You Can't Take It All With You: Rest in Piece...

Well, it seems as if I am getting more and more revelations as I sleep. Honestly, I think its my dad working in cohorts with God. Those two are NOT letting me sleep... lol. Guess that's a good thing, I have an insider's tip on life now more than ever.

As I was laying partially awake, I kept hearing "rest in peace". I was like, yeah, rest in peace daddy. Then I heard, "no, not PEACE, but PIECE". Rest in PIECE. -pause- Piece. Let me reveal what God has told me....

Our lives rest upon the legacy that we choose to leave in the earth. Whether we are allotted the seventy plus seven years God promised, or if God decides to call us home a little earlier. We have to maximize the time we've been given. When God began to reveal to me "rest in piece", he told me that we are only to leave a "piece" of ourselves to be placed in the ground, the rest should be left throughout the world, the people we meet, the projects we complete, and the works we've done.

In 1 Timothy 4:14 it says, "Do not neglect your gift which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid hands on you." Now that gift (or gifts) that has been placed in you is for all of those around you. God has given a portion that is to bless others. What's the use of possessing an angelic voice if all you do is sing in the shower. Should you not sing in a choir? Visit nursing homes & hospitals to sing? To write music to change lives? You see, when you have a specific gift, there is a specific need for the Kingdom that only YOU can meet.

I look back on my father's life and marvel at all he was able to accomplish, all the people he was able to meet, and all the dreams he was able to live out. It's amazing. He was able to reach the drug addict on the corner, all the way to the rich man's widow. There wasn't a soul he didn't feel he couldn't reach. He was able to write over 500 songs, create jerseys the world has never seen, and see things in the spirit that only God could reveal. It was because he chose to not bury his talents in the ground. He chose to surrender. Totally. He knew that when the March 12, 2010 (his death) of his life would come, he would hear job well done my son.

Dad did not use the excuses of having a non-existent father, being the product of a single mother struggling, being mistreated or misunderstood, or even feeling lonely. He knew that all his brain possessed, the world needed. He knew that when his trumpet was sounded to come back home, God would have done a complete work in him.

Two weeks before my dad suffered his massive stroke, he pulled me to the side and said he wanted to pray for me. I was like, "Dad, I'm headed to a photoshoot, what's up." He kept saying, "we don't have a lot of time baby girl, I need to impart some things to you." As we sat at the breakfast table, I saw something behind his eyes, the earthly life he lived was coming to an end. At that moment, I didn't know what I was beginning to witness, but God was increasing his spiritual man, while decreasing his earthly man. Dad did something strange, he said, "I want to anoint you before you leave. I want to decree and declare a double portion of my anointing. All that God has given me spiritually, I want you to have double that." I was at a loss for words. I didn't understand it, but now I do. Dad knew. In that very moment, he knew that his clock was ticking and it was only a matter of time before he would go home to be with his heavenly Father. He knew he couldn't take that anointing to the ground with him, it would be of no use. He knew more souls needed to be saved. He knew more music needed to be made. He knew more jerseys needed to be designed. He knew more speeches needed to be given. He knew.

You see, when we all close our eyes and rest in "piece" we don't need to take anything with us. None of our ideas, our innovations, our songs, our business plans, our anointing, and our giftings. There are things that God has placed in us that are meant for earth. These things are meant to bless people and bring them to the kingdom. It is not a coincidence that Dad was able to impart his anointing on me in his final days. It is no coincidence that you are reading this right now. God is a God of RIGHT NOW! He wants us to make a change right now and he wants us to begin to live right now. No longer is it ok to sit on our talents, ideas, and giftings anymore. We must make use of them right now.

When you lay down each night and ask for forgiveness of your sins, ask Him what you are to leave in the earth. Ask God to show you what He saw you doing. Begin to envision yourself changing lives one person at a time. Make it your business to be a blessing to someone, from a baby in the nursery, to a mega millionaire, to a difficult client, to a loved one that you have been estranged from, or even your boss that you know doesn't care for you much. You will be amazed at what power love possesses. Leave pieces of you all along the way, so when you rest in peace, you are merely resting in "piece", because your spirit will resonate all throughout the world.

I leave you with this quote:

"Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sun-dial in the shade?"

- Benjamin Franklin

Living in peace by leaving pieces all along the way...

-Mel

Rest in Peace Big Poppa: Daddy Died So That I May Live

Well, I guess everyone has been wondering where I have been and what's been up. Well, long story short, my father passed on March 12, 2010 at 3:42 pm. My life has been changed forever. I lost my best friend, my teacher, my pastor, my prayer partner, and my daddy. Forever. Words cannot express the amount of emotions that I have experienced during this time. From sadness to despair to depression to frustration and even anger. I've asked God 1,000 times why. I even asked dad why. No answer came. All I can do is keep living.





So, dad's death has taught me 3 things.....

- Reflect

- Move Forward

- To live....



Journey with me for a moment.



In reflecting, Ive realized so many things: What I once had and what I know how to do. What Ive learned. What Ive remembered. What I now possess. What I must perfect.

I now look back on all my dad has taught me and realize that Ive somehow captured it all. I can vividly remember the talks we've had, the late night drives we've taken and the lessons he has taught me. In remembering who my dad was, I know who I must become. Attending his memorial services, hearing what people had to say about him, and reading all that was written, I was in the presence of greatness for 27 years. For that, I praise the most High. I am eternally grateful.



As I look back over my own life, I have reevaluated what I spend time on and with who. As we race against this clock called life, we cannot spend precious moments on trivial people and things. We must make conscious decisions to be who God has called us to be. No longer is it ok to waste time on things that don't bring us closer to our destiny and to God. When your number is called, what do you want to be caught doing? Reflect on that.



Funny how it takes death for us to live......



Secondly, I've learned that you must move on... From people, things, hurts, pains, places of confusion, all of that. Time is not given to be wasted. I look back on what is considered to be Daddy's last days and all I can remember him saying is, "Baby girl, don't let those people rent space in your head, you're too valuable to the kingdom for that." That makes so much sense. Many times our breakthroughs come from letting go. How can God fill our hands with anything new when we are still holding on to the old stuff?

Death hasn't served as an epihpany for me, but merely as a reminder.........

We can't keep expecting a breakthrough when we refuse to let things go. Since about January, my dad would pick up the phone and call random people in his phone book. He would call them to encourage them, speak into their lives, pray with them, and get things right. The moment he did that, his speaking calendar began to fill up, people began to sow into his life, he began to feel better than he had in years. All because he chose to surrender to God's will and bless others. Letting things go gave him freedom. Gave him life. I'm trying to do the same. Trying.

