The Chronicles of Melinda

Many know …when you become a new Christian and find out you can still be accepted past what you’ve done by simply confessing and asking forgiveness, you want to share it with everyone and anyone. 

A few of my friends made a joke that I went to Wal-Mart and bought up every Christian Shirt they had when I went Christian!  (No…only the cool ones!)  Got Jesus?  I Pray…do you Pray (in the Ebay logo look), Not Perfect…just Forgiven.  Yeah - I like to wear them to church now and again.  The youth think they’re pretty cool.  And since I can wear jeans at NHC - they fit the attire.  LOL!

I like to share the joys of NHC and the peace in my life since finding Jesus.   But I also think I know who I can share that joy with and whenever I really want to talk about it…I have plenty of  friends I can go that level with without overwhelming my unchurched friends.  I think I know where to draw the line.  I enjoy talking “God talk” with people I know appreciate and relate to “God Talk”.  But I don’t consider myself pushy to my unchurched friends. 
 
Yeah…I revamped my Myspace when I ”went Christian”…but I don’t think it’s overboard either.  But I chose to take a whole LOT of stuff off that didn’t fit me anymore.   But yeah…I still acknowledge that part of my life.  

I like to try to invite unchurched friends to give NHC a shot (I’m sure their reasons for not going to church are the same as mine were before finding a cool church like NHC)  I invite when I can…if they don’t come…I don’t push it constantly.  That’s how I got to NHC.  Friends would say “You should come check out our church” and for awhile I was like….”Nah…that’s okay!”  They weren’t pushy about it…just ran it by me every now and then.  And then I gave it a shot and now… here I am. 

But please…somebody smack me if I ever come across as a “Relgious Nut”…but I think I do alright. 

I  know…there are a lot of “Religious Nuts” out there who truly lack in the “Spiritual Fruit” department because they’re really putting on a “spiritual front” without any real meaning.  Witness to what you KNOW…now what you think people expect you to know because you say you are a Christian…that is not the real you.  

I think it’s the “religious nuts” that keep people from accepting  or even entertaining the idea of going to church because they paint a picture that is intimidating.  

Let me give you an idea (so if this is you…you can step back and try to move from the nut department to the fruit department.

The “FATHER GOD…I BESEECH YOU TO BESTOW YOUR BLESSINGS UPON ME AND TO SHINE DOWN UPON THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW YOU” type of people. (I just made Dougie laugh if she read that!) 

The quoting a scripture verse for every comment and every situation people who don’t know how to approach it any differently, which honestly is intimidating to someone who doesn’t know (or is just getting to know) the Bible!  (Not to mention…sometimes they just spout off a chapter and a verse…and it doesn’t even match the scripture, but they don’t expect you to check up on it. LOL. 

The people who push and push and push God on you every chance they get…which I think causes people to push God AWAY.

The people who don’t have or appear to have a life outside of the church!  Even our pastors have lives outside of the church.  (Go check out Pastor Dave’s blog here …where he posted about how to be your pastor’s friend.  Even Pastor’s understand the idea of being “spiritual fruit” and not “religious nuts.”  Some examples: We love talking to the real you. Many people show us a spiritual front. Truthfully, we’d rather see your dark side than a fake spiritual one. Thank you for being yourself! We love talking to you about things besides church and the Bible. We have other interests like you.)

So…to all my Christian friends…let’s try to be the fruit and not the nuts!  And to all my non-christian friends…don’t let the nuts keep you from finding the fruit!

And this is why…no matter our crisis, our hardships, our fears……..we can rest assured that we are not alone!

Let’s see - had a great weekend at church.  Painted a wall in Spiked so I can jazz it up for the snack bar.  You know…I am perfectly content and feel purposeful when I’m doing ANYTHING at the church.  People say “you are so busy!  Seems like you’re always doing something church related”.  Yep - and I like it.  Whether it’s serving on the Xalt Team, meeting with my small group or doing something related to the Youth Ministry…I’m at peace when I’m doing something within the church.

