Thursday, January 29, 2009

never underestimate your sphere of influence

Imagine if right now, somebody that you have never met was being influenced by the things you are doing. Now of course.. we are all being influenced by the actions of others but I mean on a really personal level.

Imagine that halfway across the world, there was an individual learning from you and being inspired by you-- the catch is.. you've never met this person.

Rick, a pastor from the states traveled to South Africa alongside his wife. If I recall correctly, he was going to support her but was unsure if there was another purpose he was supposed to serve. Within a few days of the trip, the Spirit led him on an excursion to check out one of the local churches in an impoversished part of the country.

The pastor of this church addressed Rick by name and asked what brought him here. As you can imagine, having never seen this man before, Rick was confused and asked how he knew him.

The pastor explained that once a week he walked an hour and a half to the post office in town which was the only place that had internet. He downloaded pastor Rick's sermons, learned them and then preached them to his congregation each Sunday.

Wow. Imagine what Rick must have been feeling at that moment. Across the world there was a pastor that was using Rick's messages to teach the people of his congregation and Rick had no idea.

When I heard this story I was in awe. God works in the most beautifully mysterious ways. He has made great tools available even to those in places where technology is scarce. He brought those two individuals together to share in that moment. He is good!

Never underestimate the power of your sphere of influence.

Let us let this motivate us to lead by example because we never know who is watching.

Monday, January 26, 2009

beauty.

Earlier today I was looking back through my notes from sermons at SPCC. It is something that I like to do every once and awhile to refresh my memory and my heart on the messages I've heard and to reflect on them again, from where I am now.

I came across a page with no date.. no headings.. just gorgeous quotes. They are captivatingly beautiful.

*Justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.

*Lamb and lion lie down together.

*Morning stars sing together.

Due to their place in my notebook, I have concluded that these were spoken during Ben's last sermon on Advent Conspiracy. This message was titled LOVE ALL.

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. -Luke 6:27-28

What if all of us on this earth followed those instructions. What if we truly did love our enemies, turned the other cheek when we were hit and prayed relentlessly for those who come against us.

The lamb and the lion would lie down together. All of the constelations would come together. Justice and righteousness would overcome hate and greed.

Our breath would be taken away with each blink of our eyes, as we gaze at the endless beauty of reconciliation.

His plan is in our hands.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Happy Birthday to You!!

Happy Birthday St. Paul's Collegiate Church!!

This year marks the 4th birthday of SPCC which is a very exciting time. As a church, a ton has happened in the last 4 years and God has worked in marvelous ways, as He is in the business of building relationships, communities and churches. Ben talked tonight about how he hasn't felt as fired up as he is now about what God is doing since the very beginning of SPCC. That is a HUGE deal!

I am so grateful to call St. Paul's my church home and the members my family. This weekend also marks a very special time in my life. It was exactly a year ago, at the 3 year birthday celebration that I first attended St. Paul's. I reflect personally on a regular basis and am asked to share my story often.. so I am constantly looking back on the ways God has changed me and helped me. I also see how my entire life I was being prepared to encounter Him.

And once again, as 40 Days of Community is up ahead, we are being called to prepare. We are being called to think about how we will adjust our schedules for this life changing experience. We need to be praying and praying some more.

I have been away from SPCC for a couple of weeks prior to this due to the amazing Panama trip I was on, and let me tell you- I missed it so much! Ben is absolutely right in saying that there is nothing like the local church when the local church is working right. It was so great to be back and to celebrate the 4th birthday of St. Paul's and the anniversary of my attending SPCC.

He is good.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Joseph.


It was Saturday morning and instead of an individual leading devotions, we each shared the most significant part of the trip that would remain in our memories always.

There were tears, smiles, deep thoughts and struggles to choose one moment. Many summarized things about the beautiful children and their welcoming host families that had become personal families in just a few days.

My heart kept saying: Joseph. God has taught you so much through him.

