The longest year in history

 2020 has felt like we are on a broken rollercoaster. We have seen things I never imagined I'd see in my lifetime.

There has been heartache.

There has been hurt.

There has been sadness.

There has been suffering.

There has been loss, oh has there been so much loss.

BUT...

Here we are now. It's almost the end of the longest year in history since I've been alive. We are about to go into 2021 we can say we survived it. 

It may be harder to see this year but there have been many blessings in the middle of the chaos. The fact that we survived this year is a blessing all in itself.

So, I want to remind you as we go into 2021 to count your blessings because even in our moments of weakness God has been present. I can tell you I have your back I do and I mean that with all of my heart but no one has our back more than God.

Let's keep our eyes on Him in the new year and watch as His blessings flow through the world. We will see change and things will slowly start to get better.

We are survivors because as long as we stick together we can do hard things through Christ who strengthens us.

October is here!

 October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month!

When first diagnosed with Spina Bifida doctors will tell you the can't do's, the won't do's, the struggles, the surgeries, the hospital stays, the constant ongoing care that will be required. You'll hear the dreaded word "Termination" probably more than once your entire pregnancy.

They don't tell you that your child will laugh, they will cry, they need your love and support to do all things just as much as a typical child without Spina Bifida they just may have to add there own style to accomplish things. 

They will tell you everything they know from a scientific stand point what your child may or may not ever do but what they didn't know is that most thrive with love. I know this to be true because I am one of 166,000 who has thrived with love and support from family and friends.

Long before I was born God whispered hold on tight my child it might be a bumpy road from time to time but I've got you. I am never letting go and hold on He did...

Spina Bifida is NOT something that I "suffer" from but something that I live with every day of my life and you know what? I have no complaints what so ever. Do I struggle sometimes? Yes I do but don't we all? My life is a gift I have been blessed with for 31 years.

Today I am grateful to have such wonderful parents who gave me a chance to be more than just a statistic. Thank you mom for choosing life for me and for always being a rock for me to lean on when things get heavy. I am so grateful for life today!

God Loves You!

 It seems to me that the people who appear to be the most unlovable are usually the ones who need our love the most, even if they try to push you away which most often they do because they feel unworthy of our love show them love anyway. Love them just as God has always loved us. The world around us needs the love we have to share and more importantly to see the love of Christ through us every day.

The Light House

You are the light to guide each step we take to direct us on the path we need to follow in life. You are our strength, you are our comfort, you are our hope, you are our everything. I thank you Lord for always being there with us in every second of life.

I feel like we have times when we are confused or may not understand why we go through things or why certain things happen but we know you will not allow anything in front of us that is far beyond what you know we can handle. You are not far from our grasp, all we have to do is reach for you.

You seem to always make a way for us. I lay my entire life at the foot of the cross because I know you are there. I believe everything you do in our life is out of your great and perfect love for us. I pray we are able to depend on and to lean totally on you. May we put on the full armor of God in every move we make today.

Thank you God for another day of life. You continue to remind us that with every breath we take each day, we can make our future brighter if only we just seek to do the Will of God. Have a blessed day everyone! God bless you.

Find Peace in the presence of God

 We can't always be sure of how God will continue to move mountains on a daily basis for us, what He is going to do from one minute to the next or when God is going to reveal all to us because it is impossible to predict everything that can happen in a person's lifetime but from my own personal experience I can tell you the presence of God is going to be felt right on time just when we know we need it most. 

God has a plan for everything under the sun that is much better than anything we could have ever imagined but sometimes we fail to see it because it is not done the way we thought it should be or the way prayed it would get done. We tend to forget things hardly ever happen on our time or when we want them to happen. We have to trust in God's timing for all things.

I think if we can be still, be patient and we listen quietly we will see God in many unimaginable ways to remind us each and every day of how much we are loved and kept safe at all times in the hands of God.We may struggle to believe this but our faith is the key to unlock each and every promise God has for us today. Be ready to see the beautiful plan God has for us in our life. 

The power of the Holy Spirit

The Worship team sang Nothing Else by Cody Carnes in church yesterday. I was sitting there listening when this verse caught my attention.

"I'm sorry when I've just gone through the motions.

I'm sorry when I just sang another song.

Take me back to where we started 

I open up my heart to You.

I'm sorry when I've come with my agenda.

I'm sorry when I forgot that you are enough.

Take me back to where we started

I open up my heart to You.

Immediately out of nowhere and unexpected I felt tears fill my eyes. The presence of the Holy Spirit is a powerful thing. I thought to myself how many times do we as humans just go through the motions of it instead of really listening to God?

If only we will not let our mind get so caught up in things that we don't pay attention to what God has to say through us. We are a tool out of God's tool box to spread the message of hope we have through Him.

I encourage you to stop listen and pay attention today because that's when you begin to see the blessing in store for your life. Take us back to where we started so that we will open up our heart to receive the gift of God's love for us.

Turn your eyes to God in prayer.

The unnecessary negativity is too much to read sometimes but instead of getting upset with the way the world works i'll give it to God in prayer because what do we have to lose right? I believe we lose nothing for praying but we gain a lot of things.

I ask God in my prayer to help us to bring peace into the world we live in today. The kind of peace that can only come from God.

Where there is hatred, may we show God's love to others. Where there is sadness, may we show the joy we find in Christ alone. Where there is darkness, I pray we are able to shine the light of God for others. Where there is doubt, may God help us to share the faith and hope of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I pray we not only seek to find compassion and acceptance from one another, as much as to be understood by others. To be loved as we love one another in return unconditionally as God has taught us to do.

It is in giving we can see the blessings of God first hand in our lives on a day to day basis. It is in forgiving others God has forgiven us. It is all in God and only God who has given all of us the blessing of love and life.

The unconditional love of God is a beautiful gift.

 If there is one thing we could share with anyone and everyone before we part from this world, it should be to share the love of God with others.

The love we show or the seeds we leave behind can grow and spread inside the heart of a person into something more beautiful than we could ever imagine.

I leave you with a reminder that you have value and worth more than you will ever know, you are loved by those around you and God's unconditional love for us will endure forever. Have a great day everyone!

Every day choices

Every day we have a choice to make, we can look at the day as just another day of the same old thing, or we can take it to a whole new level and look at the day as something special. We can take today and do something completely different than what we did yesterday. A new day gives us many chances. We are given 24 hours for a reason. It is ours to do what we please. How will you spend your day? Today I will make my day all that it can be. I will do what I can and use what I have to make a difference. I will be thankful and reflect on all of the things that I have been blessed with in my life. Yeah, I may not be able to do some things physically but I will look for the things that I can do and do them. Everyone knows that I am not the type of person to look down on myself for things that I can't physically do, you shouldn't either. Yes their may be things that are hard for you but there is plenty more out there for everyone. Make every day of your life something special because you as a person are something special. Use all your gifts and talents that God has given you. Every day should be special to you. It doesn't have to be a special holiday, birthday or anything like that. You should make every day that you see the sunrise count for something. Life is precious and I pray that we all remember that and never take a day we were given for granted. Spend all the time you can with loved ones, tell them that you love them and always enjoy the time you get with them. Have a very blessed day everyone!

You know you are truly blessed when your heart desires nothing more than the little every day gifts you have already been provided with by God. It is made even more special when you have people who make each day worth while just by being a part of your life. I love every single minute of this journey we call life. I am grateful to enjoy time spent with people who keep the laughter going strong and a smile on my face at all times. It certainly is the most beautiful gift we could have ever been given from God. Have a blessed day everyone!

Every Day Changes...

It's amazing to see how much things continue to change in our lives every day. There is nothing that ever stays the same, things can change in an instant. I don't see that as a bad thing though I believe if it weren't for the changes in our lives nothing would be uniquely different, there would be nothing exciting in our lives and there would be no reason to get up in the morning and look forward to a new day, nothing to make us happy, there wouldn't even be a reason to smile every day.

The changes teach us many things about life, they help us to be more compassionate, loving and understanding towards others and their situations. They teach us to have patience and faith. The experiences we have in life help us to see things in a different way sometimes too. They help us to learn to appreciate life and all the blessings that come with the life God gave us. 

