New Years Email
The following is an email I sent out today. It was in place of my Christmas letter/cards that I never got to. I thought I would post it here since it is sort of a summary of my year.

By HIS Grace and For His Glory
HI!!! I have to say that I am sooo bad about sending Christmas Cards. I have great ideas, and good intentions, but alas, I never get around to it! SO I thought I would send a New Years EMAIL instead to let you guys know that I am and Have been thinking about you and praying for you NO MATTER HOW Lax I have been in writing!

So God has been doing ALOT in my life this past year. It was a tough year, but an AWESOME one too! It was my second year at Westover Christian teaching Jr. High Math and Bible. This year has been much easier since I know the ropes a bit better. Teaching Jr. High is a stretching experience, but its fun. I DO miss all my students in Florida. I speak of you guys fondly!

This summer I moved into my dream apartment. My dad built a garage and then an apartment above that is separate from their house AND right on a lake. It's beautiful. Its a bit far from school (about a 35-40 min drive) but in the morning the sun is rising as I drive to school! I love it. It gives me time to really talk to God and reflect. I love living right by my family. last year was the first year i had ever lived totally by myself, and though I know the Lord had me doing it for a purpose, I am totally thankful to have my family near, now! My sister and her little 2 year old daughter, maliah live by me and I get to see them nearly everyday!!!! Maliah is a trip and constantly pops out with the funniest things! She keeps us laughing!

My other sister Amber and her family is less than an hour away, so i get to spend some time with Amber, Jeff, and their 2 girls Haley and Andrea. At Thanksgiving they announced that they are having a third!!! We are all hoping for a boy for Jeff's sake! LOL!

One trial that God is bringing my family through right now is my dad's illness. 3 years ago he was diagnosed with a form of carsonagenic cancer. It seemed the tumors lay dormant for some time, but just this past year my dad was struck with pain, and the doctors discoverd that the tumors have begun to consume his liver. He has been through an experimental radiation treatment, and started chemo yesterday, though the doctors say that the success rate is only 30%. God has taught me alot about trust through this time, and I am thankful that HE led me to NC with my family so that I could be here during this time. No matter what happens in this situation or any situation, GOD has taught me to embrace His Goodness that is unchanging! In the book Ruthless Trust Brennan Manning quotes Gerald May saying, God's goodness goes deeper than all pleasure and pain - It embraces them both! We would value your prayers!

I think the themes that God has been teaching me in 2003 is Standing in Awe of God and The Importance of the Cross in Our Everyday Lives. I have learned much of the character of God. I taught a Bible class called Let God Be God which studied the attributes of God. Then last January I went to a Conference and the Theme was Stand In AWE. Some of those messages struck a deep chord inside me. God continued to work in me and then when I went to One Day 03 in May, John Piper spoke an incredible message about the magesty of God and the worth of the Cross. I have read 2 books this year that have transformed my thinking and along with scripture has aided in my growth:

The Cross Centered Life by CJ Mahaney
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges

I encourage anyone and everyone to get a hold of these 2 books and read them! They are rich!

I am excited to experience God in 2004. I don't know what he has for me this year. It's a mystery. I imagine many blessings, many trials, much conviction, and much grace and mercy!

I am greatful for the friendship that you have given me. I would love to hear from you and hear what God is doing. I love pictures so if you have any recent ones of you or your family, please send them to me!!! Here is a link to some of MY pics that I have put into online albums. Some are some older Tally/NFC photos, some are as new as this Christmas.

Melissa's Yahoo Photos

If you've made it to the bottom of this letter, I am humbled. Thank you for reading and for your friendship. May God richly bless you and your family with his grace and mercy as you pursue Him!!!

By HIS Grace and For His Glory!
MEL

In Christ Alone
By Stuart Townend

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt of life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand