To view the part one excerpt of "Long Nights & Empty Nets": click on link below.
http://www.thebellamella.com/2011/08/video-excerpt-long-nights-empty-nets.html
Aug 23, 2011
Part 2 Excerpt "Long Nights & Empty Nets"
To view the part one excerpt of "Long Nights & Empty Nets": click on link below.
http://www.thebellamella.com/2011/08/video-excerpt-long-nights-empty-nets.html
Aug 22, 2011
Pass the Peas
On Pass the Peas, you'll find dinner menu ideas, recipes, cooking tips, links, and pictures, too.
You'll also find inspiration from the 81 member (and growing) community of women (and a few men) who prepare dinner for their families (almost) every single day.
If you're on facebook and you'd like to check out Pass the Peas, just type Pass the Peas in the searchbox on facebook. Then "like" the page. That's it and you're golden. Just like buttermilk cornbread.
Aug 19, 2011
Aug 17, 2011
Aug 6, 2011
Are You a Woman in Ministry?
A few days ago, I created a group on facebook called "WINGS ~ Women In God's Service" (speak, write, lead). Each week there will be a task to work on for either speaking, writing or leadership. Some tasks will cross over regardless of which you feel is your primary focus. Task #1 - Establishing Expertise & Value.
Read the introduction, purpose and guidelines below. If you are on facebook and would like to join the group, send me a friend request (badge in sidebar) with a message referencing WINGS.
Welcome to WINGS (purpose & guidelines)
As women in ministry, I believe we need the support of one another and as I like to say, "Life is best traveled in the company of friends." Many of us have attended some type of ministry conference whether it be the P31 She Speaks conference or a conference just for writers.
We get lots of great information but often leave overwhelmed with a long list of things to do.
Why not create a community of "women in God's service" who each feel the call to speak, write and lead? And why not share the things that are working for us and the things that are not? Let's support one another as we explore new ways (for some of us) of doing things and offer encouragement and practical help as a ministry to one another.
If you are like me, then you have felt a kind of "tension" between waiting on God to open doors for ministry while not neglecting the responsibility to steward your gifts well. Finding that balance and place of confidence as we pursue with excellence God's purpose for our lives is worth the hard work. Oswald Chambers writes, "Keep paying the price. Let God see that you are willing to live up to the vision."
Let's face it. There are times in which being faithful to the call and "living up to the vision" means plain old hard work and sometimes even loneliness.
So let's support the call of God in other women through prayer, encouragement and practical helps.
And now for a few guidelines:
Melanie Dorsey
Read the introduction, purpose and guidelines below. If you are on facebook and would like to join the group, send me a friend request (badge in sidebar) with a message referencing WINGS.
Welcome to WINGS (purpose & guidelines)
As women in ministry, I believe we need the support of one another and as I like to say, "Life is best traveled in the company of friends." Many of us have attended some type of ministry conference whether it be the P31 She Speaks conference or a conference just for writers.
We get lots of great information but often leave overwhelmed with a long list of things to do.
Why not create a community of "women in God's service" who each feel the call to speak, write and lead? And why not share the things that are working for us and the things that are not? Let's support one another as we explore new ways (for some of us) of doing things and offer encouragement and practical help as a ministry to one another.
If you are like me, then you have felt a kind of "tension" between waiting on God to open doors for ministry while not neglecting the responsibility to steward your gifts well. Finding that balance and place of confidence as we pursue with excellence God's purpose for our lives is worth the hard work. Oswald Chambers writes, "Keep paying the price. Let God see that you are willing to live up to the vision."
Let's face it. There are times in which being faithful to the call and "living up to the vision" means plain old hard work and sometimes even loneliness.
So let's support the call of God in other women through prayer, encouragement and practical helps.
And now for a few guidelines:
- Stay on task. As a certified teacher who has taught in public school, private school and home school, I know if you want to meet your objectives, you must stay on task. Let's keep this group on task by posting only those things that apply to our ministries of speaking, writing and leading.
- Request prayer only when it is ministry related. If you are preparing for an upcoming speaking engagement, submitting an article, pitching a proposal or planning a women's event or activity, we want to pray for you. For any other prayer needs, please direct your request in another direction.
- Introduce yourself with a short post that describes who you are and what you're about in ministry. You may use your bio and tag line and link your blog for this first introduction. If you have a facebook ministry page, your initial introduction is the place to request "likes." Otherwise, let's not post a "like" request.
- Link a blog, thereafter, only if the post you wish to link pertains to speaking, writing and leadership topics we are discussing on WINGS.
