The Season of Change

I was born in the mountains— I spent my childhood there. When I return to them, I am happy and sad, because the mountains are only mine to borrow. They are not mine to keep.

Emotions float to the top of my soul like marshmallows in cocoa— warm, bittersweet emotions.

I want to stay in the mountains— not just for a few days. I want to stay long enough to adventure; explore; rest; create; reconnect; and pray.

I am drawn to the autumn colors of the mountains and to the falling leaves. When October comes, I must journey there. The changing season is symbolic of the change I long to see within myself. It feels like instinct, but it is certainly the Spirit of God, who longs for my change even more than I do.

Thank you, God, for leaves on a porch; for crisp air; for a thick blanket next to a fireplace; for hot apple cider; for homemade meals around a table of friends who feel more like family; for quiet peace; for fog on the mountains; for the smell of lavender; for joy; and naps. Thank you, God. All of this means so much to me. You knew it would.

Dedicated to Dee and Mark Mueller, the founders and hosts of Hearth Ministries.

Giants

"Finances, not tiredness, that's what gets to him. He's too overwhelmed to get up. He doesn't want to face what he has to face today. Me? It's not finances..." "The root is fear," said the Holy Spirit. Light bulb. Ding ding ding. I finally understood.

Financial fear was my husband's giant! I had watched him get up before dawn for over a year, waking me in the process as he tried to be quiet, put on his walking shoes, and head out to pray. Long days and late nights couldn't keep him away. But today was the third day in a row that he was too tired and needed to sleep in. He was exhausted from carrying the weight of financial responsibility at work and home.

Financial fear was my husband's giant; but our God is so big, He can take down a giant with a pebble! My husband knows this. He's read it. He's preached it. But, it's easier to encourage others than to live encouraged. Isn't it? This reminds me of one of my son-in-law's favorite sayings, "Hello, I'm God. I'll be handling your problems today." Just last night at dinner with friends, we heard a mini-sermon about the truly humble act of giving our cares to God. In doing so, we recognize that He is capable of handling them and He sincerely cares about each one, because He sincerely cares about us. I couldn't help but wonder if this was a test of trust; if we were going around this mountain again because we have yet to learn that God is able to provide all we need according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). He doesn't lack for anything and He wants to take care of us.

"We are faithful. We tithe. What else can we do?" I've heard this desperate question over and over. I usually say, "That's all we can do," but that's not all; we can truly trust. Our mountains are between valleys, and we travel them both in this life, but we don't travel alone. The longer we live the more familiar the terrain becomes. There are mountains and valleys we have seen before and we anticipate the joys and challenges of both. But when you travel a valley in the winter, it looks different than when you travel through it in the springtime. The first time you climb a mountain you might run out of water, but the next time you climb that mountain you'll bring an extra canteen. God prepares us for mountains and valleys; Holy Spirit is our guide and travels with us; Jesus prays for us every day on our journey and He does miracles along the way.

I'm not pretending to be unconcerned about our needs. I also don't know how God will solve this. I usually give Him a few ideas and then remember, His ways are not my ways, and His thoughts aren't my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). We have changed some of our routines in order to save money and we are making more changes. I know in the long run, all things will work out for our good (Romans 8:28). We are learning self-control, patience, and many more fruitful things; and we are asking God for direction.

What I do know is, the reason David took down Goliath with a single stone was because David came in the name of the Lord (1 Samuel 17:45). The Lord is victorious in battle, (Psalm 24:8) therefore, David had the victory. Like us, you may be facing a giant right now. I'm not sure how hard the fight will be or what God will use to take the giant down, but I know this, with God we are already victorious!

Praying for you today,
Mechelle

Further Reading:
1 Samuel 17
Psalm 24:7-10
Philippians 4:6-7
1 Peter 5:7
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Kill the Giant by Jamie Jones

My husband was the first to read this post, and he gave his permission to share it. Pastors are not superhuman, nor are they divine. They are walking out their faith every day, just like the rest of us. Selah.

Sorry, Not Sorry

How raw should someone be in a post? How much should someone reveal? I don't know the answer to that. I can tell you this, if you read my blog long enough, you will find out more than you ever wanted to know about me. Today's post is proof of that.

