Day Three

God’s beautiful message to you- His beloved. 

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I am calling you to a life of thankfulness. I want all your moments to be punctuated with thanksgiving. The basis for your gratitude is My sovereignty. I am the Creator and Controller of the universe. Heaven and earth are filled with My glorious Presence.

My husband Monty served in the US Air Force for 23 years. We were blessed to see the best of this beautiful country that we call home. Over his career, we lived in 8 different states and helped start three new churches in three of those states. There have been many adventures along the way, and we are grateful to the Lord for allowing us the opportunity to live ten-thousand lifetimes.

Yet, if I can be honest with you, there were hard times. Lonely and isolating times where we knew no one. Because of Monty’s career field, we were not assigned to a base so there was no support and no other military families in the community. Of our almost 40 years of marriage, Monty has probably been away from our little family for 3 1/2 of those years. Deployments, education/schooling, temporary duties and wherever the USAF decided they needed him took priority over everything. 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months at a time.

There was one particular move that we made that I thought was the most horrible decision ever handed to us. Monty had 18 years in the AF, we had built our forever home in the Raleigh, NC area and our plan was to retire there. Monty was a career medical (docs/nurses) recruiter for the AF and was very successful. We were set for him to become a medical headhunter for several of the hospitals in eastern NC. We were surprised to get word that he had a new assignment/huge promotion and we would move to Muncie, IN. WHERE? Really? We were in an amazing church, I was on staff there, had the most amazing friends and God was really moving in this church. Move. Noooo.

Long story short. I went kicking and screaming. Not literally but I just could not see God’s hand anywhere. I was overwhelmed with frustration, feelings of abandonment and anger. I would hold on to those feelings for nearly a year. Then it started snowing and the isolation would walk hand in had with loneliness and deep sadness. Surely God had made a mistake. Surely I knew better. I had closed my heart off to the possibility that God was going to do something good in our lives. So, I put my game face on and told God straight up I was not happy and then proceeded to lead my children on “one more amazing adventure” and we are gonna have fun if it kills us. Ugh.

You know where this is going. God allowed me my spiritual tantrum. He is God like that. I continued to pursue my relationship with the Lord. God began to lead me on a journey that opened doors for ministry in ways He had never done before. Mid-western folks are the best but it took them a while to finally accept this southern girl with a twang. God was good and faithful. Sovereign and gracious. There was an awakening in this little college town. People were coming to Christ and with every small faithful moment of surrender, God would care for us and bless every area of our lives. Muncie was a Romans 8 road for sure but I learned a lot about gratitude and THANKS-living. Go revealed Himself in ways that I had never known Him before. He firmly, yet lovingly walked me out of the pit into His glorious light. These are things I have pulled from my prayer journal from that time in my life. Thought it might speak to you just as I felt God speaking to me then.

I wrote this on the morning that we had received 26 inches of snow in 24 hours. Monty was stranded in Indianapolis after the interstate was closed down. Our power had gone out @ 2am. The kids were in the bed with me with almost every blanket we owned on top of us. By 7 am we could see our breath and were freezing. It was 10 degrees below zero and the wind chill was beyond wicked.

Funny thing is the kids thought this was the coolest thing ever! So we called just in time to get the last hotel room at the good hotel. We laughed and made plans for hot chocolate as soon as we got to the hotel. I smiled deep and gratitude filled my heart.

These are the words God spoke to my heart as well in that moment.

When you criticize or complain, you are acting as if you think you could run the world better than I do. From your limited human perspective, it may look as if I’m mismanaging things. But you don’t know what I know or see what I see. If I pulled back the curtain to allow you to view heavenly realms, you would understand much more.

However, I have designed you to live by faith, not by sight. I lovingly shield you from knowing the future or seeing into the spirit world. Acknowledge My sovereignty by giving thanks in all circumstances.

“…the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them….” Romans 8:26-28

We lovingly think of Muncie, IN now. We made the most amazing friends in this quaint little town. Beautiful memories. I often wonder how I would be different if I had MY way. I would have never known God’s goodness and absolute love for me. He was my companion, friend and Heavenly Father. Wisdom reminds me the things I learned about the Lord that year and I would not change a thing.

Today may be the perfect time to grab your Bible and check out Romans 8 for yourself. Maybe it is what your heart needs as well. It’s ok. God knows snd a good long visit to that passage of scripture all breathes life into my soul. I know you will identify and want to lay hold of the truths written there. I promise it will be a spiritual exercise as powerful as your morning workout.

We live by faith, not by sight. —2 Corinthians 5:7

PS. Just in case you ever wondered- Nothing can separate you from His love. 

You are so LOVED!!!!

Day Two

God’s beautiful message to His beloved. 

