The Chronicles of Melinda

Anyway,  hope everyone is having a great weekend.  It’s a sloppy mess ’round my parts in the country.  Who was complaining about the drought? Anyway, just an update on what’s going on. I had a BUSY week.  I had obligations EVERY day this week after work except Friday.  I very well could have had plans Friday evening…but I really needed a down day.  So Friday Taira and I rented a couple of movies from Blockbuster and made it a Blockbuster night.  Baby Mamma and Made of Honor.  Both were good choices. 

Woke up early this morning to go get hay and then Taira dusted while I cleaned up arranging my CD collection. (OOoooh - exciting I know.  LOL!)  I’m kind of anal about that.  They arranged alphabetically by solo singer, groups, rap, country, you get the idea.  I’ve got over 400 of them things and needed to plug the newer ones in their respective spots, which required some rearranging to accomodate them.  And just think - they’ll probably be obsolete soon. I better hurry and go buy a new CD player before they don’t make them anymore. HA HA.  I need a new stereo. The ol’ one has gone kaput. 

Some folks came out to ride this afternoon.  Had to reschedule some lessons because of the slop - but took a young couple out on the trail for a one year anniversary ride. That was sweet. The boyfriend arranged it earlier in the week to bring his girlfriend out.  Ah - young love.  Hope to have that again soon…I may not be so young anymore, but I mean the newness of a new and blessed relationship.  LettingGod handle that. Later in the afternoon a few of the youth came out to ride and we took another trail ride.  The horses were probably thinking…WHAT THE CRAP?  TWICE?  Poor ponies.  But this is the best time of the year as far as the weather goes to get some good riding in.

I got a nice phone call today.  When I answered the phone, the caller said “I was just calling to say God Bless You!”  We had a nice conversation for a few minutes. Nothing deep -but they called to tell me they were thinking of me, praying for me and “God bless me”. It really left me kind of warm and fuzzy. 

Spending time with the youth and horses today…got me back on those big dreams I have for incorporating the two. Time for me to pray for God to show me what He has planned.

This week is the last evening Spiked service.  Starting next Sunday our service will move to 11:30AM during one of the main services.  It’s going to be awesome and a chance for us to connect some teens into our youth ministry who have not been able to make our evening service.  Big things are happening all over NHC.  So I hope you are praying for God to show us all what he has in store and to bring your 5 to NHC so He can begin to work in their hearts, too.  Well - I think I’m going to lay on the couch…or in my bed and watch something…I don’t know what…for a bit and hit the hay. Up and at ‘em early tomorrow.  You know the routine.
 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARRIE!!!
Le-le-le-le-le le le!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MY DOUGIE! 
I’m Blessed to know you!
LOVE YA MEAN IT!

Saturday I actually tried and was nearly successful at sleeping in.  I was lazy for half the day.  The lawn guy came through and mowed and then I got motivated to head out to NHC for the youth bonfire.  Stopped to pick up Taira’s friend who stayed the weekend and one of the youth who lives not so far from the church and it was on like Donkey Kong.  A good time was had by all.  About 20 new youth faces showed up at the event.  Burgers, dogs, chips and sodas were consumed by all.  There was dancing, football, s’mores and singing by the fire and then everybody chilled down for the movie.  A huge thanks to all the adults who helped make it happen and all the youth who showed up with friends in tow.  I watched quite a few youth connections get made and saw some kids arrive kinda shy and then turned around to see them engaging in activities with other youth.  So good job guys!!!  I know for a fact that one youth was brought out of his shell and I even saw him at Spiked last night!  Not to mention when his parental unit came to pick him up we had to look for him to get him in the car.  He was there…then he was gone.  (Which is a good sign that he was engaging and not quite ready to just jump in the car and get out of dodge!!)  It really makes my heart glad to see the transitions that occurs when our kids connect!!! 

Sunday was another awesome day at NHC.  Did anybody notice the SIGNAGE announcing our new service times in October?  Can I get a what what?  Only one more week of services and then we will kick off the 6:30PM Saturday service, then 9:30AM Sunday and 11:30AM Sunday.  Our Spiked service will be moving to the 11:30AM Service and I’m pretty sure God just laid out the opportunity for us to reach a heck of a lot more teens we don’t see on Sunday nights!  Stay tuned.

Big props to all the adults who are stepping up to help in Student Ministries.  We had 17 adults serving in Spiked last night!  And we need each and every one of them.  I can’t wait until they all experience the blessing that serving in Spiked Student Ministries has to offer.  To see our students lives change changes your own… it really does! 

We lost a few potential recruits to serving in other ministries and hey - that’s okay.  Cuz if you are serving somewhere in the church then that makes us happy.  Serving is the way!

I haven’t done this ever before…but I put a shout out for some guest blogs from some of our youth so stay tuned.  I want you guys to hear what they have to say about the difference being connected into student ministry does for them…straight from the horse’s mouth.

Anyway-busy week.  Adult Community Group tonight, celebrating a friend’s birthday tomorrow, Teen Community Groups Wednesday, another birthday Thursday…Friday is up in the air and then some 2 lessons and rental riding scheduled for Saturday.  Where does my week go?  Time spends just as quick as my money!  But busy is good and I have no complaints!

