HAPPY NEW YEAR (again)

Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized

Yup - it’s so hard to believe, but another year has come and gone.  WOW!  The changes that have occurred in my life in the past 12 months.  The waters have been rough, then calm, then rough again.  My little ship of life has floated along peacefully one minute and then been tossed around to the point I knew it was going to capsize the next.  But…I always made it through the storm.  So I’m thankful for the calm days and even the hectic and trying ones.  

It will be interesting to see what is going to happen in 2009.  2008 has already wrapped up quite nicely…so 2009 holds promise.  Let’s just wait and see.

In the meantime…I dug up my Happy New Year poem from last year.  It didn’t need to be rewritten…it still holds true!  HAPPY NEW YEAR my friends.  Be safe! 

As you ring in the New Year
When the clock strikes Midnight
And make resolutions
To make your life “right”

“Save money, quit smoking
Lose weight, Volunteer”
The same resolutions 
You repeat every year

Ask yourself first
What really needs changing
What in your life
Needs true rearranging?

Is it time to be Baptized?
Since you stopped at the door?
Do you need to Forgive?
Do you need to pray more?

Give more when you tithe
Serve at the church
Witness all you can
To honor His work

Worship more often
Read His Word every day
Walk closer with God
So you don’t lose your way

Perhaps these resolutions
Reap the greater reward
Since living as Christian
So pleases The Lord

So start the New Year
Giving Glory to Him
And this will be when
Your true Blessings begin!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!               Melinda

Read more | Comments (0) | December 31st, 2008

Can I get a little serious for a minute?

Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized

This weekend I filled in for the Youth Pastor Master (call me YPM in training) and deliverred a pretty powerful message I put together for the youth about death, grieving and comfort.  In thinking about it and talking to several adults after both Club 56 and Spiked….I realize it was pretty relevant to everyone and not just the youth.  Why did we talk about such a somber subject right after CHristmas - a joyous time to celebrate the birth of our saviour Jesus Christ?  Because it’s the holidays that cause us to remember those we’ve lost.  We feel the emptiness…we feel the loss…we miss them.  And the holidays bring that pain to the surface.

I asked the youth how many of them had lost a loved one in their life.  Just about everybody raised their hands.  Those who didn’t…will one day when asked that question again.

Hopefully at the end of the message they understood that death is part of God’s plan (to live and die on this earth before we get eternal life through our belief in our savior). God designed us to live and die before experiencing eternal life.  

The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.

                                                                                                                                  (1 Samuel 2:6) 

 

What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave

                                                                                                                               (Psalm 89:48) 

 

There is a time for everything,  and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,                 (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)


In the sweat of they face sholt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast though taken; for dust thoug art and unto dust shall thou return.  (Genesis 3:19) 


Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.   (Eclesiastes 12:7)                                                                              
                                                                                                       
I also spent a little time trying to convey the message to the youth that death is NOT a punishment for anyone or anything anyone has done.  How often do people blame themselves for something they said or did as being the cause of someone close to them passing away?  The angels do not rejoice in death. God does not take anyone out of our lives and enjoy it.

For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!   (Ezekiel 18:32) 

And did you know that grief is also part of God’s plan (I mean …after all in John Chapter 11 the Bible tells us that even JESUS grieved before he raised Lazarus from the dead! 

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.  ”Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

Jesus wept. (John 11:33-35)

If Jesus grieved….he WEPT.  It’s right there in the Bible and well that’s all the proof I need.  Since He was sent to the earth to live as a man before He died on the cross and that he was designed to be someone we can relate to well then I know that it’s okay for us to do what he did.   So if Jesus can cry and grieve…well heck yeah so we can we!

And hopefully now they  understand that there’s a purpose in going to the house of mourning (funerals, wakes, memorials….)

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 (The house of mourning)

 2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
       than to go to a house of feasting,
       for death is the destiny of every man;
       the living should take this to heart.

 3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
       because a sad face is good for the heart.

 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
       but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

This makes it clear that God intends for us to experience the feelings that mourning.  We’re humbled by death and do some serious reflection.  In times of grieving and mourning we tend to reflect on our own lives and how we are living.  We tend to think of what we need to change in our life…how we need to live better and how we need not to live.   Not to say that at first we may not be angry at God and turn away from Him…but in the long run we are going to turn more towards what He wants us to be…better.  Because we want to be remembered for the GOOD we did…not the bad.  Because we want to go before Him changed and better than we’ve been and feel worthy of going before Him.  I personally just don’t know anyone who hasn’t spent some time in their grief and mourning thinking about their own life.  I know I’ve done it.

