Ladies, I know that you already are...but please pray for those in the path

of Hurricane Gustav. I have family in Lake Charles, and we have students

that live in Lafayette, also Sharon has family around New Orleans. I live

in North Louisiana and our area is already filling up with evacuee's. Our

school's have already closed for next Tuesday and Wednesday to make

room for people. The eye of the storm, as of now, is predicted to come

across only two hours away from us as a category 1 hurricane.

As you've heard and some of you remember that it was three years ago

yesterday (Friday) that Hurricane Katrina hit our state. I sat and watched

as a city five hours away looked like a third world country.

My stomach already has knots in it...but I know that God is watching over

all. Please pray for those down South. For their homes, families, driving

safety and comfort.

Ready to jog but got to take the Walk higher!

I received an email tonight from a friend and I just had to share

part of it with you. She reminded me that He is the One making

the decisions and that He is big enough to guide me through....

AND THEN she tempted me with KFC fried chicken!! Haha...girl

I love ya and you crack me up!

Anyway, part of my response back was telling her that for a

week I have been walking every evening. I really didn't want

to do it. It's still soooo hot and humid here..I was soooo tired...

ect...ect.... But I went out put on my headphones and my

Hillsong cd to and took off. As much as my body after a long

day at work doesn't want to my heart is set on go. I love the

quiet time I've found on these evenings with my Savior.

I thought about this shirt that I bought a youth camp several

years ago....it reads... "Take Your Walk Higher". I want to

take this faith and trust in Him to a higher level. No matter

how long the walk is I want to take it! I also told my friend

that I enjoyed talking and trying to listen. And that when I

heard Him speak I was going to jog!!!

And if He wants me to jog it's going to take a lot of walking

to get me in shape for that....hmmmm....hence I'm still

walking and listening.

Thanks you guys for walking this part of the path with me!!

We're are we going...

I started walking about five evenings ago. I've been putting
in my Hillsong cd and hitting the road. This has become a
special time between my Savior and me. Tonight my walk
was cut about 10 min. or so short. For one thing the air is
so humid you can't get a good breath of air. The other thing
is that I'm still carrying a heavy heart and a weary mind.
I didn't sleep well last night it was a night of waging war.
Within 15 min. of hitting the publish post button last
night...the enemy hit me with a hard blow. It happened
so fast I couldn't believe it...well yeah I could. I had decided
to put my notes away until satan swung the first blow.
Now I'm saying in your face satan....Ladies here's the rest
of the Spurgeon notes...



Next Christ's commands are not to be questioned, but to
be obeyed. If these servants had, been of the mind of the
captious critics of modern times, they would have looked
at our Lord a long while, and objected boldly: We do not
want any water...
But Mary's advice to them was sound- "Whatsoever he
saith to you, do it." Thus, too, let us neither question
nor cavil, but do his bidding straight away.
It may sometimes seem that Christ's command is not
pertinent to the point in hand. There does not at first
sight appear to be any connection between the simple
trusting of the Savior and the conquest of a bad temper
or the getting rid of a bad habit. There is such a
connection, but recollect, whether you can see the
connection or not, it is yours "not to reason why but
yours to do what Jesus bids you do; for it is in the
way of the command that the miracle of mercy will be
wrought. Fill the waterpots with water though what
you want is wine. Christ sees a connection between
the water and the wine, though you do not. He has a
reason for the pots being filled with water, which
reason, as yet, you do not know.

I feel like the kid in the back sit saying "where are
we going and how much further is it".
When I went back to school I questioned Him for a
long time before I took the walk. I had know idea
of what He was up to....days like the last few months
I still don't. I don't see the connection and I don't
know what the result is...but I choose again this
night to put my trust in Him...and none other.

More Water in the Waterpots

Here's some more "water" for the Waterpots...
In my last post I commented I wanted to share a few more
points from Spurgeon's sermon and just a few more thoughts
of my own. I really want to share with you guys what finally
caused me to decide to go back to school in 2001.

The next sermon point was for me the strongest one.

