Each Christmas I love taking the month of December and studying the Christmas story and events surrounding the arrival of Jesus to scout out new treasures!

This year between our Thursday morning bible study ladies and Monday night girls study we decided to try out the She Reads Truth  Joy to the World Advent book! Filled with Old Testament Prophecies fulfilled in the new testament, maps, charts, recipes and the prettiest photography!

" Joy to the World " Did you know this hymn was written by Isaac Watts from Psalm 98!? I was amazing to read the Psalm with a new set of eyes from this perspective that Isaiah was prophesying about the Joy that would become a reality because of the Birth of Christ who gives is victory over sin!!

Last Monday night my house was filled with ladies of all ages, the women that I get to walk though life with, and we created our own Advent Candles! We read the Christmas story, reminding us that at Christmas we not only remember the coming of Christ as a baby but to prepare our hearts for His return once again!

 Aunt Judy helping Anna :)

 This little guy was helping keep an eye on us!

 

~~~~~Advent : Remembering Christ's Birth and Anticipating His return! ~~~~~~

Praying this Christmas you find new treasures in the Birth of our Savior Jesus!

Loving { This Song } right now!

Merry Christmas!

Immanuel God With Us

That moment when when you have four different pairs of boots to choose from as you rush out the door, to jump in your warm car, to have coffee with your friend in her cute little decorated house, with her little ones playing on the floor. Feeling a mix of emotions and beyond grateful.....








 

 

Then stop to remember all the sweet little faces,the warm little hands that held tightly on to yours, the belly giggles that made your heart skip a beat, the moment when an adorable two year old falls asleep in your arms with his loving mamma smiling right beside.

   

.....and the wonder in eyes as they hear the Gospel of Jesus for the first time. And the hope He promises...

And they will call Him Immanuel "which means God with us" Matthew 1:23 
 

Regardless of lack or gain God is faithful to His promises, and He promises to be with us
 

 

When our eyes can get past the heart breaking poverty, or past the material possessions that crowd out the voice of the Holy Spirit












One thing still stands, Immanuel God is with us!

 Our eyes can get caught up with earthly things so easily, and I am the first one on that train, dreams not yet fulfilled, circumstances that seem too heavy to bear one more day, death of a family member or friend, broken hearts, split families....

Regardless if you find yourself in a 3rd world country or 1st. God is with you, it was not His plan for death and sickness, His plan was the Garden, but because of His love for us despite of a sin fallen world He made a way and sent His Son Jesus to be with us, and save us from an eternity apart from Him

He does promise Peace that passes all understanding Philippians 4:7
   

  









*{we had the opportunity and humbling privilege to pray over and speak into the life of this pastor as a church was just built on an island where voodoo is the majority for spiritual practice}

 He promises us Fullness of Joy in His presence Psalm 16:12

.....Our Helper the Holy Spirit John 14:15

Delight in all circumstances Job 22:26

Because of Him we can boldly sing "Death Where is your Sting".... 

I stand in complete awe and wonder of my Jesus, the One that faithfully waits to meet with me every morning, with my coffee in hand, bible on my lap,while its still dark, the Creator of the world meets with me and reminds me His promises are yes and amen!! 
This was just one lesson the Lord spoke to me as I spent two weeks with these amazing followers of Christ. Be encouraged dear friend!

With Love, Melissa <3

Benin Africa 2017

12 Churches planted in Benin Africa through our local church in the states teaming up with Pastors in Benin

9 Churches plated as a result of those 12 churches already!

Goal of 50 churches planted by 2020 

29 more to go!

When I heard how churches are multiplying in Benin Africa, not only multiplying but sustaining, growing, raising up leaders and sending them out. My heart leaped with awe and excitement. 

If you have been following me, and know what burdens my heart more then anything, is to see churches be planted in areas that do not have a solid church. Which having a strong local church, changes not only our towns, but our families, marriages, children which is our next generation, telling the world about God and His love for His people. Hearing about this mission and getting the opportunity to partner up with these leaders, was a dream come true.  

I am more then excited to share with you that I will be a part of a team with leaders who have committed themselves to this goal of having 50 churches planted by 2020. We will be traveling to Benin Africa at the end of October of this year. 

I am expectant, just like teaming up with the leaders in Brazil, to connect with the people in Benin, to hear their stories, and see how these church families plant churches that are dramatically changing their villages. 

