Chels in Progress

Rain. Hikes with my coworkers. (and having to climb down hillsides and brush to get back on the right trails) Coffee Bean's hot chocolate . This Mexican blanket that's been in my family for 20 years. (which I stole for my bed) Sweet new friends . My hair being the longest it's been in 7 years . My life group , and our intentional conversations. My ISP teammate moving to East Asia . A little Vietnamese restaurant opening down the street... they have BOBA. My quiet time park.

" Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 It's so easy to dedicate one single day to giving thanks.  If we even do it on that day.  But it's difficult to give thanks to the Lord unceasingly .  To thank Him for absolutely everything .  But it's also one of the most freeing things we could learn to do. Last night started out beautifully.  My shift ended with a huge compliment from my manager, a free turkey, the turkey fitting perfectly in my freezer, my dad making me a delicious burrito for dinner, and a tea party and Christmasy crafts with two very dear friends.  I was really excited for everything, and ready to go to sleep peacefully.  And then I got home.  The night completely shifted into something less than beautiful, the least of our problems being how very colorful my language turned in response to the chaos that ensued in our hous

" I will offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of Yahweh ." Psalm 116:17 "Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to increase to God's glory ." 2 Corinthians 4:15 Top Ten (er, more than ten) Things I'm Thankful For This Year (so far) : 1. My family in Christ. 2. Learning humility , grace , and what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit . 3. East Asia + my summer family . 4. Michy + Jake's beautiful wedding. ( tylerbranchphoto.com ) 5. My new Canon (what is this auto-focus thing? Oh, right, only non-broken lenses have that). 6. Transferring back to store #46 . 7. Belly laughs. 8. Boba , so much boba. 9. Worship music. 10. The most ugly moments in life (because God always uses them for His glory). 11. Things that have come as a result of mom's MS (sweet friends, finding Jesus, and staying a family).

I work at Trader Joe's and lately during the mornings, we've been sampling our seasonal Cranberry Walnut Loaf .  Every time I try it, I think what a delicious grilled cheese it would make.  Well, normally I wouldn't go above and beyond on a grilled cheese , but the bread is only here for the holidays, so I went for it.  I had one little honeycrisp apple left from our church retreat in Oak Glen, so I decided to add that in with an extra-sharp white cheddar.  I grilled the insides of the bread before putting the sandwich all together, just to make sure it would be crunchy. Behold, the fanciest grilled cheese I have ever made: It's super easy, and so good!

" Thanksgiving after all, is a word of action ." - W.J. Cameron Last week, I didn't "feel very thankful". Well, this quote just completely humbles me. Giving thanks to the Lord is not a feeling. It is an action. So, last week's Top Ten : { 1 } My sisters in Christ. { 2 } My job. { 3 } Boot weather. { 4 } The gym. { 5 } My family. { 6 } Chia seeds. { 7 } My brothers in Christ. { 8 } Jesus Calling . { 9 } Flannel sheets. { 10 } Forgiveness. Thank You, Lord. For all of this. And everything.

Yes You Have by Leeland on Grooveshark You've stolen my heart, yes You have . My God,  the ultimate healer of my heart, provider of every good thing, and the epitome of Love , is Faithful , Sovereign , Holy, sweet , near, Joy, Peace, Mercy , Grace . and no created thing will ever shake His truth.

"When was the last time you were convicted , not condemned ?" I love these little prayer/coffee dates with my sweet sister.  Though I've really only known her about a month, I feel like I've known her much longer.  I know I can share my thoughts and struggles with her and not be judged, but rather shown kindness and love and be led back to the Lord's Word, and it's amazing that He put her in my life. Yesterday, we were talking about imposing condemnation on ourselves because we lose sight of grace and begin to try to  measure our worth, beauty, and fruit based on how we feel we performed.  She asked me, "when was the last time you were convicted, not condemned?" and I didn't have an answer.  The only distinct conviction I remembered was a year prior, and I knew instantly that answer should've had a more recent date stamped on it.  I began to wonder about why I wasn't feeling convicted towards anything.  Then I shoved it aside, bec

stir in me, a fire that the world cannot explain i come to worship You stir in me, a passion that my heart cannot contain i come to worship You Stir In Me by Todd Proctor & Timber on Grooveshark hold me, break me , mold me and make me more and more like You i come to worship You to love You, fear you draw ever near You as i worship You i come to worship You i come to worship You.

My heart aches for East Asia tonight. For all the hands that touched this coin before mine. And for all the hands that touched it after. For the farmers. For the people in the marketplace. For the watermelon lady, for La La, and for all the people in the alleyway. For the people who sit on the street corners selling their fruit. For the person who wrote this prayer, this wish. For the people whose wishes are tied all around this one. For all the people who put their faith in wooden and golden statues. For the lost , and broken . For the hurting and hungry , the thirsty and seeking . My heart aches. And I can only imagine that this heaviness in my chest is simply a fraction of the ache, the grieving, that the Lord feels for the people He created so beautifully, intentionally , delicately, sweetly who wander aimlessly through life ignoring Him denying Him hating Him & I pray this aching in my chest nev

One of the most beautiful cries out to the Lord that I have heard, and the prayers of my heart if they were a song. "...more and more I need You now , I owe You more each passing hour, the battle between grace and pride I gave up not so long ago So steal my heart and take the pain and wash the feet and cleanse my pride take the selfish , take the weak, and all the things I cannot hide take the beauty, take my tears, the sin-soaked heart and make it Yours take my world all apart take it now, take it now..." "Worlds Apart" - Jars of Clay ♥

In the glory of Your presence I find rest for my soul In the depths of Your love I find peace Makes me whole "I Love Your Presence" - Bethel Music grateful for a day of rest. grateful for sisters and brothers in Christ. grateful for sweet prayer dates with my sister. grateful for a surprise lunch delivery from my brother. grateful for pretty parks and weather. grateful for warm soup and tea when my stomach is upset. grateful for His beautiful Word. grateful for comfy covers when I don't feel well. grateful for new worship music. grateful for today.

What is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him? You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:4-5  Oh my heart.  Sometimes, I am just straight up baffled at why the Lord desires to know me and use me and bless me and love me, because I just don't seem lovable enough.  But then I am grateful, because unworthiness the platform for grace .  So then, in my ugliness and chaos, I am in the perfect place to accept God's love.  Which is beautiful , because that's usually when I need love the most. I will always be grateful for this season of life.  It is definitely not where I imagined myself now, and it is definitely not how I would have planned it for myself, but it is so beautiful.  So desperately , perfectly beautiful, in a very countercultural way.  You see, I thought I'd be married right now.  I never set many career goals.  I never had any financial plans.  I just wanted to be married and a mom.  Wh

{1} All Saints Day & the saints that the Lord has put in my life.  {2} Worship nights with my brothers and sisters.  {3} Gorgeous weather to eat on the patio at Rutabegorz with my sweet sister .  {4} Wearing my traditional Chinese dress for trick-or-treating with life groupies' kids.  {5] Homemade veggie enchiladas.  {6} Book study with lovely ladies.  {7} Tea party + Boy Meets World on dvd.  {8} Organic honeycrisp apples from Oak Glen. {9} Free tickets to Switchfoot tonight for being a CBU alum. {10} Getting a challenging workout in this week. Oh my soul, praise the Lord.