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godly gals

Melissa Mashburn

Real Women. Real Life. Real Faith.

It’s Time To Make a SHIFT — One Word 365

By

I wrestled for weeks with what my One Word would be. I was actually quite frustrated that it was taking me so long to narrow down the list I was keeping of possible words for 2013 (there were 19 words on the list). 

Then, in the course of one whole week, every time I turned around it was if I was having to “shift” my plans, thoughts, direction — you name it, it was shifting.

It was then that I knew that SHIFT was a whole lot bigger than it looks. 

Yeah, it “seems” simple enough, but to SHIFT you actually have to see that there is actually another way.  Thanks to Dictionary.com I wanted you to see a little bit more about SHIFT;

verb (used with object)

1. to put (something) aside and replace it by another or others; change or exchange: to shift friends; toshift ideas.

2. to transfer from one place, position, person, etc., to another: to shift the blame onto someone else.

3. Automotive. to change (gears) from one ratio or arrangement to another.

4. Linguistics . to change in a systematic way, especially phonetically.

Then I started to dig around in the Bible and found a couple of fantastic examples of what God has been trying to tell me when it comes to the word SHIFT.

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. Matthew 6:6 The Message (emphasis mine)

 

But by shifting our focus from what we do to what God does, don’t we cancel out all our careful keeping of the rules and ways God commanded? Not at all. What happens, in fact, is that by putting that entire way of life in its proper place, we confirm it. Romans 3:31 The Message (emphasis mine)

 

It’s time for me to take myself out of the equation here–

time to start to SHIFT in every aspect of my life.

 

Shift – My Thoughts to things that bring Him glory,

Shift – My Quiet Time to seeking Him in the Word,

Shift – My Ministry Priorities to those He wants me to focus on,

Shift – My Health back up to one of my top priorities,

Shift – My Family Time to focus on being fully present with my boys,

Shift – My Focus on my Marriage so that the next 20+ years are better than ever,

Shift – My Blog in a new direction.

It’s time for a change and instead of hanging on I’m going to lean in and SHIFT with God to see what/where He is taking me on this journey.

With that, I’d love to have you come over and visit me in my new “world”. Welcome to the new Mel’s World, now called “Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith with Melissa Mashburn“.

 It is still a work in progress and I have lots to do to finish up all the details…but the time is NOW! 

Please jump over and let me know what you think! I’m now at MelissaMashburn.net, I will be fixing all the links and stuff soon…but instead of waiting for everything to “come together” it’s time to open it up! 

 

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Hey, if you want to find out more about ONE WORD 365, see all the info below. If you haven’t done one yet, then I’d love to challenge you to consider jumping in too. It’s not too late.

If you already picked out your ONE WORD for 2013, then I’d love to hear what word you picked and why you chose it!

Forget New Year’s Resolutions. Scrap that long list of goals you won’t remember three weeks from now anyway. Choose just one word.

One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. One word that you can focus on every day, all year long.

It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your word will shape you and your year. It will guide your decisions and help you grow.

Discover the big impact one word can make.

One word. 

365 days. 

A changed life.

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Godly Gals ~ Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith: Staying Grounded for the Team, by Lynne Strange

By

Staying Grounded for the Team
By: Lynne Strange

(Winging Back across the Globe)

As global missionaries, we get to spend a fair bit of time looking at things from the vantage point of this photo. We often travel high above the earth where everything outside seems so pristine and far removed from the problems that we know are below. I can imagine that is the reason birds just soar – for the sheer fun of it, just because they can – to leave the dirt below. I am pretty sure that is what makes birds so arrogant.

We are learning much. God carries us to some pretty divine highs. Knowing us as He does, He manages just the perfect balance between these and the ‘flat on our face’ moments that He weaves into our lives, bringing us into just the place He would have us. We so thank Him for bothering with us at all!

Witnessing and experiencing incredible acts of power infused love, we often find ourselves on our faces before Him. His Word guides and shapes us for the long haul. Life buffets and builds endurance and dependence. We fail. He keeps helping us to our feet and gently sets us back to take the next step. The opportunity was given us to work for three months so another family could travel high above the clouds to visit their family.

That meant stepping off a plane… to live in Manila. My (Lynne) feelings regarding Manila are pretty well known so suffice it to say my attitude of gratitude needed some dusting off. God keeps shaving off my rough edges using very creative sandpaper!