Oh yeah - tonight in is the season premier of HEROES and Thursday is GREY’S ANATOMY!  OH SNAP!

I already KNOW (cuz you guys told me) that you have been inviting like crazy and I really think God is going to bless our ministry through this event.  I’m stoked, your Big Event Coordinator Carrie who is responsible for making this happen is stoked,  you’re stoked and all of our adult volunteers are stoked - and Adam…well you know Adam can’t wait to try to blend in with the teens.  But those gray hairs give him away every time.  I just don’t have the heart to tell him he’s not as young as me anymore!

Anyway,  come on ya’ll- we are going to be hanging out, stuffing our faces, singing Kum-Ba-Yah by the fire (okay well maybe we’ll go for something a little more hip than that) And well…if you know me - - - you know I love a good bonfire and I’ve been known to keep one going at my house for days on end.  So don’t mind me if I space out and get lost in the flames and the glowing embers.  You might think I’m playin’ - but God lays a lot on my heart when I’m staring at a fire.  It’s like…the burning bush…even if I am hardly Moses!!! 

And don’t forget that we are also going to have a movie playing on the BIG SCREEN.  I went and BOUGHT the movie in the wee hours this morning during my favorite Wal-Mart shopping hours.  That means after we watch it and you think it’s cool….I get to take it home with me forever.  NAH! NAH! Get your own. 

Speaking of fire guys, I just want you to know that I love seeing how on fire you guys are getting for our ministry.  The inviting, the reaching out to each other, the jumping into Community Groups, the COMMITTING YOUR LIVES to Christ.  The adults ain’t got nothin’ on ya’ll!!!!  You do it for me…I think you figured that out this past week end cuz well - ya choked me all up and you know I HATE to cry!  But it’s alright….mini-me’s….you complete me!

Now this week we’re still talking about UNSTOPPABLE!  So our goal for this weekend is: your unchurched friends come and hang out and see how very cool we christians are and then they feel the pull to come back and check out Spiked Sunday night (cuz when you see how much fun they are having you are gonna be like “hey why don’t you come check out our service tomorrow night!”)  If they need to see the youth room to see we’ve got a pretty cool set up - we’ll show them!!!  Do you know over the course of this weekend we have a chance to change a whole lotta lives JUST because you invited your friends to come hang out with us?  You bring the friends…God will do the rest.

OH….One more thing!  We had rehearsal last night for Sunday and we are doing a new song for you guys especially for this UNSTOPPABLE series and let me just say that it is OFF -  DA - CHAIN. It’ is going to motivate your face off (not that I don’t feel like you guys aren’t already motivated).  All the more reason to bring your friends to check it out.  We are going to lay the smack down and you don’t want you OR them to miss it.  Sunday night you will see the unexpected on our stage and I know you’re gonna be like “Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!” 

The team is saying big prayers for some major movement tomorrow…so you do the same and I know God is going to take care of the rest.  I will see you in about 17 hours!  

Oh yeah - forgot to tell ya’ll that we have a Spiked Student Ministries Facebook group in case you all didn’t know.

Everytime I was in a position NOT to be a leader in the Durham Spiked small group, he threw the elements in that put me right back in place TO be a leader.  And so there I was last night…committing to the Durham small group.

TEN kids showed up last night after our huge small group push in Spiked this past Sunday.  Each of them unique, each of them special, each of them wanting to build their relationship with God and others.  I am only one of 4 dedicated adults God has called to commit to this group.  And then there is one AWESOME host family in the mix who has agreed to let us storm their home, eat their food, use up their toilet paper and make some noise every Wednesday all for the sake of nurturing teen relationships with God and each other.

Hey- we are not alone.  This is happening in two other locations designated for the same purpose!  There are 2 other small groups in the same business!!!  I have a feeling that this is just the beginning of God’s UNSTOPPABLE purpose for Spiked Student Ministries.

Every day it becomes clearer and clearer to me - this wild ride God has put us all on.  He seated us all on the same roller coaster so that we can experience what He is bringing to Spiked Student Ministries in His name….together.  He is weaving common threads…nurturing common personalities and melding not so common personalities who all have a different take…a different perspective…but the same passion to follow God’s lead. Yeah - can you tell I’m a little excited about this thing? 

I got a big wash Tuesday morning.  You know - I had been feeling uneasy and unsteady since Sunday.  Well call this my corny christian moment for the week - but still in a bit of a funk Tuesday morning I set off for work.  I usually have the radio on while driving to work - but I was driving in utter silence.   Just me and God.  And I can tell you the exact spot I was on the road I turned on when I went from feeling that cloudy funk…to a sudden and complete wash of relief that made me smile for no reason at all.  God took over and satan got the smackdown. One of my christian friends that I hold in high regard once told me that we get attacked when we are about to do something big for God.  I think she’s right…and this small group stuff could be that something big!  But I have to say thank you to a few key friends who I know had been praying for me since Sunday.  Safety in numbers and power of prayer! And yeah - that God guy I ignored for so long.

Watch out - I’m feeling renewed, revived…and UNSTOPPABLE!  Bring it! There’s a storm comin’ buddy!  And we in Spiked Student Ministries are not afraid…because we ARE the storm and we are bout to be devastating…in a good way! 

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