Melissa Runcie | Madabella

Power of the Cross: A New Song

Lights dim and candles lit, she bowed in the circle of prayer to prepare our hearts for worship, thanking God it was her special day, too. The day of becoming a mom. She blessed the evening and spoke of His goodness, and as the melodies painted a portrait of praise, I remembered another prayer she spoke almost three years ago.

The air was thick, the darkness more prominent that any other midnight. I sat surrounded by stacks of papers and books and legos on the floor. My office a semblance of what my heart had become. A mess.

Quietly I dialed only to hang up before the phone rang. I didn’t want to wake her at this hour, but the burden was too much to hold inside this fragile body of mine. So I dialed again. She would understand. Moms always do.

When she answered, I just cried from the pain and the ache. I had so many dreams for my life and I went for them all. Now. Now this? How did I get here? Slowly I whispered words so my girls wouldn't wake in the next room. Words of mixed up priorities, putting first things last, and regrets as deep as the sea tumbled out.

This brokenness. How will I ever put it back together again?

Melissa, Its okay!

Her voice cast a ray of light so bright I almost had to cover my eyes. Her voice uplifting and strong, yet gentle and understanding. Speaking like Moms do to soothe away the pain when wounds run deep.

I can’t wait to see what God is going to do!

Words spoken to me became the constant silent prayer of her heart. The anticipation in her voice was unmistakable, but how? In the face of my own sin and sorrow, how will He erase this sharp pain taking residency in my chest? And what to do with the pieces that lay scattered around me?

I remember that prayer like it was yesterday...

She continued on, praising Him for His faithfulness, His grace and raised her head high, knowing the fragrant aroma carried beyond the highest star and furthest galaxy.

 


Piano keys created a symphony and the sweet chorus of worship filled the air. The beautiful melody of angels gathered among angels unseen to celebrate my day. They came to celebrate the day I was born, but left celebrating newness birthed in a heart restored.

This was indeed her special day, too.

Three years ago she couldn’t wait to see and now she was here.

Tonight she sat front row, seeing what only God could orchestrate. Seeing the words of a hopeful prayer come to life. Seeing a room full of fellow travelers, some of who had gone the distance and said the hard words, others who had joined the last leg of the race. Seeing me sing a new song with clean hands and a renewed heart.

One thing was for sure, we were there to worship the living God for extravagant grace given with each thorn dug deep, each hammer pounded to the nail, and each drop of blood that redeemed us.

On the third day, He resurrected. Here almost three years later, He is still resurrecting my heart, emptying tombs of guilt, sadness and pain. He is risen indeed.

I glanced across the room of women in this house of love and my heart overflowed with unspeakable joy. Yes, this was the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Traveling on the road toward ressurection, this week I'm sharing stories that demonstrate the power of the cross.

Power of the Cross: Beautifully Reconciled

 
Unexpected and unplanned.

God's ways are far more creative than mine and usually positioned on a different time line. Its as if He arranges the cosmos and lines up stars in such a way that His will is accomplished in times I least expect. And generally, when I'm least prepared.

In unexpectedness, God's power is magnified, for He is a God of the eleventh hour, making His appearance known when my head is turned in the other direction and I'm caught by surprise...and awestruck. This is when I'm forced to inhale deep and rely on the Spirit to move rather than pull out the plans I've tucked in my back pocket. 

As usual we were running late.

Park here, no there! Let's get closer! Turn around!

Running in circles, I purposed to find the right parking spot so I could race to the front entrance of the church.

Hurry up! We aren't going to get a seat! You aren't walking fast enough! 

One might conclude I was attending the concert of the century, but it was free concert at a church and if I was going to worship, I wanted to be in the front row!

Passing through the crowd, I quickly manuevered in and out of people to get in ready position. Trailing behind me my girls ran for every step I took and my husband no doubt rolled his eyes. Suddenly my race came to a screeching halt. 

There she was in the middle of the chaos. Her kids were trailing behind her, too. I wasn't suprised. She is a determined woman. I was, however, suprised to see her.

Frozen by time, distance, regrets and guilt, my mind raced as I thought to run as fast as I could in the opposite direction.

However, when the overwhelming power of the Spirit flutters heartbeats and stirs within, the flesh follows suit, even when it has no idea why or how or what. I called her name.

So this is why she was on my heart last week. The Lord knew I would see her and He wanted to make things right, even when I had given up.

We embraced like old friends do and small talked our way through the line before getting seats together. However, the feelings would not go away. The ones I felt deep in my heart days before, now surfaced in a well of tears in my eyes.

"I have to tell you. Every time I think of you, I am filled with such guilt. I know I've disappointed you and I wasn't a good friend over the years and I've let you down...."

Steady and sure, my stubborn heart poured out words simply hard to formulate in a room filled with the noise of strangers. Not to mention I had no idea I would see her and carefully articulate my words, ponder her reaction then plan my response back. This curve ball of an appointment was divinvely sent.

"I'm so sorry."

Each tear that fell represented the guilt and sadness I felt inside.

"Melissa! You did not disappoint me or let me down. We are sisters and nothing will ever be able to change that. I love you!"

As I sat bewildered at the conversation I was having, still caught off guard, I could feel the stitches weave in and out of my heart with every spoken word. This was a heart being mended.

