Yesterday, I wrote about my Thanksgiving Day and how disappointed I was that my mom didn't feel well enough to make it. She didn't come but she sent her specialty food items so we wouldn't be without them. It made me so sad, but at the same time it made me so thankful.
God says we are to be joyful in all things. That is tough, especially when you don't understand why things happen the way they do. But God also wants us to trust Him even when we don't understand...especially when we don't understand.
Today I received the saddest news I think I could have ever received. The daughter of one of my friends died last night. She was only 12 years old. Her life has been a series of trials, battles, and uncertainties. This little girl, however, did not lose her joy. She was absolutely amazing. I want to be like her when I grow up! Her name is Alexa. Alexa Rohrbach. Please pray for her family. It's going to be very hard for them. When I think of "joy in all things", I think of Alexa. The Source of joy, peace, comfort, and love brought her home to be with Him. She is totally healed...walking, running even, singing, and dancing with the King of Kings. That's the one thing that brings me joy in all of this. I know her parents, Robin and Chris...and her sister, Jenna feel that way too. The Lord has carried them every day and I know He won't stop now. I know they are happy that Alexa is with the Lord, but I also know their hearts are shattered and their lives feel incomplete right now. I cannot even imagine.
Are you able to be joyful in all things? Not because you are happy with your life, but just because you trust God? That is my personal goal right now. To trust God with the plans and find joy in all things....and give thanks for it.
Hug the ones you are with today. Share your love and find the joy.
Love,
Melissa
Friday, November 28, 2008
Beautiful in November
I cannot believe that it is already the end of November!!!! Where is 2008 going so quickly???? IDK. Ha! My kids would be so proud.....
I have been previewing 2 books for Proverbs 31. When we consider selling a book, we preview it first. The last 2 I've read have been really good. I think the reason LeAnn, my amazing boss, gave them to me to preview was because she knows how I feel so strong about a woman's inner beauty. These books were based on just that. They were very good and I hope to tell you more about them in the near future. But even more so, I want to communicate how beautiful we ALL are to God.
I've been quite vocal about the weight gain I've had this year. I have no one to blame but me. My weight has gone up. My clothes are tight. My appearance is not what I'd like it to be. But my God thinks I'm beautiful this November. My Father loves me just the way I am today. November, 2008. Beautiful.
Doesn't that just warm your heart? Doesn't that just make you feel amazing? It should. No matter what you feel like. No matter what others think of you. You are beautiful. I am beautiful. And we have much to be thankful for.
The most beautiful woman in the world to me right now is my mom. She could not make it to my house for Thanksgiving because she was not feeling well today. She began chemotherapy last week and it took it's toll on her this week. Physically she is feeling quite crappy. I would have been okay if she would have taken the past 3 days off and just focused on herself. But she didn't.
Mom's dressing/stuffing is the best! Her macaroni and cheese is the best. And we were ALL looking forward to her cooking...especially since her cancer diagnosis has left us wondering what the next year will bring. She was not able to make it today. And that made me so very sad. But her cooking did make it. And that made me sad too.
Mom, you amaze me. Even though you did not feel like cooking, you did. Even though you would rather have stayed in bed, you didn't. Your love for your children, grandchildren, and family surpasses anything I've seen. You prepared and cooked and served your family, yet you stayed home. I love you so much. You are so beautiful. I pray I become just like you. The Lord blessed me with such a wonderful mother.
Happy Thanksgiving! If you are reading this, I pray you experienced true beauty today. Because you are beautiful No matter what the day, what the weight, what the thoughts. God has plans for you. They are good. We are made in His image. How cool is that? Pretty darn cool if you ask me!
On these last few days of November, believe in yourself, will you? Believe what God believes about you. You are amazing. You are the apple of His eye. And you are beautiful.
Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for all of my blessings, especially the people in my life....both in person and in cyber space....Love you!
Love,
Melissa
I have been previewing 2 books for Proverbs 31. When we consider selling a book, we preview it first. The last 2 I've read have been really good. I think the reason LeAnn, my amazing boss, gave them to me to preview was because she knows how I feel so strong about a woman's inner beauty. These books were based on just that. They were very good and I hope to tell you more about them in the near future. But even more so, I want to communicate how beautiful we ALL are to God.
I've been quite vocal about the weight gain I've had this year. I have no one to blame but me. My weight has gone up. My clothes are tight. My appearance is not what I'd like it to be. But my God thinks I'm beautiful this November. My Father loves me just the way I am today. November, 2008. Beautiful.
Doesn't that just warm your heart? Doesn't that just make you feel amazing? It should. No matter what you feel like. No matter what others think of you. You are beautiful. I am beautiful. And we have much to be thankful for.
The most beautiful woman in the world to me right now is my mom. She could not make it to my house for Thanksgiving because she was not feeling well today. She began chemotherapy last week and it took it's toll on her this week. Physically she is feeling quite crappy. I would have been okay if she would have taken the past 3 days off and just focused on herself. But she didn't.
Mom's dressing/stuffing is the best! Her macaroni and cheese is the best. And we were ALL looking forward to her cooking...especially since her cancer diagnosis has left us wondering what the next year will bring. She was not able to make it today. And that made me so very sad. But her cooking did make it. And that made me sad too.
Mom, you amaze me. Even though you did not feel like cooking, you did. Even though you would rather have stayed in bed, you didn't. Your love for your children, grandchildren, and family surpasses anything I've seen. You prepared and cooked and served your family, yet you stayed home. I love you so much. You are so beautiful. I pray I become just like you. The Lord blessed me with such a wonderful mother.
Happy Thanksgiving! If you are reading this, I pray you experienced true beauty today. Because you are beautiful No matter what the day, what the weight, what the thoughts. God has plans for you. They are good. We are made in His image. How cool is that? Pretty darn cool if you ask me!
On these last few days of November, believe in yourself, will you? Believe what God believes about you. You are amazing. You are the apple of His eye. And you are beautiful.
Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for all of my blessings, especially the people in my life....both in person and in cyber space....Love you!
Love,
Melissa
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
I may not show it. In fact, way too often, I don't. But let me just say,I'm very thankful for my family, friends, and also the people who let me know they even noticed I hadn't blogged in a while. That was just too nice! Amy Brooke even said she was taking out a "missing persons report in bloggy land"!
I just haven't been myself lately. I've been trying to be really intentional about my time and my priorities. And that's been hard. I love to blog. And I've missed it. I keep saying I am getting back to it. But my family, specifically my mom, has taken first place. I will intend to blog, but all of a sudden it's late at night and I need to go to bed. Anyway, not to make excuses, but I do miss blogging. I'm in a new phase of life right now. Experiencing what I've never gone through before.
My husband...his name is Jeff. Oh, how I thank and praise God for him. He has so been there for me. He's given me extra hugs and text messages when I needed them. I've been insecure and he has been in my corner cheering me on. I love him so much.
I am not running the half marathon. It makes me so sad. I've been training. But my mom started chemo and she's not feeling well. Plus, we really are in a finance crunch and the trip to Charleston to run the race is more than we need to spend. So, I withdrew. I still plan to train for a half marathon. I will keep doing what I'm doing. But I'm not "officially" running. So, I'm dealing with the fact that in a way I'm failing. Not really, but kind of.
I began this blog encouraging others to believe they are beautiful. And I want to keep doing that. I believe we are ALL SO BEAUTIFUL...just because God made us. And I hope to get back to that soon.
If you are reading this, I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving! On this American holiday, I am counting my blessings. And there are so many.......
With Love,
Melissa
I just haven't been myself lately. I've been trying to be really intentional about my time and my priorities. And that's been hard. I love to blog. And I've missed it. I keep saying I am getting back to it. But my family, specifically my mom, has taken first place. I will intend to blog, but all of a sudden it's late at night and I need to go to bed. Anyway, not to make excuses, but I do miss blogging. I'm in a new phase of life right now. Experiencing what I've never gone through before.
