Dating Q&A.

We are on the road again! This morning the snow is aggressively blowing across the highway, as we slowly sip our coffee. As we travel, we get asked a variety of questions and thought we would highlight a few with our answers.

Q: Chantelle, what was your worst date?

A: It was my first date in high school. He took me to McDonalds and I had to pay. There wasn't a second date! 

Q: Charlene, why are you single? 

A: I don't want to date for the sake of dating. Instead, I've chosen to wait. In this period of time, I am pursuing my dreams and hopefully will meet whoever he may be while pursuing such passions! 

Q: Chantelle, why are you single?

A: I haven't found the right one and I am not willing to compromise. I've changed my view of dating, since I yearn for a friend before a first date.  In this time, I see the value of friendship. So, I've chosen to wait and remain single. 

Q: Charlene, how far is to far?

A: Honestly, I think this is the wrong question. In asking this question, aren't you trying to justify a degree of physical intimacy? So, maybe ask God, "what is physically appropriate in His eyes?" 

Q: Chantelle, what do you wish women and men would understand about dating?

A: My prayer is that they would know the value of their worth as an individual. You are a valuable jewel, which is worth protecting. Take time to protect your heart and mind and grasp whose you are, God’s chosen child. So, don't find your worth in the opposite sex, rather in God. Furthermore, only give yourself to someone who is worthy of the jewel that you truly are! 

Q: Charlene, why is it SO hard to wait?

A: Isn't it a desire of your heart? It doesn't help when people ask, "why aren't you dating?" Often, I am temped to ask, "why are you married?" Or even question, "why does my relationship status matter?" I've discovered it is a mental fight between what society says and what I believe God is asking and teaching me in this season of singleness.

Q: Chantelle, your dream guy?

A: A lumberjack!

Q: Charlene, your dream guy?

A: An active man full of surprises and heart for adventure! And if he plays the guitar, it's a bonus!

So, hopefully that answers a few of your questions! 

#chartelle (Chantelle and Charlene)

Infinitely Awaken

 

There you lay sleeping; peaceful at last. Your heart is so heavy and overwhelmed, but for the next eight hours you are at rest. Head on your pillow, unaware of me watching and waiting for you to render your heart once again to me, your heavenly Father.

 

O my precious child, if you only knew the great things I had in store for you.

 

With excitement and joy I choose to bring you into this world. I formed and shaped you into the masterpiece I once saw. Now you stand broken, confused and unsure if I even exist. Who lead you astray? When did my love not become enough? Yet, I will never stop loving you.

 

 I will never give up on you.

 

I created the stars and the sea. I hung the universe with just the sound of my voice. But it is you that I created in my image. You are my prize possession. My beautiful creation surrounds you when you wake up and fall asleep, yet you continually ask, "God, where are you?”

 

I have and will always be with you.

 

Return to me, my child. Turn your eyes and heart to me. Do not be distracted from cheap imitations and false fulfillments of this broken world, I am the one and only. I am the one who desires to pour out blessing and good things from above.  Daily, I speak words of such love, hope and healing into every area of your being. I send angels throughout the day to guide and protect you. Oh how I hear your ever cry and prayer. I am aware of your every anxious thought.

 

Open your eyes and hear my voice.

When you wake up will you respond to my longing to be close to you?

 

Now I wait…..

 

Waiting for you to awake…

 

Waiting for you to see that I am here…

 

Waiting for you to respond to my relentless love for you…

 

Maybe today will be the day you finally awake!

 

Love, Your Heavenly Father

 

 

 

 

 

 

Self Control

Junior High-Bonus Video

Purity Is WORTH Fighting For!

I found myself once again struggling with temptations...

• Tempted to be loved
• Temptation to give love
• Temptation to just surrender  

The temptation that so often lures so many of us in.....

This past year, I was labeled as Canada's most popular virgin post appearing on “The Bachelor Canada.” I have had several people email, or Facebook, or interview and stop me in the streets all to ask me two specific questions, "why and how?"

#1) Why?

Why have I chosen to remain a virgin until I get married?

