Happy New Year to all my blog readers! May 2006 be a year full of rich experiences, learning moments and deep blessings. May we love God and others more than we have before. May our faith increase and transform us as well as those who share space with us.
I was blessed to spend the day with Kailey as she went wedding dress shopping. What an exciting adventure to share with her and I’m honored to be fulfilling my duties as maid of honor. She found the dress that was made for her and she looked absolutely gorgeous. Tonight was a fun night with some Common Ground friends as we celebrated the ending of one year and the beginning of another. January 1st also marks the beginning of my sixth year on staff at First Baptist Church. How the time does fly.
I leave you with my favorite prayer – the St. Francis Peace Prayer:
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me show love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek to be consoled, but to console.
To be understood, as to understand.
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal life.
Shalom – Melissa
All opinions, whether implied or expressed, are the individual opinions of the contributors to this site and do not necessarily represent the views of First Baptist Church of Jefferson City, Missouri.
