Love...It's a GOD Thing!

Whew! Where do the days go? Seriously. Where did last Monday go , much less yesterday? With life seemingly to be going by so quickly I can do, do, do until I've filled up my day and never get "done". HOWEVER, I can say that the things that I consume my days with are different than they have EVER been before. Oh, I have done some of my things before on occasions when they have been socially expected or when I just happened to have a few extra hours (rare with 6 children) but there is something so special about this season in our life that I never dreamed would be the most glorious of these days. What days? These days of wrapping up living here in the United States. No, we have no news on dates, no unannounced news but with the holidays on us we are keenly aware that this will be our last Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, home school year with a library accessible (sounds dumb but HUGE), last round of birthdays here, youth group, children's choir, our new SMALL group and Bible study groups......ahhhh.....honestly, it can take your breath. The ONLY thing that makes seeing the end of things coming is the hope that God WILL give us BEAUTIFUL and FULFILLING new "things". So, the thing that is so special about these days that we are living in is the unjaded love that we have for the SO MANY that we are blessed to be getting to know and those that we have known for years. Our friends stay so close to our hearts that you just make time to text and say I love you... you call and make a point to get lunch on the calendar, you drive in the car and think of the beauty that they add to your life and the richness that comes from the few minutes you're together. I , personally, am learning that true love for someone comes not from the time you share as much as the time that you've invested. The time spent in prayer for the other and the words of encouragement are much more valuable than the coffee at Starbucks or the soup at Duffy's(however, both are WONDERFUL). Our most beautiful friendships are the ones that are hundreds, thousands and tenths of a mile away. They are the people that PRAY for us, financially support us, hang out with us......God spoke to me so sweetly just the other day about a special person in my life. We are not together often at all HOWEVER she is on my heart regularly and I LOVE to watch Jesus being lived out in a very real fashion in her life. I feel like in these GREAT and ADVENTUROUS days that we are in I am FINALLY realizing what it is about LOVE that brings so many people into itself in our lives ....it's just GOD. His beautiful plan for community and a sense of family that ties us all together and will make worship what he has planned for us in heaven .... it's just God and his love working itself out in our lives and the lives of those around us EVERY day. Who do you love? Did you tell them today?

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Love,
Melinda

Psalm 18 :28-36

28 You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

30 As for God, his way is perfect;the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

31For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?

32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.

34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.

36 You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.

Psalm 18:28-36

Yesterday a dear friend found out that her husband has cancer . I cannot say a word that has any value above the value of our Fathers word and so that is where I went this morning and found this great nugget of truth for my soul. My prayer is that it will encourage you and speak to your soul as well. When we feel like we can not do anything it is imperative to remember that God can do it all! Whatever HIS all is...........we just have to find a place of rest in that.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.

My deepest love goes out to those who are hurting today. Just remember vrs 29... with my God I can scale a wall...even if the wall is cancer.

Peace,

Melinda

This is an unusually quiet Sat. morning at my house. Having time to get on the computer while the sun is up is very odd. I had a wonderful time with the Lord this morning and found myself in awe of the salvation that has been extended to me. These days we are seeing the Lord grant us many miracles using many people. Our faith in God is ALIVE , ACTIVE and REAL. I have a very real sense of knowing that God is using this time of building up for the days that are to come when we travel and live in a foreign country. While the country of Guatemala is foreign to us , to our Lord, it is common. The faith that he is building up here is the same faith that we will call on in uncertain times that are bound to be ever present with this journey we are on. I don't know how you might have come across my little spot in cyber space but I have to tell you the TRUTH...

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body , I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!
Galatians 2:20-21

So where are you at with that?...... Just something to think about. Who ever you are.... you are loved and worth great value. Grab a Bible and check it out! Have an awesome Saturday!

M

How Exciting!!!

How exciting!! Our support team is growing by leaps and bounds. Last night I actually laid my head down for sleep and caught a deep breath...wow! We're really going to Guatemala! I want to wait and share the exact numbers in our November newsletter so I am keeping it a secret for now but I can say that we are over our numbers from the last letter by more than 10% in our outbound budget and our monthly budget has raised at least 5% so far!!!!! HOW EXCITING!!!!

I found this quote from a missionary who is serving in Mexico. He had this on his newsletter:

regarding missions... "you are either called to go down into the well or you are called to hold the rope. If you can't go yourself, what you can do is send someone down who is called and willing to go." .... Blessings,

The Evans ..... willing to go down in the well.... will you hold the rope? If so... check us out at http://www.fh.stafflist.org/.

I Found 2 New LOVES Today....

Finding one new thing that you love in one day is awesome...Finding 2 new things that you love in one day is WONDERFULLY SPECIAL!

1. MOPS- I had the blessings of speaking to this beautiful group of women today ! Wow! Where was this when I had all of my guys as preschoolers. I was so encouraged to see these women really aspiring to be GREAT mothers! very encouraging...

2. Ru Sans has take out! (sushi)..... David and I saw FIREPROOF last Friday and it was AMAZING ! Also amazing but on a totally insignificant level (okay, it has value because it was food) anyway, sushi at Ru Sans! We had incredible company and great food after seeing a real heart moving movie...My mind drifts back to the movie even just typing it ..(focus)...anyway, I thought I would stop in to the restaurant and see if I could get a roll to go ...David thought not but ... I got it! I'm so addicted to this! I should say that we've only tried 3 things on the menu of 200+ possibilities but it's all good... I'm stretching and for anyone who knows me really well...stretching in the food department is, well, stretching! I'm a bit "just give me the same " kinda girl... when I find something that I like I don't venture to far from it ..not this time. I'm in .... yes, there is a place for sushi in my life.....now if only I could work in MOPS ...no preschoolers though ...at least, not today (smile)...

I hope that the Lord will put something new in your path these next few days to stretch you , encourage you and in general ... just give you the shout out that life is all about new. You get a new day, a new chance, a new life... The kinda stuff that the Lord will lead you to discover and love will never leave you feeling like you just ate raw fish.... instead, you'll just take your learners bite and probably go back for more... only next time,it'll be take out for the road.

Adios-
Heading for Guatemala one day soon ( We have a promise from the Lord),
Melinda