Seasons

God, do my seasons sadden you?
As my branches grow weary and shed their leaves
do you wonder why I
don't more strongly to you cling?

When the snowdrifts of worry
pile up around me
Do you wish I would look
toward the Son and see...

Spring is coming soon
fresh and new?
You will help me grow,
stretch, blossom, and renew.

When my spirit falls
and winter settles in,
lift my eyes to your Son
until it is summer again!

Melissa B. King

October 13, 2013

Don't Bring Me Pumpkin or Dunkin' Doughnuts!

My family, friends, and students know me so well!  They showered me with love for my birthday in the form of KK doughnuts, sweet pickles, coffee, mint/chocolate candy, a CD of my favorite artist, a sweet book, a Duck Dynasty shirt, and more!  All things they knew I would love!  Dunkin' Doughnuts, pumpkin anything, or nasty dill pickles would not have been the same.  They know me!  They know what I like because of our time and history together.  It's a silly analogy, but it made me think of how I need to KNOW God to know how to show Him love.  Do I know Him well enough to bring Him the gifts He wants?  Have I spent enough time with Him in His word to know how to show Him love in the way that is pleasing to Him?  Do I give Him gifts with thought or give Him what I think He should want?

Dear Lord, please find my offerings of praise acceptable and pleasing!  Please know that what I offer is my way of giving you my heart and soul.  It is yours...you are all I want to worship!

Blue Skies and Rainbows

Tonight during our worship in song, I so enjoyed hearing the sweet voice of a little girl in front of me singing loud praise to God.  Standing there, I had an image of Cassie when she was four years old.  We have a video somewhere that I can no longer watch because we do not have a VCR.  But it does not matter.  The scene is etched in my mind like yesterday.  She is sitting on our couch in front of the big picture window in the living room of our first home.  Her short, blonde hair falls just to her chin and her little feet stick just over the edge of the cushion.  And she is singing.  Her favorite song at the time was "Blue Skies and Rainbows."  We sang it often.  As she heads off to college this week, I want her to be reminded of the words and to know that they are still true.  Nevermore will you be all alone...

"Blue skies and rainbows and sunbeams from Heaven are what I can see when my Lord is living in me...I know that Jesus is well and alive today!  He makes His home in my heart!  Nevermore will I be all alone since He promised me that we never would part!"

Beating the Statistics

Beating the Statistics

He’s dirt poor.

His home is the street.

He can’t read.

He never has enough to eat.

Eight years old.

History says he’s doomed.

A dead plant

Before he has even bloomed.

But I’m not just a piece of data.

Satan’s got me on the ropes.

But I’m gonna beat the statistics.

God’s in my corner holding all my hopes.

I’m gonna fight against all that’s wrong.

I won’t give up though I’m down.

God has me here for a reason.

The world may try, but it won’t steal my crown!

The young girl.

Not part of a plan.

On her own.

No one to give her a hand.

The world shuns.

Turns its back too fast.

Says she’s trash.

She’ll never escape her past.

But I’m not just a piece of data.

Satan’s got me on the ropes.

But I’m gonna beat the statistics.

God’s in my corner holding all my hopes.

I’m gonna fight against all that’s wrong.

I won’t give up though I’m down.

God has me here for a reason.

The world may try, but it won’t steal my crown!

God-fearing.

Got it together.

Life is good

Could roll like this forever.

Should it be?

Is it too easy?

Missing out.

God’s not here just to please me.

But I’m not just a piece of data.

Satan’s got me on the ropes.

But I’m gonna beat the statistics.

God’s in my corner holding all my hopes.

I’m gonna fight against all that’s wrong.

I won’t give up though I’m down.

God has me here for a reason.

The world may try, but it won’t steal my crown!

Melissa B. King

August 18, 2013

Following...

It's been a while!  Let's see...finished the school year, had a daughter graduate from high school, threw a party, sent the family off the Bible camp (straight from the graduation party), went to Washington, DC with my daughter and mother to advocate for pancreatic cancer research funding, went to Bible camp with the family (their second week, my first)...all of that in the month of June!  Whew!  I'm now resting up for a vacation at the end of this month.

But, I've missed you and thought I'd share a thought or two.  Preachman (aka Rob Albright) delivered a wonderful lesson this morning about being a follower of Christ.  He started by asking if we could think of anyone better to follow.  Of course, we could not!  He described the perfect attributes of Christ and the reasons He is the only One to follow and then talked about different kinds of followers.  I wonder if my following pleases God.  Am I following closely enough?  Probably not.  Do I stray too often?  Probably so.  Do I ever follow for the wrong reasons?  Certainly.  My heart bubbles over with thanks that the One I follow is long-suffering and loving!  I know I am not nearly as patient with my children.  I am so thankful He is a perfect parent!

Following Perfection

Perfect footprints on a perfect road.

Perfect friend to help me bear my load.

Perfect light for guiding my dark way.

Perfect shelter through the stormy days.

Perfect promise of eternal life.

Perfect sweet peace in times of great strife.

Perfect sacrifice for my lost soul.

Perfect rest from our labor and toil.

Hold my hand as we walk

Guiding my clumsy steps.

Lift my head with Your light.

Hide my heart in the cleft.

My words, my steps, my ways

Let them glorify You!

May I follow closely.

Keep my heart ever true!

Melissa B. King

July 7, 2013

"SAFE" is a Place

“SAFE” is a Place

He is the peaceful pasture that I seek

When the chaos of life makes me weak.

He is where I find shelter from the storm.

He is where I don’t need to worry anymore.

Jesus is the rock where I hide in the cleft

When the winds blow and there’s nothing left.

When I fall, He is where I want to land…

The place where I can sing even when I cannot stand.

Through His blood and by His grace,

I can be confident that “safe” is a place.

I pray I can live so others will know

He is THE refuge where I always go!

Melissa B. King

1/20/13

Matters of Life and Death

Got your attention?  Good.  Have you ever been in a "life and death" situation?  You may be in one right now and not realize it.  No, I don't mean there is an out of control car headed your way or a meteorite about to crush you into the ground.  Allow me to back up and explain where I'm coming from.  In the last three days, I have attended a funeral, gotten some unsettling health news about a dear friend, and witnessed a baptism into Christ.  But, none of these are "life and death" situations.  What?  A funeral?  Bad health news?  Nope.  In each case, the person involved was and is a Christian.  Both young men gave their lives to Christ and in turn, claimed eternal life and the hope of Heaven.  So, I like to think of them as being in a "life and life" situation.  Life here or life there.  No death.  Not really.  Suffering, pain, troubles?  Yes.  But, not death.  Death was defeated.  God fought that battle and won.  Now to the baptism.  This young woman was obedient to Christ and showed her faithfulness to His plan by submitting to baptism.  By being buried with Christ in the waters of baptism, she was raised to be a new person.  Through that act and a faithful life, she puts her gift of eternal life on layaway.  It's there waiting on her.  Does that mean her life here will be trouble-free and easy?  Not at all.  I am sure Satan is already preparing darts with her name on them.  But, God has her back!  He will walk with her through this life right into the next...life and life!

Now, back to you.  Do you enjoy this life and life...well, life?  Or, are you in a life and death situation because you have not exchanged your submission to His will for that eternal prize?  Will your physical death be, well, the death of you?  That word eternal means forever.  No do-overs, no second chances.  You are living your second chance now.  Take advantage of it.  Take God up on His offer to save you from your sins and set you free!  Become part of the family of God that knows death can be a "life and life" situation!

Romans 8:1-2  "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

Romans 8:18  "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Mark 16:16  "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned."