Brave

—adjective, brav·er, brav·est.

1. possessing or exhibiting courage or courageous endurance.

There's this song that's been heavy on my heart. It's called "You Make Me Brave" by Bethel & Amanda Cook. 

Now as we now not every fight or test in this life will be a sweat-less victory. Sometimes we have to fight to the death to be victorious. This, in life, can be overcoming any addiction or just learning a life lesson. For me, it is trusting God with my very life and everything that's in it.

I have always had to fight for survival growing up. When you don't have constant parental guidance what else is there to do? This has become my habit, even my addiction. Now that I have a personal relationship with Christ, He is showing me that I don't have to fight any more. However, it is a hard concept to grasp. I have been fighting to release complete control to Him, but something in me always wants to keep just a piece of control: fear.

Fear is the concept of not having control. If you lose control of your car on a busy street, you'd become fearful, right? Your life is hanging in the balance and you are genuinely afraid! Why am I afraid to release my very life to a God who controls the universe?!

Recently, some issues arose that I had no control over, and I began to become angry because I was afraid. God sat me down and just comforted me. I turned on some worship music and what do you know?! The Bethel and Amanda Cook song came on! 

There's a part of the song that simply says:

You make me brave
You make me brave
You called me out beyond the shore
Into the waves

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now 
The love that made a way

When the waves of this life become overwhelming I do not have to be afraid. My Savior walks on water! He's defeated death!  Through Him, I am strong. He makes me brave and courageous that I can conquer anything in this life! I pray this concept not only inspires you and I, but is also rooted in our hearts! 


Romans 8:37 We are overwhelmingly victorious through Christ Jesus. 


Loving you,

Chelsea Elizabeth 

Psalm 103 Reminders: Never Forget

HE:

Forgives ALL my sins
Heals ALL my diseases
Redeems my life from the pit
Crowns me with love and compassion
Satisfies my desires with good things
Is compassionate and gracious
Is slow to anger and abounding in love
Will not always accuse
Will not harbor His anger forever
Does not treat us as our sins deserve
Does not pay us according to our iniquities

Bow and Arrow

Assume the shooting position.
Nock the arrow.
Draw and anchor the bow.
Aim.
Release the string.
Follow through.


These are the steps to shooting a bow and arrow. God spoke to me and said sometimes our life can be like these six steps of shooting a bow and arrow. Now God would represent the shooter because He has all power to hold things in this life steady and of course He has great instincts on where He would like for us to go. We would be the arrow, and the bow would be the position of life we are currently in. Let's break this down step by step shall we?

Step 1: Assume the shooting Position
Now with God being well....God, He is always in a position to place us where we need to be at any time. Due to Him being the Almighty, He has all authority to direct us to where He wants us to be and what place would be best for us. His stance or "position" is being holy in our lives.

Step 2: Nock the Arrow
Honestly, I had to look up what this meant. Basically this step is positioning the arrow in the bow. So we as the arrow would be positioned by God in this very moment of our lives. Now remember, the bow represents where we currently are. Now can this place be uncomfortable? Absolutely, because ultimately this is not where we are headed. We are just put into position of where we are going to be!

Step 3: Draw and Anchor the Bow
This step is very important! Drawing the bow is where the shooter pulls it backwards in order to get in position to release. When God is drawing us in life, it may seem like nothing is going the way that it should. We may feel like we have taken a few steps back, and well we have! We may feel forgotten and abandoned and it may be dark and feel lonely, but that's not the case! As the Shooter is drawing the bow, He is also anchoring it. He is holding it steady, so that it won't be released prematurely. We are right where we need to be!

Step 4: Aim
God will begin to open doors and position you to right where you need to be.  We may be here for a while, and that's ok. Sometimes the target isn't quite ready to be hit. Pray constantly and seek Him.

Step 5: Release
Now He has released you to the very place He wants you to be in. Remember, It has to be at the proper time. If He releases too early the target place will be behind you and pass you up, and if it's too late...well we know how that goes.

Step 6: Follow Through
Watch God protect you and enable you to walk through His desired place in this life for you.

I hope this has encouraged you as it has encouraged me. This gives me hope that God has way more in store than where I am at this current point in my life. Hey...#WontHeDoIt?!?! Share this with someone who needs it a dose of hope.

Loving You,

Chelsea Elizabeth

Sometimes vs. All The Time

Sometimes, I just can't wrap my head around how good You are.
Sometimes, I can't see how you could bless someone like me.
Sometimes, I wish I was better for You.

Yet, all the time, Your grace envelopes me.
Yet, all the time, Your blessings are abundant.
And
Yet, all the time Your love for me never changes.

Thank You for finding me in my shades of sometimes.
There, I find You waiting patiently for me.
There, Your iridescent presence puts my darkness to shame.
And
There, my sometimes evaporate in your, all the time, love.

