We have made progress!!!

So, MOTS started back up today from an almost 2 month break. I was a little scared to take Delayna in, because before she just wouldn't stay.
Well, when I got there, Kindra was dropping of Gideon & he wasn't having a good morning either. Which made my emotions a bit better (you know when someone else is in your same shoes at the same time, it kinda helps). So I told the ladies about her little puppy & everything else that they may need to know about. Handed her over & walked out. I heard her fussing, so I let Talicia know that she has snacks & other stuff in her bag, that may help distract her. And off I went...
When the session was over I realized I went through the whole meeting without Talicia coming for me to get her.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, she made it through the whole meeting without me. The ladies said that she fussed for a bit, but that was it. I am SO happy she's finally coming around!
Just thought I would update...
(OH, I have been going crazy this past week! Busy as all get out...which is great, but man am I exhausted!!!)
K, that's all for now...TTYL!

WOAH, Gut Check Time!!!

Lately God has been dealing with me with my 'self worth' I guess you could say. Something I have ALWAYS dealt with. Just not feeling worthy enough for anyone, thing or body. He has been placing me into positions and places that I wouldn't normally place myself & if I was in it, I would run as fast as I could to get myself out of the 'situation'.
Well, this past month or so He has been placing me in situations that I have opened my heart to, stepped into and accomplished.
For example, something so simple & stupid (IMO)...
I am the Fundraiser Coordinator for AYSO (Soccer). I have no problems talking to people 1:1, but presenting something is a whole other ball game for me. For the past 2 years I have skidded out of presenting the Fundraiser Info at the Team Parent Meeting. Well this past week, not only did I show up for the Team Parent Meeting, but I stood up infront of who knows how many people and presented the fundraiser info. It was a little intimidating, considering I had about 4 friends out there that in the past I would have been afraid of them judging me. Not to mention, my Pastor & his wife...I know, they're just humans just like I am, but it's a little intimidating to me (just being transparent).
Well, in my opinion, I did one heck of a job presenting & getting the info out to the parents. I had a few trip ups, but I kept on going & enjoyed myself.

So, a few months ago, I was presented with the opportunity to become a table leader at my MOTS group. Not something that I had ever intended on doing, I'm just fine coming every other week and spending time with Godly women, fellowshipping, eating, praying, etc. But, I felt a nudge. So I contacted Kindra in regards to becoming a table leader...Come to find out, she was praying about me being one...WHAT, NO WAY! Now that was just a confirmation that God wanted me there.

Now this past Saturday, Monica informed me that there was a Leadership Meeting that Jose & I was supposed to attend. Well, I was all confused. Jose told me about it a while back, but I didn't hear anything else about it. Jose reminded me that Mick & Janie asked him that we both attend. So we changed our plans & went. Once again, Ken stated that not only him & his wife, Lisa, was praying about every person there at that meeting, but so was a couple more married couples regarding who they wanted trained up to be leaders in the church....WOW, God once again has told me that He wants me in this position.

One more...I have had a nudge to start leading a Women's Home Bible Study...Do I feel worthy? Nope! He has been telling me this for quite sometime now, but I shush Him and tell Him, NO! Who am I to "Shush" God??? How dare I! So, I stepped out and called Janie in regards to this...Once again, confirmation from her about it. I still have to sit with her and go over somethings, but I know God is positioning me...WOW!

Today, I checked my daily email & was reading my Proverbs 31 Encouragement For The Day... And, yes, again, another confirmation. Here's what it said...

27 Aug 2009

Lysa TerKeurst

"I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws." Psalm 119:30 (NIV)

As a little girl, I had longed for a daddy to pick me up, swing me around, and tell me I was lovely and loved. When this childhood longing went unmet, it became an adult emptiness and brokenness that drove me to seek out all kinds of misguided remedies.

My primary remedy was to look for someone or something that would make me feel loved and significant. It's as if I carried around a little heart-shaped cup and extended it to whatever or whomever I perceived might fill it.

I presented the cup to my education: "Will you fill me?"

I offered it to my husband: "Will you fill me?"

I held it out to my child: "Will you fill me?"

I extended it to my material possessions: "Will you fill me?"

I presented it to each of my jobs: "Will you fill me?"

Within these questions were many more entanglements: "Will you right all my wrongs?" "Will you fill up my insecurities?" "Will you make me feel significant?" The more I offered my emptiness hoping something could fill it, the more frustrated I felt.

And when I had grown in my faith, I was especially perplexed. Wasn't being a Christian supposed to fix these kinds of issues in my heart? What was I missing?

