I had plans to post about something else this week but I thought let me hold off. This is only because I want to share about an event I was privileged to be a committee member and volunteer for. The first annual Royal Summer Tea that took place yesterday August 24, 2013.

My heart is called to pregnant teens and women who have experienced abortion in the past and need assistance in understanding that grace applies to them as well. One of my spiritual mothers introduced me to a ministry a couple of years ago and I have been volunteering there ever since. The organization is called His Nesting Place and they run a pregnancy center and home for unwed mothers as an alternative to abortion. They live life to save the lives of the unborn. (His Nesting Place on Facebook)

Many people feel some kind of way when hearing about pro-life ministries. I must admit that has been me at different points in my life BUT when I am able to experience first hand the lives that are saved (both child and parents) by this ministry, there is no way I can be mad at what they stand and fight for…LIFE. They have been in operation for over 30 years and have housed thousands of women and their children since opening their doors.

Yesterday the first annual summer tea was held in Rolling Hills Estates in one of the most beautiful gardens I have ever been in, in my life. God really blessed His Nesting Place with absolute favor as the owner of the home opened up her beautiful garden in order to put this fundraiser on. 

With over 120 guests in attendance His Nesting Place was able to raise funds and spread awareness about the issue of abortion in America. I feel that the testimonies that were shared by a few of the young women there were touching and resonated with the spirit of everyone in attendance. Which made me feel that I should reach out to my readership on the issue. 

Even though abortion is one of the procedures performed most on women in America it is still a super touchy subject. I just want to hit on it long enough to tell you that: 

1) There are always alternatives to abortion no matter what the situation is. 

2) God has given you the gift of free will! As you exercise it make sure that you are properly and fully educated on the decisions of abortion, parenting, and adoption both in the natural and in the spiritual. 

3) Men or women, if you have had an abortion in the past and are having difficulty dealing with it, whether it happened 2 days ago or 37 years ago, you are not the only one. God wants you to know that there is restoration for you. The guilt, anger, sadness that may be associated with it no longer has to be. Silence surrounding your abortion choice can be the loudest pain in your life. If you are ready to talk about it with someone please do! Not only can you contact me at the His Nesting Place Pregnancy Help Center or through my private practice www.YouCanTherapy.com but you can also find a network of counselors throughout the US and internationally via www.SaveOne.org. 

Freedom is yours if you want it! You have to take the first step…Repentance. That can happen strictly between you and God! Then, if you’re ready there are plenty of people, including myself, ready to help!

Love, 
 Mel

This is a 3 part series:
Part 1: There’s a war against the mirror. I’m my own worst enemy!
Part 2: I’m a hazard to myself
Part 3: I wanna be somebody else

I’m a hazard to myself
“So doctor, doctor won’t you please prescribe be something, a day in the life of someone else, cause I’m a hazard to myself”

Hazard, an “unavoidable danger or risk, even though often foreseeable; The absence or lack of predictability; chance of uncertainty”.

To be an unavoidable and unpredictable danger to yourself? =( It happens frequently to many people whether they are willing to admit it or not. Sometimes we get stuck and feel we won’t be able to get out of the rut. It doesn’t have to be this way, no matter how deep, we can be pulled out. Maybe we are skilled enough to do it on our own but hopefully we have people in our lives that can help us.  They don’t do it for us they just assist. This leads to the next important truth. Not only must you watch your mouth, you must:

Watch the company you keep!

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits”

When we are constantly around negativity, bad thinking, and especially bad behaviors it’s easy to be corrupted (infected, tainted, to alter for worse). There is no one there for accountability purposes, no one doing better, and no one leading by example.

Just how we must speak life, we must place ourselves around those who will do the same. Sometimes we are in too deep to notice or pull ourselves out. This is when having a good team or even one person who is discerning, supportive, uplifting, and encouraging comes in handy!

Thank you for reading Part 2. Part 3 will be posted next Sunday. Until then check in on the daily devotions. Also, if you haven't already, sign up for the 6 week challenge and forum! I would love to interact with you! 

Clowns…for some people they create smiles, laughter and take them back to those fun childhood memories. Then you have the individuals who avoid clowns at all cost because they evoke fear, tears and maybe an occasional nightmare that more than likely stem from some freak childhood event.

It’s crazy how one thing can bring about such different emotions in people. Our perceptions that were created and sustained by past experiences are so vital to our now it’s ridiculous. We unknowingly carry so much of our past with us daily simply due to the fear of dealing with it. We avoid it just like those terrifying clowns. Maybe they will go away! But no, they come up over and over again, others might not know what’s going on but we do.  We work hard to avoid it causing us to miss out on certain opportunities, relationships etc while it simultaneously affects our mental, spiritual and physical health in a negative manner.

Today, I encourage you to take a step towards defeating your past clowns one by one (past abuse, violent relationships, lost relationship, lay offs, substance abuse, sin you are ashamed to speak of etc). Just as David did the lions, bears and Goliath, we too can conquer our clowns! (1Sam 17:35; 49) This