I invited guests to share a testimony of how God's name or title revealed Him in an intimate, personal way. I pray you are ministered by their stories of faith.
Mela Kamin, Singer/Songwriter
www.melakamin.com
Mela is a joy and delight. She beautifully captures God's love in her worship music and has a vision to see women fulfill their God given talents and gifts. As a songwriter, singer, and speaker she is pure inspiration and a living testimony to Him! I was touched by her desire to vulnerably share her heart and story of God as Redeemer.
To learn more about Mela and listen to her beautiful music, visit her at www.melakamin.com or follow her on twitter.
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GOD AS MY REDEEMER
I wake up to chaos. My alarm isn't a beep-beep of a clock, but my daughter shouting for her brother to get out of her room and my boys chasing each other down the stairs with cries of "Mommy, help!"
It isn't the way I want to start the day. I drag myself out of bed, already rolling my eyes at what I have to deal with - again.
I dream of wandering downstairs to a peaceful house, but am hit in the face with life - a loud, messed up, chaotic life. Instead of my three kids rushing to me with hugs and smiles, I'm embraced with anger, tattling and screaming.
"Why can't they be nice?" I think.
"Children learn by seeing," I hear God whisper.
I watch my kids run after each other spittin' mad, fists held in the air to threaten, calling names ... I see them pout and whine and stomp their feet ... I see them struggle with saying "I'm sorry" and ... I see myself.
You'd think my house would be a reflection of love, patience and forgiveness, right? Certainly, a worship leader shouldn't deal with anger.
But as much as I'd like to blame my anger on my childhood, my past, or other people's wrongs, the failure rests solely with me.
Truth is - I haven't let anger go. I wasn't an angry child, but in the midst of my teens and a bad relationship, I took anger home with me. I harbored hatred and disgust. I let anger in and it hasn't left.
It grew up with me, so now I'm an adult with adult-sized anger.
It constantly breathes down my neck. I know the enemy sees my weak spot and continually aims at it.
Anger rears its ugly head when my kids are being disobedient or my husband comments on the messy house. It shows up when someone does or says something inconsiderate. Anger is always close by nudging me toward conflict and pushing me into disagreements. It helps me grumble under my breath, hold grudges and slam doors. It lets me think it's okay to shout at my kids in one breath, and tell them not to shout, in another.
I spend most of the morning telling my boys to get self-control, to calm down, to use words that build up, not destroy ... and I wonder if they know what the word hypocrite means.
In exasperation, I think to myself, "How can I undo all I've done?" How can I show them that anger can't win - WON'T win, because of what Jesus did on the cross? He showed great love and forgiveness when His righteous anger could have stopped the pain. Still, He CHOSE to take our punishment, so that we could be right with God.
Oh, God, I pray, please help me start over! Help me be quick to forgive, Lord!
I apologize to my kids so they see someone else saying "Sorry." We study and memorize scripture to guard our hearts and minds from sin finding its way in. His Word will encourage us to stop, turn around and head in a different direction - His direction.
We follow His example:
Psalm 145:8 “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”
And, I share Grace with my children ... When I need to correct them, I take a deep breath, pray for gentleness, patience and the right words.
And, we take time to pray for each other. Even when we don't feel like it.
In spite of our weaknesses, His promises remain strong.
God is my Redeemer. I know that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Not once I got my act together, but while I was STILL a sinner.
So, each time I falter ... each time I sink, He reaches down and lifts me up again ... and again ... and again.
Job 33: 27-28
'I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved.
He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.' (NIV)
I know in His bountiful love, grace and forgiveness, I am redeemed. Nothing can separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:39) - not the enemy, not fear, not anger or guilt over my sin ... nothing.
He has redeemed my soul, paid my ransom so that I may enjoy freedom in Christ. He has given me a song of praise to sing and words of life to give to others. He has given me these children that I should train up in His Word and show the way to Grace.
He has given me strength and faith to overcome anger and its hold on me. Anger can't win - WON'T win.
He is my Redeemer and every crazy, broken, chaotic thing I do is not enough to surprise Him. He sees my heart, knows my motives and understands my failings. He loves me enough to free me over and over again from the snares of sin. The more I'm freed, the more I can sing and the more my children will learn my redemption song.
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah to my King
Hallelujah
My Redeemer
Freed by Christ
I sing
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