Just the night before (Friday night), we were at the church watching a movie and giving testimonies to the congregation. At the end, Joseph, came up to me crying and spoke words that warmed my heart.

"You guys can't leave. Not yet. I need you. I will miss you." And then we just hugged, long and hard.

Now the miraculous thing is-- Joseph speaks very little English and I speak even less Spanish. All I know about him is he is crazy about Jesus, a great artist, he dresses up and performs as a clown and has a wonderful sense of humor. I met his mother briefly, but other than that-- I didn't know him from Adam.

As I shared this memory with the group, tears of gladness filled my eyes due to God's great work. As little as we knew about each other, we were physically together in Christ. And today, we are still together under His amazing wings even though we're separated by many miles; a 5 hour plane ride.

That night, we worshipped with the congregation and each group recognized and prayed for the other. It was a night full of tears and not "goodbyes" but "see you laters". Joseph came up to me and we were both crying tears of mixed emotions. He took off his ring and said, "Chelsea you my best friend. Take this and never forget me."

Smiles, laughter, tears.. language barries can't mask those. God has created tons of different beautiful languages and has still blessed us with universal forms of communication.

I will forever remember Joseph, along with the rest of the beautiful people I met in Panama.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

remembering

If you've not yet begun to create memories, start now. Load up your camera with film, fill that pen with ink and capture the miracles and wonders that come your way. Surround yourself with whatever it takes to be reminded. God is faithful. Don't ever forget that. ~Luci Swindoll

Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.
~Deuteronomy 4:9

Forever changed.



I should have known by the way God had prepared my heart for the trip that I would overwhelmingly blessed. Yet, of course, I underestimated the impact that could be made on me through this trip.

Everyone always says that when you go to do missions you expect to feel a great sense of accomplishment, a feeling of joy because you were able to help people in such a great way. Then they mention that they walk away changed, perhaps more than the people they set out to impact. I can't put into words how true this was of the mission trip to Panama I was so blessed to be on.

There is so much to talk about, reflect on, pray about and go over and over in my mind and my heart. I'm sure there will be many many posts on this subject from here on out, as it was the second most significant experience of my life (being saved of course preceeding it!!)

The smiling faces.
The laughter.
The way no language barrier can separate those.
The eagerness to learn.
Them not realizing they were teaching me.
Seas of children just wanting hugs and love.
Gracious strangers that became family.
God's unmeasurable love binding us together.
Relationships that will not soon be forgotten, but ever apart of our hearts.
Each of us wanting to be together again.

God is good.

Friday, January 9, 2009

are we cool?

*telling our children how special they are and how much we love them is cool
*walking with a woman (or man) and not in front of her is cool
*a team of over 20 people sharing the love of Christ with children in Panama is cool
*teaching to live by what we say and what we do is cool
*the fact that we can break through any cycle that may be holding us back because Jesus Christ died for us is cool
*the truth that i don't need any more new years resolutions because i have Jesus is cool
*grabbing onto a joy that i cant buy or sell is cool
*knowing that change can and will happen is cool
*being apart of that change, His change, happening is cool
*worshipping together the most high God, that is King of Kinds and Lord of Lords, the One who has this new year in the palm of His hands is definitely very cool

These are a few snipits (with a couple revisions specific to SPCC and my life) from a video posted on www.stpaulswired.org/blog that shares part of the worship service last week at Granger Community Church. I really encourage you to watch the video-- you'll get the gist for why I am saying that all of these things are "cool" (other than the fact that they are beyond cool).

PS- I head off to Panama tomorrow so I will be away from any computer, and therefore, not blogging! I look forward to sharing pictures, stories and testimonies from this beautiful adventure that I have been called to dive into.

God Bless all of you!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

soul cravings (10)

I'm going to be completely honest. For the past couple days it has become a little less about hearing from God through the book and more about finding something to blog about. That is not the way that I wanted this to turn out!! I do think that some of my posts about it are well written and they really do come from the heart but I want to take some time to slow down and really read the book.