This was a heart being reconciled. First to God, then to each other.

As the music began to play she leaned over and whispered. "Look how gracious God is. He planned this and now we are worshipping Him, side by side."

Tears continued to fall, but no longer because of guilt or shame, rather because of the overwhelming beauty and power of reconcilation.

Timed perfectly, I felt God tug on my own heart. He knows the road I tred and the many bridges that still need building. Bricks are laid with the mortar of humility and surrender.

This is the power of the cross, the incomparable ministry of reconciliation given to us when Christ humbled Himself and died to become our bridge to God and each other.

Traveling on the road toward ressurection, this week I'm sharing stories that demonstrate the power of the cross.

Give Them Your Greatest Asset

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is time, our most valuable asset. Whether a couple hours or a couple days, intentionally seeking time away with our daughters reminds them they are loved, adored and valued beyond measure.

Last month, a friend and I took our daughters to the mountains for a weekend retreat. It was such a treat to let our daughters' sense of wonder and delight guide our days.

Here's a few steps to creating a memorable weekend retreat with your children!

1. Be Free 
Allow your sense of childlike faith and wonder to creep into your soul. Slide down the mountain, jump on a swing, cross the monkey bars. Instead of creating footsteps for your daughter to step in, follow hers.

Click here to read 8 Steps on Planning a Retreat with Your Children.

On the 2nd Thursday of each month, I contribute perspectives on motherhood at MODSquad, an online community devoted to strengthening the hearts of our daughters for God. This month I'm sharing ways to share your most valuable asset with your children - your time.

 

House of Worship

Morning beckons.

The to-do list already overwhelms.

I’m tempted to crawl back in the comfort of a hiding place.

This isn’t how I envisioned time. I thought I would have more of it since I walked away from my career almost two years ago to stay home.

Yet, there is more house to manage. We spend more hours here than ever before.



Meals are eaten from the work of my hands and I bend down low to scrub away the grime. Things I once to paid someone to do.

Sunrays reach my side of the bed and as I turn over a discovery has been made. My husband has long gone to work but my littlest one has found warmth here. No longer a hiding place, only comfort remains.

Contemplating once more, a song begins to echo deep within.

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down

This place where the heart lives is where I come to worship.

Amidst tending and teaching, cooking and cleaning, I find my high calling here, a presentation of myself a living sacrifice, my spiritual service of worship.

The overwhelming fog has lifted and the sun shines brighter now.

I look into the eyes of my little girl. Her name means "Strong Tower" and I run into it for safety and refuge.

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down

The promise of renewal has come and I find strength to face the day. Again.

In Need of Endurance

22 miles?!

My suggestion of a bike ride somehow turned into a hard core trip to the beach. Pedaling 11 miles straight was not my idea of a leisurely afternoon, but my adventurous husband assured me the trail was flat and my limited riding skills would lead to the beautiful ocean views just fine.




Not Just fine. This was a far cry from the occasional rides at the park along the lake with my daughters. I quickly determined this two-hour trip to the beach would be the last ride I’d ever agree to. Ever.

Roughly ten minutes into the bike ride, my legs started burning.

Twenty minutes into the bike ride, I vigorously shook my legs to get the blood circulating again and almost knocked the passing rider off the trail.

Thirty minutes into the bike ride, my pleas to turn around and drive our bikes to the beach fell on deaf ears and a smile stretched across my husband’s face. You can do it. Just eight more miles!

Forty minutes into my bike ride, I veered off the side of the trail, throwing my bike down as I jumped off. I laid my body across the asphalt and started giving myself a leg massage.

This was the worst bike ride ever and I wanted to go home.

I kept thinking, I just need to build my stamina for the 22 miles that lay ahead and then I’ll get through.

However, building up endurance takes time.

The same is true in our Christian walk. Paul likens our journey as Christians to a race. Whether we are strolling, walking, or running – we must keep moving forward in the marathon toward the goal of obtaining the prize.

Spiritual endurance to withstand heavy trials only comes when we have gone through various trials along the way.

God knows our temptation to quit, even as we are riding along flat trails, barely into the race.

We are reminded God sees the journey set before us. “For you have need of endurance…” Hebrews 10:36a

El Roi, God who sees, knows and understands our need to persevere and continue in the race.

Along the trail, my husband kept reminding me we would arrive at the beautiful ocean soon. He reminded me, “Just a little longer. Just a few more miles. You can do it.”

God does the same when He reminds us to endure doing His will, “…so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” Hebrews 10:36b

I eventually made it to the beach, walking along the boardwalk and smelling the salty ocean air. I desperately tried to find a bus to take us back home, but again my husband reminded me, we can do it together.

God does not desire us to shrink back from the hard trials in our life no matter how hard the burning inside feels or how often we veer off the trail ready to quit. Our faith to persevere is the very thing that preserves and keeps us abiding in Him.

“But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:39

No matter how often we are tempted to shrink away from difficulties, trust God knows we need stamina to press on and listen to him cheering you on from the sidelines:

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward…

For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But my righteous one shall live by faith…” Hebrews 10:35, 37-39

Faith is the very strength you need to ride with endurance. Keep pedaling!

Image Credit