Colin and I just dropped Mom off at the Atlanta airport.
[Tear]I was secretly hoping the strong rains in Atlanta would last just a day longer so I could hold on to Mom for just a few more hours. And a cleansing of the final layer of inch deep pollen paste that has coated my car and bronchial tubes would have been a nice little bonus as well.
Colin and I took Mom to the Flying Biscuit in Midtown this morning for breakfast. We really wanted to take her for ābrunchā but her flight was leaving a bit too early for such a special event. Brunch is a big deal to the wonderful folk in Georgia and I have become quite fond of it myself. Admittedly, I had to get over my initial aversion to the word ābrunchā because it appears to be a combination of the word ābreakfastā and ālunchā which sorta-kinda-I-mean-really gets on my nerves. I swiftly got over my petty annoyance, however, the first time those creamy dreamy shrimp and grits touched my lips. Enough about ābrunchā though. Except for one more thing, the word ābrunchā is far better than ābruncheonā on the velveeta scale. My cordiality comes to a screeching halt with ābruncheonā.
Back to breakfast. In predictable Beth fashion, Mom ordered the Flying Biscuit Breakfast with the Orange scented French toast on the side. Please note that the Orange Scented French toast is actually not a side dish but a full meal. While we were waiting for Momās several dishes to come out we were talking about really urgent issues, like how complex and intricate the Flying Biscuit motif was on this little ceramic jar.
If I have not said this on the blog before, by far my favorite time to hang out with my Mom is right after some kind of big event like a videotaping, Passion, Deeper Still, or a Living Proof Live. In this case it was the Simulcast that was evidently extended to over 300,000 women. By the way, I told my Mom yesterday never to utter a number like that to me again without a serious warning and that if she even attempted to introduce me during the second session of the simulcast, I would take her to court for her wrongdoing. As you can guess, Mom did not listen and it turns out there really are restrictions on lawsuits. But seriously, Mom is super fun to be with right after a big conference. For starters, right after a big event she hasnāt slept in about a week and so after she steps off the stage she plunges into a very advanced case of delirium. If I thought she could handle the stress I would use this priceless state for my own advantage and literally take her from the church directly to a venue for her to do stand-up comedy. Also, since her stomach is usually pretty weak right before she speaks since she doesnāt have much of an appetite, usually the first thing she says to us after a session is, āI AM SO HUNGRY!ā Then we sit down at the table and she says, āIām going to order sixteen things.ā For some reason, she always uses the same number, sixteen. Iām not sure why she has this affinity for the number sixteen but she does and it delights me to no end each new time she throws it out there, almost like it is the very first time she has ever come up with this golden number āsixteenā. You can ask Amanda. I am not making this up.
My heart is so full from such a wonderful weekend. After Colin and I left Momās hotel last night and had gone on home, Amanda and I called my Mom three-way from my cell-phone. It was like 1993 sans landline. We talked and giggled and carried on and on about little snippets and stories from women we had encountered throughout the day until it was past Momās bedtime. When we hung up the phone I realized I had a giant lump in my throat. The Lordās ways are truly remarkable. Ā His intricate and elaborate pursuit of each of us just blows me away. Ā Yesterday as I sat listening to my Momās message in the second session I noticed a woman a few rows behind me who quietly streamed tears the entire hour and a half. As I watched her emotionally absorb words that were far too weighty for her to bear without a physical response, the gospel in its most unadulterated form was preached to my heart once again. That God, in the cross of Jesus Christ, has forgiven us and brought us into fellowship with Himself is the most compelling news our ears will ever hear and our minds will ever conceive. That He esteems us and deems us valuable is just beyond comprehension. I mean, weāre pretty bad. Ā Okay, we’re really bad, and even a tad bit unlovable a lot of the time.
Paul told the Corinthians in his second letter, āFor God, who said, āLet light shine out of darkness,ā made his light shine in our heart to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christā (4.6). Godās work in us through Jesus Christ is nothing short of a new creation. The same creator who sculpted the sun shined his very own light into our hearts by means of the knowledge of Christās gospel. This is not the kind of news one just sits and coldly anticipates with a forced half-smile but one that should be absorbed in a manner that cannot be controlled, contained, or folded up neatly like linens in a closet. I thank my dear sister who was sitting several rows behind me, wherever she is now, for reminding me how vast, enrapturing, and beautiful the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ really is. It is a profound experience to ponder the gospel anew in the face of someone who has just internalized Godās indescribable gift. The gospel is not safe and predictable, although we have most often rendered it such. It should turn every aspect of our lives completely upside down. Jesus has thrown everything utterly off balance. Perhaps more often than not the Gospel should completely undo us to the point that we cannot act altogether civilized. It sounds a little bit unsettling or even grotesque for those of us who are especially self aware but the bright side is that the community of God has been a peculiar people from the beginning, so we really donāt have all that much to lose.
Wow Melissa!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the “always anointed” word you just shared. He is so PROFOUND and sometimes I need to be reminded of just HOW PROFOUND He is!!!!!!!!!! Thanks again for sharing.
Glad you got special time with your Mom…..I remember from a previous post a long time ago how Mama Siesta shared she was very hungry after she shares. That she can’t eat before hand at all. When I am hungry I order way to much…..should eat before I order…ok so you can’t do that but then I wouldn’t let my eyes be bigger than my stomach…
Blessings to you and Colin Melissa……Have a great week!!
Bible Bunny in NO MI
Can I just say how much I love your self title of Bible Bunny! I always get called Bible Thumper, but I never pictured the bunny from Walt Disney until now!
Thank you!
I don’t have any daughters, so I won’t ever have that beautiful bonding that only moms/daughters can share. Yours is so beautiful. It warms my heart. Blessings to you all.
Sita in TO
Beautifully written, Melissa. Thanks so much for sharing.
It is good to hear from you and see you at the conference. I loved it when while your mom was talking about you, they cut back to you and you were shaking your head and rolling your eyes. Priceless š
And such a beautiful picture of you and your mom.
Let us know what your plans are now that you’re done with your ThM.
Love to you!
Michele
Liverpool, NY
Melissa, your mom is beautiful! As are you… and your dear sweet sister. I love the three-some that you three have. It obviously isn’t at all like the trinity, but indeed there is something spiritually wonderful about threes! I’ve never so much as thought of that before, so why it came out today just now I haven’t a clue. And yet, it reminds me of the three-some of my own between my two daughters and me. We’ve got two wonderful men that also make up our home (husband and son)… and they indeed are their own kind of wonder, while we still make up a wonder that only girls together can. I just recently spent a weekend with my two, a God-trip that He designed and invited us on. There are no words to paint the picture of the awe we felt and the awe we shared between ourselves and our Creator and Savior.
Sorry…. excuse me…. where in the world did all of that come from?
I just wanted to thank you all (mom and both girls) and the whole Living Proof staff and Travis Cotrell’s team. We were blessed beyond measure at the message that God sent and the reminder of the ‘exceptional’ that He made us all to be. May each one of the 300,000 go out and shine with His Glory in an unexplainable explanation other than the empowerment of our Jesus that died to live again raised inside of us! May what was said STICK! and may it change us daily! making a difference not only for the now, but for the generations and generations and generations that will follow in our footsteps once our walk here on earth is done.
Thank you, Beth, for the meal that was served!!!!!!!!! We are very hungry girls! Jesus fed us well through you and sent us away FULL!!
Melissa, it was wonderful to see you and Colin again. What an amazing day! We love all of you. (I hope you’ll come to Richmond in August!)
what a cool woman /daughter you grew up to be.. I was so proud of you yesterday and even more after reading your posting . Remember we are all praying for you too.
My daughter just lives an hour away from me and tears up when I leave. I can’t imagine if I lived in another state and her having to drop me off at the airport. : /
I’m glad you all were able to spend some time together. The Flying Biscuit sounds very delicious!
I was one of the 300,000 who got to see you introduced yesterday. š
Y’all are so cute and so much fun!
I attended the simulcast in Norman, OK. It was wonderful. I’m still trying to process it all.
Thanks for posting Melissa.
Love,
Valerie
Oh, Dear Melissa! We loved seeing you, even so briefly, at the simulcast. I would have been in on that lawsuit with you except that I’m glad your mom did it for the rest of us. Can I be on both sides?
For you, your mom, all the workers, Travis and his crew and family and everyone in the world associated with this simulcast, let me say that it was the best thing I’ve been to. I ended up with the ugly cry at the end in such an undoneness over the incredible love of God towards me. I can not believe the blessing!
Hugs, blessings and gingersnaps to all of you,
Karen
I love the woman with tears…for her honesty, authenticity and for just plain feeling it. I love her and I want to emulate her.
