Random thoughts...UNITE!

I'd like to make the following disclaimer in advance of your reading this post:
God has blessed me and continues to bless in ways far greater than I deserve or can imagine. I have a life that in most parts of this world would be the picture of ease and prosperity. I do not know what true suffering is. I do not know what real struggles are. There are days however that I let the things I call problems grow big and the God that rules my life grow small. It is in those moments/days that in my undisciplined mind unbiblical thinking takes hold and I let life get a little more difficult that He intends it to be.I if only I stayed focused on His perfect peace. The end of side bar.

The beginning of post:

So I've experienced a few more of those letting problems/situations get big and making God small days than I'd like to admit lately. I get quickly/easily disappointed in myself when that happens, which of course feeds the root problem - a lack of kingdom centered perspective...the development of an unbiblical identity to put it in PDT terminology. Thankfully though, when that happens God is just waiting for me to hand it over so He can fix my thinking and change that identity. God's word, His spirit and godly friends are near and the last 24 hours has been a great spiritual revival and period of re prioritization of Melissa's focus to a more eternal and less self-centered view of my God ordained life at present.

Here's where the title is going to start making sense for you (I think this is about to get long and wordy, so stop now or take a bathroom break, you won't want to disturb the continuity from here on out):

A few random things have happened (this is going to seem very superficial, that's the point...stick with it):

1. For several months a friend has asked me to show her how I apply eye make-up because she finds my eye make-up to be something less than heinous. I laughed under my breath the first time she asked, because I assumed she was making some sort of joke. Nope, she really wanted me to show her...well I finally got that done. And I'm glad to help even if it's something I don't necessarily consider a strength.
So summary - somebody saw the way I do make-up and wanted me to show them how I do it.

Check.

2. I've spent some time over the summer with my boss at conferences. She always brings her kids. Ariel is about 2 and a half. Because I've been on a plane with her the only times she can remember being on a plane and at a hotel with her the only times she can remember being in a hotel, she assumes I'm on every plane and at every hotel. It's been discovered that she gets a bit irritated when that isn't found to be true. (that was not really related to the point I'm making but I thought it funny enough to share).

So, she's spent some time with me this summer not lots but some. This week shes been bugging the tar out of Angie for a pair of sunglasses. Angie kind of "ya ok whatevers" it for long enough until she gets tired of her asking and digs up an old pair of sunglasses for her. Angie proceeds to attempt to put said sunglasses on Ariel, on her face, over her eyes, where sunglasses go. Major drama ensues, I've been told because SHE (ariel) wants to wear them like "Lissa" (that's me). Ariel proceeds to place them on her head, to hold back her hair.

I seriously spit coffee right out into my hand when Angie told me that.

Summary - Ariel's been watching what I do with my sunglasses. And wants to do it like me.

Check.


3. I'm at VOH training last night and Jocelyn (the director) is talking to us about how we need to emulate Christ for the girls, as they often don't have too many real life examples of how Christ has changed hearts (not so different than some of us). She starts telling this story about Garrett Highbee (12 stones ministry, look it up). She says "This story changed my life ladies..."

In the context of a marriage session at the counseling conference Garrett says "When my wife stands before Jesus and sees him for the first time, I want her to be able to say the following in sum:

"Oh, I know you, you look so familiar...how do I know you? Oh I know, I saw you in my husband every day of our lives together."

*I had to tell myself to breath right then*

Ah, hey that's good stuff right there. And hey people are paying attention to what I do...if they pay attention to stupid stuff like sunglasses and eye make-up, what in the world are they seeing about my identity in Christ? And then I start thinking about those big stuff/little God days of late...Oh, crud...this ain't good.

You gotta step it up, sister...get to Habakkuk Chapter 3 and stay there!!

Now, I know the likehood of me never again having to talk to myself instead of listen to myself about such things as these is non-existent. I'm hopeful though that those Chapter 3 periods will continue to move from sprints to marathons.

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
~Heb. 4:13 NIV

God is so much better to me than I deserve.

Just keep it together, will ya! Daa gum.