Just because I want to transform, doesn't mean it will happen over night. Change is a process that I must actively pursue and participate in.

I look at the people that did daddy wrong. (I've even confronted a few... so what... lol). Lied to him. Mistreated him. Gave him broken promises. You name it. And I have to manage to let it all go. The funeral was my true test. I think I probably got a B-. I'm still a work in progress. I have to let it go. I know, I know. For daddy's sake and for my own breakthrough. I have to be honest, this is tough. Somewhere along the way, I have to leave it right there along the way. Just not worth carrying. The weight of carrying on a legacy is far more than enough on its own. So I must keep moving. You only add value to a negative person/situation/memory by holding on to it. It's almost like they won if you do. But if you release it, guess what? You WIN!

Lastly, daddy died so that we, his girls, could live. He showed us that within the years you've been given, you have to end each day on zero. Which means you've given 1000% to the day. No matter what was thrown dad's way, he always gave God the glory. He knew that at the end of the day, God would have the final say. Dad found a way to make every experience a teaching point. He believed what you didn't have in money/influence, God would double in favor. And he lived his life that way every day. He didn't just talk about being saved, he WAS saved. He did it. He didn't just teach us how to make a marriage work, he showed us. He didn't just teach us how to live out our dreams, he showed us by doing it himself. You see, dad lived to the point where each day had its own story. He showed us what living was. So even in his death, he's forcing us to live. When you get a glimpse of that invisible clock on the wall and you begin to hear the faint "tick-tock", you know that this thing called life is no longer game. At least not a game that you should plan on losing.

I think, all in all, I will never, ever forget my very best friend. My daddy. All that's he's taught me, all that he's shown me, all the prayers he's prayed over me, the dreams he had for me, his encouraging smile, and his legacy that I must press forward to carry. Most of all, I will cherish all that he has taught me just by living. Even the last day I talked to him he asked me if I had enough faith to believe God for a massive miracle. I said yes, and he told me that it's already been done, God was just waiting on me. That was the last time we would ever speak. On February 26, 2010 at 2:38 pm, my dad suffered a major stroke, and was never the Michael Anthony Mitchell I knew. He came back for a moment at the hospital, looked in my eyes, and I saw his spirit go back towards the heavens. Right then I knew that was it. My daddy had handed over his mantle and it was time to be a big girl. I will never be the same. Man **pause** I am still living as if I will wake up and my life would be different. That daddy would still be here. Im in total disbelief that I won't hear my name being hollered across the house. Or that I will never get an encouraging text from him. Or that I will never get a huge bear hug. Or that I won't have my best friend to walk me down the aisle. Wheeew, I just can't believe it.

But, reality is what it is and daddy would want me to rise up like a Spartan and continue carrying on the legacy he's already made. my mantle feels heavy, but he knew I would be able to carry it. Now I have two fathers looking down on me.

Lights! Camera! Action! Time to truly live, because daddy died. Time to do the things he has instructed and the things he desired to do. All I can do is live.....

-Mel

Time is of the essence.....

Well, I have definitely been a little ghost lately, I know... but so much going on. Last Friday, my life changed forever. My father had a MAJOR stroke. Like, major. We were at the house drinking smoothies and 30 minutes later, I got a call from him, breathing heavy and my heart dropped. I had to call 911 remotely and get them to the house. They had to break in through the basement to rush him to the hospital. According to doctors, he shouldn't have survived from the house, but he did. I found the pajamas he had on and the pressure reading from the paramedics. It said his pressure was 192/136! Lord, that was beyond the level of survival. But he did.

The miracles that we have seen are far beyond our belief and understanding. The doctors thought he would have little to no movement and let me tell you about MY DADDY, he was moving upon command and trying to focus with his eyes. On Saturday, it just did not look good. We stayed at the hospital through the night believing God, praying, crying, and holding things together. One of the local pastors came and prayed over him. His frat brothers came from all over. Some of the church members that had relocated to Atlanta came too. I mean, we felt like we were in the final hours. As the doctors were delivering bad news after bad news, I began to cry. Then I left the room and went to the chapel with my little sisters to pray. I prayed like I was certified world travelling evangelist. I prayed so hard that people were peeking through the chapel windows to see what was going on. When I left out of there, I was so strengthened. I heard God's voice just as clear, "Go sing to your father, he will come back to you".

Let me tell you, my sisters and I went in that room and began to sing "breakthrough" to him over and over and felt the presence of the Holy Ghost fill the room. It was to the point where all of dad's close friends were in tears. They were so touched by that moment that they had to leave the room to compose themselves. We knew we had to go before the throne with a boldness and a confidence like never before, and we did. On Sunday morning, we got an early morning call that daddy had opened his eyes and was responding to command. Lord, we rushed to the hospital immediately. Dad was coming back. All because we weren't giving up on him.

When I asked if he missed us he began to cry. When I played Kanye West, he tried to tap his left foot. So, we know that God is more than able. Monday night, all the visitors had begun to go home and it was just mom and the girls (me and my lil sisters & god mom). So, I said, "Mom, I think we need to corporately pray for dad." She agreed. I went to a corner in the hospital and began to go before the Lord in fervent prayer. When I came out from beyond the veil, I immediately when in the room with daddy and began to pray for him. His eyes began to flutter. I ran out and got the rest of the crew and we began to pray like never before. My mom anointed each one of our hands with oil and then we all laid hands on a different part of his body and prayed silently. My mom (who is also a dynamic woman of God and pastor) began to pray and command the angels to lift him up. As she was commanding him to rise, my father's ENTIRE body began to lift up. The force of his body bucking knocked each one of us against the walls around us. It was something out of a movie. The nurses came running in to see what actually was going on. They said what was going on with him was simply beyond medicine.

I am sitting in the hospital waiting room now, still holding on to what God showed me and promised. I will be keeping you all updated periodically if I am up to writing. Just been so exhausted from this whole experience, but trusting God for the strength.

-Mel

Good People... Good Living...

I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on how blessed I am for the people in my life. From my parents, my little sisters, my BFFs, my "boo", my new found friends, and even down to the industry folks that I've become acquainted with. God has truly placed some wonderful people in my path that are getting me closer to who I am truly supposed to be.

