The past couple of weeks, I've constantly been reminded of the beauty of Christ and His relationship with His Bride, the Church. Whether it's in a sermon, a song or even a conversation with a friend, the subject keeps popping up.
Now here I am, the night before my wedding and I'm thinking about how wonderful it feels to be the bride. I have a faint idea of how it will feel on that great Wedding Day when the Bride finally is with Her Savoir.
I have an awful, filthy life to offer Dustin tomorrow. But he knows that, he accepts me, he forgets the wrongs I've committed, and loves me anyway. Because of that, I can wear white. Just like Christ, when Dustin looks at me, he sees someone pure and unblemished. That is an incredible feeling. I'm so overwhelmed right now by the love of my Savoir and the love of the man I'm marrying. I'm so blessed to see my future husband mirroring Christ.
Our greatest prayer tomorrow is that we glorify God. We want him to receive all the praise and all the honor. It's not about Dustin and I. It's about a Savoir who placed two sinners together and gave the grace to have the ability to bring him glory through a marriage. I want everyone to see that! Please pray that tomorrow will be all about Jesus, not about us! I will wear white because I am washed in the blood of Christ and I have no shame in Him. For that, I'm forever grateful.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
It's Been a Long Time Coming...
It's been a long time! So much has happened in the past 3 weeks between going to New Orleans for our meetings, Dustin coming for a week, going to New Jersey to visit our Sandy staff and check out some job sites, bringing Ronnie home with me and enjoying my first bridal shower. I'm still catching up on life because unfortunately, two jobs, wedding planning and school do not stop when the rest of life goes crazy. It's a shocker, I know.
I feel as though everything that has happened should have it's own blog post. And maybe I will break it down a little bit in the coming weeks. So let me first start with TouchGlobal's February meetings in New Orleans. Again, I'm so so so thankful for the overwhelming amount of support I receive to do my job. And it is a wonderful job, indeed. I was able to see and fellowship with my TouchGlobal family and learn more about what is going on at our different sites, especially New Jersey where we stationed ourselves after Sandy.
One exciting turn of events that I'd like to announce is that we are changing our name from TouchGlobal to ReachGlobal Crisis Response. Nothing inside the ministry is changing, nor the things that we do. The name change is happening in order to bring better understanding to who our ministry is and what we do. It brings clarity to the fact that we are a part of the Evangelical Free Church of America. From a communications standpoint, re-branding is always a difficult endeavor, but I believe this is in the best interest of our ministry. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Needless to say, though, being in New Orleans for 5 days was an absolute dream! I was able to attend church at Castle Rock in the city, meet some new friends there, hang out in the French Quarter, and spend time with the lovely people on staff during our 8.5 hour meetings :)
I'm praising God for the ministry that HE led me to! It is HIM who is doing all of the great things through Crisis Response. What a mighty God we serve!
-Chelsea
I feel as though everything that has happened should have it's own blog post. And maybe I will break it down a little bit in the coming weeks. So let me first start with TouchGlobal's February meetings in New Orleans. Again, I'm so so so thankful for the overwhelming amount of support I receive to do my job. And it is a wonderful job, indeed. I was able to see and fellowship with my TouchGlobal family and learn more about what is going on at our different sites, especially New Jersey where we stationed ourselves after Sandy.
One exciting turn of events that I'd like to announce is that we are changing our name from TouchGlobal to ReachGlobal Crisis Response. Nothing inside the ministry is changing, nor the things that we do. The name change is happening in order to bring better understanding to who our ministry is and what we do. It brings clarity to the fact that we are a part of the Evangelical Free Church of America. From a communications standpoint, re-branding is always a difficult endeavor, but I believe this is in the best interest of our ministry. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Needless to say, though, being in New Orleans for 5 days was an absolute dream! I was able to attend church at Castle Rock in the city, meet some new friends there, hang out in the French Quarter, and spend time with the lovely people on staff during our 8.5 hour meetings :)
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| Yumm! Beignets with Ariealle and Jen Jones! |
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| I was able to have lunch with these lovely ladies from Castle Rock, Ariealle and Intern-Katie! |
-Chelsea
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Back in NOLA
As some of you might know, I'm in New Orleans writing this blog post! Just being here for the past 24 hours has reminded me how much I absolutely love this city. I have missed driving around these crazy streets, eating amazing creole food and seeing God at work in people that I meet.