"When Christ is about to bestow a blessing He gives a
command."
"a word of command goes before a word of power, or
else with it."
"He is about to give wine and the process does not
consist of saying '" Let wine be,'" but it begins by a
command addressed to men, '"Fill the waterpots
with water'".

Wow...How neat is that?!? Now, this is about to get
into Melanie's simple example time. He didn't say
"Let Melanie be Psychology major". He said
"Melanie go back to school". If it's okay here I would
like that to be the only example I leave here. If you
do comment on this post I would love to hear what
you would fill in the command He has given you...if
you would like to share.
And go back to school I did. Now, here is where I'm
still turning the thoughts...so any thoughts you might
like to leave on it would be gratefully thought on.
If going back to school is filling up the waterpot...
is there more commands to filling up the
waterpot than just one command...or does one
command fill up one waterpot??
Then, if going back to school filled up the waterpot
why do I feel like it hasn't turned to wine yet. I feel
I was obedient in doing what He had asked. Is it that
my faith is too weak, the waterpot is not full yet- is it
not filled to the brim?? Then after they were told to
fill the pots they were then commanded to "Now draw
some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
Here are my thoughts after looking at my
commentary. According to my commentary when
He commands them/us to "draw some out" it's
because the wine was not to be left in the vessel but
to be drank. That He's works are to be used that it's
not given to be buried. I suppose then the "water"
of my obedience in going back to school has been
turned into wine. And what He has asked me to draw
out is the gift He has given me in the job/working with
special needs children that He has me placed in. I
admit to you right now in this moment I could barely
type that last sentence for the AHA moment tears in
my eyes....

I'd like to share with you how I knew that God had
commanded me to go back to school. I had been
wrestling Him for almost two years over this. I went
to youth camp the summer of 2001 as a counselor.
A friend of mine went too because it was her daughters
first year to go to camp. We went to John Brown
University in Northern Arkansas. The campus was
a few hours away from the Wesleyan college in
Oklahoma. The kids were given the option of going
one afternoon to this Christian campus. On the way
there I talked to my friend about the thoughts I was
having on going back to college. We had talked about
it some in the past but just in commenting on it.
When we reached the last stop of the campus tour
it was in the Chapel. I have never felt so drawn to a
place in my life. I just walked away from the group
just down halfway to the front of the Chapel and sat
down on the steps. I just sat there crying, praying
and pondering...what I knew I had to do. When I got
up the group had moved out into the parking lot. I
opened the door into the foyer and was quickly
embraced by a hug from my friend...who whispered
in my ear "you have to do this. Stop thinking and do
it". We got back to camp in time for service and after
that they headed to eat and I head back to the dorm.
I opened my Bible and for the first time in my life
prayed flat on my face. I prayed for what seemed like
hours. My mentor and I had been talking for the past
year about our lives being like a puzzle and how when
it was time God was always faithful to give us the next
piece. Well, the next day my friend and I were walking
up from the soccer field where the kids were playing
games. We decided to take a short cut across campus
and were walking up a road of grey gravel. As we
were walking and talking I was looking down at the
ground AND something caught my eye....I stopped dead
in my tracks...as my friend kept walking and talking.
I couldn't believe it...it was the most unbelievable
thing I had ever seen....it was a small single puzzle
piece!!!!! I picked up, closed my eyes and right there
(while my friend was still walking away) I surrendered.
The following week on a Wed. I was officially enrolled
in the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Below is a picture of the puzzle piece I found...

It still amazes me how the piece is so close to the color of the road.

Thank you guys for walking out this post with me....

I feel God is calling me again to a higher education...I pray for an obedient

heart once again...and another puzzle piece would be awsome right now.

Waterpots

I so thought about posting a similar picture on Thursday because I was

thinking about the Blogging Girl meet up in San Antonio with Siesta Beth

Moore. If I had gone I would have missed out on a wonderful night with

another group of Sisters. We had our last Ladies Summer Group last

night. It was too much fun. I have so enjoyed helping our Pastor's wife

plan these events. She is a precious sister in faith and God is nudging a

wonderful friendship as well. It's a very exciting time in our church

because some ministries that have been dried up for pushing

twenty years now are breathing a new life. Also, some ministries that

never existed are being born. Some of you know the story of me coming

back to my home church at the end of last year. It was a very hard

decision to go back because my heart was so in love with the church

I was attending.