This past Sunday was just a reminder of how great the church family at NHC is.  The new series is broken…and wow…there are a lot of us broken folks at NHC.  But knowing we have each other is great.  We know we have God…but I know he’s put us into each other’s lives to help each other out, too.  Check out the podcast by going to www.encounternhc.com.

The Youth Ministry is on a roll…it doesn’t do anything but continue to grow and get better.  Know any youth that need some friends who they can share God with…send ‘em on! 

Trying to get some finances in order…got to get some things in check.  So I’ll probably be jumping on the bandwagon and dumping the home phone here shortly since I live off of my cell phone.  We’re still stuck in dial-up country and the only thing the home phone is really used for is the internet at my house.  I can access that elsewhere so the home phone is one that is going b’bye.  Mark it off your list. Hit me up on my cell.  Check it out - I put a new voicemail rap on it!

I’m counting down the days til daylight savings time kicks in in a couple of weeks.  Will finally have time to spend outside with my horses in the daylight after work during the week.  Bring it on!

Yesterday Taira and I took two of the dogs for a walk between services (morning and evening youth).  It was a nice walk…and a nice day.  A little chilly, but I enjoyed watching the dogs romp around in the woods.  They looked like they were having so much fun…and I got some exercise.

I’ve got some friends that need prayer.

My mom, as always, as she deals with the physical aches and pains that ail her. 
Mr. Phillips, who’s been feeling a bit under the weather the past few days. 
Connections Pastor Jamie McDonald - because he was feeling under the weather when I saw him yesterday! 
My friend Kathy, who lost her grandmother last Friday and in turn is dealing with the still healing loss of her father which kind of reared up on her as a result. 
My friend Chmekia who is about to bring another beautiful baby into this world that her delivery will go smoothly and her baby girl will be healthy!
The Xalt Team as we prepare for the upcoming Journey to the Cross.
All of my NHC family who stood up for prayer (including me) because we are hurting somewhere in our lives and need God’s peace…He will give it to us.
And as always, pray with thanksgiving.  Be thankful that our GOD is gracious and forgiving,  be thankful for every day we are Blessed to wake up - even the hard days because at least we get to wake up and face them, so yes we should even be thankful for the hard times God brings to us…because if he brings us to it he will bring us to it.  We simply need to trust him.  So even when you are praying for God’s peace and asking him to bring you through something…remember to praise Him in the process.  Thank Him for our families, our friends, our youth, our jobs, our homes, our Faith, our church and everything he Blesses us with every day!  Amen! 

Friday I got off early and did all the things I said I had to do.  Got to moms around 8:30PM.

Saturday it was up at the crack to head to meet some NHC peeps at C3 church in Clayton for the FUEL Conference.  There were some great speakers and that is one HUMONGOUS and IMPRESSIVE church.  If you are ever in the area - go check them out.  I was quite impressed with their music worship team - can you say ENERGY!  They were COOL! 

I was NOT so impressed with Adam’s Hula Hooping skills!  LOL!

Hung out Sunday and then had dinner at moms Sunday before heading home to go backwards in everything I did on Friday (pick up Taira, pick up Rolo, head home, feed the horses, unpack…PHEW!)  I am grateful for the fun I had this past weekend.  Grateful for mom’s good cookin’ and time I spent with her …:)

I am grateful for my friends the Marsees who kept Taira all weekend long.  They are great and I always know that she is safe with them.  She had fun hanging out with the boys, they took pictures at Eno Park and just hung out.  Today I will take Kathy to lunch as a thank you!  Love ya girlfriend.

Also grateful for my friend Lanie who withstood the Indy 500 matches between Rolo and her dog Dallas in her living room as they played endlessly, ran laps around her couch and stopped only to nap every now and then.  Bringing her shrimp for dinner tomorrow night as we watch more American Idol.  (Yup - still watching!) 