Just this morning, I went to church at Castle Rock Community in the city and it was so incredible worshiping with old friends and meeting new ones.
The reason why I'm here in NOLA this week is because TouchGlobal is having their biannual meetings to go over new sites (like New Jersey) and strategic plans for the rest of the year. Please pray for us this week as we meet, pray and plan. Also pray for my safety as I fly back to Pennsylvania on Thursday morning. I am praising God for the ability to be a part of such a Christ-centered ministry! I also want to thank my supporters because you all made it possible to be here this week. I'm looking forward to updating my blog and telling you how this week goes. Thank you for your prayers!
Love,
Chelsea
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| Yummm! Gumbo! |
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| My new friend Raeion. We got to have lunch together! |
Love,
Chelsea
Friday, February 1, 2013
Sex-trafficking in the Crescent City
If your family is anything like mine, you're probably grocery shopping tomorrow for the big Superbowl party this Sunday. Whether you are hosting or going, you are one of the thousands that will tune into the big game. You may not know that a lot more than football is happening on Superbowl weekend every year. While one team wins a championship, hundreds of lives are ruined by the hour.
Superbowl weekend is the biggest weekend in the world of sex-trafficking in the United States. When all of those fans arrive in the city of New Orleans this weekend, so will many people who are trapped in sin and looking to exploit girls and women in exchange for money.
Check out this article by Justin Holcomb from Mars Hill Church and join me this weekend in lifting the women and girls of New Orleans in prayer.
Pray:
Superbowl weekend is the biggest weekend in the world of sex-trafficking in the United States. When all of those fans arrive in the city of New Orleans this weekend, so will many people who are trapped in sin and looking to exploit girls and women in exchange for money.
Check out this article by Justin Holcomb from Mars Hill Church and join me this weekend in lifting the women and girls of New Orleans in prayer.
Pray:
- For protection of the girls and women whose lives are in danger this weekend
- For those who are using sexual exploitation for their own gain; pray for their souls and their salvation
- For the end of human trafficking. Our God is greater!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Leaving
Today was very hard for me, as it is my last day being with my fiance before I move back to Pennsylvania. In fact, it's very possible that I won't see him for more than two months. Two things occurred to me tonight:
big huge and holy God. The four months that stand between me and our wedding day is nothing, absolutely nothing, when I remember that my God holds the universe in the palm of his hand. It is estimated that there are about 200 billion stars. If you were to count every star at the rate of one star per second, it would take 6,341 years. The Bible says that God has created every individual star and calls them by name. That is my God.
Secondly, I was reading Psalm 73 today and came across these verses:
"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."
(verses 23-26, 28)
This giant God, this sovereign Being is my refuge. I take shelter in him because he is strong and he is enough. I don't know about you, but I find comfort in that tonight. That, despite my smallness and insignificance, I'm watched over by my heavenly Father who delights in me when I call upon his name in prayer.
- My God is bigger than my problems.
- My God is my strength. Not my future husband.
Secondly, I was reading Psalm 73 today and came across these verses:
"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."
(verses 23-26, 28)
This giant God, this sovereign Being is my refuge. I take shelter in him because he is strong and he is enough. I don't know about you, but I find comfort in that tonight. That, despite my smallness and insignificance, I'm watched over by my heavenly Father who delights in me when I call upon his name in prayer.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Mini Update
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you were able to celebrate the birth of our risen Lord! My Christmas was great and spent with Dustin's family. I'm realizing how awesome marriage is going to be. Dustin and I always talk about how blessed we are to be marrying into families that are supportive, generous and kind! It's wonderful to feel apart of a family, even while you're away from home.