Signature of the Redeemer

Hey all,

There has been a slight change...yes, I have changed the title of my website. I had been seeking God one night and I felt a tug in my heart to change the name to something more personal. I want to explain this reasoning because it is so dear to me.

Honestly, I felt a little convicted by the last title, Our ashes to beauty. I felt that I was making it all about us, when in reality it's all about Him and what He has done for us. Our Redeemer. I want everything in this life to point to Him. I am not declaring that what I was said in previous posts was not about Him; because it was all God breathed and written. However, I want the very essence and the very title, subject, thesis, and conclusion to be directed towards His presence.

As I was sitting and reading a book by an amazing man of God (more on that next time), I shared my heart with the King and asked Him to change the name. Signature of the Redeemer. The name brings tears to my eyes because it reminds me that I have been bought with an expensive price and that I am loved beyond measure!

A new year of school started yesterday here in Georgia, and It made me think of when I was in school years back. The fresh smell of new crayons and a new backpack, and I remember my mom would put my initials on all of my belongings. She would say this is to let others know that this backpack and these supplies belong to you. Throughout the years, I started getting in the habit of writing my name on things that belonged to me so no one would take them.

When we accepted Jesus our Savior, God initialed us with the blood of His Son, and now we belong to Him. We are forever His! Nothing can separate or pluck us from His loving hands.
"neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭39‬ NIV)."


I don't know about you, but my favorite part of school was going on field trips! It was the joy of knowing for an entire day I would not have to sit in somebody's boring classroom! Usually, there was two vital pieces of information that was needed in order to attend one of these fields trips: 1. A small payment or fee and  2. A Permission slip with you parent or guardian's signature.

The money could be used for transportation, entrance fees, food, etc. and the permission slips, as we all know was to make sure that we had the okay from our parents saying that we could go. Then there was the attachment of the allergy form, the emergency contact information, and the outline of consequences for unsatisfactory behavior. You know, for our protection and all that good stuff.

As much as I looked forward to all of the field trips, there were some aspects of the trips that I couldn't control. For example, the kid with motion sickness, my over talkative partner in the buddy system, my under expressive partner in the buddy system, getting lost, losing my wallet, and on and on it goes.

Life is sort of like a field trip. It can be adventurous and something to look forward to day in and day out, but it can also have it's challenges. As Christ followers, we go through this life with two vital pieces of information. 1) Being able to live this life victoriously due Jesus paying a fee, with His blood, for our freedom. We have been redeemed!

"For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭22-23‬ NIV)"

"You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life. (‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭58‬ NIV)"

2) Through Christ's death and resurrection, we now have the signature of our Redeemer as promise that we will never see the pits of hell in spite of our unsatisfactory behavior (sin), and we have a Father we can call on when in need. He is worthy to be praised!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ NIV)

"He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them." (Psalm‬ ‭145‬:‭19‬ NIV)

"...who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ NIV)

I thank God for our Redeemer and our King in our lives. My prayer today is that His signature is on every aspect of your being and that His presence will flow in every area of your life. I speak peace and love and joy through Him on you today and forever more. Seek Him for He has redeemed your life!

"Our Redeemer—the Lord Almighty is his name— is the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah‬ ‭47‬:‭4‬ NIV)

Loving you,


Chelsea Elizabeth

The Amazing Promise

Hey Guys!!


I accidentally took the month off! It's been a crazy four weeks of relocation, job changes, and lots of prayer. I didn't forget about you! That totally reminds me of my devotional this morning. God spoke to me today and said that I have not forgotten you. I still see you, even when you can't see what's going to happen next.


“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. " (‭Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭15-16‬ NIV).

I don't know about you, but I totally needed that awesome reminder, in this season of transition, that I am not forgotten and that He still sees and cares for me. Sometimes, when God doesn't speak, I feel as though He doesn't care. I know that this lie is associated with seeing God as my parent.

"Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, Abba, Father.” (‭Galatians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ NIV)

You may or may not know this about me, but I don't have a great relationship with my parents. Like, we don't even speak on a regular basis. They have their own lives and I have mine. I still pray for them and forgive them for abandoning me, but it is still an often painful reality.

However, my Abba is nothing like my earthly parents! He is the King of the universe and the Creator of all things!! The Creator of the moon, seasons, and oceans is my DAD!! How cool is that?

His word says, "No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. " (‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ NIV)

What an amazing promise! Thank Him, today,  for His constant presence, even if you don't feel Him near. He is always with you. He loves us!! I don't know who this was for today, or maybe it was for me and I just needed to share the joys of  it, but I hope this truth will be a constant reminder to your soul and will give you immediate strength and peace.

I missed y'all. There is so much I have to share with you. Buckle up!!