Have you ever been there?

Why is it so tempting to look to things of this world for fulfillment? This notion that worldly things can fulfill is all around us. It's on TV, the focus of countless secular songs, and it's what dominates American advertisements. I can't even stand in the grocery store checkout lane without being bombarded with suggestions for a more fulfilling life. A better husband. A better body. A better career. A more beautifully decorated house. The magazines seem so slick, their promises so enticing. They sneak into our thought processes and make us think, "If only I had _______________, I'd be so happy. I'd be so fulfilled."

So, we chase and chase until we bankrupt our relationships, our bank accounts, and our very souls. The reality is every single thing the world offers is temporary. No person, possession, profession, or position can ever fill the cup of a wounded, empty heart—not my heart, not your heart. It's an emptiness only God can fill.

Whatever "if only I had" statement we are struggling with, we can replace it with solid truths from Scripture that will never leave us empty. It's a bold statement to make and might even sound a bit trite, but it's true.

When God's Word gets inside of us, it becomes the new way we process life. It rearranges our thoughts, our motives, our needs, and our desires. Our soul was tailor made to be filled with God and His truth; therefore, it seeps into every part of us and fills us completely. It is the only perfect fit.

Dear Lord, we ask today that You set within us a passion for Your Word. A passion that will override the fleshly desire within us to chase after fulfillment from people, possessions, professions, or positions. Lord, help us place the highest importance on getting into Your Word every day. And may we always approach Your Word with a humility of need and a heart ready to receive all You want to teach us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Lysa TerKeurst's blog for a list of her favorite Bible Verses. This is just the jump start you need to get into God's Word each day.

If you connected with this devotion, you won't want to miss Lysa's upcoming book, Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl. To order your copy today, click here.

What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst

Application Steps:
Fill in this blank: I've always thought, "If only I had _________________ I'd be happy and fulfilled.

Now, visit Lysa's blog for a list of Bible Verses to help replace this faulty script we play in our minds.

Reflections:
What or who have I tried to get fulfillment from?

How does this damage my relationships?

Power Verses:
Psalm 19:7a, "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul." (NIV)

Psalm 27:10 -11a, "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way O Lord; lead me in a straight path…" (NIV)

Psalm 45:1a, "My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king…" (NIV)

© 2009 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Matthews, NC 28105
877-P31-HOME (877-731-4663)

WOW, what a 'Gut Check'. Thank you Father for who you are in me! I praise you for your love & the fullness I can find, ONLY IN YOU! I praise you and give you ALL of the Glory!
I pray that I continue to seek your face daily and listen to your voice. That even though my life is hectic that I continually see the work you are completing in me. In Jesus name...Amen


PS, school updates are coming, I just needed to get this out...My schedule & life has me running at the moment, but I will catch up!

He cares about the little things...