I’m grateful for the super cool youth volunteers who held things down in my absence.  Matt and Justin Marsee who helped with set up and lights and Tiea Miller who held the snack bar down.  Adam said they did me proud.  I love that the youth are so willing to help out when needed!

My friend Belinda is SICK SICK SICK - so please say a prayer for her.  She is pitiful!  BIG HUG! 

Leaving tonight to head up that way (it’s right around the corner from moms).  As always 101 things to do before I go.   Getting off early and gotta head to the feed store and set up for my friend who’s coming to feed the horses while I’m gone, gotta set the Cattle dogs in the pen, take Rolo to my friend’s for his weekend get-a-way with his doggie friend Dallas,  drop Taira off at my friends (she was going to my moms, but wanted to go to church on Sunday because she’s now an official “Uhambo Dancer” so she’s staying with some friends that attend the church) and then try to hit the road and head to moms before the 5:00PM traffic. 

After the conference, I am going to hang out on Sunday with friends I don’t get to see as often as I should.  (Don’t know why…but most of my closest friends all live at LEAST an hour from me.   Gonna hang out at moms a bit (got her a V-day present…I get all happy when I have a gift for someone) tonight and bring the new Tyler Perry Dvds I got, probably go see Julie who lives right down the road from C3  Sunday and maybe shoot through Lillington on the way home to see Belinda, too.  (sssh…I haven’t told her I might come by yet…in case it doesn’t happen).

There really is not enough time in my days!  It will be the first Sunday in a few that I haven’t been at NHC for most of the day.  I think I will probably miss it…and the Sunday message revolves around “busyness” and we all know that’s me.  But —thank goodness for the Podcast!

On a good note - I paid off a credit card today.  Yay me!

Three hundred years after the death of Jesus Christ, the Roman emperors still demanded that everyone believe in the Roman gods. Valentine, a Christian priest, had been thrown in prison for his teachings. On February 14, Valentine was beheaded, not only because he was a Christian, but also because he had performed a miracle. He supposedly cured the jailer’s daughter of her blindness. The night before he was executed, he wrote the jailer’s daughter a farewell letter, signing it “From Your Valentine.” Another legend tells us that this same Valentine, well-loved by all, received notes to his jail cell from children and friends who missed him.

I’ll buy that for a dollar. 

I was talking to a friend at church the other night (Leah Rade) and made mention of Valentine’s Day.  She made a very good point.  She doesn’t really believe too much in Valentine’s Day because she believes people should be treated EVERY day like it’s Valentine’s Day.  Amen girlfriend!  Why should ONE day of the year be dedicated to giving your significant other gifts or “tokens of love and affection?”  Should that be EVERY day?  Every day doesn’t need to come with flowers, candy or cards.  There are many other gestures of love that you can bestow upon your souldmate.  How about words?  Hugs?  Kisses?  Things you don’t really have to BUY to express your love.

So here’s the key (and hint to anyone who might want to come into my world and sweep me off my feet) treat EVERY day like Valentine’s Day.  And don’t think you have to be so materialistic about it!

So after getting Taira on the bus I just laid around, napped a little off and on and drank a lot my friend’s “Feel Better” tea recipe (includes whole cinammon sticks, fresh sliced ginger and cloves boiled and simmerred.  Then add tea bags and sweeten with honey…not bad at ALL!)  Then I snacked on some homemade chili (thank Heaven for crock pots), drank some TheraFlu…slept…watched some Judge this person and judge that person shows and then it started to RAIN!  I had to jump up and go outside and unload 10 bales of hay off the truck!  (They’ll be gone by the weekend…but no point in leaving them out to get wet).  Then I ended up scrubbing and filling water troughs.  Came back inside for more tea and watched one of Q’s movies’ “Montana Sky” which was pretty good.  Then it was time to go get Taira.  Came back home, Q trimmed one of my in need ponies and then I came back inside to be lazy.