I also think God intends for us to go to the house of mourning….because doing so provides comfort for the family.  Sometimes we don’t want to go to where the grief or sorrow is.  Sometimes we tend to avoid it.  But we need to remember that our very presence is the indication to family members and others who loved that person that that person was important to someone other than then.  I think it is comforting to see other people share in the loss.  So sometimes we have to think beyond our own grief and sorrow when making those considerations as to wether or not to attend funerals, wakes, visitations.  I’ve struggled with this in the past….and I know it can be tough.  But I know that grieving and mourning together is also part of God’s plan for comfort in the loss.

But you know…after we go through the period of reflection and mourning….God does not intend for us to wallow in it forever.  Wallowing in grief and sorrow can literally (and this is also a scientific fact) make us sick.

My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.(Psalm 31:10)

I think this is God’s permissin that when the grieving is done…we should rejoice.  We should celebrate and remember happier times that will make our hearts glad to have been blessed to spend time with the ones we’ve lost while they were here on this earth. 

Proverbs 15:13
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

I take this scripture as permission to reflect on the good times of someone’s life.  I’m the type of person who after I die…I want my friends to do what they need to do to grieve…but instead of sitting around all sad and crying I want them to celebrate and laugh and remember the stupid and silly things I did and said because it will lift their spirits.

Now sometimes…it’s hard to find our way through our gief and sorrow.  And sometimes…no matter what someone says or does we can’t find the comfort we need to get past our pain.  And for that….

2 Corinthians 1:3-11

 Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who gives tender love. All comfort comes from him. He comforts us in all our troubles. Now we can comfort others when they are in trouble. We ourselves have received comfort from God. We share the sufferings of Christ. We also share his comfort.

God wants us to turn to HIM for the ultimate comfort.  He comforts us in ALL our troubles.  All we need to do is ask.  And when we gain our comfort through our God in Heaven, we will then begin to use our experiences to comfort others who will go through the same thing we have been through. 

God is the ultimate comforter….he comforts us so that we may comfort others.  And the chain goes on….

We need to remember that we all have a mechanism of comfort to serve others.  Our presence, our words, sharing of our spiritual gits,  a gesture….never underestimate your own power to give comfort to others.

When all is said and done…we shall all be together again….so we should celebrate the lives of those lost and not mourn them for too long.  It’s not what God intends.

I hope maybe you got something out of this message!  I think even I did!

 

Read more | Comments (2) | December 29th, 2008

Merry Christmas to all!

Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized

Well the lost Christmas horse has been officially reunited with his owner.  Turns out the horse lost in the city was actually brought to the city for Christmas so the kids could see him.  Well he managed to get loose and hence…my late night adventures came to be.  But the owner called 911 in search of the pony so we made arrangements this evening to reunite them.  Like I needed another horse at my house!  Even though he was a handsome fellow!

Now, after meeting here at the shelter I am sitting in my office at work trying to muster the energy to drive home.  I’m exhausted.  Tomorrow we head to moms for a bit so I need to get some rest. 

Had a wonderful Christmas dinner/brunch at Carrie’s.  OMG!  The ham, the balsalmic vinagrette and olive oil roasted peppers, the potatoes, the creamed corn, the green beans, the bread!  OUCH!  Oh yeah - then how about some pumpkin cheesecake and ice cream.

Then top that off with a later dinner of lasagna, salad and garlic bread…I am too through!  Tomorrow..another big dinner at moms! LOL! 

This is why the diet doesn’t start til mayble Monday!  Okay - I’m out of here.  Enjoy what’s left of this Christmas evening.  Even though this day itself will be officially over at 12:01…the meaning goes on forever!

Read more | Comments (0) | December 26th, 2008

Merry Christmas to all…what the?

Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized

SO I spent my Christmas Eve and the early part of Christmas morning like this:

Taira got her hair done yesterday.  In the meantime I went to Gamestop in Hillsborough to get her a couple of games to go with her Nintendo DS.  Then…we headed to the house so her daddy could bring her his present (the Nintendo DS).  While he was here he did help re-wick a kerosene heater.  Gotta figure out what didn’t go right with that cuz it’s smoking like the dickens.

Anyway… then we headed to the rockin’ 8:00PM Christmas Eve service at NHC.  Got to see all the folks that are pretty good at making me forget anything that’s not right…cuz…well there’s love all up in that place.  I love the hugs, the “Heeeey’s!” and did I mention the hugs?  The music rocked, Dave put out just the right message for Christmas and then…headed home.

