Immeasurably More

           2020 has been a year of experiencing new things, encountering new decisions, and learning new lessons. I use the word new because the time we are in has been unprecedented in our lifetime, and there has been many new exciting things experienced, healthy decisions made, and positive lessons learned in this year. Praise the Lord! He never wastes a moment with us! However, I know this year has also been one filled with painful things experienced, difficult decisions made, and challenging lessons learned as well. This year has not been going as anyone planned and many have experienced big disappointments. In the past season of encountering disappointment in my life, the Lord was tender and gentle in helping me steward my heart and keep my spirit free from bitterness. He allowed me to feel the disappointment, the confusion, and the hurt that came with the season, but He reminded me that He will never leave me there. It was a process of learning the ...

A story of faith in the Finisher ↑ After returning from YWAM, I was left in a whirlwind of emotion and asking the Lord, "what's next?" I had been a week away from being sent on the outreach portion of my DTS and was returning home with the feeling that I had been training for a marathon I never got to run. Obviously coming home from Hawaii and entering into lock down was not what I was expecting of this season, but I had peace knowing the Lord was going to use this time for His glory. I felt Him saying as I was nearing what I didn't know would be the last days of my DTS, " Melissa, this is not about your life, this is about what I am doing on the earth right now ." I didn't know fully what He meant at the time, but this word from Him has been something that has played back in my head whenever I get discouraged about having my experience in YWAM cut short. I know it's not for a lack of Him caring for me or caring about my feelings of sadness, i...

Hey friends! It has been a crazy few weeks as I'm sure it has been for everyone! I wanted to update everyone as to how COVID-19 has affected my YWAM adventure and encourage everyone with some truth in this time! Last Wednesday I returned home from Hawaii and was commissioned home to do outreach in PA as restrictions have progressed and prevented us from traveling abroad. Although this has caused some disappointment and sadness, overall, I am feeling so privileged to have had the experience I did in Hawaii! To have had the last two and a half months to submerse myself in the pursuit of Jesus and receive His heart for the lost and the nations of the world has been nothing but amazing! I want to thank each one of you who has contributed to my experience through writing cards, sending thoughts and prayers, and donating financially (you will get your donation back if you donated to my outreach phase)! It was an honor to partner with others through this journey!     ...

           Aloha! Another month has gone by in this journey of YWAM! I’ve been here for 8 weeks! Crazy!! The Lord has been reminding me again how great a privilege it is to have this time away with Him. I look around at the beautiful Hawaiian scenery and I am in awe that the Lord would call me to step into adventure with Him in such a breathtakingly beautiful place! I feel so unworthy of this opportunity. I know He can meet me any time and in any place, but to start 2020 living and learning with Him in Hawaii has been beyond my wildest dreams!            The past few weeks have been nothing short of intense! The class schedule combined with prayer sets, team time, track time, and work duty have every day feeling like a whirlwind! God has been stretching my capacity to know Him and pursue Him past the points of what I ever thought my body, soul, and spirit were capable of! There have definitely been very difficult days when it...

Aloha from Hawaii!            WOW! I cannot believe I am actually here. Being in Kona and doing a DTS (discipleship training school) have been two dreams of my heart for a few years and to be in the place where these two things are combined is crazy! A friend described this process as a six month honeymoon with Jesus and Hawaii has been the perfect setting for this process. 😃            I have been thanking the Lord for bringing me on this adventure in Hawaii and teaching me what it looks like to dream with Him through this process. Last year I got a chance to visit the University of the Nations on a missions trip where I worked on the organic farm for two weeks. During that time, the Lord brought me into a deep revelation of His Father's heart and His desire for me to dream and adventure with Him. I felt the Lord wanting me to share some of the things He spoke to my heart during that time because it has opened my eyes...

As I’ve thought and prayed about this next season and heading off to YWAM, the Lord has given me vision for what it will look like by drawing me to the story of the woman with the alabaster jar: Mark 14:3-9 “While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.             Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.             “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what sh...

The joy of the Lord is my strength. When I am weary, when my soul feels downcast, the joy of the Lord is the strength of my spirit and the water to my soul. “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 The enemy loves to steal our joy. His plan is to leave us feeling hopeless and without a desire for living. He wants to keep us just busy enough that we miss the small joys of life on this earth. Although the father of lies is having his way on the earth, the Lord has the victory and He has planted so many opportunities for joy as we live out our lives on this earth. About a year ago, right around the time of Thanksgiving, I started a collection of sticky notes on my closet door. I started this collection during a time when I was really struggling with having joy in   the midst of my circumstances...