Yesterday was so special…I felt friends near, who were far. And I soaked in a taste of Heaven here in Colorado…it was beautiful. Thank you all for pouring out faith and living the upside-down life in Christ. May He fill you back up again and again!!
Thank you, Melissa, for sharing your heart, your story and for disliking the word bruncheon. It lacks something, I agree.
Sweet Melissa, thank you for your powerful words and reminder just now of who we are in Him. And thank you for being there on the front row yesterday afternoon. (I was, too. Just front row balcony.) I know it’s uncomfortable for you at times to be “front row,” literally and figuratively, but know that we love you and Amanda just as we do your mom. After all, so many of us watched you two grow up. We are indeed some of your best cheerleaders! It comes with the territory.
” My cordiality comes to a screeching halt with ābruncheonā. ”
–i didn’t even know that was a term frequently used?! ew. that makes me shudder.
“Perhaps more often than not the Gospel should completely undo us to the point that we cannot act altogether civilized. It sounds a little bit unsettling or even for grotesque for those of us who are especially self aware but the bright side is that the community of God has been a peculiar people from the beginning, so we really donāt have all that much to lose.”
–this message has been on repeat in my heart for some time. beautifully written, sister.
Hi Melissa!
I love your point about how the gospel should not be received without emotion; if it is, we likely just didn’t “get it”. For me though, the emotion that overtook me at the simulcast yesterday was pure joy. While so many of the individual points Beth made spoke strongly to me, what amazed me was that putting them together was like finishing a puzzle, completing a work in my heart. It was like all the pieces were there before me on the table, the puzzle was nearly done, but the things she and Travis said just rotated the pieces and dropped the last few pieces into the open holes in the puzzle; I think I literally felt my heart change as things just softly clicked into place. Can I put off the old and wear the new? Yes, I think now I can.
Blessings,
Adrienne
I love you Adrienne….so much! š
What a great analogy! David used a similar reference in his sermon yesterday about the gospel. He was wearing an autism puzzle lapel pin and someone had asked him about it. May get to see you Sunday even though I am working.
So insightful Melissa!!! Thank you for sharing these sweet, funny family moments with us!!! And for reminding us how profound and exciting God’s gift of love to us truly is!!! Amen!!!
Thank you for the reminder of the wonder of the gospel and the great love God has for each one of us. š
Melissa,
How beautiful and poignant. Yes! The good news of Jesus touched so many lives yesterday! I am so thankful for your Mom’s faithfulness to the Lord and her willingness to be used by him, even though it makes her stomach weak and her nights sleepless. And thank you for sharing those comments. I have been struggling for over a year with severe anxiety and panic attacks. My symptoms are physical, weak and upset stomach, splotchy red flushing, hives. Not any more! I am fighting to gain my dignity back! Yesterday, I too sat with tears streaming down my face as I listened to words of hope. Words of freedom. Words of blessing. Words straight from the Lord! I had such peace and quietness in my soul afterward. It was a true gift from the Holy Spirit. Today I went to worship, and for the first time in at least a year I did not wear a turtleneck or a scarf to cover up my “fear”. I chose to dress the way a secure woman would dress…even though my stomach was still twisted with fear into a knot. I prayed through my scriptures before church and recited them to myself during church. I trusted the truth. I WON! No panic attack. No flushing. I am Not going to be in bondage to fear any more! Praise the Lord with me! He is so good!
Your relationship with your family is beautiful! I love hearing how much you girls adore each other! Giggling, foot soaking, eating, teasing, it all makes me smile! Thank you for sharing! Isn’t it such a blessing to have family!
You dear ones are all on my heart and in my prayers!
Melissa, I was happily reading along, smiling at those silly things we can all relate to. Then you did it….. I read about the lady w/ the tears streaming down her face and now mine are doing the same thing! How true that is…… how the reality of Jesus having taken our place…. EACH of our places…. on that hideous cross, can hit our souls and we do physically react. I was overwhelmed listening to Travis as he reminded us we’re not a “faceless sea of souls”, but intimately known. I’ve always felt merely a part of the blob of Christendom so the whole simulcast hit home again and again. …. so thankful.
