#WriterRevelations: Rely On the Source (Manna From Heaven)

Boy, it always amazes me how much God uses my life to preach and teach to my readers. After two months of very few updates, I am back with three new posts over the next month!

It's been almost a year since I got fired from Wal-mart. And ten months since I quit working seasonally for UPS. Yet, I've managed to work as a freelance writer for the span of two years. And no matter the client, I've always done my best work because that's how I am when it comes to writing, it's my best work, or I step back and wait for it.

The same goes with these blog posts. I pray, pray, and pray for a word for you guys and then magically the happenings in my life seem to mirror the overall theme I receive during my Bible study and then I sit down to write. You can bet I pray about plots and subplots for my novel as well. If I am going to write it, I always bring it to the throne room for the final anointing so God can use it to minister and encourage his children.

I used to blog about my daily occurrences but this year, God asked me to start a new series called Writer Revelations: A writer chick using the Bible to explain and challenge people to live their best life. So anything I want to be silly about or less than serious gets posted elsewhere (mostly Twitter), and here is where I present what God wants you to know.

You don't have to be a Christian to receive these messages. Whatever faith or denomination you subscribe to, as long as you believe in a higher power, these words of encouragement will work to make a difference in your life.

And if you don't believe me, that's fine. I will just preach this to myself. LOL.

Since the beginning of the year, I've been planning a short trip to Disney in order to give myself some hands-on experience in the parks so that my novel reads authentically. Plus, I figured it was a grad trip I could give myself for getting past 20,000 words in my WIP.

Come the end of August, things were looking like I may or may not go. Then, my mom happened to write to her cousin via social media and ask if she could get us $79 tickets for our trip. Yet, she asked when we were planning to come out, and it turned out she was off that day, and because she is a Disney World Castmember, she could get us in absolutely free.

God-wink #1.

Then, came the news of Hurricane Irma, and people everywhere started to panic. Prior to this news, Panera Bread notified me that I was chosen to receive a free Daily Bagel From Panera.  

 I bet you are thinking, "Ok, what does that have to do with anything?" As you may remember, I was kicked off food stamps back in May, and have struggled with that for the past four months, so God provided manna for the month of September so I would remember who the source of all things really is.

Yet, since the Hurricane was heading for my home state, Panera was closed for a week, and my trip truly looked like it wasn't going to happen. There was nothing that I could do except one: it doesn't get enough credit but it's probably the most vital thing we can do at anytime in this life.

Yet, Irma came and left without my house suffering severe damage other than our front fence falling down. We never lost power, got flooded or even evacuated because we have faith in the Source.

My faith was high and I was floating like a leaf in the blistery, hurricane force winds. Yet, the day following the aftermath, my boss of two years wrote me saying he did not know when he was going to be able to pay me. I got a little concerned. Here I was heading to Orlando, about to spend every dime I had managed to save starting with my tax refund at the beginning of the year, and my boss was making me rethink this whole trip.

To make a long story short, I ended up choosing to trust in God despite the fear of lack and poverty that besought me, and God rewarded me for it.

I went on my trip and had a killer time. For a full 25 minute video of the whole experience, please check out my #WaltLife VLOG.

This trip proved so many things to me but basically #1 is that

If God cares about the number of hairs on your head, what makes you think whether you go on vacation or not does not matter to him? So, whatever you perceive as fun, God cares about that.

God showed me that with my trip because every little detail of it was taken care of and I was able to just enjoy being in the moment for the first time in a while. Plus, he cares about the fate of my novel which boggles my mind because it's just this glorified Ryan Sheckler Disney fanfiction that I started when I was 14 but he has turned it into best-selling material that will speak to people from all walks of life which I can further praise him for.

I came back from my trip to find out that not only did I still have a job but my boss is going to pay me the full amount he owes me for 3 weeks of work, plus he even agreed to let me work two weeks in October after originally thinking he would need me to take a month off.

Thank God for his infinite love!

Sometimes I feel that ever since I started working when I was in college, it is easy to start to look at your self and your efforts and think of your job as your only source of income, provision, or prosperity but God has proven this year alone, that he still is REIGNING as the Source of all every time he rains his love, favor, and blessings on me.

My next post will go into this further but there has never been a month since being fired and prior to working at Wal-mart where I lacked for food, shelter, or a bed to sleep on. And even more amazing is when during those really hard months God will give me extra manna to buy that whatever I have my heart set on: whether it be a gift for my family member or dogs (I love to spoil my dogs in case that wasn't clear) or my favorite artists new album, or even a new athletic outfit to workout in.

MY God is so AMAZING to me because he CARES about it all.

The Lord is inviting you and I to trust Him and live in both the adventure and security of a life of faith.