I look back on my childhood and how my parents have molded me to who I have become by keeping me saturated in the Word, surrounded by positive people, and giving me an example of what marriage should fundamentally be about. While life has never been perfect, it has been perfectly suited for me. For who I was to become. God doesn't make mistakes, nor does He allow things that you cannot handle. I just wanted to take a moment to thank Him for the best parents for me. I don't think I would fit in anywhere else. lol..

My little sisters have motivated me to be the best I can be. And when I felt like I wasn't, they always reminded me that I was their hero and could do no wrong. That has meant the world to me.

My BFFs have inspired me through their victories and trials. Its so crazy how I'm not the "girlfriend" type, where I'm not interested in having a whole bunch of friends, but have ended up with some true ride or die chicks as my "girls". God has even used them to get messages to me that I refused to receive from anywhere else. Crazy how God connects you to people.

Ahhhhhh... *pause* the boo.... another reason why I've been kinda, sorta ghost. lol. He's the best. And of course not in Atlanta :O( Not to tell ALL my business. I know he's heaven sent. Everything I thought I couldn't find, he is. Everything I wanted to hear, he says. Everything I think I'm not, he knows I am. It's so amazing.... this man... I don't know if he's my forever or my right now, but there is simply no other place I'd rather be, than in this very moment. (ok, let me stop before I tell all my lil business)

Even down to my new friends, people from college that I'm cool with now, and business associates. I am so grateful for their roles in my life. The laughter, the memories, the game nites, the random road trips, the special events, the list goes on.

I'm saying all this to say that we must surround ourselves with like minded people and like purpose people. As I look back over my life, more time was spent with people that took me away from my purpose than those that pushed me closer to it. As I continuously did spring cleaning, I realized the hand full of folks left in my life were all I needed and as life progressed, God placed new people in my life.

It's like making your acceptance speech for an Oscar and looking out in the audience and seeing the only people that matter, the ones who have help mold you, the ones that have pushed you towards your intended goal, the ones that loved you through all your ups and downs. I'm having one of those moments now. I am SO grateful for all the people in my life, that I merely tear up at the thought of any one of them.

Never miss an opportunity to tell those in your life that you love them and that you appreciate them. Be grateful for those in your life and continuously sow into their lives. Make an effort to call them often just to say, "hey". Trust me, it makes all the difference in the world.

Ok, that's all ... I am so full right now...

~Mel

Get out there and live.....

So, yes, I have been a little ghost lately. I know, I know... the boo called me last night and totally told me I need to get it together. (nothing like a man that motivates you.. honey, that's another post.. lol). But, anyway, I have been LIVING, do you hear me? When 2010 hit, I told my mom I believe God was about to have me traveling a great deal so I needed some new luggage. Thinking nothing of it, I was living life as usual, by going to Target. lol. I walk in, and all the luggage I could ever need was dirt cheap. Well, that was only the beginning. In a previous post I told you about the money that came in the mail right? Well, the very next day, I got a call about going to Mardi Gras. And you know I went! Had the time of my life.

I say all of that to say that you can't expect life to wait on you, you have to get MOVING. Start living NOW, and the rest will come together. Place what you want in the atmosphere and watch it start coming to you. Start believing against all doubts that this is indeed your season and watch the doors that will start opening. Start seeing yourself in the places you want to be and watch trips open up with your name on them.

So, speaking of trips. While I was in New Orleans having a sober good time, I got 3 calls for 3 more trips. One to Essence, one to Vegas, and one to New York. And guess what? I'm going to all 3. I tell you, God is something else. I am not going to ponder how they will all come together or whether I should go, I am going to continue to watch God put all these puzzle pieces together. I merely placed the word "travel" into the atmosphere and it began to activate so much in my life. I am so grateful .

Last year this time, I was trying to figure out what God wanted me to do, where He wanted me to go and questioning my place in life. The moment I let go all of those questions, doubts, and fears, the floodgates of heaven began to open up. In the meantime, I have been sowing into the life of others. Whether it be love, my time, a listening ear, money, or even just a smile. I have allowed God to use me and He has begun to reward me tremendously. And it's only the beginning.

I urge you today to take down your guard and inner prohibitions and began to dream. Regardless of money, time, and the people involved. God will put all that together. Just put what you want "out there" and watch them begin to come to pass. I am certainly seeing God move mightily....

~Mel

If the birds are cool, so am I .....

Matthew 6:25

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life,

as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body,

as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not worth much more than they?

And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to to his life?

This happens to be one of my favorite scriptures. Well, one of hundreds. lol. But really. Read it again. It makes so much sense. It's like God is saying, "Snap out of it! I got this!" And truth to the matter He does.

So many times, we find ourselves wrecking our brains over financial solutions, a job, our bills, what you are going to eat, where we are going to live, and the list goes on. Going back to the Lord's word, He has commanded us to NOT worry. Go back to the scripture, "Look at the birds". I actually did that one day. They live their lives so carefree. Now, indeed we cannot not equate a bird's life to that of a human,but in perspective to surviving and living day to day by faith, we surely can.

If God can take care of a bird, can He not do that for you? Did God not grant us dominion over all animals and things in His kingdom? So if a bird is "straight" (ok), why wouldn't His good and faithful servant be?

God allows us to go through life relying upon Him and trusting him in every aspect and that is by design. He wants us to know that no matter what need we have, we have already been provided for. He says it plain, "worrying cannot add a single hour to our life", we only lose those moments. Time is such a precious commodity these days that we dare not value each one.

I look at my own life and Im amazed at the moments when I took my hands off the wheel and let God have total control. I got to my intended destination almost immediately. Man, the God we serve is something else. We get so caught up in the way we want things done and the methods we're accustomed to that we dont see how he's working it out and sometimes its already done.

At this point in my life, I have not only gotten from behind the wheel, I have moved to the very

back seat of the car of my life. I have let God have the whole front of the car.. lol. I have seen God move more miraculously on my behalf than ever before and its all because I have surrendered. I look at my accounts, my desires, my needs, and I have more than I have had in a very long time. God is too good.

In essence, don't stress. Don't worry. Don't be dismayed. He is working it out. Even as I type and as you read. Stand strong on the belief that if the birds are cool, so are you. Fly freely knowing that you can soar above anything that enemy may throw your way.

Flying above worries, pains, and disappointments,

~Mel

Giving your way to victory

Well, many of you all that have been following me know about what I do with the grants and how I have pretty much been SOLELY walking by faith. Looks like I have some more praise reports to give. So, at the beginning of the year, I usually participate with the church and some of my closest friends in the Daniel's fast, where I give up meat, sweet drinks, junk food, etc. (look through older post for the full explanation). But in addition to that, I usually give my First Fruit offering.

