"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." 

Psalm 37:4

I'm engaged!!!!

  I hope to update soon...life has been sooo crazy!!

Chanda

 rainy days and beautiful noise

So it rained really hard for 2 days straight last week. 

The radio said we had 6-8 inches of rain.

It was starting to make me feel a little...blah...

I think God decided that as a reward for enduring so much rain, He would make yesterday and today beautiful!! 

I told someone today that rain makes me appreciate the sunshine so much more!  I can't imagine how Noah felt for those 40 days and 40 nights.  Gracious.  Makes me cringe. 

I love that the rain means...spring!!  Ah...the joy of changing seasons.  It's so exciting to me.  =)

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The other night I was doing my homework and the power went out.  I found out that this makes for a very interesting way to do homework!  =)

Jayna was trying to do homework too. 

Homework by candlelight...so romantic hilarious.

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Last Sunday we headed to Evansville to see the Newsboys in concert.  First, we stopped for a yummy supper at Steak-n-Shake (because it's a lot easier/funner to praise Jesus on a full stomach!!  haha).  Lance was such a gentleman and paid for all of our meals.  What a treat! 

chanda, jayna, lance, charmagne, carrie

Three awesome bands opened for the Newsboys...

Article One

Who knew that a violin could be so much fun in a band??  P.S.  I'm marrying him, Carrie. 

newworldson  (no picture...*tear) 

and Rush of Fools

love them

Me and Carrie anxiously awaiting the Newsboys

Lance and Jayna

At last!!  Hooray!!

They were incredible!!!

I loved every minute!  This was my favorite concert ever...hands down. 

They are amazing and it was such a blessing to be there.

Afterwards we posed by a streetlight.  =)

Lance and Jayna

Me and Carrie

Me and Jayna...it was definitely kind of late and we were definitely kind of goofy.

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If we're not careful, we can become absorbed with looking good on the outside and forget what really counts.  In fact, when we get to the place where we are keeping all  the "right" rules, we may become proud of ourselves and judgmental toward others.  But harboring bitterness, clinging to critical attitudes, and thinking too highly of ourselves are the kind of defiling stuff that make us guilty of Jesus' charge of "hypocrite." 

What matters to Jesus is what's on the inside.  ~J. Stowell

Ouch...that's hard for me to swallow.  It seems that this is what I struggle with the most. 

A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
 
Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
 
In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out
 
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

From the Inside Out by Hillsong

Imagine the great lengths He went to...to know us, from the inside out.

He didn't just do something little.  He did the single greatest act of love ever.

He gave everything He could...He gave His very life.  For us.  

So who CARES what we look like and how "good" we are.  

It's what's on the inside that counts.

Have a blessed Easter weekend.  

He LIVES!!!

chanda

Fifteen 5th grade girls and a really old toll bridge

So...it's been a long time because I've had two amazing weekends away.  The first was a Chrysalis and was excellent, although sleep was minimal.  Typically cameras aren't there to capture that event, thus no pictures from that.  Although, I have plenty from my 2nd weekend: 

Bible Memory Camp.

Staff arrived Friday night for some orientation stuff and the kids arrived bright and early Saturday morning.  What was supposed to be 105 kids snowballed into 145, which is fabulous.  I was counselor to 15 lively 5th grade girls.  We camped out for an entire 24 hours in a gym.  It's so fun to be a kid again, but also really tiring.  =)  I can't believe I'm saying that and I'm only 21!  Ha!!  Anyways...pictures, anyone?

Lanae and Hannah

My fifteen 5th graders

Playing a fun number game

Mimi creating a masterpiece

Hannah, Shelly, and Lanae

Lindsey, Bridgette, and me

So...one of the main events is the pine car race.  Here they are creating their cars...

And the main event...

The pine car race.  Fabulous.  =)

Me and Courtney

 Me and Mikayla

BMC tradition:  Veggie Tales movie!

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I thought it might be fun to show you the old toll bridge I cross on my way to school.  I've told friends about how hilarious I think it is that you have to pay money (Yes!!  50 cents!) to cross this rickety old one lane bridge.  I have no idea how old it is, but I bet it could tell stories-if it could talk, of course.  Maybe my 50 cents is contributing to a new bridge??

A riot...I know!!  I'm not kidding when I say that Mom covered her eyes when crossing it. 

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A thought for you today...

"How often are my prayers more like calling myself than calling on God?"

The purpose of prayer is not to get what we want, but to become what God wants.

Such a challenge...to ME!!

I pray that your day is blessed.

Grace & Peace,

Chanda  <><  Zeph 3:17

P.S.  I have to add this.  I added it to my Facebook profile earlier.  I know I'm easily amused, but my newest joy in life is this commercial.  If you have 30 seconds to kill, it is worth your while!  =)  Go to:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEJJUGJZxpU

 apples, bananas, ice, and valentines day

There's more than one way to eat an apple...

