Keeping First Things First In Ministry, A Guest Post Over At Upgrade With Dawn

September 14, 2015 By: Melissa

“Ministry can become all consuming, but it’s important to remember to keep first things first and that’s making your own family a priority,” Melissa says. “Every day you are given a gift—your family. Yes, you have a call to do more, serve more and love the people in your community more, but ultimately, your family is your ﬁrst ministry.”

Ministry can become all consuming, but it’s important to remember to keep first things first — make your own family a priority.

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There are so many things to love about ministry, like being able to be a part of someone else’s faith journey, using your gifts and skills for the Kingdom, and doing something with your life that is far beyond anything you could do on your own.

Unfortunately the “job” can become overwhelming. You can find yourself stuck in a never-ending cycle of trying to catch up.

After fifteen years in full time ministry at a local church in South Florida, I finally realize a few things about ministry:

You will never get it all done. There will always be room for improvement or one more thing on your ministry task list.
It’s not all up to me. You are there to do your part, but the whole thing doesn’t rest on your shoulders. If it’s God’s will, He will make it happen— with or without you.
Your family is your first ministry. If you are married and have children, they need to see they are number one in your life, not your job or ministry.

…there’s so much more to share about this topic. To find out what happened when I took my eyes off what’s really most important come on over to Upgrade with Dawn.

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Keep 1st Things 1st N #Ministry. Family must B a priority. http://bit.ly/1NZlgAD @Mels_World @heartchoices

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Book Review: Undone, by Michele Cushatt

May 22, 2015 By: Melissa

My Thoughts About the Book:

My thoughts about this book are truly hard to articulate, I would have to say it is one of the most moving, authentic, and transparent books that I have ever read. Michele has a unique ability to write where it doesn’t feel like you are reading someone else’s story, but rather that you are sitting in a comfy chair at the local coffees shop just catching up with a good friend.

I love that she had the good, the bad and the ugly all in the stories she shared, her real life “stuff” and yet through it all there wasn’t a sense of bitterness or resentment, but rather the whole thing was sprinkled with grace, hope, laughter and love. I’ve “known” Michele online for many years now and have always enjoyed that she’s been real about her faith, her struggles and her life, but this book, Undone was a peek into her heart and for that I am grateful. Grateful for her strength, her faith and her willingness to take us all on the journey with her.

If you’re living an unexpected life right now, or if you love someone that is living that season of life, then you don’t want to miss out on this book. It will be a comforting friend while you travel on your bumpy road — you will laugh at loud at times and also bust out crying, but through it all you will see Jesus…and that, my friends, is why I love this book so much! Do yourself a favor and grab a copy today!

About the book:

Undone is author Michele Cushatt’s quest to make peace with a complicated life. It is an honest confession of a diagnosis of cancer and the joys and disappointments of motherhood and marriage, ripe with regret over what is and, yet, still hopeful for what could be.

With enough humor to ease the rawness of the story, Undone takes the reader on a roller coaster two-year journey through the unexpectedness of life. A look back makes Michele long for a do-over, the chance to make fewer mistakes and leave less of a mess to clean up. A look forward makes Michele wonder if all her attempts to control life have robbed her of the vibrancy of it. And, in the middle of this internal chaos, she finds her once-pristine house filled with the sights and sounds of three small, uncontainable children who just want to be loved.

In the end, Undone turns complication into a beautiful canvas, angst into joy, and the unknown into an adventure, revealing that sometimes life’s most colorful and courageous stories are written right in the middle of the mess.

If you’d like to pickup a copy, you can purchase Undone here

About the Author:

A storyteller at heart, Michele Cushatt inspires audiences with the warmth of her transparency and presence. Her unique style makes you feel like you just spent an afternoon with a good friend, sparking tears one moment and laughter the next. Having experienced both the best and worst of life, she’s unafraid to disclose her imperfect spaces, so that you know you’re not alone in yours.

Michele and the love of her life, Troy, live in Colorado with their six children, ages 7 to 22. She enjoys a good novel, a long run, sleeping in the sun, and a kitchen table filled with people.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

It’s Time To Clear Out Some Clutter

September 23, 2014 By: Melissa

ClearingOutTheClutter

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace… 1 Corinthians 14:33a NLT

If you are like me there are some cabinets or closets in your house that are shoved, jammed, and packed full of “stuff”. So full, in fact, that when you open them you have to be on guard and ready for anything to happen.

My tupperware cabinet is like that, you pretty much take your life into your own hands if you want to get in or out of that cabinet. Right now you’ve already started to think about that cabinet or closet in your house. Sweat beads are rolling down your face as you even think about it.

There’s not even a remote chance that you would show it to anyone…not even your very best friend.

…Everywhere I turn there’s “stuff”.
It slowly accumulated over the years.
I didn’t even notice it was there until I started to pack things up, that’s when I realized that it’s all over the place.

———————for the rest of the story head on over to TheMOMInitiative as I share a little bit about what I am learning while I start to clear out the clutter in my life.

Wanna know more about what The M.O.M. Initative is? Take a minute to read the Mission Statement, it’s pretty amazing!