It’s an amazing thing to step into a ministry that someone else calls ‘theirs’. In working the ministry as Guest House hosts, we laugh, growl, and stretch – mentally and physically. We experience brilliant successes (with TONS of help) and miserable mistakes (all on our own) and the constant receiving and giving of grace.

In all this we grow in appreciation of the many missionaries whose ministry is mainly for other missionaries – in classrooms, offices, clinics, airplanes and helicopters, and yes, guest home facilities. Our ministries for God are skillfully interwoven by Him. We are a team ministry.

It’s just like in our churches where the ‘front line’ pastor and teachers are supported by their musical, clerical, and maintenance staff. Sadly, the support ministries are the least supported of all missionaries. Church after church turns down their support in favor of supporting ‘front line’ ministry. Truly, it is missionaries supporting missionaries that help them serve on those ‘front lines.’

Like our bird friends, we can soar above the path feeling a bit lofty. Perhaps attitude adjustments are necessary from time to time in churches, as well as individuals. Perhaps it is just a lack of understanding of what it takes for a team of missionaries to bring the Gospel to the unsaved.

Pray and support all missionaries that leave family and home to serve Him anywhere! Pray that we avoid the trap of winged arrogance, rather staying grounded, as we tread together in our service to Him.

A little bit about Lynne;
Lynne has served in the teen ministry and college women’s ministry. The Lord began to move our family in the direction of field work and brought us through extensive training for cross cultural ministry through New Tribes Mission in the United Kingdom and the States. We hit the Philippine field in 2002 and continue the journey here but have brief forays into the other side of the world too.

We began serving in the main office in the capital city of the nation for six months before entering into language and cultural studies in two different cities on the southern island of Mindanao. We moved into the incredible work He is doing among the Banwaon people, living among them and worshiping the Lord with them. We don’t know what is next for us but are ready to continue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lynne, I just love your sweet spirit, from the moment we met (over a post at the Internet Cafe Devotions site) I knew you were someone very special. You share your heart so transparently and with such abandon. Thank you so much for joining us for the Godly Gals series, you are an amazing woman on an incredible journey and I’m so thankful for the chance to get to know you.

That’s what this series is all about…Real Women, having Real Faith, in every day Real Life!

What about you?

Has God been doing something in your life that you just want to tell everyone about?

Then why not send me an email at melsworldministry {at} gmail {dot} com and let’s take that first step towards sharing your story too!

I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
~ Melissa

post signature

Godly Gals ~ Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith: Staying Grounded for the Team, by Lynne Strange

By

Staying Grounded for the Team
By: Lynne Strange

(Winging Back across the Globe)

As global missionaries, we get to spend a fair bit of time looking at things from the vantage point of this photo. We often travel high above the earth where everything outside seems so pristine and far removed from the problems that we know are below. I can imagine that is the reason birds just soar – for the sheer fun of it, just because they can – to leave the dirt below. I am pretty sure that is what makes birds so arrogant.

We are learning much. God carries us to some pretty divine highs. Knowing us as He does, He manages just the perfect balance between these and the ‘flat on our face’ moments that He weaves into our lives, bringing us into just the place He would have us. We so thank Him for bothering with us at all!

Witnessing and experiencing incredible acts of power infused love, we often find ourselves on our faces before Him. His Word guides and shapes us for the long haul. Life buffets and builds endurance and dependence. We fail. He keeps helping us to our feet and gently sets us back to take the next step. The opportunity was given us to work for three months so another family could travel high above the clouds to visit their family.

That meant stepping off a plane… to live in Manila. My (Lynne) feelings regarding Manila are pretty well known so suffice it to say my attitude of gratitude needed some dusting off. God keeps shaving off my rough edges using very creative sandpaper!

It’s an amazing thing to step into a ministry that someone else calls ‘theirs’. In working the ministry as Guest House hosts, we laugh, growl, and stretch – mentally and physically. We experience brilliant successes (with TONS of help) and miserable mistakes (all on our own) and the constant receiving and giving of grace.

In all this we grow in appreciation of the many missionaries whose ministry is mainly for other missionaries – in classrooms, offices, clinics, airplanes and helicopters, and yes, guest home facilities. Our ministries for God are skillfully interwoven by Him. We are a team ministry.

