Pictures...

HEY GUYS!!! So, I had some senior pics taken this semester! Thought I would share...Sorry about the spazy spacing!

Love you guys!!!

Chels

senioritus

Ok, I really didn't think it was going to be this bad. I kinda just saw senioritus as another label for the ''cool kids'' to claim...um, not true. its a medical disease..and I have it! It's pretty awful. I mean, I CANT WAIT to get to Eastern..I'm just saying. Its hard to concentrate and live my last semester in highschool to the fullest...HELP!!

I went to newspring church today. their easter service was such a Godthing. Perry spoke on heaven and hell/Jesus' amazing life/the lack in our lives...the statement that really struck me was how Perry worded the invitation to accept Jesus. He said Jesus did all this for you- He died for you, he DIED for YOU. He SAVED you...the least you can do is get up out of your seat and come to the front and show how serious you are about becoming a child of God.
I'm tired of ''pretty'' Christianity. I don't know how else to say this. I have struggled alot lately with this. I look at Jesus' life. I look at what He has done for me and through me and in my heart as i type. what am I NOT doing for Him that I could be? That's my train of thought.
Why am I in school? ~ Shouldn't I be in the streets on India serving the kids?
Why do I have a car? ~ Shouldn't I sell it and use the money to dig wells in Africa?
Why do I go out to eat with friends? ~ Could I use that money some other way?
I know that God works through the school and the car and community with friends (in restaurants or not...) I just have really been thinking alot about that lately.
He DIED for ME, HE SAVED ME...the least I can do is.....___ fill in the blank.
Please, any insight on this is soooo appreciated.
chels

all my hope is in you...

I hung out with some of my girlfriends last night. we went to the chris tomlin concert in winston. let me just say it was awesome. chris tomlin had just stepped onto the stage. i think it was the second song - Jesus Messiah.

'All my hope is in you...' ..all my hope, all my dreams, all i look forward to and am passionate about. Jesus Messiah. I don't really have a point for this run on of thoughts other than it hit me. ALL MY HOPE. That's everything I enjoy, everything I cling to. It's all in my Savior. Am I consistant in crying ALL MY HOPE IS IN YOU JESUS?

Another thought. This line was in several songs, God just kept bringing this to my heart. "All praise/glory to YOU". Ok, I know y'all probably have this one down. For some reason I had not recognized how huge this statement was. I am thinking. from my little perspective, all the praise that I can give is yours. ALL MY glory I will give to YOU God. Ok, NO. ALL THE PRAISE-EVER. ALL THE GLORY-FOREVER goes to GOD! Everything we could ever give as a CREATION giving back to such a WONDERFUL CREATOR would NEVER be enough praise/glory to describe His Majesty. ...wow ALL THE PRAISE/GLORY TO YOU GOD! LIGHT OF THE WORLD!

ok, last. I went on a youth retreat with one of my really close friends a couple of years ago. He has always been a breath of fresh air and perspective to my walk with God. He told me one day after the retreat that the whole time we were in worship He was thinking how good God looks in pink. the lights on the stage were pointed toward the ceiling and tinted pink. This statement always left me confused/amazed. If you think about how approachable our God is yet mysterious and completely powerful and mighty...wow
Sittin here feeling like a little girl in the midst of my amazing Savior,
chels

There's only Grace...

A quick thought for this morning. I was driving to work yesterday afternoon and the song came on the radio 'There is no guilt here, there is no shame, no pointing fingers there's no blame'..I've heard this song a million times. But for some reason yesterday my heart was listening. I feel like often I walk around 'free' as a Christian but still heavy with the burden that I might mess up. Maybe its just me, I just have seen how God can work through people and situations. I feel like i'm walking around in a half-pre-guilt that I might not give Him my all in every situation. The song says

'There's only grace, there's only Love, There's only Mercy and believe me, it's enough'

WOW. think, there is ONLY grace, love and mercy. There is no room for anything else. We are living in the light of our Savior. His plans, priorities, dreams and hopes for us are GRACE, HOPE, LOVE. It's completely freeing and thrilling to know that my God is waiting for me to get it right...to start living in the GRACE,HOPE,LOVE He's providing for me.

