happy easter!

image by hillsong united found here 

happy easter! today i'm choosing to remember what Jesus did on the cross so many years ago. it really is the most important part. not only did He die for us, but He conquered death and rose again! He did what He said He would do. He wasn't a liar. He was and is our Savior. i'm very thankful for this and i'm praying this morning that since more people will be going to churches today that they would hear the gospel message and respond to it and want a personal relationship with God. and i'm praying that you all have a sweet day with family and friends! i'll be eating so many delicious foods at my aunts house with my family. i can already feel the food coma coming on (as well as like five pounds i'm going to gain from eating so much). it's so worth it though.

blown away.

this week i have been absolutely blown away by God and how real He is in my life. on tuesday night, we had a worship night at the YWAM base. we've gone to a few of their worship sessions (which have all been great by the way!), but this one was completely different. i can't describe to you how beautiful it is to be in a room full of people who are so in love with Jesus Christ. who have their hands raised and are singing praises to Him. it has been such a long time since i had last felt God's presence so real and so close to me. honestly, i started crying as we were all praying and worshiping together. it really was the defining moment of the trip. the time where i could really say, "wow God. you really had me here for such a time as this. you really did want me on this trip". the night reminded me a lot of my last trip to Hungary. i am so in awe of the Lord. He has been doing such a good work here in the city of cluj. and i am blessed and honored to be a part of it. i can't tell you how awesome and humbling it is to be here in this city serving God for the summer. it's amazing, it's challenging, and it's showing me that i want to be a part of more things like this. who knows what God has in store for my life, but i'm praying and trying to be open to whatever that may be. for now, i know that i am so happy to be here in romania. i'm so happy i was at the worship night on tuesday. i am so happy that God loves me and uses me for His glory. i am so happy that He is so real and so near to me. really, He just blows me away. it's awesome.

psalm 9:1-2: "I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
² I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High."

happy easter!

on the way to grandma and grandpas!

happy late easter! nat and i had a lot of fun hanging out with our family at our grandparent's house. and we definitely looked really cute that day (i stole natalie's dress again :) muahaha ). i hadn't been to sunday morning service in forever, but i finally got to go that morning! it was awesome being with my family and praising God for His Son. dude, it's so sweet that my family is saved. and that they all love jesus. it makes me happy. i really am super blessed to have such a close family. and i'm even more blessed that they all love the Lord. thank you God! :) 

nat, casey, and sandy. cute babies!

natakie!

 

my sister and grandpa

mom, me, nat, and grandma

our cousin brianna is going to be a model one day, i decided.

proof: sandy really is an alien. WHO SITS ON A TABLE LIKE THIS?!?

bahaha natalie!

pastor bob said this and i really liked it: "the fact that Jesus is risen means Jesus is ruling!" woohoo!

JESUS IS RISEN

ps. the only thing that would have made easter even better is if peeta hutcherson had made a guest appearance.

my heart right now

i'm sitting on whitnee's bed with natalie by my side. i love nights like this :) we went to dinner with ryan tonight and he treated all of us! he is too nice! thanks ry! bonus: we talked about romania the whole time and prayed over the trip. alksdjfaiseuralksndvlawueraksdngalsdguaslkjdf yay!

i think i mentioned before how badly i wanted to go to romania... yeah i totes did. did i mention that i am now considering and praying about staying there for... wait for it.... wait for it... 7 WEEKS. eeeeeeee! my heart jumps even when i just think about it! seriously Lord, i want to go so badly!

okay, so now i'm laughing. because whitnee is writing her mom a letter and asking us to find verses for her about seeking counsel from other believers, and verses about our plans versus God's plans. and two verses stood out to me and i think they are verses that i need to remember right now:

proverbs 19:21* "many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails"

proverbs 16:9* "a man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps"

oh, God. you got me. i need to slow down. will do :)

i just told jessica that i am so glad that right now my biggest concern/worry is over the romania mission trip next summer. life is so good! and i am so blessed! i really need to take time and slow down, and just come before the Lord and lay at His feet. because that is where He will confirm whether or not i am called to romania and whether or not i should go. plus, i need Him so badly! my heart aches and my life loses any source of joy whenever i am not consistently spending time with Jesus.

so God, thank you for this reminder to give my plans to you. and i shouldn't have plans or expectations. i need to give them all over to you and allow you to do your thing! i need to allow you to direct my steps. and i'm excited to let you to do so! please take my life and use it radically for you and for you alone Lord. i am all yours!

wondering what's next

i really should be sleeping right now. i mean, it is after 12 a.m. and i have church in the morning (and i wanted to go on a run before church? lol). but i feel like writing. i don't know what i feel like saying though. and with blogging you probably should know what you want to say first? oh well.

anyways, i'm really curious to see what is going to happen in the future. and i mean, soon soon. like next month soon. or even a few weeks soon. and i'm excited, but i'm also really anxious and nervous. and i feel really selfish. because, i'm always wondering about what i want to happen, or what i think should happen, or what i think will happen. and God is probably thinking, "oh chanel. just trust me. i know what you want and what you would like to happen. but I have everything under control and know what is best"*

it's just so hard leaving everything in God's hands! and not only that, but taking a step of faith in what you believe it is that God is calling you to do. because, if i'm being honest, i'm really quick to jump into what i want to do, and am quick to forget and not listen to what GOD wants me to do.

okay, so... here is my commitment to spending every single day over christmas break (yay! it's christmas break! FINALLY!) with Jesus and dedicating time to prayer and reading my Bible. i will use this break to bring Him glory and to try to get a glimpse in what He wants me to do over the next year.

so i guess i should maybe check in every day and let you know how it's going? yeah, we'll see how that goes :p but i'll try to write everyday! you can do it me! (is it weird i give myself pep talks? yeah probs. but jess on new girl does it.... hahaha)