Dear Friends,
How time is passing! Already we are in the middle of November, and drawing ever nearer to winter (if it hasn't already arrived, as evidenced by the recent series of storms that has hit southern Alberta).
I'm extremely happy to report that my back has improved significantly since I last wrote. With a lot of prayer, and the generous help of both of my parents, who travelled fourteen hours in one day just to come to my rescue, I am now able to walk more easily and the pain and stiffness have diminished to levels that are tolerable. Now comes the push to somehow condense six weeks of recording into three weeks...a feat that will definitely need a lot of stamina, intensity, and quite honestly, a miracle. But I know that miracles are God's specialty. As I am experiencing His healing hand upon my back, I can also trust that He will somehow see this recording through to completion in the time necessary.
On another note, I spent this morning, with my mom, doing a few recordings for my YouTube page. It's nice to keep the page current....something I've not been so good at doing, with all of the other things I have on the go! So here are links to a couple of new clips. I hope they bless you.
Lila tov! (Good night),
Melissa
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
They That Wait
Dear Friends,
I hope this note finds you well.
I find myself in a time of testing; one that is, I am sure, meant to strengthen my resolve and my faith. The last time I wrote, I mentioned a back injury that I sustained in 2008 had flared up again. I am now on my third week dealing with this, and the last several days have literally been spent flat on my back for 22 hours per day. I was seeing real improvement last week, but something happened on Saturday and it returned to full blown pain and stiffness by Monday morning.
I find myself clinging to Yeshua's Tzit-Tzit (the "hem of his garment," as is written in most English Bibles). My natural self wants to get frustrated, as this is one of the most crucial times in my life; being in the middle of this CD recording which I really feel is God inspired. I would say to myself, "I have too much to do to be laying around for weeks on end like this! Time is ticking!" And yet, inside, the Spirit whispers to me "Trust ME. Wait on ME and I will renew your strength." And so goes the epic battle between the flesh and the spirit; the natural eyes and the spiritual eyes. There is no better crucible of learning than being in a position of utter and total dependance on God. When you can't even bend over to put your socks on, or drive to the grocery store to get milk, that is pretty dependant!
Every morning I must wake up and tell myself, "Choose you this day, who will you serve. Who will you believe?" The crux of the situation is that, HIS WORD must be what we base our faith on. His word is true, it is infallible, it is eternal. And perhaps I am enduring this trial merely to solidify the theme on which my CD is based....that Yahweh is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in time of trouble. That HE is the name on which we call. That we look heavenward, not earthward for our strength. A good time to practice what I am preaching :-)
And so, as I close for this morning, I speak to myself these words from Isaiah chapter 40:
"The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."
-Melissa
I hope this note finds you well.
I find myself in a time of testing; one that is, I am sure, meant to strengthen my resolve and my faith. The last time I wrote, I mentioned a back injury that I sustained in 2008 had flared up again. I am now on my third week dealing with this, and the last several days have literally been spent flat on my back for 22 hours per day. I was seeing real improvement last week, but something happened on Saturday and it returned to full blown pain and stiffness by Monday morning.
I find myself clinging to Yeshua's Tzit-Tzit (the "hem of his garment," as is written in most English Bibles). My natural self wants to get frustrated, as this is one of the most crucial times in my life; being in the middle of this CD recording which I really feel is God inspired. I would say to myself, "I have too much to do to be laying around for weeks on end like this! Time is ticking!" And yet, inside, the Spirit whispers to me "Trust ME. Wait on ME and I will renew your strength." And so goes the epic battle between the flesh and the spirit; the natural eyes and the spiritual eyes. There is no better crucible of learning than being in a position of utter and total dependance on God. When you can't even bend over to put your socks on, or drive to the grocery store to get milk, that is pretty dependant!
