Rest, Be still, and Rest

WOW!!! As I have been working on my New Goals for the new year I kept asking God what does he want me to focus on.  I kept asking and what kept coming back was rest, be still, slow down, enjoy the season! For those of you who know me well I GO all day long. I always have a long list of things to do and so many things I need to get done.  It may be school projects, or extra things out of school for the kids or way to many photo shoots scheduled on a already crazy day,  or just playing around on the computer or just cramming to much into a week.  As I sat down yesterday to have my quiet time I came across a book that I bought a while ago and just have not started it yet.  So I felt like this would be the season that I use it in my quiet times.  So as I opened the first chapter it is on resting! WOW really Lord I hear you!  I love how the author explains how us moms can get in this Routine of" Hurry up kids we have to get to the next thing." I was guilty of that.  I want to get all that I can in my day but at pace that I can fully enjoy it.  I love what the Author says here.

God will give every mom the Resources she needs to accomplish what he wants for her to do. In the meantime he says our over scheduled, undernourished lives get us nowhere- nowhere near his ideal for us.  Even as we sleep, cannot God who knows us inside out produce wisdom, rest, creativity and solutions if we rest in his provisions, not our own.

 Rebecca Barlow Jordan

I loved that.  It said it all for me.  I know that I just need to stop and not HURRY to the next thing and to the next and next.  Just make it to what I can and enjoy that time that I am there.  I also thought that it was so awesome  when I opened  my Bible and maybe God just wanted to bring it home with me about resting, but when I opened my bible to my devotion for the new year it was titled Rest and Receive.  AMEN! I do Lord I am resting and receiving what you have before me for the new year.  Last year I feel  it was a year of restoration and healing, and eye opening year to what God has before me and us as a family.  I am loving my quieter time and I am loving the pace of the day.  I want to gain more time in my relationship with others and my time where God has asked me to spend it.  

"It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know that he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?"

Psalm 127:2

Blessings in your New Year!

Chela......

Praying and focusing on the new Year and my goals!

The New year will be here soon!! I have been really thinking about the new year and what I would love to see happen in my life and my families life and my Business.  I have learned that when I sit at the Lords feet and really focus on what he has for me I get a clearer picture. I am really laying out these goals and dreams and praying about them and seeing where God wants to guide me in this new year.  I am so excited about 2012! I am not sure why I just have such a great feeling about it.  I can't wait!!!  In the next couple of days I will post  my new goals and I can't wait to share them.  Have  a great New Year!

Blessings,

Chela......

Breath of Heaven

Christmas is quickly approaching  and I have to admit is has been so hard to get into the mood this year.  Yesterday as I sat in Church and listened to Pastor Ryan speak on what an amazing Gift Christ was to us and that he BECAME MAN!! Yes he did. That moment took me away.  A few weeks ago he talked about Mary and how God chose her to do this work.  A humble, young girl that had a pure heart and was ready.  WOW!! I was moved yesterday as the Lord spoke to me in church asking me to please sit at his feet this week and listen to him, to lay the new year before him, and to ask where he wants me to go this year.  I love how God directs our paths.  Sometimes it is our human nature to want to direct our own paths and to go and do what we want to do.  When was the last time you let God direct your path?  I know that it can be very frightening at times, but God always brings you to the best that he has for you. RIGHT?

I have such a passion for the ministry and I love being a part of it.  Any part.  I love praying with people, I love teaching children about God's love, I love serving. I just love it all.  I also feel that My photography is part of my ministry.  I feel that God has opened this talent to reach into many lives and I love it.  As I sat at Christ feet this morning and I listened to this song I was moved to tears just thinking about how Mary felt that night.  How she was chosen to do this JOB.  I love the part when she sings," I offer all that I am and Help me to be strong." Yes Lord that is what I want. I want to offer all that am to you and help me to be strong. " Pour over me all your holiness. " I love that! I see the Holy Spirit just breathing new life into me. I love it. As the tears streamed down my face this morning I just sat here in my living room that was lit with just the Christmas tree lights and the candles and thanked my God for his gift.  The gift of life, the gift of freedom, the gift of LOVE.  I am so thankful for Christmas and all that it brings to us this year.

This new year will bring some mighty things.  I am looking forward to it.  I know that God has a lot in store for the Williams family, and  Marisela Photography.  I am looking forward to it with great anticipation.  Today I sat and listened to Gods heart.  For the next two weeks I am going to lay out my goals for the new year and really start praying over them to see where God Guides me.  Thank you Lord for calling me to your feet, and for hearing your sweet voice this morning.  I love you! I am so excited to celebrate Christmas this week and to have a ton of fun with the kiddos!