This is where believers give an offering in addition to their tithes. For instance, if you make $1,000 in your first check of the year, you would give the whole thing or commit to doing so. You can break it up in installments or find a way to equal that amount, and pay your tithes of $100.

Here is a little background about it without giving you a FULL sermon.. lol. I got some notes from the lovely Pastor Paula White:

"Whatever you do with first fruit governs the rest and sets the pattern or
promise to come for the rest of whatever you establish. Whenever something is a
first, God lays claim to it because God sees the first thing as representing
what comes after . The principle is = God sees according to how the first things
are treated. When you honor God in obedience by presenting to Him all first
things, His presence covers and blesses the rest, sanctifies it… The law of
first things is the “giving over” (or devotion) as required, of first born,
first fruit… all things. They are an act of worship (or offering) in faith and
they prove the position in which the giver holds God and is held by God… All
privileges are released through receiving and believing His word. The law of
first things first has a fundamental impact on your life. First fruits is a
promise to come"

Following are all the scriptural references to "First Fruit".

• That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put [it] in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there. (Deuteronomy 26:2)


• For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. (Mark 4:28)


• Thou shalt not delay [to offer] the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. (Exodus 22:29)


• For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. (Romans 11:16)

So having knowledge of what "First Fruit" is and of what doors it may open, I knew that I had to give my way into the next dimension. My dream board and list of "wants" are so extensive, that I need God to move quickly on my behalf. With that being the case, I knew that I must sow a seed into the kingdom in order to be blessed. When I did, the floodgates of heaven's prosperity have truly opened.

Being that my father plays dual roles as my spiritual father and my biological father, I often have to make the distinction between the two. On this particular day, I heard it clear, "Sow unto the man of God". I'm like, "God, give the money to Dad?". He said, "No, give it to Apostle Mitchell". So I did. When I came to my father with my seed, he immediately began to praise God. He placed it in a bowl and said as the seed was placed into the earthly realm, God was going to recognize it as going in to the spiritual ground. He prayed a prayer of release, favor, and uncommon turn around . I literally felt a release in the atmosphere. He made me touch and agree with my mother that we would never live in lack again and that God was about to move in a mighty way on our behalf. Let me tell you, he did. Immediately.

As we were done praying, my mom was going through her monthly routine of paying bills and budgeting for the month. She went to pay the taxes for the house and they had already been paid and there was a zero balance. Come to find out, the taxes (that was well in the thousands) had been taken care of and she did not have to worry about them. Now, this was a DIRECT effect of the first fruit offering. My mom had been waiting to see if they had been paid and kept saying, "Lord I am going to trust you." Even when things got low and didn't look like they were going to come together, she held on to that belief.

For me, I saw God move in a mighty way. I had been trying to look for luggage for months because I kept hearing God saying I was going to be traveling soon. So one random day in a Target that I rarely go into, I found Swiss Gear luggage for 24.99 and 39.99. Marked done from 109.99 and 159.99. Did you hear me? Luggage that would have totaled almost $300 for under $100? It gets better. I went out with one of my guy friends to dinner and he was down most of the night about his finances, so God told me to treat him (which is CLEARLY a sacrifice because I too am on a budget). So I was obedient. The whole night, the restaurant service was super slow. So, I didn't act a fool and complain, I simply summoned the manager. Before I could complain, she said, you know what, I am going to take care of your bill, just pay for the fries and have a good evening. I almost fell out of my chair. My boy just began to shake his head in disbelief. God moved in even that small way. Then, this morning, I got a call from one of my cousins from church that I hadn't spoken to in a while. She said God told her to send me some money and she was calling for my address. I started not to even answer the phone. But honey, I did, and God moved.

I am just at a lost for words with God's favor. Not even because I gave money, but because He has entrusted me with such gifts and saw my true heart. Because my heart was pure in giving and never wavering, God blessed me accordingly. I am just so encouraged. As soon as I start to fret over something, I feel an immediate calm come over me, I cant do a thing but praise. He has been so, so good.

Today, I challenge you to sow your first fruits. Whether it be into a church and/or a man(or woman) of God. One thing I've learned is that you can't beat God in giving. At all. He makes it His priority to make sure we are taken care of. All our wants, needs, and desires are fulfilled in His will and way. We need only be obedient when we hear His voice and read His words.

I can't tell you enough how good God is. I only shared a few testimonies, but we would be here all day if I went down the entire list. I am still in awe. The luggage, the dinner, the phone call, I know it is just the beginning. I know many of you all are like me, constantly sowing, believing God, doing what you think/know is right, and feel like he has forgotten, He hasn't.

If you truly want to get His attention, do something to capture Him. Like me, my finances is an area where I can truly use some overflow, so to sow my first set of money from 2010, was heavy. But let me tell you, when I start doing God's math, my calculator went haywire. I can never be as good to Him as He is to me. Same with you. Sow your seed in your place of need today and watch God bless your roots, branches, and fruits.

Sowing today for my tomorrow,

~Mel

Moving Forward, No Matter What

No matter what you have faced today, declare that you will move forward. This is not saying that you will not face adversity, pain, an argument, or a disagreement. This is merely saying that no matter what comes your way, you are going to make a commitment to yourself to not dwell in those moments. It is in the moment of adversity that God can rise you up stronger than before. There is nothing that you cannot face with God on your side.

Know that life will not be perfect, but God has a perfect will for our lives. In saying that, I am merely stressing the importance of relying on God. We must seek Him daily to be renewed in strength and in understanding. The same God that delivered you before, will do it again.

We should practice moving forward in even the smallest things so it will become habit, a way of life, then our character. You will truly feel triumphant when you look at the journey God has brought you along. It is awesome to see God's hand over our lives.

Don't ever think that a situation you are facing is bigger than the God in you. He has placed all the abilities you will need to overcome the mountains that you must climb. Keep moving swiftly towards the promises that He has laid before you.

Pressing ahead, moving forward, not looking back,

~Mel

Moving Forward Quotes:

If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values - that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I hope to stand firm enough to not go backward, and yet not go forward fast enough to wreck the country's cause. Abraham Lincoln

It is for us to pray not for tasks equal to our powers, but for powers equal to our tasks, to go forward with a great desire forever beating at the door of our hearts as we travel toward our distant goal. Helen Keller

If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself. Henry Ford

Song of the Day: Moving Forward by Israel Houghton

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It's Too Soon....

