Love wins. . .

I think we all struggle with the thought of perfect love, a love that won't leave us nor forsake us, a love that won't let us down, a perfect love.  I know that it is hard for me to realize that God loves me perfectly.  It is a war that is fought in my brain.  Does he love me enough to forgive me, does he love me enough to give me peace, does he love me enough to care?  These questions rage against all that I know about God's love.  This battle is fought daily for so many of us seeking God.  But these ridiculous questions are lies that the enemy plants in us, and you know what we have to do with these weedy lies?  Take a shovel and rip them from our minds.  God loves us.  GOD LOVES US, perfectly.  We may sin, we may have doubts, but God's perfect love overlooks that and loves us anyway.  No matter what, you will always will have  God's love.

To Save a Life

I just finished reading the book  To Save a Life by Jim and Rachel Britts and it had me in tears. I never realized how every single thing we do effects other people.  In this book, a boy named Jake witnesses his old friend, Roger, kill himself and feels like it was his fault.  Jake and Roger grew up together and were best friends, until high school when Jake left Roger to pursue popularity.  Jake knows that he could have been kinder to Roger, and he feels like he could have saved his life if he had just tried harder to pay attention to him.  Through the book Jake comes to know God and Jesus and knows that popularity doesn't matter, love does.  Jake befriends a young boy named Jonny who doesn't have any friends at school and is struggling with his alcoholic mom at home.  This story is so  inspiring and led me on an incredible emotional and spiritual journey. 

I love this verse!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was reading a Susie magazine when I found a verse that I fell in love with immediately: "Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of your faults." 1Peter4:8
It made me thought, how can I show deep love for others, which made me think about Corinthians 13 and how love is described.  Corinthians 13:4-7 : 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (credit to http://www.biblestudytools.com/1-corinthians/13.html for this verse).  We can show someone deep love by being patient with them, by being kind to them, by not envying what they have and being rude to them because we are blinded by our jealousy.  Love is not proud, and it does not boast, when we are humble with someone, we are showing them a glimmer of God's love.  When we are not rude to someone,  we are again loving them deeply, because we are human and can be very rude because of our sinful nature.  But, the love that created us is stronger then sin so our kindness  is God's light shining through us and showcasing His love and our love for our fellow brother's and sister's in Christ. Think about John 3:16 "For God so loved the world,  that He  gave His one and only Son, so  that whoever believed in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life."  The Bible also tells us that God is love.  Love is not self-seeking, when God gave us Jesus to die for for our sins, to forgive us , to be our Savior, it brought Him great sadness.  God wasn't thinking only for Him self, He was thinking for HIs children whom He loves so much!  When God sent Jesus to this earth, He was showing us His great love.  When we think for others first, we are loving them with a very deep love.  Jesus is God, so Jesus is love too, all of our mistakes are covered in Jesus' love!   Is God easily angered? No, so if we love others we should try not to be easily angered by them.  Always love others, always.

Steamboat!

I had a great time on my trip to Steamboat!!!  I learned that when God says that He will give us food and provide for us if we fear Him, I learned from both Mrs. Cija, and my Granny that God uses His children to help His children.  Thank you granny and Cija!!!  God uses us all!

Camp: Altar Call

I went to camp  Quaker Ridge last week and it was amazing!!!  I learned so much about God's incredible hope that He gives us, I also learned a lot about God's unfailing love and the hope of eternal life God promised to us through belief in His son Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  One night we had an altar call during chapel to come and renew your belief in Jesus or to accept Him as your Lord and Savior for the first time.  I would like to a prayer request out there for everyone who is in need of God's incredible hope.  Please pray for those outg there in need of Jesus' love.

I am in need of a Savior.

I am in need of a Savior.  Thank God for His Son Jesus.  Jesus saves us.
         "Later  Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.  But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?"
         When Jesus heard this, He said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do."  Then He added, "  Now go and learn the meaning of this scipture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.'  For I have come to call not htjose who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."
Matthew 9:10-13
I realized today that I may think that I am better, or more righteous because I don't listen to bad music, or because I get good grades, or maybe because I try to be more modest.  I am not better, or more righteous, God doesn't love me more because I don't listen to modern music.  I know that I like the music I listen to, and I am comfortable in my clothes, I also know that I like getting good grades.  That doesn't make me better though, it makes me unique.
Matthew 5:7
"Blessed are those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy."