Until next time remember,

In Christ Like Love and Confidence,

Chelsea

xoxo

#WriterRevelations: The Keys To Success (Christian Living)

Dear Lord, I'm so sorry. Some how I had all these intentions to post a blog last month but the month flew by and before you know it was Hazel's birthday.

If you're interested, here's some videos:

Hazel's 5th Birthday!

Hazel's Fifth Birthday Extras

Have you ever felt discouraged about trying to live the Christian Life? If your efforts to make a difference in the world seem fruitless, following the Lord's example could change your outlook.

How was he so effective? Scripture tells us that Jesus did not speak or act on His own initiative but instead depended on His Father abiding in him to do the work (John 14:10). And we are to do likewise.

Even though we may pour great effort and long hours into ministry, these alone won't produce fruitfulness. It's far more important to minister as the Lord intended.

What comfort this should give us!

Until next time, remember:

In Christ-Like Love and Confidence,

Chelsea

xoxo

#MusicMonday: Colton Dixon's EP will show you the way to true Calm and godly peace

Welcome to my next #MusicMonday post. Today, I am going to review Colton Dixon's newest EP Calm. In the rare case you are unfamiliar with Colton Dixon, he was a contestant on the 11th season of the hit reality singing television competition, American Idol. He's from  Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He ended up being cast off the show and placing seventh that season. It appeared all hope was lost because the show wasn't a fan of the fact that he wanted to become a Christian singer instead of just a secular pop rocker. Ryan Seacrest during one episode actually interrupted Colton when he was sharing some of his faith story. When he was voted off, I bawled my eyes out (He was both equal parts handsome and talented, and he loved Jesus. Excuse me for fangirling). Yet, a few years after leaving American Idol because he was so musically talented and could write his own songs, plus he stuck with Jesus despite the pressures of popular society and opinion, he was signed to Sparrow Records. I was so excited for him. Recently, during the weekend of Night of Joy 2015, on September 11, 2015, he got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Annie Coggeshall. Simultaneously, The Calm Before The Storm was released on the same day, dual EPs where Calm contains acoustics of songs from his previous albums Anchor and Messenger, and Storm contains remixes of tracks from both albums. 

Song By Song Review

"Limitless": A song about how nothing is impossible with God, I personally wake up with this song in my head lately. The song was co-written by Christian music legend, Matthew West. My favorite verse from the song: 

Doubt sees a mountain, no way around it

Faith sees a victory, no doubt about it

Fear sees a ceiling, hope sees the stars

Love be the light inside of our hearts 

"Never Gone": My favorite part of the acoustic version of this song is the bells that are played alongside the piano track. One of my favorite Colton Dixon songs about how God never leaves us or forsakes us, Colton's vocals slay on the acoustic version of the track.

"You Are": This track off the Messenger album originally helped me through one of the toughest seasons of my life. The acoustic version features vocals from Colton's younger sister, who also originally auditioned for the eleventh season of American Idol, Schyler Dixon. It's a beautiful song just praising God for who He is.

"Through All of It": This song recently helped me through my grief over Geniveve's passing. It's a song about how God helps us through the trials in our lives:

And this is who You are

More constant than the stars up in the sky

All these years of our lives

I, I look back and I see You

Right now I still do

And I'm always going to

"Where I End": An original track written by Colton for this EP, it's a beautiful song about how God takes our weaknesses and makes them strengths. Based on 2 Cor. 12:9.

Obviously, I recommend the album to anyone young or old who needs to find some calm in the midst of whatever storm they may be facing.

Until next time, remember: At first, I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, "My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." -2 Cor. 12:9, MSG.♥

Love Times Infinity,

Chelsea

xoxo

God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~

#MusicMonday: Andy Mineo's new album Uncomfortable will have you feeling anything but

    I'm a music lover. And I always give a song two listens before I decide if I consider it music worth listening to. I feel I'm a little biased when it comes to Christian music simply because I tend to gravitate toward it most often only because it gives me hope, encourages me, speaks truth, and doesn't give me a headache. Christian hip hop is the same way for me.

   On September 18, 2015 Reach Records released Andy Mineo's second studio album, Uncomfortable. If you aren't familiar with Andy he's a New-York based rapper known for his spiritual yet progressive lyrics. It hit the #10 spot on the U.S. Hot 200 Billboard chart.

Song By Song Review

"Uncomfortable":  Talks about how racism isn't dead despite our President being black and how Christians need to stop condemning the LGBQT community, Jesus wouldn't act like that. Hard hitting musically and lyrically, it's a great opening track to the album. 

"Uptown": It's an ode to Andy's Washington Heights roots. My favorite lyrics in this song: 

"Now I Know": Mineo discusses all the lies he's realized throughout his life. 

