Here is my brother's obituary.
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_122146.asp
Melissa
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
James Franklin Shields, Jr. 1958-2008
Our family made the decision to take my brother's tube out last night and I was with him holding his hand as he passed away. Chris and I along with a cousin and his wife had the privilege of being with him when he ended his long battle here on this earth. It was a very peaceful death. After taking out the tube he lasted somewhere around an hour breathing on his own and passed away at 9:12 p.m. and the look on his face was one of such pure peace that I know the right decision was made. Please pray for my father and sister and my brother's ex-wife Cindy. We are on our way to the funeral home to make arrangements and I will post the time and date of funeral as soon as I know something.
Here's to you big brother! You never met a stranger and you loved everyone with such passion. Rest in peace. I love you!
Melissa
Here's to you big brother! You never met a stranger and you loved everyone with such passion. Rest in peace. I love you!
Melissa
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Big Change
Starting next week, I am going to be going back to work full-time. I was just incurring too many taxes working from home. When we visited our accountant he emphasized the fact that I REALLY need to either diligently put back taxes every quarter or go back to work outside of the home. You see, I not only pay normal taxes, but self-employment tax on top of that.
So, we shall see how we all make the adjustment next week. It should be very interesting. Jacob will be riding the bus more and I have to find Abby and Emma a ride home in the afternoons. I think Abby may seriously have a meltdown, but she'll just have to get over it. Jacob doesn't really mind and Emma is just excited that I get to work in a doctor's office. I can't even begin to think about the summer! Oh well, people do this everyday right? But do they do this with three kids and a husband who is gone 2-3 nights out of the week? I am sure they do......
Chris is in Louisville Kentucky today and drove straight into snow and an impending ice storm. Hopefully he won't get stuck there!!!! He will be gone until Thursday evening.
I think I can, I know I can, I think I can, I know I can..........
Love and blessings,
Melissa
So, we shall see how we all make the adjustment next week. It should be very interesting. Jacob will be riding the bus more and I have to find Abby and Emma a ride home in the afternoons. I think Abby may seriously have a meltdown, but she'll just have to get over it. Jacob doesn't really mind and Emma is just excited that I get to work in a doctor's office. I can't even begin to think about the summer! Oh well, people do this everyday right? But do they do this with three kids and a husband who is gone 2-3 nights out of the week? I am sure they do......
Chris is in Louisville Kentucky today and drove straight into snow and an impending ice storm. Hopefully he won't get stuck there!!!! He will be gone until Thursday evening.
I think I can, I know I can, I think I can, I know I can..........
Love and blessings,
Melissa
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Refiner
Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Off To Emmaus
Well, guys I am off to Emmaus for the weekend. I leave tomorrow evening after work and will be home on Sunday. I am looking forward to spending some time just meditating and seeing how God works in the lives of others and myself. Chris will be at home with the kids all weekend (scary and I am trying not to think about it!). My prayer is that they eat 1 vegetable and drink 1 glass of water, or something not caffeinated, the entire weekend.... :) Hope everyone has a great weekend and let's all remember to keep the tornado victims and their families in our prayers.
Blogging next week,
Melissa
Blogging next week,
Melissa
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Being Sifted?
31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. Luke 22:31-32
I am feeling a lot like Simon today. We have had a rough two weeks with much sickness, finances, Chris being out of town a LOT, my missing family and friends in other cities, etc. I was meditating on it last night and thought "Lord, are you allowing Satan to sift me? Is there something that needs sifted before I can minister effectively to others the way I want to?" The answer was "yes", but just like God seems to always do with me - he said "and you need to figure it out." I HATE that. I want him to tell me immediately and specifically what needs done, what I need to pray about, what needs cleaned up inside of me and how to do it! But, my Father doesn't work that way with me. So, I am digging deep and asking the Lord to reveal anything that is holding me back from going into the type of ministry I want to go into. Sifting isn't fun - I have been there before. It is painful, but I know that in God's grace I will be rejoicing when it is over and praising Him for what he has pruned out of my life and what he has revealed to me.
Pray for us as it seems we are having a time of oppression over our home. Pray for guidance and wisdom for me and strength during this busy time of the year when Chris is consistently gone. Thank you for letting me bear my heart to you!
