"Safe?... Course he isn't safe. But He's good."

I love in the Chronicles of Narnia, CS Lewis depicts God as a majestic magnificent lion, Aslan. One of the children Lucy, asks if the lion is safe. "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver, "don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course, he isn't safe. But He's good. He's the King I tell you."

My sister, Kim, my best friend, recently had gotten news that there has been a tumor growing on her brain. They just welcomed their 3rd baby into this world...a mama of 3.. 3 and under... Thinking this was a limit for any mama...but God has allowed this...for this time. Scared. Exhausted, I'm sure she feels. I often pray that the many miles between us will one day just be stepping stones. In my perfect world it would be now... She needs my help. To hold her hand or to give her a hug. To go to the grocery for her. To stay with the kiddos so she has a moment to breathe...
But the stepping stones are still miles and miles. So I trust.

There is nothing safe about following Jesus.. nothing at all... But it is good... so good.
My sis is journeying a life of courageous surrender. For, she still cries out "Hallelujah."
Moment to moment..there is still life to be lived.


"Safe?... Course he isn't safe. But He's good. He is the King I tell you."


If you would like to journey with her
www.ourbeautyforashes.blogspot.com

"Thought For The Day" -- Ordinariness

Just an ordinary, inked, church planters wife, I am.  

 I am in desperate need of Jesus as anyone else. 

I have found such freedom in the ordinariness.  Ordinariness in my everyday living. The ordinary as a now, church planters wife and the ordinary, as a mama of 2 sweet gents. Ha! I celebrate ordinary! Ordinary to NOT have to feel like I have to have it all together cause we all know, I am far from it! Ordinary to not have to know all the bible, and dress a certain way, or live to the standards of others. No! I am approved by my Father in Heaven, as Jesus brought reconciliation through the cross. I know I am in need. In need of a savior because without Him, I have no good thing. He is always better.

 This has been a 2 year journey for me as I have wrestled and trudged through permission to be me. I discovered that the permission to be ordinary, gave me the okay to live from my heart... a passionate, adventurous, trail blazing , curious, teacher, an inspiring writer,  who finds life in creation. This is me...and I am learning to love me. As I continue, I find that God reveals more of me, a little piece at a time, as He is making me whole.. And this, all because of Christ who dwells within me. Nothing more nothing less.

So, I leave you with the "Thought for the Day."

  Are you living from your heart? And in that celebrating your ordinariness? 

For this is freedom. Jesus and Jesus alone.

-Chele

"Thought For The Day"

Last weekend I had the privilege of going through years of paper work that took me hours to read, sort & then shred or file (sigh)...yeah, not so much.

Anyway, I did find a treasure in all that hot mess. My freshman year in college I had a professor that wrote on the board a "thought for the day" each class. We then would discuss, as a class about that partcular thought. This is when the thought of being an educator  began to take root in my heart. Some friends and I began doing this between each other. I found a few "thought for the days" from friends and found some between Freddy & I (the treasure) in all that hot mess the past weekend. I have been inspired...

Here I am today giving you a "thought for the day" there is no rhyme or reason to what, when, length or how these will be posted but today will be the first. This could be for you or for all of us. I think we can learn much through each other. It is a gift. 

Post your thoughts! 

Winnie The Pooh School of Personalities 

A simple approach to the four basic personality types in a lighthearted way 

(Thank You Kay Warren!) 

Winnie The Pooh: Pooh doesn't get worked up about much of anything except his drive to find honey. He's pretty carefree, middle of the road in his emotional responses, and doesn't quite understand why others get so emotional about everything! If you have a Winnie the Pooh friend they will be the one to be indecisive on where to go to dinner or what movie to see. Not that he/she doesn't have an opinion but this person will be okay with whatever in most cases. We need Winnie The Pooh friends because they will remain steady. and sure while the rest are spinning wildly out of control. 

Rabbit: Rabbits are goal -oriented; they want the garden planted right, and want it planted right now. Rabbits are the task-oriented high achievers and the ones who get things done in life. Every committee needs a few Rabbits because they will cross all the t's and dot all the i's - the event will be organized well! But your Rabbit friend probably isn't the one you want to go to for comfort or encouragement if you are having a bad day. Not high empathy quotient. They will probably listen impatiently and respond with "life is hard. Keep moving!" but we need Rabbits, the world would be a "hot mess" without them.

