Faith – Page 4 – Melissa Schlies

Learn: What 2017 Taught Me

Since I was a teenager writing in my well-worn journals, I’ve always felt it’s important to look at what has been, before we move on to what’s ahead. I feel this is especially true in the New Year. In the past, on many December 31st’s, I have literally made lists of all the big things that have happened in the year. I have taken the time to be grateful, grieve, and most importantly, think about what I’ve learned in hopes of being better in the New Year. In this spirit, before truly beginning 2018, today I am sharing things I [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-07-17T01:38:09+00:00January 1st, 2018|Categories: Faith, Health, Routines, Travel|Comments Off

When Old Stories Become New

Have you ever heard a story so many times that you almost stopped listening whenever it was told? You knew the story, so why listen? You had it all figured out, so why pay attention? For me, I think there are many stories like that, and one of them is the Christmas story. I have heard and told the story of Mary and Joseph in the stable so many times that there’s been seasons where it almost lost it’s meaning. But interestingly, there has been other times, where the story came alive to me all over again. Surprisingly, for me, [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-07-17T23:58:31+00:00December 18th, 2017|Categories: Christmas, Faith, grief, Hope, Waiting|Comments Off

Learn: When Celebrating is Courageous

It’s November. Thanksgiving will soon be here. But have you ever thought about how interesting the timing of this holiday is? Growing up near Plymouth—the actual place of the first Thanksgiving feast—as kids, we learned a lot about the Pilgrims. We learned about why they left England (and Holland) to come to the New World. And how when they landed on the shores of their new home, winter was fast approaching. They didn’t have time to plant crops, let alone to reap a harvest. Food was scarce. That first winter, people died. Those who made it to spring, made friends [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-07-18T00:44:24+00:00November 16th, 2017|Categories: Faith, Hope, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead|Comments Off

A Love Affair With Lines

This might sound weird or, if you know me very well, not surprising. But I like lines. Not the lines you stand in—like at the grocery store or amusement parks. And not the lines that keep people divided—the ones that say one group of people is better than another. No, I don’t like those lines at all. But I do, like lines. I like the lines that directors tape on stages, to tell people where to stand so their performance can make the most impact. I like the lines painted on highways and in parking lots, that keep cars from [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-07-18T00:45:38+00:00November 13th, 2017|Categories: Faith, Waiting|Comments Off

Learn: How I got Unstuck

To best appreciate this post, read this first. The hot July sun tried to pierce through the trees, as we made our way down the trail, only the tree cover was thick enough to keep us cool. My sister and brother-in-law were visiting us from Massachusetts, and we were showing them one of our favorite places, Ricketts Glen State Park. At this point, we had hiked the trails that pass by the majority of the waterfalls in the park, but we wanted to make a stop at Adams Falls as well. We walked down the path to the bottom, where [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-07-18T00:56:04+00:00October 26th, 2017|Categories: Change, Courage, Faith, Freedom, Hope, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, perseverance|Comments Off

The Changes We Don’t Want

There are the changes in life that make our hearts feel like a firework soaring into the sky on the Forth of July, about to burst into flame. Tangibly, they look like acceptance letters, job promotions, marriage proposals, or even simply being asked out over text by that person you can’t get off your mind. These changes are the simple, sometimes long-awaited moments that send our lives into new and wonderful directions. But then, there are those other changes. The ones anxiety plagues us over. The ones we pray will never happen. Yet the ones that at some point in [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-07-18T19:24:30+00:00October 16th, 2017|Categories: Change, Courage, Faith, grief, Hope|Comments Off

This One Is My Favorite, Part 2

To Read Part 1, Click Here. At some point during our tasting, possibly as he poured our third wine, I had an epiphany. Sure, you might chalk it up to the wine, but all of a sudden—I know this is going to sound a little strange so bear with me—I realized that this winery owner was reminding me of God. Where all the other wineries we had visited that weekend in the Finger Lakes, let us choose what wines we liked best, this vineyard owner didn’t. Where none of the people working at the other wineries even attempted to suggest [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-07-18T19:55:36+00:00August 28th, 2017|Categories: Faith, Freedom, Hope, Travel, Uncategorized|Comments Off

This One Is My Favorite, Part 1

At some point during our tasting, possibly as he poured our third wine, I had an epiphany. I know this is going to sound a little strange so bear with me—I realized this winery owner was reminding me of God… Not too long ago, Tony and I went away for the weekend with our closest friends. We drove up north to the Finger Lakes in New York, to relax, do some hiking, and spend some time together. But we also went to visit some of the many wineries that surround a few of the lakes. The four of us had [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-07-18T19:59:25+00:00August 21st, 2017|Categories: Faith, Freedom, Hope, Travel|Comments Off

The Good Gardener Part 2

To read last week's part 1 of the Good Gardner click here. All of a sudden the park ranger started pointing out roses and California poppies—giving us a full tour of the garden. As He did, he talked about how much he loved it; how he would walk through it on his half hour lunch break every day, and how when things were quiet at the gate, he’d sneak tools out of the shed to tend to different plants. There was no question that this man was the garden’s greatest admirer and caretaker. But then, the admiration slipped from his [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-07-18T20:03:21+00:00August 14th, 2017|Categories: discipline, Faith, Health, Hope, Travel|Comments Off

The Good Gardener Part 1

As is true for most grand adventures, it is often what you find on the way to your destination that makes for the best stories, rather than the destination itself. At least, on our travels, that’s what we’ve found. And it was definitely true on the day we visited Mussenden Temple, in Northern Ireland. A cylindrical shaped building, on the edge of a very steep cliff that drops off to the ocean, Musseden Temple was once the library of a great Earl. When we decided to go to Northern Ireland, I found information about it online and thought it would [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-07-18T20:06:27+00:00August 7th, 2017|Categories: discipline, Faith, Health, Travel|Comments Off

Learn: What 2017 Taught Me

When Old Stories Become New

Learn: When Celebrating is Courageous

A Love Affair With Lines

Learn: How I got Unstuck

The Changes We Don’t Want

This One Is My Favorite, Part 2

This One Is My Favorite, Part 1

The Good Gardener Part 2

The Good Gardener Part 1

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