Many of you may have wondered if I actually made it back or if I was taken hostage and was being held at gunpoint, but I am happy to report none of the like has happened. I have been held hostage, but only by my own crazy summer schedule. Alas, I digress...
I wanted to "end " this blog on a brief recap of my experiences while in Thailand and what all God did through me and to me. This truly is the brief part, I have a 40 page journal that if anyone is interested in reading, you may contact me.
Two years ago I was exactly where many of you are...knowing the Great Commission, knowing He told us to go, but being scared out of my beejeebee's to actually do it. In my mind, going on a mission trip was either going to some place like Africa and living in a hut for two weeks eating who knows what and simply going up to people and telling them about Jesus OR going just because I felt pressured into it OR going because it "sounded like fun." However, last year when I turned 40 I wanted to do something significant at at our Global Missions Banquet I got one of my first taps on the shoulder from God that it was time to step up and accept the challenge, knowing He would be with me. I didn't know what that meant, but I was open and willing to do whatever He wanted me to do.
Many different things happened over the course of the next few months and at our "You're a Doll" banquet last year when we collected scrapbook supplies for a "mission trip" it smacked me right in the face...Hello! Scrapbooking! Mission Trip! This was something I could do! I didn't know any details of the trip except that it was scrapbooking and Thailand, but I knew He wanted me to go. Well, long story short (if that is possible with me!) because I was faithful despite the many roadblocks Satan threw in my way, my life will never be the same. I want to take a few minutes here to share some of the experiences I had.
The first one was Easter morning in Singapore. The host church had set up a huge tent on the beach and it was full and overflowing. I believe there were two churches that went in together for this, but it was open to whoever was walking by. It was a two-language service, done in English and Mandarin Chinese. The worship -- singing, praying, dancing, etc -- lasted about an hour and it was just amazing! There were no time limits or constraints or lunch plans to worry about and it just felt so free! God was so present there! (Not that He can't be in the time limits and constraints too....) I was really struggling again with so many things ~ my weight, outward appearances, worthiness on the trip so far, pressure of what kind of pictures to take when I just wanted to worship, etc. But God met me there -- I got on my hands and face in the sand and just prayed and prayed and prayed to be free ~ to be released from all of it. I just cannot even describe what it was like ~ so surreal! When I felt like I had prayed enough, I got up and stood for a while, then went back to my chair. All this time people were singing, dancing, music playing, etc. Not five minutes later Angela came up to me and put her arm around me and said (with strong conviction) "You are stunning! You are so beautiful to God!" Wow! Here I am struggling with those very issues and she comes up to me and tells me that! So powerful...I have never experienced something like that before.
The next amazing thing God did happened on Wednesday after our one-day event in Thailand. We also did a scrapbook workshop there with many non-English speaking ladies. I was nervous as a dog about it, but God just so provided so many things in that 90 minutes I almost had to laugh my head off. After the session was over it was quite funny because all the girls who did the scrapbook session were jabbering to the others and showing off their layouts. Everyone was like, "Wow, Melissa, it looks like your session was a big hit...it was the bomb!..." etc. That is totally opposite of how I was feeling, because I struggled so with "But we didn't event talk about Jesus. How could my little scrapbook thing be pleasing to God?" So I went to the bathroom and all these destructive thoughts were just pouring into my head. Well, I just remembered what David had shared that morning in team devotions and I said, "NO! I am a DAUGHTER OF THE KING!" And it was so freeing to not feel bad about not talking about Jesus or any other "religious" thing I thought I should be doing! They just needed the fun part too!
We had three different events over the course of the two weeks, but the "big one" was a 3 day event for missionary women and it was such an incredible experience that I am not sure I may ever have words for. During that event Mendy and I held a workshop on scrapbooking and those ladies just ate it up. They never, never, never get to just hang out and scrapbook and they had the time of their lives for that short hour and a half. None of them wanted to leave when it was over. They got to visit with other ladies, get a few pages done in a little book we had put together for them, and got tons and tons of free stuff. Over and over I heard, "I can keep this? I can keep this? You'll really give this to me? This is just like Christmas morning!" It just thrilled my heart to be able to do that for them. They are the ones out in the field and to think that I could do one small thing to make them happy just overwhelmed me.
After the evening session on Friday, we had a Hospitality Room where the ladies could come for snacks and more talking with each other. We purposely bought snacks that they rarely would, things like cookies, chips, Goldfish, Cheetos, dip, granola bars, soda, etc. When they came down and saw all that spread they nearly fainted. One lady I overheard said, "My child would die if he knew I had a Cheetos in my hand." POW! That really knocked me between the eyes. Yes, we don't eat Cheetos all that often, but when they are on sale at Kroger I don't mind buying them because they are cheap. I will never be able to eat Cheetos again for a long, long time. The Goldfish were also a big hit, but ladies sneaking some back for their kids! And we get them for $1 a bag! My heart was just breaking for these ladies and their families. It made me want to get all their addresses and mail them some every month! I mean, here I am in my comfy Spring Hill address, able to worship freely without fear, buy most everything I want, wash my clothes and dishes in machines, and buy Cheetos and Goldfish without even thinking about it! Here they are, following the Lord's commands, making sacrifices at every turn, and they can't even get Cheetos? It was huge to me to chew on that, no pun intended!
But, as many of you know, and have often heard, going on a mission trip is not just about what you do for Jesus, but also what He does for you. Sometimes I wonder if I even did anything for Him while there and I truly think the whole reason I went was because of what He needed to do to me. During the course of the trip I learned so many lessons, so many truths, was stretched way out of my comfort zone, and took a huge step to being freed from a stronghold that has held me for over 20 years! That alone was worth every penny I spent and every grief I endured to go. I truly, truly was changed forever from one mission trip and now I can't wait to go on another one, to see what else God has for me!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Last words before we leave....
Well, my friends, here we are on the eve of the most exciting thing ever to happen to me. Not even childbirth or the night before we found out what sex of our last child was or the Christmas I got my Donnie and Marie Barbie Dolls could come close to what is happening now. I am totally frazzled (with this suitcase weight issue!), totally excited, totally at peace, totally everything. I almost don't even have any words anymore, which is very strange for me.
I have not done everything on this blog I wanted to by this date, and for those 2 of you who have been breathless awaiting my next blog entry (ha!) I am sorry. At this point, 5:30 pm on March 17, there is not more I can do. It is, however, my intent to update when I can while we are over there. And when we return I want to document every little thing that happened over there! All the people, all the places, all the cool things God does that I get to witness, experience, partake in.
Before we go, I wanted to share the words of a song by Kelly Garner, who was originally supposed to go on this trip with us. I thought I might be able to download it here too, but I can't figure out how and it's probably illegal anyway!
God Will Provide
Isaac walked up the mountain
His father by his side
Never realizing
He would be the sacrifice
And when Abraham raised his hand
To take his child's life
In his heart he must have wondered why
Sometimes God will take us to unexpected places (like Thailand and Singapore!)
But in every situation we will find
chorus
God will provide
Beyond what we imagine
So much more than we can fathom
He will supply
God will provide
When we trust in Him completely
And take each step believing like a child
God will provide
On another hill called Calvary
A Father's only Son
Was offered as a priceless gift
Of faithfulness and love
Admidst the cry of all mankind
God reached down from above
And covered us with Christ's atoning blood
No matter what our need is, God will always meet us
I know His grace will always be enough
(repeat chorus 2x)
God has done so much for us, girls and guys, and I know now He is cradling us in His hands and will keep us safe on the journey over and will strengthen us for whatever work He has already prepared for us.