Tiggers: Tiggers are the extroverts. They are the bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, fun-fun-fun-fun-fun personalities! They walk in the room and suck all the oxygen out of it by the force of their personality. They tell stories with great enthusiasm and go into elaborate detail- even if the details get a little muddy along the way. They can't remember your name but enthusiastically tell others that you are one of their best friends. Tiggers may forget that they ad suppose to meet you for lunch, but they are so much fun when they arrive that you quickly forgive them. As much as they may irritate at times, we need Tiggers to brighten our day! 

Eeyore: Eeyores are creative, intense, and perfectionistic and feeeel things very deeply. They tend to be pessimistic and even gloomy at times, but often that's because Eeyores carry the pain and sorrw of the world on their shoulders. Sometimes they're not so much fun to be around! But if you want a creative idea, an in-depth conversation, or an empathetic ear, call your Eeyore friend. Eeyores add a rich dimension to relationships and conversations because they have such a depth and breadth of emotion and are able to pull the rich emotions out of others as well. The world would be a shallow, cold, uncaring place without Eeyores. 

All these personalities have great strengths and many weakness' and ALL experience joy! 

I will build my church- The Father.

gospel.community.mission.


 "I will build my church"  has been the constant reminder to my heart since journeying this adventure of planting a church here in the heart of America.  Those words from The Father bring peace, the peace that is said to be uncomprehendable to the human mind. That Freddy & I with the boys walk in obedience to the calling on our family to plant Ekklesia here...that this is The Fathers church.  We are ordinary people living, ordinary lives with gospel intentionality.

Yes... The sweet reminder when tough times have come and passed and then come again...resting that we need to continue moving representing Jesus as we journey...and again remembering that The Father will build His church.

People will pass through & things may not come together as we have planned but our hope is in the Lord, the One who "holds everything together" and will  "organize His church"  (col.1)

Such a promise.

So as we approach the first public gathering of the church, We hold onto the  promises and trust in the One who is Great. Glorious.Gracious & very Good.





ekklesiaSTL.com

So today I will sit with him.

Continuing. continuing...things on my heart, in our life, learning, teaching just a bit of everything...

Today our oldest, Ryder got on his bus & went on his way to the new adventure of 1st grade! Days leading up to this have been tough..many many tears from all of our eyes...outbursts of anger became a part of our every day thing... My heart felt a pain that I have never felt before...my heart was soo very sad. Hearing this sweet, kind hearted young boy respond in hurtful & painful ways... Whatever it was going on inside of him brought out the worst in him... For several of days I wept and felt like I was failing him as a mama.. Maybe he needed more conversation of the gospel or maybe it's too much convesation? This chaos brought out the worst in me as well... As I was banging my fists on the floor & crying, yes much as a child, I cried out to God...Over the next few days my prayer had become God help! this is your child! You know him best...you know his heart better than I...teach me how to love this child deeper & wider in this moment... When he is not easy to like in this moment.
Ryder has always been easy to be liked...his sweet kind nature. A lover of people & life. So...where did my child go?
I have been reading a book written by Mother Teresa... She had written a portion on prayer...asking God to silence my heart... I finally sat long enough with My Father and prayed just that. "God silence my heart, my mind, my eyes, my ears so I may not miss being in your presence " I continued praying this throughout my days ...
In one of the  "moments" with Ryder I grabbed him gently sat him on my lap and hugged him so tightly...a flood gate opened from his eyes..that then released mine. We sat for a minute weeping together... I asked him "buddy whats going on in your heart?" it took him a moment to process & he shared with that "he was angry cause daddy was not going to be here."  Freddy (Ryder's daddy) has been in India for last 2 1/2 weeks and would be missing today..Ryder's first day of first grade and Ryder was hurting because of this... 3 weeks of this chaos in his heart responding in anger... Had I silenced my heart & responded with patience 3 weeks ago... I loved on Ryder & asked him to forgive me for being quick to respond in anger as well.. He quickly forgave me never thought of it again..Ryder needed to be heard...to be sat with & hugged on... He was hurting...I have learned much about myself through this... As a Christ follower & as a mama... I CANNOT do this life alone. I am so desperate for my Father... and so is my sweet son. Thank you Jesus for grace...it's all grace upon grace upon grace.