Author: Melissa

Hello, my name is Melissa. I grew up as a pastor's kid and am now a pastor's wife. I'm married to Joseph Smith, who is the Pastor of Pine Air Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL. We have three miracle children here on earth and two in heaven. As of July 18, 2017, God graciously allowed me to survive being struck by lightning. Five years later on March 31, 2022, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer HER2+ and HER2-. Today, I can say, together with God's help, I am an OVERCOMER! Because He lives and His mercies renew every morning, I can say I am a Lightning Survivor, Cancer Warrior, and Daughter of the King!
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Courage

Definition:

Av1611.com defines Courage as that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. It is a constituent part of fortitude; but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.  Joshua 1:8-9

Courage comprehends that God gives us the strength to face any situation, trail, or affliction.  It is the ability to recognize that God is in control of all things. 

Courage is meeting the opposition with confidence knowing that greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

We should encourage ourselves with the promise and presence of God.  Don’t allow the sense of your own faults and insecurities discourage you.  God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.  God will be with us wherever we go.

If we are to be successful, we must be willing to focus daily on God’s Word,  determine to obey God’s commands, and trade our fear for courage.

Additional Scripture:

Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 31:4, Ephesians 6:10,  John 1:27, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 56:3-4, Isaiah 41:10-13, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 31:24, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 2 Timothy 1:7, John 16:33

Prayer:

Dear Lord, please help me to always be strong and courageous in my character and actions.  Give me courage to be a bold witness with whomever I come in contact.  Use my life as a faithful testimony for You.  Help me whenever I tempted to quit to keep going on.  Help me to always have a cheerful spirit even when things don’t go as expected.  Please give me courage to accomplish what needs to be done.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Hymns of Praise:

  1. Stand Up Stand Up For Jesus
  2. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
  3. Dare To Be A Daniel
  4. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
  5. Faith of our Fathers
  6. My  Country, ‘tis of Thee
  7. Nearer, My God, to Thee
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Goodness

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” Galatians 5:22

Webster defines Goodness as the state of being good the physical qualities which constitute value, excellence, or perfection; as the goodness of timber; the goodness of soil.  1. The moral qualities which constitute Christians excellence; moral virtue; religion.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines Goodness as In man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good.

The word good appears 720 times in the Bible. Goodness appears 51 times.  God is good.  It pleases Him to bestow goodness on His people.

Matthew 7:11 tells us that every good tree bringeth forth good fruit.  In order for goodness of God to overflow in our lives, goodness must abound in our hearts (Matthew 6:45).

If I am controlled by the Holy Spirit, I will do good unto others hoping for nothing again (Luke 6:35).

Whatever your occupation in life, God intends us to display goodness to those around us.  Galatians 6:10 tells us that we are to do good unto all men, especially unto them that are of the household of faith.

Goodness is kindness in action.  It has been said that “kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see”.  It is allowing God’s Spirit to work through you to be of help and bring a bit of hope and happiness to others.

Goodness is simply a heart that works at meeting the needs of others. 

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Journal Entries 2018 Sept 10-12

Sept 10

So I found out why neurologist asked me to spell “world” backwards. It’s to test my attention, memory, & cognitive impairment.

http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-discussion-f1/topic15582.html

Did you know?
There are two types of lightning, negative strikes and positive strikes. Positive strikes are 5 times more powerful than negative strikes.
*https://churchillsc.co.uk/n…/10-interesting-facts-lightning/

Lightning-3.jpg
photo courtesy of churchhills.co.uk

Sept 11

7:20- had trouble opening eyes this morning almost as if some swollen, hands and fingers were numb, feet hurt, center of chest huring, left temple twitching

2.53 So today…at my TBI mtg, I finally mustered up enough courage to ask for help in pointing me in the right direction with setting up my blog/website because I’m stuck and my brain isn’t comprehending it all. I did my best to explain to the directors of what I wanted to accomplish and why. One of the ladies (I don’t remember her name)  offered to ask some of her techy friends if they’d be willing to volunteer to help.  Lord willing, I’ll finally pass this hurdle.

