What God Taught Me Through A Chewbacca Mask:

I'm sure by now you've seen the viral video of Candace Payne laughing joyously wearing a Chewbacca mask!

To be honest, when I saw the video I wondered what all the fuss was about...I don't know, maybe it's because I'm not that enthralled by StarWars? But whatever the reason, I had a small laugh and thought, “Well if I was her friend, I would have laughed at the video but not shared it...I mean it's just a woman laughing in her car!”

Then I couldn't escape the story and conversation about this “Joyous Woman”. I became intrigued about what was really making this woman “go viral”. I knew it wasn't simply because she laughed so hard. I knew there was more going on than people were realising, so I followed the link to her Facebook page. Very soon it was blatantly clear Candace was a dedicated Christian and I knew that God had allowed this “viralness” to happen and then I wondered why???

There I sat, honestly wondering why and thinking, “But God's name wasn't even mentioned in the Chewbacca mask wearing video!”

It wasn't until the other day when I saw the following clip and it was like my jaw hit the floor....I realised that this laughing woman, was a woman of depth and wisdom; that The Lord had provided her a platform from a simple Chewbacca mask; a child's play toy!

I knew that unsaved people were attracted to Candace's joy, and that these people needed to understand it was the joy of The Lord Candace was exhibiting which made her so unique to their own dry, and thirsty souls.

We are called to be a light in this dark world and this is what Candace Payne has been to many people. A single mother who finds joy in the simple things of life, not because of the inanimate object she was wearing, but because of The Lord living inside her! A joy that comes forth from knowing Jesus Christ personally as her Lord and Saviour for eternity. A peace no-one can take away, a deep and real sustaining joy.

A Chewbacca mask, of all things! 

It reminded me that if The Lord wants to promote someone, He simply will and He cannot be stopped. It reminds me of the passage Matthew 23:12

“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Candace Payne is a truly humble woman whom The Lord has exalted and used to speak a message about Diligence, Patience and Obedience. A message that isn't always preached to youth these days. You can watch it here:

What I love is that The Lord used a Chewbacca mask to give a humble woman a platform to preach a true biblical message about putting The Lord first and foremost in all aspects of our life – About dying to ourselves and becoming spiritually fit...To wait upon The Lord to walk in His will for our life...Being obedient to His will and holy standards...And to lift up His Name, rather than seeking fame for ourselves! Praise The Lord!

We should be encouraged by Candace to relax and trust His timing and plan for our life. To not push for our own way and glory – rather to pray, wait and proclaim Him always.

Love Melanie.

Obedience is Better than Sacrifice:

Don't you love to offer a sacrifice to The Lord? I do...

A sacrifice of praise, or our time, money, serving...Just to give to The Lord!

But I have some words of The Lord in mind today and that is, “Obedience is better than sacrifice”. You can find this statement in the Old Testament in 1 Samuel 15:22.

As I sit here today, thinking back over the past four years, I think The Lord has been healing my heart, by continuing to gently bring me to a place of humility and obedience.

You see, my heart got broken, really broken. The bottom fell out of my life. My life changed over night. I lost my husband and identity all at once...I have learned that rebuilding from scratch, which is what The Lord has needed to do with me, is only possible with my participation of continual surrender. Continually surrendering one's will to The Lord's...and this is a long process.

I can be a person who likes to do things to distract myself from pain. Who isn't really? I mean who likes suffering? Now I'm not saying this is totally a bad thing, but I know The Lord has kept bringing me back, to a place of being still and obedient. Doing less-and-less things for Him that I choose to do, and more-and-more walking in obedience to what He wants, or allows me to do. Waiting when He says to wait, and stopping when He says stop...Sometimes easier said than done, especially when we're hurting or lonely...

Obedience is a strong theme through out the whole Bible. We can also read of God's displeasure with some sacrifices in scripture. For a more in-depth look at the theme of obedience in scripture go here.

Obedience to The Lord is not legalistic Christianity. Perhaps for some it could seem this way, but The Lord's Word is always right, and Jesus commands us to obedience. I have experienced the most freedom and closeness to The Lord in my life, when I am living as obediently as I can be, with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Believe me, I know what impatience is like and how to ignore my conscience, but this only serves to stunt my own development.

Obedience is truly genuine heart-first Christianity.

Obedience brings about healing, victory, wellness and growth.

When we choose to obey His sometimes small voice, and gentle promptings, rather than our own impulses, we heal by being united with Him and His will. When we choose to obey His commandments over our flesh, our relationship with Him is strengthened. 

What are you willing to give up to be obedient...or more accurately, what do you know you need to give up to be obedient? Giving something up is not easy, I REALLY do know this, but obedience truly is better than sacrifice and bears so much more fruit, as The Holy Spirit is leading.

My strength is in The Lord, and I CAN DO all things through Christ who gives me strength...But do I really want to do what He wants? Being obedient to live a life in submission for faithful proclamation is not easy, but Jesus NEVER promised us an easy ride...rather He said, "Take up your cross and follow me".

A sacrificial life is a truly beautiful one, until it becomes self-directed, that's why obedience is truly better than sacrifice.

God bless, Melanie.

A Letter From Your Big Sister: 24 Truths About Men.