You know I love the King of Queens.  That show is hilarious.  And Everybody Loves Raymond still has it’s classic funny episodes, too.  Watched American Idol - ooooh - it’s Hollywood week.  I will never understand why people are so devastated when they get cut.  Come on…there’s only going to be ONE American Idol.  If you aren’t in the cut…don’t be devastated.  Be grateful for the experience and move on…It’s like the lottery I guess…everybody sets in their mind that THEY are going to be the one to win it so when they don’t they act like somebody stole something from them. 

Honestly - this is the best part of the show I think.  The funny tryouts and such.  I won’t be as in to it once the regular show starts I’m sure.  Well there’s lots of talent this year from what I’ve seen…some good voices.  So maybe I’ll watch for a little bit.  But I am kind of pulling for the girl that lost her father in a car accident while she was on the way to try-outs.  Can you say TEAR JERKER!   Anyway, fell asleep watching Law and Order.

Back to work today and feeling much better.  Amazing what a day of “rest” will do.   Not really stuffy anymore, just a little pressure behind the eyes…but I can breathe and feel more energetic today.  But one of my employees went home sick today, one who’s been out sick since Monday came back to work today not looking much better and one of my co-worker’s son has the FLU!  Ewww!  So I’m ahead of the game!  Phew.

Went to Wal-Mart at lunch.  Bought “Why Did I Get Married” and the new Tyler Perry play that’s out “What Happens In the Dark.”  Haven’t seen either one…but plan to watch at least one tonight and the other tomorrow.  If you’ve never checked out a Tyler Perry play or movie…do it.  They are not only pretty darned funny…they are created with a Christian undertone.  There’s always a message in the play or movie somewhere. 

Well - off to go window shop until it’s time for Community Group at seven.  Holla!

 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Let’s finish it out…shall we….

 8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I guess I’ve been stuck on it as I was trying to figure out where my actual “lovelife” was going to be in the future.  But yeah…I need to be looking at it from both sides of the fence.

We need love.  Unconditional…unfalterring love.  Of course - this time of the year (Valentine’s Day) when people talk about love…they’re usually talking about L-O-V-E between a man and a woman.  But love….love is universal.  Don’t forget there’s love of family and friends…not just a “significant other” and that 1st Corinthians 13 applies to all of those relationships, too.  Not just your boyfriend, husband, girlfriend, wife…you get the idea.  But we all know there are ups and downs in love.

Mary J. Blige sums up the whole Love thing on her new bangin’ CD with a great song called “What Love Is.”  The song goes back and forth describing two different sides of love.  If you’re not so inclined to listen to MJB…just check out these lyrics:

Beautiful, horrible, magical, terrible.
Reason to laugh and smile.
Reason to cry yourself to sleep at night.
Start a fight. Make up, break up, wrong or right.
Heaven for all this work can
equally be hell right here on earth.
(And no one really knows anything about it)
But everybody needs it.
We can’t live without it.
(And that’s the way it goes)
Darkest day, brightess night.
Just some other things you might
-hear if you ask what love feels like.

And it feels like joy (joy)and it feels like pain (pain).
And it feels like sunshine, feels like rain.
An excuse for dying (oh), reason to live (oh).
And if you don’t know, that’s what love is.
Love is.


If that ain’t the good and bad of love all wrapped up in one perfect song..I don’t know what is.  I do know that when it comes to love…you love GOD first.  But he has made enough room for us to love OTHERS in our lives so even if you are focussing on putting GOD first…remember that you have a lot more love to spread around to others in your lives…and putting GOD first makes that possible because ultimately…HE is responsible for putting those people in our lives!  So when you ptu GOD first…it all comes full circle.

