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 we hurt from the pain of grief. Grief is so much more than just an emotion. Grief hits you. Sometimes so physically hard you think you can't do it. Its so overwhelming that you can't breath, or you fall to the floor and just can't do it anymore. Its horrible, but it's ok. Not ok in the sense that you minimize the problem but ok in that you need to understand its a normal part of grief. Even though it may feel like you can't go on, you will. You'll eventually get back up and continue to do what must be done. And if you have a day where you can't do anything, don't be too hard on yourself. Just tell yourself you'll try again tomorrow. The pain doesn't ever go away, but you will adapt to it. You will make room for it and be able to carry on. The one you lost isn't hurting anymore. So allow yourself time to feel, time to get through, because with God's grace you will. The Mel in the NorMel House. Still trying to be gracious to myself i...

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.

I never saw you smile Never heard you laugh aloud But my heart still beats for you Still cries for you Would die for you You're my every thought My world has shattered apart The pieces are scattered  My thoughts are scattered  My hopes shattered. I dont see the point this time I just don't understand it at all Lord, how do You choose Who has to lose How do You choose

Dead Dead inside and yet wishing it was actually true. Because it isn't. The truth is I'm alive. I wouldn't really call it living though. I'm existing in a world made up of pain, agony, exhaustion, confusion, and simply existing through it because nothing has killed me yet. Not the times of complete numbness to the world around me, not the extreme emotions that hit like a storm and threaten to take my last breath. They never do, though I wish they would. Seems anything would be better than this. Not too many people would understand my plight, though some may understand parts. I was ok-ish. For a person with depression, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Myofascial Pain Disorder, PMDD, back issues, complete lack of immune system and so many other health problems I was ok. For a while. I accepted that God has taken all 8 of our children to be with Him. I accepted that I would always live in pain. I accepted and even got to the point where I don't even want to raise children in thi...

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. 

By now hundreds of thousands of people have been tested for covid, however if you haven't, you aren't missing anything fun. We had to book our appointments 2 days away as the testing facilities were so busy. They sent us to an arena and told us to go in through the Zamboni doors.  With lots of "No Pictures" signs and double checking health cards we drove in a circle on the arena floor. Last stop? Poking a plastic brush-like thing up your nostril... Not a pleasant feeling, but what can you do? Then it was a waiting game...in isolation with the hubby and 4-legged babies. As symptoms left, new ones came. My body went through all kinds of things and when I called the test results line 5 days later the lady told me it sounded like covid to her, but my results weren't in yet.  Eventually I called and they told me the test was negative but by that point I'd already been quarantined for 2 weeks just in case. Regardless of what it was I had I was still recovering at th...

This week we heard who we should bring our troubles to; who we should turn to when we're going through tough times. What an amazing #blessing to know that the one we turn to listens and hears us! We call on a God who listens! As our #TuesdayTunes says "I’m not just hoping, I’m not just wishin’  I know I’m praying to a God who listens I know He hears me, I know He’s livin’ Yes I am praying to a God who listens" Check out Chris Tomlin and Thomas Rhett's "God who listens" and go through your week with this comfort; knowing that we pray to a God who knows your name, draws you close, and listens to your cries!  https://youtu.be/9sqLqR41Ulg #Godwholistens #ChrisTomlin #ThomasRhett #comfort #Heknowsyourname #Godhears #Godlistens

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...

What do you pray for when troubles and trials feel overwhelming? Most of us pray for God to take them away or fix them, and while there's nothing wrong with asking God to heal the sick or to fix our problems, we need to remember that God knows better than us and sees the whole picture. If His answer is no or not now that doesn't mean we stop praying. Pray for the strength to go through the fires, for an attitude of trust in Him. Ask that His Spirit be alive in you so that the world can see you're different. In Christ, we are different! This week's #TuesdayTunes is a prayer to be " Different " by Micah Tyler.  

"All my hope is in Jesus  Thank God that yesterday’s gone  All my sins are forgiven  I’ve been washed by the blood"  What a blessing we have in Jesus! As you go through your week remember where our hope is found! Today's #TuesdayTunes is an uplifting duet, " All My Hope ", sung by Crowder featuring Tauren Wells. May it bring a smile to your lips and a prayer to your heart thanking God for this great blessing!

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 

Ok, so I know it's a weed... but theres something beautiful in the intricacies of this puffball. I feel like there's something poetic about it all. Most people would have ripped this weed out of their  garden long before it got to this point (it's stem is more than 3 feet long/tall), but then they would have missed out on how cool it looks! Beauty is found in many forms. I see the beauty in God's design, this plant has a purpose. Maybe it's purpose was simply to cause me to reflect on things, maybe not. Its reminded me to look for the good and the beauty in all things. God's creation is amazing, each life is formed and fashioned by His hand, even the plants and weeds. I mean seriously look at it, it's so neat!  I'm probably rambling; just some things to think on for the day "All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made" John 1:3  #considerthis #Godscreation #Godmadeallthings #beautyintheweed...

On Sunday our preacher quoted this beautiful hymn:  "By faith we see the hand of God In the light of creation's grand design In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness Who walk by faith and not by sight" It's so easy to believe in things you can see, but when it comes to our glorious God we need to have faith. God's Hand is at work everywhere in Creation and although we can't see God, we can see His handiwork. Look at all things through the "lens" of faith.  "Till the race is finished and the work is done We'll walk by faith and not by sight" Check out today's #TuesdayTunes 'By Faith' by Keith & Kristyn Getty #walkbyfaith #Godshandiwork #walkbyfaithnotbysight #KeithandKristynGetty #tiltheraceisfinished #Faith #believe #GodsHandinCreation

We're all lost at some point in our lives; what amazing grace we find in God. That though we're undeserving He saves us! On Sunday we sang Amazing Grace in our church. As you go through you're week remember to thank God for His amazing grace.  Today's #TuesdayTunes is a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace combined with My Chains Are Gone . Sung by BYU Noteworthy in an a capella cover. https://youtu.be/X6Mtpk4jeVA #amazinggrace #mychainsaregone #BYUNoteworthy #BYU #accapella #undeservedgrace

#Waiting isn't always easy. Especially when in the depths of #sadness or #despair . But Psalm 130 reminds us to #hope in the Lord. Wait for the Lord for our hope is in Him, in His steadfast #love and #redemption . Sunday morning we sang from #Psalm130 so go forward in your week with this beautiful rendition on your mind. Be #strong and #waitfortheLord !  Check out this week's #TuesdayTunes by Shane and Shane "I will wait for You! Psalm 130"  Shane & Shane https://youtu.be/l8pCbtLeXzc # ShaneandShane  

To say the last few weeks have been difficult would be an understatement. At times it felt like hell on earth. Three weeks ago at this time I was fighting some sort of flu or virus, as well as a pinched nerve in my spine; the combination of the fever, pain, uncontrollable body shaking chills, headache, nausea, dry heaving, body drenching sweats and spasms had me begging for death. In shame, I admit to asking my husband to put an end to my misery, pleading with him for death. I don't remember much from those first couple days other than the pain, and overwhelming desire to have it all end. Despite my husband's pleading, I refused to go to the hospital, terrified of being put in isolation and suffering all alone. With all the fear and regulations due to Covid-19 I knew they would isolate me. Several of the symptoms being recognized as Covid-19 symptoms were wreaking havoc on my body and I wasn't certain if I had it or not. I only knew I was barely hanging on as it was. I was ...