Every morning I must wake up and tell myself, "Choose you this day, who will you serve. Who will you believe?" The crux of the situation is that, HIS WORD must be what we base our faith on. His word is true, it is infallible, it is eternal. And perhaps I am enduring this trial merely to solidify the theme on which my CD is based....that Yahweh is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in time of trouble. That HE is the name on which we call. That we look heavenward, not earthward for our strength. A good time to practice what I am preaching :-)
And so, as I close for this morning, I speak to myself these words from Isaiah chapter 40:
"The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."
-Melissa
Monday, November 1, 2010
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Dear Friends,
Again, time has passed quickly since my last post. The recording process on my CD is well underway, and I am excited at the work that has been accomplished so far. I have been wanting to write for days now, but I've been mulling over which topic to choose, as there are so many things I could write about.
Have you ever had a moment in your life where you are overwhelmed by the faithfulness and love of God? I have had many of those types of moments these past few days. I have had lots of time to meditate on the Lord's goodness, as I am dealing with yet another hurdle to conquer: a back injury that I sustained last summer was re-aggravated two weeks ago. I have been on bedrest for several days, in a great deal of pain and unable to move. But rather than take it as a setback and a frustration, I decided to take it as a blessing in disguise. So, I've been laying here on my couch (just as I am now) these past several days, with ample time to pray, think, and meditate on all the Lord has done, all He is doing, and all He will do. At times I am overcome with emotion as I recount His faithfulness to me over the years. When I felt lost, He always knew the way. When I felt alone, He has always been by my side. When I felt too weak to carry on, He picked me up and carried me. Even in this position of weakness in which I now find myself, He has been so faithful to carry me on His shoulders and show me the view from His vantage point -- seated high above all these cares of the world. And let me tell you, the view is incredible from His throne! I am experiencing the miraculous as I am lifted up by the prayers of the saints, and feel His hand touching my back and healing it. The words of my favourite hymn come to mind:
Great is thy faithfulness, Oh God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
All I have needed thy hand has provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to lead and to guide
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with TEN THOUSAND beside
Ten thousand does not even remotely describe the number of blessings which the Lord bestows upon us every day. Were we to count His thoughts towards us, they would outnumber the grains of sand. (Psalm 139:18)
As the light in my living room fades and I rest in this recumbent position, I think I will close my eyes and meditate on this above Psalm.
Blessings,
Melissa
Again, time has passed quickly since my last post. The recording process on my CD is well underway, and I am excited at the work that has been accomplished so far. I have been wanting to write for days now, but I've been mulling over which topic to choose, as there are so many things I could write about.
Have you ever had a moment in your life where you are overwhelmed by the faithfulness and love of God? I have had many of those types of moments these past few days. I have had lots of time to meditate on the Lord's goodness, as I am dealing with yet another hurdle to conquer: a back injury that I sustained last summer was re-aggravated two weeks ago. I have been on bedrest for several days, in a great deal of pain and unable to move. But rather than take it as a setback and a frustration, I decided to take it as a blessing in disguise. So, I've been laying here on my couch (just as I am now) these past several days, with ample time to pray, think, and meditate on all the Lord has done, all He is doing, and all He will do. At times I am overcome with emotion as I recount His faithfulness to me over the years. When I felt lost, He always knew the way. When I felt alone, He has always been by my side. When I felt too weak to carry on, He picked me up and carried me. Even in this position of weakness in which I now find myself, He has been so faithful to carry me on His shoulders and show me the view from His vantage point -- seated high above all these cares of the world. And let me tell you, the view is incredible from His throne! I am experiencing the miraculous as I am lifted up by the prayers of the saints, and feel His hand touching my back and healing it. The words of my favourite hymn come to mind:
Great is thy faithfulness, Oh God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
All I have needed thy hand has provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to lead and to guide
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with TEN THOUSAND beside
Ten thousand does not even remotely describe the number of blessings which the Lord bestows upon us every day. Were we to count His thoughts towards us, they would outnumber the grains of sand. (Psalm 139:18)
As the light in my living room fades and I rest in this recumbent position, I think I will close my eyes and meditate on this above Psalm.
Blessings,
Melissa
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