Melissa-I LOVE your contributions and often feel like a voyeur into your diary as you share such sweet, personal details of your life and your family life. I was actually at the event , in the chapel, and am the woman that asked the final question to you and your mother about how to raise our daughters in this world without them becoming “worldly”…anyway, I just have to share with you all the way that God used His sovereign providence to speak to me through my own background of insecurity and the way that He orchestrated my own personal commissioning to the “New Creation” that He has miraculously morphed me into! It is the latest post on my blog, mentioned above in the website spot…
I know you girls are crazy busy, but if you have a chance, I know you would be blessed to hear the testimony that He ordained through you all! Much love to you all!
-Aimie
http://asimplelifewithanawesomegod.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/so-long-insecurity/
So glad you got to spend some time with your Mom, Melissa — loved the pic of you two! And a restaurant with the name of the Flying Biscuit sounds like a place I’d like to visit! š Praise God for all the blessings He gave through the simulcast!
Took part in the simulcast in Midland, Texas. I have a confession to make. I was reading the book in preparation for the event since I was going to serve at our church as a prayer counselor. I was almost finished and took the book with me on an overnight trip to Dallas on Thursday. I was walking through the Love Field airport when a lady says, “Beth Moore. I just love her stuff.”. I realized she was looking at my book. Now not wanting to look like an insecure person, I found myself trying to cover the title of the book with my jacket I was also carrying as I trekked from gate 15 to the baggage claim. I had to give myself a chuckle when I thought about what I had just done and the “insecurity” involved in my action. What a hoot!
Needless to say I got a big kick out of the pictures of the ladies with the paper bags over their heads in the bookstore.
wow I love your wording! Speaks the words of my heart!!
how incredible is our God?!
I can tell you are your mother’s daughter. Melissa; you express yourself very well in your blog.:)
I too have been blessed by this weekend’s simulcast at Parkway Community Center in Grants Pass, OR. Your mother truly gave the message I was praying for. Her Spirit lead words gave way to what my friend needed to hear and confirmed like an echo the words that I’d given her early in the week. I really love it when the Lord does that, repeats himself through the mouths of others in agreement more than one time!
When Beth talked about the woman on the plane having big blonde hair with extentions and make-up, it reminded me of our daughter. I was so hoping she would come to this event, but she didn’t. I wonder…will this conference ever be shown a later date on this website or another? So many things that your Mother shared are just what she needs to hear. She won’t read the book. Maybe I should get the audio version for her.
Thank you. May the Lord bless you dear ladies.
Hi there!
I LOVED your share.
Your mom was awesome and seeing her right in our little church in Santa Maria, California was an amazing and touching experience. Many thanks to you and your mom!
I pray it will be said of us…except her!!
Psalm 145:4 One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
Psalm 149:6 May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
Oh Jenny Hope, me too!!!
Yep, I am still soaking that in too girlie:)
Same here, to all the women! There are some heart searching days ahead to digest everything.
how cool! I had no idea you could reply to a comment! what in the world! The LORD Jesus gave the lost and believers the mind to come up with all of this crazy technology and what the enemy means for harm God means for good!!
Needed that!
I cannot tell you how much I appreciated your “So Long Insecurity” simulcast yesterday. From the minute I saw the advertised subject matter, I knew I had to bring my daughter. We enjoyed a wonderful day together and she was truly changed by your message and the way you presented the subject matter. Thank you for bringing such a personal journey to so many others. God bless you and your beautiful family.
Yesterday was my first time Live with you Beth! What an awesome experience! God has truly blessed you with a gift and I am so thankful that our God placed us on this earth at the same time. I have 3 beautiful granddaughters and one of them is an Ann Beth. My goal as their grandmother is to let them witness through me what a secure life in Christ is like. He is my security and oh how I love our Father! God Bless you always is my prayer!
“It should turn every aspect of our lives completely upside down. Jesus has thrown everything utterly off balance. Perhaps more often than not the Gospel should completely undo us to the point that we cannot act altogether civilized.”
I love what you said above…you are right… I am just sad at times that I don’t live like I believe this, but I keep pressing on to know the one that can change my life completely…
Love the picture of you and your mom, and I love that your mom always says the number 16…that is a sweet thing you have with her.
It was a good weekend. I got 7 hours (TOTAL) of sleep, laughed until I hurt, went to Starbucks 7 times (can I get an Amen?), ate at Pappasitos (again, Amen?), had a BLAST selling merch at the table, got to know KMac (HEY!) and Hawk (she was NOT the internet whisperer, but totally thought she was…ahem…wink wink), heard a WORD from Bethie, got a little less insecure, praised Jesus with Travis, and hung out with the best friends I have – all of whom I met on this blog.