I have been so thankful that after returning from Brazil, it didn't just end there but I have been able to immediately apply what I have learned with being the change in our region. I know that being in Benin will continue to train and equip me for more work back in the states. 

Benin Africa is the home of where Voodoo originated which has suppressed this country for a very very long time. On the BRIGHT side, these people believe in god but that they have offended this god and that he ran from them, they are already aware and familiar with the spirit world, so from what I have been told, when they hear the Good News and that there is a God, thee GOD who is all knowing, all powerful, and wants to be in relationship with them, they willingly give their life to the Lord, and expect Him to move in powerful ways, and He does! However they need to be covered in much prayer as stepping away from Voodoo is extremely dangerous, and can cost them their life. 


I would love your prayers and support as I prepare for this trip in the fall. The total of this trip is 3,000.00. As of right now I am about half way there. I am so grateful of the previous support to Brazil and had such a wonderful time sharing with you when I returned, I very much look forward to doing this again!

Here is a link to a short video of what is going on in Benin Africa!

Benin Africa Video

Melissa :)

In the Interior of Brazil

Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair. - GK Chesterton

The night we spent painting the inside of this church, was one of my very favorite days in Brazil. This little church was located deep into the amazon about 3 hours from Manaus Brazil. 
And here is where we were so very welcomed by the sweetest church family. What God taught me this night as we were working, painting, laughing hysterically, goofing around with each other, as the fans were doing the best job they could at keeping some air circulating.

..... was that we are closest to Gods presence, and face to face with Him when we set aside our needs, agenda, worries, and just meet the needs of those around us. That night my "heavy burdens" fell off and I really experienced Psalm 16:11 In the presence of God is the fullness of joy! Was it ever! Those who stayed painting till the end remember just how hard we were laughing, cracking jokes left and right, many new inside jokes were birthed for the rest of the trip,laughing at the black acai all over Paul's and my teeth (a pic I will not post!) lol 

I came home knowing that this part of my walk with God, and how I live would look different, seeing to it that not much time goes by without stepping away from my needs and meet those who cant ever pay me back. I also learned that serving Christ does not always have to be "hard" and "suffering" but blissful joy!

Now every time I see that paint on my flip flops my heart skips a beat, where I fell more in love with my God, and was loved on by the sweetest little church family in the interior of Brazil.  

"Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless......then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal." Isaiah 58:7-8

It has really shifted my heart to live this lifestyle more in my home town, and the times of doing that here in the states have been JUST as fun since I got back! 

Just a shout out for this little church in the interior, you could be praying for them as they are meeting the needs of people who have never been out of the jungle, their children have a very small chance of ever leaving the jungle, but because of this little ray of light of God through this church, people are meeting their God and following hard after Him, things are changing. Please lift up the Pastor in this church, his dedication blew me away as they were obviously training the next generation the word of God, and they are growing! 

John 13:34-35

Melissa 
XxOo

 
 

Sweet Friendships & Accountability

Early Mornings......

"Who's on your team? Who knows you well enough to glimpse your potential as it emerges? who can nurture and encourage you for the distance so that you become the person you were meant to be? We need people who will help grow us into who we really are." Chris Hodges { Fresh Air }  <------ Click there

 Accountability is a wonderful thing, especially when it comes from a sweet friend.
I love that above quote from one of the books my friend and I have read together, who is that trusted person that can be by your side praying along with you, in every season of life?

Every Tuesday at 5, yes ehem, 5:00 AM, (I still think we are crazy) ....before work starts, before babies wake up that are home with their daddy, my friend Hannah and I meet for coffee, time in the word, and holding each other accountable with all things in life. Things such as business strategies and marketing, meal planning, ministry work, working out, house projects, making sure we prioritize true rest. We talk about child raising, books we want to read together and mission trips.

