As I just did my WFW post, it was meant for this post. I intended on sharing my story, but the Lord had another plan & it ended up being the post that I posted.
So, now on to my story...
With everything going on lately with Dominic, I have been ubber busy! Well, Adriana's promotion is tomorrow & I haven't had a chance to do anything to prepare her or for her luau on Saturday.
My plan was, Little & I were going to go have mani-pedis done today after school. I was planning on buying some decorations for the luau and just making everything special for her.
So much for my plan. How does the saying go, "We make plans & God laughs". Yeah, well he must be laughing histarically right now. Needless to say, NONE of my plans have gone accordingly. But, I've also continued to trust that the Lord is working, not only in my little boys body, but for my girls party. I know, it sounds funny, that He would care enough to 'help' me get her party done & made special, but He does.
Yesterday, I was late picking up Adriana. It was just one of those days. She called me and told me that she was over at her friend, Chelsea's house, to pick her up there. So, I went over to Joanna & Chelsea's to pick up Adriana. Joanna & I started talking about Dominic (Joanna is Guatemalan, just like Jose. They have different 'beliefs' I guess you can say regarding health issues. They amaze me, they make me laugh & sometimes I wonder about some of them). While we were talking, Chelsea announced that she was going to get her nails done. I told Joanna that I planned on taking Adriana, but with things going on, I haven't had the chance to take her. So Joanna said, "Melissa, why don't you leave Adriana here & I will take her with Chelsea to get her nails done." Like the typical Melissa that I am, I told her no, that I would take her at some point. Joanna wouldn't let me tell her no & made me leave Adriana to go with them.
See, God even cares about my daughter's little nails being pretty for her promotion! Not to mention, What an awesome friend I have in Joanna! She has really blessed me with Adriana so many times! She is a great friend!
Then, today was my MOTS day. Yesterday Jose was telling me that I just shouldn't go, to stay home & get stuff done. I told him that I needed to go, I needed just 2 hours to myself with my "sisters" and some spiritual uplifting. I got up this morning, took the kids to school & had my whole morning planned. Well, once again I was faced with opposition! I went to take Ant to school, when he realized that he left his yearbook at home. So I turned around to get his yearbook. When he went in, Dominic was at the top of the stairs crying, which in turn woke Delayna up (now before I get bombarded with comments or messages...I don't leave the little ones home alone. My mom is up in her room when I run the kids to school). So now I had to pack them up into the truck & take them with me. Then instead of coming home & showering while the two littles were asleep, I had to feed Dominic, change a dirty diaper, answer my cousin's text messages & shower with a fussy baby outside my shower door. Dress the fussy baby while being wrapped in my towel, blow dry my hair with the fussy baby on my hip, put the fussy baby into the sink with a towel while I did my make-up, fight with Dominic to get dressed & ready to go. Then pack them into the truck & head out...
Once we got there, Dominic did NOT want to go into his class. Had to fight that, yadda yadda yadda. MAN, let me tell ya!
So once I was able to go into the group, sit & eat, I was good. We were doing raffle baskets.
My plans was to put 4 of my 22 tickets into the 'Green Basket', 6 of my tickets into the 'Picnic Basket' and the remaining 12 tickets into the movie basket in hopes of getting the movie 'Fireproof' and 4 movie tickets. I did them wanting the movie basket, but willing to take the other two. My theory behind it was to get something I could make time to spend with my family enjoying each other. Well....I didn't win any =(
BUT, God had another plan!
When everyone was cleaning up, Suzanne went & asked Wendy what she was going to do with all the Hawaiian stuff that we used for decorations.
Wendy told her she was going to throw it away, unless she wanted it. Suzanne told her that I needed it & she told her to give it to me!
So out of nowhere, Suzanne yells at me, "Hey, Melissa, all this stuff is yours for Adriana's Luau!"
PRAISE GOD!
He knows ALL my cares & cares about them more than I do!
I am completely besides myself with his blessings & love!

Shout Out To My MOTS Girls...

I tried posting from my phone, but so much for that. I don't know what happened.
Anyway, at MOTS today, we played Bunco & I was able to mingle with some of the girls. About a hand full of them commented on my blog.
I didn't know it was so popular. That kinda makes me feel good!
So, since I am so popular with my MOTS girls, here's a shout out...

Thank you ALL for your friendship & kindness! I hope to get to know you all more!!!
Much Love

Wednesday's Update

I haven't had time to sit & write out my Wednesday...I had referred to it in a previous post, but I haven't had blogging time lately. So here it goes...

I woke up at 7 am to get myself ready for MOTS, then get Delayna & Dominic ready too. We headed out just before 9am, when we were supposed to be there at 9. We finally got there & it was so nice being back! I had a wonderful time while Dominic (who didn't want to go) was having fun in his little class. When I went to go pick him up, he didn't even want to go home! I knew he needed to get out for a while! Delayna did really good, with the exception of her blowing out her diaper & I had to completely change her!
Then we headed home. The skies started looking a little dark & gloomy, but we made it home before the rains came in. My windsheild wiper on the driver's side broke when a semi truck's tire came off on the freeway & hit our windshield...UGH!
My Grandma Wallace was here & we had planned for her to come out. She wanted to take me shopping for Delayna. Well, as we started to leave, it started to really start sprinkling. I told my Grandma that we will have to stop & get new wipers. We went to Kragens & my Grandma bought me new wipers!!!!
Then we headed to Wal-Mart & decided to go eat first. So we went to Chili's. It was so yummy! Even better when Grandma paid the bill =D
After eating we went to Wal-Mart to go get Delayna her stuff. Grandma bought her:
~Her crib set
~A monitor (the one I got at the shower didn't work well due to the second story)
~Swing
~Warm Blanket for her crib
~2 Spongebob t-shirts for Dominic
~A nursing bra & tank top for me
We were spoiled, but SO grateful!!!!
Then we came home & James was here with the kids so they could see Grandma. I had plans for all of us to eat dinner together, but Grandma had bible study & had to go early.
Jose bbq'd steaks for the rest of us & I made my pasta/vegi salad.
James & Gail went home & I cleaned up from dinner.
The remainder of the night I had to deal with little miss...
It was a really good day though!!!