It. Was. A. Good. Weekend.
And now I’m going to bed.
Since I was with Robyn the entire time…let me “concur” with her on this (ahem, Lindsee Lou) and just say we love y’all. We thank God for y’all. And I’m going to bed now.
Robyn: I love you. You are a delight! Hope to see you BEFORE Deeper Still, Birmingham!
GJ
7 is the number of perfection! š
Robyn, you were a joy! thanks so much for helping~
I’m so glad you posted this, Melissa! Thank you for sharing your experience and God bless the sister you told us about. I was at the Bartlett, TN location yesterday and we had a great time with the Lord! I loved every minute of it…. even those 15 minutes or so when a huge storm cell went over and we lost the satellite feed. We totally missed point 4, which was such a bummer, but we were blessed just the same. We had been told to hold onto to anything we wanted to take with us and be prepared to move to another part of the church should a tornado warning be issued. As we sat there, prepared to evacuate the sanctuary on command, the site coordinator asked if anyone had a short testimony, prayer request, etc that they wanted to share. There were many heart-warming praises and requests, but none could top Tricia’s. She currently lives in a half-way house in Memphis, after serving her sentence for drug possession. She told us that she has been clean for 6 months and gives Jesus the thanks and praise for it! Hallelujah! I will remember her forever and the sweet prayer that was said over her, for Jesus to take that craving from her and replace it with a hunger and thirst for Him instead. The entire day was such a blessing and I want to thank everyone who made it happen!
We all enjoyed both of you yesterday. We watched the simulcast from a local church in Richland Washington. I am so blown away at what God is doing in our little community (150,000) that it almost overwhelms me. The church is a Baptist church that reached out to the smaller non-denominational churches to participate in the simulcast. We jumped on it! Our church is very small, only 150 or so, so we could not afford to do this on our own. God is so good and faithful to us.
Thank you for your sacrifice and your obedience and may you reap 100 fold what you have sown. You have to know that your book is the first book I have read cover to cover in ten years. Yes, I said ten years. Sad isn’t it. But my life is changed and I will forever be thankful to God for you and what you have done through this book. Insecurity has almost destroyed my marriage and my sanity. But no more do I feel like I’m in a dark tunnel with no light at the end to guide my way through. Thank you Lord that I am no longer traveling on that road. I now have my (your) mantra…..which I might add I recite often and I pray that as time goes on that I will be required to recite it less and less.
Praise God for the technology we have at our disposal in this day and age that so many women could be touched instantaneously with such a timely message. Bless you Beth Moore!
I loved the story your mom told about you coming down the stairs at just four years old and saying, “Are you going to boss me today?”!! From a new mama of two girls, I am grateful for this lesson. I pray that I will soak it up and apply it to my life immediately, so that my girls will grow up knowing they are severly loved by Jesus Christ! Much love from South Georgia!
Dear Melissa,
My heart, too, is so full from such a wonderful weekend. I shared rare and precious time with just my sister and my niece (just us girls!)from Friday through today, Sunday, as they came to visit me for the simulcast, shopping, and seafood (order of importance)! Amen to your thoughts on the Lord’s ways and the Gospel; oh, how ecstatic I am when I contemplate what it means to know The Truth! How precious to be one of the “peculiar people”! Sometimes when I look at the world around me, I am just so absolutely humbled that He would have sought after me until I knew I was His own.
I am so grateful to your precious mother for everything I have learned and have come- to- know about our precious Lord and how He loves me, forgives me, and yes, even lives in me. I also appreciate you, Amanda, and Beth letting us Siestas be a part of your family. Your time with your Mom the past 2 days makes us happy, too!
Love to you all-
Fran
P.S. Mamas can’t help but brag on their children, whether they like it or not! It’s just a fact of love! I enjoyed seeing you at the simulcast- Colin, too!
I watched a gal on my row stream tears throughout the whole time too. So moving!
Melissa,
You are always delightful and deep, what an incredible combination. It’s tough being the subject of copious material and yet the women you are handles it beautifully. My heart tells me it is because of your love and respect for your Mom. Your realtionship with her is one I desire to have with my daughter. After receiving Beth’s message yesterday I can’t contain the way I truly desire to “do the thing” (borrowed from your Mom. Then this morning our girl came by to ask permission to move back home. She has been running from her faith and I feel like the Lord equipped me yesterday to deal with this very emotional request. I have looked back at approximately three years of bible and journal entries and the running theme has been prayers for her heart to return to the One and Only Jesus.