So considering myself all settled in for the night relaxing and ready to put Taira down for the count so “Santa” could come and 11:50PM the phone rings.  It’s my on-call Officer for Animal Control.  Loose horse in Durham.  After failed attempts to locate an owner in an area I have no idea where he could live in south Durham by law enforcement…I’m out in the pouring rain to go to Animal Control…hook up the AC horse trailer to my truck (in the pouring rain) and navigating the crappy  roads (did I mention the pouring rain, which I hate driving in)  to pick up a loose horse. 

Long story short - it wasn’t until about 3:00AM that I was able to change out of my wet clothes (cuz did I mention it was pouring down rain out there) and settle in after helping set out Santa’s gift and other surprise gifts that arrived from Masschusettes!

So now I am sitting here relaxing as Taira is revelling in her Christmas loot.  After she opened all of her gifts and I exchanged gifts with my roommate we said a prayer before she jumped in the shower thanking God for the day, the reason for the day and the enjoyment of friends and family we’ll see later today.  I’m about to go make 2 sweet potatoe casseroles and a pan of fudge brownies and then take a shower.

Here’s what the damage looks like under the tree: One I Dog amp’d and an I Dog Clip, one Nintendo DS (currently being played) and two games, a BUBBLE MACHINE, Some Tarheel pajama pants (GO UNC), some back pocket blinged jeans, a cheerleader shirt, a Girls Rule shirt, an “I (heart) hugs and kisses shirt,  a Paint by numbers set, a spray tattoo kit (kinda cool), a color changing 20 Questions,  High School Musical make-up, body wash (That Taira just hollered for) and lip balm…oh and a HSM hamper, a Decoupage kit (Hey Dougie…what’s Decoupage????), a Fuzzy felt box to decorate (Taira loves those), a How to Draw horses and ponies book, some hair bows, chocolate milk drinking straws,  2 beautiful pairs of earings (one silver and one gold and silver diamond cut pair of hoops), a Mustang wall clock, a dog and cat scrubs shirt, some body lotion, body scrub and loofa kit with massage lotion and a nice faux fur vest (I might wear out today…not that the weather is COLD enough for such a thing right now.  Someone forgot to tell Santa to bring the snow!), an oil candle and a set of glasses and plates.

So MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all.  I hope you have a Blessed day with friends and family and remember the reason for the day in your thanks as you eat great food prepared by gifted and loving hands.  Don’t forget to take a minute to pray for the reason for this season and what it has meant for us all (and I don’t mean the presents!)

P.S. If you know anybody missing a horse…I have an extra one hoping to go home sometime today! 

Read more | Comments (0) | December 25th, 2008

Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized

Christmas is coming
It’s 2 days away
Just thought I would take
A quick minute to say
I hope that your holiday
Is filled with cheer
That you spend it with those
In your life you hold most dear
For those grieving loved ones
I pray comfort and peace
And that just for a minute
Your heartache might cease
For those who are missing
 Loved ones far away
I pray they’ll be close
To your heart Christmas day
And lest we forget
I would like to remind
Remember the reason
We have Christmas time
The savior was born
Who would die for our sins
So on Christmas…remember
Give glory to Him!

Read more | Comments (1) | December 23rd, 2008

The Weekend in Reverse

Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized

You know - by the time Monday rolls around I have found myself straining to remember Friday!  Is that bad?  A sign?  I hope not.

So let me start with Saturday!  Saturday was a LAZY day.  Well - it started off lazy.  Did get up and cook breakfast.  Then puttered around the swamp…I mean the yard.  Okay - I’m ready for the rain to be gone for good and for the mud and muck to dry up.  I had to move horses around cuz the water has saturated the ground and now has nowhere to go.  I’m actually ahppy that it is windy and cold today.  Maybe it will dry something up!

Anyway-  headed to NHC early for worship rehearsal.  I would just like to give mad props to the Saturday night service goers cuz they truly get into worship.  They were raising their hands up like crazy.  After service we headed out with friends for dinner at the Ale House and ate onion strips and mad grub.  It was interesting watching people zone into the game.  People really DO go to the Ale House just to watch the games.  It was the Cowboys and somebody (I can’t even remember) and on one solitary screen there was some volleyball.  Yeah - give it up for Saturday night Volleyball!  LOL!  Left the Ale House to do some last minute late night Wal-Mart shopping.  Got Taira’s last few gifts and am calling myself officially DONE in the Christmas shopping department.  AMEN!