I don't know about you but I think that life should be exciting, something that we look forward to every day we are blessed to see another day. Thank you God for this day you have given me to enjoy and to share with all of the family and friends in my life. I look forward to whatever you have in store for me and I trust you will be by my side through it all.

The Beauty of Believing in a Higher Power

As a believer in a higher power stronger than anything on earth I know God is the only path to follow for us to have true hope, love and peace that surpasses all understanding in our life but first we must pray we are able to see the world through the eyes of God.

There is never a time God does not notice us. He is right there waiting for us to ask Him into our heart to change our life. Be patient and allow God into your world to do what He knows is best for you.

It's not always easy, especially when we feel like we are not in control of anything going on in life but God will never let us down. Keep the faith and lean on God to give you strength today. Have a great day everyone!

The blessing of a Christian life

When we have a strong faith as a Christian it does not mean life is a piece of cake for us. We will continue to have struggles or challenges it will take a lot of effort, strength, faith, prayer, and perseverance to keep moving forward but in all things during every struggle that may arise God will help us to be strong enough to conquer them.

It's important to allow ourselves to cry, to feel, to get on our knees in prayer. There is nothing on this earth we face that is out of God's hands. He will keep us safe and wrap His loving arms around us. He will dry up every tear when we feel the weight of the world is too heavy to bare.

Don't keep your feelings in, talk to God give it all to Him because God is greater and stronger than we can imagine. He has already reminded us daily that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Be at rest today my friends because our life is in good hands with God. I pray God will bless you with a wonderful day!

Do you trust God?

Sometimes I think circumstances can make us feel like the boat is about to sink from under us, fear will slowly start to creep inside our heart and mind, stress will keep us up at night but there is hope because God is able to deliver us from anything on our journey. If we truly rest in God, hand every part of us over to Him in prayer God is able to see us through it all.

Whatever we are in the middle of right now I pray we trust and believe in God to make a way for all of us. May God remind us as much as possible we never travel through this world all on our own but that He will go before us in all things. 

Let us embrace all that happens in life to remind one another daily of the unconditional love God has for every single one of us. Be faithful and always remember to give God thanks and praise for everything He continues to do for us.

I put my faith hope and trust in God. Will you trust Him to take care of your life today? Have a blessed day everyone!

Impact 4 Jesus

Each one of us has an incredible God given gift to offer someone who we know is in need of a lifted spirit right now. It may be a smile, a hug, a cup of coffee, a kind word, a prayer or the ability to help someone see the value they bring simply because they exist in the world. We are here for a reason.

In this world, so many people are facing situations we will never truly understand unless we have faced them ourselves but we could choose to brighten someone else's day, shine a light of hope, or be kind and loving toward one another.

I pray we are never so busy that we miss an opportunity to impact others with words of encouragement or by some small act of kindness with the love of Jesus. I challenge you to look for people who you know need to be lifted up and make a positive impact for Jesus today.

Whatever Happens...

Whatever happens in life what's important for us is what we make of it, how we love others and who we share or precious time with in life.

Today, I encourage you to take time to let the people in your life know you love them, you need to let them know you appreciate them and we need to be sure they know just how grateful we are to have them as a part of our life journey. We need to enjoy what we have and that includes the precious time we have with each other.

It's important for us to spend time with family and friends as much as we can because life will pass us by in the blink of an eye and we won't get time back once it's gone but the memory we have in our heart will last a lifetime.

Don't ever miss an opportunity to be kind and gentle toward one another while you let the love of God shine through you to everyone in your life.

Miracles and Blessings all around us.

There are miracles and blessings all around us in our lives every day. God has done what He promised He would always do and takes care of all His children keeping them safe in His loving arms. He protects us and loves us unconditionally just like our parents do. 

I suppose that we see blessings and miracles every day as long as we take the time to stop and see them. If we don't get so busy with life that we overlook the blessing or miracle in front of us. If we don't ignore it because it might not be the way we wanted things to go.

I believe in the power of prayer, I know that when we come to God we are never ignored. It may not be in the time frame that we think it should be but there is no doubt God is listening to us. He is waiting for us to be patient with Him while He works in us. He is waiting for us to be quiet and still to hear the direction we need to go.

God is there in it all nothing is a surprise to God and everything you see is a creation of God. The sunlight, the moon, the bright blue sky, the green grass, the people and creatures around us are all things that God made for us to enjoy in this world.

Still though, even with the knowledge that He is there we escape His sight. We look to things, we look to people, we look to the community around us, we look to friends, we look to family, we look everywhere around us to fulfill the need we have in our lives that we don't see God in it. We miss that God is the one who put the right people in our paths, the right situations, the right tools to handle what is in front of us. 

I read a passage in my devotion that really caught my attention. "We wonder with so many miraculous testimonies around us, how we could escape God. But somehow we do. We live in an art gallery of divine creativity and yet are content to gaze only at the carpet." The next time you hear a baby laugh or see an ocean wave pay attention. Pause and listen as God whispers ever so gently, I'm here. He is there with you. He is for you.

The One Thing

If I could tell you only one thing today, I would tell you how much you mean to God. I don't know all you struggle with on your journey, but God knows us inside and out better than anyone else because we were created by Him.

I can pray for you, I can love you, and I can show you the love of God but only we can choose to lean into Him with everything in us. He is forever faithful to answer our prayers and His grace is sufficient for us.

When life circumstances get heavy or hard, rely fully on the will of God for you. My prayers are with you be encouraged and know you can do anything your heart desires. All things are possible with God in your life.

He will shield you with love and mercy if you seek Him fully with a pure heart and never think you are unworthy to be loved because we are all worthy to be loved by God. Have a blessed Sunday everyone!

The difficulties of life and the blessing that come out of it.

Sometimes difficulties take place in order to trust in God to help make things better for us. Sometimes it takes falling down to see God is right there to catch us before we hit the bottom. 

No matter what we face from day to day, know that if God can turn night into day He is able to turn our struggles into blessings to glorify the kingdom of God today. 

The road may not be easy, but we are not traveling through it all on our own. We can always lean on God to see us through every difficult moment of life.

Thank you God for loving all of us unconditionally. Thank you for taking care of us and our family and friends today. I pray you continue to watch over everyone I love every single day of our life. In Jesus name I pray, amen. 

A Hero in my eyes

What is a hero? A hero in my eyes is a person you look up to in life, someone you want to be like when you get older, your idol, someone who is your biggest fan.

I've had a lot of fans throughout my life and even today I still do, but if I had to define a hero for me I would have to say a hero is a mother raising her daughter to be the best she can be no matter what circumstances. 

My mom has done what most mothers do; she gave me life, taught me right from wrong and raised me to be a decent human being. She taught me to see myself as God sees me and to look past what is physically visible to everyone's eyes.

I might be in a wheelchair but that doesn't make me any less of a person. It might take me longer to do things or to catch on to things, but I can still do them. I struggle with things but that is not an excuse to give up or not try. I have my bad days but I can't stop living life when things don't go my way, I need to fight through the bad days know better days are just ahead of me.

Raising me was no easy task; my life came with a lot of complications, many ups and downs and a long road ahead with a future that wasn't promised. Life started out as a roller coaster I guess you could say, my mom was handed a life that no mother would ever bargain for, a life raising a special needs child. But even with the hand God had given her she has never once left my side. No matter what I had to deal with I always had the security of knowing that I didn't have to do it alone. We are a package deal she's always said and we handle things together.

When I was too young to defend my rights, my mom was my voice. When I was upset after a bad day in this sometimes cruel world, she is there to comfort me with open arms and a listening ear. If I need advice she'll give it without question. If I am headed in the wrong direction she'll show me without judgement. When I am lost and confused she is the light to open my eyes from the darkness I see ahead of me.

A hero can be anybody, a teacher, a coach, a famous singer, a movie star, a grandma, a grandpa, aunt, uncle or a cousin. We are all just ordinary people in this world but even the most ordinary person can lead the most extraordinary life and become a hero to the world around them. We all have the potential to turn a small light on in a dark room and turn a life around for the better. The light that shines through for me just happens to be a mother who has never given up on her child and loves her unconditionally.

