Lesson: I have been given so many gifts in life. I need to recognize and appreciate these gifts every moment of every day.
I do not watch a whole lot of movies. I wish I could simply sit down and watch a movie in its entirety, but it just doesn't happen often. I'm secretly (or not so secretly, now) trying to train myself to get involved more in good movies, as I do think that they can have powerful messages. I watched a movie tonight. Rather than this movie wasting two hours of my life (like most movies people persuade me to watch), I found it a huge blessing and a great reminder of the gifts I've been given.
1. The Gift of Work
2. The Gift of Learning
3. The Gift of Laughter
4. The Gift of a Friend
5. The Gift of Family
6. The Gift of Dreams
7. The Gift of Money
8. The Gift of Giving
9. The Gift of Gratitude
10. The Gift of a Day
11. The Gift of Problems
12. The Gift of Love
For those of you who have not seen "The Ultimate Gift", I suggest you take a moment out of your day (and perhaps a few bucks out of your pocket) to sit down and enjoy a great film with a great lesson.
What a great end to a Thanksgiving Day.
-Melissa
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Dreams and Jesus
Last night I had a dream; an unusual dream:
I was to speak in chapel Monday morning (I thought it was Sunday night for most of my dream). I had just been notified of my obligatory speech, however, so it was pertinent that I use this night to prepare my message. I woke up at one point and remembered that is was actually Saturday night, but I still knew that I wouldn't have time to prepare my message if I didn't prepare it in my dream (I thought this out while I was awake...and while awake I still thought that I had this message to prepare). So, I went back to sleep and back to planning. I was flipping violently through Scriptures, scribbling out a rough outline, and trying to come up with a sufficient amount of information to present. I could sense that time was running out - as it felt like my night's sleep was almost over - and I only had a few disjoined ideas scribbled down. I could barely read my own hand writing. Frightened and nervous, I awoke. It was Sunday morning. Tomorrow was Monday, and I did not have to speak to the student body in chapel. What a relief.
While recalling this dream during church this morning, I tried to picture the outline that I had so hurriedly, but vividly, created during my dream. I tried to read the Scripture references in the outline, but couldn't remember them. Suddenly, a reference came to mind: Psalm 130. I ignored Pastor Gregory and flipped through the pages of my Bible to the passage in mind:
Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentiveto my cry for mercy.
3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
Verses 7 and 8 stuck out to me. I replaced 'O Israel' with my name:
"Melissa, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Melissa from all her sins".
I needed that more than anything today.
I was to speak in chapel Monday morning (I thought it was Sunday night for most of my dream). I had just been notified of my obligatory speech, however, so it was pertinent that I use this night to prepare my message. I woke up at one point and remembered that is was actually Saturday night, but I still knew that I wouldn't have time to prepare my message if I didn't prepare it in my dream (I thought this out while I was awake...and while awake I still thought that I had this message to prepare). So, I went back to sleep and back to planning. I was flipping violently through Scriptures, scribbling out a rough outline, and trying to come up with a sufficient amount of information to present. I could sense that time was running out - as it felt like my night's sleep was almost over - and I only had a few disjoined ideas scribbled down. I could barely read my own hand writing. Frightened and nervous, I awoke. It was Sunday morning. Tomorrow was Monday, and I did not have to speak to the student body in chapel. What a relief.
While recalling this dream during church this morning, I tried to picture the outline that I had so hurriedly, but vividly, created during my dream. I tried to read the Scripture references in the outline, but couldn't remember them. Suddenly, a reference came to mind: Psalm 130. I ignored Pastor Gregory and flipped through the pages of my Bible to the passage in mind:
Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentiveto my cry for mercy.
3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
Verses 7 and 8 stuck out to me. I replaced 'O Israel' with my name:
"Melissa, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Melissa from all her sins".
I needed that more than anything today.
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