It will be a joy to finally meet face to face in the next few days.
O:)
Melissa
I have not done everything on this blog I wanted to by this date, and for those 2 of you who have been breathless awaiting my next blog entry (ha!) I am sorry. At this point, 5:30 pm on March 17, there is not more I can do. It is, however, my intent to update when I can while we are over there. And when we return I want to document every little thing that happened over there! All the people, all the places, all the cool things God does that I get to witness, experience, partake in.
Before we go, I wanted to share the words of a song by Kelly Garner, who was originally supposed to go on this trip with us. I thought I might be able to download it here too, but I can't figure out how and it's probably illegal anyway!
God Will Provide
Isaac walked up the mountain
His father by his side
Never realizing
He would be the sacrifice
And when Abraham raised his hand
To take his child's life
In his heart he must have wondered why
Sometimes God will take us to unexpected places (like Thailand and Singapore!)
But in every situation we will find
chorus
God will provide
Beyond what we imagine
So much more than we can fathom
He will supply
God will provide
When we trust in Him completely
And take each step believing like a child
God will provide
On another hill called Calvary
A Father's only Son
Was offered as a priceless gift
Of faithfulness and love
Admidst the cry of all mankind
God reached down from above
And covered us with Christ's atoning blood
No matter what our need is, God will always meet us
I know His grace will always be enough
(repeat chorus 2x)
God has done so much for us, girls and guys, and I know now He is cradling us in His hands and will keep us safe on the journey over and will strengthen us for whatever work He has already prepared for us.
It will be a joy to finally meet face to face in the next few days.
O:)
Melissa
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Preparation Time
I can't believe it is six days and counting! I keep packing and repacking my suitcase trying to get it the right weight and I am having no luck! I really want to take a bunch of books to a missionary friend I have in Chiang Mai that she asked for, but dadgumit if they don't weigh a ton! Being a passionate booklover myself I so want to bring these to her, so I just keep taking more stuff out. You guys won't mind seeing me in the same outfit everyday, will you? Ha!
I wanted to share some pictures from our preparations.
Two are from our Packing Party on the 9th. Tim and Joel were awesome about stuffing and stuffing the supplies into suitcases. Their big strong muscles were handy when we went to weigh the bags with our hanging scale! Also, poor Renee has so much makeup and hair stuff she wants to bring for her workshop, her suitcase weighed nearly 80 pounds the first time! Luckily we divided it all out and somehow got it to fit. I think she said she was bringing 700 lipsticks?!? She is also in charge of all the door prizes and treats in the seats. Due to so much generosity, we have almost too much to take!
Our worship leaders have also been busy practicing on Wednesday mornings. Today I got the privilege to sit in for a while with them while taking pictures. We are going to sing some great stuff! Mendy and Jennifer were sitting on the floor looking over the notes, while Debbie and Joel were belting them out. I'm so excited for you all to meet Joel and find out what an awesome man of God he is, yet funny as heck too! There will be a lot of laughing I think going on too!
I will write more in the next few days as our time draws so ever close!
O:)
Melissa
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Images of Thailand
I have much I want to share before I leave, but I wanted to add this link to give you a visual of some of the things we may see and do...defintely the elephants!!!
O:)
Melissa
O:)
Melissa
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Sweet thoughts
Ok, I will confess that what I am fasting is sweets/desserts. I have been claiming our verse Angela gave us in 2 Sam I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God that which costs me nothing! It has been good to cling to, especially over my daddy's birthday chocolate cake (which I made!) and now with Valentine's Day coming up!
But I wanted to find another verse involving "sweets" to claim, to make it more personal. Here is what I found and what dear Charles Spurgeon has to say:
God is so sweet!
O:)
Melissa
But I wanted to find another verse involving "sweets" to claim, to make it more personal. Here is what I found and what dear Charles Spurgeon has to say:
Psalm 119:103
103 How sweet Your word is to my taste— [sweeter] than honey to my mouth. (HCSB)
103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (NIV)
Your words are so choice, so tasty; I prefer them to the best home cooking. (Message)
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (KJV)
Spurgeon
Verse 103. How sweet are thy words into my taste. He had not only heard the words of God, but fed upon them: they affected his palate as well as his ear. God's words are many and varied, and the whole of them make up what we call "the word": David loved them each one, individually, arid the whole of them as a whole; he tasted an indescribable sweetness in them. He expresses the fact of their sweetness, but as he cannot express the degree of their sweetness he cries, "How sweet!" Being God's words they were divinely sweet to God's servant; he who put the sweetness into them had prepared the taste of his servant to discern and enjoy it. David makes no distinction between promises and precepts, doctrines and threatenings; they are all included in God's words, and all are precious in his esteem. Oh for a deep love to all that the Lord has revealed, whatever form it may take. Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. When he did not only eat but also speak the word, by instructing others, he felt an increased delight in it. The sweetest of all temporal things fall short of the infinite deliciousness of the eternal word. Honey itself is outstripped of the Lord Widen the Psalmist fed on it he in sweetness by the word found it sweet; but when he bore witness of it became sweeter still. How wise it will be on our part to keep the word on our palate by meditation and on our tongue by confession. It must be sweet to our taste when we think of it, or it will not be Sweet to our mouth when we talk of it.
However, on March 4, when this is over, I'm starting with a white chocolate mocha at Saxby's and bringing chocolate cake to share for anyone who wants to join me! Ha!God is so sweet!
O:)
Melissa
More Ezra thoughts
Although most of Monday night was spent on everyone sharing their own Why? answers, there was one incredible thing I wanted to share from Ezra. In Ezra 3:3 it says They set up the altar on its foundation and offered burnt offerings for the morning and evening on it to the LORD even though they feared the surrounding peoples. This tells us that when the people were afraid, the worshipped. Back then it meant offering sacrifices as a means of worship; but today, since Jesus was our sacrifice once for all, we can worship Him through songs, prayer, etc. Angela has had a visual of this that she shared with us in regard to this about our trip. (Forgive me, Angela, if I don't get this exactly right!) She sees us inside the city walls at the gate and she sees an enemy approaching to defeat us. But inside the city, instead of lifting up weapons to destroy the enemy, we are singing praise songs and worshipping the Lord. HE is our weapon and HE is the one who turns back the enemy. Over and over in the Bible we read of times when the LORD was the one who fought the battle for His people and they were always victorious. We, too, will be victorious!
I wish so much I could share everyone's Why answers; it was such an incredible night to learn so much about all of us there and to see what each person feels he/she will be doing there. As Angela said, we were speaking prophecy about what is going to happen while we are there. Some of it sent chill bumps over us! It will be so exciting to come back and share how and when it happens! I will share one thing Ann said....she said this whole trip actually started in 1999 when God placed the desire on her heart to minister to these missionary wives and others who have no one to help them when their husbands are so busy with mission work. They have their own set of friends there, but sometimes you just need family and family is always 1000s of miles away. It will be such a joy to love on these women and give them a Word, whatever that may be that the Lord lays on our hearts.
The days are getting closer and I am getting more excited!
O:)
Melissa
I wish so much I could share everyone's Why answers; it was such an incredible night to learn so much about all of us there and to see what each person feels he/she will be doing there. As Angela said, we were speaking prophecy about what is going to happen while we are there. Some of it sent chill bumps over us! It will be so exciting to come back and share how and when it happens! I will share one thing Ann said....she said this whole trip actually started in 1999 when God placed the desire on her heart to minister to these missionary wives and others who have no one to help them when their husbands are so busy with mission work. They have their own set of friends there, but sometimes you just need family and family is always 1000s of miles away. It will be such a joy to love on these women and give them a Word, whatever that may be that the Lord lays on our hearts.
