Melissa Mashburn

Real Women. Real Life. Real Faith.

Did You Know That We Are Wired For Rest?

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WiredForRest_MelissaMashburn

Rest, it’s one of those four letter words that evokes a lot of varying emotions from people. There’s the exasperated sigh, the faraway gaze of someone in need of rest and also the “what are you, a wimp?” remark from someone that thinks you should just suck it up. But what if I told you that we are actually wired for rest. What would you say then?

Oh, I know, there are too many things to do, places to go and people to see to find time to rest. I get that. I’ve even heard it said from others that they’ll have time to rest when they die, but sweet friend, that is not how God created us.

Rest, is a four letter words that evokes a lot of varying emotions, but what it I told you that we’re actually wired for rest.

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———————> I’m over at the Internet Cafe Devotions today talking about how God wired us for rest. To find out what that means and how to get started on having some time to rest in your life, then visit me over at the Internet Cafe, you can click here to get there.

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The Internet Café unites women of faith; unites women through the exhortation, edification and encouragement of each other through God’s guiding hand. We seek to unite women regardless of our stage of life or the signs that mark our church doors. Passionately we believe that through our written words we can support women on their own personal journey of faith, inspiring them to live as true disciples.

Wiggled His Way Into Our Heart

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Six weeks ago, in the midst of all the ministry season craziness, end of the year madness and my oldest son’s high school graduation (more on this in another post…so much to tell), my husband, who I have known and loved for twenty years, walked into the house with this puppy.

He had been abandoned, was scared, lonely and in need of a home. In the twenty years I have known my hubby he has never (ever, ever) done anything like this…but he just had a feeling that this dog was supposed to be ours.

We tentatively said that we would keep him “for a few days” to try him out with our family, then went about our regular day to day chaos. 

Little did we know that with each passing day this little guy was actually wiggling his way into our hearts, and now, six weeks later, we can’t imagine life without him.

This is our dog, Duke! 

He is the baby of the family, our 3rd son and just about the sweetest little puppy on the planet. He’s still a puppy, and we’ve not had a dog in years (like 15 years at least), but we’ve expanded our hearts and he took it right away from us.

Who would have thought that six weeks ago that “feeling” that he belonged with our family would turn out to be one of the biggest blessings ever!

PS – We have a kitty too, his name is Willy. 
Willy has been with us for 10 years…needless to say he thinks the puppy is way over rated, but deep down we know Willy likes him too!
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Wiggled His Way Into Our Heart

By:

Six weeks ago, in the midst of all the ministry season craziness, end of the year madness and my oldest son’s high school graduation (more on this in another post…so much to tell), my husband, who I have known and loved for twenty years, walked into the house with this puppy.

He had been abandoned, was scared, lonely and in need of a home. In the twenty years I have known my hubby he has never (ever, ever) done anything like this…but he just had a feeling that this dog was supposed to be ours.

We tentatively said that we would keep him “for a few days” to try him out with our family, then went about our regular day to day chaos. 

Little did we know that with each passing day this little guy was actually wiggling his way into our hearts, and now, six weeks later, we can’t imagine life without him.

This is our dog, Duke! 

He is the baby of the family, our 3rd son and just about the sweetest little puppy on the planet. He’s still a puppy, and we’ve not had a dog in years (like 15 years at least), but we’ve expanded our hearts and he took it right away from us.

Who would have thought that six weeks ago that “feeling” that he belonged with our family would turn out to be one of the biggest blessings ever!

PS – We have a kitty too, his name is Willy. 
Willy has been with us for 10 years…needless to say he thinks the puppy is way over rated, but deep down we know Willy likes him too!
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These Kids Need a Sponsor…is it YOU?

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(photo credit: Sheila Englund)

This week I have been talking a lot about missions. This is not a regular thing for me, but here lately it has been something that has been on the forefront of my mind. On Monday I shared a little bit about how “He Created in Me a Heart for Missions“. I also talked a little bit about the family in my neck of the woods who is selling all their belongings and heading to Burkina Faso to minister to widows & orphans (I’ll be sharing more of their adventures soon). Then on Thursday I had my friend Ann Dunagan from Harvest Ministry, talking about “Seeking God’s Kingdom, not Selfishness!”

Yesterday I shared a little with you about our experience as a sponsor through Compassion. I talked about the trip my husband and youngest son, Bailey, took this summer and shared pictures and stories from the last few years as a Compassion sponsor.

I also mentioned that I was going to shoot straight from the heart…so here goes; God has been rocking my world lately. I mean grab me by my head and my feet and shaking me up…straight to the core of who I am. I’ve really been trying to make sense of it all, but one thing I know for sure. I can no longer sit around and pretend that one person can make a difference, when I KNOW that one person can.