Maybe I’m just bored…but just thought I’d come back and blog some more.  Just got in from Spiked awhile ago - fed the horses (the wind is still kind of CRAZY) and came inside.  Made some “Magic Tea” a co-worker gave me the recipe for.  She calls it her “feel better” recipe.  I don’t know if it’s working, but it is tasty.

You know…I got to thinking today.  I was on the phone with a friend and they asked me “Are you happy?”  You know…I didn’t know how to answer that.  So I thought I’d list some things out and maybe I will be able to answer it next time.

I’m happy to have found an accepting church that put me on a Journey I kind of wish I had embarked on long ago.  But everything happens for a reason…and I know it came in God’s time.  He was waiting for me to come to him at a time he had a true purpose for me and things are falling into place as he planned.  He’s blessed me with serving opportunities at the church that make me feel useful

I am happy that God is bringing people into my life, new and old, that nurture my faith and remind me that…well people care  and that I am special enough that people would care about me.

I am happy that my mother is still here with us today after the “big scare”.  I pray for her to have more good days than bad since she’s been hurting so much lately…but I’m happy she is still here. I probably don’t tell her I love her enough…but words can’t express.

I am happy to have my biological father in my life.  I feel I missed out on a lot of that as a child…but it’s never too late.

I am happy to have such a wonderful and supportive network of friends.  I guess that even when I worry…I know that even if I hit rock bottom I have people I can count on if I need them.

I am happy about all of the old friends I have found that I lost touch with.  A few of them I have actually been fortunate enought to visit or have visitted (even an old boyfriend from “back in da day”).  Some friends I’ve only been reunited with on-line.  But it brings closure in knowing that people you wonderred about when you didn’t know where they were are all okay.  Some are married, have children, have been married or are getting married.  But they’re all okay…and that makes me happy.

I am happy to have been blessed with horses in my life.  A childhood dream come reality. 

I am happy to have Taira…someone who will always love me unconditionally and I can only hope that I am raising her up right.

And yes…that means I am happy to have/have had her father in my life.   Without him…there would have been no her.   I’m still praying that when all is said and done we will be friends.  After all that is how we started.  I know that most people say it’s not likely…I mean how many friendships turn into intimate relationships and can still end in friendship rather than resentment?  But we have a long history together…neither of us are perfect…and in the long run we are just two different people.  I learned a LOT from him especially when it came to the horses.  I will never deny that many good things came from our being together and even if in angry or upset moments I seemed to regret it…I know that I don’t.  I may have wished some things were different…but I don’t regret it. So in the long run…I really am wishing there will be a friendship left after we pick up the pieces and I’m hoping that he will be happy and have all of the things he wants.

I am happy that God blessed me with a good job to support the things I want in my life.

I am happy to be independent…I want someone to want to take care of me some day…but I know I am capapble of taking care of myself if that someone never comes along. 

I am happy to have a roof over my head, a place to sleep, food, clothes and to wake up every morning.

I am happy for all the hardships I’ve been put through…I know there was a lesson to be learned in all of them no matter how they turned out.

So yeah- I have a lot to be happy about.  I guess that means I’m happy right?  Yeah, sometimes I’m frustrated.  I want a nice house…a secure place to call home where I can raise Taira and we can have our horses.  I get frustrated about this old farmhouse that we live in sometimes…hard to heat, old, DUST magnet, not MINE to do with as I please.  I want to be able to support and provide for Taira. And at this point in my life it’s not important for there to be someone else in the picture.  That will come along in God’s time…if that’s how it is supposed to be.  Right now…taking care of Taira and my animals are the most important thing and I just want to be able to do that without worrying about the next paycheck not coming fast enough.  

A few people have told me I don’t take care of myself enough. I go to work when I’m sick…I’m on the go when I’m sick and should be resting…but I guess when I’m totally content with my life I will be able to stop and smell the roses.

So yeah…I am pretty sure that I’m happy.  Even if things aren’t perfect…there certainly isn’t anything to be depressed about with all that I have been Blessed in my thirty four years so far.

