That feeling....

Is it only me or does this time of year evoke a feeling of new beginnings?  As the kids start their preparations of going back to school and we get all our supplies in order, I always feel the need to clean, organize and get a calendar together  detailing all our different schedules.    It makes me feel like somehow in control of what the school year brings.  

Control......what a word.    Let's think about control -

God is ultimately in control..........
We can't control other people - nor should we have the desire to.......
We can't control many circumstances, i.e. sickness, death, etc.......

But there is one thing that we are called to control and that is ourselves.   We are to have control over our own bodies and minds.    We are to control our anger, our eating, our drinking, and especially our tongues.   So, as we start this school year off tomorrow, I am making it my goal to to focus on controlling my situations or those around me - my husbands, my kids, etc., but to concentrate on what Christ tells me to concentrate on:   SELF-CONTROL.   Many people are in places of bitterness, resentment, anger or depression because they try to control things that are out of their control.  Wives want to change their husbands.  Moms want to change their kids.   Husbands want to change their wives.   Then, when this doesn't work, people are left wondering why.    The reason is because we are called only to control ourselves.    Today I encourage us all to take a look at our own lives and see what we might to be rein back into control.  Whatever it is, there is one things that remains true - through Christ we can bring our lives back into order and back under control.   His grace is never ending!    Thank you God!

"Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city."

It's That Time of Year

Well my friends, school is getting ready to start back up and I think we are just about prepared here at the Brown House, except for the fact that I have been "itching" to get  more organized!   This is usually where I call in my sister, but this year I think I am going to try and do this thing myself.   I am looking for ideas on how to get my laundry done more efficiently and sorted and distributed to all three kids in a more organized manner.  After it gets to their room, it's their problem!  :)    I am also looking for weekly menu ideas and lunch ideas for the kids to take to school.  If you have any ideas, please share them with me!

On a deeper level, we are in the midst of making some decisions regarding our church and whether or not the Lord may be calling us to another place of worship.  Please be in prayer for our family as this is a very big decision for us and not one that we take lightly.   As we step out in faith regarding the calling God has on our family and how we are to be serving him, I would ask that you be in prayer for us - that we will hear God's voice clearly on this subject.   This I know, my God is faithful and has a wonderful plan for our lives and that is what I am standing on today.     Love - Melissa

Fall Bible Study Announcement

Ladies,

It was decided at last night's meeting that we would continue meeting this Fall on Tuesday nights at my house at 7 p.m.    Below is a link to the book I was talking about - 'Life's Healing Choices'.   This is a book and study guide combination which I can purchase through Amazon for about $23.00 per person.   It is an 8 week study and an 8 week commitment on working towards healing in any area of your life in which you struggle.   This is a great opportunity to invite a friend and also a great opportunity to not only get healing, but also train ourselves how to help others in difficult situations.   

http://books.google.com/books?id=JpvFmietwI0C&dq=life's+healing+choices+by+john+baker&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=6TZQTJChBJHY8gaizsjVAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFIQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

If you are interested in joining our group this Fall, please email me or call me at 931.307.0760 and let me know for sure that you will be attending so that I can make sure and purchase enough books.   Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 31st!

Feel free to forward this email to anyone you think may be interested in joining our group this Fall.    I will say this, this small group of ladies has truly been a blessing in my life and I pray that you would consider joining us as we press forward in growing to be more like Christ.  

How Are We Supposed to Speak??

What does God say to us about how we speak, yes that means in our homes, to our family, to everyone else around us?    Well, here is a little blerb I found.   And guess what, God means what He says in the Bible.  Sometimes I think one of the biggest sins we deal with his how we speak.    Does your life speak words of life or death?


Speak to edify. In the same Bible verse 8 of Philippians 4, Paul says that we should speak words of virtue. Virtuous words are words of excellence and value, words that produce good fruits, that build up the speaker, listener and everyone else.

Speak words of praise ---- words that praise the great works of God. Talk about His great creation in all of his wonderful glory. Talk about God's Work on earth today ---- the Work that's spreading the good news of the Kingdom of God. Speak words of praise about the good in other people. Encourage others to do their best. Comfort other people when they are discouraged.

In short, use your tongue to bring life ---- not death!

Finally, I have the chance for a quick post!   We have been sick, been doing the summer stuff and just living the crazy life and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!  

I have been mulling over some things as of late, the primary thing being that we MUST start living the Christian life out through LOVE.   It is the number one commandment - to love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.   I find that so many people call themselves Christians and do the "church" thing but aren't truly living out love in their day to day lives.   I am completely guilty of this, so I am not trying to cast condemnation, but come on people, do we really believe what we say we do?   Do we love those who don't look like us, don't have the money we have, might be down and out, might smell bad or offend us?   If not, then we might need to reevaluate whether or not we love Jesus Christ.   This is something I am challenged by daily.  I pray that we will ask the Lord daily to change our hearts, to renew our minds and transform us into His image.   

Here is a great video by Beth Moore from this week.   Hope you enjoy!   Love to all!

