He Speaks
in every issue
Higher Grounds Photography
DAN
SHELLEY
a faith that transforms
Editor’s note: From the first time my eyes fell upon Dan Shelley, I knew he loved Jesus as he
oozed God’s love. Looking into Dan’s baby blues, I see an ocean of love and peace that can
only come from a deep and real relationship with our Savior. One of the things that made
me fall in love with Dan Shelley was the beautifully written love letters that he wrote to me
daily and often. Thinking about what man I wanted to ask to author He Speaks this month
as we celebrate FAITH, HOPE AND FAMILY, I realized one day that I was standing right in
front of the man I needed to ask. While I personally know many worthy candidates whom
I would have been honored to have asked, I decided that after two and a half years of my
telling you about my amazing man, Dan, it is time you find out first-hand. - Melia Flowers
IN
a distant memory I recall a time in my life when I was an innocent child
and all was right with God in my small world. Our family would drive the
few miles, mostly down dirt roads to Little Bethel Baptist Church, where
“Mammy,” and “Papa,” my father’s parents attended along with a few other relatives and
dear friends and neighbors. As children, we believed the words in a song our Mama taught
us,”He’s got the whole world in His hands,” and that we were safe and secure in God’s
care. We never knew about the financial struggles our parents had with raising four kids.
At a point in my life, around the age of eight, I can remember feeling that I had left that
innocent age behind and wishing that I could get it back. Somehow, even at that young
age, I realized that something precious and pure was gone forever.In grade school I began to
encounter the outside world more and began to become caught up in all the things that pull
us away from God. Still, I always feared God. Yet, knowing right from wrong, I often chose
the wrong, justifying my rebellious actions.
As a teenager, I couldn’t wait to try all the “forbidden stuff” that I knew was going on
around me. Yet, I still didn’t smoke a cigarette until I was 16. That was a bit of a small
miracle, considering the fact that I had worked in tobacco for years at that point. When
I did succumb, I recall thinking that I may as well partake of the products I was helping
to produce. A tobacco barn was also where I had my first taste of alcohol. Thereafter,
whenever the opportunity arose, I was always a willing participant.
I recall reading in our Ninth grade Weekly Readers about the hippies in California
who were smoking “pot.” That intrigued me. I just couldn’t wait to try it and soon did.
My growing interest to try all of the “fun stuff” that was becoming an increasingly popular part of our culture led me down a road that took me far from God. Now, looking
back, I am able to see more clearly than ever that, He does hold the whole world in His
hands- wrong turns, cliffs, and crash landings... all of which I would experience before
my journey came full circle. continued...
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NOVEMBER 2015
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