NorMel House Devotions

  Create in me a clean pure heart and renew a right spirit within me. Let my life be dedicated to You and put words of grace and love on my lips. Let my life be a light in the darkness that is our sinful world.  I go to church not because I'm a good person, but because I know I'm not. It's there I meet with other sinners who know their need for God's redeeming Grace. It's only through this Grace that I know I'm a Child of God. Church is not a place for pride or self-righteousness. It's the place for humility; for acknowledging sin and asking for the forgiveness we're so amazingly blessed with in Jesus Christ. Lord I pray, Grant Your Spirit this day Forgive me my sin,  time and again Through the blood of Your Son May Thy Will for my life be done. The Mel in the NorMel House 

  One of my favorite passages. "For I know the plans I have for you..." No matter the situation, no matter the sorrow, troubles or distress I can be confident in my Heavenly Father's love and know He is in control. What an amazing comfort! #ChildofGod #HisgoodWill #inGodsHands

My thoughts are filled with sadness And my mind can't find a way It all just feels so heavy, Lord I don't know how to face the day. You've created us so intricate An amazing, complex design But my body is so broken Lord The pain has filled my mind I'm overwhelmed and weary I don't know what to do With heavy heart yet hopeful Lord, I can only turn to You. Mel in The NorMel House, feeling the struggle today

Read Jeremiah 29 (see bottom of entry) I can't imagine living as a slave in a foreign country. Could you? I can't. I can't even begin to understand what that would be like. I've been blessed to live in a country that values freedom.  (Almost to the point where it's a fault.) I don't know what it's like to be whipped or forced to do hard labor or go without food. The Israelites did. They lived in Babylon under the harsh rule of King Nebuchadnezzar. I imagine the oppression would be depressing. You might even grasp for words of hope from any source, even false prophets. Jeremiah 29 tells us of the hope God gives amidst some very difficult and rough times for the Israelites. Despite being in a foreign land, despite being captives and slaves, God sends them hope and direction through the prophet Jeremiah, "...seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile..." (Jer. 29:7a) Can you imagine being told that God brought you...

 June 15, 2004 A Psalm O Lord, my God and King Hasten to my aid I am weary with my crying May Satan's hand be stayed Rescue me from evil From temptations fierce and strong I am dragged down by my own sin For Your strength Oh Lord, I long Within me is a constant war I cannot fight alone O God of Glory, hear me! I pray don't leave me on my own For without Your mighty Hand O Lord, I'd surely die Save me from myself, O God Please hear my constant cry You alone can save me All my trust is in Your Name For You alone are powerful From age to age the same O God, You are ever merciful I know You hear my plea I trust that in Your Will and time You will answer me Mel of the NorMel House

Life is full of waiting... Wait for the microwave, wait for the kettle, wait for the traffic light to turn green, wait for mealtimes, wait at the restaurant, wait in line at the store, waiting, waiting, waiting. Waiting can be boring, or frustrating or even stressful but there are some wait times that can be so much more difficult. Like waiting to find out if you have cancer...  or if the cancer is gone....  But today I particularly think of the waiting for motherhood. When we want children there are so many hard wait times. We wait to see if we get our period. More often than not we get it and the waiting starts all over for the next month. We may end up waiting to get in to see a specialist. Then you wait in the waiting room. Wait for test results, wait for that cycle to be at the right time and sometimes the waiting takes years. When we finally don't get that dreaded time of the month we end up waiting for that little line on a stick to show up (seriously a stressful 3-5 mi...

  How could you feel anything but peace reading this? It repeats in my mind as I drift off and I know my Redeemer lives. I know that angels surround me, ready to do God's bidding, and He will watch over me through the night. How comforting! The bedtime prayer my mother taught me so often seems the right way to end my conversations with my Heavenly Father; Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep Guard me through the starry night And wake me with the morning light. Thank You God for all Your love Thank You for Your Son above Thank You for Your precious gifts Thank You God for everything!