Have you ever liked someone so quickly... that you questioned how you feel about him? Well..... I think I'm kinda there right now. As I'm sorting out these emotions, I had this song sent to me, and yeah, they truly personify all that I am experiencing....

Its Too Soon by Eric Roberson

Ooohh

Really can't explain girl the way I feel, nooo

All I know is all I want you to be near, yeahhh

I know that its due, but please be patient I'm learning you

and all I want is you too learn me too

(Chorus)So girl when I say (say)

say girl lets take our time( time)

Understand girl that I'm (that I'm)

I'm not offering game (game)

Hopefully girl in time (time)

how u and i deal with change (change)

Its soon too say i love u(3x)

I can say it too make your heart feel good, oooo

But its best that we are both understood

yeahhhh

Its important that I'm the same way for you right down the line

And that you see is what I want to shine

(Chorus)

So girl when I say (say)

say girl lets take our time( time)

Understand girl that I'm (that I'm)

I'm not offering game (game)

Hopefully girl in time (time)

how u and i deal with change (change)

Its soon too say i love u(3x)

Theres so much I want to sayyyy

so much I feel inside

I just want it to be right, so lets take our time

to hopefully forever

(Chorus 2x)So girl when I say (say)

say girl lets take our time( time)

Understand girl that I'm (that I'm)

I'm not offering game (game)

Hopefully girl in time (time)

how u and i deal with change (change)

Its soon too say i love u(3x)

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Year of The Comeback, The Underdog, and Victory

I am still screaming from watching the game. I am so inspired from this team's victory tonight. Not so much from just their winning the Super Bowl, but the vindication of their city, brought hope to a people that have endured so much, and achieved the 1st ever win for their franchise.

Its amazing to me how so many things in life parallel our relationship with God and what He is doing. I was watching the game, thinking about how Katrina ravished the city of New Orleans, how so many people were counting the Saints out, how Dree Brees was once rejected in the the league, and how the Colts seemed to have the game "in the bag". Things are just never what they seem. Reality is only a reflection of our perception..........

God can redeem you from your lowest point to the highest point for all to see. This is what happened during the Super Bowl. I am so encouraged... more good news to come...

Article:http://www.espnstar.com/us-sports/nfl/news/detail/item393590/New-Orleans-Saints-win-Super-Bowl/New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 at Miami's SunLife Stadium. Drew Brees won MVP.

They made the most of their first Super Bowl appearance in their 42-year history of the franchise.

The NFC-champion Saints came from 10-0 down at the end of the first quarter - equalling the largest deficit overturned to win a Super Bowl - and still trailed by a point at 16-17 heading into the fourth before dominating the final period to deny Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning and his side a second Super Bowl victory in four years.

It was an emotional occasion for the city of New Orleans, less than five years after it bore the brunt of Hurricane Katrina, as a series of bold calls from head coach Sean Payton helped them claim the title.

The Colts had gone into a 10-0 lead thanks to a Matt Stover field goal and Manning's 19-yard touchdown pass into the end zone for 23-year-old, second-year wide receiver Pierre Garcon, Stover returning to kick the extra point.

The second quarter saw a more assertive Saints display as they outgained the Colts by 143 yards to 15, yet only came away with two Garrett Hartley field goals to show for their dominance and went in 10-6 down at half-time.

The Saints took the lead for the first time in the game when quarterback Drew Brees threw his first touchdown pass, running back Pierre Thomas making the reception and jinking 20 yards into the end zone behind some excellent blocking. Hartley kicked the extra point to put New Orleans into a 13-10 lead.

The Colts reacted by running the ball, with Joseph Addai collecting the hand-off from Manning four yards out and side-stepping his way into the end zone before Stover added a point as Indianapolis regained the lead at 17-13.

Hartley's 47-yard field goal with 2:06 remaining in the quarter made him the first kicker ever to land three goals from 40 yards or more in the Super Bowl and left the Saints a point behind, setting up a perfectly poised last 15 minutes.

The Colts suffered a setback at the end of the first drive of the fourth quarter when Stover missed a field goal attempt from 51 yards and the Saints took advantage on the next possession as Brees sent a short pass right for Jeremy Shockey.

Shockey had been injured when his former team New York Giants won the Super Bowl against New England Patriots two years ago but he was front and centre to collect Brees' pass and the Saints opted to go for two extra points rather than one from a kick.

The plan looked to have backfired when Brees' pass to Lance Moore was ruled incomplete but Payton challenged the decision and was it overturned on review to give his side a 24-17 lead with 5:46 left on the clock. The catch also saw MVP Brees equal Tom Brady's Super Bowl record of 32

completions.

The Colts' comeback was derailed with 3:24 left when, having advanced to the New Orleans 31-yard line, Manning's pass intended for wide receiver Reggie Wayne was picked off by Tracey Porter.

The defensive back raced 74 yards back upfield for an interception touchdown and, with Hartley landing the extra point, the Saints were 31-17 up.
Back came the Colts for one last throw of the dice but as they camped on the New Orleans goal-line, Garcon was penalised for pass interference inside the end zone and Manning was forced back 10 yards to the 13.

The Colts quarterback tried again and with less than a minute left on the clock Indianapolis were on the five-yard line on fourth down. Manning threw again into the end zone and again looking for Wayne, but the pass was incomplete and the game was effectively over.

The Saints ate up the clock and Brees, his team-mates and the city of New Orleans began an impromptu Mardi Gras in Miami.

Pain is not to hurt, but to sustain.......

Well, how do I start this one off? I guess I will get right into it. I was talking to one of my guy friends about relationships and how our past "loves" have taken us through the emotional wringer. When I hung up the phone and got by myself I begin to think about all the attempts at love and all that the relationships that I just KNEW would lead to true bliss. But honey, I ended up being hurt just the same.

The interesting thing God began to show me was that that very pain acted as a cocoon for my heart. After sustaining my first heart break, God allowed my eyes to be opened to new perspectives, new understandings, and overall, a new me. God allowed me to grow through pain. I actually came out stronger. Even when I thought I would buckle and not be able to get back up and try it again, God rose me up to become a better woman.

He used my pain to sustain me. Now, when I say this, I mean that God allowed me to experience certain heartaches and disappointments to make me better. Think about it. After the dust cleared from that broken relationship, you came out a different person. Whether it as denying him that late night "come over", refusing his phone calls, not texting them back, refusing out of town trips, all of that. Once you gained the strength to deny them, you now then acquired a level of restraint that you once did not possess.