In Him she will find what has been missing and fill her to the measure she can’t contain.
My heart is on stun right now and I am giving this all over to Him. I prayerful ask for the prayers of the siesta’s to intercede on her behalf. Her name is Adriana and she is our girl. You relationship with your Mom inspries me and gives me great hope.
I pray that you and Colin are well and loving Jesus together.
Love to you, Amanda and Beth.
Celeste, I’m sending up prayers for both you and Ariana ~ praying that the Lord will open your heart and mouth to allow you to share His and your love for her to her. Hang on tight, as a mother of daughters myself I know its liable to be a wild ride -again :>)
Lynne I cannot thank you enough for your prayers, and you must have been in my house a moment ago when she came in through the door with tears streaming down her face. I need so much prayer please keep praying! This ride is lifted up to Him.
Praying for you and Adriana. This is a great thing but will also be a hard thing. God is with you! Prayers going up!
Oh, you ladies are too precious! This has to be the heart and soul of the internet. I’ve NEVER seen such a well of reflection. It runs so deep, you really can’t get to the bottom of it.
Such intercession, wisdom, and Love.
Who’d a thought you could find Love on the web?
Praying also for you and Adriana.
Again my heart is so full with sister that takes a moment to recognize the heart of a mom interceding on behalf of her girl. The women of this community are such a beautiful glimpse of our heavenly home, it brings me such an amazing feeling of love and strength. God bless each of you.
Funny, I always use the number 17. And for no particular reason. Just like when the kids ask what is for lunch and I always answer–porcupine stew and pickle juice.
Yesterday was wonderful. I also loved when you rolled your eyes. And I just had to get out my Travis Cottrell “Live” CD so that I could play it in the car and sing as loud as I wanted. I know that Lord thinks that my voice is a joyful noise, but I just wasn’t so sure that the women in front of me would think so. So I exercised self control.
And may our hearts always marvel in joy to know that we know that we are loved by God.
Terri
Porcupine stew and pickle juice? Too funny!
Thank you, Melissa
I’m from Georgia and I LOVE the Flying Biscuit! Excellent choice.
What a great post–and I seriously heart your hair. š
I attended yesterday’s simulcast at a church in Mesa,AZ, with my best friend Mary (who I have not seen in over a year) who attended at a church in my hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. Wow! Isn’t technology amazing? We had bible study together, 2000 miles apart. We left there and got on the phone and talked and talked and yak, yak, yak! It was great! It meant so much to us to be able to share this together even though we’re apart. I can’t wait to do it again! Me and Mary and 300,000 girlfriends!!
It’s so fun to read about a new place to go in Hotlanta next time I’m there. I’m guessing you’ve been to Gladys Knight’s Chicken n Waffles between downtown and Buckhead. It is fun for something wierdly Southern. I hope all sixteen things were great and everybody enjoyed your pre-brunch. Blessings for a great week, J
Back in February I was on a business trip to Atlanta. On the way to the hotel we stopped at Glady Knight’s!! I’m thinking I love chicken and waffles but never had them together….OMG….now that was some mighty fine food!!
Melissa, I wonder if I am the only one who wishes I could be a fly on a wall around all you girls! Just for a day or two! I love all of you so much and I thank God for all of you!
Sacha
Nope, not the only one Sacha š
Melissa,
I too sat in amazement at listening to the Gospel delivered to me yet again. . God’s word NEVER returns void. Your mom did an incredible job in delivering such a BIG message. And yes. . to 300,000 women strong, a change will begin to happen. Seeds have been planted on SECURITY in the Lord that will take root and sprout!!!
We live very near you and LOVE to “brunch” too. My favorite is grits, grits, grits. The creamier the better, sometimes you can find them made with REAL, old fashioned whipping cream. (not the best for the waistline, but yummy) Whenever my husband and I travel to the Atlanta area for overnights, we love to eat at Flying Biscuit or any other establishment that advertises Brunch!! I am happy to know I am not the only person that has analyzed the grammatical configuration of the word Brunch. I have often thought of what would lunch and supper be ? Lupper? or Linner? OK. Just wanted you to know you’re not the only one that has thought of that.