I am eternally grateful to have such a loving mother.

This life of ours is the most precious and priceless gift that we receive from God. It's truly a wonderful adventure of ups and downs, twists and turns, good days and bad days. If only we choose to embrace every blessing in the ordinary of our every day lives while we enjoy every minute to the fullest. God is a good God who has a plan for each of us if we put our trust in His perfect time for our daily needs.

Love conquers all battles

I follow a page on Facebook titled Elijah James Journey. It's the story of a little boy who is much like me, we were both born with Spina Bifida his being more severe and complex than mine requiring more care and attention.

As I read his story and follow his journey, the struggles, the surgeries, being poked and prodded more times than a person should the hospital visits, going back and forth to doctor after doctor searching for answers to the unknown mysteries, the ongoing care that a child with any special need requires, I recall my childhood into adulthood.

I started to wonder, how did I get through it? How did I survive so long in this world, a world where I was helpless and doctors offered very little hope for a life without constant struggles and suffering. It hit me...

Often people think that it was because I was strong and determined to fight until I won. After all, I had the Ultimate Healer on my side right? While I fully give God all the glory and credit that I am alive and healthy today, it was something much more powerful. More powerful than any drug out there used to save a life. 

LOVE. It was the unconditional love by God a Father who protects His children, guiding them through their time of need. Love by family who gathered together and sat by my side to gently stroke my cheek to let me know I was never alone. It was the love from everyone that surrounded me each day that helped me to thrive into the adult I am today.

There is nothing any deeper or stronger than the love of family or people who genuinely care about you and your well being. I found strength through love...

To my fellow fighters, warriors, family and friends grab a hold of love wherever you can and remember to never let it go. It will always be a life saver. Thank you to my family those near and far for loving me through it all unconditionally. 

A New Day has Come

A new day has come how lovely it will be.

A new day has come how thankful we should be.

A new day has come for things we cannot see.

A new day has come how lucky we should be.

For when God awoke us He brought us many blessings.

A chance to start a brand new day.

Oh how blessed that we must be.

A chance for opportunities.

A chance to try new things.

A chance to be free and proud.

A chance to just be me.

I've had a life of many challenges.

A life of many trials.

A life that's full of happy smiles.

A life that's pure and sweet.

A life of love and happiness.

A life you can't compare.

It was a life that started rocky.

A long hard road ahead.

I am here today to show the world just how strong I have become.

With love and care from family and friends I am here to enjoy today.

How wonderful life has become for me.

Oh how I love this life that is mine.

I thank God for all that He has given me.

I am happy.

I am healthy.

I am able to try new things.

I live the life I want to live.

I am happy with who I am.

Written by:Chelsea Nienaber

The Definition of You

What defines the person you are today? Who people think you are doesn't define you. What you or others see in yourself doesn't define you. What you may see in the mirror every day, doesn't define you. What people say about you, doesn't define you. What you do for a living, doesn't define you. If you were born with a disability, your disability doesn't define you. 

You are NOT just that person who can't walk or the boy who may not be able to see the outside world. We are not what we struggle with from day to day; we are so much more than the things that try to define us.

We are human beings. A beautiful creation of God who formed us with a love like no other love in the world. We know with Him we can do so many amazing things with our lives, there are no limits to what can be achieved as long as we have faith that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. We are not created to do just what others think we can do. We are not here to set limits. We are here to experience all that life has to offer us and to take as many opportunities as we can in the time we have on earth. We are here to do things we never thought were possible. Our lives are our own.

When looking at yourself, don't just look at what you can see, go beyond that. Look into the heart of who you are. Be proud to be who you are and don't let negativity take over you. Don't let it make you feel worthless. God doesn't make anything that is worthless. We are a treasure to Him and that is how we should see ourselves.

Have fun, enjoy yourself and learn something new every day. Count your blessings and live life to the fullest. Be helpful, be kind, be patient with yourself, and be compassionate with others. Let everyone you come in contact with know God loves them. He wants all of us to do our best with the life He has planned for us. Do your best every day to embrace who you are and the life God gave you.

You know the need and desires of all people around the world God and every prayer being lifted up to you. I ask you to comfort those who are walking through so much in their life right now. We may not understand but we know you are for us.

As we continue to travel through this world, help us to appreciate life each day, never to sweat the small stuff and to be thankful because life is too short, mat we know without any doubt you will always be there to lift us up. 

Wrap your arms around those who need love at this moment, give us strength and help us to see that nothing is out of your control. We know there will be moments when life stops us in our tracks but you promise that you'll always be with us.

May the loving arms of Jesus gently and tenderly show us the way as we continue to walk in His love and light every precious hour of life. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

A year later and a second chance of life

It was the 2nd week of July on a Thursday we were all ready to head out to spend a long weekend with our family. I remember waking up that morning feeling like something was coming on but I thought it was just a cold so I kept quiet not wanting to ruin our weekend. We packed up the car and left for the weekend. 

We arrived at my grandmas house hours later ate some dinner and spent the entire night catching up on life telling stories and laughing as we always do. We finally went to bed in our happy place.

Friday came and more family arrived to get the party started again. We ate, we talked, we laughed and we just had a great time together as a family. I was unusually tired but still just thought it was lack of sleep and a cold was coming on and kept quiet about it. I didn't hang in there as long as the rest of them and went to bed.

The next day the plan was to meet at my cousins new restaurant for dinner that night. I still wasn't feeling good but pushed through not wanting to miss out on time with our family. I always enjoy getting together with everyone and didn't want to miss it. I forced myself to get ready and off we went to dinner.

We arrived at the restaurant ordered our food and by the time it got there which was not long I was struggling with shortness of breath. I ate what I could when our food arrived but I started coughing so bad we ended up leaving to get checked out at Urgent Care before our drive back home the next day. Our Urgent Care trip lead to a week in ICU for Sepsis.

I believe God does not take us one second before our purpose is fulfilled on this earth. I may not know what my purpose is but I know my purpose is not fulfilled and God is not done with me yet. A year ago life was different for me but I thank God I am alive today. God gave me another chance at life. My promise is that I will not take it for granted.

Remember when?

Do you remember when we lived the simple kind of life?

Do you remember when we could love without condition?

Do you remember when we could share a little bit of our heart with others?

Do you remember when we could speak openly without fear of offending or hurting someone?

In the world right now:

There is fighting.

There is fear.

There is hurt.

There is anger.

There is judgement.

There is division.

When you get on Facebook these days you don't see people sharing funny memes, quotes or stories anymore. Instead there is fighting and hatred. You see people dividing into the right and wrong group category. 

We have become silent because when we speak up someone will find something wrong with it. We can no longer speak up without fear of offending someone anymore. We all have our own opinion and no one is right or wrong to believe in whatever they choose to believe in but we need to approach it with love and an open mind.

I challenge you if you see something and you feel the need to respond approach it with love and an open mind today. We need to have more of an open mind in the world we live in today.

Dear Life

Dear Life,

Today you taught me something, as I awoke this morning I reflected on my life. I thought about past events that have happened in my family. I thought about my childhood and everything I have ever learned growing up. I thought about those less fortunate and said a prayer that they would find peace and comfort knowing God is with them every day. I thought about my siblings and how nice it is to have a friend to talk to every day. I thought about my family who have been by my side every day. I thought about how blessed I am to be all that I am today.

I am quite happy reflecting back on life today. I am proud of the things I have been through in my life. Things weren't easy or perfect but I am glad it's not. I am grateful to wake up every morning no matter what the day may bring us. 

Life has taught me to appreciate and to be thankful for everything in my life. I am so grateful for my life. I am grateful to be alive and healthy. I am grateful for the path my life has taken because I wouldn't have met the amazing people I have in my life right now. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow and enjoy all that life has to offer us. Today I have learned that the gift of life is truly amazing.

The circumstances of life

It's not easy to deal with life sometimes but I am thankful we have the assurance to know God will be there to help us to remain strong in all circumstances. He is waiting right there beside us with open arms ready to embrace us with His love and comfort anytime day or night.