I have been grappling with myself a bit for the last couple of days. I enjoy the author life. However, it is challenging in many ways; especially the area of promotion. I have little desire to promote myself, but it is necessary to promote my written work. Even promoting my written work is less about sales and more about sharing what I have been given with others. My heart is so full from creating something from nothing. It has been said, we are most like our creator when we create. Makes sense to me; and I feel it too.

Because I am a pastor, however my main circle of friends and contacts are other ministers or church friends. It feels like a conflict of interest to tell them about my books because it looks like selling. I don't have a supply of books to give away. As a matter of fact, if I want one of the books I have written, I have to purchase it. I have written two books so far and haven't made a dime. This is because the investment is high and the yield, at least presently, is little to nothing. Please don't view this as a complaint. I feel so alive during the process of writing and publishing. The best part is, my books have opened doors for me to visit children in schools. I have made one public school visit and five Christian school visits since my first book was released in 2022. I am scheduled to make three more visits this Spring and one of my goals is to visit every school in my city. But before I turn this post into a newsletter, I want to circle back to my reason for writing.

I have dealt with inferiority most of my life. There are many reasons for this and I am aware of most of them. As an adult, Holy Spirit has counseled me about these feelings of inferiority and revealed His truth to me about them. I know these feelings are tactics of the enemy, meant to hold me back. It has been said that humility and pride are each a side of the same coin. This coin has zero value, by the way. The pride side says, "I don't need God. I can do all things... by myself." The inferiority side says, "I am not enough and God is not enough. I can't do anything and God can't use me. He can't make up the difference in my lack." Consciously, I (we) may not think these things verbatim, but sometimes these are the lies I (we) live in. This upsets me sometimes and sometimes I just curl up in a ball and feel sorry for myself.

Yesterday, I visited a Christian preschool of wonderful teachers and precious little students (souls.) My first job was at a preschool. I needed a job because high school was getting expensive. So, I opened the phonebook and flipped through the pages looking at the headings. Catering..no. Construction..no. Plumbing..no. Preschool..yes! I called the listing and asked if they were hiring. They said yes and scheduled me for an interview. I worked at this preschool (and after school care center) for several years until I got married and joined my husband in the ministry of pastoring children. It's obvious. I know God chose children's ministry for me, and every author visit is a reminder. My books keep the door to children's ministry open to me and have opened an additional door of supportive ministry to teachers and staff. This may not be a traditional ministry model, but I recognize the fruit. This fruit isn't served on fancy china placed on linen tablecloths. (Although, I'm all for that.) This fruit is cut in tiny pieces and served on a paper plate, placed on a colorful alphabet rug on the floor.

I am not in the sales business, but I am in the book business, because those books are what God has placed in my hands. I'm gonna keep on spreading Jelly because it helps me spread God's love. And I am tired of feeling like I have to keep it a secret or apologize for it. If you spend more than a minute or two with me, I may start passionately talking about my current author gig. Please don't feel obligated to stay and listen or to order one of my books. Just know, this is God's plan for me. It's one of the good works He has for me and I must do it with all my heart. I can't worry about perception anymore; the enemy tries to use that to hold me back. I must go forward. "God will have His way in my life." I repeat that phrase often. I encourage you to do the same. Let God have His way in your life and make no apologies for following His will for you.

Mechelle

The Holiday Cafe

Welcome to The Holiday Cafe. Follow me. I have a wonderful seat for you, right next to the Christmas tree. I see you brought your own plate... and it's already full. Well then, let's focus on your empty cup. What would you like? Hot chocolate? Egg nog? Peppermint tea? Maybe I could interest you in my favorite- our homemade wassail; it's a family tradition. My husband and I discovered the recipe during our travels and now he makes it at even the hint of cool weather. The aroma alone is enough to calm the most frazzled shopper and put a smile on the face of the scroogiest of scrooges. Wonderful! Wassail it is! It's hot, so sip it carefully. Oh, I love this song! Don't you? Nat King Cole is the best. Although, I can't say I've ever roasted chestnuts on an open fire. I'm not even sure I could tell the difference between a chestnut and a regular nut. Speaking of regular nuts, it's time for me to take a break. How 'bout I grab a cup and join you? No one should experience The Holiday alone.