The days are getting closer and I am getting more excited!
O:)
Melissa
Monday, February 4, 2008
My Why Answers
Don't get too excited thinking I have figured out the Why questions of life, because long ago I decided that although Jesus will one day answer all of our Why questions, by that time the answer won't matter anymore. (you know, like why on earth does a baby scream her head off if she is so tired?!?!?)
Alas, this week in Bible Study we were asked by Angela to answer some Why questions about this trip and I wanted to share my answers.
1. Why am I on this trip?
The short answer is, because God told me to go! I would never in a million years have thought I might actually go on a missions trip, especially to the other side of the world, but when God tells you to go, He not only fills you with the desire, but also with the peace that all the plans will work out. Besides one short breakdown, I have not worried about how this would all work out. I knew God would provide, because He has been in charge of this all along.
At the same time, I could not be doing with this without “the hand of the Lord upon me, [from which] I took courage…” (Ezra 7:28). To sign up for this trip not knowing hardly anyone going was a huge step for me.
2. Who am I targeting?
I know our goal is to love on and encourage these women at the REST retreat and that is what I enjoy doing, so I am hoping for the opportunity to do that. I want to be open to do what the Lord will have me do there. However, the other week when Mendy and I were putting together all these scrapbooking kits and I was thinking about the low attendance issue, I thought, “what are we going to do if so few people show up to the retreat and no one chooses to come to our workshop?!? “ I wasn’t really disappointed like we had worked so hard for nothing, for I knew it was the Lord’s will for us to be doing this. But then I thought, “maybe there is someone else who needs all this stuff, or maybe if there are only 5 people who show up at our workshops, we can bless them by giving them all this extra stuff. Maybe they have wanted to get into preserving their families history and events and just have not been able to get the supplies to do it. I just want to be open to whomever and whatever I need to do, I want to “boldly and without hindrance….. [teach] about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 28:31)
3. What is my purpose on this trip?
Not only to be faithful and obey the Lord when He says to go, but also to be open to what He wants me to do. As Matthew Henry says, “when God's time is come for fulfilling his gracious purposes concerning his church, he will raise up instruments to do it…” That would be us; that would be me.
I also want to expand my understanding of missions, to see it “live in action”; I want to finally after 40 years do the great commission; I want to have a deeper love for missions begin to build within me. I want to take a step of faith and let God show me what He can do for me when I totally trust Him, to enlarge my simplistic understanding of Him.
4. What is God telling me about my role on this trip?
Be open to what I want you to do for Me. See where it may go. Hang on!
5. How I came to know Jesus….
At the tender age of 7 ½ I asked Jesus into my heart and was baptized, but all I thought that meant was that I got to drink the juice and eat the cracker. I have been in church since I was 4 weeks old, so I had heard and learned the wonderful Bible stories and memorized scripture, but it wasn’t until I was in high school that I really began to understand and grasp it all. Then, while in college, I actually got rebaptized. Not because I thought I needed it, but because I felt like I understood it more and wanted to experience it again.
I have no wild conversion story since I have pretty much been goody two-shoes all my life, but that does not mean life has always been easy. I may appear to have it all together on the outside, but inside there are many troubles that nag at me and beg to drag me down. However, through the years of being married and having children I have continued to grow and grow in my understand and love of Jesus and that has helped me in my battles that I fight.
I'm anxious to see what everyone else has to say tonight!
O:)
Melissa
Alas, this week in Bible Study we were asked by Angela to answer some Why questions about this trip and I wanted to share my answers.
1. Why am I on this trip?
The short answer is, because God told me to go! I would never in a million years have thought I might actually go on a missions trip, especially to the other side of the world, but when God tells you to go, He not only fills you with the desire, but also with the peace that all the plans will work out. Besides one short breakdown, I have not worried about how this would all work out. I knew God would provide, because He has been in charge of this all along.
At the same time, I could not be doing with this without “the hand of the Lord upon me, [from which] I took courage…” (Ezra 7:28). To sign up for this trip not knowing hardly anyone going was a huge step for me.
2. Who am I targeting?
I know our goal is to love on and encourage these women at the REST retreat and that is what I enjoy doing, so I am hoping for the opportunity to do that. I want to be open to do what the Lord will have me do there. However, the other week when Mendy and I were putting together all these scrapbooking kits and I was thinking about the low attendance issue, I thought, “what are we going to do if so few people show up to the retreat and no one chooses to come to our workshop?!? “ I wasn’t really disappointed like we had worked so hard for nothing, for I knew it was the Lord’s will for us to be doing this. But then I thought, “maybe there is someone else who needs all this stuff, or maybe if there are only 5 people who show up at our workshops, we can bless them by giving them all this extra stuff. Maybe they have wanted to get into preserving their families history and events and just have not been able to get the supplies to do it. I just want to be open to whomever and whatever I need to do, I want to “boldly and without hindrance….. [teach] about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 28:31)
3. What is my purpose on this trip?
Not only to be faithful and obey the Lord when He says to go, but also to be open to what He wants me to do. As Matthew Henry says, “when God's time is come for fulfilling his gracious purposes concerning his church, he will raise up instruments to do it…” That would be us; that would be me.
I also want to expand my understanding of missions, to see it “live in action”; I want to finally after 40 years do the great commission; I want to have a deeper love for missions begin to build within me. I want to take a step of faith and let God show me what He can do for me when I totally trust Him, to enlarge my simplistic understanding of Him.
4. What is God telling me about my role on this trip?
Be open to what I want you to do for Me. See where it may go. Hang on!
5. How I came to know Jesus….
At the tender age of 7 ½ I asked Jesus into my heart and was baptized, but all I thought that meant was that I got to drink the juice and eat the cracker. I have been in church since I was 4 weeks old, so I had heard and learned the wonderful Bible stories and memorized scripture, but it wasn’t until I was in high school that I really began to understand and grasp it all. Then, while in college, I actually got rebaptized. Not because I thought I needed it, but because I felt like I understood it more and wanted to experience it again.
I have no wild conversion story since I have pretty much been goody two-shoes all my life, but that does not mean life has always been easy. I may appear to have it all together on the outside, but inside there are many troubles that nag at me and beg to drag me down. However, through the years of being married and having children I have continued to grow and grow in my understand and love of Jesus and that has helped me in my battles that I fight.
I'm anxious to see what everyone else has to say tonight!
O:)
Melissa
Zechariah thoughts..
I will never be able to justice to our buddy Zechariah here, but I did just want to point out a few things that really stood out to me and us.
Basically, Zechariah and Haggai were around at the same time; however Haggai was older and Zechariah was younger. According to Eugene Merrill, "Whereas Haggai’s vision encompassed, for the most part, his immediate, temporal situation, the range of his contemporary and colleague was much more expansive; for Zechariah not only shared Haggai’s burden about the inertia of the postexilic community, but by vision and dream saw the unfolding of Divine purpose for all of God’s people and for all the ages to come."
Haggai could see what needed to be done NOW, while through visions and words from the Lord, Zechariah could see "the big picture" ... he could see years into the future when Jesus, God incarnate, would walk these very paths!
