WATOTO

Well, the extraordinary whirlwind called Watoto happened today....the biggest blessing for me recently i would quite possible say!! I spent this afternoon helping the watoto children learn how to rock climb at our church building (yup! we have our own indoor rock wall now! cool huh?) Once we were finished the rockclimbing session... each event volunteer received many cuddles from almost every single child! it was incredibly overwhelming, but oh so beautiful. A lot of these children have had a very difficult past to cope with, yet Watoto has lifted them up... they not only LOVE Jesus (I witnessed that tonight in their worship time.... believe me, children's hands raised unto the king... and tears rolling down their faces... true Love for the King of Kings)... but they were so well mannered and so affectionate. I guess that sort of thing is not so easy to come by in my part of the world. I have a small group of friends who would cuddle me...but not many strangers come up to me and hug me with such enthusiasm as i saw today. oh oh oh! and i was even called "Aunty Chelsea" today.... obviously, the watoto kids really encouraged me today. Then tonight: almost 400 people gathered together to watch the Watoto choir sing and dance! it was so great to have that many people there! And I know for a fact I wasn't the only one today who was changed by Watoto! I'm seriously wishing tonight hadn't finished! it was so fabulous! oh well. back to reality tomorrow... would love to see that many people in the church every weekend! (in more than one service). I'm sure the other churches represented there tonight would of felt the same for their churches too. let's pray for next year's watoto event to HAPPEN and for it to be HUGE. Maybe you could be the missing link at church close to you? why not check it out today? I belong to The Salvation Army Church in Craigieburn, 75 Interlink Drive, Craigieburn. Our sunday services are at 9.45am and 7.00pm. Would love it if you chose to join us. God Bless you today, and thanks for stopping by my blog to have a read xoxo

God's answers to prayer... and the way he speaks to us...

Well, i blogged about a similar topic AGES ago... when God was speaking to me through visions. He still does this from time to time... But i've noticed lately an increase of God speaking to me through other people, through their words or their prayers. I wanted to share something with you that is very personal to me and so extraordinary to me. However, please note that I understand completely if this is not as "extraordinary" to you as a reader. God speaks to each of us at our own level... something that he knows will get directly to the core of our souls as an individual. Be mindful of this, ask God to help you listen to Him better. I'd love to hear your stories too, so feel free to comment!! Okay so back to my story... A dear friend of mine, a beautiful young lady who has wonderful visions during our church prayer meetings and whom I am so thankful of - she is so in tune with the holy spirit, It's fabulous! .... well, she has shared this vision with me more than once... it's very special to me... (thinking maybe a tattoo might be in order? haha!) But she has in the past had these visions of me as a big, bright, red rose that is in bloom. As she prayed for me last night she mentioned this "rose" thing yet again, she explained that God had said to her "Wild Rose" this time - like as in a rose that refuses to grow in the soil the world wants it to be in, but chooses to be in God's garden. I so want to be this Wild Rose!! I really do. I'm determined to do what God wants for me, and although I make plenty of mistakes along the way (and let's face it, we all do!), I want to grow to be a bigger flower, a brighter colour and a more beautifully scented christian of God's kingdom. I understand this is a little bit girly for some of you... most guys I know would probably not be into the whole flower metaphor at all... however I really do hope that this small word over my life would be something that we ALL aim for! To be someone who refuses to grow or remain in what the world would want for us to be... to refuse to "put up with" what the world dishes up, the compromises that people in our own world create, the garbage that people speak into our lives... but RATHER choose to be in God's will. No matter the cost. Refusing to be bogged down by what others throw at us ...but to focus on God. and remain in God. It's so easy to get distracted away from God. It really is. Because sometimes the things that distract us may not really be all that terrible.... Careers, time with family, friends, parties, fitness/sports, etc... they're not terrible things... my rhetorical question to you today is, what is distracting you away from the Lord? what has you planted in another garden apart from God's garden? God Bless you friend. I pray my story has encouraged you today xo

And that about wraps it up...

God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple hours. This is for keeps,a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peave, faith and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. Ephesians 6:10-17 (MSG)

My Dad writes a blog too... check out this latest one... inspiring!

http://majorgarygrant.blogspot.com/2011/09/at-end-of-bed.html?spref=fb

War In Worship.

I was having a chat today with some ladies this morning about the war of worship. I LOVE that i can be apart of something bigger than me when i worship. I know for a fact that when we truely worship God - we are pushing back the powers of the enemy. When we focus our eyes on the Lord Jesus... all the distractions of our busy lives just fade away... i also believe that Satan uses "busy" to draw us away from the Lord Jesus too.