Let Me teach you thankfulness. Begin by acknowledging that everything—all your possessions and all that you are—belongs to Me. The dawning of each new day is a gift from Me, not to be taken for granted. The earth is vibrantly alive with My blessings, giving vivid testimony to My Presence. If you slow down your pace of life, you can find Me anywhere.

Some of My most precious children have been laid aside in sick- beds or shut away in prisons. Others have voluntarily learned the discipline of spending time alone with Me. The secret of being THANK-ful is learning to see everything from My perspective. My world is your classroom. My Word is a lamp to your feet and a light for your path.

The following words resonate in my mind and heart at this day’s beginning.

“Humbly let go. Let go of trying to do, let go of trying to control, let go of my own way, let go of my own fears. Let God blow His wind, His trials, oxygen for joy’s fire. Leave the hand open and be. Be at peace. Bend the knee and be small and let God give what God chooses to give because He only gives love and whispers a surprised thanks. This is the fuel for joy’s flame. Fullness of joy is discovered only in the emptying of will. And I can empty. I can empty because counting His graces has awakened me to how He cherishes me, holds me, passionately values me. I can empty because I am full of His love. I can trust.” ~Ann VosKamp

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” —Hebrews 12:28–29

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. —Psalm 19:1 nkjv

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. —Psalm 119:105

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

Beautiful friend, my heart overflows with such gratitude for this time we are sharing. How I long that we learn how gratitude flips our internal switch from defeat to victory. As followers of Christ, gratitude should be at the center of our life of faith. I know that sounds way too simple to be true, but isn’t that the essence of ALL deep truth? So very simple that we’re tempted to dismiss it and so hard that it is exactly what God uses to change the hardness of our lives.

Who is ready to start rewriting old habits with new habits of grate-FULL and thank-FULL living? Let’s grab a sticky note, before the day begins, choose one thing you are grateful for- Write it down, keep that note before you all day long and the next morning do the very same thing. When gratitude and thanks to God becomes our habit, so joy in God becomes our life.

Precious one, Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the FULL! Grateful living is a practice that continues to fill my life with joy. This shared journey is for our food and His glory. Oh how God wants this season of thanks to be one you have prepared your heart for by making more room for gratitude snd thankfulness.

Now get on out there! HIS light in YOU is what the world needs today. Keep shining!!!

P.S. – I’ve included three pages for notes. Write down the important stuff!! 🤗

Starting November 16 ending November 26

Ten Days Of Thanks-~ A Gratitude Challenge

Email me to join the email list: melanieself@go2mro.com

“I thank God— through Jesus Christ our Lord! — Romans 7:25

It’s November! The season of thanksgiving… the time of year where everywhere we turn we are reminded to be grateful, give thanks, and rejoice in God’s rich blessings.

You would think that giving thanks would be easy for Jesus followers, but let’s be honest… sometimes, it’s a struggle. Life can be hard, the unexpected can happen, and often the pain, fear, and anxiety of our lives can feel like too much.

Can I encourage you this month with one thing?

Spend time with Jesus just being thankful.

Without Jesus, it is too much. It is too hard. And gratitude can dry up. But, when we spend time with our Savior, He teaches our hearts to grow in gratitude. It’s an overflowing of His Spirit even in times of trouble and heartache.

The author of Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, shares a way to do that from the Lord’s perspective: “Let Me teach you thankfulness. The dawning of each new day is a gift from Me, not to be taken for granted. The secret of being thankful is learning to see everything from My perspective.”

So let’s start there… in His presence. I have grabbed ten gratitude devotions from Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling & Jesus Always to help us spend time with Jesus this month.

No checklists. No rules. Nothing to memorize.

Just read these devotions for ten days and see what happens as you draw closer to Him. We’ve included free journaling pages so you can take notes and write your thoughts to the devotions, or simply write out daily praises and prayers.

Focus on Jesus, and let the gratitude flow:

Jesus came to save you (John 3:16)

He will wash away your sins (1 John 1:7)

He has a place in Heaven for you (John 14:3)

He will answer when you call (Psalm 91:15)

He will never leave you (Deuteronomy 31:6)

You are His own beloved child (1 John 3:1–2)

Ran through my local Dollar Tree today and found some amazing items. Cannot find something at your local Dollar Tree? They now offer smaller quantity orders. But as always you can count on them offering items by the case AND delivered free to the store you choose!! Link provided below!!!!

Dollar Tree

P.R.A.Y.

Praise

Repent

Ask

Yield

Connect and Create began because of the coronavirus quarantine. I was missing my beloved community and found moments of the sacred in the stillness of my office, now creative space.

Continue with me on this journey of discovery and yielding to the Lord.

Please sign-up for email updates as we grow together in community~ both near and far.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21

Thank you Jehoshaphat for your example of praise in the midst of battle!

