On a lighter note/post~ We had fun last weekend at the park!

B-man and

his Aunt M~

I know I'm not going to finish this post this morning. However, I had to start it now...because the emotions that are going on in my heart right now or so overwhelming. I say that with tears interrupting my vision but not yet streaming down. This morning at church we have our Steeple Dedication. What I have seen God do in this little church's life and at what all He's done in my life while there is so sweet and amazing. As we celebrate this wonderful day I am the only one who knows that this will be my last "official" day there. Here come the tears again....this is going to end up being an ugly cry before the days over. I am so happy- no joyful and saddened all at the same time. I have lived my life for the last thirty years loving others from a distance and not allowing myself to feel loved by them at all. Until I met this wonderful Christian women. She became a mentor and friend and from her I met her

church family. This may bring the ugly cry on.....(soft smile) I fell deeply in love with these people and I let them wrap me up in God's love. They have loved on me and me on them in the sense that in our hearts we are family.


Lord, thank you for such a wonderful day. May I, no matter where I go or what I do, have a servants heart for you and those around me.

In a couple of Sundays I plan to share with our (small) Sunday night crowd how much they mean to me and what God has planned for me. I've been asking God to reveal a scripture to me and He did so the otherday while driving to work. Nehemiah chapters one and two are what He brought to my mind.
Nehemiah was saddened by the condition and state of the people- so he wept and prayed. As I did for my home church. I didn't have to hear second hand about the destruction... I was there to witness it. For years I've prayed the prayer of this servant's heart. When he went before the King the King asked, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of the heart." I've carried that sadness of the heart for so long it's
time to replace it with the joy of rebuilding. I know that as the same with Nehemiah- going back things aren't just going to fall in place and change- it's going to take time, prayer and work.Satan's already been trying to pull me down for the last couple weeks. It's time to mend
some broken walls and rebuild some burned gates.

Ladies, I'd like to tell you about my two church families.

My original "home church" I attended for the first thirty years

of my life. I was born and raised in that little church. When

I was a freshman in high school the church went through a

rough church split... just trust me it was bad. That was well

over twenty years now and that place is still suffering from

that time. It was just like watching a blooming flower wilt

and die right before your eyes. Somewhere around eight or

nine years ago I remember sitting with my cousin talking of

how I desired and refused to give up hope in seeing the place

revived and pushed forward. This was a hard core Southern

Baptist church. In the year 2000 I met some new friends from

where I was working and was invited to attend a Ladies Retreat

with them. Shortly after ended up attending there for the last

seven years.

I'll start of the story line of my "second church" with this

picture.

This is a photo of the long awaited steeple at New Life Church.

So my second "church family" was not run across by accident.

It became the place God would use to stretch, teach, grow and

most important heal me from some things in my past. While

at the new church I never gave up my prayers for my "church

back home".

Ladies, I have to share I am seeing God in this present season

begin to answer the prayers I've prayed for my first church

home. It's so amazing to see how He is unfolding this. The

cousin I mentioned earlier....yeah, he's the church's new pastor!!

Meanwhile, for the last year God has gently been preparing my

heart to return back home.

Now, my heart has been crying inside at the thought of leaving

where I am now. I love this place and these people that are like

family. My decision was made last Sunday to follow Him no

matter the cost.... and with that decision came instant peace!

I told my mentor (at the present church) and her words to me

I'll never forget. She trust what ever I do because she knows

that I seek to follow God's will for my life. That is huge to

hear someone say that about your life and walk in faith.

The church back home is going through an season of healing

after a twenty three year old battle. It is at the edge of change

waiting to fly.

Thank you God for this answered prayer. May you continue

to heal and restore. May we once again be a city on a hill that

cannot be hidden. May this lampstands light shine once again.

I love you. Amen.

