photoshoot::fun day with the nordins

nordin fam,

thanks for a great shoot in houston! you guys are awesome.

for bookings: www.meshalimitchell.com

let the children come.

what a priceless pic, huh? one of my best friends bethany sent me this through email. it's probably one of the most touching photos i've seen in a while. it was shot in africa at a worship service...i had to post it.

Luke 18:16 (New International Version)
[16] But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

to taylor.

taylor, remember this day? we had so much fun, huh? i love you. this whole blog is dedicated to you...hot springs soon!! i thought about this particular day earlier, and so i searched for the pics. here they are! love you, my amazing sister.

drink.

John 4

(10)Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water. (14) Those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

just thought i would share a little bit of what i read this morning with some of you. if you have time and you're reading this passage, maybe it will bless your soul like it did mine early today. im prayerful that it will give you a little encouragement.

life can wear on us...days can get tough. people can be mean. we're tired. impatient. spread too thin. overworked. underpayed. all the while, chasing "the dream". lied to. abused. cheated on. manipulated. today, in the place you're in, as you are...wherever you are....at your well...take your bucket and set it under the flow of Christ's steadfast love, joy, peace...eternal life...living water that will never run dry. it goes beyond you, your hurts, your biggest disappointments, your greatest fears.

life is tough, but God is "tougher". He is always good. He loves you with an unconditional, neverending love.

This is my prayer for you today: Ephesians 3:16-21 (The Message)

(14-19) "My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

(20-21) God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!"

charitywater.org

the green thumb.

look out world...i am officially a "planter" now. i went to home depot tonight in pursuit of a few small indoor plants to help add some "life" to my room. we will see how this goes. my mom's always had the greenest thumb ever...we'll see if it runs in my blood. nevertheless, it's a challenge and a fun new adventure.

memorial day weekend fun.

memorial day weekend was awesome...great time with friends and family. it's summer in the south, and i am loving it.

yes, America...yessssss.

www.meshalimitchell.com

summer in the south.

i love being home. one of my favorite "resting places" is my mom's front porch. i had to put a picture of jack in this blog...he's been in our family for 10 years.

a call to action. please take 4 minutes to watch.

be yourself.

you are the best YOU the world's ever going to see. be yourself...the beautiful, wonderful creature God has created. for so long, i didn't get it...because of culture (sadly, mostly church culture), i tried to be like other people. after some struggle, i realized God would never help me be anyone but me. a peaceful, more simple life is to just live as one's self. we don't have to compare or compete...and that is freedom. Jesus is our standard.

"but let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. he can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor." -galatians 6:4

Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best: "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

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the bragg wedding...a southern shindig.

www.meshalimitchell.com

sweet baby cole.

so, i am sitting in bed in fort worth, texas. i came to visit a lifelong friend of mine, emily...sweet baby cole (her first baby) just arrived 3 weeks ago. this blog is a small tribute to emily. thanks for always being a loyal friend, em. i sure love you...what a great mom you are. cole is blessed. im excited for the years ahead...

after i head out tomorrow, ill post a few pics from our little weekend reunion. (i even took a picture of "my bedroom" because i loved the pottery barn bedding. i will sleep good tonight.

i am second. this is ashley's story.

never give up.

quote i read today and loved:

"I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot . . . and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why . . . I succeed."

-Michael Jordan

James 1:2-5
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it."

worth watching.

words are powerful.

life and death is in the power of the tongue.

words live. they go on forever. the echoes last throughout time.

today, bless someone's life with your words. words and encouragement cost us nothing but last an eternity.

give life to someone today. bless the waitress with an encouraging gesture. tell your mom how much you appreciate and love her. call a friend and tell them how much good you see in them.

be a positive light today in someone's dark path.

this ministered to me today.

1 John 3
1See what [[a]an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.

2Beloved, we are [even here and] now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [[b]as God's children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him [c]just as He [really] is.

3And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).

God.

He's so faithful.