definition of a true friend

Georgia and I have been friends since 1998. Since the day she moved to my high school, Junior year, we were friends! We had a true connection, and it wasn't until recently that I understood what that connection was.
Georgia and I are the type of friends that "get" each other. She's the warm spirit that encourages me through the good and the bad. She asks great questions. She's a great listener. She's always got something fun to talk about. She's a woman of God that understands my spiritual life and ministry. She's someone I will always want in my life. I thank the Lord for her friendship and the spiritual connection that we have!
Today I pray that she continues to hear and follow Christ's call! And VERY soon she'll have a ring on her finger and a ministry partner.
Georgia, I love you dearly and always will. Thank you for being a true friend!

new perspective

After being in a rut these last few weeks, not understanding the purpose of my 'lacking personal life,' God has given me a refreshing new perspective- one that puts His glory in the appropriate place. I need a good kick in the pants when I start looking for MY comfort and not His ultimate plan. I still lack good friends and truly long for 'community' but I'm seeing lots of spiritual fruit and vision for ministry. God has blessed me with a small glimpse of His happiness in ministry which has been just enough to keep me going.
I really do pray that God keeps me going, passionate about loving Him and spreading His name, and I don't want to know more than I need to know; I want my faith to be used and His timing in place.
So, I still wait for worldly happiness, but I'm remembering that this world is not my home.

Who am i?

Melanie is:
. a Student Minister
. a counselor to students and parents
. an artist and graphic designer
. confident
. a natural leader in most group situations
. 'personality' filled
. Single
. Busy
. introverted > extroverted
. involved in lots of surface/ministry relationships
. overwhelmed by the weight of ministry and troubles that surround students

With these qualities, it's hard to have peer-relationship, deep friendships, or any time for community. Many people perceive me as one who has lot of friends, too busy for more activity, joyful in life's activity, and 'fine' by myself. This is anything but truth. As a single, confident, introverted minister, people rarely take time to 'really' know me. It's often my fault too; it's hard to get to know me. Frankly, I've been burned too much by deep friendships- especially with guys- that I don't yearn to open up because I'm weary of the long-run.
So, I now live in a world of misconceptions, a life of ministry purpose but no relationship.
I don't know how long I can live like this. Is the purpose of ministry worth being seemingly miserable in my personal life? Has God called me to THIS life? I truly believe that Glorifying God is far more important than my personal wants or desires.
I guess my prayer is that God adjusts, relines, and molds my desires into His. I want nothing more than God's best for me. I want to be faithful with His call and solely focused.
God grant me the strength, desire and patience to be the woman He wants me to be!

Solitude Retreat -April 08

After an amazing experience and meeting with the Lord on a mission trip to Panama in March of 2008, I came home ready to 'conquer' the world and so excited about Ministry. When I got back into life (not even 48 hours after landing in the US-of-A), I was bombarded with 'reality.' Friendships were changing, family was hurtful, ministry too busy, a lack of 'life' stared me in the face. I was overwhelmed, disappointed, dissatisfied, and seriously didn't know how I was going to get away from these feelings.
I took a day or two off, drove to a place that holds some of my only cherished childhood memories... Callway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA. A familiar location, but I was going to meet with the God that brought me to my knees.
My goal in this trip: to SIT. to LISTEN. to HEAL. to BE RENEWED.
Summer is just around the corner and I knew if I didn't slow down now, I'd get swept away into ministry mindlessness and never truly hear what God's trying to teach me.
So, I went to the Gardens for two days, simply sitting in God's creation, breathing in the fresh Spring air, and trying to be silent in the pursuit of His voice. I didn't come away with a vision or a new direction in life, but I did hear God tell me that He has an amazing, unusual plan for me. All I can do is continue to follow His path, listen to His voice, simply sit in His presence, glean His wisdom and glorify His name. That's a daily process. That's not a mission; it's a life-style.
My solitude retreat gave me confidence in who I am, who God is and who I need to become.