"Fallen Chains"

The more dwell on the attributes of God the more I stand in complete awe of Him. His grace, mercy and everlasting love are truly indescribable! Their depth is unfathomable. As I look at my life and realize the vast number of mistakes I have made- how many times I have let the temporary pleasures of this word become my first love, have allowed my heart become filled with envy, or consumed with fear, etc. the more I realize how unworthy of Him I am. Yet, despite it all God remains faithful. He stands ready to embrace me (each of us) no matter how far I /we stray from the path that he has made. He is waiting for me to truly believe that He will break the chains that bind me so that I can live freely and abundantly in Him. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!

This song was written by Lexi- an amazing 16 year old girl with a beautiful heart for the Lord. As I was reading though her blog today I came across this powerful analogy that she has written. I pray you will soak this in!

"Your life is like a song, playing the melodies of your past, present, and future. Your very own song started the day you were born and each day a new measure is added to it. Along the course of the song, there will be beautiful harmonies and enchanting music; but with the good, there will also be mistakes too. Your song may skip a few notes or mess up a chord because you struggled with the One who was writing your song. You wanted it written your way, and in the end it turned out awful. But just like you, your song is gently picked back up by the Composer and a new, more beautiful tune is then created, reminding you that even though you messed up, there is still hope and a new beginning. I want you all to remember that your life is a song…and that someday that song will be played in Heaven before our Savior. When you go about your day, don’t struggle with the One who is writing your story, your song…but instead rest in the music He is making with your life and be willing to sing it out LOUD, no matter who is listening. Your life is a song…sing it beautifully."I Pray that I will live worthy of His calling! That my life’s song will be pleasing to the audience of One!
Thank you God for your mercy! Thank you Lexi for your song, and your beautiful heart for Him! God bless you!
Only By God’s Grace,
Melissa

Because He Lives

Greeting to you on this Easter weekend. I hope you all enjoy your time with family and friends as we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and savior, and consider what it means for us that HE LIVES. For me His life, and His presence in my life, helps me face all of my tomorrows and ensures that I have a place to call home in eternity.

Grateful that He Lives,

Melissa

Power of Your Name

It has been a couple weeks since I have been available to post a song that has in some way touched my life over the last week. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to do so this week.

With the weather is getting warmer my thoughts are turning toward spring and I have begun to work on plans for summer ministry. I am planning to return to Romania to assist a local church in conducting a VBS type program, in the context of an evangelistic English camp for unchurched families.

Every time I think about returning to the harvest fields of Romania I am confronted with images of the desperate needs of the people there. It becomes my prayer that the Lord would use me to shine the light of His hope into their lives, too lighten their loads and point them to Him with every word spoken and action performed.

May I live to be a carrier of His compassion; too love this world so broken; too be His hands and feet. May I give with this life that I’ve been given and go beyond religion to see this would by the power of His matchless name!

If you are interested in partnering with me to bring hope to families in need throughout Romania, please click here. Your prayers are vital would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

Here is Lincoln Brewster with “Power of your Name”. Enjoy!

Serving Him,

Melissa

When It's All Been Said and Done- Don Moen

Over these last couple weeks so many things have caused me to consider the legacy that I am leaving as I go throughout the days that the Lord has given me. I been confronted with the brevity of life on so many levels lately as I have followed the stories of suffering people, prayed for a family who recently lost their son to cancer, and have been on the phone with professionals concerning the state of my own health. All of this, in conjunction with the fact that I am in the process of making plans for the future, has me evaluating what really matters. Really the question is not what will people say about me when my time fades into eternity, but rather, is the legacy that I am creating pleasing to the one who created me for His enjoyment and the fulfillment of His purposes? For that is the only thing that really matters.

Day is Dimming

This week I have chosen an unreleased song by Brook Fraiser entitled Day is Dimming. This has been one of those weeks that have me realizing that world is not my home. For I am yearning for the beauty and the flawlessness of eternity.





Waiting to See His Face,

Melissa

God's perfect timing

Over the last several weeks I have been pondering the direction that God may be taking my life, and where this direction might lead. Since returning home from Romania in October I have had many opportunities presented to me. It seems like every week I receive more information about one opportunity or another.

Recently, I have been pondering and praying about summer ministry opportunities in Poland and Romania. While there are many logistics to be considered and worked through, one of my biggest concerns was the prospect of directing church camp for children between the ages of 7 and 15 in Romania.