Basically, Haggai was the practical one -- let's go in, get the temple built, get it done. This has no life, but only immediate work to be done. Zechariah was the prophetic one -- he could see in the Spirit about why the temple needed to be built. This has no meat, but only visions of the future. In the church, you need both to get the work done. Zechariah brings the WHY to Haggai.
I highly recommend http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/38.html which is a commentary on Zechariah by David Guzik.
Basically, Zechariah and Haggai were around at the same time; however Haggai was older and Zechariah was younger. According to Eugene Merrill, "Whereas Haggai’s vision encompassed, for the most part, his immediate, temporal situation, the range of his contemporary and colleague was much more expansive; for Zechariah not only shared Haggai’s burden about the inertia of the postexilic community, but by vision and dream saw the unfolding of Divine purpose for all of God’s people and for all the ages to come."
Haggai could see what needed to be done NOW, while through visions and words from the Lord, Zechariah could see "the big picture" ... he could see years into the future when Jesus, God incarnate, would walk these very paths!
Basically, Haggai was the practical one -- let's go in, get the temple built, get it done. This has no life, but only immediate work to be done. Zechariah was the prophetic one -- he could see in the Spirit about why the temple needed to be built. This has no meat, but only visions of the future. In the church, you need both to get the work done. Zechariah brings the WHY to Haggai.
I highly recommend http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/38.html which is a commentary on Zechariah by David Guzik.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
One of our fearless leaders
This is a picture of Ann, one of our fearless leaders. She is the one on the far right in the stripe shirt. (Hint, she is the one you get all the e-mails from!)
O:)
Melissa
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Clarification on Bible Study Notes
Just for the record, a lot of stuff I am getting on our Bible Study is from a website called Classic Bible Commentaries at http://eword.gospelcom.net/comments/ It has commentaries mainly from years ago, with writers like Darby, Brown, and Wesley. I believe they all cover all 66 books of the Bible. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is studying the Word and wants to go deeper with understanding.
I just didn't want you all to think I was some super smart academic chick with all these great insights. I have had some, but only through thinking about what the other guys said.
I will get to Zechariah soon, but it will be considerably condensed from the others. Fourteen chapters of prophesies and revelations was quite overwhelming, and before we even started discussing it we had this awesome prayer time for Joel and his leadership on this trip. I planned on being there until midnight (it is supposed to be 6:30ish to 9) but it was only 10:00 when I got in the car! Ha!
O:)
Melissa
I just didn't want you all to think I was some super smart academic chick with all these great insights. I have had some, but only through thinking about what the other guys said.
I will get to Zechariah soon, but it will be considerably condensed from the others. Fourteen chapters of prophesies and revelations was quite overwhelming, and before we even started discussing it we had this awesome prayer time for Joel and his leadership on this trip. I planned on being there until midnight (it is supposed to be 6:30ish to 9) but it was only 10:00 when I got in the car! Ha!
O:)
Melissa
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
More pictures!
Ok, new pictures! The angels to the left are a more recent picture of my girls. It occurred to me that you might think my girls are little when really they are not. Ok, and also because I think they were precious in their little angel outfits for Christmas. Forgive a momma's pride!
Also, the group shot with lots of ladies in it is our Canada prayer team. Most of these ladies aren't going with us, but they have been lifting us up in prayer and will continue to while we are gone. Thank you so much ladies!!
Finally, Sharon was so thoughtful to send me the names of the Canada Girls! Back row is Linda and Deb and front row is Alice and Sharon.
O:)
Melissa
Picture Time!!
Yeah! I finally figured out how to do pictures! Let's see if I can these labeled correctly:
Starting at the top and going left to right --
1. Sharon and her family (from Canada)
2. Nearly everyone from mid-Tennessee going: Angela, Renee, Debbie, Joel, Mendy, Rhonda, Pat, Cindy, Jennifer, Ann, me, & Tim.
3. Me and my family from Halloween 2005. Ok, it is really dated but truthfully we have not a family picture taken since then! Shame on us! (We were dressed up like Little House if you didn't get it!)
4. Next is the "Canada Girls". I can't get it straight in my head who is who on the top, but it is either Alica, Linda, or Debra. Mary and Sharon are on the bottom.
5. Marie and her daughter Rachel. Rachel is currently serving in Chiang Mai and will also be helping us at the retreat. Marie is our only member from Maryland.
6. Pat and her husband Robert had this picture taken recently on their trip to Antarctica. Pat is our administrator and if you don't know her you will enjoy getting to know her. She is certainly going to keep us in line! She is also in TN.
7. Next is Debbie from TN. She is the 3rd from left with her kids. She was apparently 10 when she had her oldest child because to see her you would never guess she has one child in college with twins starting this fall.
8. Finally there is Mendy with her sweet "Elmo" family. She is from TN and is my best buddy on this trip!
So, do you see YOUR picture here? It would sure be great to have the chance to at least see the faces of those we will be sharing this incredible experience with!
I'm afraid to count how many days are left before we go...it will be here so soon!
Be sure to check out the website for the conference if you haven't recently. Mary has done an awesome video clip added to it. Also, click here for pictures of the Empress Hotel.
I will post again soon and hope to have a slide show available for you to watch about Thailand.
O:)
Melissa
Melissa
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Ezra - God's Provision
For this past week (Jan 21) we studied Ezra, chps 1-5. We thought it was a big step up from 2 chapters, but it wasn't really that bad once you got into it. Here are some of the nuggets of truth and inspiration that I got:
Right off in v. 1 our socks are blown off by the fact that In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The Lord put it into the mind of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing: This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever is among His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. Let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.”
Jeremiah 25:11-12 (written several years prior to this event) tells us This whole land will become a desolate ruin, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years. When the 70 years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation’—[this is] the Lord’s declaration—‘the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, and I will make it a ruin forever.
We read in Isaiah 45:13 I have raised [Cyrus] up in righteousness, and will level all roads for him. He will rebuild My city, and set My exiles free, not for a price or a bribe,” says the Lord of Hosts. Since that verse comes so many books after Ezra you may not realize it, but this prophecy was actually spoken 150 years before Cyrus was even born! Before the Jews were even taken into exile!
It gets better! What really struck me, and several other team members, was v. 4 where the King tells the other people to provide for the Jews whatever he needs to return...that is just the way so many of have been provided for. From monetary contributions to supplies to prayer, we have been blessed over and over with what we need double fold! And it encourages us in the areas we are still nervous about (mainly, luggage!) that He is going to provide for that somehow.
Chapter 2 is a long list of names of people who came, lists that some get bored with a skip over. The thing that struck me about it was just another example of how detailed and orderly God is. And a reminder that somewhere in God's Book of Life my name is written down. We also found it interesting that so many who claimed to be priests but whose family records could not be found still were able to come, until there was a priest who could determine their lineage.
In chapter 3 they finally get on with rebuilding of the altar. They set up the altar on its foundation and offered burnt offerings for the morning and evening on it to the Lord even though they feared the surrounding peoples. Even though they were afraid, they still kept at it. They knew it was most important to get the altar done so they could begin offering sacrifices again. Says, Jamieson, Faussett, & Brown, This was of urgent and immediate necessity, in order, first, to make atonement for their sins; secondly, to obtain the divine blessing on their preparations for the temple. After the altar is built and sacrifices made, they get on to rebuilding the temple. As the foundation is finished, the younger set began praising God and cheering, while the older set (those who probably remembered Solomon's temple) were weeping loudly, both for joy and for heartbreak. Wesley tells us that The mixture of sorrow and joy here, is a representation of this world. In heaven all are singing and none sighing; in hell all are wailing, and none rejoicing: but here on earth we can scarce discern the shouts of joy from the noise of the weeping.