Sunday was an EARLY day.  Up bright and early for early morning rehearsal to get ready for two worship services.  Well just giving mad props to the worship team.  I had the pleasure of rockin’ with them to an Israel Houghton song titled Lord, You are Good.  Threw a mad rap in there and some crowd hyping while Yvette laid out mad vocals and the Club 56ers and the Spiked kids helped keep the crowd worshipping.  It was an awesome experience!  Hope you got a chance to check it out.  And if you didn’t hear Felicia lay out A Baby Changes Everything…well you sure need to get you the DVD.  It was a great worship service from start to finish.

After second service worship I ran up the steps to the youth to cover the Christmas Story message with them. Say some prayers for our youth Pastor Adam Cook as he and his family see his brother through injuries sustained in a car accident Friday.  God Blessed them with amazing mercy and he is on his way to recovery so pray that their holiday time will be peaceful and praise that they all still have each other.  Also pray for Kurt Henry, another awesome youth volunteer who’s father passed away this weekend as well. 

Randomness—-as many times as I go up and down those stairs at NHC on the weekends I should have lost 20 pounds by now.  What’s the catch?  Maybe it’s the gazillion candy canes before doing it that are holding me back!  LOL!  Anyway, reminded the kids what Christmas is about so they don’t get caught up in the presents and commercialism of Christmas.   I think they get it! YAY!

Headed home after NHC to get in a nap.  Then headed to the Heitzenrater’s for a very warm and fuzzy Christmas party where there was ribs, chicken wings, sausage wrapped in bacon, barbecue smokies, ham, biscuits, chips and salsa, guacamole dip, crackers and spinach dip and then…..everything and anything you can think of to dip in the chocolate fondue pot! OMG!  Top that off with egg nog punch and coffee and good company….there was nothing left to yearn for.  I’m going to Uhambo!  Ssssshhh - don’t tell Adam.  HA HA!

So - here I am on Monday…still trying to remember what I did Friday evening….oh wait….I remember.  Went to Footwear Plus and picked up my Christmas present to myself (new boots) and then Wal-Mart.  Can’t ever get enough of Wal-Mart…even when it’s CRAZY like it is this time of the year.

OH YEAH _ I have a holiday recommendation for a family treat.  I believe the address is 636 Daffodil Lane here in Durham.  From Guess Road you turn onto Milton Road and then the second left is Whitt Road.  Folllow Whitt Road up to Daffodil which will be a right.  Take the right on Daffodil which is a dead end road.  At the end is the Mangum Family Christmas.  You pull up to the house and there’s a sign that tell you to tune into a radio station.  Then….the Christmas light display flashes to the music on that station - it will be Christmas music.  They even have a Toys for Tots box.  Don’t miss it.  Load up the car and take a trip!  You won’t be disappointed (unless the power company turns their power off!)

Read more | Comments (1) | December 22nd, 2008

YAY FOR ME

Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized

Last night I finally dragged the tree down - shaped it up and put it up for Taira to decorate.  She put most of the ornaments on last night and I topped off with the fragile ornaments this morning.  It’s been awhile since we got into the real Christmas spirit at my house.  But tonight - lights will even be hung on the house.  Yeah - that’s a big deal. 

Would you believe I haven’t even really started Christmas shopping yet?  I got a few gifts for some special folks, but my gift giving theme for this financially strapped year for all of my friends is “our gift to each other can be…not spending any money on each other…Merry Christmas.” 

But I JUST started Taira shopping yesterday.   She’ll be coverred and content with her gifts from the many folks who are getting her things.  Makes my job easier, too!  I know what I am getting her so life is good! 

Read more | Comments (0) | December 19th, 2008

Anthony Devon Pegram

Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized

Some of our youth were familiar with this obviously very special young man.  He was killed last Thursday in a car accident while on his way to Norther High.

I am not sure why I get so compelled by other people’s grief to offer some sort of comfort…but I do and that is the foundation of most of the memory poetry I write.

Today, with God in my heart I wrote one for those who are grieving this young man.  For some reason, even though I don’t know this young man or his family, God has kept his loss on the front burner of my mind.

ANTHONY DEVON PEGRAM

One wouldn’t have to know you

To see that you were loved

To know that there’s a reason

You’re now watching from above

Friends and family, they may struggle

Trying hard to understand

Why God so unexpectedly

Took you by the hand

So many lives will miss you

A whole team is left to mourn

The number 84

Now a jersey left unworn

Peacemaker…they will miss

Your kindness, jokes and smiles

Anyone who knew you

Will surely grieve awhile

And understanding may be hard

But know that God made no mistake

Because He only takes the best

To usher there at Heaven’s gate!