Simple Daisy Flower made from (3) Dollar Tree Coco Liners

Check out my Facebook Page- Melanie Self

www.facebook.com/melanie.self/videos/10222647401836567/

P.R.A.Y.

Praise

Repent

Ask

Yield

Connect and Create began because of the coronavirus quarantine. I was missing my beloved community and found moments of the sacred in the stillness of my office, now creative space.

Continue with me on this journey of discovery and yielding to the Lord.

Please sign-up for email updates as we grow together in community~ both near and far.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21

Thank you Jehoshaphat for your example of praise in the midst of battle!

Simple Daisy Flower made from (3) Dollar Tree Coco Liners

Check out my Facebook Page- Melanie Self

Connect and Create {Coco Liner Flower}

Hello MRO Ladies!!

I have given you a week to settle into the new normal your family is growing through. I just want you to know that I have been earnestly praying for you. I miss your family and especially time with you!

Last week I launched a 4 week Rhythms of Renewal FaceBook Live video. Connect and Create. A 30 minute lesson (Connect) and 30 minute (Create) craft much like what I would do at the track. Trying to be creative at getting us together. Now that I am not traveling, it will be great to connect with the ladies that do not travel as well. Please feel free to share!!

Every Wednesday @ 8pm – 9pm for the upcoming 3 weeks. (3/25, 4/1, 4/8)

This is a public video over on my personal FB page. Tonight we will consider our second word of focus- Restore! Oh such good stuff!

https://www.facebook.com/melanie.self/videos/10221894075523880/?d=n

All of the noise, chaos and the information overload continues to be overwhelming this morning. Today I think we can agree that we ALL need an encouraging word.

We packed up the MRO Community Center in Atlanta Thursday night. My soul continued to long for caring for our NASCAR family. Heart so conflicted. I struggled with one of the hardest decisions that had to be made in my time with MRO. My mind understood. God’s call on my life to serve others settled at the forefront of my heart. In the end I found rest in knowing It was the good and right decision for so many reasons.

We pulled out of Atlanta Motor Speedway Friday morning and there was such a feeling emptiness in us all. While it would have been much easier to surrender to what I was feeling, I knew my heart would be much better served by running toward and clinging to the rock of my salvation.

I opened up my Bible App since my Bible was under the motor home slide out. I ran hard and fast to one of my favorite passages~ to a verse that has carried me through some of the hardest times in my life. So I thought you might be encouraged by my journey- one that continues to carry my heart.

Isn’t it amazing how God always knows exactly what we need? Thank you Lord.

I know this is long. The sixteen words packed in this are worthy of our attention. Save the post of your do not have time to settle in.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3

We don’t know the tune, but these are lyrics to a song, since this chapter of Isaiah begins, “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah.”

When is “that day”? The impending day of judgment on the earth. Oh my. A terrible day for those who’ve turned their backs on God.

A glorious day for those who’ve put their trust in God.

Beloved, that day is going to come as surely, swiftly, and with far more destructive force than any natural disaster or COVID – 19. But for God’s people, He promises peace in the eye of the storm. And He calls us to sing a song of praise simply because He is worthy of it.

Just sixteen words in this verse, but every one packed with hope. Every word. I’ll try not to wear you out with this, but seriously, every word matters. Look.

You… Isaiah 26:3

This is “the Lord” (CEV). He is only One who can make the promise that’s about to unfold.

If we look for lasting peace elsewhere, we won’t find it. If we think any government in the world can provide it, we are fooling ourselves. Only God. Only, only God.

…will… Isaiah 26:3

Not maybe, not probably, not shoulda, woulda, coulda. He will.

In fact, He “dost” (RSV). It’s a promise that’s already been fulfilled in him and by Him. “I know that everything God does will endure forever” (Ecclesiastes 3:14). “Forever” means eternity in both directions. All the way back and all the way forward. Beyond the parameters of time as we know it.

This is the kind of promise Eternal God has made to His people. I will.

Unfortunately, I make—and break—a dozen promises a day. “I’ll be right there.” “I’m almost done.” “I’ll get back to you soon.” I mean well. But I don’t always deliver. Soon becomes two hours later, two days later. Almost done is worthless until you reach done. When God says He will, He will. Such a deep comfort in knowing this to be true.

…keep… Isaiah 26:3

How I love being a kept woman when God is the One doing the keeping! He will “give” (NIRV) and “guard” (AMP), He will “preserve” (CJB) and “protect” (GW). To keep something of great value, we put it in the safest of places. Like a wedding band, circling a ring finger: close, personal, never out of sight.

This is what God does to keep us: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16). Right here. Touch. See.

