Melanie Morgan

My life has literally been an INCREDIBLE JOURNEY! I grew up in one house, one city, one church, surrounded by a constant family and constant friends. Nothing ever changed. Then the JOURNEY began! My journey began in Florida where I grew up......then it moved to Texas..... then to Oregon......then to California......back to Texas...... now to Canada! Each move has covered thousands of miles and taken us to drastically different climates and environments.

Colossians 1:10-11

So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience

I read a quote recently by Davis Bunn. It describes the journey so well. "God's primary concern is the journey. He desires to draw us to him. We are called home, walking the divine way one tiny step at a time, day after day, all the way to his holy embrace. We must trust him more, through good and bad. We must walk closer. Listen better. Serve him and others with deeper love."

The journey is about growing in the knowledge of God every day, one step at a time. It is about trusting him more and loving him and others more each day. So why did I need to move all over North America in order to grow in him? He has chosen this journey all over the continent to fan into FLAME the desire to know him better!

Following my husband in ministry.       

This was the first huge lesson God had for me as we moved around. I had visions and desires to have my own ministry. But I learned that God's plan for me was to help make my husband successful, and that it was God's ministry, not ours. He was teaching me that what he wanted was my heart, not my position or my leadership ability.

Learning every place I go.  

I thought I knew a lot about the Bible and about God. After all, I had grown up in church, and then had gotten a Seminary degree. Yet I was learning how much I needed to learn! Growing in the knowledge of him means continuing to learn more day in and day out. He constantly has more to teach me about his ways, his love, his will. He's taught me the desire to learn!  

Adjusting to new people and new places. When God gave us a heart for ministry, and called us to "go", he promised to go with us wherever we go. He has called us to each of the distant corners of North America. In each place he's given us the ability to adjust, and a love for the people and place where we are serving. He's allowed us to see both the need and the beauty of each climate and environment.

Making a new life, a new ministry, a new identity in each place. As we have entered each new area, I've faced the feeling of, "Who am I in this place?" At first there is a lost feeling. No one knows us, no one understands our background, our gifting, our personalities and passions. And in our current place of service, where we have moved far away from all of our children, no one knows our children! They don't even realize that we have kids. God has taught us to be ourselves, to reach out to people, to choose to be known!

Experiencing God's presence and peace. I have learned most recently, in this far northern place of service where I am 2,000 miles from my children, to accept the peace that God has for me. When I am apart from his presence, and living on my own strength, I hurt! It is in returning to his presence that I find his peace.

In the JOURNEY I've moved all over North America and in the process I've grown in my desire to know him and his ways. I've learned to follow, to adjust, to keep learning, and to stay in God's presence. So bring on the JOURNEY!