"The laws of physics tell us that energy in the universe is never lost. It is simply transformed from one state to another. So it is with the human experience. Nothing is ever lost entirely. God uses every happening to accomplish His divine purposes."
Read 2 Corinthians 3:18.
Love,
Melissa
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Abby's Room
We finally finished Abby's room this weekend! We are all very excited. It has taken 7 months, but we got it done! Just in time for her birthday, i.e. slumber party.
3-4 Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.
5-9 So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.
10-11 So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-11 (The Message).
5-9 So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.
10-11 So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-11 (The Message).
Friday, March 7, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
What do I do with myself????
Is this what normal life is really like? I completely believe that during the last year I have become addicted to busyness, drama, and crazy-paced living.
I found myself looking for something to do last night (imagine that!) and realized that it has been almost year since I have been on the treadmill (as anyone who knows me can tell). Exercising used to be the one thing I did every day no matter what! At times in my life, it has been the only thing to keep me sane. So, I laced up my tennis shoes and jumped back on.
My point - I had no idea how crazy my life had become until I have had the chance to slow down the past few weeks. Also, I believe any time a person experiences death, it causes them to slow down in some ways. It makes you appreciate life a little more even if you are not consciously trying to.
Basically, stress had become my best friend - attached itself to me like a leech and I didn't even know it. Now, I feel lost without it. Sounds strange I know, but true. Now, I have to try and remember what a normal day is like and go from there. So, after work I will hit the treadmill, do homework with the kids and go to church and I will move forward step by step - choosing to remember the good memories of my brother and his life. Life is what you make it and I choose to remember the good and keep marching on.............
Love to all,
Melissa
I found myself looking for something to do last night (imagine that!) and realized that it has been almost year since I have been on the treadmill (as anyone who knows me can tell). Exercising used to be the one thing I did every day no matter what! At times in my life, it has been the only thing to keep me sane. So, I laced up my tennis shoes and jumped back on.
My point - I had no idea how crazy my life had become until I have had the chance to slow down the past few weeks. Also, I believe any time a person experiences death, it causes them to slow down in some ways. It makes you appreciate life a little more even if you are not consciously trying to.
Basically, stress had become my best friend - attached itself to me like a leech and I didn't even know it. Now, I feel lost without it. Sounds strange I know, but true. Now, I have to try and remember what a normal day is like and go from there. So, after work I will hit the treadmill, do homework with the kids and go to church and I will move forward step by step - choosing to remember the good memories of my brother and his life. Life is what you make it and I choose to remember the good and keep marching on.............
Love to all,
Melissa
Monday, March 3, 2008
THANK GOODNESS FOR WARM WEATHER!
Gorgeous day here in Winchester, TN! 72 degrees and sunny......
Here is a quote I wanted to share out of my devotion this morning....
"What Satan and others mean for evil in our lives, God would never allow unless it could be used for good and for the delivering of our lives. The family is a crucial intitution. It affects everyone, for good or ill. By its very nature, it can be the place where one experiences and learns intimacy, love and growth or it can be the place where one experiences and learns resentment, abuse and destructive behavior."
Basically, whatever happened to us growing up or has happened now within our families can be used for good or better yet to heal us if we let it. This really hit home with me because of my brother's death and also with dealing with his alcoholism. I think I could have easily gone down the same path had it not been for watching my brother all these years.
Nevertheless, I guess my point is that no matter what family issues you are dealing with, God will work it out for good if you believe in Him and follow his Word. That's an awesome thought if we can just keep reminding ourselves of it. God is good!
Here is a quote I wanted to share out of my devotion this morning....
"What Satan and others mean for evil in our lives, God would never allow unless it could be used for good and for the delivering of our lives. The family is a crucial intitution. It affects everyone, for good or ill. By its very nature, it can be the place where one experiences and learns intimacy, love and growth or it can be the place where one experiences and learns resentment, abuse and destructive behavior."
Basically, whatever happened to us growing up or has happened now within our families can be used for good or better yet to heal us if we let it. This really hit home with me because of my brother's death and also with dealing with his alcoholism. I think I could have easily gone down the same path had it not been for watching my brother all these years.
Nevertheless, I guess my point is that no matter what family issues you are dealing with, God will work it out for good if you believe in Him and follow his Word. That's an awesome thought if we can just keep reminding ourselves of it. God is good!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Back Where I Started - Literally :)
I am back working at Christ The King part-time and am SO glad to be here. Thankfully, they had not hired anyone and was able to come back when I realized that working for the place that had hired me was definitely NOT going to work out. We are looking forward to a relaxing weekend working around the house and having friends come down from Nashville to help us out. We hired out the rest of the drywalling to be done and now just have to trim out and paint. Thank goodness it is almost over. We are completely dead flat broke, but it is finally finished.