Right now, I'm preparing to move back to Pennsylvania for the next, almost 5 months. During that time I'm looking forward to visiting New Orleans in February, visiting our Hurricane Sandy site in Galloway, NJ a few times and of course, planning my wedding.
This weekend I'm sending out a newsletter with an update on our Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. If you would like and update and don't receive my newsletters, just give me your email address and I will get one to you!
My latest project for TouchGlobal is writing an article for EFCA Today, EFCA's online magazine. Check out the magazine here. I'll provide an additional link when that article is published.
Prayer Requests:
- I can always use prayer for more support! Please pray that God will raise up people who can give financially and commit to praying for me.
-Safe flight back home (Friday, Jan. 11th)
-Easy transition back in Pennsylvania.
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| Merry Christmas! |
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| On Christmas day, I milked a cow with Dustin's cousin, Callie! |
Right now, I'm preparing to move back to Pennsylvania for the next, almost 5 months. During that time I'm looking forward to visiting New Orleans in February, visiting our Hurricane Sandy site in Galloway, NJ a few times and of course, planning my wedding.
This weekend I'm sending out a newsletter with an update on our Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. If you would like and update and don't receive my newsletters, just give me your email address and I will get one to you!
My latest project for TouchGlobal is writing an article for EFCA Today, EFCA's online magazine. Check out the magazine here. I'll provide an additional link when that article is published.
Prayer Requests:
- I can always use prayer for more support! Please pray that God will raise up people who can give financially and commit to praying for me.
-Safe flight back home (Friday, Jan. 11th)
-Easy transition back in Pennsylvania.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Money Talk
I just spent the past 2 hours pouring over my budget, listing the Christmas gifts we are getting everyone, silently groaning noting every time I subtract a dollar, calculating every last cent.
I'm pretty sure this isn't normal, but my heart beats faster when I see how money looks on paper. And I mean, it beats like a drum. Not in a happy, excited way. In a "ohmygoodnessthislookshorribleIamsobadatthishowwillIeatthismonth" way. Then I text Dustin.
"Hey, I don't think we can buy presents for extended family this year."
"Hey, it doesn't look like immediate family is going to work either."
"Hey, are you sure you want to do presents for each other this year?"
No, I'm kidding. It's not that bad. But all this to say: I GOT PAID TODAY!! That means most of my support is going towards savings for the next plane ticket I have to buy!! Thank you all so much! It just touches my heart to know that the people I love and pray for are also praying for me and supporting my passion to tell God's stories! Technically, I'm supported for the next couple months but I'm still in need of about 4 supporters (able to give $50 a month) who can carry me through until August. So please pray for that, friends!
Tonight, after having my budget heart palpitations, I just want to step back and praise my Savior for the reason I can celebrate this time of year. He was born and killed for a hopeless wreck like me. Not only that, but he resurrected to save my soul and prove that He alone is my Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord has provided for me over and over again. As I reflect over this past year and how He has given me all that I need, I would like to invite you to do the same. Maybe share with a comment on this post? Thanks :)
Love,
Chelsea
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| I know, it's blank. This was before all the scribbling :) |
"Hey, I don't think we can buy presents for extended family this year."
"Hey, it doesn't look like immediate family is going to work either."
"Hey, are you sure you want to do presents for each other this year?"
No, I'm kidding. It's not that bad. But all this to say: I GOT PAID TODAY!! That means most of my support is going towards savings for the next plane ticket I have to buy!! Thank you all so much! It just touches my heart to know that the people I love and pray for are also praying for me and supporting my passion to tell God's stories! Technically, I'm supported for the next couple months but I'm still in need of about 4 supporters (able to give $50 a month) who can carry me through until August. So please pray for that, friends!
Tonight, after having my budget heart palpitations, I just want to step back and praise my Savior for the reason I can celebrate this time of year. He was born and killed for a hopeless wreck like me. Not only that, but he resurrected to save my soul and prove that He alone is my Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord has provided for me over and over again. As I reflect over this past year and how He has given me all that I need, I would like to invite you to do the same. Maybe share with a comment on this post? Thanks :)
Love,
Chelsea
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