My Narnia.

It's exam season. Exam season is always stressful and every year I think it can't get any worse... Except every year seems to somehow top the last in mind boggling assignments and terms papers all due at once.

I freak out every year around this time. I call me mom crying every year around this time. It's almost become a tradition. But, I've always made it through and I've always come out the other side with great grades.

This year, in an attempt to counter the incredible load of stress I am under, I've been clinging to Psalm 23. It's my go-to (along with Isaiah 43). The poetic scripture never gets old.

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still water.
He RESTORES my soul...


As I was laying in bed last night, my eyes were swollen from crying due to the amount of unfortunate situations that occurred yesterday, I started saying those words over and over again. I closed me eyes and I said to myself, "Psalm 23 is a literally place and He wants to take me there." And I contemplated the reality of this place, the Lord began to liken it to Narnia. He said, "Psalm 23 is like your Narnia. Close your eyes and enter into the wardrobe of the word. Suddenly, you are royalty. Suddenly you have left a world at war behind and entered into a place of peace and victory. And it is beautiful"

I fell asleep rather quickly and woke up feeling refreshed. I realized on my way to class that I had forgotten to print out the paper I stayed up late working on (go figures) so I made a quick stop at the library and just had to run to class. After I told my classmate about what the past few days have entailed, he replied, "How are you even smiling?" In my heart I said, "I've been to Narnia"

EMBARRASSING...

This one time I was asked to name a animal that started with "TH" to which I emphatically replied, "THESAURUS!!!"

This one time I was told me meet my friend in the early afternoon. I showed up at 11am and called her to scold her for being late. I said, "Lindsey! I thought you said early afternoon?" To which she replied, "Missy, early AFTER NOON... as in AFTER 12." Oooohhhh riighhhtttt...

This one time my mom was hanging up curtains in my room. They were fairly heavy and she was struggling a bit. My dad looked at me and said, "Melissa, give her a hand!" and in all seriousness, I started clapping.

This one time my room mates friend had run away and no one could find her. Obviously my room mate was upset. While she was telling me the details of the story, I looked at her very concerned and said, "Where is she??" Good news is I lightened the mood because my room mate couldn't stop laughing as she said, "Missy, if we knew that, we wouldn't have a problem..."

Ya know the song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause" ... yeah, that's the dad dressed up as Santa. I always thought the mom was just being a skeeze.


I can't think of anymore off the top of my head, but as I remember, I'll be sure to share.

My life as....

the most forgetful person on the planet.

I would just like to do a simple recap of the past 2 weeks of my life and the things I have lost (and when I say lost, I mean, REALLY lost).

1. My computer charger (twice)
The first time I found it a day later in the library
The second time I found it, also a day later, in the office of the Liberal Arts Building where someone had so kindly turned it in for me. Tangled with it was my tablet charger (which I didn't even know was missing)

2. My keys (twice)
The first time I found them, also a day later, INSIDE a chair at the Wesley Foundation
The second time... well, I haven't exactly found them yet...

3. My debit card
Found TWO days later in Ellisville?!?

4. My phone
Well, let's just say that this might have been the situation that sparked this blog... meaning, I still haven't found that either.

Others... I lose my Student ID (which is also the key to my room) pretty much once a day, if not more. I've also lost my planner a few times... and in the midst of all of this, I've lost my mind.

I need help. Or a fanny pack.

The end.

** Sidenote. After I wrote this, I friend found my phone WITH MY OTHER SET OF KEYS that I didn't even realize was gone. EPIC FAIL***

*** Double sidenote. When my friend gave me my keys, i promptly threw them down in a fit of rage and then forgot to pick them up. They were later turned into the LAB office... again... ****

True Life.

I just thought I would share some interesting conversations I've had since I've been back at school.

1) While I was ordering some breakfast:

Lady- What's your name?
Me- Missy
Lady- Watch out now!
Me- Excuse me?
Lady- You're name is Missy! Watch out now!
Me- (awkward laugh)
Lady- Thank you Miss MISSY (emphasis on the Missy)

I'm still trying to figure out what that even means.

2) While I was walking to class

Friend: Sometimes I just think to myself, Dang, Missy Martinez is freakin cool!
Me: (interrupting) Aw! Thanks!
Friend: (finishing his sentence) but then you do something really dorky and I'm like, oh nevermind.

Burn.

In regards to us receiving complete forgiveness from the Father, Bill Johnson says,

"When the enemy brings up a sin from your past, he is talking about something non-existent. It's completely legal for you to say, "I didn't do that. The person who did that is dead."

What an amazing weapon against guilt and shame.

"We know that our old self has been crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin...For sin has no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." Romans 6

"As far as the east of from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us." Psalm 103

Plans: Part 2

This whole surrendering my plans thing sounds so nice and spiritual on paper (or, computer screens??) But, in real life it's scary... and messy. And a little harder than I thought...

"But you never said it would be easy, you only said I'd never go alone."
- Ginny Owens - If You Want Me To

Plans.

As I quickly approach my senior year in college (Eeek! Such a scary thought), I've been meditating on a passage from Proverbs. "A man makes plans in his heart, but the Lord establishes his ways."

I am a PLANNER. Guilty as charged. I love to plan. I love to make plans, I love to follow plans. I've only recently learned in the last year to lighten up and greatly appreciate spontaneity. Well, I'm trying...

My current plan: Finish college strong, take a year off, go to law school, etc... And I like this plan a lot. It's been in my mind for a while. But what the Father has been teaching me lately is that even though we make plans (which isn't wrong to do), ultimately, He has the final word for what is to happen next in our lives, in my life. Ultimately, He ESTABLISHES my way, not my perfectly laid out plan. If I reach the end of college and find that I'm being beckoned in a completely different direction, then I simply go in that direction trusting His lead.

Plans are good. We all should make them. But they are a tool, not a guide. We follow Jesus, not our own agendas. I never want to be so wrapped up in my own thinking that I miss what the Father has in store for me.

Let us never think we have the way completely figured out. He can always surprise us.