It’s just like in our churches where the ‘front line’ pastor and teachers are supported by their musical, clerical, and maintenance staff. Sadly, the support ministries are the least supported of all missionaries. Church after church turns down their support in favor of supporting ‘front line’ ministry. Truly, it is missionaries supporting missionaries that help them serve on those ‘front lines.’

Like our bird friends, we can soar above the path feeling a bit lofty. Perhaps attitude adjustments are necessary from time to time in churches, as well as individuals. Perhaps it is just a lack of understanding of what it takes for a team of missionaries to bring the Gospel to the unsaved.

Pray and support all missionaries that leave family and home to serve Him anywhere! Pray that we avoid the trap of winged arrogance, rather staying grounded, as we tread together in our service to Him.

A little bit about Lynne;
Lynne has served in the teen ministry and college women’s ministry. The Lord began to move our family in the direction of field work and brought us through extensive training for cross cultural ministry through New Tribes Mission in the United Kingdom and the States. We hit the Philippine field in 2002 and continue the journey here but have brief forays into the other side of the world too.

We began serving in the main office in the capital city of the nation for six months before entering into language and cultural studies in two different cities on the southern island of Mindanao. We moved into the incredible work He is doing among the Banwaon people, living among them and worshiping the Lord with them. We don’t know what is next for us but are ready to continue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lynne, I just love your sweet spirit, from the moment we met (over a post at the Internet Cafe Devotions site) I knew you were someone very special. You share your heart so transparently and with such abandon. Thank you so much for joining us for the Godly Gals series, you are an amazing woman on an incredible journey and I’m so thankful for the chance to get to know you.

That’s what this series is all about…Real Women, having Real Faith, in every day Real Life!

What about you?

Has God been doing something in your life that you just want to tell everyone about?

Then why not send me an email at melsworldministry {at} gmail {dot} com and let’s take that first step towards sharing your story too!

I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
~ Melissa

post signature

Godly Gals – Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith: Power of a Parent’s Words by Kate Battistelli

By

The Power of a Parent’s Words
By: Kate Battistelli

Has God shown you the treasure in the lump of clay that is your child? He’s faithful to and as He does, He’ll show you how to fight to bring it forth and shape it into a life He can use. It takes blood, sweat and tears to see your child walking fully in the purposes of God but, as one who is on the other side, I guarantee you it’s worth every drop of blood, sweaty brow and countless tear.

No job on earth compares to preparing the next generation. Our responsibility is huge, hard and glorious. God gives us wet cement; our job? Make an imprint that will last a lifetime.

“Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Could anything be further from the truth? Words have incredible power in fact, Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat it’s fruit.” I firmly believe the spoken word is the creative word and what we say has a huge impact on the future.

Did you notice in Genesis how God created the world? With a word. “God said…..and there was…” When Francesca was little we tried an experiment. Here’s an excerpt from my book, Growing Great Kids:

“We’d lost a key in the front yard and we honestly couldn’t find it. We searched everywhere to no avail. Franny really wanted to help us so we told her, “Go ahead and look. You are a really good finder.” Well, she helped us look for awhile and wouldn’t you know it, she found the key! She was so excited and we were thrilled! Anytime anything got lost, we reinforced what a good finder she was and more often than not, she would find the lost item. In this small way, we set her up in a pattern of belief about herself and it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

What this little experiment taught us is this: Children believe everything you say about them. Mom and Dad are the authority in their little lives and our words form the bedrock of how they think of themselves. Positive and uplifting words lay a firm foundation but harsh and critical words can damage their destiny and guarantee a toxic future.

If you are a single parent struggling to make ends meet, here’s a little tip from me to you: Words are FREE! They don’t cost a thing but imagine that each word, each time of encouraging, uplifting, believing in who God created your precious little one to be you are building a firm foundation of belief that they can change the world! As you speak words of life, you are speaking destiny and purpose into their spirits.

So, call out the good gifts and traits you see in them. Speak life and purpose over them. Remind them they were created for a purpose and God has a unique destiny for them. Remind them that they are world-changers and if you do that consistently, they will be!

Kate Battistelli is a wife, speaker, author, former Broadway actress, and mom to one of Christian Music’s most celebrated artists–Grammy-nominated, Christian Contemporary singer-songwriter Francesca Battistelli. Kate volunteers at Esther Single Mother’s Outreach and writes about faith, family and food at www.KateBattistelli.com. She is thoroughly enjoying her new role as grandmother to Francesca’s first child, Matthew Elijah.

