The NorMel House

 Have you ever gone through something and felt alone?  Maybe you lost a loved one, or had a serious illness. Maybe you live with chronic pain, or had a battle with cancer. Whatever it is that you have gone through, you may have felt that no one could possibly understand how hard it was or how broken you felt. I know I have. I've felt the crushing weight of grief, I've been misunderstood and felt the judgements of others, I've sat alone pouring my soul out to our Saviour. I felt alone. I didn't think anyone could possibly understand how it felt, but I was wrong. We only have to open our Bible to see how we are never alone! Our Saviour's love is so great and our God is so powerful that He is with us at all times! But that's not all! All throughout scripture we are told that God is not only with us, but He hears us, He heals us and He understands our pain. Zephaniah 3:17 He is in our midst! Psalm 56:8 He cares so much He even counts our tears! Psalm 18:6 He hear...

Oh how heavy my heart My eyes are dry as there's no tears left to cry What are we doing? What lies are we spreading? Like cancer they grow Like a river slowly pushing its way down a mountain Carving small pathways in the rock Each lie, each falsehood creating tiny cracks in our faith They push their way down, slowly eating their way through what once was strong We let our selfishness dictate the path we choose and call it new understanding  We let our own desires change our beliefs because what we feel can't possibly be wrong We call it worshipping God though we ignore what He's asked of us The world is slipping in through the cracks We're so bombarded by sin that we don't see how far we're falling Satan is laughing and delighting in the lies that have found their way in. He whispers and tempts and tells us our selfish desires can't possibly be wrong Oh how like Adam and Eve we are Choosing to believe we now know better

 "...yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."  I recently had a conversation about moments (in truth I have this conversation alot) and this just solidifies my thinking. We only have moments. Some people get years worth of moments, others get only a few. We ought to appreciate the moments we have, in humility, because we do not know how many moments we will have. We're here for "a little time" it seems to me that James 4 is telling us how to live those moments, not in fighting or coveting, but in yearning for the Spirit and submitting ourselves humbly to God. How often don't we waste the moments we're given on selfish things or with sinful attitudes. I'm reminded once again that each moment is a precious gift from God and should be used wisely.

It's easy to believe God can heal the sick when you're healthy. It's easy to believe He can fix broken relationships when yours are good, but when you're confronted by the reality of death and the harshness of this world it can be a lot harder to believe that God can fix it. Jesus said trust me now! Trust that if you believe you will see God's glory. Believing is seeing! Pray for eyes that see! Believe that He is the Saviour sent by God. Believe in Christ for salvation is only in Him; only He has the power to save and to overcome sin and death. The enemy seems strong but when you look away from this broken world to the reality that is found in Christ's resurrection you will see the glory and wisdom of God. As you go through the week pray for eyes that see, and believe. 

What do we do when everything seems to fall apart? Where do we turn when the world around us seems to be crumbling and we feel like we just can't take anymore? We often wonder how all these bad things can happen; why do they happen? There is a reason for all things, and the bible tells us that as Christians there is a definite purpose. As a result of our sin the world is no longer perfect, and bad things happen. But is that all? Is that the only purpose??? I don't believe so. One of the things the bible talks about is being refined. We are being refined by our trials, being molded into something better! Zechariah 13:9 "...and refine them as one refines silver and test them as gold is tested..." Isaiah 48:10 "Behold I have refined you, but not as silver' I have tried you in the furnace of affliction" Psalm 66: 10-12 "For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upo...

"You have searched me, Lord , and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord , know it completely.  You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.  Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,  even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.  If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”  even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.  For you created my inmost being; you...

There are things in life that take us by complete surprise. Life’s pathway will bring struggles; we each have our own particular heart ache. Yet, we can be confident, we serve a God who knows the beginning and the end! He has given us a light for our path and we must trust our sovereign God; that He knows what He’s doing. When wrestling with assurance we can see that the devil is strong. He will do anything to separate us from God’s love so we must pray for perseverance! We must also pray that we will see God’s presence in our lives and that God will keep His eyes on us. By faith, through grace, we are united with Christ and therefore perfect in God’s sight. When we know in faith, that this is true for ourselves, then we may know that no matter thick or thin, no matter what trial or trouble, we are well protected, for He will hide us in the shadow of His wings. What a blessed comfort it is to us, to enter day by day, knowing that the Father sees His children through the lens of His Son...

Oh how well I know this. When I look at my life and myself I am amazed that God could love a wretch like me. That He sees me better than I even see myself and yet He still calls me His own. I've done nothing to deserve this love; in fact I've done all kinds of things to push Him away, and to deserve the opposite. I am a sinner, I dont deserve His grace, I dont deserve His mercy. How thankful I am that He gives it anyways.  #byGracealone #savedbyGodsGrace #undeservedgrace #thankful #notbymymight #amazinggrace #Godslove #extraordinaryGrace #inChristalone #ChildofGod 

Forgiveness is something that many of us often struggle with. We may have a hard time forgiving someone for hurting us or we may struggle with wondering if we are truly forgiven by God. The Bible tells us “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34). If we come to God in faith and repentance God will forgive us.  We owe God more than we can ever give; we enjoy God’s mercy, grace and incredible riches at Christ’s expense. Whatever anyone may have done to offend us pales in comparison to what we have done to offend God. Who are we, who have been forgiven so much by God, to withhold forgiveness from others who owe us so little?

In these uncertain times it's hard to imagine that there is any comfort or hope. It's easy to fall prey to the devil's attempts to pull us away from God. He fills us with doubt, fear, worry, and unbelief. If you suffer from depression or mental illness you probably find the devils voice can be quite loud. I admit (and have shared) many of the times the devil's temptations of despair have overwhelmed me. With all the social distancing and self-quarentine happening we miss out on something most of us NEED. As Christians especially we're used to gathering together as God's family every week, and while we've taken advantage of Livestream technology it is just not the same. Despite all the sad and scary things going on in the world we need to remember God's goodness. God is our gracious and heavenly Father; the Bible, His Holy Word, is filled with assurances of His help and comfort. Open your Bible and find comfort in Him. Find your peace and strength in the ...

I'm not a morning person. Much better than I used to be but still,  I need that time. I hit snooze (only once because hearing anything more than once, that early, gets annoying.) Amidst cracking and popping sounds I stretch out each limb. Most days praying it all will hold when I attempt to stand up. Most mornings prayer really is the first thing going through my mind. 'Let this body work right today.' If I take my time, it gets there eventually. However, on occasion, I'm repeating that prayer from the floor, or back on the bed. I'm not complaining, it is what it is; we all have our own things to deal with in life. Still, it forces me to start my day in the right place: Prayer. Sometimes I'm humming or singing by the time the daytime kids show up, but more often I'm listening to someone else sing or speak of God. I like that time. Starting the day with God is a blessing. In a way that makes my "cross" a blessing. God promises to turn all thin...

In the last 6 years this passage has gained so much more meaning to me. To give up your child for sinful and unworthy people! How great is our God, how deep and amazing is His love and grace. My mind cannot comprehend it. My heart doesn't understand it. I can only fall to my knees in humbled thankfulness. #howgreatisourGod #Ohsounworthy #amazinggrace #ChildofGod

Create in me a clean pure heart and renew a right spirit within me. Let my life be dedicated to You and put words of grace and love on my lips. Let my life be a light in the darkness that is our sinful world.  I go to church not because I'm a good person, but because I know I'm not. It's there I meet with other sinners who know their need for God's redeeming Grace. It's only through this Grace that I know I'm a Child of God. Church is not a place for pride or self-righteousness. It's the place for humility; for acknowledging sin and asking for the forgiveness we're so amazingly blessed with in Jesus Christ. Lord I pray, Grant Your Spirit this day Forgive me my sin,  time and again Through the blood of Your Son May Thy Will for my life be done. The Mel in the NorMel House 

Despite the fact that we are done with trying for children and I'd swear I'm ok with that somehow I still get a lump in my throat with most pregnancy announcements. I've cried the entire drive home from meeting/visiting my nephews and nieces for the first time at the hospital and I still find most baptisms incredibly hard to sit through without crying. I think the grief never completely goes away. Like the ocean it can come in waves that knock you down or it can glide in softly with the sunrise. I wish I had words to give you comfort, but the words are not my own The NorMel House to yours; I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth!

This morning we had a sermon which brought me to tears. A sermon about Abraham being told to sacrifice his one and only beloved son. He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." GEN 22:2 ESV Without hesitation Abraham packs up to do as he is asked. He is told to sacrifice his only beloved son; the son whom he prayed and longed for, whom he waited for years for, THIS son he is asked to give up to God. And he doesn't question or argue or even drag his feet, he trusts. He simply trusted God with his child. In my weakness, I cry for him. How does one just accept a request like that without hesitation? I know Abraham trusted God, and I often pray for that strength of faith and courage. During the sermon the minister brought up the comparison of God sending His only begotten Son to die for us and these two things have been especially diffi...