I can handle leading the younger portion of this group, but leading teenagers is a foreign concept to me. How does a young American woman with very little pervious experience, and no athletic ability whatsoever, put together an eventful church camp for a group of teenagers? More importantly, what biblical message should I seek to impart to these students? And how do I adequately communicate that message?

So, as any planner by nature would do, I started brainstorming. I came up with a few game ideas, but the lesson still perplexed me. As I prayed about this I was reminded of a study that I went through in 2004 based on the book Nehemiah. I could remember bits and pieces of the study, but I knew that there was more to it. Being that I was apart of this study with a group of people between the ages of 14 and 22 I thought this might be an option, and quite possibly the answer to my prayer.

I contacted a respected friend, an amazing communicator, and asked about the study. I was not only anxious to go through this material with the youth in mind to see how I could present this message to them, but after four years, I was eager to walk back through the study myself. I knew that God, being who he is, would teach a different lesson today than I learned four years ago. The prospect excited me, but I could never have imagined just how perfect God’s timing was when the materials arrived in my mailbox earlier this week.

You see, it was one of those days that I found myself worn out with the struggle of life. I was 11 days shy of one year since having my last surgery, and still struggling. I had tried to contact the doctor but my calls had not been returned. That day a nurse from the office called me without knowing that I had previously called. Lets just say, the conversation did not conclude with the results that I had hoped for.

I hung up the phone feeling defeated and depleted of strength. Though I know it wouldn’t do me any good, I was ready to give up. I felt like I had been hanging on to the last strand of a fraying rope and it finally snapped. I was done.


To get my mind off of that situation I put in the audio CD that came with the materials. As I listened I came to a portion of the CD message and it was like God had a megaphone pointed in my direction. So clearly, yet very gently He reminded me, “He is in control of my life. He wants to help me face the tough situations and the decisions that I face daily.”

"He is not only involved in the details, but He wants to help me come to His position in those details." When things get tough it doesn’t mean that God has abandoned me. It simply means that He is going somewhere with my life; accomplishing something that will bring Him glory.” Yes, God’s presence does make a difference! With God by my side there can be joy in the journey through the pain.


Here is a song by Tenth Avenue North.


Thankful That He's Walking by My Side,

Never Alone

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

This verse came to mind this morning as I lay in bed pondering my upcoming trip to Romania and the fact that instead of going with someone as I had planed I am now going by myself. I have no idea what this experience will hold for me. I must admit that I do have my apprehensions. I find myself thinking I am small and weak. Lord, are you sure about this? But, I know that He is sure. He can and deserves to be trusted. By all outward appearances it appears that I am going to Romania alone, but inwardly I know that He is with me. I am simply going to Romania to be a tool in His hand as He does His work in the lives of the Romanian people. His strength will be made perfect in my weakness. Because if His great love I am never alone. To God be the Glory. Thank you for your prayers.

Blessed be Your Name- Fii Binecuvantat

This has been one exhausting week! I feel like I have been physically and emotionally stretched beyond my limit! I have spent a majority of this weeks planning activatesto do with the children in Romania. On Friday I made a trip to Peoria to see my neurosurgeon, and get her take on my muscle spasms and continual headaches. She said I was entirely too tight, and she turned my pump up another significant percentage. We’ll see if this helps any. I will get the pump turned up again when I return home from Romania.

Speaking of Romania, I received word this morning that the lady that I am to be going with may not be able to go after all. She is having some physical problems and unless she can get them resolved before we leave she will be unable to go. I would appreciate your payers as I now turn to “plan B” and prepare to travel alone. I would not be with a team. I would simply be flying into Timisoara, meting up with a missionary couple, and working in a village about 15 miles outside the city. I am somewhat apprehensive I have never flown all the way to Romania alone before, but I am confident that God will continue to meet all of my needs. Thanks you for your payers. I will keep you posted. This song seemed fiting for me today.

Here is Mat Redman’s Blessed Be Your Name in Romanian

Dati slava lui -Forever

Another week is winding down,which brings me another week closer to leaving for Romania. With this in mind, here is another fimuilar worship song sung in Romanian. This is Chris Tomlin's "Forever".

Thank you for your continued prayers and support I appreciate it.

