Monday, May 27, 2013

Nothing is Impossible, by Paula Rose Michelson

For months “We, The People’ have been witnessing the three ring circus that is Washington. During this time many, beginning with the President and those who have ‘skin in the game’ have become entrenched. The rest of us have either listened and shook our heads, picked a side, or prayed that this nation, which is slowing being eroded abroad and divided at home, survive. All desire leadership and answers. Yet the longer we look to those elected or appointed to lead, the less we know. Whether knowledge will stem the tide that threatens the fabric of the body politic, shore up wounds, or help those who’s loved ones paid the ultimate price when it was avoidable is uncertain. What is certain is that We, The People have a choice!

The choice I’m speaking of has nothing to do with who we should believe, what technology is best, or if we are exceptional or not. The choice is to act as if 'It Can be Done’ instead of continuing to lose or set aside the belief are forbears had that ‘Nothing is Impossible!’

Our parents did the IMPOSSIBLE and set us a great example. On this Memorial Day as we honor those who served, I am posting my Memorial Day Memories with a fervent prayer that as you read them, you find the courage to reclaim The American Dream our Founding Fathers made a reality.

To Dream the Impossible Dream

Every year Memorial Day is set aside to honor those who, by their military service, either are keeping or have kept our country safe.  For more years than I can count, Memorial Monday was the day I took my Dad and Mom to lunch and thanked both of them: Dad for serving in WW11, Mom for staying home as most of the women did, to do all those unsung things that let those in harm’s way know that when they returned America, the land of the free and home of the brave, would be there for them.

Many years have passed since Dad and Mom died. Yet on every Memorial Monday, a part of me yearns to pick them up once again and drive to the pier in San Clement so we can sit outside, enjoy the view, eat Clam Chowder served in bread baskets while I ask the questions that led them to speak of the war, their time apart, and what American meant to them. Even now, the memory of our annual ‘thank you lunches’ are so sweet that I find myself tearing up. 

I’m sharing this with you because every Memorial Day as far back as I can remember, when the military song for each branch of the service was played perhaps one third of the audience stood to be honored. Yesterday was different. Where I previously would have seen my parents generation, mine, and some military who were my children’s age, now there were just a few there to be honored. Perhaps this was an anomaly, perhaps not. Either way, I found myself thinking about the situations our country is facing around the world, and at home, and wondered how ‘We, The People’ have become so blasé about our military that we allow our leaders to give excuses rather than lead.  

Aware that every nation is the sum total of its inhabitants, I looked at myself and remembered Messiah saying, in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” So today, I urge you to think about and plan for the country you want us to become for lack of planning leads to inaction and as we have seen inaction, whether dealing with the defense of  this country or our people worldwide, leads to death.

In 1945 our military returned triumphant because their sacrifice had made the world secure. Since the Korean War in 1953, America has not been involved in any military action where our objective was completed. In all there have been dozens of military actions; each one less successful than its predecessor, each one more costly in human lives and suffering, dollars and cents than the one before it. Yet we continue to imagine we can do the impossible while we place obstacles to the achievement of that dream thus making it impossible to achieve.


Today it seems that 'We, The People' my have lost the vision of those who birthed this nation. Yet on a cold November 19th in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln stood at Gettysburg and said, “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this content a new nation conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are meet on a great battle-field of war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those here who gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we can not dedicate –- we can not consecrate –- we can not hollow –- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to dedicate here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from theses honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -– and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”


The issues facing the country during Lincoln’s time seemed impossible to overcome.  Yet, they overcame, so let us take heart and put our trust in God who says, in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, then I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

With God Nothing all Things Are Possible!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Step Two - Personalizing Scripture, by Paula Rose


Much has been written about affirmations. Yet seldom do we believers think about using Gods Word which we know in Isaiah 55:11 says “…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” In other words, God has already given us what we need to silence the “Committee!” Gods Word will accomplish his purpose, and his purpose for your life is to be a believer whose life bears witness to a weary world that there is a living God.

Every step you have taken thus far, I took. So I will share with you that discovering the lies I thought were true about me was only half the battle. The second and most important part, the part that snatched victory out of satins’ grasp was finding the right scriptures. To do this I had to admit that I felt stupid, fat, ugly, and dumb. I prayed and hoped to find a verse or verses that would help me re-parent myself. Instead I found a verse that told me that just as I am, I am all he wanted and all he died for. My life verse is: 1 Corinthians 1:27: 29 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.