It is impossible for us as humans to make sense out of things or to know the right thing to say or do, it's heartbreaking when those  we love and hold so dear to our heart are struggling or going through hard times but we pray anyway, we ask God to surround every person with strength on a daily basis because we know God hears our prayers.

I ask God to bless each one of us in every area of life right now. May we know the peace of God that surpasses all understanding is within us always and forever. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

I asked God

I asked God for an hour and He gave us a day.

I asked God for love and Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

I asked God for loving people and He gave us the gift of a wonderful family and great friends.

I asked God for strength and He gave us hard times to deal with to make us strong.

I asked God for compassion and He shows His love for us every day.

I asked God for inspiration and He created the whole world to be explored by all.

I asked God the purpose of life and He said the purpose of life is to use your gifts for the good of others and yourself.

I asked God what life is all about and He replied follow my lead and I will show you what life is all about for you.

You said, You are behind us and before us... You hold us together... and you place your hand of blessing upon our lives. In our mothers womb you intricately fashioned us and designed us... You knew every one of our days before any of them even started... You have destiny and purpose for our life... You are always thinking of us... always with us.... We always awake to your love for us. You are so good to us.

Who is God?

If you were to describe the character of God, who is God in your mind?

In my mind I look at God as a loving Father.

I believe God is all powerful.

I believe God is all knowing.

I believe God is kind.

I believe God is compassionate.

God is wise.

I believe God is infinite.

I believe God is worthy.

I believe God is faithful.

I believe God is caring.

I believe God is love.

I believe God is understanding.

I believe God is comfort.

I believe God is hope.

I believe God is strength.

I believe God is peace.

I believe God is eternal.

I believe God offers the gift of eternal life to all who choose to follow Him and walk with Him in truth every day of life. If you read it His word even says "follow me."

It's important to know who God is but it's even more important to know who you are in Christ.

Psalm 139 says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. A wonderful work created by a loving God. 

A Sincere Thank You from me to you.

Dear Readers,

Hello there and welcome to my blog! I am so glad to have you along this journey with me. If you are new here let me introduce myself to you, my name is Chelsea. In March of 2012 I found my voice in writing and created a blog. On this blog you will read about my outlook on life, daily encouragements and my faith. I am an open book. I speak honestly about my thoughts on anything from my faith to life in general to anything going on in the world today.

I'm writing this letter as a thank you for stopping by, reading my thoughts and for your love and support along the way. It is a gift to share my insight with others and to know that so many people are able to benefit from it. I am grateful for such an opportunity that I will never take for granted.

When I started I remember being told God was going to bless me in my writing and my words and experiences were going to reach out and touch others in a great way. As I continue to share my thoughts I can see that just maybe people were right. 

It's a good feeling to know that your thoughts, feelings and the way you see things are out there for thousands maybe even millions of people to view and some might even be taking to heart what you have to say and share your view with others. It's humbling to know your thoughts are important and have the power to uplift those who are experiencing a tough time in their lives.

It is my belief that we all have our own story, our own experiences and a life that is completely different from someone else. No one was given the same challenges and while we all don't share the same life it is good to see life from another view, to look at the same thing but maybe see it in a new light and share some positive encouragement and love toward one another or their situation.

My mission for my writing is to inspire, to spread kindness and compassion to everyone. I want to shine a light into what others may see as darkness. I pray my words offer a glimmer of hope for others to know that God loves them, He has their back and a perfect plan for whatever people are facing in life. 

Lastly, I am very grateful to all who follow me. I want to thank you for the encouragement you give me to keep going and sharing my every thought and insight. Your kindness love and support means more to me than you will ever know. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Love always,

Chelsea Says: A word of encouragement

There is so much sadness, pain and suffering in the world around us today. So many things that the human mind can't comprehend or understand unless they've been there. You look for the right words to comfort those who are struggling but sometimes there aren't any words you can say to heal the pain and suffering in the lives of those around us.

We question God's wisdom, wondering His reason behind the turmoil of the world. 

Why did He put this in our path?

What is His plan?

What is His purpose?

The world seems to turn dark at times, it gets turned upside down and our faith is shaken. We pray but feel that it doesn't seem to help; we wonder in the midst of our struggle can God even hear us? What now, we ask. Our hearts are hurting and we don't know what to do. We have so many questions but are without answers; instead we are forced to go forward blindly through life not knowing what is going to come next for us. Where are we going, we wonder?

We pray for God to bring peace in the chaos of life, to mend the broken pieces and make them whole, put them together in a beautiful way that allows us to see that God is love and His love is powerful and pure.

We pray for guidance in the missing pieces of our lives to help us find what we have been searching for all of our lives. We look for hope and pray we can find it through our faith. We seek happiness in the sorrows of our difficult stories.

I have learned the harsh reality of life sometimes is that we don't always get what we want or ask for, life is still life and we get what God hands us. It isn't always pretty and we may not agree but we keep going anyway. 

We pray knowing God does hear our cries when we put our trust in the Lord. He loves each of us with a love that is so strong and deep, a love like you have never seen before in your life.

I don't have all the answers nor do I have a clue what I am doing in this life but I do follow God. I lean on my faith, my family and my friends when I don't understand things. I pray along the way that I live every day a life that is pleasing to God. I do my best to follow His lead and allow Him to work through my life and guide me as I go the way He leads. I pray to gain wisdom and understanding through the chaos of my life journey.

The Enemies lies of the mind

Depression lies to all of us. It tells us that we are not good enough. It tells us that we will never amount to anything in this world. It tells us that we are stupid. It tells us that we are dumb to even try things. It tells us that we are ugly. It tells us that we are worthless.

It tells us that we are broken beyond repair. It tells us that we are not worthy to be loved. It tells us that we are not wanted by anyone. It tells us that the world would be much better off without us. It tells us that we are nobody. It tells us that we don't mean anything and our lives are not worth living. It tells us that we will never find true happiness in our lives.

But God...

God says I love you my sweet precious child. He says I created you for a purpose and I put purpose within you. God says you are unique. God says you are wonderful. He says that you are special. He says you are worthy of all the love I have to offer you. He says I have a plan for you and your life. God says that you are cherished. You are a treasure to Him. God promises happiness over your life.

You see, the people in our society today have a way of getting into our head. They see our differences and the things we cannot do and think that we cannot possibly have any value to offer them or the world around us. I'll let you in on a little secret right now society does not define us. It's important that we don't let the actions of a few limit our ability to the great person God created us to be in the world.

Today, I challenge you to ignore the worlds view of you. Tune out all the negative thoughts and listen to God. Keep in mind that faith in God is bigger than the lies you are told by your mind.

I leave you with my favorite verse "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Where is God?

Do you ever find yourself wondering "Where is God? in your life. 

You feel like you have been searching for a long time but you can't seem to find Him. You are at a crossroad in your life that you don't understand and you need His guidance to get you through and figure it out. 

You call on Him but feel like your call has fallen on deaf ears. You pray but feel like nothing changes in your situation. You feel alone, you are sad, you are confused, you are hurt, lost and scared. You are in a place you don't think there is anything left to do but give up on life. You don't have anymore fight left in you and what you were working for just isn't worth it anymore. You cave in, pleading with God where are you?

In times you are discouraged you might wonder if God exists, if He is listening to your prayers and your plea for help but in my heart I know God is everywhere you turn you just have to have the kind of faith to believe He is all around you. God is in front of you. He is beside you. He is behind you. He is below you. He is most definitely above you. The name of God is above every name. It doesn't matter how low you feel you have sunk God is there to lift you up.

Sometimes God is a silent follower. He lets us walk our path but He is quiet. It's not because He doesn't love us or that He doesn't want us to succeed but rather He wants to teach us to have faith in ourselves to believe we can handle whatever He has put in front of us. We will make mistakes but we can and most likely will learn something from every journey.

All of my life I have had a very strong faith in God. God is very real to me and a big part in who I am today. I believe in the Bible and I have always done my best to live my life according to what God wants of me. God has a plan for my life and I trust Him. I don't ever know where I am going but I do know wherever it is I am never alone. You never know, God might just be in the form of a family member or a close friend.