"Desperados":  Favorite lines off the track:

"Hear My Heart": A track Andy wrote in honor of his deaf sister

"David's Roof": A track that introduces the one that follows it it is scripturally based off of 2 Samuel 11 when David is looking at Bethsheba from his roof. The song's only verse in English is translated: Prepare me for the war because comfort is the fall of kings, is the fall of kings.

"Rat Race": A track about running your own race and how people hate when they start envy someone else's race when they should be running their own:

"Know That's Right": A song that thanks the fans who voted for his song, "You Can't Stop Me," as the Best Walk Up song for MLB and he received a Whammy from ESPN. 

"Vendetta": Andy gives a shoutout to 2Pac and said he did more for him than Barack because politicians are out of touch with "the struggle" of society unlike the artist who understand being outcasted for their perspective of "the struggle.": 

 This is one of my faves simply because I'm just glad someone had the guts to talk about this issue.

"Ghost": Addresses the people Andy's lost connection with in his life.

"Love": In this song Andy talks to love as a person and talks about what he’s learned about love over the years. It’s not a ballad to his wife as expected, but expressing his love for love.

"Strange Motions": A song about a relationship that has you second guessing your relationship with God.

"Make Me A Believer": A song based on David's repentance in Psalm 51 about how God's love increases one's faith:

If it isn't obvious, I highly recommend Uncomfortable for any Christian or non-Christian alike.

Until next time, remember: The only way that you get acceptance is when you know you don't need it, yeah. Freedom is a mindset, and I ain't in my prime yet. -Andy Mineo♥

Love Times Infinity,

Chelsea

xoxo

God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~

#WriterWednesday: Why NOW is the time to have hope?

I don't mean to scare you with this statement but I believe the end times are near. There are many signs that Jesus is on his way back to Earth. Yet, this blog isn't about the end times at all...it's all about hope and why you should be living in it every day.

Just watch the news (CNN, anyone? aka the Chicken Noodle News, haha) or listen to today's music on the radio and even watching tv or movies, and it's easy to see why so many people are depressed. This world is filled with negative, critical, ignorant, death talk and not enough hope, love, or faith.

Yet, as someone who has suffered from medical depression, I know even all those outside sources aren' the only things to blame for the state of the world. Continuous trials and trying circumstances can and will get you down if you let them.

The key to living a hopeful life is surrounding yourself with hope and stop talking so much about your problems and the problems of the world.

Unless you are going to say something from God's word regarding the situation, the best thing you can do is Be still and know that he is God. (Psalm 46:10).

Suggested ways to live in continual hope

Pray One Bold Prayer a Day
The only way to see anything positive happen in your life is to exercise your faith. And the best way to exercise your faith is to pray. If you have hope, you're never afraid to believe big. You have not because you ask not. (James 4:2). And quit believing that God doesn't want to be good to you.

 God loves you more than you will ever understand, and he has a good plan for your life. You are never alone because he is with you all the time. God's forgiveness is greater than any sin you have committed. His mercy is new every day. As a believer, God has given you power, and you do not have to live a defeated life. Have a need? A dream you want to see fulfilled? Talk to God about it in prayer, much the same way you would a close friend, a family member, or your therapist. There is no formula. God just wants to hear from you. Start with Hi God, I need you, and the rest will follow.

Do Something Fun Each Day

You don't have to go to Disney every day to be hopeful and full of joy. It could be something as simple as coffee with a friend, watching a comedy with your family, or a walk in the park---anything that brings a smile to your face.

For example, yesterday my mom and I played the board game Trouble for the first time in many years and we had a blast! Today, I worked out and sang the entire time. For me, that was fun.
The key here is to enjoy life NOW! Don't wait until tomorrow, retirement, or that vacation to enjoy your life. Find a way to enjoy every single day!

Bless at least one person each day

Give someone a compliment
Tell someone how much they mean to you
Pray with someone who's having a rough day
Buy someone's lunch or a coffee

Write Down at least one way each day that God blessed you

Every night, I write in my blessings journal, and thank God for the blessings from that day. A grateful attitude produces great things to happen, plus it creates a joyful atmosphere. The more you are aware of what God's done in your life, the more your faith will increase for what you are hoping for.

I hope this blog encouraged you and if you want to know more or need some more HOPE, please check out Get Your Hopes Up! by Joyce Meyer. It's a short book filled to the brim with words of encouragement and ways to become more hopeful. It reads like a heartfelt letter from a long-lost friend.

Until next time, remember:

God is the only one who can make the valley of trouble a door of hope. -Catherine Marshall

Love Times Infinity,

Chelsea

xoxo

God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming!~