Well, we are gearing up for our 2009 trip to Pine Ridge Reservation. This year we will be gone June 7-12 to Oglala Recreation Center on Pine Ridge. While there we will help with Vacation Bible School and also with some manual labor needed in that area. If you feel led this year to make a contribution to help us with our trip ($1500.00 approximately), you can make a check to Winchester Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 200 2nd Ave, NW, Winchester, TN 37398. You can notate "Brown Mission Trip" on the memo line and you will receive credit for it for your 2009 tax return.
This year we know what we are getting into and although we know it is going to be an absolutely exhausting trip, we also already know the blessings we are going to receive while we are there. Love to all! Melissa
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
The Proctors
Please check out the new website link that I have posted to the right. It is called proctorpassages.org and highlights the African ministry of some dear friends of ours. Meredith and Philip were friends of ours when we lived in Chattanooga and we have had the wonderful opportunity of watching them move on to ministry in Africa (which is where their heart lies). They are doing wonderful things for the kingdom of God. Visit their site at:
www.proctorpassages.org
www.proctorpassages.org
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Inspiration from a friend on Facebook
This is an inspirational note that a friend of mine posted to her Facebook Wall. I found it so true in my own life right now. We have to stop fighting and just let go. Start truly loving others and ourselves. This is not a "Christian" devotional, but has such words of wisdom for all of us......
I am at a time in my life/journey that I can say I finally get it... When in the midst of all my fears and insanity I stopped dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on.There are times when I compare myself to a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, wait I still have those today so I guess I am still a child :-) my sobs then begin to subside, I blink back tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is my awakening. I am learning the importance of loving and championing myself and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval. I stop bitching and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and I have learned that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. I am learning that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, I am learning to stand on my own and to take care of ME and in the process a sense of safety & security is born of self-reliance.For me today it is all about opening up to new worlds and different points of view. Learning the difference between wanting and needing is something that I am really looking closely at. I will be the first to admit that I don't know everything, it's not my job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. Distinguishing between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO are actions that are right in front of my face today. I am also learning about about love. Romantic love and family love, how to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings into a relationship.The one important thing that I am finally understanding is to look at relationships as they really are and not as I would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change so it is with love.... and you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms... just to make you happy. And, you learn that alone does not mean lonely...You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with his touch... and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect.And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego. I am learning that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. Admitting when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.Slowly, I will begin to take responsibility for myselff by myself and make myself a promise to never betray myself and to never ever to settle for less than my heart desires. When I hang a wind chime outside my window, I listen to the wind. And I make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.
I am at a time in my life/journey that I can say I finally get it... When in the midst of all my fears and insanity I stopped dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on.There are times when I compare myself to a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, wait I still have those today so I guess I am still a child :-) my sobs then begin to subside, I blink back tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is my awakening. I am learning the importance of loving and championing myself and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval. I stop bitching and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and I have learned that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. I am learning that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, I am learning to stand on my own and to take care of ME and in the process a sense of safety & security is born of self-reliance.For me today it is all about opening up to new worlds and different points of view. Learning the difference between wanting and needing is something that I am really looking closely at. I will be the first to admit that I don't know everything, it's not my job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. Distinguishing between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO are actions that are right in front of my face today. I am also learning about about love. Romantic love and family love, how to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings into a relationship.The one important thing that I am finally understanding is to look at relationships as they really are and not as I would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change so it is with love.... and you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms... just to make you happy. And, you learn that alone does not mean lonely...You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with his touch... and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect.And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego. I am learning that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. Admitting when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.Slowly, I will begin to take responsibility for myselff by myself and make myself a promise to never betray myself and to never ever to settle for less than my heart desires. When I hang a wind chime outside my window, I listen to the wind. And I make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.
Friday, March 20, 2009
When Your Hut is on Fire
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island!It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.
The Moral of This Story:It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island!It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.
The Moral of This Story:It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Bouncing Back
This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden
Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.
— Proverbs 25:11 (NLT)
As a junior in high school, I was devastated when I was cut from the top volleyball team and sent to the second team. I felt disappointed, embarrassed and dejected. That evening, I spoke with a friend who passed on these words of wisdom, “It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce back that matters.” I wrote the quote on my mirror and committed to doing my best for this new team, instead of sulking over my personal loss. Instead of continuing to fall and spiral, I committed to bounce back.
What I learned that day is that what happens to me in life doesn’t count as much as how I react to those things. I had a choice the day I was cut from the team: I could wallow in misery and quit the team, or I could choose to fight through my circumstances and work hard to improve. Each day, choices like these present themselves. When people are cruel, I can choose to accept their apology or let my bitterness grow. When I am treated unfairly, I can vengefully plot a way to get even, or I can seek the Lord’s wisdom and demonstrate patience as He shows me what to do. When I am fired from a job, I can learn from why things did not work or I can blame everyone else around me for my misfortune and never learn, grow or change. When I am congratulated for a job well done, I can either pat myself on the back or thank the Lord for providing me with the skills to succeed.
Life throws different circumstances our way every day, both good and bad. Wherever you are in your life, it is important to remember that people are watching and looking to see how you are living your life. You will long be remembered, not only for what happened to you in your life, but for how you handled life’s circumstances. When those circumstances cause you to fall, I challenge you to bounce back!
This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden
Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.
