Thursday, July 19, 2007

Philippines Prayer Guide


Thursday July 19th

Pray as each of us leaves Houston we will go in His strength with a song in our hearts, ready to exalt the Father.
Exodus 15:2

Friday, July 20th
Pray that the team will experience unity as we pray in agreement, live in harmony, caring for one another and meeting each other's needs.
Psalm 133:1

Saturday, July 21st
Pray that each team member trust God completely as they share His truth. Pray that each person will embrace this scripture and realize God has chosen them and will help them.
Isaiah 4:9-13

Sunday July 22nd
Pray that all team memeber are encouraged in the Lord trusting Him for wisdom and a clear message.
Psalm 19:7

Monday July 23rd
Pray for safety and good health as each team member trusts in the Lord for His presence in ministry.
Psalm 125:1-16

Tuesday July 24th
Pray for each pastor who attends the seminar that they will be blessed and encouraged.
Colossians 3:2

Wednesday July 25th
Pray that joy will overflow showing forth Jesus.
Colossians 3:16

Thursday July 26th
Pray for each spokesperson to be bold and clear in message.
Ephesians 6:19

Friday July 27th
Pray that we believe God for miracles
Colossians 1:9

Saturday July 28th
Pray that during this time of rest a new awareness of God's mercy and grace will be experienced by all.
Colossians 3:15

Sunday July 29th
Pray thanking God for the presence of His Holy Spirit that gives us freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Monday July 30th, Tuesday July 31st
Pray for each team member as they return home that their walk with the Lord has taken a giant step forward.
Colossians 4:2

Monday, July 16, 2007

Cringe


Did you have a high school diary? Would you like to read it aloud?

These people did. And it is hilarious.



I would LOVE to go to Cringe Night and read mine. The thing is that my current diary entries sound like everyone else's high school entries. Just for this occasion I found an old diary from high school. If I could find my middle school diary, I'm sure that would be even better.


1996

"I'm in love! I met this guy in Driver's ed. He's great. He's tall, brown hair, good clothes, plays baseball, and good sense of humor. I'm not sure what color his eyes are, but I'll check tomorrow. He's just perfect. Except I don't know if he's a christian. I hope we can become better friends. He must have a girlfriend because no one who looks like that cannot have one. I can't believe he talks to me, and he knows I'm a freshman!"


Have I changed at all since high school?? It appears that I'm still looking for the same characteristics in a man. HAHA! I've been reading my old diaries and I'm so glad I wrote down all this stuff because I completely forgot about it. Most of what I wrote was prayer. It was more like a "dear God" diary.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Worth a million words

The world's tallest man meeting the world's smallest man. 7'9 vs. 2'5.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

What have I signed up for???


Ok, so maybe you know that I'm going on a mission trip to the Philippines next week. And if you know that, then you know that I have been totally freaking out about speaking to groups of 1,000-plus university students. I've had to totally trust God on this one. So I get a phone call on Sunday from our leader. It went something like this:

Harvey: Hey, Melissa! Just wanted to let you know about some new things about our trip.

Me: Great!

Harvey: We have set up some time with a local TV station to give a 30 minute devotional in the mornings. Some men have been asked to do this.

Me: Great!

Harvey: And we also set up a time with a reporter to interview someone to speak about American education.

Me: Great!

Harvey: And so you will be doing that. Your going to talk about what education is like in America and answer questions.

Me:...................

Harvey: And you could also add something about Christian education too.

Me:.................

Harvey: Well, it's been great talking to you and I'll see you at the next meeting.

Me: ...........mhpbye.


WHAAAAAAAAATTT??? Total freak out session. What do I know about education?? I can't be on TV?? This is all wrong. What have I signed up to do?? Don't these people know this is not my thing? I can't talk to large groups of people and I can't be on TV!

I compose myself long enough to drive to Barnes and Noble and look for books about anything related to education and Christianity. I found a book called "Learn the Bible in 24 hours". I was tempted to get it, but I was afraid someone might see me "cramming" for the mission trip and rat me out. It was just about as thick as the bible. Why not just read the bible? I ended up spending about 3 hours there and came out with a book that had nothing to do what I was looking for. "Let me be a Woman" by Elizabeth Elliot. It looks good and I can't wait to start reading it.

Anyways, after I calm myself I realize what God is teaching me. Lesson#1 "It's not about you, Melissa." Lesson #2 "Get over yourself." I feel like he has been teaching me this for the past 26 years. I need to let God take over this and rely fully on His strength because I have no strength of my own. On a side note, I have been working with the Houston Project (our church's local mission trip) on the evangelism team. I thought this would help me get over myself. I am completely out of my comfort zone and totally relying on the Lord for help. I'm just just as freaked out about the Philippines trip, though.
"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul."
Psalm 94:19