We Chose Coffee

Pumpkin creamer is back in the stores; that means I'm drinking coffee again. (It's decaf, but still.) I don't drink it for the energy spike. I drink it because sipping warm, caramel-colored, pumpkin-flavored liquid makes me happy.

I thought about this the other day when I was all alone drinking my harvest java. I had not had a cup of coffee for months, so I savored it. I noticed I was smiling and felt so peaceful with that little porcelain cup in my hand. But why? Why is coffee so magical? Many people won't even see or talk to another human without drinking their coffee first. Why is coffee placed on a pedestal? Maybe you just drink your coffee and don't ask questions, but I couldn't help myself. I have a contemplative mind. "I think, therefore I write."

In my opinion, coffee is so popular; and treasured; not because it is divine, but because it is a catalyst. A catalyst for solitude, gratitude, and conversation.

Think about it. Coffee is often the first thing we drink in the morning before the world gets busy. Maybe you drink coffee alone during your quiet time with God. Maybe you're a parent or caregiver, and drink your coffee after the kids go to school. Maybe you drink your coffee on the way to work and enjoy it as you focus your mind on the tasks of the day. The morning scenarios are endless.

And what about gratitude? I often drink my coffee on the patio as I look around at nature, thanking God for everything He made. I thank Him for my family and all the ways He blesses me. I think about how small I am in comparison to my Creator, yet He knows each detail about me, loves me enough to consider me, save me from sin's punishment, and involve me in His plans.

How about conversations? How many conversations have you had over a cup of joe? How often have you chosen a coffee shop as a meeting place for yourself and a close friend or group of friends?

It could have easily been anything else, but for some reason we chose coffee.

Photo by Chevanon Photography on Pexels.com

Celebrating My Hundredth Post

Today I am celebrating my hundredth post! 🥳 My very first blog post ever, was over 10 years ago! To commemorate this personal achievement, I am pointing you back to where it all began, my very first post. I read it today and found a 10-year-old typo, that I corrected. Making this correction made me happy because I always want to keep learning and growing. I always want to do my best, but I realize that my best will not be perfection. Perfection is illusive. Perfection requires comparison and critique. One's idea of perfection may fall short of another's. So who's right? Whose idea is correct? Whose standard should we follow? In a spiritual sense, we should follow God's. I am immediately reminded of this verse:

Romans 3:23 New Living Translation

²³For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

If God knows we aren't perfect and He doesn't require perfection from us, then why do we require it from ourselves? That is a question we must answer individually. Don't look inside too much, look to God. Ask Him to give you the answer and, trust me, He will. You might be surprised to find that your efforts to earn God's love or approval might be based on human standards that He never intended for you. If you want to know more about God, click the tab, "How to Walk in the Light."

Personally and creatively, I am learning to accept my imperfections. In the past the struggle with imperfection has caused me to give up. In the past, I have been afraid to do new things because I might not do them perfectly; and anything less than perfection is failure. Right? It definitely depends on who you ask. America's greatest inventor, Thomas Edison said,

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
Edison, T. "Edison Quotes." ThomasEdison.org

So, let's not allow the fear of imperfection to be a roadblock on the path God has for us! Let's keep trying! Let's keep moving forward!

Today I celebrate 100 times I wrote something, (and shared it) instead of giving up. I hope you enjoy this vintage post from Rhyme, Reason & Real Life, and I hope you are encouraged to keep trying.

Mechelle

“You don’t want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie.” Sleepless In Seattle

Fall

Spices in the air

Color in the trees

Crunching of the leaves

Crispness in the breeze

A Hope

A Vibrancy

That breaks monotony

And excites me to the core

Leaves me wanting more

Of this magical autumn time

The season when I thrive

I feel abundantly alive

As creation breaks from her cocoon

And flys all around me

I'm drawn in by her beauty

And inspired to create

My creator can relate

For this wonder

It's all His

Spoken word

He did it first

Let there be

And so there was

He looked around and called it good

Four seasons all built-in

Each one pointing back to Him

But I feel Him

Hear Him

See Him most

In the Fall

Prepare for Pushback

I haven't written in weeks. A blog is supposed to be a stream of consciousness. Right? Blah, blah, blog? Here goes...