My husband...his name is Jeff. Oh, how I thank and praise God for him. He has so been there for me. He's given me extra hugs and text messages when I needed them. I've been insecure and he has been in my corner cheering me on. I love him so much.
I am not running the half marathon. It makes me so sad. I've been training. But my mom started chemo and she's not feeling well. Plus, we really are in a finance crunch and the trip to Charleston to run the race is more than we need to spend. So, I withdrew. I still plan to train for a half marathon. I will keep doing what I'm doing. But I'm not "officially" running. So, I'm dealing with the fact that in a way I'm failing. Not really, but kind of.
I began this blog encouraging others to believe they are beautiful. And I want to keep doing that. I believe we are ALL SO BEAUTIFUL...just because God made us. And I hope to get back to that soon.
If you are reading this, I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving! On this American holiday, I am counting my blessings. And there are so many.......
With Love,
Melissa
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
God is the best!
Yes, He is! And if we ever forget that, well we need serious brain surgery!!!!
I get scared easily. I lose my confidence with a quick negative remark about me. I can feel inadequate, unworthy, or unqualified real quick. It doesn't take much. But God is so good. He is the best.
He has shown me that all He requires is that I just be me. He made me. He created me. And He needed me here on this Earth. If He didn't need me, He wouldn't have bothered with making me in the first place.
I was so nervous about writing an article for the P31 Woman Magazine on depression and anxiety. I was worried about what people would think of me. Would they consider me qualified to be in ministry after admitting my struggles? Me qualified? Maybe not! God equipping me? Definitely so!
God has been so good to me, just the best. I have received countless emails about my article. I have received letters from women who suffer from depression and people who walk along side of those suffering from depression. Many with a similar story, they felt like failures and wanted to keep hidden the shame of their disease. My heart rejoices that Jesus sets us free!
God has never made a mistake. That means you are here for a reason and God has plans for your life! Now, that's beautiful!
I love you. I really do. And I pray that you are seeking the Lord with all your heart and asking Him what His plans are for you. You are an amazing child of God. Be blessed sweet sista!
Love,
Melissa
I get scared easily. I lose my confidence with a quick negative remark about me. I can feel inadequate, unworthy, or unqualified real quick. It doesn't take much. But God is so good. He is the best.
He has shown me that all He requires is that I just be me. He made me. He created me. And He needed me here on this Earth. If He didn't need me, He wouldn't have bothered with making me in the first place.
I was so nervous about writing an article for the P31 Woman Magazine on depression and anxiety. I was worried about what people would think of me. Would they consider me qualified to be in ministry after admitting my struggles? Me qualified? Maybe not! God equipping me? Definitely so!
God has been so good to me, just the best. I have received countless emails about my article. I have received letters from women who suffer from depression and people who walk along side of those suffering from depression. Many with a similar story, they felt like failures and wanted to keep hidden the shame of their disease. My heart rejoices that Jesus sets us free!
God has never made a mistake. That means you are here for a reason and God has plans for your life! Now, that's beautiful!
I love you. I really do. And I pray that you are seeking the Lord with all your heart and asking Him what His plans are for you. You are an amazing child of God. Be blessed sweet sista!
Love,
Melissa
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I support the President
I am not going to tell you who I voted for. I don't think it matters at this point. But I believe, with all my heart, if you want to be beautiful in America, you need to support our leader. It doesn't mean you voted for him. It doesn't mean you agree with everything he does. But it does mean that you pray for him and continue to pray for him. Lift him up to God and trust God with His provision for our country.
So, Barack Obama, you have my prayers. I will be praying for you and your family and your leadership over our country. God chose you long ago. And I trust God.
Be Blessed,
Melissa
So, Barack Obama, you have my prayers. I will be praying for you and your family and your leadership over our country. God chose you long ago. And I trust God.
Be Blessed,
Melissa
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