Emotions

Life is not all about your emotions.  Emotions are fickle, fleeting, and sometimes even foolish.  The people who say "follow your heart" really have no idea how self-destructive that can really be.  That does not mean that emotions ought to be ignored.  Bottling up emotions until bottle becomes so full that breaks can also be very damaging.

What then is the proper course to take when handling emotions?  I think it is this: don't let your emotions control you, control your emotions.  Recognize that every emotion has a reason--find out why you're feeling that way, the root of it--and then channel that emotion into a proper energy, working for something worthwhile.

Now to try and follow my own advice!

Boasting in Weakness

Life can sometimes get you down.   Sometimes we start to wonder what our purpose is, if there is any reason to our existence.  But we don't let other people know.  We put up a facade and pretend nothing is wrong.  We often exist in two extremes: thrasonical on the outside but self-deprecating on the inside.  At this point, life seems worthless, pointless, and having nothing you can do worth doing.
But have you ever considered that this may be exactly where God wants you, that he put you in a low point for a specific reason?  2 Corinthians 12 tells the story of how Paul had seen a vision of heaven and then God had given him a "thorn in his flesh" (most likely figurative) to keep him from becoming too conceited.  Paul pleaded with God three times to take it away from him.  But God had other plans.  He said to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Paul's response was not complaints, but rather an amazing tribute to what God's grace can do.  Paul said: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."
God doesn't often work with us when we are self-confident, thinking our lives are working great, and loving it.  Rather, look at how Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29: "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.  Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were influential, not many were of noble birth.  But, God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
Remember, Christ works through weakness.  Let yourself be open to what God has for you to do; not of your own strength, but empowered in Him, and then go rejoicing, boasting in your weakness and Christ's strength.
Be blessed today!
Melody Grace

Burdened by Grace

Have you ever felt that everything in your life was too much, that there was so much stress and worry that you couldn't handle it anymore? I know that I've felt that way many times before.  When it has happened, for as long as I can remember, I've found an outlet in writing, by pouring my heart onto paper, sometimes writing in my journal, other times by writing poetry or songs, but most often by writing out prayers. (Or sometimes all three, like here.) By doing this, I was laying my burdens on Jesus, I was no longer bearing my own problems, and it was truly freeing.  What is most amazing to me, is that Jesus asks us to do this, and yet we hesitate to do so, preferring to fix the problems ourselves.
Jesus calls to us: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)
In John 8:36, He tells us, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."  Let yourself be set free.  Don't be burdened by the cares of this life, by stress that threatens to pull you under.  Instead, listen to Jesus calling.  Let yourself be burdened with what He wants you to bear--His grace, a grace so glorious and immeasurable that eternity will not suffice to proclaim it. 
Be blessed by God's grace today!
Melody Grace 

The power of "How are you?"

It's a cultural norm to ask "How are you?" to everyone--to people we've just met, and to people we've known as long as we've been alive.  Most will answer "good" "fine" "ok" etc. (Although to say "I'm good" actually says that you're a good person, but that's beside the point.) Once we've asked the question, we will be asked in return "How are you?" We'll respond somewhat truthfully, and that ends that part of the conversation.  However, I have noticed in the past few weeks as I've had various friends go through really hard times, that you can either let the conversation go that way, or you can actually have a meaningful conversation, and draw people out of the shell of cultural norms.  If you ask the question sincerely, with love in your eyes and voice, then people will be a lot more likely to answer honestly, and you can be an encouragement to the person you're asking.  So next time you ask "How are you?" ask it like you mean it.  You might be surprised where the conversation heads.

The Gospel!

I'm still overwhelmed by the enormity of the gospel.  Some people think that the gospel is only for unbelievers, for those who need to come to faith in Christ--they're the ones who need to hear the gospel.  Of course they need to hear it, but people who are believers, whether for a month or fifty years, they need to hear it too.  Every day, we need to be reminded of what Jesus did for us.  Jesus, perfection in every sense of the word, "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Phil 2:7,8) "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 Cor. 8:9) He gave Himself, His blood, for us, the epitome of imperfection. "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us."  (Rom 5:6-8)

So, now what? Have you been touched by the gospel?  According to my pastor, Dr. Josh Moody, "If you've really been touched by Jesus, the one thing you want above all else is for people to know Him too."  Are you a recipient of Christ's mercy?  Become a practitioner of mercy.  Are you chained to your current way of life, paralyzed by the money or fulfillment or fun that you get from it?  Listen to Jesus.  He's calling you to follow Him.  Follow Him away from your old way of life into a newness that exceeds comprehension.  Let yourself be shocked by the love that He has for you, and walk into His arms.