I am writing my second book and have been concerned about the cost, among other things. I have battled discouragement to the point of even questioning whether writing was part of God's will for me. I have experienced pain in my body- muscle pain, tension, and arthritic symptoms that included numbness in my fingers. I have been praying about all of this and battling it too. Yesterday, my closest friend revealed that many of these symptoms were present the last time I was really stressed out. I was surprised. I hadn't thought about that..at..all. I am more likely to blame my pillow for pain than stress. Stress, concern, and worry are all friends of the enemy. I was introduced to discouragement when I wrote my first book. I almost quit all together the day I saw the proposed cover- it was not at all what I expected. I can't remember if tears made it to my eyes, but I definitely cried inside. I'm happy to say that with God's help I pushed past the discouragement, found the perfect cover art, and have a beautiful book that I cherish.

Talking through the feelings I have been having about my current project with the Lord first and friends second, really helped me identify what I believe about God, myself, and the enemy. I am constantly asking God to encourage me in this writing thing because it's hard. The actual writing isn't the issue, it's the pursuit of writing as a career- the publishing industry, marketing, etc. Conversely, writing as a hobby, is basically free, is rather small scale, and doesn't require anyone's approval. Exploring the difference further makes me tired, so I'll stop there.

Let's go back to the garden for a minute. The enemy (satan) loves to ask the question, "Did God really say?" It's the question he asked Eve. He has been whispering this question to me lately. Apparently, like Eve, I started listening. The result: discouragement, stress, tension, and pain. Has the enemy ever whispered this question to you? Here is my advice...

Four Things To Do When the Enemy Starts Questioning You:

Pray.
Remind yourself of God's Word.
Remember what God said to you.
Remember the victories.

Let's unpack this together. Here's what I do...

I pray and tell God how I feel and what I'm thinking. I ask Him to reveal the truth to me. I ask Him to encourage me in this area. I ask Him to help me have His thoughts, His words, and His actions.
I remind myself of God's Word by reading it. I search for specific passages about the subject I am dealing with, read them, and follow the instructions. I quote encouraging scriptures that God has highlighted to me.
I remember what God said to me by reading words of prophecy that have been spoken over me. I read encouraging cards, letters, or notes I have received in reference to this area of my life.
I encourage myself by remembering a time when God gave me victory in this area. I look at completed projects and remember how I felt and what I thought during the time I was working on them. I recognize that if I had given up when I was discouraged, those projects would have never been completed. I spend time thanking God.

The book project I am working on now is a bigger project than my last one. It involves more people and a greater investment of my time, energy, and money. Why am I surprised that the enemy is attacking me? Why am I surprised that he is talking louder and more consistently than before? It sounds trite to say, "new level, new devil," but I am honestly seeing this in my own life right now. As I write this, I finally understand that the things we do as we follow God's will for our lives and live in obedience to Him, need to be covered in prayer BEFORE we do them. Athletes understand this concept. Football players, for instance, know before they ever step on the field, that the opposing team is going to be there to try to stop them from reaching the end zone. Football players know they are going to face pushback. This is why they train, prepare, and practice BEFORE they play. Is it worth it? It is if you love the game. The possibility of a touchdown is real.

Jeanette's Mountain

From Mamaw’s house, I can see Jeanette’s mountain. I like to stand on the big rock and sing the songs that come down from there. I want to be a singer when I grow up, just like Karen Carpenter and Olivia Newton John.

I climb Jeanette’s mountain every morning before school to reach the bus stop. The curvy, steep path isn’t easy to climb, and sometimes I slip on the dew-covered grass. But there are beautiful morning glories along the way, sometimes just opening up. I like the way they're connected to the same vine. The pink and purple ones are my favorite.

I’m usually running late for school, but when I’m not, I watch Captain Kangaroo and then go to Jeanette’s house early; even before the boys get up. When I get there, I have to tiptoe through the girls' dark room without talking. Uncle Tim’s band picture is in there; I like his uniform. I want to play the drums some day, just like Uncle Tim. (Mom calls Uncle Tim my cousin, but cousins are little kids. Uncle Tim is in high school.)