No, it is not because I am a nun as people have commonly assumed. Furthermore, none of any of the following accusations are true: being a lesbian, fearful of commitment, or naive of the pleasures that come with physical intimacy.

Instead, it began with a choice.

A choice that I made in grade eight post summer camp. I was sitting at the campfire, as a young woman in her early twenties shared on "True Love Waits." She talked about the significance and importance to wait until you were married to have sex. I knew in that moment that God was asking me to be obedient and to trust that He has the best in store for my love life.  So I said, "YES" to waiting.

Purity does not come easy, but it begins with saying yes. Yes to making a choice and not wavering in your decision. For the bible assures us that we will be tempted many times in the area of sexuality. Therefore, making a firm decision creates a strong foundation to stand up when temptations come.

And the temptations did come. Never did I anticipate at the age of thirteen that I would have to fight to protect my purity.  I learnt this very quickly as I entered into my first dating relationship.

#2) How?

How am I twenty-seven years old and still a virgin?

Response, by fighting!

Let me explain.....

It is a battle to remain pure, whether in the stage of singleness, dating, courting, or marriage.  We live in a very sexually promiscuous, indulgent, self-satisfying, and lustful culture. Everyone has different views on what is permitted and not permitted to do before marriage. The value and significance of purity is viewed as old fashion and unrealistic, which are both lies. Purity grants protection, restoration and a hope for the future.

For me, I had to make a choice. I decided that purity is worth fighting for and it was not something I wanted to give up or give into. I have had to say no, fight back and defend my stance for purity in relationships and in society.

Has it always been easy?

Absolutely not!

Have I been tempted?

Yes, yes and yes again.

The bible explains that we all will be tempted, but it is how you respond to the temptations that matter.

 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:12-15).

Take a moment to think.....

What is your response when you are tempted? Such as, tempted to look at pornography, to be sexual promiscuous, to find cheap love, or to look lustfully at someone else's spouse.

The bible continues to says, “do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:13-17).

God created sex as good gift! It’s a gift with grand purpose, more than just a feeling, selfish satisfaction or to procreate. Sex was created to bring two people together in unity and in oneness. The bible talks about a love that is worth waiting for. It is this type of love that should only be awakened until God’s perfect timing. I have learnt that following Jesus requires faith and to believe that God knows best about sex and relationships. I have chosen to believe and stand firm on Gods promises of blessing for those who live a pure life.

Purity is worth fighting for! It is worth the wait. God’s promises are true and will come to fulfillment.

Do you believe it?

What are you fighting for?

Chantelle

Perfectionism

Money, Money, Money…Money!

Birthdays, Balloons, and Surprises!

As I child, I used to think that when I grew up I would become a nurse or a teacher. In addition, I would live in a nice country style home with four kids and lumberjack husband. Now at the age of twenty-seven, I am learning that life is a lot more adventurous and full of unexpected surprises. And the life that I planned sometimes turns out a lot different than anticipated...

Instead of becoming a teacher or nurse, I became a preacher. I do not own a country style house, rather a small rustic summer cabin. Furthermore, I am not married; instead I was on a reality TV show called, “The Bachelor.” 

Surprising?!?

Yes and defiantly unpredictable!  Not exactly what I planned for my future…

The bible says, "in their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps" (Proverbs 16:9 NIV).  You can try to plan, orchestrate and coordinate your life, but hopefully you could acknowledge that life is full of many unexpected surprises. Generally, surprises come in all sorts of sizes and packages, which includes those good and bad surprises.

I was flying home after a week of speaking and preaching.  Just as the plane landed, the flight attendant announced that there was a special guest on board. I looked around trying to figure out who it could be, since I was curious if it was someone famous! A moment of silence and than the flight attendant announced, "Happy birthday Chantelle!"  What a Surprise!  In addition, I came back to work and my office was filled with over 300 birthday balloons.  The good surprises in life bring joy, laughter, love and excitement!

While those bad surprises in life can often bring fear, hopelessness, pain and sadness.  For example, a phone call that a family member has been in accident. Maybe it is someone you love or even yourself that is diagnosed with a deadly disease. Maybe it is a flood that overtakes your home or workplace.  Maybe it is a best friend who discloses her struggles with suicide or depression. Maybe it is an injury during a sports competition. Or maybe it is someone telling you that they don't love you anymore. These are all unexpected and unplanned surprises that change your life.