Now, I have to stop here for a moment and back up to last week. I was on

vacation last week and did a bit more reading than I normally do. I came

across a site with Charles Spurgeon sermons. I just randomly looked

through some and clicked on some that caught my eye. Then I ran across

one that I couldn't let go of. The title is "The Waterpots of Cana".

I've wanted to post on it since the night I read it but couldn't get my

thoughts around it enough. Until tonight....

I was thinking about the Ladies fellowship from last night and all the

ministry ideas that have been swirling around us. I've also had other

things on my mind such as the future and a sign that He had given

me a few years back. As I began to think about all these and then

looked back again over Spurgeon's surmon I realized that his points

lined up with the thoughts that I've been carrying around inside this

head of mine. I would like to share over the next week the highlights

of the sermon and then tag my thoughts of the past, present and

future. I'm NO teacher but just want to get my thoughts in view

instead of letting them swim around in my head....I hope by

putting them in view it will cause them to stir in my heart as well.

The Waterpots of Cana

"Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they

filled them up to the brim." John 2:7

Of course this is from Jesus' first miracle of turning water into

wine. Spurgeon comments on these things:

- the miracle was simple. That one might expect Him to start

off His miraculous career with greater things.

- He didn't announce to the crowd what He was about to do.

He did it quietly among the servants.

He did not make a fuss or a parade.

- He used water which they had in abundance.

- He didn't call for strangers to do it, but the ordinary servants

shall bring ordinary water.

Tonight when I was thinking of the ministries I mentioned

earlier...my thoughts went to these points. We must be

careful in our excitement to be sure we are seeking His

vision and not our own. That we are allowing this to be

His ministry served out by our hearts and hands. That it

doesn't have to be the next big flash thing that every

church is trying. That simple is just as powerful when

given to Him and for Him.

That we need in no way to make a fuss over who did

what....and even who didn't do what. That we give all

the ideas and success to Him. All the praise and glory

and outreach is His alone.

That as we desire to venture out...and I have to stop

here and say that this is a church that has been stuck

in the past and that doesn't not take to change AT ALL...

That we remember that He does take the ordinary

person (who loves Him and seeks to follow Him) and

the ordinary day in day out things and turn them

into something extraordinary.

Wordless Wednesday

My People

You know, I had a wonderful week off this past week. However, this day
finds me feeling a bit sad. I know that a lot of us have been and still are
going through many things. Some of you your sadness out weighs mine.
The common thing we all share is the Faith in our Father to see us
through. I'd really just like to get some thoughts off my mind before
night fall.


A couple of weekends ago I went out of town with my sister. On the way
home I caught myself thinking about something that I often do when I
travel some place I don't know. House after house and place after place
we would pass I would think about who lives there, what are their lives
like, why would they want to live here and so on the thoughts would go.
Tonight "Extreme Makeover" came on. While the home owner
was being interviewed he said something that helped a lot of thoughts
come together. They had lost their home to a flood and were living in
a tiny apartment. The man commented on they didn't want to leave
the area because he wanted his kids to grow up and go to school where
he had. I just bawled like crazy....for the first time I might add since
I found out about the school not opening. I wanted my nephew and
niece to grow up in school where we had.
This goes back to me thinking of people living in different communities.
This community that I live in and the school we attended and the
churches in the area.....we were built on something I think a lot of
people miss out on....heritage. As I passed by strangers homes
wondering of their life- I began to think more about my own. I was
raised with a Godly background. My Papaw was a Baptist minister.
My Grandaddy was a carpenter and a deacon within the church. My
Grandaddy was and is my Hero in Faith. (no spell check it is Grandaddy
in my book) He accumulated through a lot of hard work a large sum of
land. That land to our family is sacred. We long to see it preserved as
God created it. The land symbolizes something very special to us. It's
almost difficult to put it into words. It stands for who we are...the
Legacy that was passed on to us. That legacy is like the huge White
Oak trees by the branch....weither the branch is dry or has a trickle
of water running through it....the tree is strong and tall. As we desire
to stand strong and tall be it the branch is dry or not. The tree is
there because it's roots run deep. Our family...we don't have much-
no riches except that of our Faith. A faith that was planted by our
family that came before us.