Saturday, July 07, 2007

100 Things

1. My initials are MMM. When someone discovers this, they are always way more excited about it than I have ever been.
2. I screen my phone calls. Alot.
3. I might have a disease called Celiac. Go look it up and learn something.
4. I google my own name more than anyone else's name.
5. I've gotten prank calls from my students before.
6. The prank calls make me laugh.
7. Most of the time whenever a student does something really bad and I get mad at them at school, I usually laugh about it at home. I think bad kids are the most amusing and my favorites.
8. I do have favorite students. Sorry, but I do. My first year of teaching, I tried really hard not to have favorites. But it happens. I like all the bad ones so it kinda balances out.
9. I was always called the Teacher's Pet when I was in school and I absolutely hated it. I never did anything wrong. I was never in trouble at school. Except one time.
10. In first grade, when everyone went outside to P.E I hid in the bathroom. I watched my classmates all doing jumping jacks and I ate all the teacher's candy. It started out with just one piece. Then 2. Then just one more...next thing you know, the jar was empty. Unfortunately, the teacher caught me and asked me if I ate any of her Red Hots. I said no. She made me open my mouth and I was totally busted. But I never admitted that I ate them. I had nerves of steel.
11. I am a compulsive eater.
12. I wanted to be in the FBI when I was younger. I would be a really good spy.
13. One of my favorite toys growing up was this "Scientist Kit". It had all these magnifying glasses and a microscope with slides of bacteria and bugs and stuff. It was amazing. And totally real. I wanted to be a scientist also.
14. My senior year of high school I decided that I wanted to be a physical therapist. I quit the Varsity softball team so that I would have time to volunteer at a physical therapy center.
15. My first major in college was for Physical Therapy.
16. Actually, my first major was Biology. Reba, stop laughing.
17.Then I changed to Pre-Physical Therapy.
18. I took Biology 113 (Intro Bio) three times. I made a D twice. I needed a C. Third try I made a B.
19. I pass out at the sight of blood. Hence, my major then changed to Sports Management.
20. I am possibly hypoglycemic. I have not been officially tested for this, but I passed out a couple times and each time the last words I uttered were "I'm really hungry, guys...." I get really shaky when my blood sugar level drops.
21. Nothing about Biology makes sense to me. I am not really sure I even believe in "cells".
22. My first job was working at a daycare in Brentwood.
23. When I was working at the preschool at Grace Bible church in college, I had 2 kids who were autistic. That is probably one of the most fascinating disorders. I could have watched those kids for hours. They were not high-functioning so they did not talk or communicate with people at all. I always tried to figure out what they were thinking about. I still get excited when I meet a person with Autism.
24. In high school, I once met a girl who claimed to be a witch. I really believe she might have been possessed. It was a very strange encounter.
25. I have been on 5 mission trips. Utah, Mexico, New Orleans (twice), and Chile. I'm going to the Philippines later this July.
26. I used to babysit. Alot. I would fall asleep when I was babysitting. Alot. But I was always asked to return even though the parents would have to wake me up while the kids are running around on some sugar-induced high. A trustworthy babysitter is hard to find.
27. I really don't like being around babies.
28. There is a nasty rumor that I don't like babies. It's not true. I don't like being around babies. There is a difference.
29. I LOVE African babies. I want one.
30. I have had 10 different roommates.
Jennie, Courtney, Kim, Lori, Stephanie, Caroline, ??(What is that girl's name??.....she was never home and she was only there for a couple of months....), Hanna, Natalie, Jennie again, Ashley (current roommate)
31. I have never lived in the same city for more than 5 consecutive years.
32. I have moved every single year since I was 18.
33. I am an expert at packing/moving.
34. I have lived in Houston for the past 3 1/2 years.
35. I only keep in contact with 1 person from High School.
36. I hated High School.
37. I LOVED my middle school.
38. My favorite animal is the panda. It has been my favorite animal since middle school.
39. I received stuffed pandas and other panda paraphernalia for gifts. This continued for several years. All of that is in my classroom. My students love my giant stuffed pandas and they count all the pandas in the room when they are bored.
40. One time I turned around and one of my psycho students was punching one of the giant stuffed pandas in the face. I couldn't scream. I couldn't move. I got him off of the panda, but the panda had a broken arm and was losing stuffing very quickly. Luckily, I had a Room Mom who took the panda home and stitched him up. The panda came back to school the next day with a sling on his arm. Everyone was so happy. That boy transferred out of my school shortly after that.
41. I just remembered how weird that boy was. He and his twin sister were 'professional' ice skaters. They would tour the country as a skating act. He obviously had some anger issues. He also had an abnormally shaped head.
42. There are some students I will never forget. And there are some who I will never remember their names. I never remember the good kids.
43. I have been to 6 different countries.
44. I want to go to at least 4 more before I'm 30.
45. I really don't want to ever be 30.
46. My second year teaching I had a student with Cerebral Palsy. She went to physical therapy 4 times a week and had several surgeries just so she could walk using a 'walker'. We had an aide who would take her to the bathroom, but sometimes I had to help her. This totally changed my outlook on life. Every time I ran after meeting her I praised God for my ability to run. She would give anything to run and I complain about how fat my legs are. At any moment my ability to run could be taken away. I want to treasure every opportunity I have to use my legs. This inspired me to run the marathon last year. I was so grateful for every step of that race.