Are YOU happy?

I’ve got the crud - - - the head cold thing that started earlier in the week with a bout of vertigo to warn that something was coming. 

Duke spanked UNC like the bunch of third graders they played like - so while not a Duke fan - UNC got what they deserved.  If you’re going to play like that and shoot like that…ya lose like that.  REALITY CHECK!  Hope they are doubling up on practice for their next Duke encounter!

Thursday I bought myself a new jewelry box. No big deal really - not that I have a lot of high dollar jewelry…but it was something I wanted for myself and I went out and got it.

Friday after work Taira and I went and hung out with my new sister Carrie who doesn’t live too far.  The new Tuscan Meat Pizza from Papa Johns is pretty yummy by the way.  Both Carrie and I have the same crud and figure we picked it up at the SuperBowl party from someone.  So we were miserable together (which was not so miserable…she’s good company).  We watched The Game Plan. I take that back - I was doped up on 2 Suda-Fed, 2 ComTrex and 2 Benadryl (derned food allergy) and fell aslee (so maybe I wasn’t such good company)! But still…it was cool all the same.

Let’s see…yesterday we were lazy in the morning.  I did watch the Game Plan in it’s entirety while lounging on the couch.  It is a very good movie by the way.  I’d even suggest it for an NHC block party!!!

Taira and I went and got some hay for the horses in the early afternoon and then enjoyed a nice mommy and daughter ride on our two favorite trail horses.  Rode for a few hours and nothing eventful happened.  Just a nice ride in nice weather on nice horses along nice trails.  No drama - just peace.  We walked when we wanted, trotted when we wanted, loped when we wanted and went off trail when we wanted.  Only my horse friends can probably appreciate how nice it was.  We were Blessed with a great day yesterday!

Yesterday evening we went to see my friend Chmekia over at her moms.  She is 2 weeks from popping!  She’s the ultimate picture of uncomfortable pregnancy.  So help me pray that the baby comes without too much trouble to bless her home with another (and she says final) bundle of love.  Who’s next in the baby department?

Last night Rolo slept curled up with me on the couch and it was sweet.  Nothing like a warm puppy to keep you company! Ha ha!

This morning was a great service at NHC. Pastor Jamie McDonald put out that helpful Matthew 18 message in resolving conflict.  Who doesn’t have a little conflict in their lives? Club 56 was great and Spiked will be just as great in a couple of hours!

Next Saturday we head to the Youth Ministry FUEL conference at a church in Clayton (C3) so that will be cool.  Gonna go up Friday night and drop Taira off at mom’s and then going to stay around for the weekend through Sunday after the conference.  Hate to miss a day at NHC next Sunday…but I’ll be in good company.

Taira and I took a drive after service today and checked out a house for sale that has a shop behind it that could EASILY be converted into a horse barn.  It’s in the area.  We’re just wishful thinking, but it’s nice to dream a little.  Which is why I’m going to “Finding Financial Freedom” tomorrow at NHC.

On an off note…Taira’s daddy isn’t speaking to me.  Kinda bothers me that a month ago we were at least on good terms and now just like that with the sudden reality that we are NOT going to be together anymore and that I’m moving on he just turns cold and ceases all communication and avoids me like the plague.  It’s really kind of sad…but this is the way it’s going to be and God has another plan for me that does not include him and eventually he needs to understand that.

Say a prayer or two for him that God will give him the strength and understanding to move on and that somewhere in there he will come to terms with it and be able to be peaceful about it. Anyone who knows the whole story knows I have been more than civil and generous throughout the whole ordeal so I would like to think he would choose to stay civil through the transition.

Ha - I said I was bloggign about nothing and I guess that really is something.  I can’t help it.  My brain is always moving (even when I’m not shaking my head!)

Well - try to stay standing up if you go outside- the wind is furious.  Blew Taira’s trampoline haflway across the yard.

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