IF THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE RULES THE WORLD –

THEN THE CHURCH THAT MENTORS THOSE HANDS WILL WIN IT!

The M.O.M. Initiative is an acrostic for Mothers on a Mission to Mentor Other Mothers. Our goal is to minister to moms who know Christ and reach those who don’t.

As a ministry, we provide resources and support to help the body of Christ make mentoring missional…to not only begin to mentor moms within the four walls of the church, but to mentor moms beyond the walls of the church in order to impact our communities and this culture for Christ.

With resources for the local church and area ministries, training, an online database of M.O.M. Groups, daily online encouragement, and ministry support, The M.O.M. Initiative helps connect local churches and ministries with one another and with the community.

Our vision: To Reach a MILLION MOMS for Christ

Our challenge: If only 3 women in 1/2 of the churches in the United States would mentor just 3 other mothers, that would translate into reaching 1,000,000 moms for Christ and impacting over 2,500,000 children.

Our request: That YOU would join us in changing the world ONE MOM at a TIME!

Music Review: Whole, by Jessa Anderson

September 21, 2014 By: Melissa

My Thoughts About the CD:

Jessa Anderson has done it again — Whole is gritty, honest, transparent and a little piece of her heart. I’ve enjoyed Jessa’s music since the release of her debut album (Not Myself Anymore) a few years ago and love watching her family, career and ministry grow. What I love the most about her music is that you can truly hear her love for Jesus. More than anything I love watching someone serve with every single bit of their heart and soul and listening in on Jessa’s music gives you a sneak peek right into what’s truly most important to her. Do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to listen to one of my new favorite songs from her new album, called IDOLS.

“Idols” video with lyrics:

I also had the privilege of reviewing Jessa’s debut album Not Myself Anymore back in February 2012, if you are interested in finding out more about my review you can read it here: https://www.melissamashburn.com/2012/02/05/music-review-jessa-anderson-not-myself-anymore/

About the CD from Jessa’s website:

I was recently asked how things have changed for me with the writing and releasing of Whole, my third full length project. My best answer is this: Whole is the project I’ve always wanted to make. Through this 6-year journey of writing, creating, releasing, and touring, I have pushed myself to be real—to be me. The songs on this record feel so very me, and so very true to life. They are one woman’s perspective to be sure, but sharing that perspective is half the battle. Freely giving of our hearts and minds is what draws us near, what allows us to identify with one another.

I could write volumes about this record and each of it’s individual songs, but in the interest of time, I will just say that life is not easily wrapped up in a beautiful package, or a 3 1/2 minute radio single. Whole encompasses both the shiny, happy moments, and the gory, gut-wrenching ones. My gladness in the gospel of Jesus is expressed through songs like “Everything”, “Never the Same”, and “Story of Grace”. Issues like divorce, dysfunction, and dissatisfaction are woven through “Breakdown”, “Stay”, and “Idols”. There’s even a love song, “Caught Me By Surprise”, thrown into the mix, co-written with my talented husband (a rare feat for the two of us)! Each of these songs means the world to me, and my hope is that you’ll soon say the same.

You can purchase a copy of the CD here: http://jessaanderson.com/shop

About the Artist:

Jessa Anderson, a singer/songwriter residing in Nashville, TN with her husband (and resident booking agent/manager/musician extraordinaire) Jordan and our two beautiful, crazy kiddos Lorelei and Jagger. Passionate about many things, and many I enjoy, but I believe there are very few things in life that really,truly matter. First, Jesus Christ. After that, people. From there it all starts to blur into the category of “you can’t take it with you”, so I’m doing my best to invest the majority of my time and effort toward the first two. As for music, and why it matters, I view it as a thread that runs far and wide, bringing people to God and to one another. I have a hard time labeling music in and of itself as “Christian”, but I am proud to be a Christ-follower making music encompassing both the human and the holy.

Let Nothing Move You – Visual Verse

August 27, 2014 By: Melissa

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Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

During my quiet time this week I stumbled upon this sweet little verse. It’s not necessarily “sweet” in the sense of ahhhh, that’s cute, but sweet because it hit me right where I needed it that day and was a sweet reminder that God is with me every single moment of every day.

I absolutely love to steadfastness of this. The strong words are powerful; “Stand Firm” “Let NOTHING move you” and “Always” — wow! There’s not a maybe, or you could have, should have, hem haw about it. It’s direct. It’s clear and it is powerful.

I pray it moves you as it did me. This is just as much for you as it is for me…

Visual Verses are simply verses that have been on my heart and that I’ve made into graphics. I am a very visual kinda girl and I love a pretty little pic along with my verse so that I can print them out and post them wherever I might need them…in the car, on the nightstand, or in my journal.

You are more than welcome to download them or even pin them on your pinterest pages.

As a matter of fact I would love it if you did, they are yours to enjoy as well.

Seeking JOY on the Journey,

Melissa

PS – I took this picture at an orphanage we served at in the Bahamas. One of the other girls on the trip with me left this reminder “God is Good” on the playground for the kids to find later after we left. It was the perfect pic for this verse!!!