I will at least keep up with posting parts that really catch my heart and stand out to me, but I think that I will reflect personally for a few days and get back on track.

Thanks :)

Monday, January 5, 2009

soul cravings (9)


When I began to search for God, he opened my eyes, my mind and my imagination to a future I never could have dreamed of. I began to see what life could be if I would read the signs and choose this great quest.

The above statement was written by Erwin McManus but certainly holds true for me and most likely many other Christians. I haven't even been a follower for a year but it would take me hours and hours to tell you the ways God has worked in my life by opening my eyes, ears, heart, mind, soul, imagination, etc.

My prayer is that as the years go on and my relationship with Christ matures that I would still allow Him to open me up and keep me on the quest of finding out what He has planned for my future.

It is hope for the future that fuels us. The pulling on our soul to see what comes next drives us. His plan, unconditional love and never ending grace make it possible for us to follow through and have faith.

great book-- super short read!



I just read How Good is Good Enough by Andy Stanley in 2 hours. It is a small, short book but I can't explain how important its contents are.

Stanley makes the case for why good people don't necessarily go to Heaven and explains why it is that forgiven people do. Have you given much thought to where you will go once you pass away? Many people don't like to think about it because, well frankly it can be quite depressing and disturbing. But, it will definitely pay off to consider it while reading this book.

You can purchase the book at any bookstore and at www.betterworld.com. At this site it is only $3.48 used! Also, if you would like to borrow it from me, let me know! It is a great book to have for yourself and if you are moved by it, you may want to share it to others.

And not to give it away, but, good people don't go to Heaven. Forgiven people do.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

soul cravings (8)

We were created to strive for progress and to pursue it with passion. It is God who designed us this way. He made us creative, and he makes us responsible. Somehow there are many of us who have missed this point. We have allowed human history to be shaped by those who are distant from God and hostile toward people.

Evil never looks for permission.

Tyrants never consider the appropriateness of their actions. One of the great tragedies of human history is that while those who are motivated by greed and power and violence have forged the future of their liking, too many of those who long for a better world have sat passively by, watching and wishing the world could be different.

I think I understand, at least in part, why. Sometimes it has been indifference, but I think quite often it has been a misunderstanding about God. We think it's God's job to fix everything. Sincere people have deferred their responsibility while waiting on God to do something, but it has created a spirituality that lacks initiative and engagement. This goes against the nature of the human spirit, and it goes against the way God has created us. We might actually conclude God is apathetic and indifferent just because we are. God created us to engage, solve problems, meet needs, do something with our lives. He made us to get involved and expects us to act. That's why someone like Mother Teresa helps us believe in God. Human compassion reflects God and moves us toward God.

(all directly from Soul Cravings, italics and bold added)

Thoughts?

goodsearch.com



Use goodsearch.com as your search engine and money will be donated to different charities. I have chosen to "search for TOMS shoes" and with each search 10 cents is donated to TOMS. It seems insignificant but just think if I use this search engine for every search from now on.

Imagine if YOU used it to search and told a friend. Then they used it to search and told a friend ;).

You get the idea!!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

He is crafty :)

This morning I attended the 9AM service which is the "traditions" worship service at St. Paul's. This was not be choice, however. I wished I were able to sleep in and go to the more contemporary worship service later on. However, God wanted me to be there this morning.. I should have known!

I met a wonderful man who has recently come to Christ and was attending St. Paul's for the first time. We talked for a bit before the service and for awhile afterwards. He is struggling with some of the family and friend difficulties that I faced after becoming a follower. It was great to have the chance to listen to and connect with him.

Before leaving he thanked me for making him feel at home and said that he would definitely be coming back to SPCC. He said it was the most comfortable he had ever felt in a church and around new people.

The very same reason I continued attending SPCC after my first visit..

God certainly has a way of bringing things full circle for us. :)

soul cravings (7)


But we humans are most alive when we passionately pursue our dreams, live with purpose, and have a sense of destiny.

In fact, when we're young and less grounded in reality, we dream bigger and more ridiculous dreams.