I'm longing tonight for my Roots to Run Deep.....not just deep in my
family....but deep in my Faith. I want to be strong like the big
White Oak on my Grandaddys land. In that while the branch seems
empty and the Season seems long that with my roots planted deep
in my Faith in my God I will stand.

My heart now is thinking of those of you out there that...
some of you are in a waiting season too, a couple of you are in the
letting going of your kiddos/young men to the life before them,
some of you are going through physical pains and hurting, and
some of you gearing up for another school year....whatever it is
know that my heart is in this with you and my prayers are going
before the throne with yours. It's time to grow our roots a little
deeper in trusting Him.

Love you all......

We found a Love Note...

As most of you know by now I have two sisters and we are all very close.

My younger sister is 3 yrs younger than me and my baby sister is 12 yrs

younger. The picture above just reminded me of playing together as kiddos!


So I just had to share with you something my younger sister showed me last

night. Now, two years ago this summer she lost her house in a fire. They lost

everything! They were on a weekend getaway when it happened and that's

all they had was three days of belongings left. It was the hardest thing to

watch and then live through with them. Ok, back to last night. I walked in

her house and she said, "come here you have to see this!!". She had found a

year ago this little trunk that we had when we were kids and had just sat it

in the corner. For some reason last night she decided to take a look at what

was inside.



In the box she found a number of very special items. She found the dress

she was brought home from the hospital in. Along with a couple more dresses

and home made blankets she had received as a baby. Her baby photo

album, "sassy's", a yearbook, and some other items. She was soooo

excited and a bit teary eyed all at once! So was her big sister! This was

just the neatest thing ever!!

As I crawled in bed that night I began to wonder...why God? Why did

she decide to open that box tonight? Was it Your timing for some

reason that it was now she discovered her long lost treasures? I tend

to believe it was His timing....I'm still not sure why now other than

just to remind her...and me that He just loves us and longs to show us!

A friend reminded me the otherday that He was leaving little love

notes for me and that I needed to keep my eye open for them.

I think we all should remember to be aware of Him trying to

show us His love. We haven't had any rain here since the Fourth

of July....and it has rained off and on all week! Thank you Lord

for this refreshing rain! Lord, I'm sorry I take it forgranted and

don't slow down enough to see Your unconditional love all around!

The best week...

Hello Everyone! I'm sorry I've been so lazy this week!
I'm loving every minute of it too!! It's so rare I'm able
to take any time off from work. This year I said the
heck with it I'm taking off!! And I did! I have slept late,
went to bed late, hung out with the kiddos, gotten some
things together for Children's Church, did some MASSIVE
cleaning....ect. I've also had some amazing quality time
with my Savior! I've only allowed myself one day to worry
over anything. I think this will be my motto for this
school...I'm allowed one day to stress over things and the
rest of the week it's off limits.

I received a newsletter from Christian Singles magazine.
I thought I would share a clip of it and tell you why it's
on my heart tonight.

"Imagine never hearing God speak in your language
Sadly, across Asia many people have never read the Bible
in their own language - never read about God's promise of
eternal salvation in a language they can truly understand -
never read or heard about Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
Now you can help change that! This August marks an
historic month as the Summer Olympics are hosted in Beijing,
China. And during this time, Christianity Today is asking the
readers of this newsletter to remember the people of Asia."

I have a cousin that is a missionary there in Asia. He has a
wonderful family consisting of his wife and two daughters.
There is a lot going on in the news over there that causes
one to worry about them. Plus his wife is having some major
health issues that is threating to send them home. They
have already spent three years in the area. They came home
for six moths last year. They call the land their in Home.
If you think about it from time to time please lift up a prayer
for them. I know they would be grateful and you know I will
as well.

I hope and pray you all are having a wonderful week! I know
some of you have kiddos heading back to school and some
away to school...know as I think of school starting I say a pray
for you all.


Love you.....