Then comes chapter 4 where the trouble starts. The enemies of Judah and Benjamin tried to come and help them, but they wouldn't let them, saying “You may have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.” Needless to say, that did not go over well and they began to discourage the Jews. They wrote a letter to the current King encouraging him to have the Jews cease building immediately. Since the King was far away and had no idea about the whole picture, he agreed and sent a letter saying thus. This brought up an interesting point to me, esp what Wesley had to say...As they abused the king by their misinformations, in the obtaining of this order, so they abused him in the execution of it; for the order was only to prevent the walling of the city. But having power in their hands, they, on this pretense, stopt the building of the temple. See what need we have to pray, not only for kings, but for all in authority under them: because the quietness of our lives depends much on the integrity and wisdom of inferior magistrates as well as the supreme. In this election year we not only need to pray for our future (and present!) president, but also those serving under him. Matthew Henry also tells us Every attempt to revive true religion will stir up the opposition of Satan.
And then we get to chapter 5. Here we are about 15 years later and Haggai and Zechariah have come and prophesied to the people to get back to work. (Time wise you could stick the book of Haggai right here) This time they were still afraid, but they were strengthened, knowing God was watching over them. This reminds us, according to Matthew Henry, that While employed in God's work, we are under his special protection; his eye is upon us for good. This should keep us to our duty, and encourage us therein, when difficulties are ever so discouraging. (Hhm..this one might be good to remember during weak times of our fast!) Another letter was sent to the new King, but this time it was sent more so to inquire as to if what the Jews had said was correct, that indeed King Cyrus had given them permission and all the supplies needed. Of course, we know he did, but they didn't.
And thus ends what we have so far on Ezra. I thought we would plug right along with the final part of Ezra for this week, but instead we have leaped over the Zechariah -- the whole book! I have had a lot of trouble getting into it (lots of visions, etc) but slowly the Lord is dropping the blinders and letting me see.
Right off in v. 1 our socks are blown off by the fact that In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The Lord put it into the mind of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing: This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever is among His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. Let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.”
Jeremiah 25:11-12 (written several years prior to this event) tells us This whole land will become a desolate ruin, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years. When the 70 years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation’—[this is] the Lord’s declaration—‘the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, and I will make it a ruin forever.
We read in Isaiah 45:13 I have raised [Cyrus] up in righteousness, and will level all roads for him. He will rebuild My city, and set My exiles free, not for a price or a bribe,” says the Lord of Hosts. Since that verse comes so many books after Ezra you may not realize it, but this prophecy was actually spoken 150 years before Cyrus was even born! Before the Jews were even taken into exile!
It gets better! What really struck me, and several other team members, was v. 4 where the King tells the other people to provide for the Jews whatever he needs to return...that is just the way so many of have been provided for. From monetary contributions to supplies to prayer, we have been blessed over and over with what we need double fold! And it encourages us in the areas we are still nervous about (mainly, luggage!) that He is going to provide for that somehow.
Chapter 2 is a long list of names of people who came, lists that some get bored with a skip over. The thing that struck me about it was just another example of how detailed and orderly God is. And a reminder that somewhere in God's Book of Life my name is written down. We also found it interesting that so many who claimed to be priests but whose family records could not be found still were able to come, until there was a priest who could determine their lineage.
In chapter 3 they finally get on with rebuilding of the altar. They set up the altar on its foundation and offered burnt offerings for the morning and evening on it to the Lord even though they feared the surrounding peoples. Even though they were afraid, they still kept at it. They knew it was most important to get the altar done so they could begin offering sacrifices again. Says, Jamieson, Faussett, & Brown, This was of urgent and immediate necessity, in order, first, to make atonement for their sins; secondly, to obtain the divine blessing on their preparations for the temple. After the altar is built and sacrifices made, they get on to rebuilding the temple. As the foundation is finished, the younger set began praising God and cheering, while the older set (those who probably remembered Solomon's temple) were weeping loudly, both for joy and for heartbreak. Wesley tells us that The mixture of sorrow and joy here, is a representation of this world. In heaven all are singing and none sighing; in hell all are wailing, and none rejoicing: but here on earth we can scarce discern the shouts of joy from the noise of the weeping.
Then comes chapter 4 where the trouble starts. The enemies of Judah and Benjamin tried to come and help them, but they wouldn't let them, saying “You may have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.” Needless to say, that did not go over well and they began to discourage the Jews. They wrote a letter to the current King encouraging him to have the Jews cease building immediately. Since the King was far away and had no idea about the whole picture, he agreed and sent a letter saying thus. This brought up an interesting point to me, esp what Wesley had to say...As they abused the king by their misinformations, in the obtaining of this order, so they abused him in the execution of it; for the order was only to prevent the walling of the city. But having power in their hands, they, on this pretense, stopt the building of the temple. See what need we have to pray, not only for kings, but for all in authority under them: because the quietness of our lives depends much on the integrity and wisdom of inferior magistrates as well as the supreme. In this election year we not only need to pray for our future (and present!) president, but also those serving under him. Matthew Henry also tells us Every attempt to revive true religion will stir up the opposition of Satan.
And then we get to chapter 5. Here we are about 15 years later and Haggai and Zechariah have come and prophesied to the people to get back to work. (Time wise you could stick the book of Haggai right here) This time they were still afraid, but they were strengthened, knowing God was watching over them. This reminds us, according to Matthew Henry, that While employed in God's work, we are under his special protection; his eye is upon us for good. This should keep us to our duty, and encourage us therein, when difficulties are ever so discouraging. (Hhm..this one might be good to remember during weak times of our fast!) Another letter was sent to the new King, but this time it was sent more so to inquire as to if what the Jews had said was correct, that indeed King Cyrus had given them permission and all the supplies needed. Of course, we know he did, but they didn't.
And thus ends what we have so far on Ezra. I thought we would plug right along with the final part of Ezra for this week, but instead we have leaped over the Zechariah -- the whole book! I have had a lot of trouble getting into it (lots of visions, etc) but slowly the Lord is dropping the blinders and letting me see.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Nuggets of truth from Haggai
As I mentioned before, our Bible studies have been truly amazing! I'd love to share everything that I found about Haggai and Ezra, but I just don't have the time and you might not find it nearly as interesting as the rest of us, but let me give you a brief overview of what we have done so far.
This is how I have fallen into doing the study. I take the passage of the week and read it in many versions, but still refer back to my NIV when I have a question. I made notes all along about the verses in a journal. After I read it in the different versions I start doing some research in commentaries from http://eword.gospelcom.net/comments/ . It takes the same passage and has commentaries from about 6 authors, with John Darby; Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown; Matthew Henry and John Wesley being my favorites. When I read something that really jumps out at me or helps explain something I didn't understand, I copy and paste it into a document for more notes. I also use LifeWay's Online Bible Library. http://bible.lifeway.com/crossmain.asp Then I go back and look at all of it all together to see what really jumps out at me. It may not be how others are doing it, but I found it works for me.
The first week we worked through the whole book of Haggai, which was only 2 chapters. You'd be surprised how much is packed in that little book! Basically, the history is that the exiles have returned and started building the temple, but got defeated and harassed by their enemies and neighbors and and had to stop. Then they got busy leading their own lives, taking care of their own houses and building themselves up and did not get back to rebuilding. In the meantime, there were many troubles for the people, 1:6 You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to become drunk. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it. 1:9-11 Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house. So on your account the skies have withheld the dew and the land its crops. I have summoned a drought on the fields and the hills, on the grain, new wine, olive oil, and whatever the ground yields, on the people and animals, and on all that your hands produce.
Haggai the prophet comes with words from the Lord and spurs them on to get started again, which they do. 1:14 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the spirit of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. They began work on the house of Yahweh of Hosts, their God. Once they got started back working on the temple, the Lord began to bless them immensely. The Lord reminds them that He is there with them 2:4 "...be strong, Zerubbabel”—the Lord’s declaration. “Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land”—the Lord’s declaration. “Work! For I am with you.” Those words encouraged the Jews to get back to work, despite the troubles they knew they were going to have again.
So basically, these are the principles from Haggai, compliments of one of the commentaries (not me!):
Principles from Haggai
1. The work of the Lord should never be procrastinated (1:3)
2. Misplaced priorities hinder the work of God (1:4,9)
3. Obedience and reverence are prerequisites for spiritual blessing (1:12-14)
4. It is never too late to start obeying God (1:12-15)
5. Courage comes from knowing that God is present (2:1-4)
6. Everything belongs to and is under the control of the Lord (2:7-8)
7. Sin contaminates everything one does (2:13-14)
8. Disobedience brings discipline, while obedience guarantees blessing (2:15-19)
9. God is sovereign over the nations and kingdoms of this world. (2:20-22)
10. The covenants of the Lord are guaranteed to be fulfilled (2:23)
I'm not sure I have done dear Haggai justice with this short overview, but I hope it will encourage you to get into it and see what you can find for yourself! Now I have to get off to start working on supper and get ready for my sweet girlies to get home!
O:)
Melissa
This is how I have fallen into doing the study. I take the passage of the week and read it in many versions, but still refer back to my NIV when I have a question. I made notes all along about the verses in a journal. After I read it in the different versions I start doing some research in commentaries from http://eword.gospelcom.net/comments/ . It takes the same passage and has commentaries from about 6 authors, with John Darby; Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown; Matthew Henry and John Wesley being my favorites. When I read something that really jumps out at me or helps explain something I didn't understand, I copy and paste it into a document for more notes. I also use LifeWay's Online Bible Library. http://bible.lifeway.com/crossmain.asp Then I go back and look at all of it all together to see what really jumps out at me. It may not be how others are doing it, but I found it works for me.
The first week we worked through the whole book of Haggai, which was only 2 chapters. You'd be surprised how much is packed in that little book! Basically, the history is that the exiles have returned and started building the temple, but got defeated and harassed by their enemies and neighbors and and had to stop. Then they got busy leading their own lives, taking care of their own houses and building themselves up and did not get back to rebuilding. In the meantime, there were many troubles for the people, 1:6 You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to become drunk. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it. 1:9-11 Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house. So on your account the skies have withheld the dew and the land its crops. I have summoned a drought on the fields and the hills, on the grain, new wine, olive oil, and whatever the ground yields, on the people and animals, and on all that your hands produce.
Haggai the prophet comes with words from the Lord and spurs them on to get started again, which they do. 1:14 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the spirit of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. They began work on the house of Yahweh of Hosts, their God. Once they got started back working on the temple, the Lord began to bless them immensely. The Lord reminds them that He is there with them 2:4 "...be strong, Zerubbabel”—the Lord’s declaration. “Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land”—the Lord’s declaration. “Work! For I am with you.” Those words encouraged the Jews to get back to work, despite the troubles they knew they were going to have again.
So basically, these are the principles from Haggai, compliments of one of the commentaries (not me!):
Principles from Haggai
1. The work of the Lord should never be procrastinated (1:3)
2. Misplaced priorities hinder the work of God (1:4,9)
3. Obedience and reverence are prerequisites for spiritual blessing (1:12-14)
4. It is never too late to start obeying God (1:12-15)
5. Courage comes from knowing that God is present (2:1-4)
6. Everything belongs to and is under the control of the Lord (2:7-8)
7. Sin contaminates everything one does (2:13-14)
8. Disobedience brings discipline, while obedience guarantees blessing (2:15-19)
9. God is sovereign over the nations and kingdoms of this world. (2:20-22)
10. The covenants of the Lord are guaranteed to be fulfilled (2:23)
I'm not sure I have done dear Haggai justice with this short overview, but I hope it will encourage you to get into it and see what you can find for yourself! Now I have to get off to start working on supper and get ready for my sweet girlies to get home!
O:)
Melissa
What GOD has been doing
Ok, evidently this blog thing is harder to keep up with than I thought, but I intend to change that as our trip gets closer and closer. I can't believe it is only about 7 weeks away!
First, updates. Thankfully, we have been able to get tickets for everyone that works and was within our price range. I was hoping it would involve a stop in LA or Hawaii, since we were going that way, but apparently, we fly over the pole so we will be going from Detroit to Tokyo and points eastward. Alas, not quite as exciting as I had hoped, but apparently a lot of the time will be spent sleeping anyway, so I guess it won't matter. There are people coming from various parts of the US and Canada, so we will meet up with them in different airports, some in Detroit, some in Tokyo, etc. We have become so tight here in Nashville that I was burdened for all the other folks going with us too who are missing this bonding time, but they were pressed upon my heart last night at Bible Study and I want to make it an effort to pray for them specifically. I can't wait to meet you guys!
Secondly, here in Nashville we have started our Bible Study. Woowee is it a doozy! We are working through the books of Haggai, Ezra, Nehemiah, Zechariah & Malachi in only 8 weeks. We are doing an inductive study of the books, which basically means we read our assigned passages of the week daily, then answer as many of the three questions that we can: 1. What did you hear Him say TODAY? 2. How have you seen Him work? 3. Where is the overlap from what we have heard expressed and what He is telling us to do as a body? It was pretty hard the first week (so I thought!) when we started with just Haggai (only 2 chapters) but once I got into it it really was exciting! It turns into an addiction when you start looking in commentaries, dictionaries, etc anything that doesn't make sense to you. I used to get up at 5:00 for quiet time before working out and getting the girls up, but now that is not long enough! I now get up at 4:45 and it still doesn't seem like long enough, so I'm just not sure if I need to get up earlier or try and find some time during other parts of the day. That is a huge challenge for me, but I will be praying about that! Later I will share some of what we have studied. I promise to keep you updated with that, it is amazing what God has been sharing with us from these prophets!
Thirdly, starting Wed, Jan 23 we will begin a fast for 40 days. Along with all the other "new" things I have been doing, this is another one. I have been thinking and praying about what I should do. We are clinging to 2 Sam 24:24 which says "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God that which costs me nothing." Wow..how's that for a hard one! Last week I had an idea about what I might give up, but now I am not sure. If I don't do that, I'm not sure what I will do. Please pray God will reveal to me and give me the strength.
Finally (for this post!) here are some current prayer requests, from another of our fearless leaders:
PRAYER NEEDS FOR OUR TEAM
~There are members of our team who deal with terrible panic attacks, and carry about in them this weakness. Please pray for complete victory for them over this as we travel and live in Asia for the time. They do not want to be hindered in anything.
~There is a member of our team who has severe motion sickness and is struggling with the thought of the flights and the many hours in the plane. Pray for them to be healed miraculously as part of the blessing of her calling on this trip.
~There are those who are stressed about the time change and the toll that can have on a body who needs sleep. Pray for our sleep on planes, buses, hotel rooms or wherever we are to be rich and full and complete by Him and in Him. He put it on my heart last night to pray for the sleep that came over Adam to come over us each night. That the Lord Himself would put His babies to sleep, and work to help us.
