Overflow!

They say traveling brings out the BEST and the worst. I ponder this familiar statement and read, "may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13 NIV).

Above 40,000 feet in the air, the worst happened with multiple moments of explosive vomit. I sat in my confined middle seat and questioned, "should we just go home?" But, I heard God boldly say time and time again, "the BEST is yet to come!" So, with little faith and a smudge of doubt I mumbled a prayer, "vomit cannot be the BEST...I choose to receive only the BEST oh Lord." 

The best did come...

The BEST exhibited itself by exploring European culture, swimming in caves of the Mediterranean Sea, eating fresh Italian pasta and glorious gelato, deepening new and old friendships, discovering breathtaking landscapes upon ATV's and bikes, and looking up at the stars as the waves crashed upon the shore. 

Sometimes the BEST requires patience and a willingness to wait. Furthermore, the BEST requires perseverance and hope for what cannot be seen or even touched. In addition, the BEST requires an eagerness to receive what your Heavenly Father has already provided in advance for you to simply experience. 

Truthfully, the BEST might not be what you envisioned or anticipated or even expected. As a result, the best ironically endures a point of completion and a verbalized goodbye.  The old saying states, "every good thing comes to an end." But, I'd like to add that the best always ends so another beautiful piece of life can be explored and experienced. 

So, I've returned home and frequently been asked, "how was Europe?" I cannot help, yet glow and respond with a single response, "the BEST!" Ironically, I returned home to hear discouraging news. Hence, I am realizing the power of declaring the best upon the days and weeks before me and especially on those whom I love. Furthermore, when I don't understand certain pieces of life, it is actually an opportunity to humbly ask God, "please reveal only the best..." For sometimes His best is discovered in seasons of waiting; endured in transitions with such perseverance; and simply accepted with mere awe and wonder because it's right before you! 

In the process of unpacking the contents of my backpack, I realized that overflow comes from a point of believing and declaring the best!  I re-read the passage and began to declare the best in a place of overflow. So, "may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13 NIV).

Will you join me in declaring the best?

Charlene

P.S. And I pray that you may discover God's abundant overflow for you just like this picture from Greece! 

Silent Restoration.

Recently, we were asked to speak on restoration in the Edmonton Federal prison.

I took my final steps through security, nearing "outside freedom" as phrased by the inmates, and pondered the simple fact that we are NOT different.

From a factual standpoint:

• We both are human
• We both want restoration
• We both desire to be found worthy
• We both have a past
• We both have hopes and dreams
• We both long to be loved
• We both yearn for healing

She picked a machete.

I picked restoration.

She got prison.

I got freedom.

And here she is asking with tears in her eyes, "how?" She pauses and continues, "how can I restore what is broken?"

Isn't it everyone's deepest desire for restoration? Regardless of the type, we yearn for restoration in our lives.

Truthfully, I didn't grasp the value of restoration until I considered that I never truly fought for it before. Suddenly, I was faced with a choice. A machete wasn't what I decided. Initially, I chose to run. I flew home and I escaped the greatest heartache that I've ever experienced.

Naturally, you probably would too…

Restoration isn't our first choice. Because who wants to fail restoration?  Who wants to attempt restoration when the other person has deeply hurt and lied to you? Furthermore, who wants to seek restoration when it seems impossible?

Ironically, I did. I didn't have a machete. No, I had a small piece of hope. And might I add, a miniature piece of hope. It was that glimmer of hope that initiated my steps onto the airplane. It was that fraction of hope that enabled me to surrender my engagement ring. It was that ounce of hope that granted me the ability to respond with love and not hate. It was that sliver of hope that reminded me to not give up. Oh how I wanted too, as multiple times I considered accepting defeat. Yet, hope stirred me to keep seeking the possibility of restoration. It was silent, not the restoration I anticipated or expected, but a beautiful form of restoration not often spoken of.

Silent... 

Silent...

Silent...

In the silence, I discovered freedom and the value of restoration as the purest form of love. For "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17).  Furthermore, I was "called to be free [to be restored]. But do not use your freedom [restoration] to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love" (Galatians 5:13).

Hope for restoration brought me back to Alberta. I'd love to say, I've witnessed complete relational restoration with my ex-fiancé and it's mended perfectly. But, that isn't accurate.  Restoration is complex. It exhibits a variety of layers and woven with pieces of unknown in the abyss of time. Instead, my relationship to him remains silently restored.

I flew over the Rocky Mountains and I promised myself that I wasn’t returning for romantic love, rather for restoration. In that choice, I received the greatest gift: God's restoration.

• He restored my worth
• He restored my ability to love
• He restored my dreams
• He restored my capacity to trust
• He restored pieces of life that I didn't even knew required his restoration!

The relationship I thought required such restoration wasn’t actually what needed restoration. Instead, it was my relationship with God.

Do you need relational restoration?

Or do you need God’s restoration?

We are the same...

She may be an inmate doing time, yet just like me she is a young woman with hope for restoration.

Because we all desperately need to be freed by God’s restoration!

With a heart for restoration,
Charlene

Perfectionism

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