…in… Isaiah 26:3

I know, I know. Crazy, to park even for two seconds on the word in. But in high school, in was the end-all, be-all. Everybody wanted to be part of the in crowd, (Sing it with me, if you know it: “I’m in with the in crowd. I go where the in crowd goes. I’m in with the in crowd. And I know what the in crowd knows…”)

Years later, I still want to be in: “in God’s sight” (Romans 2:13), “in God’s service” (1 Thessalonians 3:2), “in God’s love” (Jude 1:21) and “in God’s presence” (Hebrews 9:24).

Please, Lord, count us in.

…perfect… Isaiah 26:3

This word makes perfectionists twitch, but here’s what it actually means: “constant” (AMP), “true” (ERV), “complete” (EXB), and “whole” (MSG). It means finished. It means Thy will be done. It doesn’t mean we get it right; it means God gets it right.

“As for God, his way is perfect” (2 Samuel 22:31).And his perfect way leads, naturally, to…

…peace… Isaiah 26:3

Some translations make this word perfect by doubling it: “peace, peace” (EXB), “shalom shalom” (OJB). Like squaring a number. Peace to the second power.

“Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord (Isaiah 57:19).

Peace is what everyone wants and few can describe: “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

Exactly so. What is peace? Knowing we are in the center of God’s will. How can we be sure we’re there? “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will” (Acts 22:14). His sovereignty is how he keeps us in perfect peace.

Remember the saying? “God has this!” He still does.

…those… Isaiah 26:3

It’s not very personal sounding, but the fact is, those means us: His followers, His believers, His children, His own. That’s who rests in perfect peace.

…whose… Isaiah 26:3

It’s an ownership word, a possessive word. Those who know God’s peace. Those who have taken the next step—not with their feet, but with their heads.

…minds… Isaiah 26:3

True fact: my mind gets me in trouble. Yes, my heart belongs completely to God, but my mind sometimes wanders down the wrong path. No, not that direction. Not R-rated avenues. Or worse! Prideful places, mostly. Hoping to impress. Wanting to wow.

Left unchecked by the Holy Spirit, my mind can also drift into dark alleys where jealousy and envy lurk in the shadows, and self-pity sticks out its big foot to trip me.

Here’s God’s sure solution:

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2), and while you’re at it, God says, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds” (Deuteronomy 11:18). I study God’s Word and share with others so that we can learn what it means to fix his Word in our hearts and minds. When his life-giving Word is inside there, my thoughts have a safe place to land.

…are… Isaiah 26:3

Like the word will above, are sweeps away any sense of maybe.

…steadfast,… Isaiah 26:3

Outside of a Bible study, I could go a whole year and never use the word steadfast. It’s what writers call a 10-cent word. Not commonly used. We might say “steady” or “faithful.” But steadfast is more delicious.

A steadfast mind that’s “stayed on thee” (ASV) produces “sound thoughts” (CEB) that “cannot be changed” (GW). Now, that’s what I’m talking about. How can we have minds that don’t wander off, don’t wobble out of control? How, Lord?

…because… Isaiah 26:3

Here is the why, the how, the answer, the because.

This is the whole of the Christian life on the head of a nail, driven into the flesh of the One who lived and died and rose again, so we would believe and love and have faith.

…they… Isaiah 26:3

Goes with those, above. They is us. And this is what we gotta do.

…trust… Isaiah 26:3

There it is. The T word. It’s woven all through Scripture. If in my heart of hearts I would stay my mind on “trust” and repeat it over and over, again and again maybe I’d be more apt to reside there in my spirit. Maybe now and again I get it more and more and more right for all the times God has taught me to “write it on my heart”.

Trust is putting down my shield of defense and picking up God’s: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and He helps me” (Psalm 28:7).

Trust means letting God fight my battles: the battles in my mind, the battles in my flesh (Lord, we need a bigger sword!), and the battles in my heart.

And any looming pandemic that might sway us to run hard and fast AWAY from being wise, prudent and trusting God’s unchanging, faithful hand.

For those of us who are in the middle of trust issues, maybe this better is yet, the way in.

…in… Isaiah 26:3

It’s impossible to simply trust. You have to trust in something or Someone: “in you they trusted and were not put to shame” (Psalm 22:5).

Yes, even our tiny word in matters, because it leads us to the object of our sentence. (I can hear my eighth-grade English teacher celebrating). Everything that I have learned points to…

…you. Isaiah 26:3

Yes, YOU, Lord. You alone are: Trustworthy. Sure. Steadfast. Immovable.

Now, check this out: the last word of this verse is the same as the first word of this verse. You. God. The One who makes everything possible. He wraps this truth in his embrace and holds it all together for us.

So much truth in a mere sixteen words!

It took me almost sixteen hundred words to scratch the surface of just one sentence from God’s Word.

Wow, Lord.

Without even trying, I think I’ve committed this verse to heart. How about you? Give it a go.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:up

Now it’s your turn!! 😁

What is perfect peace?

What does it look like, feel like to you?

If you’ve been there, describe it for the rest of us.