PS. I have had the privlege of being in this very church on a sunday morning & afternoon. : )

Hear my worship

It is my prayer that every area of my life would reflect the life of Christ. That in every situation, whether in joy, or pain; whether in certainty, or in confusion, I honor the Lord. Living so that others will see and know that He is alive. Beyond all the temporary things of this mortal life, beyond the words that I say, or the songs that I sing, may my life be lived as a sacrifice of worship to my King. May He be pleased with my worship. For more faith filled music please visit http://www.signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/

Awesome God

It’s another music Monday. Since I am still trying to master the art of worshiping the Lord through Romanian worship songs, (American songs translated into Romanian) I thought I would share another one of my favorites with you.

When referring to his landmark song Awesome God, Rich Mullins once said, ”I think that everyone will be surprised 20 years from now that that song will have fallen out of use.” I don’t know about you, but I am not the least bit surprised that this song continues to ring out from within our church walls, and from within our hearts. It has become a worldwide favorite


In fact, I must admit, I enjoy this song so much more when it is sung in other languages then I do in English. Being in the midst of believers in another country hearing them lift their voices to our Lord puts our awesome God in a whole new light, It is an amazing perspective to behold- one that I am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of.


Here are some Romanian children singing of our DUMNEZEU ESTE MINUNAT (Awesome God) with contagious enthusiasm!

A Romanian worship Song

I know I promised a post to follow up to the post that I did for the 40 Day fast. It is coming, I assure you. But, right now I am up to my ears in Romanian trying to learn a handful of worship songs to share with the Women to whom I will be ministering.

I have been dealing with a spinal headache off and on for the last few days, so I am rather exhausted. Therefore, in a effort to spare all of you from my grievous typing mistakes, I will put off writing a lengthy post until I feel a little better. Until then, I will leave you with the worship song Here I am to worship sung in Romanian.

For more Music Monday posts tune your ear to the secret life of Kat.


Blessings,

Dumnezeu la valaori ( How great is our God)

I have said it before, but I firmly believe that music is universal language. It can cross cultures, and break barriers faster then anything I know. There are few things more rich then being submersed in a different culture, and having the opportunity to join with national believers in songs of praise and worship to our loving, omniscient God. What a foretaste of heaven!

Here is "How Great is Our God" in Romanian (Dumnezeu la valaori)



For more Muic Mnday please visit the http://www.thesecretlifeofkat.com/

Two powerful questions wrapped up in two songs

There is no question that there is power in music. It is one of the most influential forms of media both in our culture and throughout the world. It can bring people of diverse ethnic groups and backgrounds together. It can ignite the sparks of intellect in youth, and have great influence a person’s actions, demeanor, and thoughts.

For me music is something that I have both taken pleasure in, and have found exceedingly influential. It seems there is often a song, or an idea based on a song running though my mind. This week I have been pondering thought based on two of the latest songs in Christian music. Big Daddy Weave’s What Life would be Like and. Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath.

Both songs have similar themes. The first asks the question what would life be like if we let Jesus live though you me? How would I live if I saw myself and the world around me though another set of eyes- the eyes of God?

The song by Brandon Heath boldly asks God, “Give me your eyes for just one second. Give me your eyes so I can see, Everything that I keep missing. Give me your love for humanity. Give me your arms for the broken hearted; The ones that are far beyond my reach, Give me your heart for the once forgotten. Give me your eyes so I can see. ”

This is not a comfortable question in many respects, but it is a good question. A question that, should we choose to truly ask it, will change our lives and the lives of those around us. Will you step out of your comfort zone with me, and ask the Lord to give you His eyes that you might discover what life would be like if we let Jesus live though you and me? ( Be sure to pause the music player before playing the videos.)

What Life would be Like



Give Me your Eyes

The facts about some of the world's most precious hidden treasures

Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.' [James 1:27]

Here are some of the facts that pertain to orphans around the world.


Hidden Treasures



In you the fatherless find compassion Hosea 14:3

priceless Memories

Catter and Morgan Reynolds are, without a doubt, two of the most precious children that I have been privleged to cross paths with on this journey toward etrnity. Here is a video of Carter tickling Morgan. ( November of 2006) This is priceless.






Here is another video of the two of them together. Watch her smile!

A True Home Run

To me this is a visual aid of sorts for my life, and the verity of circumstances in which people have "carried" me around the braces of life. At times to the point of laying aside their reputations, and any reservations they may have in order to make my dream a reality. As Sarah said, "I can’t thank them enough."

I am also reminded that times like these are just one example of the many opportunities that we as Christians are given to put the compassion and love of Christ into action; too be the servant of all. For our reward is not found in the things of this world but in eternity. So,” let us store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:20