The moment I read this verse, I knew it was placed there just for me because, although it was nothing akin to what I thought I needed, I felt better. However, knowing that there is much more to reclaiming a broken heart, I spoke the words aloud five times X five for weeks. And though I’m loathed to admit it each time I did I challenged God to show me that what I believed and had laid claim to really was meant for me.


A few weeks later I was asked to disciple a new believer. Several had tried before me and failed for the woman always showed up drunk. After our first failed meeting, I set down guidelines. When the second meeting was not better than he first, I asked that we find a chemical dependency unit in a local hospital that I would take this new believer to if she showed up drunk again. The third meeting ended when I took her to the hospital for inpatient care.


The next morning I was startled to pick up an early call and discover that the doctor heading that area of the hospital needed to see me. Long story shortened, what begin as a request that I sit in on her case management teams in-service, and all that happened during this women’s stay including group Bible studies, lead the doctor to invite me to join his medical team.


Sadly aware that I could not function as I had if I were on staff, I turned down the job, but offered to come whenever they called. As he waved goodbye to me I realized that God had confirmed that my life verse really was meant for me for I had seen…God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Us, We, You, Me, by Paula Rose Michelson


With all that’s going on in the political arena, our government, churches, and schools concern for safety and the need to know THE TRUTH has become a very news worthy topic. Yet the more we hear the more some seem to insist their view of reality, the view which affirms them as being honorable, MUST be THE ONE AND ONLY VIEW! Because of these trying times, I believe Messiah is calling us to choose. Choosing is good! Choosing can affirm us if we know who we are, what we stand for, and know that we are willing to pay the price for our convictions.

The principle of choosing is seen throughout Scripture: God chose; Abraham chose; Isaac and Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, chose; David chose…. And Messiah chose to go the cross thus becoming the only way to God for he was the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Choosing can set us free or enslave us…the Founding Fathers of our country knew that and chose. Today as you read this poem, I pray that you will choose.


Us, We, You, Me

“Us”
A collected reality of all we’ve known that went before.
Some left quietly.
Others slammed the door as if to say they breathed a more refined air,
Or perhaps this is what they thought…But who was I to tell them…

“We”
The people we want to be.
The longing, striving, driven one
Another…Watching to see if it could be done
Without ever asking…Content to scrutinize who mattered in their world of You and Me
All must agree t
Their opinion the permanent one
No voice but theirs was heard

“You”
Lost in the shuffle between us and we
Fearful to never be
Stuck between becoming and not
Worried lest they fail…Trapped in emotional jail

“Me”
Setting myself free of us, we and you
Trembling lest…Unable to survive this reality, I
There is no “ I” in this reality!
If there were what would happen to the us, and we?

Breaking free!
I,
Chose to be!
Not giving into conformity…Social norm, mediocrity
Another’s scorn

I stand alone
Alone I discover who I am
Defining myself
I expand
Aware of me…The world…Then you…We and us
I coexist amongst many
Free to leave or stay
I chose
I am no longer
Dependent on others affirmation or negation
Transcended
I stand alone

Yet to the we, us, and you
I am no one new…They see me as they see themselves
Nothing I say will show them a different, perhaps better way
Each chooses
Few Reflect

I stand Alone
The price of being costs
All
Of
Me

Yet
I
Cannot
Go
Back and be what I used to be

Onward I press to discover what
I
Will
Become!


Psalm 19:14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Until we meet again, may Messiah’s peace be yours as you continue to walk with Him!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Step One; The Forgiveness Letter, by Paula Rose Michelson


Many times those who hear that through Gods appointing, I founded LAMB Ministries ask about that work. Weekly I receive emails or phone calls from women seeking help. Those of you who read Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing, Book 2 might recognize some of this work, which I will continue to post in the next few weeks. Though I am certain that some who visit me here will have heard about or done this work, and others might have learned these steps through another ministry, it is not important where you learned these steps but that you do them throughout your life as is needed.    

The Scripture that affirms this work is, Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.