Its amazing how you have to cut things loose in order to grow. That is true with cultivating a plant, allowing your hair to grow, and even in downsizing a company. Letting go should not always be viewed as a major lost, but instead as an opportunity to reinvent yourself and to abound higher than before.

Again, looking back at where God has brought me from, I know that he has kept me. The pain that I may have experienced only set me up for an awesome future in love. Because I have become better, stronger, and wiser from the past, I will be ready for what God has in store for the next level in my life.

Loving through my pain and knowing I'm better from it,

~Mel

Let Tomorrow Get Here

Now, this is an area that I am notorious for, well, I have been in the past. I'm getting better. Worrying about tomorrow, next week, or even something later on in the year. What God has shown me time and time again is that, I am not to worry about tomorrow, because He is not done blessing me today.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on the many daily victories that God has delivered me from. When I wake up each morning, I say, "Lord, I need a miracle today." Now, to me, a miracle is something that happens, that is totally against the odds, something that was statistically not supposed to happen. Now, when some people think miracles, they think of turning water into wine, the red sea parting, and being resurrected from the ground. But God performs tiny miracles on our behalves daily. Whether it be a court case being thrown out, not getting a ticket, an extra day off, your hair growing, face clearing up, a parking space, your flu mysteriously going away, someone giving you a coupon, a pair of shoes at a ridiculous price only in your size. Well, you get my drift.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:

because he trusts in thee." Isaiah 26:3

God is in the business of providing daily bread. He wants to take care of you day by day. Go back to the Lord's prayer. The 6th line says it clear, "Give us this day our daily bread". Not our weekly, monthly bread, yearly bread, but daily. If we pray this prayer faithfully, daily, we will be provided all we need. That's all God wants us to do. Its like winning the lotto. Instead of taking the cash option for 1 million dollars, we get a daily allotment of our riches. Lord knows if we had 1 million in our hands right now, it wouldn't be a dime left at the end of the year. (Don't judge my analogy, you get my point..lol) God wants to assure that you have all you need, when you need it. Every single day.

"Be anxious about nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6, 7

For if we dwell on tomorrows struggles with today's strength, what fuel will we have to face our "right now"? None. God said it so clearly in Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Incredible huh? God knew that worry would be a reoccurring demon . He knew it would be easy for us to fall into the trap of looking at the negatives vs the positive. He knew that we would not always understand our journey. But He did know that we would be able to overcome it because He wrote it in His word and His words are true.

"All things work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

What we will deal with and have dealt with is nothing new to God. If He told us everything right now, what would be the use of living to see it. Its like Christmas coming and you find out EVERY thing Santa brought. You're not sitting on the edge of your bed waiting for Christmas breakfast, to rush down to the tree, the anticipation would be gone. That same feeling can be equated to what God is going to do for your each day. On top of God granting you a new day, He will grant you small miracles throughout that very day, along with the strength to face anything that you will find along your path.

Stop worrying about what 2011 will be like, 2010 has just gotten started. Stop worrying about May, June & July, God has yet to bring you out of this month. Stop worrying about what February 12, will be comprised of, February just got here. And you need not be concerned with how to deal with your boss at the Thursday meeting because you don't know what will be waiting on your desk today. The truth to the matter is that there is no greater author than God. He is constantly strengthening and renewing us for our next chapter. When we go back and read our story, we will see His daily works on our behalf. Stand firm and know that He is refueling you as we speak for tomorrow, so use all the fuel you have right now for today!

Living this day all the way out... tomorrow will be here soon enough...

~Mel

"To My Husband... I Love You"....

I just had to take a moment and deal with one Mrs. Carter thanking her husband and saying, "I Love You". This was like MONUMENTAL for her. And I am happy that she has found comfort in telling the world that she loves the love of her life.

I recently read a blog that talked about an interview Jay-Z had with a magazine where he discussed his marriage, very vaguely. He didn't go into detail, but he did mention that marriage wasn't perfect. I really appreciated that.

Many of us in and out of relationships have this unrealistic, fairy tale ideal of what marriage should be. While it is important to remain optimistic and want the best for your relationship, we really should know that it is OUR relationship and we determine the success and failure of it. No matter what people say or have said, what works for you, works for you.

I think it's vitally important to tell the people we love, that we love them when the cameras are rolling. When everyone is watching, we need to take the opportunity to honor those we love and let the world know how important they are to us. That person wont soon forget that moment. And all those cameras have a record of that love you shared. Even witnessing Bey say it last night did something for me.

So, I say all of this to say that love is a feeling that should be visualized and verbalized. Show me you love me and say it too!

Can't wait to say.... "To my husband, I love you....."

~Mel

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When you mess up, get back up

In life, we have all fallen victim to sin, temptation, sin, neglect, and just out right backsliding. Believe me, you are truly not alone. When I look back over my life at my moments of indiscretions and mistakes, I have seen God STILL make a move in my life. In the Bible, God used some of the most unlikely people as vessels.

Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin!

-Psalm 51:2

You see, its not about the act, its about the condition of your heart and how you get back up. When you mess up, get up! Don't wallow in self pity. Don't allow the enemy to tell you that you're not worthy of God's blessings or His Call on your life. You are worthy. You are the "one". You are the vehicle that the Lord needs to use to get the work of the kingdom done.

“You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful.”
- Nehemiah 9:17

Regardless of what you've done, you need to have to have faith in who God has ordained you to be and walk in authority. Many times, we fall into the enemy's trap of guilt and make ourselves stay in a place of unforgiveness. It is like a disease that eats away our spirit and our ability to bless others. God has already forgiven you. Now you must get up and forgive yourself.

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

-Luke 23:34

Knowing the grace that God provides isn't a free pass to go back to those low places, but it is a pass to get out of them and to not return. When you learn from past mistakes and understand their role in your journey, there is no need to do a repeat.

So as you live your life and may fall short, get back up, stand tall, and know that God is watching your every move. Trust and know that God loves you for your heart and will towards Him. He is counting on your "comeback" to show others how good He is.

Getting back up and to work....

~Mel

Fly Guy Spotlight: Eric Roberson

Well, let me tell you that I am true lover of soul music. I can't get enough of it. I can look back through my life and literally make a sound track for every moment. Right now, I cannot stop listening to "Dealing" by Eric Roberson and Lalah Hathaway. This song truly personifies what I am dealing with in this very moment. I will post the lyrics below as well as the video.