To my beautiful little sister,

I love you so much. When I think of you, I picture your pretty smile and glimmering eyes. I love to hear your laughter, and although I know you understand loss, I cannot bear to think of you experiencing anything but the joy of God in your life. So this is why I am writing to you now. You see, your big sister has learned a lot through life experience about the opposite sex. I've dated them, worked with them, fellow-shipped with them, I married one, and now am raising 3!

What I am about to share with you, I pray you will cherish, for I know what it's like to feel so hurt and confused, to scour the internet for helpful advice. And it is all based on this one profound premise:

Treat EVERY member of the opposite sex simply as male, not as a man, until they prove otherwise over an extensive period of time!

MALES V's MEN: 24 Truths

1. A male wants to control your spirituality, whereas a man will encourage you in your own relationship with Jesus.
2. A male desires a female, whereas a man desires a wife.
3. A male will push your sexual boundaries, however a man upholds them.
4. A male has ideas, but a man makes plans and follows through.
5. A male degrades, whereas a man compliments.
6. A male will not want you to change, whereas a man will want you to grow.
7. A male feels inferior, however a man is proud of his intelligent wife.
8. A male fails in communication, whereas a man thrives upon this with you.
9. A male needs continuous help, but a man can take advice and help himself.
10. A male is stuck in addiction, but a man breaks the chains.
11. A male thinks the world owes him, yet a man feels privileged.
12. A male thinks you've done good to get his time, but a man is awed to have you in his life.
13. A male dictates, whereas a man leads alongside.
14. A male cannot control his words or actions, yet a man prides himself in doing so.
15. A male is lazy and expects service from you, whereas a man goes the extra mile for you.
16. A male doesn't provide or save, but a man does both.
17. A male is too busy for his children, whereas a man understands quality time.
18. A male has sex, but a man makes love.
19. A male is possessive, yet a man is secure.
20. A male slanders others, including his ex, however a man admits his past mistakes.
21. A male is quick to judge, whereas a man is careful in his judgements.
22. A male makes rash, emotional responses, but a man makes careful and wise choices.
23. A male settles in life, however a man works to improve all aspects of his own and his community's.
24. A male pretends to listen, whereas a man listens carefully.

Let me finish, my beautiful sister in saying that true beauty resides in dignity. No male is worth binding yourself to; it will only result in heartache and brokenness. Keep firm in your resolve to honour The Lord first and foremost in purity and wait...yes, wait my dear sister, a man is rare these days but worth the wait. Melanie.

Indwelling Power:

How many times as Christians do we sing words like,”I will follow You”, or “I give You my all” and really contemplate the magnitude of what we are singing?

Even without knowing, perhaps a more truthful sub-clause should be added to these songs, that being, “As long as I am comfortable in the process!”

We sit in church and hear of stories like Peter walking-on-water and what's our contemporary response...if we're really honest? “Well that was Peter and he had Jesus there with Him”... what about, “That's just a Bible-story!”, perhaps even “Peter didn't have enough faith.”?

But what about the simple point that Peter got out of the boat to walk upon water!

What about the wonderful hymn, 'There's Power in the blood'? Check out these lyrics:

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Refrain:
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?

There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

These powerful lyrics speak of VICTORY over sin!

The power to OVERCOME un-godly lives and serve Jesus daily because of the blood of Jesus. You see, it is by the blood of Jesus Christ that we are washed and made clean of sin, allowing God Himself to then come and reside in us.

When we are forgiven and washed clean, we have the indwelling power to OVERCOME because of the One inside us. Amen! And this is truly living...life in abundance...a life in relationship with Jesus, working with Him in His salvation work...Amen, Halleluiah, I'm alive because He lives and He lives in me! The risen Christ now living inside of me and journeying with me to work for His glory and Kingdom. Wow what an awesome gift.

Why then do so many of us sing of living for Jesus, but never step out of our own boats?

Why do we have churches full of people, attending services but still trapped by their own flesh?

Why are people trapped by their passion? Full of pride and envy? Anger and arguing? Swearing and lust? Liquor or drugs? Greed and gluttony?

Why do people who believe that Jesus is real, settle in their own minds for lives that are far less than victorious?

I think it's because we do not understand the available INDWELLING POWER of the One inside us and we simply cannot be bothered to wage war with our flesh. It's all too easy to think, “It's just too hard, I'm just not strong enough, and His grace covers me.” We settle for a life less than victorious and therefore begin to preach an untruthful gospel based upon our experience, rather than the truth of scripture. It is then the enemy claps his hands and says, “Yes I have them right where I want them!”

I will never preach a different gospel.

The Gospel is 'The power of God for salvation' – Romans 1:16.

We MUST understand the power of God, to take us and transform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. We must be brutal and cut of any sin that dares to try and cling to us by the indwelling power available for victory.

We MUST surrender our whole selves, letting go of any self-ownership – understanding that we have died and are no longer our own. When temptation of the flesh comes, we must battle. Yet we are not alone or unprotected. We have Him inside of us and His Armour, the Holy Bible. When temptation comes, don't settle for less than anything but victory; draw near to Him and His powerful love by prayer and reading the Holy Bible and you will overcome because this is His desire for you.

Will you trust Him and step out of your boat? Will you not only sing the songs but live them? No, it will not be comfortable...but when did Jesus ever promise that? Will you live your life abundantly with Him and become a living and breathing testimony of victory?

Melanie.

Let me leave you with a clip, that makes me cry...Oh His love is so immense! Praise Him!