Ok, off to school now! =)
Have an amazing day!
GRACE, HOPE, LOVE,
Chels

I hate all your show...

This song has just really been on my heart all day today. Jon Foreman wrote this...its such a powerful song.... look it up. listen to it. let it call you out...its a huge challenge for me to give up my junk, schedules and religion and just run and worship my God and give him the glory ...

with an abandoned heart,

chels

I hate all your show and pretense
The hypocrisy of your praise
The hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stomp on my ears when you’re singing ‘em
I hate all your show

Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show

Your eyes are closed when you’re praying
You sing right along with the band
You shine up your shoes for services
There’s blood on your hands
You turned your back on the homeless
And the ones that don’t fit in your plan
Quit playing religion games
There’s blood on your hands

Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show

Let’s argue this out
If your sins are blood red
Let’s argue this out
You’ll be one of the clouds
Let’s argue this out
Quit fooling around
Give love to the ones who can’t love at all
Give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
Stand up for the ones who can’t stand at all, all
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show

Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show

with an abandoned heart...

Ok, Today has been amazing. Completely amazing. This isn't because of events really. I mean, I woke up, did some last minute homework and went to class. I came home and went to lunch with mom. I hung out with my family and now I'm home. Just an ordinary day....but my God worked in it!! =) I feel like I'm on a high. I know people at ACC were looking at me funny for smiling so much and actin all bouncy!
Ok, in case you are reading from somewhere other than Mebane, NC today is absolutely beautiful. The sky is blue and the clouds are ...ok, i know i sound funny describing the clouds. So, I was smiling already driving to school. The Stand played on my CD.
"with arms high and heart abandoned...in awe of the one who made it all"
I really started thinking about what it means to abandon my heart...there are so many things that my heart is tied to. I even have schedules that I hold 'close to my heart' i could say. I have Kenya support and deadlines, I have Eastern University things to remember...I have so many people that are so dear to me. And I need to abandon my heart for my King. ...? Its still a mystery to me. But I tried today. I tried to hold all the things I love so much to my God and see how He blesses and reveals...
Ok, so, I got to school a little before class so I sat outside for a minute and flopped open my Bible to psalms. Psalm 11:15 showed up. "...granting me the joy of your presence..."!!
Wow!!
Those words are so far out of my reach, I can't help but running them through my head over and over and smiling.
My God graces me with His presence daily...
The next question for me is why can't I tune in?
I stopped by the church today ...(honestly I just needed a bathroom stop...yeah, it was a God thing).
I stopped by Cathy's Office. Ok, I LOVE HER! She is one of the people that can ask me how my semester is going and not stop this vibe (i don't know how to explain it) until I spill my guts about life, God, family, junk and anything on my heart.
We got to talking about how God is in every minute ..and how we compartmentalize and try to put Him in certain days or hours of the day. I want to be so tuned into God and His presence that I can break those compartments and schedules...so today can be every day. I don't want to miss one of one of those 'God moments' that He has planned to pursue me. Cathy and I talked about how schedules and deadlines and competition and religion compete with God (and joy,love,grace,mercy) for attention...
BUT!
If we are so in tuned to Gods presence then we can view schedules, deadlines, etc to be used as a tool to further HIS kingdom...and His glory! and His love! AMEN!!!!!!

with an abandoned heart,
chels

Creating a servant heart...

Hey Guys!! I had to share this! A friend of mine in Africa wrote this yesterday...check out her blog....
With an abandoned heart,
chels


"I am learning if I make myself available I am actually creating space in my own life to be a part of someone else's answered prayer." ~ Corrie
http://johnandcorrieguckenbergerfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/no-girl.html