47. I want to run my second marathon in 2008.
48. 100 things is too much.
49. I once had a crush on this guy with a prosthetic leg in my class. I was only attracted to him because of his leg. It was metal, not the plastic kind. I couldn't stop staring every time he moved. I never missed that Management class.
50. When I ran the 1/2 marathon last year, a guy with a metal leg passed me. It wasn't the same guy.
51. I love to read.
52. One of my favorite things as a kid was to curl up with a book in bed and read all night long.
53. I still do that sometimes.
54. I'm really jealous of people with a fast metabolism. Especially Frizzy Stick.
55. In High School, my dad told me that he thought God had told him that I was going to be a missionary. I told him he was wrong and that he should listen more closely to God. What I was really thinking was: Maybe I need to listen more closely to God.
56. My dad used to read Edgar Allen Poe stories to me when I was a kid. I love those stories and poems.
57. I hate scary movies.
58. I am incredibly shy. I am so shy that sometimes I think maybe I just have a social disorder. My face gets really red and I sweat profusely when I think people are staring at me. I am that shy.
59. In college, I thought that if I took an acting class I could rid myself of this shyness. However, the class I signed up for made us run around like wild animals and make crazy movements on the floor. It didn't help that the most perfect man in the world was in that class. Shyness was not completely overcome. But I do feel more comfortable making a complete fool out of myself in public.
60. Alcohol helps with the shyness.
61. That is why I started drinking in college.
62. My first alcoholic drink was a shot of vodka.
63. Sometimes I would rather talk to strangers than answer a phone call from a friend.
64. I like meeting new people.
65. I have had a crush on the same guy for the last 5 years. Yes, the guy from the acting class.
66. I have only said about 4 words to him. Ever. And those words were probably "do you remember me?"
67. I tend to not talk to guys that I really like. Shyness.
68. One time I had to call the cops on my neighbors. The man was beating the crap out of the woman. It was probably one of the scariest moments in my life. I could hear her head hitting the wall.
69. I want to get married.
70. But then sometimes I don't.
71. I love breakfast. Best meal of the day. I NEVER miss it.
72. Actually, I don't miss any meal. In fact, sometimes I have extra meals.
73. I just called my grandma. I LOVE that woman.
74. I really want to learn how to play the guitar.
75. I really wish I could sing better than I do.
76. Musicians are hot.
77. South African accents are hot.
78. British accents are hot too.
79. When I was 10 I broke my finger. My dad didn't believe that it was broken so he reset it. I screamed. The doctor said good news and bad news. Bad news: your finger is broken and you need a cast. Good news: I don't have to set it. I wore a cast for a long time. Then once it was off, I had to keep it taped. We played Red Rover at recess. It grew back crooked. I still catch people staring at my finger when I write. It is difficult to write for a long period of time.
80. I hate when people stare at my finger.
81. I have a big fear of snakes.
82. My grandma shot a rattlesnake with her shotgun a couple months ago. She loves to tell that story.
83. It is very strange to be in the Singles Department at church. When I was little, my dad was the Singles Minister so I remember "the singles". It is also weird that our Singles Minister kinda looks like my dad.
84. I love my roommate, Ashley. She is the best roommate I have ever had. I haven't seen her in over a week. That's how opposite our schedules are.
85. I have had 6 cars.
86. I have hit many parked cars. Actually, I think all I have ever hit are parked cars.
87. I have never had a speeding ticket. Only tickets for running red lights.
88. I have argued my way out of 3 tickets.
89. I have cried during the other 3 tickets.
90. I feel very lucky to have grown up knowing the Lord.
91. When I was little, I would say that Jesus was my best friend. Adults thought that was cute. But I was very serious about it. I would always leave a place for Jesus. At night I would tuck him in. He was like my imaginary friend only cooler because he was God.
92. I really don't like to hear birds in the morning.
93. I am a morning person. I like to run first thing in the morning.
94. I smell books before I read them.
95. I love the library. And bookstores.
96. I love my sisters. I wish we saw each other more than once a year. I miss them all the time.
97. I like clothes. Apparently, I like clothes a little too much according to my credit card bills. I am trying not to buy any new clothes for a month. Not sure how that is going to work out.
98. I have very low self esteem. I struggle with this daily.
99. I would like to one day write a book.
100. It feels like I just wrote a book.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Mad Parking Skills


For those of you who are aware of my incredible parking skills, this won't be shocking to you. Parking is obviously not my spiritual gift. My first week at my new apartment and I already have a nasty note from the management.
"Please park your vehicle closer to the curb as not to impede traffic flow. Your cooperation in this manner.
Your management team,
Memorial Creole"

It was typed, but they must have written it pretty quickly. Here's what I wrote back. (But I decided not to deliver.)

"Dear Memorial Creole,
Actually, that was some of my better parking. You should be lucky that I didn't hit any parked cars. Especially your car. Writing notes will not improve my parking skills. No need for any more notes.
Your favorite resident,
Me"