Melanie Dorsey
Aug 2, 2011
Iron Girls Bible Study ~ John 19 - 21 Notes
"Fulfilled, Blessed & Full"
John 19:5
“Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, ‘Behold the Man!’”
There is something so humbling about this verse, that had I been witness to the scene, I would have looked away.
Our Savior, a man of sorrows, exhibited such veiled strength in this moment. He had left his rightful place in the Heavenlies for us – for each of us as individuals. He took upon Himself the form of man so that we might be reformed in Him.
I imagine that as he wore the symbols of mockery on His shoulders and His head– the robe and the thorny crown – He wore His heart of love for humanity on His sleeve.
Pierced in His side, the blood and water flowed…symbols of redemption and a fulfillment of prophecy - the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Jesus fulfilled God's plan and finished the work.
For God so loved the world that He sent His Son to wear a purple robe and a crown of thorns so that we might be robed in righteousness and crowned with loving kindness.
John 20:29
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
This has become a life verse for me. In the spring of 2010, I had begun running again. I usually ran in the evening and it was a season in which I wrestled with many things. I remember the night that I was returning home from a 3 mile run in the dark. As I turned the corner of my street, I told God, “Even though Andrew did not receive healing in our present time, I still believe You are the Healer.” Tears mixed with my sweat as I neared home and as I was almost to my mailbox, I heard this word gently whispered to my heart, “Blessed are those who have NOT seen and YET have believed.”
Healing began.
John 21:5-6
Simon Peter and company fished all night in the Sea of Tiberias and "that night they caught nothing." But with the morning sun, came the Son of the morning standing on the shore.
“Then said Jesus, ‘Children, have you any food?’ They answered Him, ‘No.’ And He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.” (verses 5,6)
Sometimes even seasoned fishermen come up empty. But when God gives the command, the fish start jumping! This verse ‘jumped’ out at me this morning.
You see, my nets have been empty for a while. And I’ve gotten discouraged. Perhaps you, too, have experienced a "night of empty nets.” Be encouraged that when Jesus “shows Himself” (v. 1), and speaks in your season of emptiness, the fish will start jumping and your nets will be full!
And just to further convince you that God is in the details, verse 11 records the exact number of how many fish filled the nets – 153!
What a picture to end my personal study of Jesus in The Gospel According to John.
Because Jesus Christ fulfilled God's plan, I am blessed and my nets will be full.
Know Jesus more and better and carry on
John 19:5
“Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, ‘Behold the Man!’”
There is something so humbling about this verse, that had I been witness to the scene, I would have looked away.
Our Savior, a man of sorrows, exhibited such veiled strength in this moment. He had left his rightful place in the Heavenlies for us – for each of us as individuals. He took upon Himself the form of man so that we might be reformed in Him.
I imagine that as he wore the symbols of mockery on His shoulders and His head– the robe and the thorny crown – He wore His heart of love for humanity on His sleeve.
Pierced in His side, the blood and water flowed…symbols of redemption and a fulfillment of prophecy - the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Jesus fulfilled God's plan and finished the work.
For God so loved the world that He sent His Son to wear a purple robe and a crown of thorns so that we might be robed in righteousness and crowned with loving kindness.
John 20:29
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
This has become a life verse for me. In the spring of 2010, I had begun running again. I usually ran in the evening and it was a season in which I wrestled with many things. I remember the night that I was returning home from a 3 mile run in the dark. As I turned the corner of my street, I told God, “Even though Andrew did not receive healing in our present time, I still believe You are the Healer.” Tears mixed with my sweat as I neared home and as I was almost to my mailbox, I heard this word gently whispered to my heart, “Blessed are those who have NOT seen and YET have believed.”
Healing began.
John 21:5-6
Simon Peter and company fished all night in the Sea of Tiberias and "that night they caught nothing." But with the morning sun, came the Son of the morning standing on the shore.
“Then said Jesus, ‘Children, have you any food?’ They answered Him, ‘No.’ And He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.” (verses 5,6)
Sometimes even seasoned fishermen come up empty. But when God gives the command, the fish start jumping! This verse ‘jumped’ out at me this morning.
You see, my nets have been empty for a while. And I’ve gotten discouraged. Perhaps you, too, have experienced a "night of empty nets.” Be encouraged that when Jesus “shows Himself” (v. 1), and speaks in your season of emptiness, the fish will start jumping and your nets will be full!
And just to further convince you that God is in the details, verse 11 records the exact number of how many fish filled the nets – 153!
What a picture to end my personal study of Jesus in The Gospel According to John.
Because Jesus Christ fulfilled God's plan, I am blessed and my nets will be full.
Know Jesus more and better and carry on
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