Seize The Moments

Last Friday, I was sitting in a coffee shop with some teens studying God's Word, when I realized the importance of seizing the moment.

I have a deep respect for single parents and an equally deep respect for kids of single parents! Having been married for 23 years and raising two amazing kids with my husband, I think about all the one on one time we got to share with our kids. Those were special trips to the movies, a night away in a nearby town or dinner and shopping just the 2 of us. I loved and cherished EVERY one of those moments but I also valued the times when my husband would take the kids so I could have ME TIME! The best part was that there was ALWAYS someone there that could take the kids so Chris or I could have that me time. A spouse is in one way, a built in babysitter.

Single moms and single dads don't have that luxury, that built in babysitter. Every trip to the movies or dinner out is one on one time. And those kids of single parents don't get that special one on one time with just mom and then just dad. They get it with one or the other but never both.

In the coffee shop last Friday, I asked the gals and guys what they were doing for Spring Break. Some had great plans but some had no plans at all. "My mom will be working so we're not going anywhere" or "my dad can't take off so I am spending Spring Break at home". That's when God prompted me to SEIZE THE MOMENT. "Let's take a girls trip and go hiking in the mountains", I suggested. They jumped on the idea. We started planning and by the end of the day we had a quick, mini vacation planned for the following Thursday.

The excitement and love in these girl's voices made my heart melt. The appreciation expressed by the single moms and single dad was well worth any monetary or time sacrifice I was making. God has blessed me to be a blessing. He calls us to take care of the widows, orphans and the poor. I believe He also calls us to help the single parents in our world. Divorce was not an issue 2000 years ago but today it is. I know single parents would be included in that scripture if Jesus wrote it today!

What moment can you SEIZE today? I have found that the best medicine for depression, anger, worry or grief is to take the focus off of me and pour into someone else. Who can you help today? What single parent, child of a single parent, widow, orphan, struggling family, etc, can you bless today? Lets be known as a generation who is unbelievably generous! I love you all and pray that you are all blessed beyond measure!

Melissa

When Tragedy Strikes... Families Pull Together ... Why Does It Take A Tragedy?

I don't know about in your family, but in mine, our biggest reunions happen at family funerals. I have spent the last few days at my husband's mom's house surrounded by many, many relatives, some of which I had never met in my 25 years in the family. I wish I could say that some amazing family member planned, organized and executed a giant FAMILY REUNION but unfortunately, it took the death of mammaw to bring us all together. Why does it take a tragedy to bring a family together?

As I was lying in bed this morning, I began to think about life and how trials and tragedies are what propels us to reach out. When you get a bad diagnosis at the doctor, you reach out for prayer and support. When a family member passes away, we reach out for comfort from our friends and family. When you lose a job, your home burns down, so on and so on, this is when we do the reaching out or reach out to those affected by one of these tragedies.

We do the same thing with God. When we are hurting is when we really reach out for God. He wants us to reach out to Him all the time. When things are going good we build our relationship with Christ so that when things turn bad, we TRUST Him to be there. It's natural to spend more time with Christ when tragedy strikes, and that is okay, but don't neglect spending time with Him during the easy times.

The same holds true in our earthly relationships. We need to be intentional to reach out during the "good" times, to build the TRUST and bond, so that in the bad times, we have those people to reach out to. How can we be intentional in reaching out when we are forced by tragedy to do so?

1. Plan a trip to visit when you don't "have to".
2. Make a phone call and just visit to visit.
3. Go to lunch, dinner, or coffee.
4. Send a card or letter. A hand written note is priceless.

I love my friends and family dearly but I will admit that I do not do a good job of this all of the time. I am going to be more intentional. I hope you will be too! Love you all!

Life Is Risky!

Life Is RISKY! Dating, Marrying, Going to School, Not Going to School, Getting a Job, Changing Jobs, Moving, Staying. Not just the obvious parts but ALL parts of life are RISKY.

When I was 18 and saying "I DO" on the altar at my church, to the love of my life, that was RISKY. If I had listened the the majority and believed I was too young or that it would have never last, I would not be celebrating my 23rd anniversary this summer.

Having two kids by the time I was 21 was VERY RISKY, but I knew, for medical reasons beyond my control, I needed to have my kids early. It was a risk well worth taking because I am as close as any parent could be to two amazing adults now.

Trusting a doctor who asked if we believe in miracles, to treat my husband's cancer , when all other doctors said the treatment would never work. They told us life post treatment would be so horrible that just going home and enjoying the days we had left was a much better option. Choosing to fight, was RISKY. 8 years later, I am so grateful we chose to fight!

Switching jobs was RISKY. Moving across the country was RISKY. I have chosen to take many risks in life and sadly, there have been risks that I haven't taken. I was scared. Scared of failing, scared of what others would say, scared of making the wrong choice. FEAR is the enemy of HAPPINESS. Fear grips and and causes us to play it safe, not take risks. When we allow fear or being comfortable to keep us from taking risks, we walk through the same ruts over and over again.