God's Living Word

God's Living Word, the Bible, is amazing.  I am so blessed to have a Bible and that I am free to read it and talk about it where, in other places, you could get arrested or even killed for even reading or even owning a Bible.  I was reading today in Matthew where Jesus' disciples are in the storm at sea and they are so afraid.  They yelled to Jesus, saying "Lord wake up, we are going to drown!"  It made me think that to get help from Jesus we need to accept Him as our Lord, our perfect Lord, and also accept and admit that we are not perfect and that we have problems.  The more we focus on Christ our Lord and Savior, and the less we focus on our problems the calmer the storm is going to get.  I love Jesus' word it is truly amazing.

Pray

I just wanted to say that we should all pray for our fellow brothers and sisters that have been hit by tornadoes lately. 
Dear Jesus,
We know that you have a plan and that you are taking care of all of the people that are hurting or broken now and I ask that they may grow closer to you and lean on you through these hard times.  We love you and we thank you in Jesus' name,
AMEN

The Power Prayer. . .

Almost three years ago I went to a camp with one of my best friends Haley.  First let me tell you a little bit about Haley and I and how we met.  Haley and I met in preschool and have been friends ever since.  When Haley was starting preschool, she was really worried that she would miss her mom too much while she was at school.  Haley's mom prayed with Haley that Jesus would help her find a friend that she could be with and not get too homesick.  Preschool started, and the Holy Spirit led Haley to me and me to Haley.  The faith of young Haley and her trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, brought me to my best friend.  Five years later, Haley and I were  going to a summer camp in the mountains that was run by Haley's church.  The camp was really fun!!!  I learned a lot about how to share my faith and why it was so important to spread the love of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  I swam, did archery, hiked, ate yummy food, laughed, and kept active.  I enjoyed the camp very much and on the last night there, we had a time of prayer in the chapel.  I had had a rough year because my dad was struggling with being an alcoholic and it was really effecting my family.  That night, the Holy Spirit led me to pray with my cabin group and our group leader: Haley's mom.  I felt the Holy Spirit move me to tell of my hard year, and soon I was in tears with many loving arms around me.  That night we prayed for my dad and that he would stop drinking and that Jesus would heal him.  A year later, my dad was still drinking.  Two years later, my dad was still drinking and my family was still struggling.  Now, on May 25, 2011 my dad will have been sober for eleven months!  If you have been praying for God to help somehing in your life, to heal someone, to help someone, for stronger faith, or anything, and it hasn't happened yet.  God remembers, and God hears us.  It may be tough now, and it may seem like God has forgotten you, but He hasn't.  He remembers you and will help you, hang in there, don't give up.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

I had a study group for some of the girls on my horse back riding team.  I guess we kind of studied, sort of.  We played hide-and-go-seek, then studied flash cards, laughed, yelled, giggled, ate ice cream, studied and then we played 'Just Dance'.  I love my team.
McKenzie: friendly, always smiling, and brave
Maya: honest, hard-working, and witty
Caroline: loving, active, and loyal
Kylie: a great leader, kind, smily
Becca: brave, great rider, and forgiving
Brenna: funny, kind, and always laughing but knows when she needs too get to work
Samantha: intelligent, hard-working, quiet but not shy
Robyn: kind, reliable, and calm
Kayla: strong, happy, and courageous
Amy: great leader, reliable, great friend
Sarah: witty, great listener, active
Bailey: funny, great to talk to, messy with paint
Katie (Bob): Katie is outgoing, a great friend, and I don't know what we would do without our Bob
Emily:  outgoing, silly, and kind-hearted
Joyce: caring, funny, and a great friend
Hee Young: strong, hard worker, will always try her best
Miko: funny, outgoing, silly
Hannah: sweet, kind, humble but hard working
Emily Huff: kind, fun, great team rider
Every one is a great rider and a great person together we will be bring God glory!

Love

Love is patient.

Quiet time.

Today, wasn't so good.  Tonight should be better, I am going to youth group tonight.  Towards the end of our service we go into a dark room, light a candle in the middle of the room, and pray.  It is amazing, hearing others prayers and lifting your own troubles to God surrounded with people you love, is awesome.  I can feel the Holy Spirit moving through us and bringing us peace with every prayer that is said, silently or out loud.  I was shaking after this perfect prayer time with God and His people.  I would reccomend this to anyone who needs sopme time to just trust and know that He is God, go somewhere quiet, by your self or with others, and just pray, or cry, or just talk to God.  I felt closer to God after taking this time with Him at church.

God is love.

Today i had to take my almost three month old puppt to the vet to get shots.  Moe did great, took all of his medicine and did everything like a pro.  It was me that had the problem. Don't stick a needle in my PUPPY!!!  The joy of Jesus helped me through that little trial.  It really made me think about how God felt, seeing his Son, crucified, stabbed, and whipped.  God probably thought don't stab my beloved son!  That alone shows that God is love.  God put His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to be our Savior, to heal the hurt and give sight to the blind, to free us of all sin.

Trust

I didn't understand why God let me go to the hospital yesterday.  I am getting over depression, and OCD, I really didn't need my asthma acting up as well.  I kept this bit of angst to myself, angry at God.  I asked for help, not another hospital trip.  I think silently.  This isn't fair.  Then I was asking my mom what book of the Bible I should read next.  Her and I agreed on Matthew so I began reading it.  I really got into the sidebars that guide you through the Bible.  I read Matthew,  and I learned so much about Jesus' story.  I know, and believe in, the basic story.  That the Holy Spirit concieved Jesus in the Virgin Mary.  Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem where Jesus was born in a manger and that the three wise men came to see Jesus by following the star above Jesus' manger.  However, I found out so much more about the trust that Joseph had in God.  God sent an Angel to tell Joseph that the baby in Mary was concieved by the power of the holy Spirit and they were to name Him Jesus.  Joseph didn't say:"No, that was just a dream,"  or, "I don't know, maybe Mary was unfaithful."  No, Joseph listened to God.  Joseph trusted Mary, respected her, cared for, stayed with her.  If I hadn't gone to the hospital and sat down and really read my Bible, then I would have not learned that God does not fail us, He is wholly trustworthy and loving.  Just like Joseph trusted God, that Mary had stayed faithful and that the Holy Spirit concieved Jesus in Mary, I need to trust God that he won't ever leave me nor forsake me, and so I can trust His promise that whoever believes in His son, Jesus, then I will be saved.  

Uh-oh!

I was having a sleepover with my friend Sarah last night.  Sarah and I played video games and watched movies, oh and studied a little.  Now, I am about to go to the hospital because I am having an asthma attack. 

Pleased to Meet You!

Hi!  My name is Melanie.  I love Jesus with all of my heart.  I have OCD and I am getting over depression.  Jesus, my Lord and Savior, has helped me through all of these tough times.  It is amzing how His love endures.  I felt inspired to write a blog to spread the love of Jesus.  So, here it is:  Love Speaks.  As children of God and as the body of Christ, it is our job to spread the love of God.  God's love speaks through me with the Holy Spirit working in me and through me.
      I like to read, my favorite books are The Door Within Series.  I also ride horse.  My horses name's are Jelly Bean and Duncan Victory (Vic).  I have many great friends that I love to spend time with.  Haley and I have been friends since pre-school and we are like sisters.  I also have many friends in my horseback riding group.  Their name's are: Caroline, Kylie, Cayla, Kayla, Amy, Joyce, Sarah, and many more.  Caroline is hilarious and loves to have fun and be active.  Kylie is an adreniline drunkie and loves to ride her horse REALLY fast.  Cayla is kind but serious, she always has a plan.  Kayla is sweet, and kind and loves to have fun.  Amy is very trustworthy and dependable.  Joyce is caring and loves to chat.  Sarah is always funny and witty.
     I have a pug named Moe.  Moe is hyper, crazy, cute, hyper, loving, lovable, hyper, and did I mention hyper?  Moe is almost three months old.  Moe is tiny and silly.  I also have a chocolate lab named Kona.  Kona is super sweet, loyal, dependable, and loves to play.  My cat, Mitten, is fiesty, kind, and loves to be loved.  Mitten's odd habit is that she loves to have people watch her eat.   You can't just feed her, no, you have to watch her eat.  I can't blame her, I don't like to eat alone.  My horse Jelly Bean is smart, ditzy, CUTE, and calm.  My horse Vic is calm, loyal, and he loves to eat.
     I go to church where I also have many friends. Alex, Cayla, Julia, Amanda, Whitney, Mega, and many more people that love to have fun and learn more about our God and Jesus, our Lord and Savior.