Thankful for God’s faithfulness along this journey. It’s definitely been a hard row to hoe.  A friend  reminded me yesterday of the chorus “My Lord knows the way through the wilderness all I have to do is follow.”  In following, I hope that I may be able help other’s along the way. 

8.16p https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.hellolovelyliving.com/blog/2015/10/20/a-migraine-natural-remedy-that-actually-works%3fformat=amp

Evelyn M tagged me with info on Facebook

8:17p- rt eye twitching

8:47p- lft leg muscles twitching

Sept 12

Everything I eat gives me indigestion. Ugh!

Co-op went well but wore me out

Had trouble falling asleep to take nap slept for 30 minutes

5pm- received tr from ssd telling me to contact my dr asap. Concerning. At least it’s not a denial yet.

10:47- low back aches, rt hip hurts, rt  upper arm aches, finger tips on both hands tingly. Tired but having trouble falling asleep. 

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Journal Entries 2018 Sept 7-9

Sept 7

8:00am-I don’t hurt as bad as I thought I would after the stress of two SSI apts yesterday. Ended up taking my time and cleaning up the laundry room. 

Earlier in the week, I decided to cook the turkey in the freezer so we’d have meat options since we’re low on meat in our freezer. Really hope my husband can get a deer or two this winter.

12:30pm- Boy, I didn’t think that idea through. I’m only one home after lunch. I haven’t been able to pick up 20lbs since my lightning strike without hurting myself (its causes severe pain later-Costocondritis pain). I guess we’ll find out. It took some effort, but I managed to get it out of fridge and into oven. It’s heavier than I remembered. Had to google how to cook it because I forgot. Ugh! I almost forgot to take out the innards. Oops! If only my memory would cooperate better.

6:00pm- I’m begining to feel the effects of my efforts today. Chest is beginning to throb and so is my right arm & elbow. I also have. Headache.

Sept 8

7:30a woke in great pain. Hard to move. Hands numbish & tingly, very swollen. Rt wrist and arm ache. Neck throbbing. Headache. Feet hurt. Back throbbing. Rt hip aching. Nightmares last night. If I could cry, I would.

Stayed home. Fell back to sleep. Scared awake around 11am by a mower.

I guess I now know not to clean laundry room again anytime soon. Have to figure out how I can managed to get things done without hurting myself. 

Sept 9 – no entry

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Journal Entries 2018 Sept 4-6

Sept 4

1:19am- upper arms hurt, hands going numb, wide awake…not good

1:48- still wide awake…ears hurt, rt hip aches, center of chest burning periodically. Took melatonin & pain med.

 10.46p LATE AFTERNOON UPDATE ON GORDON: Gordon is expected to make landfall tonight just west of Dauphin Island, near the Alabama/Mississippi border, as a category one hurricane. Gordon now is packing sustained winds of 70 mph, and the pressure is right at 1000 mb. Some strengthening is still possible before it reaches the coast tonight.

10:47- my whole body hurts! I have a headache. Power has been out for an hour now. Don’t know when it’ll come back on. Storm is making me tense.  

Sept 5

My whole body still hurts. Hard to move. Entire back throbbing. Rt ear hurts. Hands swollen and achy. Sharp pain under rt middle finger that shoot up entire hand. Arms hurt.

12pm- tried to clear kitchen table by putting paint in Dezirae’s closet. I accidentally dropped one jar. The lid  popped off and split gray paint on tan floor! Ugh! Joe used paint thinner to get up as much as possible. House stinks. I wasn’t thinking and washed Dezirae’s blanket with rags!  

Sept 6

  • Dog & lion
  • Current governor
  • Mayor
  • Month & year
  • Envelope addressed sealed stamped
  • Orange & banana
  • Spell world backwards

https://www.verywellmind.com/ocd-and-traumatic-brain-injury-2510479

https://www.capegazette.com/article/what-do-lion-and-dog-have-common/1142

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Journal Entries 2018 Sept 1-3

Sept 1

Slept til 10am – that’s unusual for me. Woke with both arms & hands numb, tingly & aching, entire back aching with lower back throbbing, toes feel funny, eyes feel heavy & crusty but there’s none.No gumption to do anything today. Raining off and on most of day. Hurts to move.