Step One - The Forgiveness Letter


“Everything is everything,” the head of the dully diagnosed psychiatric department that I interned in used to say. And it’s true! Everything we've ever heard and thought about for 30 seconds is recorded on our cerebral cortex as if it were an old phonograph record picking up the vibrations and placing them on an ever spinning disk that repeats the all negativity we have heard. Though it is not necessary to rehash what was said, why, or by whom, it is critical that we take control of what we will focus on. Choosing to do as Messiah did, we can intentionally ignore what to many seem like barbs to grievous to turn from. Yet without taking every thought captive to Christ, we might find out future swallowed up by our past making that future one we would do anything to avoid! 

Living ones own life requires that the life they live have meaning. To achieve that end we need to forgive ourselves for repeating whether aloud or in our mind, those offensive words that created a joyless life.

Since many ask me why they have to deal with this, I will mention that a reading of the fall of man in Genesis will suffice. If you still need to know why, I will share my hypothesis. Staring well before we could walk people told us what not to do. Throughout our life each of us will experience more of that negative training. Even the grading system in school erodes any idea that we can do something well because for each good grade we are challenged with another obstacle. At home our attempts to excel may have been met with the same negativity. The cycle of "The Committee in Our Head” begins to warn us before we feel threatened, protect us from supposed problems, and make us unhappily aware that we lack something.   

Before long we are telling ourselves what others have, or worse yet we are adding to the already heightened issue problems and phobias’ that never were ours.

Forgiveness

Unlike its prosaic name, forgiveness is not an end all but an ongoing state in which we chose to reconcile who we are with the disillusionment that others or we might have unwittingly foisted upon ourselves.


To Begin

On a blank piece of paper, list what the committee in your head says to or about you.

The Letter

A lot has been written about forgiveness. Yet forgiving oneself is seldom mentioned. I bring this up now because right about now every woman I worked with was about ready to blot for the door. If you wonder why it’s because no one seems to want to own the pain, however, following Messiahs model we know that only through confession is redemption realized. So no don’t bolt. Grab hold of your courage and write:

Dear (your name),

Please forgive me for (Using the list you made write your letter).

At the end of your letter write; I promise I will never do this to you again.

Sign your name and date your letter.

Note: when we remember forgiveness is a process not an event, we give ourselves permission to write another letter whenever we need to.  



Until we meet again, may Messiah’s Shalom
The peace that transcends all understanding
Be yours, my friend!


Friday, May 3, 2013

Wow! My www.PaulaRoseMichelson.com website is now open! by Paula Rose Michelson


After weeks of thinking about what I wanted my website to look like including the template, information, my bio, and how I wanted to format the opening chapter of Books 1 & 2 of Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing, I am excited to announce that www.PaulaRoseMichelson.com is open!

Prior to this site a dear friend in Messiah gifted me his time and talent to set up and mange a website for me. I would have been delighted for him to continue to oversee every aspect of that site. However, having that site hacked twice and been informed that material stolen from the site was being sold on the internet, then discovering it had been shut down because the hacker left material that would infected anyone’s computer if they opened the site, I decided to eliminate the domain and walk away. Telling my friend why I did what I did was very difficult. Harder still was the realization that if I were to set up another site, I would do it myself.


Today I am happy to announce that I did just that with the help of www.GoDaddy.com/!

This new site is much simpler because it was set up for four reasons: 

1). So readers who heard about my Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing Books could enjoy the first chapter of each book, watch the book trailer, and visit www.Amazon.com if they want to order the book or kindle.

2). So those who are eagerly awaiting the next book can find out about The Naomi Chronicles, Book One, Beginning Anew, which is the continuation of the Casa Saga Books. 3). So ladies who wish to connect with the founder of LAMB Ministers or begin that Scriptural prayer recovery work can do so.

4). So those who wanted to know a little about me could:

A). Read my bio.

B.) Obtain my website email address.

C). Link to my Writings by Paula Rose Blog.

D). Find out how to follow me on twitter, and find or friend me on Facebook. 

I hope each of you will drop by and check out the site. In parting I want to acknowledge that if my friend had not set up a website and taught me how to use it, this site would not exist. Although I will not mention his name, I will share that in all this man does, he does it unto Messiah!