Hi friends,
I’ve been sitting here staring at my computer screen for the better part of the last hour trying to decide what to say to you. I’ve never had a blog before and I’ve never had to share my life on such a public forum and to be completely honest, I’m a little scared. I keep asking God what it is he wants me to share and the answer is all of it, so here it goes.
I grew up in a very small town called Maypearl, Texas with my parents, Durant and Kathy, and my little brother, Quentin. While I was in Maypearl I was incredibly passionate about volleyball and theatre. For the last two years I have been attending Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where I studied theatre with an emphasis in costume design.
Throughout the years I haven’t done the best job of following where the Lord is trying to lead me. Recently, He smacked me in the face with the fact that I need to come home to Him. 1 Peter 2:25 says, “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” A friend told me that if a sheep kept straying from the herd, the shepherd would go and break the legs of the sheep and carry it back to the herd, this is what God had to do to me.
I was using the talents the Lord so graciously gave me to further myself rather than His Kingdom, so he redirected me. Since November 2016 I haven’t really been able to use my right and dominate hand due to an injury. This was a huge blow seeing as I worked in the costume shop at SFA and I needed to be able to draw, write, and sew for my major. During the last spring semester I really fell into this pit where I didn’t feel like I was good enough for anything, which is a complete and utter lie.
May finally rolled around and I moved back to Maypearl with my family and things changed tremendously. I ran back to the Lord and I realized that He had his arms wide open this whole time. Our God is so good and so faithful and oh my goodness I could go on forever!
He called me to the World Race shortly after I moved back home. I was talking with a friend about a mission trip she had recently gone on and I felt something inside me saying I need to go. I prayed about it and asked God to show me if this was really where He wanted me and He sent me Amos 7:14-15. To give a preface, I was reading in the Message version, which read, “But Amos stood up to Amaziah: ‘I never set up to be a preacher, never had plans to be a preacher. I raised cattle and I pruned trees. Then God took me off the farm and said, ‘Go preach to my people Israel.””
In that moment I knew this is where the Lord was calling me. However, doubts crept in and I kept telling God that I wasn’t qualified and that there was no way I could do this. God amazes me so much, because even in my doubt He is so good. He reassured me with Jeremiah 1:6-8 which says, “‘Alas, Sovereign Lord,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am too young.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.”
Friends, the Lord is faithful; He who promised will provide. God has taught me many things in the last few months, the first is that you don’t have to be whole to be useful (thanks Mrs. Barbara) and second, to put aside your pride and ask for help when you need it.
Although this is a huge step and this whole thing can be scary at times, I have never been more sure that this is what I need to do. God has called me to the World Race, and He is already providing. Our God is bigger than any fear, doubt, worry, anxiety, or difficulty that may come our way.
I’ll leave you with this my dear friends, John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
I can’t wait to keep sharing my heart and this journey with you all!
Much love,
Chels