~There are those on the team who deal with physical health… fibromyalgia is one of the thorns that we as a team carry and share because there are those called to this venture and yet live in this pain. Pray for there swift upholding and power to be able by His great hand to do what they could never do apart from Him.
~My husband Russell is going to Thailand in Feb. and is able to carry over a second luggage for us full of supplies. We still need the airlines to give us favor for two pieces of luggage per person. We need the Lord to show us other ways to get the supplies and music equipment over…**Note, the airlines has told us that although we can have 2 pieces of luggage all the way from Nashville to Singapore, from Singapore to Chaing Mai (where we will need most of our supplies!) we can only have 1 piece of luggage. With all we need to carry over (supplies, etc) it is imperative that we get the other piece of luggage over there. I believe they are making progress in the matter, but we are waiting on clear news for certain.
One thing I am looking forward to on the trip is being WARM! I understand it will be quite toasty there in March and I could sure use some warmth right now! Ha!
O:)
Melissa
First, updates. Thankfully, we have been able to get tickets for everyone that works and was within our price range. I was hoping it would involve a stop in LA or Hawaii, since we were going that way, but apparently, we fly over the pole so we will be going from Detroit to Tokyo and points eastward. Alas, not quite as exciting as I had hoped, but apparently a lot of the time will be spent sleeping anyway, so I guess it won't matter. There are people coming from various parts of the US and Canada, so we will meet up with them in different airports, some in Detroit, some in Tokyo, etc. We have become so tight here in Nashville that I was burdened for all the other folks going with us too who are missing this bonding time, but they were pressed upon my heart last night at Bible Study and I want to make it an effort to pray for them specifically. I can't wait to meet you guys!
Secondly, here in Nashville we have started our Bible Study. Woowee is it a doozy! We are working through the books of Haggai, Ezra, Nehemiah, Zechariah & Malachi in only 8 weeks. We are doing an inductive study of the books, which basically means we read our assigned passages of the week daily, then answer as many of the three questions that we can: 1. What did you hear Him say TODAY? 2. How have you seen Him work? 3. Where is the overlap from what we have heard expressed and what He is telling us to do as a body? It was pretty hard the first week (so I thought!) when we started with just Haggai (only 2 chapters) but once I got into it it really was exciting! It turns into an addiction when you start looking in commentaries, dictionaries, etc anything that doesn't make sense to you. I used to get up at 5:00 for quiet time before working out and getting the girls up, but now that is not long enough! I now get up at 4:45 and it still doesn't seem like long enough, so I'm just not sure if I need to get up earlier or try and find some time during other parts of the day. That is a huge challenge for me, but I will be praying about that! Later I will share some of what we have studied. I promise to keep you updated with that, it is amazing what God has been sharing with us from these prophets!
Thirdly, starting Wed, Jan 23 we will begin a fast for 40 days. Along with all the other "new" things I have been doing, this is another one. I have been thinking and praying about what I should do. We are clinging to 2 Sam 24:24 which says "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God that which costs me nothing." Wow..how's that for a hard one! Last week I had an idea about what I might give up, but now I am not sure. If I don't do that, I'm not sure what I will do. Please pray God will reveal to me and give me the strength.
Finally (for this post!) here are some current prayer requests, from another of our fearless leaders:
PRAYER NEEDS FOR OUR TEAM
~There are members of our team who deal with terrible panic attacks, and carry about in them this weakness. Please pray for complete victory for them over this as we travel and live in Asia for the time. They do not want to be hindered in anything.
~There is a member of our team who has severe motion sickness and is struggling with the thought of the flights and the many hours in the plane. Pray for them to be healed miraculously as part of the blessing of her calling on this trip.
~There are those who are stressed about the time change and the toll that can have on a body who needs sleep. Pray for our sleep on planes, buses, hotel rooms or wherever we are to be rich and full and complete by Him and in Him. He put it on my heart last night to pray for the sleep that came over Adam to come over us each night. That the Lord Himself would put His babies to sleep, and work to help us.
~There are those on the team who deal with physical health… fibromyalgia is one of the thorns that we as a team carry and share because there are those called to this venture and yet live in this pain. Pray for there swift upholding and power to be able by His great hand to do what they could never do apart from Him.
~My husband Russell is going to Thailand in Feb. and is able to carry over a second luggage for us full of supplies. We still need the airlines to give us favor for two pieces of luggage per person. We need the Lord to show us other ways to get the supplies and music equipment over…**Note, the airlines has told us that although we can have 2 pieces of luggage all the way from Nashville to Singapore, from Singapore to Chaing Mai (where we will need most of our supplies!) we can only have 1 piece of luggage. With all we need to carry over (supplies, etc) it is imperative that we get the other piece of luggage over there. I believe they are making progress in the matter, but we are waiting on clear news for certain.
One thing I am looking forward to on the trip is being WARM! I understand it will be quite toasty there in March and I could sure use some warmth right now! Ha!
O:)
Melissa
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
A verse for us all to memorize and take to heart
Just got an e-mail from one of our fearless leaders who had an excellent take on Isaiah 41:9-10:
I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners (Canada, Mississippi, TN, VA, IN, Hong Kong andMD).
I said to you: You are My servant; (isn't that exactly what we want to be on this trip);
I have chosen you (now that should make you feel very special) & not rejected you.
Do not fear, (leaving children and family behind, the long trip on the plane, the unknown, how many register for the retreat, or the plans of the Thai day) for I am with you; your God.
I will strengthen you; (physically,emotionally, and mentally),
I will help you; (get everything done for this trip--preparation of the workshops; collection of all the treats; and support money);
I will hold on to youwith My righteous right hand (what an incredible promise!)
Once you start putting personal things in there it really brings it home, doesn't it?
I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners (Canada, Mississippi, TN, VA, IN, Hong Kong andMD).
I said to you: You are My servant; (isn't that exactly what we want to be on this trip);
I have chosen you (now that should make you feel very special) & not rejected you.
Do not fear, (leaving children and family behind, the long trip on the plane, the unknown, how many register for the retreat, or the plans of the Thai day) for I am with you; your God.
I will strengthen you; (physically,emotionally, and mentally),
I will help you; (get everything done for this trip--preparation of the workshops; collection of all the treats; and support money);
I will hold on to youwith My righteous right hand (what an incredible promise!)
Once you start putting personal things in there it really brings it home, doesn't it?
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
God is so good!
I can't believe it! I just got my latest list from the one in charge of the money and I am only $75 away from reaching the total amount! Thank you so much for those of you who have made a donation to this trip for me. I could not be going if it were not for you. Thank you also for those of you who are praying for me. Again, I could not be going if it weren't for you either. Satan is sharpening up his tools against me and I have already felt his proddings, but I know and I know that my GOD is so much stronger than him! I just need to reach out to God and cling to Him in this fight and I know GOD will be victorious. Please continue to pray for me to be open to GOD and to cling to Him.
Here are some other prayer requests you can be praying about:
Pray for the women GOD has already chosen to come to these retreats and events. Pray that GOD will open their eyes and see the doors that are opening for them to be able to come and that they will make their plans soon.
Pray for the one day event in Chaing Mai. There are some difficulties getting that going in the direction it needs to go, but I know GOD wants us there or HE would not have placed this opportunity in front of us.
Pray for the finances of the other team members to come through. Pray for our fearless administrator Pat to find the best deal on airline tickets so she can use our money wisely.