Jeanette makes the best pancakes and homemade syrup… with butter melted in. She always shares breakfast with me when I get there early. I wish I could taste that sweet, buttery syrup every day. I think it's the yummy smell that wakes everyone up. Jeanette doesn’t talk much, but she has a beautiful smile; only kind people smile like her. I go to church with Jeanette sometimes and she teaches me about Jesus. I bet Jeanette talks to Jesus even when she’s not at church. I bet that’s why she’s so kind.

For Ashley

I just returned from vacation. Children's books are my favorite vacation souvenirs because I read to my young grandsons nearly every day. They love the repetition of their favorite stories, but to be honest, after a dozen or so reads, Nana craves something new. Therefore, I am always shopping for colorful, simple, fun, and uplifting children's books.

Looking at my latest book haul from vacation reminded me of a small hidden stash of children's books I purchased a few trips ago. The books fit my purchase criteria, but they were a little advanced for the boys at that point, so I put them in a special spot in my room. Spring cleaning demanded the books be relocated to the large bookcase in the family room, but I forgot they were there. I almost panicked! Where were my special books?! I needed to find one of them in particular because I felt it would be perfect to share on Mother's Day. The book is called When I Hold You by Ashley Huffstutler. The book is all about mothers and their children. The illustrations are gorgeous, thanks to Airin O'Callaghan, and there are Bible verses throughout.

Nervously, I called out to my daughter and asked her if she knew where my books were. She found them immediately, and I returned them to their rightful place in my room; emotional breakdown averted. I immediately pulled out the Mother's Day book and gave it a home on my desk, where it would rest until I could share it.

With my mind at peace, I turned my attention back to my college Bible class. However, from the corner of my eye, I kept noticing this beautiful book. I tried to ignore it and keep typing, but it was useless. I finally stopped what I was doing, picked up the book, and looked at the back cover that had been distracting me the entire time. Looking at the cover, I noticed something that I didn't remember noticing before. It was a tiny square photo of the author, a beautiful young woman with a beaming smile and outstanding red hair; her name was Ashley. I decided to read Ashley's bio. When I did, I found out that she was from Alabama. ("I've been there," I thought. "I even have friends from Alabama.") I discovered that Ashley was married with two daughters and that the book I was holding was Ashley's first children's book. I am a first-time author too. Ashley and I had some things in common. I also found that after the birth of her first daughter, Ashley was diagnosed with brain cancer. I wasn't expecting to read this; it made me sad. But the next line I read said the trials of surgery and treatment, caused Ashley's faith in Jesus to grow, and value motherhood all the more. I determined to find Ashley on social media and follow her journey.

After a quick search, I found someone on social who I thought was her; but I wasn't sure, so I clicked the blog link. Yep. I had found the right Ashley! It was obvious that cancer treatments had somewhat altered her appearance, but it did not diminish the beauty that still beamed from within her. This beauty comes from the faith in Jesus Ashley mentioned in her bio. I read a few blog headings and became increasingly concerned about Ashley's condition. It didn't take long to discover that she had joined her Jesus in Heaven. As I kept reading, I discovered that Ashley passed away last year in May. "May? That's the month of Mother's Day," I thought. Looking closer, I saw that Ashley passed away on May 14, 2022. "It can't be. It isn't." I quickly opened the calendar and scrolled to May. Mother's Day is May 14 this year. I sat quietly for a moment, feeling the presence of Holy Spirit and thinking about my beautiful friend, Ashley, whom I haven't met yet.

A few days later...

Today, May 14,2023, Mother's Day, marks Ashley's one-year anniversary in Heaven. I don't believe in coincidence. All I can tell you is, I was prompted to find Ashley's book and share it on Mother's Day. I believe the events that followed were a Holy Spirit-inspired chain reaction. Today as I share Ashley's book, I honor her life. I found and was drawn in by her book last year when I was searching for a cover for my own book, Pages of Sunbeams. I purchased her book a few months later at a Christian bookstore hundreds of miles away from my home. This book was already special to me, but it's even more special now. I recommend this book for anyone, especially moms and grandmoms. I hope you will honor Ashley's memory by purchasing a copy. Again, the book is called, When I Hold You by Ashley Huffstutler, 2021, B&H Publishing Group. I invite you to join me in praying for the Huffstutler family today. This will be their first Mother's Day without Ashley.