Read more | Comments (0) | December 18th, 2008

Weekend Playback

Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized

Well it was an awesome weekend.  I mean - there weren’t fireworks and all that - it was just a good derned weekend.

Friday night I went to a Christmas party.  Yum yum Mexican Food and hung out with good people.

Saturday went to Raleigh for Taira’s cheerleading competition. Yup - I’m an official cheerleader mom.  Taira has always had a cheerleader fascination.  Can’t tell you how many times we’ve watched Bring It On 1, 2 AND 3.  But she’s now a Cheer America cheerleader for Hillsborough.  I, personally, love watching cheerleading competitions.  Well Taira’s team did pretty darned good and they were so cute it was ridiculous.  I’m not being biased here.  There were cute little cheerleaders EVERYwhere.  Taira’s team nabbed 2nd out of 7 or 8 teams (and deserved every piece of it) so now we have to head back to Raleigh on January 10th for another competition they qualified for.  So had to switch up some of my plans for my birthday weekend.  But I’ll always be a mommy first so…I do what I gotta do.

Saturday night was another Christmas dinner.  Then we watched someone skin a deer.  Now how is that for romantic?  LOL!  Dinner and a deer skinnin’. LOL!

Sunday was, of course, NHC day.  Slept in a little longer than planned but got to church in time to get all up in Spiked.  We had an awesome service Sunday…not that we don’t always.  But sometimes God really makes his presence known. 

Speaking of…God really did some great things at church this weekend with the Angel tree giving.  People were coming in the door with boxes and bags and there are going to be some very happy children this Christmas because of their generosity.  I’m proud of my small groups and even a couple of my Spiked small group members.  A few of them contributed and we put together a pretty nice box that was a little above and beyond what our angel specified.  You can never OVER give to someone who needs a little Christmas cheer.  I wish I could be there to watch all of those kids on Christmas morning when they open their gifts.  But just knowing makes it all the worth while. 

Well today is Monday…and well for a Monday I feel pretty darned good.  It’s going to be a good week.  I’ve got group tonight, Taira has cheerleading, tomorrow I have my other group, Wednesday we have Spiked J&J and rehearsal for a pretty rockin’ weekend worship.  Thursday and Friday are up in the air, but definitely have something on tap.  Saturday I’ll be at 6:30PM service and then have dinner plans.  It will be fun.  I’m feeling pretty good!  Hope you are, too!

Read more | Comments (0) | December 15th, 2008

All Smiles are Not Sincere

Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized

I’m not familiar with this Minister…but someone sent me this today and I thought it was intereting! 

Have you ever wondered why God chooses to use you? After all the wrong you have done, He personally selected you for such a time as this. After all the hell you caused, He birthed a vision within you. After all the deception you were involved in, He decided to anoint you afresh. Just think about your life, where you are now, where you were five to ten years ago, where God has promised to take you. Isn’t it amazing to think God knows all about you and He still desires to elevate you higher? In spite of all the things man has said against you, God speaks highly of you. In spite of all the traps that were set against you, it was the Lord who caused your enemies to fall in their own traps (Psalms 7:15). In spite of your current circumstances, God has a perfect plan for your life. Today is a new day for you. Today is a day of new beginnings.
 
Today, I have been commissioned to come and minister to you. Allow me to ask you a question: Why do we spend so much time worrying about the opinions of others, when we know God’s Word is all that matters in the end? Do you realize a haters job is to hate on you? They are not friends or supporters. They are not trying to see you elevated in the Lord. They do not want to hear about God blessing you. Be careful not to surround yourself with people who smile on the outside but inwardly they are cunning as a snake. These people are waiting for the best time to snap at you.

My friend, All Smiles Are Not Sincere! The Bible declares in Matthew 7:15 - Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Do you realize there are some people who sit up at night plotting ways to take you out? My brother, my sister, the smiles could be on the faces of family members, friends, coworkers, church members, etc. These smiles could be on the faces of people who claim to be praying for you, but they’re actually praying against you. These smiles could be on the faces of people who listen attentively to your secrets and as soon as they have a chance their running to tell someone.

Child of God, use wisdom. All conversations are not meant for you to be involved in. All questions are not designed for you to answer. Sometimes instead of you telling people everything you are going through; just learn how to say, “It Is Well!” (2 Kings 4:26) While things may not be as well as you would like, you learn not to tell people about problems you know they cannot solve. Beloved, All Smiles Are Not Sincere! The Bible declares in Proverbs 4:7 - Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Reading for Today: Read Those Around You! May God Bless you at Your point of need!                            Minister Darrick D. McGhee

Read more | Comments (0) | December 11th, 2008

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