Yesterday Mom & Averi went to the grocery store.  A worker gave Averi this Mr. Bobby Banana.  She was so excited and played and played with it.

So...an apple a day keeps the doctor away.  Or is it a banana?  =) 

~*~**~*~**~*~

This morning all area schools were cancelled because of this stuff...

It was a blessing that today was my day off of school and work.  I was more than happy snuggling by the fireplace this morning.  I love winter, but I will say it's more fun to look at from the inside of a warm house.

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“I am like a deer, You are like the water

I run to You, like a son to his Father

I felt so alone, like a moth without a flame

But You ignited, and to You I came

And that’s forever.

“I felt so alone like a ship without a sea

But You gave me water, You took my hand and said to me

‘This is for eternity.’

“I’ll never be lonely

I’ll never be lonely with You

I’ve got this feeling that You’re here to stay

And I know I’ll never be lonely with You."

“It’s so exciting to know that though we may be singing a solo in life, we are never truly alone!  Singleness is an opportunity to allow Christ’s gentle arms to encircle our hearts and discover how very much He loves us.” 

     ~eric & leslie ludy in When God Writes Your Love Story

It's rough sometimes in a world of couples and dynamic duos to realize that I'm not alone.  It's easy for me to question God's plans for my life.  Especially on Valentine's Day!  Which happens to be Thursday.  The last few years on this day of hearts and flowers, God's shown me His all-consuming love.  I've realized that even though I'm single, He's more than enough.  He defines love.  He IS love. 

Christ's love needs to be my stronghold now...and even when I'm married.  God's reminded me over and over that even though He created marriage and love on earth, nothing can ever compare to the love of Christ.  It is no man's job to show me acceptance or self-worth.  Only God is able to make me completely whole.  Although God made marriage as a beautiful way to enhance relationships with Christ, He ALWAYS must be my first love.

This is an exerpt from a talk I gave last year about singleness:

I feel so left out and behind.  I have yet to experience earthly romance and love.  This is when I crumble in tears and ask God Why?  Why am I single? Why haven’t you shown me who I’m to love?  And that’s when my Beloved whispers in my ear... “Because you are mine.  You are perfect to me.  I made you beautiful in my image.  I bought you with a price and I long for your love.  You are a masterpiece and I love you indescribably.”  Just like that, each time I’m beaten down, Christ picks me back up and wipes my tears.  He’s the only one whom I can depend on for my acceptance and worth. 

So whether you're married or single this Valentine's Day, remember who created love and who loves you more than life.  You'll never walk alone.

Such beautiful love.

Chanda  <><  Zeph. 3:17

"Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart."  Psalm 37:4

P.S.  I'll be at a retreat this weekend.  I'm looking forward to meeting God there and experiencing that awesome love! 

Beautiful...simply beautiful

What an awesome game!

I was so thirilled/shocked/excited that the Giants are SuperBowl XLII Champs!  So great and so deserved!  There were some wonderful plays.  I'm guessing that a lot of people probably lost a lot of money yesterday!  The Star Spangled Banner was also fantastic.  Jordin Sparks was amazing.  (You can watch it on YouTube!)  It made me proud to be an American. 

Me and my Carrie girl with our Colts-made-into-Giants Jerseys.  (If you can't cheer for Peyton #18, , make the "8" a "0" and cheer for his little bro #10!)  Yep, we definitely used tape and construction paper...

Thanks to our wonderful hosts, Scott and Darla.  We had a great time!!

~**~*~**~*~**~

Today mom made a Dr. Pepper Cake with a little help from Jaeden and Averi...too precious.  There was batter all over the kitchen and all over them!  =)

~**~*~**~*~**~

God showed me this awesome verse:

I've heard so many verses in my lifetime that it's easy to hear one and not really think about it's meaning.  When I read Isaiah 41:13 this weekend, it was new to me.  I don't know that I've ever read that scripture.  It was so comforting and really jumped out at me. 

Well, He confirmed that "Yes, Chanda...I'm speaking to you" through one of my dearest friends tonight.  She was telling me about how crazy her week is going to be.  I definitely know the feeling.  And she said that God had been laying a verse on her heart.  Guess which one it was.  Yes, indeed:

I don't know why I'm so surprised because God is ALWAYS faithful.  I shouldn't be surprised when He gives me such revelations.  But I found myself shocked and delighted.  That is so amazing.

What can be greater?  He guides our little insignificant lives, holding us every moment of every day in His very palm.

He lets us make our own choices.  He will not barge in on His own, even though He easily could.  He, instead, captivates our hearts by His love and calls us to be His beloved. 

I hurt for those who don't know Him.  Yesterday, at church, we discussed the unsaved.  It's my job here on earth to share His love with others.  It's my job to let them know that they, too, are held in the palm of His hand...always.

Such beautiful love.

Grace & Peace to you today.

Chanda <><