Kate’s new book, Growing Great Kids ~ Partner with God to cultivate His purpose in your child’s life is available here. I’ll be doing a review of this book next week.

~~~~~~~~~~~
I love it! Thanks so much Kate for sharing your sweet words of wisdom with us today! What a precious reminder of the importance of our words to our kids. Our charge as parents is to build them up and prepare this next generation for His glory…good stuff!

PS – Just gotta throw in there that I absolutely adore your daughter’s music and am constantly blessed by Christ working through them! Good job mom! 🙂

Sweet friends…each and everyone of you has a story to share. You–are Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith in action and I’d love to hear your story.

What are you waiting for?

Send me an email to melsworldministry {at} gmail {dot} com and let’s talk about sharing your story here for the Godly Gals series too!

post signature

Godly Gals – Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith: Power of a Parent’s Words by Kate Battistelli

By

The Power of a Parent’s Words
By: Kate Battistelli

Has God shown you the treasure in the lump of clay that is your child? He’s faithful to and as He does, He’ll show you how to fight to bring it forth and shape it into a life He can use. It takes blood, sweat and tears to see your child walking fully in the purposes of God but, as one who is on the other side, I guarantee you it’s worth every drop of blood, sweaty brow and countless tear.

No job on earth compares to preparing the next generation. Our responsibility is huge, hard and glorious. God gives us wet cement; our job? Make an imprint that will last a lifetime.

“Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Could anything be further from the truth? Words have incredible power in fact, Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat it’s fruit.” I firmly believe the spoken word is the creative word and what we say has a huge impact on the future.

Did you notice in Genesis how God created the world? With a word. “God said…..and there was…” When Francesca was little we tried an experiment. Here’s an excerpt from my book, Growing Great Kids:

“We’d lost a key in the front yard and we honestly couldn’t find it. We searched everywhere to no avail. Franny really wanted to help us so we told her, “Go ahead and look. You are a really good finder.” Well, she helped us look for awhile and wouldn’t you know it, she found the key! She was so excited and we were thrilled! Anytime anything got lost, we reinforced what a good finder she was and more often than not, she would find the lost item. In this small way, we set her up in a pattern of belief about herself and it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

What this little experiment taught us is this: Children believe everything you say about them. Mom and Dad are the authority in their little lives and our words form the bedrock of how they think of themselves. Positive and uplifting words lay a firm foundation but harsh and critical words can damage their destiny and guarantee a toxic future.

If you are a single parent struggling to make ends meet, here’s a little tip from me to you: Words are FREE! They don’t cost a thing but imagine that each word, each time of encouraging, uplifting, believing in who God created your precious little one to be you are building a firm foundation of belief that they can change the world! As you speak words of life, you are speaking destiny and purpose into their spirits.

So, call out the good gifts and traits you see in them. Speak life and purpose over them. Remind them they were created for a purpose and God has a unique destiny for them. Remind them that they are world-changers and if you do that consistently, they will be!

Kate Battistelli is a wife, speaker, author, former Broadway actress, and mom to one of Christian Music’s most celebrated artists–Grammy-nominated, Christian Contemporary singer-songwriter Francesca Battistelli. Kate volunteers at Esther Single Mother’s Outreach and writes about faith, family and food at www.KateBattistelli.com. She is thoroughly enjoying her new role as grandmother to Francesca’s first child, Matthew Elijah.

Kate’s new book, Growing Great Kids ~ Partner with God to cultivate His purpose in your child’s life is available here. I’ll be doing a review of this book next week.

~~~~~~~~~~~
I love it! Thanks so much Kate for sharing your sweet words of wisdom with us today! What a precious reminder of the importance of our words to our kids. Our charge as parents is to build them up and prepare this next generation for His glory…good stuff!

PS – Just gotta throw in there that I absolutely adore your daughter’s music and am constantly blessed by Christ working through them! Good job mom! 🙂

Sweet friends…each and everyone of you has a story to share. You–are Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith in action and I’d love to hear your story.

What are you waiting for?

Send me an email to melsworldministry {at} gmail {dot} com and let’s talk about sharing your story here for the Godly Gals series too!

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