Sept 2

Slightly dizzy. Upper back stings like I have a sunburn. Neck hurts. Hands hurt. Feet tingly.

11:30- my watch quit working again. trouble following music. Can’t seem to get my fingers to cooperate. Headache. Eyes feel crossed & blurry. Rt elbow & hand throbbing.

6:15- such difficulty playing piano for church today…eyes & brain feel blurry and crossed…closing eyes I see orange “X” across face. Ugh!

9:00- eyes are burning, congested, coughing

10:00- going to bed not feeling goodLow back aches, rt hip hurts, rt side of back hurts from sneezing, rt elvow throbbing, sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, headache, chest popping, chest aches, rt side of neck hurts…

Sept 3

10:00am- slept for 10 hours last night (1st time since before strike).

10:00pm- In an effort to try to not injure my rt elbow/forearm anymore, I used my left arm more today and injured it in the process! Ugh! I’ll figure things out eventually.  Low back hurts, hands hurt, left eye twitched a few times today, center of chest hurts, back of legs hurt, headache, neck rt side hurts

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Humility

photo courtesy of clipart.email

Av1611.com defines humility as in ethics, freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one’s own worth. In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one’s own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will.

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6

God chooses the simple things to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27).  He does so to achieve His plans and bring honor and glory to Himself. 

Jesus was the greatest example of humility as He chose to obey God’s plan by becoming a man, dying on the cross, and raising again the third day to pay our penalty of sin.  Those who believe on Him and confess their sin will have eternal life (John 3:16-17). 

The Holy Spirit will nudge our hearts when we need to humble ourselves before God.  It is our choice to choose to become humble and obedient or persist in our prideful ways.

Additional Scripture:

1 Peter 5:5-6,  Luke 22:27, Philippians 2:6-8, Philippians 2:3-4, Titus 3:2, Psalm 113:5-6, Proverbs 15:33, Proverbs 18:12, John 13:13-17, Micah 6:8, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Romans 2:1, Psalm 9:12, Proverbs 40:11, Proverbs 6:16-19

Prayer:

Lord, You have instructed us in Micah 6:8 to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before You.  Please cultivate in our hearts the understanding that You are the reason for our accomplishments. Keep us from selfish pride and help us to learn of Your gentle and humble spirit.  You alone are worthy of the praise, honor, and glory.  In Jesus, name, Amen

Hymns of Praise:

  1. Amazing Grace
  2. Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
  3. Have Thine Own Way, Lord
  4. Only a Sinner
  5. Nothing But the Blood
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Kindness

photo courtesy of clipart.email

Character Trait: Kindness

Definition:

av1611.com defines kindness as disposed to do good to others; and to make them happy by granting their requests, supplying their wants or assisting them in distress; having tenderness or goodness of nature

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

It is easy to be kind to those who are kind to us. Showing kindness especially to those who are undeserving speaks volumes about how we are allowing God to work in our lives. 

Being kind is much more than giving a simple smile or being polite. It’s exemplifying a Christ-like attitude by looking for ways to be a blessing to others.

Additional Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:15, Galatians 5:22-23, Luke 6:35, Proverbs 21:21, Psalm 117:2, Proverbs 19:22, Proverbs 31:26, Isaiah 54:8, Ephesians 2:7, Hebrews 13:2, Galatians 6:10, Luke 6:35, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Matthew 7:12, Colossians 3:12

Prayer:

Lord, help us to be kind in thought, in word, and in deed. Teach us to humbly follow in Your footsteps as we search the Scriptures. Allow Your gentle Spirit of kindness to dwell within us that we may be a light shining brightly drawing others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Hymns of Praise:

1. He Lifted Me

2. Bringing in the Sheaves

3. Others

4. O to Be Like Thee

5. Rescue the Perishing