If You Dare…

One of the most challenging, growing, exciting things I have ever done was to go on a mission trip with Reign Ministries. I have not been on a mission trip in a few years but I really hope that Hans [my AMAZING soon to be husband] and I can go on a trip together soon.

Royal Servants is such a challenging life altering experience. When I went on the trip I memorized verses and was challenged and encouraged continually in my faith. This organization has things so right as they talk about the foundations of the Christian faith and help those who go on the trips to own there faith and grow at any point in your relationship with God.

If you are interested at all in doing a missions trip I would so encourage you to check out this amazing organization. If you aren’t interested in the trip I would still encourage checking out the organization because it so encourages me to see what God is doing through youth in the world. What an awesome God we serve! And hey if you are or are not interested in a trip this video is so encouraging to me about staying connected to Christ. 

And here is a picture from my summer with RS

God is Bigger

Do you believe that God still speaks through dreams? I do.

I have been thinking lately that God is FAR bigger than I am willing to admit to myself. I am trying to let go of my inhibitions and wrongful preconceptions about who God is and now He works. Growing up I sometimes heard times that God didn’t really work the same ways that He did in the bible…. He was more at work in quiet, passive ways. More and more I feel like this really isn’t true. I also feel like YES God sometimes works quietly but I can’t seem to understand why God wouldn’t still use things like healing, tongues, speaking to people. I think God still speaks to people in big ways... Isaiah 30:21 says, ‘Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.’” Jesus teaches us to pray and shows us the meaning of true sacrifice and love. He encourages us to pray for our daily bread and also tells us that we cannot live on bread alone. I am pretty sure that our bread is supposed to be Him. I am considering some of the things I’ve prayed about lately… doing well in Geology, getting good reviews for my art critique, not having so much snow, help with wedding planning… when will I learn my lesson. I don’t need so much stuff. In Matthew 24:35 Jesus says, “Heaven and earth will pass away but  my words will not pass away.” You know what else passes away with Heaven and earth Chelsea?  Grades, snow, Hans, fill in the blank.. What isn’t going to pass away is so hard for me to wrap my mind around when I get caught us on now. I have such a short-term perspective it’s awful. I’m in geology right now and my professor is talking about the millions and billions of years, which I don’t really agree with but that is besides the point, and I am thinking that is a lot of zeros…. Eternity is so much longer than any of these numbers we’re conjuring up. I’ll be out of class in 8 minuets if I am out in time. This class can’t pass away quickly enough. I am so imperfect. My mind focuses too often on temporary things. I want to be more aware of that still small voice telling me which way to God and I want to be so caught up in God. One of my favorite verses is found in 2 Corinthians 5:13 and says:

If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

As a Christian I think my life could maybe use a little bit more crazy…. Now off to  painting. I am hoping to incorporate that sweet little girl’s prayer.