Chels in Progress

There was a time in my life when God plucked me out of my comfort zone, and dropped me into a whole new environment.  I learned to rely on Him, trust Him, to look up to Him, much like when a child is scared or uncomfortable, they hold on tight to their parent's hand.  He taught me about grace and gentleness , patience and love .  My heart was light and full and bursting . But then, I was right back in a place I knew, and today I'm faced with the reality that I'm too comfortable again.  Today, I am burdened with the reality of my lack of grace .  In my striving to do well, I lost sight of people.  I was harsh.  I was uninviting.  My light was dim, and my love was small.  I was task-oriented before people-oriented.  I wanted to finish my job before serving. My heart was scrunchy and ugly today.  I was scrunchy and ugly today. In our striving, even striving for good things, we sin.  We stop relying on the Lord's stren...

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 ...