Here's a little background about Eric Roberson. He is currently nominated for a Grammy, tonight actually. He's from Rahway, NJ and is sometimes referred to simply as Erro. Attended Howard University, performed in a number of musicals and plays, landed a songwriting deal through the EMI label, and collaborated with Jill Scott, Vivian Green, Dwele, Will Downing, Musiq Soulchild, and DJ Jazzy Jefff.

I think what I truly love about Eric's music is the rawness. He captures true emotion in the way he writes and its reflected in his instrumentation. I am immediately transported to the place and time of the song. I love it. Its like a musical journey. Now, while his songs are spiritually arousing, he has some very sensual numbers as well. Especially in the song "Head to Toe". Man, this boy is trying to get all of us knocked up through iTunes. lol.

His albums are: The Esoteric Movement, The Vault, Vol 1, The Vault, Vol 1.5, The Appetizer, Left, and the most current, Music Fan First. <------- A must have! lol

Not really much else to say about Mr. Roberson except to go out and support him. He's a genuine artist and has impeccable writing skills. Oh, and he will be performing here in Atlanta on Feb. 13-14, for Joyce Littel's Valentine's event. It's going to be great! Lets see if I can come up with a lil' date for this one. lol

Enjoy :O)

"Dealing" with Lalah Hathaway

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Where do we go from here
What do I do with these feelings
Longing to have you near
Knowing...we shouldnt be dealing
Verse:
Why must the bad thing always feel so good
Why cant I just stay away
Though are situation was understood
Still does not mean its ok
{Chrous}
Where do we go from here
What do I do with these feelings
Longing to have you near
Knowing...we shouldnt be dealing
Verse:
Why cant these memories just be erased
Why must I yern for your kiss
The first moment we're not face to face
Reminds me how much your missed
{Chrous}
(where do we go)Where do we go from here
What do I do with these feelings
Longing to have you near
Knowing...we shouldnt be dealing
Brige;
When the morning comes
(When its time for us to go our separate ways )
When this night is done
(I'll be wanting to hold on to u)
Though the sun
wish we could push it all away
cause then I know
that we can show
what we have from the day
{Chrous}
Where do we go from here
What do I do with these feelings
Longing to have you near
Knowing...we shouldnt be dealing

"Head to Toe"

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Our now is not our forever

One thing that life has shown us is that where we are right now will not be where we are in the very next moment.

Just this past week I was flying all over town as I usually do and for some reason, I had my windows down and I heard the weirdest noise. Being one that pays attention to every detail, I got out of my car and found the culprit. Low and behold, I had a HUGE nail in my tire. I said, "Lord, please get me home safely." So, I proceeded down I-20, at least 25-30 miles from my house at about 70 mph. As I was approaching my exit, I heard this loud "CLACK" and my car started slowing down. Apparently the nail decided to come out of the tire, leaving me with a steadily deflating tire. I was literally 10 miles from my house. But guess what? I was 4 miles from a tire shop. So I begin praying like the folks from the Bible. Real hard and real loud. I refused to let panic settle in. I put on my flashers and pushed all the way to the shop. When I arrived, the mechanic said, "I don't know how long you've been riding, but you might as well get ready to buy a new tire." Honey, I told that man, "You must not know the God I serve and how capable he is."

That day, he became a believer. Not only did I make it safely, my $200 tire cost $15 to patch and 10 minutes to fix. He said that it was no wonder my car didn't spin out of control or get in an accident. He was literally at a lost for words. So was I. Well, I was at a lost at words to speak to him, but I immediately began to throw up words of praise. God did it again! He saved me and I didn't even realize what I was being saved from. I just knew that I wasn't going to accept defeat and be on the side of road for hours. I pushed my own belief to believe that I would make it and I did! (Oh, did I mention, the name of the shop was Mitchell Tire? My last name... yeah. God is just that kind of God.. lol)

You see, because I already saw my self out of that situation, God delivered me to victory. I kept saying, "Lord, I need you, stay with me." And that he did. During that very moment, it didn't seem like I was going to get any reprieve, so I knew all I had was God. Even when every odd is stacked against me, I hope against hope. I trust and know that God is a God of RIGHT now. His timing is impeccable and His grace is everlasting.

The old Mel would have thrown in the towel and given up hope, but for some reason, I just cant bring myself to do it anymore. When I feel like I am up against the wall, I use it as my launching pad to move on to something else. In this season, I have seen God show up when I was at my very last bit of hope and money in the bank.

I think above all, I have learned to not dwell in my moments of difficulties and disappointments, I just cannot let the enemy get away that easy. Of course, my human (flesh) side wants to shout out a few expletives and get flustered, but nothing is accomplished once my hissy fit is over. Perhaps the most effective way is to begin to thank God for what He's done and what He's about to do. Watch your perspective change and watch God move in a mightily way. I certainly saw that when my tire was fixed.

There is nothing God can't do. There is no place that He cant pull you from. There is not a life that He cannot provide. Just trust and believe that your right now is not your forever.

Pushing beyond my right now....

~Mel

Days like this....

Well, today was a rather eventful day. I actually spent the day with my dad. With waiting on my new projects to start up and working on others simultaneously, I have truly taken more time to spend precious moments with family. I anticipate being married next year this time, so I am soaking it alllllll up... lol.

I will wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5

So anyway, as musically inclined as I am, I knew it had to come from somewhere. Today I saw it in action with my dad. Who is an ordained Pastor/ Prophet. When he accepted his calling into the ministry, he was a senior at FAMU and a Kappa. Which is saying A LOT for those days. Long story short, when my dad started the church, it was just me (1yr old), my mom, and one of his friends he grew up with. With that being the case, he needed a piano player. So, one night he was in prayer about one, and the next morning, God gave him the ability to play after NEVER playing. The rest was history. So fast forward to today, we were in the studio and God began to bring back songs he had written almost 30 years ago. You could literally feel the presence of God in the room. It was incredible.




After his 2 hour studio session, the Spirit was so ripe and encompassing. It was such a euphoric feeling in the air. My dad began to play a song he wrote in 1980 called, "God has not forgotten", a slow tempo worship song. The producer's eyes began to tear up and my dad began to prophesy to him. I then got on the mic and began to make up lyrics. It was so beautiful. (I will post it one of these days). As we were leaving, my dad spoke into the young man's life as I held my head down in prayer. I placed my hand in my back pocket and found $32 in cash. Now, $5 would of been great, $10 a blessing, but $32, something was TRULY going on. Those jeans had been washed and tucked away for weeks. I was going to take my dad to lunch and guess what, the seed I was going to sow was placed in my hand. God is so awesome.