Time and time again i witness people making excuses to miss being in the presence of God; "I have a birthday party the night before and I was too tired to come to church" or perhaps "Sunday is my only day off in the week, i want to spend it at home with the family" or even "I'm not a morning person, so i dont do devotions during the week".... im sure we could sit here all day coming up with amazing excuses of why we or others shouldnt be worshipping God... in his house even (the church).

What excuses do you make when it comes to spending time with God? Are those excuses or reasons for not being with God really that important to you? What is taking your focus away from him today?

Think about it. Pray about it. Be in church this week no matter what!

I hope that this Blesses someone today. I aim to encourage.

a hive of activity.

A small thought I'd like to share with you today. I love my church. I love my Jesus. HE BRINGS LIFE TO THE PLACE!

From Monday to Wednesdays i help out at my local salvo church doing administration stuff for our community support service here... we were incredibly busy today. Clients coming in, church folk coming in, tradees, etc! It can be stressful at times, however i still thank God for it because there are people in His House. That's where they oughtta be :))))

I'm not sure if you've ever been to church, I'm not sure if you, my reader, have even heard about Jesus. But he really can change your life. Jesus has the power to make every situation better! All you gotta do is just trust him in it, and believe that he knows better than you do. He loves you so much. He really does. It's not just a cliche even! he really loves you! in fact the bible says that God knows the exact number of hairs on each person's head! incredible!

He loves you like there's noone else for him to love. Try talking to him today ... it might just change your life! Chels xo

Upcoming sermon

So you've tuned in to Chelsea's blog. No, it's not Julie and Julia (although i did appreciate that movie... slow... but entertaining nonetheless).

To make my blog more interesting... i think perhaps i should contribute more frequently.

I'm preaching in September... and tossing some ideas around about what to preach about. Have some ideas in mind... in fact God has been teaching me in the ways of learning not worry so much because He is in CONTROL!
However... together, we're in conversation about how i might present that on the night. So watch this space i say.

This won't be my first sermon actually, I've preached only once before at my home church in Craigieburn. Very nervous sort of stuff! My first sermon was all about fear. And how the enemy brings the fear factor. And that through our Lord Jesus Christ we have no need to fear!I shared stories of my own crippling fear and the ongoing experiences i had faced throughout the last couple of years.

It was the kind of fear that crept up on me in the middle of the night... which i knew had no reason nor logic. But i would literally be paralyzed in my own bed... too scared to even move! A spiritual leader and dear friend of mine shared with me about how she had dealt with similar things earlier in her own life. She declared out loud "I am a child of God" and the fear disappeared almost instantaneously! I took her advice and started doing the same thing myself!

Proclaiming that I belonged to the Lord God helped a lot! It's amazing when you do it actually! it's almost like you can feel the opposition or the enemy take a step backwards! try it seriously!

anyways, so that's my input for 22 August...I'm at work at the moment... so I might put some music folders together for Sunday's worship experience and while I'm at it, make up some coffee for myself too! Jealous?

http://www.salvos3064.podbean.com/

Check out Salvos3064 podcasts!! brillo times!

Incredible.

It's incredible that I still even have this Blog here! wow! i went searching for it today... and to my amazement realised that my old "kingdom" blog is still ready to be read and operational. interesting stuff.

Well before I read through my old posts, let me share with you some stuff that's been going on in recent times... keeping you up to date :)

So since I posted here last.... many things have changed in my life... including various employment changes.... not long after working at the The Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters (when i last "blogged")... i have had some time working in the so-called "corporate world" - and found i really struggled with working for a large, well-known corporation that seemed (to me) to be all about profit and not about people.

After hearing a call from God about leaving that place of employment and working for the church... i took a MAJOR leap of faith and went for it! Pursuing employment with the Salvation Army yet again.

Here, I feel at home. I'm not comfortable ( a good thing). But I know this is where I'm supposed to be right now, and am praising God for just that!

I have recently scored the role of worship pastor at my church too. Not that that's anything to boast about... but it's yet another role God has called me to, lucky for me - i really enjoy bringing my praise before God in song! Although, I admit this role also has it's tough times too. And I fully recognise God shaping me and teaching me through these areas of my life.

And of course, i'm still keeping up the creative side of my life... not only with the music stuff... but i continue to paint...mostly acrylic on canvas pieces. Love it!

I will continue this blog, i promise. Today is just a catch up so you know where i'm at the moment :)

Wait for the stories! I've got so many to tell you!!! Miracle stories! GOD stories!!

With Love - Chelsea x