Rise up with a grateful heart today

When we wake up in the morning, we are not getting up for Facebook or Instagram or email. We are not rising early to check things off a to do list.

We rise because God woke us up with an opportunity to make an impact on the world around us. We rise with a purpose we may not see but if we listen God will show up to lead the way.

We have been given the gift of a chance to glorify God in every single precious moment today. I pray we thank God in everything and we will be thankful for the blessing we have of each new day in front of us.

Intentionally made by God

God made us intentionally because He has a plan for us in this world. If we are lost unable to find our way in the middle of the chaos we go through God is always there.

No matter how big or small the road may be ahead of you don't forget our God is greater than the obstacles you face in front of you. He can and He will restore you because with God all things are possible.

I pray you always stay strong in your faith in the Lord and fully trust in Him at all times. Never forget that God can do all things. There is no mountain in your life too big for God.

If today is one of those days when your strength is low on the ground hold on tight. Lean forward and press into the presence of God because God will never fail you. We can always find hope and strength in Jesus to carry on today. 

Heavenly Father, I praise you for the gift of life today. I thank you for the many blessings I have as I speak to you in prayer right now. I thank you that even when things don't go as I planned you give me knowledge to know with absolute certain you have not left me. You are simply waiting for me to realize the better picture you have for my life. Grab us by the hand today. Help us to realize that when life doesn't go our way your ways are higher. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Hello July!

We have a brand new month in front of us.  It's a fresh start. A chance to make new memories. It's a chance of refreshment to keep going forward with life. A time to get excited for whatever your month may hold for you. 

The possibilities are endless at the beginning of each new month. God gave us 31 brand new days to do things.

We can live. We can love. We can laugh. We can dream. We can set new goals. We can try new things. We are offered many opportunities with the days in front of us.

We can choose to be content. We can choose to be happy. We can enjoy the time we have now.

We are able to spend more time with our family. We are able to get together with our friends. We can take a family vacation. We can be grateful for the little things in life. We can take life one day at a time. We can make the most out of life.

I can only speak for myself but I look forward to the blessings a new month has in store for us. If you take the chance to look around it's a reminder of all you have to be thankful for in life.

You have the chance to do whatever you want with the next 30 days ahead of you. Make the most out of every day of the life God gave you.

Will you join me at the table today?

I know we stress ourselves out.

I know we worry.

I know we doubt.

I know we question things.

I know we don't understand it all.

I know we fear the unknown.

I know we struggle

I know we are unsure.

I know we feel uneasy.

I know we are lost.

I know we can feel afraid.

I know we don't know what the next moment holds for us.

But...

In all the uncertainties I don't have the answers to I know there are a couple of things I can be certain of today.

God is good.

God is kind.

God is loving.

God is compassionate.

God is faithful.

God is our strength.

God is our refuge.

God is our peace.

I know in the midst of everything we can celebrate the gift of life.

We can be kind.

We can share a smile with someone.

We can encourage one another every day.

We can pray every day.

We can spread Jesus everywhere we go.

I know we have a friend in Jesus who is waiting for us with open arms if we accept Him into our heart today. Will you join me at the table God has prepared for all believers? There is a spot for you.

What is your word?

I want to talk about passion today.

In the beginning of 2020 God gave me a word on my heart to encourage me this year.

My word is passion.

It's good to be involved in your community, to know what is going on and try your best to contribute not only where you can but where help is most needed.

The main thing that holds people back is passion or lack of it. We have all these ideas but do we have the passion behind our idea to pursue it?

I grew up with the mindset you can do anything you set your mind to do. While I fully believe that over the years I have let fear get in the way and I know i'm not alone in that. Who doesn't do that from time to time?

Where is our passion?

What lights a fire under us?

What excites us to wake up in the morning?

What makes us smile?

My passion is to encourage others. I want to inspire people to look on the bright side of life. I want to write with a heart of love and compassion to offer hope to those who feel hopeless. I want to share my faith. I want to be a positive light in a dark world. 

What is your passion? How about pursuing it today! You never know what a little passion can do for the world unless you are willing to put yourself out there and try it.

Life Experience and the lessons that go with it.

We all experience life in a different way. We have similarities to help us better connect with others but not one life is identical to another person. Our differences make us unique, they set us apart from the rest of the world. They tell a story of where we came from to where we are now. 

I think all of our stories have the potential to offer hope to those who feel hopeless. We can be a safety net where people who feel alone can open up and share the struggles and challenges of life. The things that have been put on them through the years.

We have no other way around it at one time or another we all experience bad times. We experience heartache. We experience pain. We experience hurt. We experience sadness. We experience struggle. We experience failure. We experience loss. We experience suffering. 

In all we experience we know their are lessons to be learned from all of it. Some lessons are good and others are hard but we learn strength. We learn resilience. We learn to be open. We learn to try new things. We learn to encourage each other. We learn to love others. We learn to listen. We learn to have and use our voice. We learn patience. We learn tolerance. We learn acceptance. 

We go through it all to experience purpose. We experience change. We experience growth. We experience courage. We experience good times. We experience happiness. We experience joy. We experience opportunity. We experience love. We experience friendship. We experience blessings. We experience the gift of being alive and well. We experience the gift of faith in someone much bigger than ourselves.

We learn grow and go through many things in this lifetime but one thing we need to know is we are never alone in this world. There is hope out there for everyone when they find and come to know Jesus. We know that there is hope in Jesus. We can be certain of it when we come to Him.

Sunday: A day of Rest and Reflection

Sunday is a day of rest.

Some of us may attend church.

Children go to Sunday school.

We call to check on our friends to let them know we are thinking of them.

We spend time together with our family.

We reflect on things.

We enjoy the moment.

We look around forget the bad and count our blessings.

We have dinner together as a family after a long week.

Sunday used to be a day to take life a little slower.

I feel like we no longer treat Sunday with the importance that was intended for it.

Instead life is chaotic.

We are busy.

We plan the week ahead of us.

We spend more time stressing about the coming week than we are refreshed and ready for it.

We are tired.

We are stressed.

We have lost the meaning of Sunday and it makes me wonder how we got here.

How did we get so busy?

How did we forget to take a few minutes to stop and pray for one another?

How did we forget to enjoy the moment?

How did we forget not to let life get in the way?

How did we forget not to let the world distract us?

Now is the time to reclaim Sunday.

Now is the time to stop and take a breath.

Now is the time to stop losing ourselves to nonsense.

Now is the time to stop letting the world distract us.

Now is the time to refocus our energy into positive things.

Now is the time to reflect on our blessings.

Now is the time to focus on God.

Now is the time to study the word of God and live it out.

Today I pray we never forget to stop and reflect on the goodness of God.

Thankful for Love

A person can do a lot of thinking when it's hard to fall asleep at night. When laying in bed trying to fall asleep a thought came to mind that I wanted to share with you today. I've been surrounded by so much love from day one of my life that I have learned love always wins in every battle.

My heart has truly been touched in such a great way by every person I've had the privilege to know throughout the years of my life. I am blessed and forever thankful more than words can truly ever express.

My most heartfelt prayer is that God will bless each and every one of you with just as much if not more love than you can ever imagine in your life. I think we all deserve as much love as the world has to offer us but I know everyone has God's love for them.

And now these things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Have a very blessed day filled with all the love in the world everyone!

Faith over Fear

There is a saying or a quote I've always liked that says faith over fear. There are even scripture in the bible that talk about fear but I will tell you fear is a liar. 

Fear...

Fear says, this is impossible.

Fear says, you don't have a purpose.

Fear says, it'll never happen for you.

Fear says, you'll never accomplish that goal.

Fear says. that's too big of a task for you.

Fear says, you are not good enough.

Fear says, you are not smart enough.

Fear says, it's time to stop dreaming.

Fear will always say you can't.

But Faith....

Faith says, anything is possible with God.

Faith says, you are capable.

Faith says, you are worthy.

Faith says, you are strong.

Faith says, you need to pursue your dreams.

Faith says, you are wonderful.

Faith says, you have a purpose to discover.

Faith says, God will give you the desires of you heart.

Faith says, choose God and He will show you the way.