— Proverbs 25:11 (NLT)
As a junior in high school, I was devastated when I was cut from the top volleyball team and sent to the second team. I felt disappointed, embarrassed and dejected. That evening, I spoke with a friend who passed on these words of wisdom, “It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce back that matters.” I wrote the quote on my mirror and committed to doing my best for this new team, instead of sulking over my personal loss. Instead of continuing to fall and spiral, I committed to bounce back.
What I learned that day is that what happens to me in life doesn’t count as much as how I react to those things. I had a choice the day I was cut from the team: I could wallow in misery and quit the team, or I could choose to fight through my circumstances and work hard to improve. Each day, choices like these present themselves. When people are cruel, I can choose to accept their apology or let my bitterness grow. When I am treated unfairly, I can vengefully plot a way to get even, or I can seek the Lord’s wisdom and demonstrate patience as He shows me what to do. When I am fired from a job, I can learn from why things did not work or I can blame everyone else around me for my misfortune and never learn, grow or change. When I am congratulated for a job well done, I can either pat myself on the back or thank the Lord for providing me with the skills to succeed.
Life throws different circumstances our way every day, both good and bad. Wherever you are in your life, it is important to remember that people are watching and looking to see how you are living your life. You will long be remembered, not only for what happened to you in your life, but for how you handled life’s circumstances. When those circumstances cause you to fall, I challenge you to bounce back!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
From every corner of society, voices tell us to identify our deepest desires and then to pursue them with tireless determination. This mind-set has so influenced our way of life that many of us — followers of Christ included — are left weary and frustrated. Even when a milestone is reached or a desire is met, moments of satisfaction are short lived. “Keep reaching,” the voices insist, so we press forward.
As the pattern repeats, pursuing our heart’s desire becomes an arduous chase: striving to be the perfect spouse or parent; seeking a well-paying, fulfilling career; pursuing a position on a prestigious board or on an influential committee within the church. After a time, the pursuit of desires becomes in itself an unexpected crosswind. Its relentless gusts damage relationships and shove peace of mind beyond reach. What we identified as our deepest personal desire becomes a blur.
Through the author of Psalm 37, the Lord invites us to hear a different voice, the Divine Voice. “Delight yourself in the Lord,” the psalmist writes, “and he will give you the desires of your heart.” I’ve often wondered what the psalmist intended by the words “delight yourself in the Lord.” How does a person go about that? The answer could be as straightforward as Webster’s definition of the verb. Delight: to take great pleasure in something or someone. If true, our Creator invites us to look to him not just for help in a crisis or forgiveness when we sin, but also for the pleasure of a soul-satisfying relationship.
It has been my experience, and probably yours, that when I seek satisfaction in things of the spirit, my desires seem to change. Some slip quietly into the background; others disappear entirely. My lasting desires, though, seem to fall nicely into place over time. God doesn’t promise to gratify all our whims or appetites, but he can be trusted to give us the desires of our heart. I like to think that when my heart is open the Lord puts those desires there in the first place.
As the pattern repeats, pursuing our heart’s desire becomes an arduous chase: striving to be the perfect spouse or parent; seeking a well-paying, fulfilling career; pursuing a position on a prestigious board or on an influential committee within the church. After a time, the pursuit of desires becomes in itself an unexpected crosswind. Its relentless gusts damage relationships and shove peace of mind beyond reach. What we identified as our deepest personal desire becomes a blur.
Through the author of Psalm 37, the Lord invites us to hear a different voice, the Divine Voice. “Delight yourself in the Lord,” the psalmist writes, “and he will give you the desires of your heart.” I’ve often wondered what the psalmist intended by the words “delight yourself in the Lord.” How does a person go about that? The answer could be as straightforward as Webster’s definition of the verb. Delight: to take great pleasure in something or someone. If true, our Creator invites us to look to him not just for help in a crisis or forgiveness when we sin, but also for the pleasure of a soul-satisfying relationship.
It has been my experience, and probably yours, that when I seek satisfaction in things of the spirit, my desires seem to change. Some slip quietly into the background; others disappear entirely. My lasting desires, though, seem to fall nicely into place over time. God doesn’t promise to gratify all our whims or appetites, but he can be trusted to give us the desires of our heart. I like to think that when my heart is open the Lord puts those desires there in the first place.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Just Stuff....
Well, first of all I am up very late, but that is because I am completely burning the candle at both ends this week. Today was the usual work and orthodondist appointment and dealing with finances and just doing life. Tomorrow is a day in Nashville at the Capitol for my last day of Leadership Franklin County before I graduate. Wednesday - close on my brother's house and also close out his probate - finally! This is such closure for me and as I have thought about it tonight will be a relief, but also sorrowful at the same time. I will never be at his house again and I think, in some way, it will be a grieving process all over again. Thursday - work both jobs and Friday - work and then chaperone our youth at Acquire the Fire in Nashville. I know that God is setting me up this week to rely on Him and also I am praying that He is setting me up to hear a word from Him this weekend. I pray that all is well with those I love and that this week will go quickly - something I normally don't wish.......Lord knows life goes to quickly as it is.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Diaroma Night at the Brown House
Abby worked her little hiney off tonight making a diaroma of the Tuck's House from the book Tuck Everlasting. It was fun to help her out with the spray painting and just to sit back and watch her use her creativity. I love that little thing! I am, of course, sure she will worry about it in her dreams and all day tomorrow. She puts a lot of worry into this class........God bless her.
Monday, March 2, 2009
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