Mercy Babies Visit Mercy!

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to share with you guys that we talk a lot about multiplication around Mercy, and it seems that our staff are taking it quite literally! Meet two of our next generation Mercy family. Owen and London were born 11 days apart and they came by Mercy last week to pay me a visit! They are definitely too cute not to show off!

Owen and London at Mercy Ministries

Four Awesome Young Women Graduate from Mercy!

Yesterday, I had the joy of graduating four of our Nashville residents from Mercy – Meagan, Alexa, Christin, and Lauren (pictured left/right). Hearing the testimonies of how God totally changes and transforms lives never gets old, so I wanted to share part of their testimonies with you…

Me pictured with Meagan, Alexa, Christin, and Lauren

You might remember a previous blog I did on Christin that showed all the cool clothing she has designed (Click here to read my previous blog on Christin). When Christin first came to Mercy, she was obsessed with death and had a failed suicide attempt. While at Mercy, God completely transformed Christin’s heart and life. Christin has learned that she is worthy to be loved and to be alive. Christin’s on her way to St. Louis, where she plans to go to college for Fashion and Interior Design and Child Psychology and hopes to open her own business and become a foster parent. Christin, I am so proud of you!

Me and Christin with Jude

Alexa came to Mercy after running away from home to join the party scene and was lost and desperate for help. Since being at Mercy, Alexa has truly become a new creation in Christ Jesus. She now seeks to please God instead of man. After Mercy, Alexa plans to attend the Honors Academy in Texas and then do a one year internship at the International House Of Prayer (IHOP) University. I am so proud of you, Alexa!

Me and Alexa

Meagan grew up in a Christian home, but did not have a personal relationship with God. She came to Mercy after struggling with an eating disorder for 12 years. During her time at Mercy, God showed Meagan that she is worthy and accepted. Meagan now knows that she is beautiful and loves what she sees when she looks in the mirror! After graduating, Meagan is moving home and plans to finish her last year of school, get involved in her local church, and continue pursuing all that God has in store for her. Way to go, Meagan!

Me and Meagan

Growing up, Lauren experienced a lot of rejection and verbal abuse, and came to Mercy struggling with self-harm and an eating disorder. Since being at Mercy, God has totally transformed Lauren! She now has a personal relationship with God and Lauren has seen Him restore many broken relationships. After Mercy, Lauren is heading home to finish high school and then go to college where she plans to get a Master’s degree in Psychology. Lauren also hopes to one day work with victims of sex-trafficking. I am so proud of you, Lauren!

Me and Lauren

Please join me in celebrating Christin, Alexa, Meagan, and Lauren as they graduate from Mercy! I am so proud of all of you!!

Cool Opportunity to Speak at the National Day of Prayer!

I mentioned last week what a joy it was to speak at the National Day of Prayer at William Jessup University in Rocklin, CA. I had to be there at 6:30 am, and for someone who is not a morning person, that in and of itself was quite an accomplishment!! It was so great to be with the people and meet all the wonderful leaders in that area who share a love for our great nation. Let us never forget what 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, and may we all remember to actually do it on a daily basis rather than just one dedicated day of the year. (2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”) Hope your week is going well!

Nancy

A Special Happy Mother’s Day!

Hey, I thought I would share something really cool with you that happened to me yesterday for Mother’s Day. I talk a lot about my dog Jude who stays with me in Nashville. In case you’ve forgotten, here is a picture of him.

There’s actually two more Shelties in our Mercy family who live in our Louisiana home. Yesterday they got together and sent me a Mother’s Day card wishing me a happy Mother’s Day and I wanted you to see it. (see below) If you are the mother of the canine kind, I hope your dogs remember you on Mother’s Day as well!

Love,

Nancy

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!

I had originally planned to share with you today about the experience I had speaking at the National Day of Prayer at William Jessup University near Sacramento, CA. However, I have decided to wait until next week to talk about that because I have an urgent prayer request that I want to share with you.

One of my dearest friends in the world has just made an emergency trip home to Seattle because her mother has been rushed to the hospital with a broken back. She is in excruciating pain and in need of an emergency surgery which is very, very dangerous. There are many complications that could exist but I believe that she will be completely healed and restored.

Would you please lift up Rosemary in prayer, as this is a very, very critical time in her life and in the life of her family? Thank you for your fervent prayers on behalf of my friend and her family. Please feel free to post any prayer requests you may have in the comment section so we can also pray for you and the needs of those you love.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Before and After – Amazing Transformation!

I just received this awesome update from one of our California graduates, Beth. Beth sent me a before and after picture of her time at Mercy and shared with me how God has totally transformed her life! I thought you might enjoy reading Beth’s update and seeing her before and after transformation…

Hi Nancy!

Before I came to Mercy, as you can tell in the picture, I was depressed and my life was going nowhere. I had given up on everything and was completely consumed in my issues of self-harming, an eating disorder, and trying to figure out how to die. I hated myself and didn't believe anyone really liked or cared for me. The only way love had been shown to me for most of my life was by sexual, emotional, physical or verbal abuse, so I didn't understand what love really was. I believed all the lies of the enemy that I was unloved and unlovable, ugly, fat, worthless, just put on Earth to be used, and that I had no future. I would always cope through self-harm and my eating disorder thinking that I could never be forgiven. I came to Mercy in June 2009 and God began to do a work in my life that I never thought possible. I went through some really hard things while in the program and through everything, my hand was held and I felt the love of Christ like never before through the staff and I was shown how through Him, I can overcome. I went through nine months of radical transformation and graduated in March 2010. God took all the lies of the enemy and showed me who He really is and what He thinks of me. I know now that I am loved, adored, beautiful, confident, happy, joyful, full of purpose with an abundant life, and I am His princess. He loves to dance me around the room and hold me close! God has also promised to give me back all the years that the locust have eaten! My Daddy has given me a second chance at life and I will use it to serve Him faithfully. I run to Him now and not to my issues. Thank you Nancy and Mercy for all that you do. Without you allowing God to use you as a vessel, I am not sure who I would be today, but because of Mercy, I know who I am and I am a child of the Most High King!

All my love,

Beth

I never get tired of hearing about the amazing transformations from our graduates. I am so proud of Beth and all that she has overcome!

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Record Rainfall in Nashville!

I know that many of you have probably heard about the flooding rain in Nashville and surrounding areas from this past weekend as it’s been all over the news. Although many of us did not experience any damage to our homes or cars, there is an extremely large number of people who did and the water is still rising in downtown Nashville. We are continuing to pray for those that have been affected by the flood, and for the families and friends of those who lost loved ones. However, we are also rejoicing in the warm and dry weather today and scheduled dry weather for the remainder of the week that will be very helpful in drying up all of the moisture.

I thought you might like to see some pictures that were taken today of downtown Nashville…

Inside the Famous Opryland Hotel

Please continue to pray with us for the waters to recede and for all of those who have been affected by the floods.

Blessings to you all!

Nancy