Loving you,


Chelsea Elizabeth

Our Truth

"...Provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." Isaiah 61:3 

There are thousands of scriptures in the bible, and in certain seasons of life one may stick out more than others. Have you ever been there? It's like when you listen to a song that describes the very situation that you're in. This particular verse in Isaiah 61 is one that, I'm sure, everyone has been able to relate to at one time or another. When I read this verse it is like a relief that better days are coming and that hard times are not in vain. This is one of many of the truths that God has given us in His word. Sometimes, we have to make it personal. It is Our Truth.

Through the next couple of entries, I would love to break down this verse with you. Please feel free to respond and add on to what God is speaking or showing you through this verse as well. I would love to hear from you! Before we dive into our selected verse I want to back up just a little bit.

The title of Isaiah 61 is "The Lord's Favor." Now, I don't know about you, but I it humbles me to know that the God of the universe favors little ole me! The author, Isaiah, in verses 1 & 2, states that "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because The Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor (Isaiah 61:1a)." 

Now, let's pause right here. If you started freaking out about the word preaching or poor in that section...STOP!   As Christ followers, we are called to teach the gospel to others. That doesn't mean we have to put on a suit or a fancy dress and stand in front of a congregation; it can be as simple as putting on your work uniform and leading a co worker to Christ. This lifestyle is being obedient to the great commission that Jesus, Himself, instructed (Matthew 28:16-20). The word poor in this passage does not necessarily mean the homeless on the street corner. Don't get me wrong, they need to be reached as well, but it goes beyond people who are physically hungry or lacking financially. I believe this is also speaking of proclaiming the good news to people who are poor in peace, poor in their spiritual walk with Christ, poor in joy, poor in freedom, and poor in victory! 

"He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance for our God to comfort all who mourn, (Isaiah 61:1b-2)." 

Everyone has a unique, God breathed life story from the time we are born until the time that we die. We will all experience a season of ashes, but there is also a season of beauty. God will allow our season of ashes to fulfill out verses 1b and 2 of chapter 61. We are all Isaiah's. You ask, How am I going to live up to that? The answer is by leading the captives out of darkness, taking the broken to the Healer, and all the while proclaiming His ultimate freedom. 

If your ash season hasn't arrived, it will. I'm sorry to rain on your parade (it is literally raining as I am writing this) but our life simply isn't about us. I know some of you are like wait..WHAT?! It is the truth. Our truth. We were created for the Creator, and however He sees fit to use our life, that's how it will be. God never intended for us to walk this life journey alone. It is such a blessing to me to have a body of believers warring for me when I can not fight for myself. You are someone's soldier.

When Jesus exchanges those ashes for His righteous beauty, His harvest comes with it, and That's the truth. Our truth. 

Loving You,

Chelsea Elizabeth

Take Refuge

Hey All,


What a morning! Getting to work was a challenge, but I am grateful to have a job to come to today! Are you?!

Walk with me as I stray a bit. :) I am apart of a group of women who love reading God's word and discussing it together. The website we connect through is called www.shereadstruth.com. If you are a young woman looking to plug into God's word and be able to share your thoughts with millions of other women, I'd say this is definitely the place to go! Check it out.

Recently, we did a study on the book of Ruth, and wow was it life changing. It is something about rereading a passage of scripture and have it take another affect on your life situations a second, third, or even fourth time around!

Weekly, we have a verse that we like to focus on as a group and memorize. I would like to share that with you. It comes from Ruth 2:12b: "May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have refuge."

Wow. So whatever this day looks like for you, remember that you have a God who you can take refuge in. Today in Georgia it is very cloudy and it will most likely rain all day. I think of God's refuge in this way: just as I take shelter from the rain and stormy weather in the comfort of my dry and cool office building is the same way I can take refuge in Him. Now, I am going to have to leave this office at some point today, but I can be covered by a jacket AND an umbrella.

Take God's protective shelter with you wherever you go today. Wrap it around you. Hold it above you and if you're really bold, praise Him in the rain! What a rich reward we have in our Heavenly Father.

Loving You,

Chelsea Elizabeth

Welcome

Hey Guys,


Thanks so much for hiking this journey with me! I believe God has given me this platform to share my story and what God is showing me through His Word. I encourage us to walk this journey of life together!

Many of us a Christians tend to not want to share our downfalls, short comings, and despairs. However, we gladly share our victories. Here is a safe place where we can grieve with each other, but we can also celebrate with each other as well!

I am recently learning that whatever I go through or have gone through isn't just for me, but it's to help someone else. God is always thinking of a harvest. I am honored that He chose me to be an agent for His Kingdom to reach and love His people.

I pray through this opportunity, lives are changed and encouraged, and that we would be a light to a watching world. Unpack your heavy bag, grab some coffee or favorite beverage, and hear Our Redeemer's heart for you. Let's watch Him turn our ashes into His glorious beauty.


Loving You,


Chelsea Elizabeth