"The God of Glory Thunders"

5.31.2006 9:31 AM 11 2009 Melanie 10 comments

I love thunderstorms. Other than here, the last one I saw was in Hawaii, a few years ago, which is very strange for that part of the globe. But that afternoon, huge thunderheads rolled in over the water, and cracked so loudly the buildings shook while lightening struck the water so often you couldn't have counted it if you had tried. Hawaii hadn't had a storm like that in many years, and if you think a storm on the prairies is amazing, one building over 2,500 miles of ocean is indescribable.

This is the only thing I love about living here, that I can't get in BC. My in-laws live on one of the tallest hills in town, near the edge of town, so you can sit in the gazebo on their deck and watch the storm come in. I sat there the other day with my little niece Naomi, my dad-in-law, and my friend Cary, and you forget, when all the mountains are in the way, how massive the sky seems on the prairies. It's completely incredible. Naomi wasn't scared at all, just a little peeved that everytime she'd turn to me to tell me that she missed seeing the lightening, it would happen again, and she'd miss it all over. We sat out there and felt the thunder vibrate in our chests, and watched the fork lightening scissor its way across the sky, touching down in fat jagged streaks again and again. It was awesome. I love the sky turing black in the middle of the day, and for some reason, I feel very close to God. Maybe it's that thing we tell children, that thunder is just God speaking, but I've really always felt that way. So did David, apparently.

" Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is majestic...The Lord sits enthoned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever" -psalm 29.

My mom-in-law said a little while ago, that God created us, and knew how to communicate with us. I had never thought of it that way. Like the girl who feels close to God when she's with her horse, or me and ol' Dave here, who experience His calming presence in a gathering storm of all places. I love that He would care enough to speak to us in ways that are relevant to us, and that I can trust that He knows how to communicate His heart, His love and conviction to people I can't. That's a comforting thought. I've been faced so often with people who you just want to shake, and scream "how can you not understand?!" (like white people in India, 'finding themselves' - personal missions pet peeve). There have been people I love who I have misrepresented Christ to, and people I will never see again, who I pray get more of a glimpse of Him than I offered. And this tells me that they will. That God is working in so many different ways across this globe, and in the day to day struggles that are simply, life. He knows, he's got it under control. "Don't worry, little one, go watch the clouds and know that I've got it, you don't have anything to worry about." Good to know. As I finish typing this, I look out my window, and no word of a lie, can see the big thunderheads building. Looks like another good storm tonight. Sweet.

Two Hours Well Wasted

5.24.2006 11:59 AM 11 2009 Melanie 15 comments
I know I have been writing a lot lately, mostly to entertain myself during the quiet parts of my work day. However, Carrie's blog gave me an idea. I am publishing, for the greater good, and in a much more condensed version, my "I can't believe that movie stole two hours of my life that I can't get back, I'VE BEEN ROBBED!!" list. Like Carrie, I'll spoil the ending, so don't continue, if you have some sadistic desire to waste your life watching this, even though you've been forewarned.
-"Lord of War" It seems that Nicolas Cage can make a good movie about once every 5 years, and this was somewhere in the middle of that time. Between it's graphic, adulturous, sex scenes, to it's completely senseless violence, to it's condoning of essentially raping third world nations in order to make money off their internal turmoil, there's about 10 minutes of a good story idea gone bad. Really bad. It's a manipulative attempt to push a political agenda and make you upset and disgusted, and basically ends with the idea that "You know what's worse than the horrific carnage that we just condoned? George Bush and the good ol' USA do the same thing." It's politically slanted, and not even entertaining. You will keep waiting for it to redeem itself, and you will be disappointed.
-"Unfaithful" I like Richard Gere. I like most of his movies. I thought, for whatever reason, a momentary lapse of rational thought, that again, this movie would redeem itself. And I thought that the "other man" was great looking. He is, but trust me folks, you will see so much of him with an older woman no less, that you will literally feel as though you're watching porn. Because you are. The ending, is not one at all. Richard kills the other man with a snowglobe (eh?) and buries him, gets caught, and the movie ends on him and his 'wife' (aka. Whore legally bound to him by a marriage certificate) contemplating taking their poor five year old son to Mexico and hiding out. There's about 20 minutes of dead silence as they ponder this in their car as a light changes green to red again and again, and then the credits roll. You keep hoping a semi will speed through the intersection and kill them both, but alas, no happy ending here folks.
-"Open Water" Peter wanted to watch a real shark movie. So we did. Luckily, on TV so at least we didn't pay for it. The premise, a couple goes scuba diving in the Carribbean and while they're under, the boat leaves. They spend almost a whole day in the terrifying shark-infested water, and I fully believed, along with Peter that they get rescued. Different story, not to be confused with this horrible, nausea-inducing piece of crap. They get chased by sharks, stung by jellyfish, and have lovely fights, as they're both dying in the water. The guy goes first, and she shows so little emotion, I didn't even get it until she pushes him away from her and sits twenty feet from his body, while sharks rip it apart. Wait, it gets better. She then kills herself. She takes a deep breath and sinks under the water. Now, I've never killed myself before, but somehow, I don't think that you can drown yourself. I've heard that right before you die, you have the most overwhelming urge to live, and unless you have done something to counteract that, like tie a rock to your foot, you'd swim up eventually. Guess not. Terrible. You hate the people so much that when they die, you're almost relieved.
There you go. Feel free to post some for me. I usually believe most people about movies, and have no problem abstaining from some if you think I'd be happier that way.
One more thing, if this blog has left a bad taste in your mouth (just be thankful 6 hours wasn't wasted as well!), visit this link.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/happyfeet/
Watch the trailers. I can't wait for this movie, just watching the trailers makes me laugh. I've watched them again and again.