How sweet it is to have a friend to remind each other to pray for the current and the future things in life :) If you have not heard of these books in the above picture please Click Here!

 Having a prayer warrior friend that I meet with on a weekly basis has changed me so much, and is continuing to. God has used this time to push and sharpen me, to really live out what Ephesians 2:10 says "For we are Gods masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

I love how Jesus modeled by the twelve disciples the importance of choosing those to share your heart with, your life with, your hardships and your joys!
I am just blessed enough to share this with a long time friend on Tuesday mornings, and other dear friends who God has hand picked for me!  

Who is that person in your life? Its so easy to let time go between catching up, or be together and not be intentional with your conversations, I know we at times have to reign in our conversations ;)  But I would so encourage you to pick a good read, or a book in the bible and read through it together, you can meet for coffee or set up a phone call chat, depending on your season of life. Even for those who are wives, sometimes the men in our lives can only handle so many 2 + hour conversations, but us girlfriends sure can! Its been such a wonderful gift in my life and I hope it will be for you too! 

I just love this song by Ellie Holcomb!

Have a great week!
Melissa <3 

The Dream Center

 A Sunny Saturday Morning .....

 













Our group of girls that meet at my home Monday nights (and their brothers) had their "mini missions trip" to the neighborhoods of down town Freeport to work alongside my friend Jon at the Dream Center.

 













They were so excited to join the team, put on their yellow shirts that said "The church has left the building" and in their own words "the salt has left the shaker" Matthew 5:13 and hit the street, meeting the physical needs of the people in these neighborhoods. We even had a young lady who lived their join us the whole morning! 

 
They were given direction how to meet not only physical needs but to simply be Jesus' hands and feet as they went through the streets, to be sensitive to the needs around them to stop and talk with whoever needed a smiling face or word of encouragement.They were ready to apply all we have been studying in Acts on our Monday's nights.

Going from one yard to another 

  

Weeding in the community gardens throughout the neighborhoods

Smiles all the way!
 

"The Team"

 It was a wonderful yet very warm morning, that did not slow down any of the kids from digging right in. We had a time of debriefing and got to hear their hearts about the morning, what they saw, and how God moved. We were all amazed how the kids in the neighborhood wanted to be a part of what we were doing, and simply just wanted attention. One of the girls Kyley had brought stuffed animals in her backpack with cards that she had wrote, saying how much God loves them, the kids just ate that up. We know God planted seeds in their hearts and we know His word does not return void! She and all of us were thrilled to see how God used that idea He gave her to reach the children in the town. 

The Dream Center was started by Jon and his friends years back and has turned into quite the facility to be a blessing to the people in downtown Freeport. During the summer months they are there every Saturday Morning and could really use more hands as they work throughout the streets. If the time is not yet right for you or you can't yet afford an overseas missions trip this is your opportunity, and it's a great one! I would highly recommend calling up the Dream Center and going and helping. The Lord changes my heart more and more every time I go, it's such an opportunity that is not always available where we love to meet needs of the people in our own country who live in really hard situations. 

They are open to individuals or teams from any church or home group! 

 You can click here  to visit the Dream Center site! 

Have a wonderful week! 

Melissa <3

hello & welcome

Welcome to my first blog post! 

My intentions for this blog is to share stories of what God is doing in this area, what He is doing as a result of the Missions trips you have prayed for alongside me, and support me on. This is my attempt to turn my mission letters from an email into a blog so you could experience more of what God is doing. :) please bare with me as I learn how to run all this techy stuff 😆

I foresee some of the blog post containing content such as.....

~ Mission Story's 

~ Local Happenings 

~ Networking with others (Missions and Local Business) 

~ Euntrepenurial Tips I learn along the way 

~ Updates the Young Ladies Bible Study 

~ Happenings at Hidden Creek 

~ Healthy Lifestyle Motivation (for me along with for others ;)

~Fun Little Musings ect.

One of my verses for 2017 is.....

// 2 Corinthians 4:7 

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. //

This is exactly what I intend this blog to be, a place to share Gods power and Gods glory, that I get the joy of partnering with Him to share with those I love! 

So here is to this new Adventure! 

Melissa <3