Love,
Melissa
I am feeling a lot like Simon today. We have had a rough two weeks with much sickness, finances, Chris being out of town a LOT, my missing family and friends in other cities, etc. I was meditating on it last night and thought "Lord, are you allowing Satan to sift me? Is there something that needs sifted before I can minister effectively to others the way I want to?" The answer was "yes", but just like God seems to always do with me - he said "and you need to figure it out." I HATE that. I want him to tell me immediately and specifically what needs done, what I need to pray about, what needs cleaned up inside of me and how to do it! But, my Father doesn't work that way with me. So, I am digging deep and asking the Lord to reveal anything that is holding me back from going into the type of ministry I want to go into. Sifting isn't fun - I have been there before. It is painful, but I know that in God's grace I will be rejoicing when it is over and praising Him for what he has pruned out of my life and what he has revealed to me.
Pray for us as it seems we are having a time of oppression over our home. Pray for guidance and wisdom for me and strength during this busy time of the year when Chris is consistently gone. Thank you for letting me bear my heart to you!
Love,
Melissa
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Walk To Emmaus
Chris will be on Monteagle Mountain this weekend at the Dubose Conference Center for the Men's Walk to Emmaus. He is serving on the Emmaus team this time around. He will drive directly from Atlanta tomorrow straight to the conference center. Fortunately, he will be home late on Sunday afternoon and we will head down to the Church to watch the game. Please pray that his weekend is blessed and that his travels are safe.
For those whom have asked, this is exactly what we will be doing when at Wounded Knee:
JOHN LOVELACE ASKS YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER SERVING OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ON THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION IN SOUTHWEST SOUTH DAKOTA JUNE 8-13 AND JUNE 15-20
For the past 11 “Junes” the Lord has called me to take youth and adults to conduct Vacation Bible Schools and build and repair houses, churches and ministry buildings for the Lakota Indians. Hundreds have been there with me and some stay for both weeks.
Each year the groups have done a good work for Jesus as they have helped a lot of children learn more about Jesus and lead a few of them to make decisions to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior during the Vacation Bible School.
Other members of the groups have helped a lot of people get very needed home repairs done and have built two new homes. Our groups have built 55 outhouses. Many churches and ministry buildings have been given much needed repairs. The groups have had to buy the materials they used in almost all of the building and repairs.
The groups take air mattresses and sleeping bags to sleep on at the Oglala Rec Center (Ass. of God) and Wounded Knee (WK) Church of God. These churches have showers with hot and cold water. Some of the volunteers cook delicious and hearty meals. Some sightseeing is done during the week.
For those whom have asked, this is exactly what we will be doing when at Wounded Knee:
JOHN LOVELACE ASKS YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER SERVING OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ON THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION IN SOUTHWEST SOUTH DAKOTA JUNE 8-13 AND JUNE 15-20
For the past 11 “Junes” the Lord has called me to take youth and adults to conduct Vacation Bible Schools and build and repair houses, churches and ministry buildings for the Lakota Indians. Hundreds have been there with me and some stay for both weeks.
Each year the groups have done a good work for Jesus as they have helped a lot of children learn more about Jesus and lead a few of them to make decisions to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior during the Vacation Bible School.
Other members of the groups have helped a lot of people get very needed home repairs done and have built two new homes. Our groups have built 55 outhouses. Many churches and ministry buildings have been given much needed repairs. The groups have had to buy the materials they used in almost all of the building and repairs.
The groups take air mattresses and sleeping bags to sleep on at the Oglala Rec Center (Ass. of God) and Wounded Knee (WK) Church of God. These churches have showers with hot and cold water. Some of the volunteers cook delicious and hearty meals. Some sightseeing is done during the week.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Weary and Burdened
Actually I am NOT weary and burdened today, but there are MANY days that this seems to be my mantra. I listen to a song a lot in the car called "Come To Me" and the kids love it. Last night, Abby said "Mommy I know the verse that your song talks about. It is in Matthew!" Isn't that so cool.
Chris is leaving for exactly 7 days and I know that by Thursday that song will be playing full blast in my car. So for all you Winchesterites, if you see me and my music is blaring, know that I am praising my God loudly so that I don't end up "cursing" Chris!
Please visit my friend Amanda (dear, dear friend) whom I miss much at http://www.backtothetable.blogspot.com/. She posted some GREAT recipes this week!
Also, please check this out - I LOVE IT!!
Chris is leaving for exactly 7 days and I know that by Thursday that song will be playing full blast in my car. So for all you Winchesterites, if you see me and my music is blaring, know that I am praising my God loudly so that I don't end up "cursing" Chris!
Please visit my friend Amanda (dear, dear friend) whom I miss much at http://www.backtothetable.blogspot.com/. She posted some GREAT recipes this week!
Also, please check this out - I LOVE IT!!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
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