The Guarded Heart - Beth Moore

Sorry for the delay

It has taken me quite awhile to recover from our trip to Pine Ridge!  Exhausted isn't even the word!   So, here are some pics and I hope you enjoy.  We had a wonderful time serving others as a family and I pray that we get to return next year, as it was very hard to leave the kids (as usual) this year!  Love,  Melissa

Trip 2 to Pine Ridge (2010)

We have arrived!

We are resting up in Hot Springs, SD tonight before heading onto the Reservation tomorrow morning!   Had another good 8 hour day of travel and I must just say - I am SO glad to be out of the car!    Hey, how about the pic of the truck from Estill Springs, TN?  We passed that truck in mid-Nebraska.   I am fine sitting in the hotel room the rest of the night getting my VBS stuff ready.  Chris, of course, wants to drive the 25 miles over to Wyoming to turn around and drive back to the hotel so he can say he has been to the state of Wyoming!  HA!  :)   Here are some pics from the last 24 hours - God has blessed us with great travel! 

Well, Lincoln we have arrived!

We rolled into Lincoln, Nebraska tonight and it is such a pretty city.  And OF COURSE we had to eat at King Kong's and I had the best gyro of my life - no joke!   Love it!  Tomorrow we have about 8.5 more hours of driving tomorrow before we get to South Dakota.   We are so excited to hit the Rez and can't wait to share many photos and stories with you when we return.     Thank you all again for supporting us with your contributions and prayers.   Love,  The Browns

SOUTH DAKOTA BOUND

Well, guys we load up Thursday afternoon, pick Jacob up from Synodic camp at 7 p.m. and head to St. Louis.   After sleeping in (hopefully), we will drive to Lincoln, Nebraska for one night then head on out to the Rez.   Please keep us in your prayers as we go love on the Lakota Sioux children and bring them some hope, love, joy and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   I am so excited and can't wait to share our experiences with you.  I plan to blog along the way, Lord willing.   Remember two things - I love you, but most importantly, God loves you.

Melissa B.

The Brevity

Some of you know my story, some of you don't.  But it occurred to me this morning that it is really good for us to look back sometimes at where we have been so that we can reevaluate where we are headed.  I also believe it is good cleansing for the soul to share where we have been and the things we have dealt with in life.  So, with that said, let me give you some background.  I was raised in Chattanooga, TN by my stay-at-home Mom and Army serving Dad.   My parents sacrificed a lot so that I would be able to attend Christian schools and I am so fortunate for that.   My brother and sister were 12 and 10 years older than me and I was the "baby" of the family.  From the time that I can remember, I always felt SO much love in my heart for others.  I remember thinking that I wasn't normal because I loved people with such a fierce passion.  I was also very insecure, due to many different reasons and this eventually led to my "falling in with the bad crowd" during high school.   I was a people pleaser and I loved to make people laugh - I wanted them to like me.

When I was 20 years old my Mother suffered a massive heart attack and died.   My world was blown apart.  I was devastated.   We weren't on the best terms when she passed away and this obviously was a crucial point in my life that defined me.......shaped me.  I was angry with God and I walked away from Him completely.

Fast forward 5 years and my first child was born.  I don't know why, but it has been my observation through the years that the birth of a child brings many "prodigals" back home to Christ.  And that is exactly what happened with me.  I wanted Christ again, I wanted Him for my children.

Three years ago, my brother (an alcoholic) suffered a fall that left him quadriplegic.  He lived in Chattanooga and at this point we were living here in Winchester and thus started an almost year-long process of driving back and forth to try and make sure he was receiving adequate care, etc.  It was excruciating.  I loved my brother dearly.  He had such a sweet heart, but let his addiction rule his words quite often, but God gave me the eyes to always see his heart and not his actions.   In 2008 we received a call that my brother had choked while in the nursing home he had just been moved to.   He had to be airlifted from that facility to downtown Chattanooga and as a result was without oxygen for over 20 minutes.  We rushed to Chattanooga and our family had to make the decision to take him off of life support.  As his caregiver, I had to sign the papers to do so.   Once again, life changing......life shaping.   I held his hand as he died and as he slipped away I wondered once again - "why God?".    So, I decided to seek Christ like I had never sought Him before.  If God really did love me like his own child then I wanted to know him more about Him, figure out what I believed and get some healing.

And this is why I share this very brief version of my 40 years here on earth - God is good!  He IS faithful.  He can heal you heart.  He can make you whole.  He has done it for me - I am living proof.  I am a testimony of His love.    Is my life perfect? - well, heck no!  Do I still struggle with sin and disbelief? - well, yeah!  But I have a peace.  A peace and joy that surpasses all understanding.   And learning about and getting to know my God has brought me to places I thought I would never be.  Like taking seminary classes and doing mission trips.   I guarantee you no one thought that was where this girl has headed!

So my question for you is this?  Have you given God a try?  Have you read His Word and tried him out?  If so, why not?  What would it hurt?  For you see, this life is brief.  The brevity of it is overwhelming, trust me I have lived it.