When you have the desire to bless God's people, God will place seed in your hand. No matter the circumstance, God uses people on earth to bless people .The important thing that I keep learning is the more that I stress over what money I have in the bank, the less I seem to have. The moment I began to make a valiant effort to bless others and sow seeds, God began to immediately open doors for me. As He did today. Before we left, my dad told me to sow $5 into the producers life. I know you are like $5, girl for what? But what the number 5 means is "grace". My dad said it signified that we recognized the anointing that was in that room and that we were sealing a covenant amongst brethren that God will continue to grant us grace on our journey. It was simply incredible.



We left lunch and headed by to our side of town and something told me to run by Big Lots. Not that I need some whimsical figure to command me to do that, that is my 2nd home. lol. But anyway, all the Big Lot stores in the area have recently received books from local book retailers, so they have great books for $3 and $5. So as I was rifling though the bargain rubble, I came across this book with a gorgeous green dress with "weddings" across the front. I thought nothing of it and just grabbed it. When I go to the car, I opened the first page and there I found this scripture written on the 1st page, "And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."- Galatians 6:9. *pause*







Now if God wasn't speaking to me specifically, I don't know WHAT! I began to rifle through the pages and Diann Valentine ( the incredibly creative, fabulous, wedding planner to Kelis & Nas, Lela Richon & Anthony Fiquoa and others), she began to tell her story of how she dealt with the broken relationship with her daughter's father, how she left home on faith to be an event planner & the company folded, to how she fell in love with love and found her calling. She said the most valuable lesson she learned in becoming who she is now was to WAIT. Lord have mercy, WAIT! She said, if she had of moved a moment too soon or too late she would have missed her calling, her purpose, where she was supposed to be.

I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.- Psalm 40: 1

That truly hit me to the core. It seems as though when we hit roadblocks in life, our first instinct is to run, turn around, and never look back. God has shown me that a roadblock is merely delay and not denial. That when He is the one that has closed or opened a door, He will do it again. The same God that delivered me before, we be right back on his job to deliver me again. So that very same roadblock will be a stepping stone to help elevate me to a place where I was supposed to be anyway. God is always showing out... lol


Although I don't know the whole story and I don't see the final picture right now, I saw today another piece of this puzzle I call my life. I mean, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. From 2 weeks ago leaving a place where I didn't want to be, to being denied from a place where I thought I was to be, to being in a place that I don't exactly know of how I arrived, to now being in a place where God is showing me glimpses of where I am to be. The bigger picture is coming closer and closer into view.


I know that WAIT is a message for me. And indeed a message for you. One of the greatest virtues that any of us can possess is that of patience. We each have to learn how to wait to see what the end result is going to be. If we all had a rewind button to relive situations in life, sure we would change some things and wished we could've waited a little longer, but we cant. All we can do is trust and know that the God we serve is a mighty and just God and that he hears our very heart's desires.

With the Lord, a day is like a 1000 years, and a 1000 years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise.- 2 Peter 3:8-9

Even as I write this, I can feel God in my very presence. I can hear Him whispering, "I have not forgotten you my child". And that gives me the power to keep waiting. He already knows what I need.


Patiently waiting and anticipating...


~Mel

L♥VE... definition please?

Ok, this is an area that we can all say we've experienced, searched for, been hurt and/or confused by, been deep in, or still trying to define. Personally, I have experienced a love that I still get chills from. It was liberating, intoxicating, and euphoric. It was one of the best times in my life. Key word, " WAS".. lol.. I let "we" become "me", and it was no longer. That was a few years ago....

One of the most profound things about God is that He is a jealous god. It is in His commandments, "thou shalt not have any other gods before me". In 1 John 5:2 we find "for this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." He was very clear. But within that "gods", there can be soooooo many things placed in that category. It could be a job, a man, a relationship, your children, your hobby, your craft, your passion, etc. There is nothing that is supposed to come between you and God. I learned this the hard way and have come to know God in ways that I've never known. This Agape love is one that cannot be replaced or substituted by any other kind of love.

Biblically, the word "agape" is defined in Mark 12:30-31:"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. "

As I searched through the net, Love is defined as "a strong positive emotion of regard and affection, be enamored, have a great liking for." Those are some strong words. All for another person? Imagine if we loved ourselves just that much. If we took the time to pursue that intimate relationship with God that He wants us to, we really would be on track. I guess it always takes one of life's hiccups or setbacks to realize it, but all along, the love we desired could be found within.

One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Corinthians 13:4, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." That mere definition brings tears to my eyes. All of that can be found in love? Wow. That should be in all love. Love for your family. Your significant other. Your children. Your neighbor. Your friends.

Operating in love is one of the most powerful abilities that any human been can have. It is simply amazing. I was always so confused as to why my "love" fell apart or why we weren't walking together in that golden sunset that they show in fairy tales. lol. I went back and re-read the definition of love from the word, and it was clear. I lost focus. I wasn't operating in the love that we were commanded to do. I was jealous, boastful, self-seeking, angry, kept a record, all of that. All of the WRONG stuff. It was awful. My love changed because I changed my love. And God had to take me from that place.

I am essentially writing this as a form of purging and one of healing. Recently I was in a situation where I was the woman witnessing another woman fight for a love that was already hers. As women, we tend to want to get more "answers" and dig for more clues. The truth of the matter is, if that relationship is yours and of God, there is nothing or no one that can come against it. It is merely a matter of operating in the right love and trusting God. We all have to be held accountable for our actions and what we do.

The night before last, I was watching the Hope for Haiti Now telethon and one story really, really stuck out to me. *tears* There was this husband crying out in the street for his wife that was stuck in their house. He began to listen for her faint cries and begin to try to dig her out himself. He rallied some of the other survivors to get her out. For 6 days, he was searching for her in this rubble. By the 6th day, he had a full rescue crew assembled to help him pull her out. Low and behold, they sayw her hand and it was still moving. They told him to move back. He said, "No, that's my wife, and will wait for her." -pause-

Did you read that, "...I will wait for her." Those words sent chills down my spine and pierced my soul. That's the kind of love that God has for us. He will wait for us to get it together and love us just the same every single time. And as a bonus, God has a mate for us, on earth, that will love us with that same fervor. Don't settle for that mediocre love, settle for that, "..I will wait for you love."

Loving each and every day, in every way possible,

~Mel

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