Over the years, I have learnt that surprises are simply a part of life. In all honestly, they have shaped, moulded and formed me into the person God has designed me to be. I have discovered that God’s goodness, faithfulness and very existence is seen through the good and bad surprises of life.

Rev. Travis School says, "I’m becoming increasingly convinced that God is found in the surprise, hidden in both the good and the bad surprises. Both give evidence of a costly and mysterious grace. But the evidence is often unexplainable. It is simply there, waiting to be uncovered, waiting to be revealed. Sometimes, its only response is an inarticulate cry, sometimes of pain, sometimes of joy, sometimes of both at once."

Do you respond to a surprise by laughing? Or maybe crying? Or maybe rejoicing? 

In whatever the surprises you may be facing, choose to see God in the midst of both the good and the bad. Because God loves you and He has great things in store for those who believe in Him. That does not guarantee an easy life, but a life full of peace, joy, hope and promises of a greater future. God is orchestrating your steps and "we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purposes for them" (Romans 8:28).

I’ve learned to accept the mystery of surprises, the good and even the bad. Furthermore, I recognize that surprises enable me to see the very character of who God is, such as his faithfulness or goodness.

So, what are those surprises in your life? How are you choosing to respond to them? And what specific characteristic of God is evident in each surprise?

Be surprised!

Chantelle

Value Of Time

Our YouTube Intro,

Let Your Faith Be Bigger Than Your Fear

What do you fear?

Some of the greatest fears include spiders, clowns, public speaking, intimacy, rejection, small spaces.

Growing up as a little girl, I had an unusual fear of bears! Maybe it was because I grew up near the Rocky Mountains or because my mom would read to me bear attack stories from National Geographic magazine on our camping trips.

When I got older, my fears began to shift to more common fears. Such as: fear of public speaking in front of my grade 7 class, fear of my first kiss, fear that I would be a failure at sports or academics in high school, and fear that I wouldn’t be accepted in my first year of college. The fact is I will encounter fear periodically in my lifetime.

Fear is a normal physical reaction, since your body was created with a "fight or flight" response when encountering potentially threatening situations. Fear was never created to be a consistent response for your body.   Your body cannot physically survive in a continuous state of "fight or fight".  Yet, if you take a look around, you see that people every day are living in a constant state of fear.

Humanity was not created to live our lives on a foundation of FEAR but FAITH.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1).

Faith requires you to believe beyond your current circumstances. To have HOPE even when you are faced with what seems impossible.

Take a moment, reflect and ask yourself: what is my foundation?

Do you base your decisions in life out of fear?

 - fear of failure

- fear of rejection

- fear of intimacy

-fear of sickness

-fear is death

-fear of never measuring up

- fear of what others may think or say

Or,

Are you living a life that is built on a foundation of faith?

The bible says, "there is no fear in love. For perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18).

God is love. God loved the world so much that He sent his son Jesus to pay the ultimate sacrifice and to die on a cross for the "sins" (wrongs) that you and I have done. You may not be perfect due to sin, yet Jesus made a way that you may have an intimate relationship with a loving, holy God through his death and resurrection on the cross.

Did you understand that?

God is love. When you encounter the love of God, you no longer have to live in fear. The truth is that you are loved. You are called a son/daughter. You are not rejected, rather fully accepted.  You are worthy. You are protected. You are not ever alone, since God is with you.

Faith in Jesus grants freedom from fear and enables a relationship with a Loving Heavenly Father. Jesus is the only one who can set you free of the bondages of fear, which is holding you back from living the life that you are created to live!!!

My challenge to you today:

Take 5, 10, 15mins and just sit. Surrender your fear to The Lord. Name whatever it is that you maybe fearing and give it to God.

    Wait in stillness and quietness.......

          Silence your thoughts and open up your heart. .....

                    Allow God to fill your heart with his love, peace, truth and freedom.

Scripture to mediate on: "God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.  Be still and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:1,2,10).

Blessings Chantelle