Pray even now for our families for when we are gone, that GOD will give them comfort and peace (and for us to not miss them too much!). Pray for our parents, our husbands and wives, our children...Pray for anyone still needing childcare situations worked out. GOD has done some amazing things already for some of us and I know HE will provide for those who may still be uncertain.
Pray for the bonding of those of us in Nashville after Christmas when we begin our weekly Bible Study meetings, that we will grow close to the LORD and to each other, and that again our sweet families will be understanding for being gone so much.
As important as the money is for this trip, prayers is what this trip will require the most of. We value them as much as the money.
Here are some other prayer requests you can be praying about:
Pray for the women GOD has already chosen to come to these retreats and events. Pray that GOD will open their eyes and see the doors that are opening for them to be able to come and that they will make their plans soon.
Pray for the one day event in Chaing Mai. There are some difficulties getting that going in the direction it needs to go, but I know GOD wants us there or HE would not have placed this opportunity in front of us.
Pray for the finances of the other team members to come through. Pray for our fearless administrator Pat to find the best deal on airline tickets so she can use our money wisely.
Pray even now for our families for when we are gone, that GOD will give them comfort and peace (and for us to not miss them too much!). Pray for our parents, our husbands and wives, our children...Pray for anyone still needing childcare situations worked out. GOD has done some amazing things already for some of us and I know HE will provide for those who may still be uncertain.
Pray for the bonding of those of us in Nashville after Christmas when we begin our weekly Bible Study meetings, that we will grow close to the LORD and to each other, and that again our sweet families will be understanding for being gone so much.
As important as the money is for this trip, prayers is what this trip will require the most of. We value them as much as the money.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
I am overwhelmed!
Wow! Tonight we in Nashville had the chance to meet Mary Kassian (the lead speaker for our group) for the first time and I am overwhelmed! She is so awesome and friendly and down to earth..but the thing that struck me most was this...she is from Canada and there are about 15 ladies there who have been praying for us and for the trip for a good long while now. Only about 4 of them are going, and their main job is just to pray while we are there. Oh, I am so unworthy to go, but yet God has called me!
What am I doing?
So, why am I going to Thailand? Good question! Here is the short of it, God told me too!
Here is the long of it: In the Bible, God’s word for mankind, Jesus commands us to Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19) I have read that verse and memorized that verse many times over my last 40 years and knew that was what God wanted us as Christians to do, but I never really felt He was calling me to go personally until now.
In my younger days I have done many things to help missionaries spread the word, through all my Lottie Moon tin can banks and Annie Armstrong milk carton banks, through my work with GAs both in Louisville and here in Thompsons Station. I have always had a “soft spot” in my heart for missionaries and their work, and always enjoyed hearing them speak about their work, whether it was Indonesia or Chicago. I knew deep down that one day He might want me to go, but I always had a bit of fear in me that said I wasn’t worthy enough or I didn’t know enough.
However, two things have happened in the last year to change that. First of all, in early March 2006 we met Harry and Patty Brittian, who were leaving for Thailand to be missionaries. They were young like us (ha!) and had 4 little kids. They came and spoke at our SS class one Sunday and we were all just in awe. How could they be so happy, so willing to go to the other side of the world with their young children, not knowing what lies ahead? We asked about common things: Is there a doctor close? Do you have running water? Will you live in a hut? But through it all, I could see so much Jesus in them! I really made a connection with them and have been in touch with them over the past year and a half of their journey.
Then, in January 2007 we had a Global Missions Banquet where our pastor encouraged all of us to go on some sort of mission trip in the next 18 months. He explained that, as Christians, this is our duty and responsibility to tell others about God and bring them to an understanding of His love for them. I had heard that hundreds of times before, but this time it really struck me. I believe it was God moving in my heart to say, “Melissa, this is the time.” Naturally, the two biggest barriers leapt in front of me: my precious children and the money. But even as I was thinking about that, Pastor Tom reminded us, “If God has called you to go and wants you to go, do you think things like care of children or parents or money are going to stand in your way?” So, I was ready to go wherever the Lord needed me.
As I looked over our church’s trips for the year, I didn’t feel any peace about what I was supposed to do. I prayed constantly, allowing God to show me what He wanted me to do. I found out about a trip through another church and thought it might be the one. However, it didn’t work out and I was really disappointed. I thought, “Ok, God. You want me to go; I’m willing, what now?” Then only a few weeks later I found out about a mission trip to Thailand. As soon as I heard even the sketchiest details, I knew this was what I was supposed to do. Imagine, going on a mission trip to minister to missionary wives and other American women, and being needed to do a scrapbook breakout session, which the women so are desperately desiring! Is God so cool or what?!?
My sweet husband keeps asking me why my first missions trip has to be around the world for two weeks and not, say, in Appalachia for a long weekend, but all I know is, God told me to go. I have concerns about the trip, but I just rest in His comfort, knowing He will provide.
Here is the long of it: In the Bible, God’s word for mankind, Jesus commands us to Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19) I have read that verse and memorized that verse many times over my last 40 years and knew that was what God wanted us as Christians to do, but I never really felt He was calling me to go personally until now.
In my younger days I have done many things to help missionaries spread the word, through all my Lottie Moon tin can banks and Annie Armstrong milk carton banks, through my work with GAs both in Louisville and here in Thompsons Station. I have always had a “soft spot” in my heart for missionaries and their work, and always enjoyed hearing them speak about their work, whether it was Indonesia or Chicago. I knew deep down that one day He might want me to go, but I always had a bit of fear in me that said I wasn’t worthy enough or I didn’t know enough.
However, two things have happened in the last year to change that. First of all, in early March 2006 we met Harry and Patty Brittian, who were leaving for Thailand to be missionaries. They were young like us (ha!) and had 4 little kids. They came and spoke at our SS class one Sunday and we were all just in awe. How could they be so happy, so willing to go to the other side of the world with their young children, not knowing what lies ahead? We asked about common things: Is there a doctor close? Do you have running water? Will you live in a hut? But through it all, I could see so much Jesus in them! I really made a connection with them and have been in touch with them over the past year and a half of their journey.
Then, in January 2007 we had a Global Missions Banquet where our pastor encouraged all of us to go on some sort of mission trip in the next 18 months. He explained that, as Christians, this is our duty and responsibility to tell others about God and bring them to an understanding of His love for them. I had heard that hundreds of times before, but this time it really struck me. I believe it was God moving in my heart to say, “Melissa, this is the time.” Naturally, the two biggest barriers leapt in front of me: my precious children and the money. But even as I was thinking about that, Pastor Tom reminded us, “If God has called you to go and wants you to go, do you think things like care of children or parents or money are going to stand in your way?” So, I was ready to go wherever the Lord needed me.
As I looked over our church’s trips for the year, I didn’t feel any peace about what I was supposed to do. I prayed constantly, allowing God to show me what He wanted me to do. I found out about a trip through another church and thought it might be the one. However, it didn’t work out and I was really disappointed. I thought, “Ok, God. You want me to go; I’m willing, what now?” Then only a few weeks later I found out about a mission trip to Thailand. As soon as I heard even the sketchiest details, I knew this was what I was supposed to do. Imagine, going on a mission trip to minister to missionary wives and other American women, and being needed to do a scrapbook breakout session, which the women so are desperately desiring! Is God so cool or what?!?
My sweet husband keeps asking me why my first missions trip has to be around the world for two weeks and not, say, in Appalachia for a long weekend, but all I know is, God told me to go. I have concerns about the trip, but I just rest in His comfort, knowing He will provide.
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