Well, I wanted to give you an update on a prayer request. The new
student that we've been waiting on was finally able to come today.
However, it was so bad that he couldn't even stay for the full two hours
he was scheduled to stay. He was trying to escape from the building
and coming after the workers. My boss couldn't believe that he wouldn't
respond to a positive environment as opposed to the harsh (almost
abusive) one he was in. My thoughts were that it's all he's ever known...to
him that was his "love" or bond. He was offensive to our showing him a
caring behavior.
All day my heart has been so heavy for not just this boy but to a WORLD
of hurting teens. They don't even have to be a "problem" child to feel this
way. Abandoned- neglected- abused- victims. I LOVE teens they have
always been so near to my heart. I have worked through church with them
for years. I have always heard this saying that by the time they are teens
that it's like pouring concrete and it's hardened and so hard after that to
change. Things like this just fuel a flame in me- Thank you Jesus. They/We
have been fed so many lies by satan that we don't even know how bad it is.
I am committing this week to pray for our teens. Will you join me?
God Bless~

A fellow blogging Siesta and friend posted along the same lines today as I'm going to try and venture. It's one of those times where the same message keeps appearing. God is trying to drive a point across to me and I'm trying so hard to listen. At church our Ladies group this week reached the midway mark in the "Patriarchs". This study has brought me to a place that I'll never stop pursuing His Word. The very first week of study I was captivated by two words-- Your Name. Our culture today seems so consumed in making a name for ourselves. Teenagers are so desperate for this in wanting somewhere to be accepted. To have a certian brand, a certian style, a certian group, be in a certian place to be known as a certian someone. Adults are no better at this.
The very next week after Bible study began I was asked to speak to the Youth at our church. I began to search every concordance and commentary I had on the word- name. For the first time I just stood in awe at the glory of His name. I've known about Him and heard about Him all my life but never been consumed by the majesty of His name. I have never been on my face before like this past month. To give up the name we have desired for ourselves and surrender to instead for our identity in His name. I would like to share a short devotion I read today. It is from a book called "God Calling".

No Other Name
My name is the Power that turns evil aside,
that summons all good to your aid. Spirits
of evil flee at the sound of "Jesus". Spoken
in fear, in weakness, in sorrow, in pain, it is
an appeal I never fail to answer. "Jesus"
Use My Name often. Think of the unending
call of "Mother" made by her children. To
help, to care, to decide, to appeal, "Mother."
Use My Name in that same way- simply,
naturally, forcefully. "Jesus"......

Peace in Him

Do you remember where you were six

years ago? I vividly remember the day

well. It was my very first semester back

in college. I was sitting in an English

class when this young fellow came in

out of breath. He was telling us that the

Twin Towers had been hit by a plane.

All I can remeber thinking was- wow. I had

no idea of course the horror of what was

going on until I saw the t.v. I could not believe my eyes-- over and

over we saw it and I still couldn't believe my eyes.

It was so surreal like it was happening somewhere else.

American flags everywhere. Prayers

being prayed everywhere. American's for a fleeting season

united as one and had returned to Him in prayer. Just to think

what our Nation would be like if we turned our United focus

back on Him...

A Life that Matters

I have a prayer request....
We have a new student starting next Monday. He is a twelve year old autistic boy. He is originally from around New Orleans and for the last five or six years been tossed around in foster homes. He is right now in a psychiatric ward and he has busted out windows there. We are a small school and only one worker has had experience with this type of aggressive behavior. Please pray for safety but most of all pray for this young boy. I don't know to the extent of what they "realize" but I do believe they know who they can feel safe with and trust. For once in his life-- just like any "regular" boy his age I would like him to
"experience" that in however in his life he can. I want to be God's hands in this.
On that note I have to share this... Over the summer we had a student that is nonverbal and we worked with him on sign language. It was like he could do it but only if he wanted to. I wanted so bad for him to "get it" because I knew it would change his life forever. It was like two steps forward and one step back. One day I was so frustrated I had his hands trying to get him to form a "word" and I just in the moment stopped and prayed over him. I promise as surely as God answers prayers from that day forward he was showing out with his signing!!
How so is that like us.... How many times God must think Melanie, I want so bad for you to "get it" because it will change your life forever! Ladies, let's keep going deeper with Him I want us to "get it". I'm tired of satan trying to knock us that step back.