Summer Resolutions

5.22.2006 10:09 AM 11 2009 Melanie 5 comments
I'm posting this, simply in hopes that in publishing a couple of summer goals of mine, I will be more inclined to do them, simply out of fear of someone asking, "so Mellie, how's that going for you?" and having to admit to them what a slacker I've been. So here you go.

1. I only have to work at 10 every morning. There is not one reason in the world that I can't get up at 9, have a cup of coffee, and a good quiet time before work. Today I did, and I feel wonderful. I miss God. I honestly miss my relationship with God when I was single. Probably because I was in my YWAM bubble, where it's easy to do everything a "Good Christian" should. I feel like I have more to worry about, and less fuel to run on. That just doesn't make any sense at all. If I'm busier, I need my quiet time more. I really do. Running on empty isn't working out so hot for me. So there you go. I want a quiet time every morning.

2. I want to go back to the gym. I am sick to death (pronounced 'dee-yath' in some parts...) of this extra 15 pounds. I know there are people with more to lose than that, and lots of those people, are so much more motivated than me. They put me to shame. I need to suck it up, and go back to the gym. I also feel a million times more healthy and happy, and energetic when I do. Weird, you'd think it would tire you out, but really, it's the opposite. I like myself more when I do something other than sit on my tuckus all freaking day.

3. I want to start a little garden on my deck. I'm thinking of asking my father in law to make me a little bench/trough I can use to plant some herbs (NOT pronounced 'erbs' regardless of what Peter thinks) and flowers. I like the deck, and would love to be able to cook with fresh basil, parsley, cilantro, and all of that. This weekend, I want to go shopping for some little starter plants. Any advice from anyone like Amy or Auntie Susan on this would be greatly appreciated. Also on the deck, I want a lounge lawn chair. I haven't tanned once since before my wedding, and I swear people, I am as white as the new fallen snow. I want to hook up my laptop on my deck, and one day a week, at least, work in a bikini, that hopefully, I will again look acceptable in.

There you go. Feel free at any time, to hop on here and say, "hey Mellie, how's that going for you?" We'll see.

Redeemer

5.18.2006 9:50 AM 11 2009 Melanie 8 comments
This is one of my all time, favorite songs. If you download music, get Nicole C. Mullen's "Redeemer" and listen to it as you scroll through this post. I love listening to this song when I'm driving through the mountains, or just sitting outside. It nearly always makes me cry. I've put the lyrics to some amazing pictures that I've found. It's all a little cheesy, but ah well.



"Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?


And who told the ocean, "You can only come this far"?


Who showed the moon where to hide till evening?

Whose words alone, can catch a falling star?


Well, I know my Redeemer lives.
I know my Redeemer lives.


All of creation testifies,
this life within me cries

I know my Redeemer lives.


The very same God that spins things in orbit


Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak


And the same gentle hands, that hold me when I'm broken,


They conquered death to bring me victory


Now I know, my Redeemer lives.
I know my Redeemer lives.


Let all creation testify,
let this life within me cry,


I know my Redeemer lives


To take away my shame


And He lives, forever I'll proclaim,
that the payment for my sin
was the precious life he gave


But now He's alive, and there's an empty grave


Now I know, my Redeemer lives
I know, my Redeemer lives


Let all creation testify,
let this life within me cry


I know, my Redeemer lives

"I'm Currently Without Country"

5.17.2006 10:06 AM 11 2009 Melanie 12 comments

Yesterday night I arrived "home". Since I turned about 18, I have completely lost the meaning of that word. I don't know where home is. I've lived in a few places. I think at last count, I've lived in well over 35 different places my whole life, so maybe I've always been confused on this issue. I never know how to answer the question "where are you from?" other than to say, "Canada."
On Monday, Peter and I tried to drive across the border. As far as I understood, I am allowed, as a Canadian citizen, to be in the USA for six months at a time, as a visitor. Apparently this is not so, as we were told once we went into the Immigration offices and were told off by a Korean/American guy that apparently has a bee in his bonnet about having to file paperwork to be an American, and to bring his wife over from Korea.
They said they were going to turn me around, because I am married to an American, and after that happens, there is no such thing as me being a "visitor". They yelled at us, accused us of all sorts of crap, and of me wanting to be an illegal immigrant. It was so scary. I have a girlfriend that married an American and he went to California to get a place for them, and when she tried to go visit him, they freaked. They were supposed to be apart for three weeks, and it was nine months before she saw him again. I was going crazy in the immigration office, bawling, trying to convince this guy that we don't want to live in the USA, we're moving to Canada, which is true. He was furious with us, and said they were turning me around and it was up to Canada if they wanted to let Peter in.
And then came our miracle. Before they could turn me around, they had to have the head of immigration approve it. And he didn't. After being yelled at and intimidated for an hour, they just let us go. I couldn't believe it. I was bawling, and Peter was shaking, and by the time we got to our car again, I was crying out of relief, and Peter was pretty emotional as well. We have no idea why they let us in. The only bad news is that now I am not able to go into Canada and enter the US again, until I have filed all my paperwork. So our trip to Alberta for Ryan's wedding in a few weeks is out. At this point, I'm just happy to be with Peter and not stuck in Canada, while he's in the US.
This all just got me thinking about where I belong, really belong.
"But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20). In my bible, next to this verse, I wrote a long time ago, "this is where I belong, this is why I don't fit in here". We are all, I suppose, strangers in a different land. I'm so thankful that God intervened for us, that I am in my little apartment with the one person on earth who is home to me, no matter where we are, India, Canada, or here. So yep, this isn't a rant about the horrible laws that make things difficult for us, just a little blurb from someone who is thankful that God is working in the day to day things in our lives, and that one day, will call me to my real home.
ps. I'll give a shiny nickle to someone who can tell me where the quote I used as the title of this post is from.

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