{"id":14,"date":"2024-04-10T13:09:43","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T13:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/melissagpickens.com\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2024-04-15T21:02:27","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T21:02:27","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/melissagpickens.com\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
I am no stranger to pain and suffering. From my own childhood trauma of various kinds, to parenting children of trauma from an accident resulting in over eight years of reconstructive surgeries, to church hurt, to personal losses. Though these things have tried to name me, they are not my identity. Not even close.<\/p>\n
Pain is universal and inescapable. Most of my life, I have found the world’s and the church’s reaction to pain bewildering. Both come up short too often, causing us to lose hope. We are often met with every well-meaning message but “face it,” because we aren’t really sure how to, or if we can, fearing it will undo us.<\/p>\n
But, suffering does not get to have the final word in the Kingdom of God<\/strong>.<\/p>\n There is a way to face our pain and thrive. Jesus is the way. He is certainly no stranger to pain and suffering either. He will gather every sliver of our broken heart to bring them back into the whole again. In this process with Him, we discover our true self.<\/p>\n Pain tries to reframe our identity, but Jesus comes to frame it back right. We are not the false names that our past, people, and circumstances have given us.<\/p>\n May the words on these pages restore our true identity, and bring us the life we hope for.<\/p>\n “Our hope cannot be tethered to the temporal; it can only be anchored in the eternal.” MGP<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n An Art major in college, I put it down unintentionally to raise our four kids born five and a half years apart. Part of healing is rediscovering who I am as an artist. You are invited to learn with me!<\/em>\u00a0An art store will be coming some day.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t I love to play with food. Scouting restaurants. Creating recipes. My love for art and sweets collided when I ran a gourmet cupcake\/cake art business in our home. Then, my health required a drastic change in the way I eat. Healing the body, mind, heart, and spirit is key – all parts are interwoven. I’ll offer what I’m learning, and share a few recipes!<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t It’s small scale, but I do love adventure. Experiencing it with family is my favorite. Beauty is healing, and exploration renews a spirit of wonder. Both are needed for our restoration. Here we are reminded how much we are dearly loved.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n “Your transparency in the journey is inspiring”<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t “Perfect rawness in your story. There is beauty in it. I am so moved by the deepness…and complete faith and trust as you are leaning in so tightly to God. I felt like I was sitting at the edge of my seat and felt hope.”<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t “As a communicator, Melissa engages both the young and the young at heart. Clearly understood. Relatable. And full of passion.”<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t “Melissa communicates with her heart. What she expresses comes from life experiences. She is passionate, honest, and vulnerable.”<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t That smile is a miracle. A miracle is something that cannot be accomplished by the natural, but only by the supernatural power of God.<\/p>\n\n\t\tJesus wants you to know there’s a treasure to uncover with Him, and the treasure is you.\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tLet what is buried in you\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tbe spoken ~ be honored ~ be loved ~ be accepted\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tThere’s More Than Writing\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t
Artist<\/em><\/h3>\n
Foodie Confessions<\/em><\/h3>\n
Adventure Seeker<\/em><\/h3>\n
\n\t\tBook Melissa to Speak\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tHear What Others Have To Say\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Rev. C.J. Bethea<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Robin Teal<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Pastor Heather Scarbrough<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDesignation\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Evangelist Janet Raeburn<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t\tMeet Melissa\n\t<\/h2>\n\t