This post is more about a concept that I've learned and dealt with here than what is actually going on. For whatever reason, I've felt led to share!
I've been concerned with our culture's constant need for "individuality" and "being my own person", not because these are in and of themselves bad, but because they extend from this idea that "I don't need anyone's help" and "I can do this all by myself". This has led to our culture's belief that they don't need God because they can do it all themselves (which is a very conceited and fallacious thought). To be honest, though, I've never done any study of the Bible to see what God thinks about all of this individuality in our society.
In our staff meetings of late we have been discussing and praying that God would show us what is going on to make our finances be such a problem right now, whether it is sin or we're just not doing something right. This past week, our director brought up the passage in Mark 6 where Jesus has just fed the 5000 (plus women and children) and he sends his disciples immediately off and they get stuck in really bad weather at sea. After Jesus has had time to send the crowds away and pray for a while, He sees His disciples in the storm and steps out on the water. The Bible, in Mark 6:48, says, "Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them. At about the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea; AND HE INTENDED TO PASS THEM BY". But the cool thing is what follows... the Bible says "But when they saw Him walking on the sea, the supposed it was a ghost and cried out" It took all of the disciples crying out to God to really be shown the power of God. Not that I can say that Jesus wouldn't have revealed Himself to them if they hadn't called out, but the Bible does say that Jesus intended to pass them by until they cried out.
I hope I'm not reading what's not in the Bible, but there are other passages that point to the fact of the necessity of serving and praying together. The Bible talks about God's people being a body and functioning together. God also says, through Paul, to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but encouraging one another. Then, in marriage, God created woman specifically because man needed a helpmate and it was not good for man to be alone. So much of this points to the design of God creating us as people who need other people. The whole notion of doing things by myself was never God's design for His people. It's been something that God keeps showing me through everything that outside people do to help The Vine. We get so many donations of food and maintenance and time and so many other things that help the Vine function on a normal basis. Just the fact that God's people are working together to make such a ministry happen goes God's purpose and design for His people.
It has been so exciting to see God working and using His people as different members of the body and still functioning well!
Please be in prayer for the girls. They so desperately need for God to tear down their walls and really soften their heart. He's beginning to do so, but the devil has such a great stronghold over them, it's like nothing I've ever seen!!!!
Thanks so much for your prayers and support
Melody
1 Peter 1:7
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Baby #1
So, this week (Tuesday, actually), we had our first baby born. I ended up going to the hospital with the girl because I was the only one on call who didn't have to work that day. I stayed with her the whole time, 13 hours. It was such a cool experience. The girl ended up having a C-Section and I got to be the support! It was really awesome. I've heard it over and over again that there's nothing like seeing a baby born, but until you experience it for yourself, you truly do not understand what It's like to see a baby born. Even though the baby wasn't mine, it still was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
With all that said, this has been one of my most tiring weeks. The night before going to the hospital, was one the worst nights, as far as amount of drama that developed during the day. My lesson for this week is about how I don't have any strength or any control over what happens in my life. That power is found in Christ alone and I can either submit to it or fight it and not grow in my relationship with Christ. But, one of my favorite quotes is "When you find that Christ is all you have, Christ is all you need." I have, and will continue this week, to really understand the truth behind that statement. It feels like right now I'm just running on adrenaline, but I know that it is Christ that has been sustaining me this week, especially with fighting a very sore throat for almost a week. At this point, I feel like I don't have anything left to give this week, but somehow, God gives me just what I need to accomplish what He wants me to do.
The biggest prayer request I have is to pray for the baby that was just born. Her name is Shina and she is beautiful and healthy! As I have found out by working week after week here in Savannah, most of these girls are not ready to be mothers. They have been forced into this position by irresponsible actions and have been forced to make responsible decisions for their child without ever having training on making responsible decisions. This is the position that this girl and her baby have found themselves in and I'm worried about the baby and her mother. So just be in prayer for these two, they're going to need it. They're completely in God's hands now and there is absolutely nothing I can say or do, anymore, that will change what happens to them.
Pray also for the staff as we continue to get more residents and the house gets crazier!!! Pray for me as I continue to step forward in my life and do only what God wants me to do. It's really great how He's been revealing His plan to me, I just have to be faithful to be obedient!!!
That's all for now! I really covet your love, prayers, and support!
Melody
1 Peter 1:7
This is a picture of me before going into the operating room to see my first C-Section!!!
With all that said, this has been one of my most tiring weeks. The night before going to the hospital, was one the worst nights, as far as amount of drama that developed during the day. My lesson for this week is about how I don't have any strength or any control over what happens in my life. That power is found in Christ alone and I can either submit to it or fight it and not grow in my relationship with Christ. But, one of my favorite quotes is "When you find that Christ is all you have, Christ is all you need." I have, and will continue this week, to really understand the truth behind that statement. It feels like right now I'm just running on adrenaline, but I know that it is Christ that has been sustaining me this week, especially with fighting a very sore throat for almost a week. At this point, I feel like I don't have anything left to give this week, but somehow, God gives me just what I need to accomplish what He wants me to do.
The biggest prayer request I have is to pray for the baby that was just born. Her name is Shina and she is beautiful and healthy! As I have found out by working week after week here in Savannah, most of these girls are not ready to be mothers. They have been forced into this position by irresponsible actions and have been forced to make responsible decisions for their child without ever having training on making responsible decisions. This is the position that this girl and her baby have found themselves in and I'm worried about the baby and her mother. So just be in prayer for these two, they're going to need it. They're completely in God's hands now and there is absolutely nothing I can say or do, anymore, that will change what happens to them.
Pray also for the staff as we continue to get more residents and the house gets crazier!!! Pray for me as I continue to step forward in my life and do only what God wants me to do. It's really great how He's been revealing His plan to me, I just have to be faithful to be obedient!!!
That's all for now! I really covet your love, prayers, and support!
Melody
1 Peter 1:7
Friday, July 2, 2010
What happens when you surrender...
Not the way I thought my life would turn out, but here I am in Savannah and working with a group of people that I love. As I've been here, I've come to see more of who God wants me to be and where I am in that process.
God continues to teach me more about myself and show me problem areas that I never thought were problem areas! For example, I have always thought of myself as a patient person. But, two weeks ago, we got a new resident who is 14 years old and does everything any normal 14 year old would do. She is extremely picky and feels that the only thing she can control is her food intake, which means, if she's never had it or thinks it might be different than the other brand she's had, she won't touch it. So she hasn't eaten real food (this excludes the doughnut she ate) in a week and a half. Last night I went to the grocery store with her to get foods that she liked. We went to pick up some sausage and she picked up the most expensive brand **Note: we are on a really tight budget and every penny counts** so I found the exact same sausage, except a different brand that was on sale. She told me that the two brands taste so different that she wouldn't eat the other brand. There have been other situations that have occurred exactly like this one but with different products and it's all I can do to stay sane and not get frustrated in their faces. It doesn't make any sense... How can people who are so poor, be so picky. Then God promptly reminds me that I'm here, not to get mad at their dumb decisions, but to help and direct them so that in future situations, they will choose the right decisions.
I am constantly reminded of how much I can do on my own (that would be NADA). These girls will never see God through me if I don't give Him everything so that He can work.
I don't feel like I have anything brilliant to say today except for God is moving me in ways I didn't know I could and would go. I'm excited to see where He takes me but I'm also nervous because that path has so many unknowns.
For some reason, my brain isn't thinking and I can't think of other prayer requests that I haven't mentioned, so if you would continue to pray for the things I've mentioned in previous posts I would be very appreciative!
Melody
1 Peter 1:7
God continues to teach me more about myself and show me problem areas that I never thought were problem areas! For example, I have always thought of myself as a patient person. But, two weeks ago, we got a new resident who is 14 years old and does everything any normal 14 year old would do. She is extremely picky and feels that the only thing she can control is her food intake, which means, if she's never had it or thinks it might be different than the other brand she's had, she won't touch it. So she hasn't eaten real food (this excludes the doughnut she ate) in a week and a half. Last night I went to the grocery store with her to get foods that she liked. We went to pick up some sausage and she picked up the most expensive brand **Note: we are on a really tight budget and every penny counts** so I found the exact same sausage, except a different brand that was on sale. She told me that the two brands taste so different that she wouldn't eat the other brand. There have been other situations that have occurred exactly like this one but with different products and it's all I can do to stay sane and not get frustrated in their faces. It doesn't make any sense... How can people who are so poor, be so picky. Then God promptly reminds me that I'm here, not to get mad at their dumb decisions, but to help and direct them so that in future situations, they will choose the right decisions.
I am constantly reminded of how much I can do on my own (that would be NADA). These girls will never see God through me if I don't give Him everything so that He can work.
I don't feel like I have anything brilliant to say today except for God is moving me in ways I didn't know I could and would go. I'm excited to see where He takes me but I'm also nervous because that path has so many unknowns.
For some reason, my brain isn't thinking and I can't think of other prayer requests that I haven't mentioned, so if you would continue to pray for the things I've mentioned in previous posts I would be very appreciative!
Melody
1 Peter 1:7
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