It was an amazing day and I am slowly absorbing all I learned. I also, loved, loved serving at the LPM table and helping out. Got to rub shoulders with KMACK, Diane, Nancy, and Michelle. It was totally awesome. What a true, Godly group of women you all work with. . loved. them.
Wendy
Wendy – we love you right back~ thanks so much for your help, and your joy.
I saw precious Nancy but who in the world is KMAC? Nancy, I wish I could be the runner that you are because you are the cutest little thing ever! I loved your outfit also!
Wendy, I am so glad I got to see you and Emmy. Y’all always bring the joy with you.
KMAC is our amazing co-worker Kimberly McMahon. š
It was fun to get that post from you, Melissa. I enjoyed seeing you during the telecast too. I laughed the hardest when your mom was talking about you and the camera panned over to your face and you were shaking your head “no” as she spoke of you. Too funny! You and your mom are both beautiful women. I hope my strong-willed kids can grow just as good as you did. š
I’m grappling with words to describe this week. My pregnant daughter was to come to the simulcast with me along with 2 friends and she went into labor a week early, on Wednesday. Her husband was out of town for work and I had the amazing opportunity to be her solo coach as she delivered our granddaughter in less than 3 hours (yep!) A bond with her that just humbles my heart. My emotions were flowing at the simulcast with tears streaming down my cheeks also. We expect the world to be insensitive but I had been struggling with a siesta who said some hurtful things to me a few months ago. It threw me into a deep pit. God’s love, His word, this book and simulcast reached deep into my soul. Taking God’s promises & truth, saying the simplist JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW, hurling my hurts at the foot of the cross, looking up to be sprinkled by His love, and forgiving this siesta filled my heart. Beth, Melissa and Amanda: You are darlings and I love YOU so much !!!!!! I as probably thousands prayed for you this week Beth (and Curtis) and you have BLESSED God and 300,000 of us immensly !!! Amanda & Melissa: We love hearing about you !!! It makes us feel normal, when your mom says what we all feel. I’m humbled by God’s grace and His annointing on you three. Worship was AWESOME and Parkway Christian Church (not my home church), Grants Pass, Oregon was FABULOUS !!! SO LONG INSECURITY, IN HIS LOVE š š š
I wasn’t able to make it to the simulcast, but that last paragraph was so bold and reminded me of my minister’s sermon this morning. Thank you for writing so beautifully about something the one thing that has changed us all and will continue to change us.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
I do love the Flying Biscuit as well, especially that apple butter-stuff they serve with the biscuits. They have excellent hot chocolate too, which is much better on an autumn morning than in April:)
You are so correct in saying that the gospel should turn our lives upside down. My life sure was turned upside down when I met Jesus in a personal way, and I have no desire to be right-side up again! Thanks for sharing.
You guys are so special. I don’t remember EVER laughing and giggling with my mom. Better yet, 3 way??? Goodness. It’s incredible. Maybe we should take lessons on how to do such a thing confortably.
I’m sad I missed the message. Even sadder tuesday night bible study is gone for the semester.
Crazy over you guys.
Keep up the amazing thoughtful posts.
huge hugs
Melissa, thank you for being so transparent with your feelings about your mom. I must admit, I’m envious. I will never have that kind of relationship with my mom, but your words have encouraged me to persevere in building a strong relationship with my daughter.
The Lordās ways ARE truly remarkable. His love overwhelms me!!
I’m not sure whether to ask forgiveness or be proud that I told my 4th-5th grade Sunday School students this morning to stop acting bored when they hear the Word of God. I “might” have been a little “animated”, when I said this.
Melana
Melissa, this was fun to read; thank you for sharing it š What a great photo of you and your mom. I couldn’t help but comment because 16 is special to me too, not only because my birthday is on the 16th but it’s just sweet š
I’m reading Jesus – the One and Only, and just falling more and more in love with our Jesus!
The Gospel should knock us off our very feet if we truly let it fall on the parched and hungry soil of our hearts. I’m often surprised when it does and yet it should be more the rule than the exception. That kind of message shakes our world, & lights up the darkest places. Beautifully written, Melissa–you could be an Annie Dillard!
I LOVE when you post things on here sweet Melissa! Thanks for sharing. : )
Love you : )
Chesney
Melissa (and Amanda),
It brings me PURE JOY to watch you interact with your mama. It blesses my heart. I just adore all of you and thank you so much for allowing us to share even just a little bit of the love y’all have for one another.
Thanks, also, for the reminder of renewal in God’s word.
AMEN!