When you give God your fear He will replace it with faith today. If you have faith, faith is full of blessings from God. God has faith in you, have faith in the path He has chosen for you.

What If?

We toss "What If" around like a bad habit these days. We wonder what would happen if we made one decision over another one.

We struggle with thoughts of

What if I am not good enough?

What if I make a mistake?

What if I fail?

What if I let someone down?

What if I never make anything of myself?

What if I can never be used for the Kingdom of God?

We tend to think we have to be perfect at all times but what if...

What if God said we are worthy?

What if God said we can do great things?

What if God said we are capable?

What if God said we are strong?

What if God said we are loved regardless of our flaws?

What if we let God use us to love one another every day?

What if we let God guide us to be cheerful givers? Not just of money but maybe our time.

What if we let God use us to help others out?

What if we let God show us how to encourage each other every day?

What if we let God teach us to lift people up instead of tearing them down?

What if we let God show people how to stand up for what they believe in, in a loving way?

What if we let God inspire others through us?

What if we let God show us things in a positive light?

What if we let God help us to take action to make a difference?

What if we were to let God show us how to be compassionate people?

I am not blind to the world today. I see what is going on right now and I just wonder what if we were to respond with love in our heart? I'm not sure how to fix everything going wrong but I think we start by loving people as Christ loves us. If we do that we can change the world of "What if" into something more positive today.

Life is a blessing from God

The days, weeks and months seem to be longer these days but I suppose that's not a bad thing if you look at it in a positive light.

We have been given more opportunities.

We have been more creative.

We have been able to think outside the box of "normal."

We have been given freedom to go at our own pace.

We have been given a chance to stop and see all we have to be thankful for in life.

We have been given the gift of more time to do the things we want to do.

To not worry about a long to do list.

To focus on family.

To be in the moment.

To cherish the blessings God has given us.

To reflect on things important to us.

To pray more often.

To be in the presence of God.

We have not been stuck inside but rather halted or on hold to switch our focus to the things that really matter to us. Life is a blessing from God if only we choose to see it as a blessing from Him.

I hope and pray if you feel like you are stuck you are able to refocus and realize all you have to be thankful for today.

When God has blessed you with a good heart that is ready and willing to help those who are in need right now or if you share your love with others, you can count on God to take care of you. He will be there to help you with all you need as well.

It may seem like your act of love and kindness is not appreciated or maybe you feel people overlook things sometimes, but I know God can see your heart and He will bless you for it with all you deserve out of life. So do it anyway.

I hope you never give up on doing good for others because we all have the potential to be the kind of person who is able to see the best in people. I think everyone is going through their own battles and we must show the love of Christ at all times.

I want to encourage you to walk in a manner you know will please God today. Life is not about what we do to please others because that will just leave us disappointed, it is about doing what is right to please God because you will have a much better reward waiting on you for it. Have an awesome day everyone!

Learning and growing with God in my life.

I have learned a lot in my life. A lot that some might not learn until much later down the road of life. I am not perfect I don't know more than anyone else but through life's ups and downs, challenges, struggles, successes and sometimes failures I have learned valuable lessons with everything.

I have learned that hard times in your life teach you how to be strong. How to be faithful in the midst of trouble. How to rely on your faith to see you through things. 

I have learned that the good times teach you to enjoy life as it comes even the littlest thing or the littlest moment and never take anything you are given for granted. 

I have learned to appreciate what I have and the people in my life who make my world a better place simply because they exist.

I have learned that while things in life aren't perfect and things happen that are beyond our control that life is still very good. It is a worthy gift every day.

I have learned that you should always count your blessings because your blessings are so much more than the things that try to trouble you. 

I have learned it is good to look back on your life sometimes, to think back through the years at where you started to where you are now. To think of all the things that you had to do to get yourself where you are in the present moment.

To look at all of the things you have accomplished and to be proud of yourself. To look at all of the things you have done well in this world. To look at the positive impact you have had on others. How you maybe lifted them up when they were down. Maybe you encouraged them or taught them something along the way.

I know that many times I have looked back on my life where I used to be and where I am now. Sometimes I liked what I saw and then there were times that I wished things were different. I think everyone wishes things were different at times, it's a normal thing. I wouldn't have it any other way though. I wouldn't change a thing in my life because it has made me the person I am today.

I am proud of where I have come from in my life. I am proud of where I am today. I am thankful for all of it. Life isn't perfect but if you wait for the perfect life you might miss out on something wonderful for you. Perfection doesn't come. You take moments in your life and make them perfect in your own way.

So when looking back on your life, be proud of where you have been, where you are now, and where you are headed. You have the potential to go to great places if you just believe in yourself. Isn't it amazing to see where you have come from and where you can go? Never be afraid to look back or to look forward because when you look back you will see how far you have come and when you look forward you will see thing great things life has to offer you and just how far you can go in this world. Life is an adventure and your possibilities are endless.

Thankful for a loving Father

"Any man can be a father but it takes a special kind of person to earn the title dad."

It is more than blood to be a dad.

It is more than discipline to be a dad.

It is more than love to be a dad.

It is faith.

It is strength.

It is understanding.

It is commitment. 

It is willingness.

It is sacrifice.

It is a compassionate heart that makes a man a dad.

It is a man who looks up to our Heavenly Father for guidance every day.

I have to say I have been blessed with a great example of what a Father should be to his children. A man who has worked hard to lead his family by faith in God. 

My heart is with those who are struggling today. I pray you know you have a Heavenly Father who loves you beyond anything you can comprehend.

The change of season is a new beginning for everyone

Thank You Jesus for seeing us through Spring into Summer. A new season is a fresh start. Whether we see just one day, or a whole season’s worth, help us to value the gift of the life You have given, and make the most of each moment. In a world that can be hectic, noisy and distracting, help us to draw closer to You, to love, know and serve You better. May every word and deed reflect the faith we profess. In this new season may we learn to love, pray, forgive and serve more. May we be more generous with our time and love. Should we be greeted with unexpected trials and tribulations, I pray your wisdom and strength will persevere to help us recognize the many blessings in front of us. I place this new day, this new season in your hands. You will be given honor and glory through it all. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Happy 1st day of summer y'all!

Dear God: I love you

Dear God, I love you

I'm writing you this letter to thank you for the life you've given me, I've been so blessed throughout the years to have everything you gave for me. I know it's your hand that guides me, you protect me every day, you lead me on the path you have set for me to travel each and every day.

I have grown and overcome things, I've had obstacles that crossed my path, but you show each day that everything will be okay. I sit back in awe sometimes of everything you've done for me. I trust you with my life because I know I am in good hands.

Challenge after challenge you saw me through it all, it was through your love and healing grace I was able to overcome them all. Things were never easy, I had to fight hard every day but I am grateful for the opportunity to live my life each day. 

I was told I wouldn't survive, my obstacles would be too much but as you walk along with me I am stronger than them all. I am thankful for all you've given me, you have taught me many things, you show me the meaning of life and love as I go along my way.

Life is a tough road for everyone, we have our struggles, twists and turns, we have our good times and our bad times, things change on a daily basis. You know what's best for me and you love me with all your heart. Thank you Lord for everything; you remain forever in my heart.

I love you always and forever.

Your Daughter,

Chelsea Nienaber

Our Identity found in Christ

No matter what we look like or what we think we look like to God we are a beautiful creation to Him. In the eyes of God we are unique individuals just as He created us to be to serve the purpose He has called us for in life. We are loved more than we will ever know. We don't have to try to claim to be something we are not for His approval because God already approves of us as we are now.

God looks at the heart of who we are as people. As we go through our day to day routine He peeks in to help guide us in every aspect of life if only we are still and quiet enough to listen for His direction. He wants to watch us to see how we treat others or to see how we choose to react or take action in any situation.

Be kind. Be compassionate. Be loving. Be understanding. We don't know the story behind every person we meet or what they have or are going through in life right now. Life can be hard enough people need our kindness compassion and love more than our judgement of them.

It's been said that looks can be deceiving and that things are not always how they appear to be in ourselves or in others. We should never judge a book by the front page cover. 

Sometimes we need to open it up, look inside and get to know the heart of what a person is all about before we form an opinion on them. It can take some time to really get to know someone.

No one is perfect, God didn't create us to be perfect people, We won't be no matter how hard we try to do all of the right things. He just promised to help us to be the best people we can be for ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

So do your part go out into the world and be the best you can be for God and others today. Be like Christ! Have a wonderful day everyone.

A cross to bear

In John 16:33 Jesus says, "In this world you will have trouble but take heart because I have overcome the world.

Though life is not meant to be easy or fair, at times it will be difficult for us and sometimes we will have suffering, I know it is a proven fact Jesus is still on the throne above all of us. I've seen Him work and move time and time again in my life. He has a better plan than we could ever imagine for our life.

He paid the ultimate price for us when He died on the cross for our sins. Everything we face ahead of us is a different kind of cross but nevertheless it will be a cross to bear that we must decide how we choose to carry it. Do we decide it's too hard and give up or do we ask God to help us carry it?

I encourage you to lay down every worldly trouble and take on God's better laid out plan for your life. It's not ours to worry about, have faith and hand it over to God. Carry the struggles in your life with strength that will only come if we trust in Jesus. His way may not be what we ask or hope for, but I believe we will be at peace if we follow the lead of Jesus. Have a blessed day everyone!

God never changes

God never changes, from the moment we wake up in the morning to the moment we lay our head down to rest at night. He remains faithful. A present help in time of need for us. It's important to take time to thank God for His unconditional love, strength, and mercy for us daily.

When I try to encourage others I do so because I truly believe in the power of prayer and encouragement with all of my heart. I give God all the glory and honor because it is only God who can bless us with the opportunity or who can give us the ability to encourage others with words of love and faith.

I hope and pray to reach out to those who need encouragement or who need to be reminded God loves them. No one should ever feel alone because we are loved by a great God whose love will never change for us.

The experience of God in your life

I have experienced the blessing of the presence of God a lot throughout my whole entire life. I think if I am really being truthful it's something I experience every single day. Many times we don't realize that God is speaking to us. We feel an impression on the inside, a prompting to be good to someone. That's not random, that is God speaking through us. 

I believe that the Holy Spirit is in each one of us to guide our way and to direct each step we take we only have to listen closely and carefully to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every moment of our life.

Remember that God is love so walk in His love for you in every minute of life because I know when you choose to follow Him God will never take you in the wrong direction. Have a blessed day everyone!

Life is good with God, family and friends

There is so much out there for us to see and to explore but we also have so much to offer the world. 

The world we live in is such a beautiful place if only we were truly thankful enough to appreciate everything God has given us. If we would smile more often, hug a bit longer, and live every day to the fullest as if it were our last. When I think about all God has done for us, I realize we are very blessed.

Life is too short to be unhappy or not to be content with all we have right now in this moment. If I haven't said it lately, I am grateful. I thank God for it all and for everyone I have to share this crazy life with every day.

This life we have may not be an easy road for any of us but it is a blessing when you have family and friends who love you through all the ups and downs. I couldn't be more thankful or ask for anything more out of life.

Scars

Our scars are a map to show the world where our journey has taken us but our heart is the map to lead us into the greater things in front of us.

Be brave and courageous, keep the faith because God has a great plan in place unfolding one day at a time for you. We are who we are because of where our life has taken us.

Their are many who will tell us never to look back on our past only to keep looking forward into what lies ahead but I encourage you to be proud of the journey you've walked because when you are finally able to look back on the life you've lived and see how far you've come that's when you will see the true strength within you.

Our life is one big battlefield full of highs and lows but I believe God gives the toughest battles to His strongest soldiers. Keep fighting because we are all a strong soldier in God's army of life. Have a great Saturday everyone!

The day I began to find my voice in writing...

It was March 9th, 2012 I had spoken to my cousin that afternoon who has always told me that the things I post on Facebook lift her up every day. As we talked a little more she mentioned she had a friend who started a blog of I believe a trip overseas. It might have been different things I don't remember the details of it. She said that maybe it would be a good idea for me to share my thoughts with others and start my own blog of my every day inspirations. As soon as we were done talking I looked into blogging. I had a few friends who blogged about their lives and different things but I wasn't too sure about the idea of sharing my life let alone my heart with strangers. 

If you know me, you know I have always been a quiet and reserved person. I am hardly ever upset or angry at anyone or anything. I don't really speak up and I keep things to myself so the idea of sharing my thoughts with people was a little worrisome for me. I gave it some thought and decided to go for it. I called it "Chelsea's Inspirations" what is now "Chelsea Says: a word of encouragement." While pursuing my dream of helping others to see the positive side of life; I found the voice that I had pushed aside for most of my life.

The beginning of my experience was a little rough. I didn't think anybody would ever start reading and that fact was a little discouraging for me. After awhile I started to think this idea I had in my head was just a dream that would never do anything for me or for anyone else. I kept going though and I continued to write every thought and idea that came to me. A few months into it I realized that I really started to feel good and I grew in confidence. I was happier, I opened up and I really began to feel like I was doing something for not only me but for others as well.

I wanted to encourage people with my words, I wanted them to see that there is so much out there if you will just trust the process and the path God has set before you. Life is a gift for us to embrace if only we will take the first step toward our dream. I wanted to offer hope to those who feel hopeless.

I have learned through my writing, I have grown as a person and I have realized that my voice is heard by others. All of the things I stressed and worried over in the beginning didn't happen. Yes, it took awhile to get out there but once it was out there the out pour of love has been amazing.

I want to thank everyone who has read my blog for your continued patience, love and kindness. I am working towards being consistent and I know if I keep practicing I will get where I want to be in the future. I look forward to many more years of sharing my thoughts, my heart and my faith with others. I pray you will continue to follow me on my way to becoming a better me and expressing who I am today. We are all a work in progress every day.

Thank you God

Thank you God for all you have done for us. We were created in love, you blessed us with family and friends, we are saved by You from our sin and you promised to stay by our side with us forever. I am forever thankful for your love for us.

The hand of God in every corner

Every corner of this world is held in the palm of God's hands. Everything ahead of us, God goes before us to make sure we get through all the challenges or obstacles in front of us.

If there is anything blocking our way or holding us back from all the blessings God has for our life, God wants us to keep moving forward with Him receive every blessing He has given us in this world.

When we are having a hard time, I know by faith God will give us strength to continue on through life with a smile on our face daily. Once we surrender ourselves and we let God into our heart, God will pick us back up on our feet again.

Give every part of your life to God. Be a true example of Christ and walk in His light and love today. Have a blessed day everyone!

God is our peace

If everything going on might start to get a little bit heavy leaving us to question or to wonder what our next move may be, making us feel down and out that life may not be the picture we saw in our head I remind you no matter what God is our peace, God will be our comfort whenever we feel lost or unsure of whatever lies ahead for us right now in this moment, God is our very present help in time of need. 

It's important to choose to believe it is God who will guide us back on the right track. God is always more than willing to help us when we feel overwhelmed by life.

We know this life is not easy, it's not meant to be but God will continue to remain our strength when the road in front of us looks too tough for us to handle all on our own because He is a faithful loving God.

May our faith and our love for Him never cease because He is what matters most in the world. His love is deeper. I know without a shadow of a doubt He will make a way for all of us to contribute in some way whether it be something big or something small to make the world a better place for all. Have a great day everyone!

Compassion and love go a long way

Can you imagine what this world would be like if we all practiced a little more kindness? If instead of criticism or belittling we showed compassion and love towards others and their struggles. Always remember someone out there is fighting something you know nothing about, we should put a little thought behind our words and actions only using them to build others up instead of tearing them down. As you go into this week, try and show kindness and compassion wherever you go, it just might rub off on those around you too. Just a thought. Have a wonderful week everyone!

What will you do with the 24 hours God gave you today?

We are given 24 hours in each day. God uses those 24 hours as a teaching period to show us many things in a given day. I know life is busy for all of us and we have certain priorities which can pull us in many different directions. It can be tough to try to balance everything at once. Sometimes if we are too distracted we can miss the opportunity to recognize the importance of any sort of kind gesture toward the people who cross our path along the way.