George Bernard Shaw lamented that imagination was wasted on the young; Einstein, on the other hand, attributed the key to his genius as never losing his childhood curiosity.

As children we assume that greatness is within our grasp. Whatever inspires us, we begin to dreamthat one day we will be the best. It is only as we lose our childlike innocence that we begint os ettle for far less. A part of growing up seems tobe acquiescing to mediocrity. It's easy to say that we're just becoming realistic, that it's just a part of growing up. But in fact, it's the death of our souls.


As I am sure you have figured out already, the theme of the above snip its from Soul Cravings has to do with the nature of a child. What did you want to be when you were 5? I wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. But not just any teacher. I wanted to be a teacher that would "help all of the kids who couldn't read so good read like the smart kids".

As a teacher of a Pre-K class for several years, I was blessed with being able to ask my entire class what they wanted to be when they grew up. I would write their answers on chart paper, hang them up and then we would share with the parents when they came to pick them up. Teacher, fire fighter, rich, smart, a rock star, Hannah Montana... the list goes on. I will never forget one little boys answer: "I want to be able to run as fast as my daddy does and then go across the ocean to fight for the USA like he did-- cause we like to be free." Absolutely precious. Kids dream big.

As I have posted about in the past, something goes missing between childhood and adulthood. The pressures of a falling economy, the raising costs of school, the availability of jobs, etc. all get in the way of us chasing our dreams. We put our dreams on hold to get a job that will pay the bills for a few years. There are too many people doing work just to get paid and nothing else.

Einstein kept his childlike curiosity and he is still the most well known scientist and genius there is!

As I have said before-- let us become more like children; this time in the pursuit of our dreams. Let us dream big, have a plan and always keep His purpose in mind. After all, Jesus did say as it is written in Matthew 18:3, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Friday, January 2, 2009

oh what a little moonlight can do

I believe that my very first post on this blog was the same as this one. Being home for the holidays I have been using my family computer rather than my laptop. When I sign onto AIM, it has all of old away messages and things saved. I love to go through them and see the things I used to post back then. I came across one that is a poem that I wrote:

the moon is almost full
she gazes up at its light
remembers a time
it didn't seem worth the fight
the same silvery glow
falls down all around her
a flashback to a time
when it was all just a blur
now its radiance and beauty
cover her in a blanket
it is that very same moonlight
that lets her know she can make it


I wrote this after coming to Christ and still to this day I can say that it is because it is His moonlight that it lets me know I can make it.

It is times like I am going through now, when there are major personal problems that I could use reminders like these that there were times when I felt very similar pain but did not cling to God because I did not know Him. It is times like these that I am thankful that I am not responsible to make everything right because I don't have control.

soul cravings (6)

We're supposed to be the highest and most advanced species in the ecosystem, but we're ruining it all.

This brought me back to a scene in Imagine Christmas. Prior to the scene I will explain there had been creation and then the fall. God created the Earth and all that is in it, then Adam and Eve meet, Eve eats the apple and sin is created.

Alvin and Harold come back onto the stage where there is a ton of debris-- God's creation has been ruined. He created the Earth, day and night, all of the animals, and that closest to His heart-- people.

"They ruined everything." That is the theme throughout this scene that Alvin and Harold (who in this performance were angels) repeat. God gave so much to us and we ruined it. Yet still, He yearns for relationship with us.

The part from Soul Cravings above comes after talking about how we are polluting the water, air, etc. Here we are again, ruining what God has created. First we ruined what would have been perfect relationship with Him and each other and now we are polluting the beautiful Earth that he created and still yearns for us to be in relationship with each other on.

Taking care of this Earth is not just something that we should tune into and be aware of every so often. We are not working to keep this place clean for our sake. It is God's ground. It is His Earth. (or eerth as pronounced in Imagine Christmas- haha). But seriously-- this goes back to the fact that all that we do as followers is for Him and His glory. If we want His will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, we ought to take care of the very ground we walk on.