We are continuing to pray for a way to pay our upcoming taxes, but we know that God is faithful and that He will provide. I also need to find a way to make an extra $400 a month, so I am praying that something presents itself in order for us to bring in that amount. I wish everyone a fun-filled weekend and can't wait to show off the kids' rooms upstairs!
Love,
Melissa
We are continuing to pray for a way to pay our upcoming taxes, but we know that God is faithful and that He will provide. I also need to find a way to make an extra $400 a month, so I am praying that something presents itself in order for us to bring in that amount. I wish everyone a fun-filled weekend and can't wait to show off the kids' rooms upstairs!
Love,
Melissa
Saturday, February 23, 2008
30-Hour Famine
Wow. What an awesome experience I had this weekend with the Youth Group at our church. We participated in World Vision's 30-Hour Famine and we raised around $3200.00 for children across the world who are in need. Let me tell you that these kids are incredible. They didn't complain. The did not eat for 30 hours, they participated in service activities for the church and collected food for those in need. They participated in all the activities we had planned and they kept my mind off of the death of my brother which would have just kept me in bed all weekend. I saw some wonderful hearts in these kids and it just made me want to grow closer to them and to Him.
Even Abby and Emma participated in their own little fast from 9:00 p.m. last night until 6:30 p.m. this evening. Let this be a lesson that we CAN follow Jesus' example of fasting. If these kids can do it (and my 9 year old can do it) then WE can do it....... Melissa
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Emptiness
We are back in Winchester, my brother is buried and I am in that state of "what do I do next"? I remember feeling this way when my mother died suddenly, but I was so young that I didn't really let myself feel all the emotions that go along with the death of someone so incredibly close to my heart. The feelings of knowing he will never call again...... I will never call him again. What do I do with his email address on my computer? What do I do with his phone number contact on my cell phone? This last year has been such a state of busyness for me as far as making sure Jeff was provided decent healthcare, dealing with his insurance, etc., that I never really let myself truly prepare for his death. And now here I am, staring at my computer realizing that my truest blog fan will never read it again. Knowing that I will never hear "calm down girl! You take things too seriously, relax......" My brother was a lost and troubled soul for so many of his last years. Why? Why do some people have absolutely no power over their addictions, while others can put something down and never pick it back up? My brother did not want to be what he had become, yet he could not beat it. He tried, he just couldn't win the battle.
To all those who went to such great efforts to call, send cards, flowers and especially to my dearest of friends who drove from Winchester, Nashville, etc. to be there for me - THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU. I have dealt with so much tragedy in my life that I really think sometimes I won't make it through another day, the then I get up, thank the Lord for giving me another day and push on. I have the only true strength anyone can ever have - the strength of my Father in heaven who knows the purpose he has for me and who sees what I can't. Please pray for me in the next few days that I can rest in His arms and feel His peace.
A wonderful session musician and bluegrass phenomenon by the name of Rick Hargis came from Nashville to play at my brother's funeral. After the 21 gun salute and presentation of the flag to my father, the minister spoke and then we got to hear the two songs my brother always told me he wanted at his funeral - Amazing Grace and Will the Circle Be UnBroken. And then of course, in true Jeff fashion we dismissed with Rocky Top being played on Banjo and I could literally feel my brother smiling down on us.
Love to all and don't take any day for granted!
Melissa
To all those who went to such great efforts to call, send cards, flowers and especially to my dearest of friends who drove from Winchester, Nashville, etc. to be there for me - THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU. I have dealt with so much tragedy in my life that I really think sometimes I won't make it through another day, the then I get up, thank the Lord for giving me another day and push on. I have the only true strength anyone can ever have - the strength of my Father in heaven who knows the purpose he has for me and who sees what I can't. Please pray for me in the next few days that I can rest in His arms and feel His peace.
A wonderful session musician and bluegrass phenomenon by the name of Rick Hargis came from Nashville to play at my brother's funeral. After the 21 gun salute and presentation of the flag to my father, the minister spoke and then we got to hear the two songs my brother always told me he wanted at his funeral - Amazing Grace and Will the Circle Be UnBroken. And then of course, in true Jeff fashion we dismissed with Rocky Top being played on Banjo and I could literally feel my brother smiling down on us.
Love to all and don't take any day for granted!
Melissa
Sunday, February 17, 2008
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