God intended for us to live life not in fear but in hope. Knowing that He is in control. He is here to walk with us as we take risks. Carry us when we can't walk anymore. Yes life is RISKY but God is bigger than all of that! Taking risks is worth it when God is on our side.


Last night I had the privilege to hear Christine Caine bring the house down at a women's event at Long Hollow with over 2500 other ladies. POWERFUL doesn't even begin to describe the night! She challenged us to take RISKS. Not to live in our comfort zone but to take the risks God is calling us to take!

Is Valentines Day Just For Those With A Significant Other?

Is Valentines Day Just For Those With A Significant Other??? My answer to that is NO! Since the 14th century, Valentines Day has been associated with LOVE. Before that is was a day to honor St Valentine of Rome who was martyred for performing marriage ceremonies for Christian soldiers imprisoned in Rome. He was buried on February 14, hence the reason why we celebrate Valentines Day on this day.

Okay, now that I got the history part over, I want to share why today is not just for husbands & wives, boyfriends & girlfriends, and the such.

When you are married or dating, you should never NEED a reminder to express your LOVE. You should do it everyday in the little things; like opening a car door, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, making his lunch, taking out the trash (before it's spilling out everywhere!!), a kiss goodnight, a text of encouragement, praying together, etc. You get the point.

So, today I am going to remember to express my LOVE for my amazing husband who I have celebrated 24 Valentines Days with, but I am also going to remember to express LOVE to those around me who may not have a special someone to buy them flowers or take them to dinner.

No day should ever be a day of exclusion. The greatest commandment Jesus left us with was to LOVE. My favorite verse is 1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, LOVE each other deeply, because LOVE covers over a multitude of sins."

Who can you include on this Valentines Day? Which of your friends or family don't have a Valentine? Send them a text, call them, buy them chocolates or flowers, take them to dinner... just find a way to include them!
This world would be a much better place if we treated everyday like Valentines Day and loved our GOD with all of our hearts and loved our neighbors as ourselves.

Happy VALENTINES day my friends. I LOVE you all and pray everyone of you feels loved on this day and everyday because our God LOVES you and that is what is most important.

If Tomorrow Never Comes...

If Tomorrow Never Comes...

I was reminded this week of the importance of living today and not waiting until tomorrow. A sweet, precious friend lost her husband Bruce on February 5. Was it expected? Was he sick? No and No! He went to sleep and woke up in heaven. That was it. No tomorrow, no next month or next year. 

God tells us to live in the now. Not to worry about tomorrow or stay in yesterday. Most of the time I am good about remembering that but sometimes I forget. I find myself thinking about what I should have done or stressing out about things that haven't even happened yet. Do you find yourself regretting or worrying rather than trusting and enjoying?

Lets make a commitment to live for today. Love those around us. Spend less time planning and more time doing. Sit down with your kids and play that game tonight. You don't have to wait until game night. Go and have coffee with your widowed neighbor. Stop thinking someone else will do it. God put them on YOUR heart not someone else's. Throw your hair in a pony tail and skip the make up today so that you can spend a little extra time with your husband this morning rather than looking "perfect" for everyone else.

I want to start each day knowing that it's a gift not a guarantee. How about you? Let's let go and enjoy this moment. Be happy, love fully, forgive daily, and give to others. If I go to be tonight and my tomorrow never comes like  Bruce's didn't on February 6. I want to know that I embraced today as if it was my last. No regrets!

I love you all and pray that you can live everyday like there is no tomorrow.

Happy Birthday to My Love

It feels so good to be able to say HAPPY 44th BIRTHDAY to my amazing husband Chris. Those of you who don't know our story may ask, "why is this any different than wishing anyone else happy birthday?".

Wishing Chris happy birthday is different because in May of 2006 all the doctors we spoke to told us Chris won't be around to see his 37th birthday. (Except for one who believed in miracles and said he would give it a shot!) Chris was diagnosed with a horrible terminal cancer in his head, neck and throat.

Numbers like 98% mortality, 6 months to live, .6 white blood cell count are what we heard from everyone. So to say 6.5 years cancer free & 44th birthday sounds awesome to me; would be an understatement!

Chris never said why me. He only said what do I need to do to beat cancer and then did those things!

When questioning the circumstances you may find yourself in, always question with an attitude of WHAT CAN I DO, right here, and right now to make things better.

Maybe you need to Trust God more... Maybe you need to forgive someone who has done you wrong... Maybe you are the one who has done wrong and you need to ask others to forgive you. Maybe you just need to keep doing what you are doing and Wait for God to open doors.

Whatever it is, don't put off tomorrow what you need to do today. None of us can assume that we will have tomorrow. Pick up the phone, pull out your Bible, go visit your family, walk back in to church (the roof will not fall down), The first step is always the hardest. All you have to do is to do it!

Love you all but especially my incredible husband who gets to celebrate his birthday this year with a huge Super Bowl Party!