This last trip to Guatemala this summer has opened the door for forty (40) more kids to be a part of the Compassion program in the 414 area of Guatemala (GU). Forty kids who have been living below poverty level in a very rural area of Guatemala now have an opportunity to be a part of the Compassion program.

Our church has already sponsored twenty (20) out of the forty (40)…and that’s great!!! But…I would really (really) love to see the other twenty (20) get sponsored as well. …and this is where you come in.

We’ve decided as a church (and a family) that we are specifically partnering with GU414 and will be taking more trips to Guatemala through Compassion for many years to come.

What a great way to pour into the hearts of those in need while opening the door to a possibility of going to meet them just as we have. How awesome would that be?

I know it might not be a step that you are ready to take right now. I’d just like to ask you to pray about it. I’m going to post the pictures and info cards for the remaining twenty (20) kids that need to be sponsored.

Look over their pictures.
Pray over them.
Talk to your family about sponsoring one or more of them.
Look for Kids the same age as your kids.
Look for birthdays that have a significance to your life.
Sponsor them.
Write letters to them.
Connect with them.

This decision is one that can make a difference in the life of a child from now until forever…if you want more information about Compassion International and what they do, then just go to the Compassion website and find out anything you’d like to know.

Your tax-deductible contribution of just $38 a month connects your child with a loving, church-based Child Sponsorship Program that provides:

* Food and clean water
* Medical care
* Educational opportunities
* Important life-skills training
* Most important of all, your sponsored child will hear about Jesus Christ and be encouraged to develop a lifelong relationship with God.

If you decide to sponsor…please please please…write down the child number for one of these twenty (20) children below. Their child number starts with GU 414….

You can email me and I can put you in contact with the Compassion Advocate in my area that is helping these twenty (20) kids to get sponsored. Thanks so much for your prayers! ~ Melissa

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These Kids Need a Sponsor…is it YOU?

By:

(photo credit: Sheila Englund)

This week I have been talking a lot about missions. This is not a regular thing for me, but here lately it has been something that has been on the forefront of my mind. On Monday I shared a little bit about how “He Created in Me a Heart for Missions“. I also talked a little bit about the family in my neck of the woods who is selling all their belongings and heading to Burkina Faso to minister to widows & orphans (I’ll be sharing more of their adventures soon). Then on Thursday I had my friend Ann Dunagan from Harvest Ministry, talking about “Seeking God’s Kingdom, not Selfishness!”

Yesterday I shared a little with you about our experience as a sponsor through Compassion. I talked about the trip my husband and youngest son, Bailey, took this summer and shared pictures and stories from the last few years as a Compassion sponsor.

I also mentioned that I was going to shoot straight from the heart…so here goes; God has been rocking my world lately. I mean grab me by my head and my feet and shaking me up…straight to the core of who I am. I’ve really been trying to make sense of it all, but one thing I know for sure. I can no longer sit around and pretend that one person can make a difference, when I KNOW that one person can.

This last trip to Guatemala this summer has opened the door for forty (40) more kids to be a part of the Compassion program in the 414 area of Guatemala (GU). Forty kids who have been living below poverty level in a very rural area of Guatemala now have an opportunity to be a part of the Compassion program.

Our church has already sponsored twenty (20) out of the forty (40)…and that’s great!!! But…I would really (really) love to see the other twenty (20) get sponsored as well. …and this is where you come in.

We’ve decided as a church (and a family) that we are specifically partnering with GU414 and will be taking more trips to Guatemala through Compassion for many years to come.

What a great way to pour into the hearts of those in need while opening the door to a possibility of going to meet them just as we have. How awesome would that be?

I know it might not be a step that you are ready to take right now. I’d just like to ask you to pray about it. I’m going to post the pictures and info cards for the remaining twenty (20) kids that need to be sponsored.

Look over their pictures.
Pray over them.
Talk to your family about sponsoring one or more of them.
Look for Kids the same age as your kids.
Look for birthdays that have a significance to your life.
Sponsor them.
Write letters to them.
Connect with them.

This decision is one that can make a difference in the life of a child from now until forever…if you want more information about Compassion International and what they do, then just go to the Compassion website and find out anything you’d like to know.

Your tax-deductible contribution of just $38 a month connects your child with a loving, church-based Child Sponsorship Program that provides:

* Food and clean water
* Medical care
* Educational opportunities
* Important life-skills training
* Most important of all, your sponsored child will hear about Jesus Christ and be encouraged to develop a lifelong relationship with God.

If you decide to sponsor…please please please…write down the child number for one of these twenty (20) children below. Their child number starts with GU 414….

You can email me and I can put you in contact with the Compassion Advocate in my area that is helping these twenty (20) kids to get sponsored. Thanks so much for your prayers! ~ Melissa

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