or discouraging about someone else? In my case it was the first time in my experience as a mom that I felt someone had hauled off and sucker punched me. I was in disbelief. I immediately felt overwhelmed as I tried to calmly sort through the many emotions I was feeling: disappointment, sadness, anger, hurt, and the grand finale of my emotional rollercoaster rounded out with a big ole heaping side of GUILT.

Then the parental dialogue started running through my mind. How could he have done this? I didn’t raise him to act like this! This is NOT what we stand for in this family. Where did he learn this behavior from? Oh yeah, I went there.  I quickly realized that I needed to stop and pray, for the enemy was trying to use my thoughts against me.

So, after a few minutes of talking with my son I asked him to go to his room so I could ‘cool off.’ I knew I needed some time to pray and regroup. When I was ready we had a good talk, which continued over the next few days, as my son began to truly grasp the gravity of what he had done and the many consequences that would ensue as a result of his choices.

Luckily, this became a beautiful teachable moment for my son and for me as well. I felt the hand of God leading me each step of the way as I tried to lead my son’s heart to the foot of the cross, reminding him of who we are in Christ Jesus and how we are called to walk out our faith in a dark world.

The time came for him to face the music. My heart ached for him and my stomach was tied in knots until he came home and shared his experience with me. He took responsibility for his actions, asked for forgiveness through a bucket load of tears, and offered his personal sacrifice in an attempt to make it right. My heart soared as I heard of how he was forgiven, and in that moment my son grew one step closer to becoming a man of integrity.

As I look back and reflect on all that occurred I realize that this picture, of a little boy learning a very important lesson, isn’t just a picture of childhood growing pains but a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and our relationship with Him. You see, we are all sinners. Isaiah 53:6 states that: "All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid upon Him the sins of us all" (NLT). 

You don’t have to be a child to live out this journey, just as my son did, of learning from your mistakes. We both could have ducked our heads and hid, allowing sin to control us and giving it room to grow, but instead we chose the painful path of freedom through redemption.

Jesus walked the path of redemption for us, except he was without sin. Through our belief in Christ he offers us the power of the cross daily. I am so thankful for this sacrifice and can appreciate the deep love of our heavenly Father even more as I walk through the many ups and downs of parenting. Being a mom is probably the best glimpse into the depths of God’s love for us. Imagine how much we are loved by God for Him to send His son to purchase our sin and nail it to the cross. He loves us more than we can imagine. As parents we want the best for our children, to grow closer to the heart of God and say no to the trappings of sin. Such is the heart of our heavenly Father for His children. 

So, the next time you are faced with the path of redemption, remember we don’t walk it alone. The power of the Holy Spirit living in us is our helper and we are reminded in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that: "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure" (NLT). 

God's gift of free will doesn't demand obedience, but the Holy Spirit in us pricks our heart in an attempt to guide us away from sin. It is up to us if we choose to listen. If we do, God will provide a way out.

Take that first step in the right direction. Take up your cross and remember the sacrifice given for your sin. Let it be a reminder to press on in your faith, press on and let God shape you into your full redemptive potential.

Every Blessing,
Melodie

Sprinter

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

Today is the first day of April and Easter is fast approaching. Spring is here! Or is it? While some of you are out enjoying the rebirth of nature, here in the Northeastern region of the United States the landscape is cold and gloomy with much of the surrounding area still covered in snow. This new season, the winter that never seems to end, has been dubbed “Sprinter” – where winter decides to *snow* on springs parade.

Now, for those of you who know me well it will come as no surprise when I tell you how much I dislike winter in the Northeast.  I grew up in southeastern Massachusetts and after graduating college moved to Florida (my happy place). Long story short I eventually ended up here, living in the foothills of the Adirondacks, an area known for its long and snowy winters. Living out here has certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone, in more ways than one.

Perhaps you find yourself feeling out of place or searching for signs of new life in your own “sprinter?”  I’ve been through plenty of my own personal sprinters in my lifetime, times when you feel stuck in the middle of a difficult situation with no clear resolution on the horizon. It can be discouraging to look out the window of our lives and see what seems to be such a gloomy picture. But you know what? I have never lived anywhere more beautiful, picturesque, and clean as the Adirondacks. Truly, the winters may feel long and painful but just around the corner is the beauty and glory of green mountains, crystal clear living waters, and fresh clean air! God’s creation is a masterpiece, and we are a part of His creation.

It says in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that there is a season for everything, a time for everything under heaven (paraphrased).  This passage goes on to describe many juxtaposed seasons: a time to grieve and a time to dance, a time to cry and a time to laugh, a time to embrace and a time to turn away (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). We can see that, although it may seem darkest before the dawn, there is a season of hope in store for us if we stay steadfast and faithful in standing strong in the love and promises of God.

What kind of sprinter are you experiencing in your life right now?  Maybe you’ve been out of work for far too long and you feel like you’re in a slump? Or, you’ve been praying for that special someone to come along and wondering if it’s even in God’s plan for you to be married. Some of you reading this right now may be struggling with the loss of a loved one, a debilitating illness, or the discovery that someone you trusted has betrayed you. Sprinters can be painful and can leave you feeling broken and bitter. We experience so much loss in our lives that it can cripple our outlook on who we are in Christ Jesus and how much He loves us and wants the best for us.

You may be wondering then, how DO we handle life when it hands us a long and dreadful sprinter? One of two things will happen in the midst of our struggles. We will either become bitter or better. Bitterness takes root when we choose to focus on the problem. We feel abandoned, angry, resentful, and may fall into a deep depression. Satan uses our sprinters to keep us from our full redemptive potential. He wants us to stay focused on the pain. Don’t allow the enemy to use your sprinters against you. Instead, cast your cares on the Lord and let Him be your strength. Choose to focus on praise and thanksgiving even when your heart may not be in it, this is when we have to lead our hearts toward Jesus and guard our hearts against the enemy.  

Romans 5: 3-5 reminds us: “And that’s not all. We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance, which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness. And hope will never fail to satisfy our deepest need because the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God’s love (The Voice.)”

So today, as I look outside at the slush and mud and snow and wonder aloud if spring will ever meet my doorstep I will choose to find the blessing in sprinter, that when the snow is gone and washed away I will be able to more fully appreciate the newness of spring in all its splendor.  For without the many sprinters in my life I would not be able to appreciate the grace, peace, and supernatural power of an Almighty God who uses every season of my life to bring me closer to who He is shaping me to be. It may be cold but I can choose to wrap myself in the warmth of the Lord through worship and His Word. It may be dreary but I will choose to lift my voice in praise for the many blessings He has given me. It may be a long sprinter but I will choose to put my trust and hope in the Lord for,

“We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan” Romans 8:28 (The Voice).

Every Blessing,

Melodie