I think even if we are unable to get together in person, make a short phone call, email, send a text message or it can even be as simple as "I love you... I am thinking of you... I am praying for you... I want to encourage you to take a moment right now to reach out to a loved one, maybe someone you haven't talked to in a while and let them know they are on your mind.

A simple reminder to let someone know they are important to you can make all the difference in the world. I believe the world we live in could use all the love and goodness we have to spare. 

What will you do with the 24 hours God gave you today? Life is too short do what you can now while you have the time to make every moment of your 24 hours a day count and do everything that's on your heart for the glory of God.

Our time is a precious gift never to be taken for granted. God bless and remember to show the love of God to as many people as you can today.

What is a soul worth?

What is a soul worth? I think it is worth much more than any amount of money you might have right now. Every person on this earth created by God is a priceless treasure in the eyes of God. What an absolutely beautiful Sunday it turned out to be today. I am blessed and thankful for it.

I said a prayer for you

I don't know what will cross our path or who we may run into but I pray we all know you are our Rock. Mat we fully anchor ourselves to you today. Teach us to stand strong in our faith and follow you all the days of our lives. Open our eyes and our heart to see more of your work in us and less of ourselves. Help us to walk in your truth and not by our own feelings. Help us to embrace this life you dies to give us. I pray for wisdom to see even our challenges as an opportunity to see you at work and as an opportunity to see your face in others today. Thank you for loving us and that nothing could ever separate your love for us. If we fail and fall short at times, which we will whisper your unconditional love deep into our soul and remind us that your mercies are new each day. Thank you for meeting us right where we are today Thank you for waking us with the sweet whisper of love for us. I feel your presence in my life every day to reassure me I am never alone for you are always with me. I love you, I pray each of us have the opportunity to see more of you and less of us. Thank you God for all you do in our life on a daily basis. In Jesus name, amen

The difference between like and love is really quite simple.

What is the difference between I like you and I love you?

It's an easy thing for us when we like someone or something to pick it up, dust off all the dirt that's been put on it and lead things or the situation we might find ourselves in into the right direction.

However, when you grow to love you are able to show all the love, care, kindness and compassion we have to offer to those who are in the world around us.

You open your eyes, your mind and your heart to new and different experiences every day in life.

It's not our job to look down on people in judgement, it is only up to us to lift each other up and to love one another with everything we have in us.

So you see my friends, I think the difference between I like you and I love you is for us to have a compassionate heart to help do our part to serve God and others in our life every day.

What does God see when He looks at us?

What does God see when He looks at me? More importantly, what does God see when He looks at all of us?

Have you ever thought about it? What is it that He can see in us to make Him invest His tine on us?

I have often thought about this question and I have wondered the same thing as I continue on my life journey.

Do we honor Him daily? Do we live a life that glorifies Him? Do we please God in everything we do? Do we make Him proud?

I'm only human, i'm only one person out of an entire world that He has created. I fall short, I make mistakes, I don't always say or do the right thing 24 hours a day but I am a work in progress every day I'm blessed to see another day. I know God is not done with me yet but that He will always love us with our flaws and all.

You see, God does not look for perfection in us, He doesn't look for us to be the best at everything in life, He only wants us to do our very best with the gifts He gives us to work with and asks that we grab His hand to follow His lead when we feel unsure about things.

We may not be perfect people but it's good for us to know that we serve a perfectly good God whose love for us is unconditional without question.

So, I think when God looks at us, He needs to be able to see a reflection of Him through us by our love, kindness and our compassionate heart to serve others for His Kingdom.

The world around us needs our love more than anything else but everyone needs God's love for us more than that. Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone!

I see you God

The world is a scary place right now

but I see you God.

People are fighting everywhere you turn 

but I see you God.

People are one sided choosing one against the other

but I see you God.

People seem to be full of hate

but I see you God.

People are hurting all around the world

but I see you God.

People are angry

but I see you God.

People are outraged

but I see you God.

People are scared of the future

but I see you God.

People are sad

but I see you God.

People are lonely 

but I see you God.

People are sick

but I see you God.

People are dying daily

but I see you God. 

People are protesting in every part of the world

but I see you God.

I see you in the smile of a child.

I see you in the love of a family.

I see you in our friends and neighbors

I see you in the storm.

I see you in the light.

I see you in the chaos.

I see you in the calm.

I see you in every corner of this world with tears desperate for us to turn our eyes toward you because you hold everything in your hands.

When our focus is on God and not the things of this world everything around us is more clear. It is only then that our heart and mind will be at peace. All we have to do is protest on our knees in prayer rather than in every corner around the world. Take everything out of the mix whether it be race religion or whatever get on your knees and fight in prayer for everyone because the debate over whose lives matter was already decided over 2000 years ago Jesus died for all lives on the cross.

God's heart is love and His love is for everyone. Wherever you are if you look you'll find God right there.

God doesn't see race, religion or color He looks at the heart of every person.

God hears our prayers

When you talk to God you don't have to say things out loud because God knows you. God can hear every unspoken word from your heart. When you are silently sitting there if you'll listen closely God will whisper in your ear my child you have nothing to fear because I'm always here with you. I love you and your prayer was heard

When the wind changes faith and hope are always there.

Every one of our lives is a story written daily with several chapters and many different seasons. Our existence has a purpose behind it God will reveal a little bit at a time if only we let Him go ahead to show us the way.

There are chapters we go through wishing they wouldn't end and we could stay in the moment forever. Then sooner or later we realize life has to continue to move forward. 

The wind sometimes change it's direction then we hit not only one but a couple seasons of difficulty and challenges. Life is not easy but we hold on with everything we've got and find strength to keep going. 

We can't see how things get done but I want you to know if we rely on Him God works everything out for us. 

Be patient stay in the spot God has put you in and listen carefully. All things have a reason and a purpose but nothing lasts forever!

Just pay attention to your surroundings and listen today! When the wind changes faith and hope are always there. 

Good afternoon, Jesus

Good afternoon, Jesus. I want to tell you that I'm so thankful for another day of life today. Sometimes it's hard to believe we are able to talk to the maker of all things, that we can hear from you to know exactly what you need us to do. What a good feeling to know you care enough to listen to our heart. Can you imagine that? The maker of all things paying any mind to every desire of our heart. It's enough to wake us up with a smile on our face and excitement for each precious day. 

We too often try to rush through the most important things in life. Every day my first thought is of you. It makes my heart glad and it puts a smile on my face to know you are there for us. It tells me that you are guiding us, our thoughts, our heart, our life toward a purpose. 

I pray you help us to see past our own nose today. Teach us how we can be a blessing to others. Help us to see what could be, and to know how you would want to use us to change the world. We know you go before us to keep our motivation in check and our eyes focused only on you.

Thank you God for the promise of new mercy every day. Your mercy allows us to take a deep breath, shake off the dust of yesterday and know that whatever comes this truly is a blessed life. I will give you praise honor and glory forever. 

The Price is Right... Jesus is waiting!

On the Price is Right when a person is picked they say for you to come on down but God asks us to do the same thing for Him. God tells us to come on down to Him, lay all our worries concerns and our fears at His feet and He will give us rest. God will restore each one of us if only we trust Him with all the days of our life. We are tenderly held in the palm of His hands just give it all to Jesus. Just a thought I wanted to encourage you with today.

Prayer is a game changer!

Don't worry about anything but instead pray in all circumstances because when you pray and seek God for direction He will make a way for you. I pray you remember God loves you today. Have a great day!

Blessings

Each day we are given numerous reasons to thank God for the blessing of life. Our health, our family, our friends, wisdom, even every breath we take today. We have people in our life who touch us and give life extra meaning for us. Their are special souls around us who show us what life is all about. They help us to use our hands and feet to lead people to God. Lord I ask you to bless them as we are blessed by their love and care in our lives. Speak life into each one of us so we may be able to bless others as we have been blessed by their presence in our lives. In Jesus name I pray, amen. Have a beautiful blessed day everyone!

Rest in the presence of God.

If you are ever feeling overwhelmed by life circumstances, I pray you know you matter so much to God. Take a deep breath and rest in the presence of Jesus today my friends. I love you all.