Merry Christmas!

Blessings,
Chela

At the Cross!

The Cross! I wear one around my neck, I have one tattooed on my arm and I have them all over my home. It is a symbol that reminds me of Freedom, unconditional love, the power of Jesus Christ, that my God is Alive!! Today I sat in my home quietly.  I turned everything off and lit the candles and played this song.  It totally said everything my heart was saying and what I felt.  I felt the Lord so gently calling me to  my knees at the  Cross.  He met me there and I felt God's presence all around me.  While I was there he had my attention and I cried out to him my prayers, my thoughts, my concerns, my fears.  There at the cross I left them.  I know that my God, Jesus Christ is real, and I know that he is alive.  I feel so honored that today he quietly called me to hear him and for him to hear me.  I had so many  other things on my list to do today, but sitting at the cross became my number one thing to do today.  It was amazing and awesome.  I love that I didn't push this time aside and that God met me today in my living room.   If you get a chance stop and listen to this song.  Listen to the words. and listen to God as he gently draws you to him.

This is the cross that hangs from my neck! Thank you Miranda.

Romans 5:6-10 
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Blessings,

Chela.....

Getting back to Working out!

 Okay so here I am back to running/walking at the gym around the neighborhood, and it feels good.   On the days I don't run to go to a class at the Gym called Body pump.  It's awesome! Its all weight lifting. My days can get very full quite quickly but I realized that I need to make time for myself.  It feels so good to be productive in this way.  Today I enjoyed a run with my sister Beth and the kids and it was awesome to have a partner to keep you pushing on.  It felt so good!! My goal is to lose weight and to tone my body.  I want to feel good and look good. ( I want to look good for the hubs).  So I have  a  goal.  By my Birthday November 28th I want o see  10 pounds gone and be a bit toner! So here we go on a fun journey of a healthier me...

Chela.....

The Kids room!!

They love their bunk beds now I need to teach them that they need to make everyday!

This is where their boards are that will have their chores and Verse of the month on. ( I want then to memorize verses more this year)   I also want to put love notes to them on it!

The view from the Door! I dislike their blinds very much!

Another view and that is their closet!

Their quiet reading corner.

Their closet and all their toys and books! You can see the floor1 Yeah!

So I know I have posted this before, well it was time for another.  I am learning that as the kids grow I need to monthly do a a full cleaning of the their room.  Since they share a room it can get very tight in there and full of junk! For the past 8 years the kids have always shared a room and it has been great, but now we are getting into a new phase of life where they soon will need their own rooms.  They need their own space and they seem to be out growing this one, but we are making it work.  So thankful for what God has given us and we are praying that the bigger house at the right time will become available for our family.  So their room was beginning to look like a Hoarders room.  YES it was!! It was scary and I would get so frustrated every time I would go into it.  Well with my amazing sisters help we got it together.  I still want to do some decorating things and I may need to change a few more things but  this is how it is now and I feel so relieved.  They love it!! They have played all day in their room and I love it!

Chela.....

My Son, a little boy after God's Heart!

Elisha Ryan Williams! His name means God is my Salvation and little King.  I love it.  When Jimmy and I were naming him we took a lot of time deciding. We wanted his name to be strong.  We wanted him to represent  what we believe in.  This name was perfect and it was perfect for him.  If you know my son you are probably laughing.  If you know how God  works you  would say WOW what an awesome God we serve. I pray for my kids daily.  About every six months I write out a list of things that I want to see in my children or things that they need to work on and also protection, and that they make friends with people that will be the right fit in their lives and people that need to experience more of Christ Love.  

A few years ago Eli started to ask to See Jesus.  He said he wanted to see him.  So Jimmy and encouraged him to ask God to reveal himself to Eli.  He prayed this daily and one morning when he got up he said, "mom I saw Jesus last night." It was so sweet.  Then a month ago he shared the plan of salvation with a friend and that blew me away.  Now my little guy enjoys writing in his journal and sitting and reading his Bible.  I love it. It actually brings me to tears. I know that God has such an amazing plan for my little Boy.  I know that he will be called out, and I believe he already has.  I will continue to pray for him and I will continue to encourage him to share Christ's love in any way he can.

Lord Thank you so much for making my son.  I pray that you will equip us as his mother and father to be what he needs to be.  I pray that we will be that example  he needs to grow closer to you .  I pray that you  will give wisdom and strength to battle the fight that is before him.  I pray that his armor is on and he is ready.! Thank you Lord for Elisha Ryan.  He is gift! This is the verse that I am praying over my son!! I know he is warrior! He is a warrior for Christ!

"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...." Ephesians 6:10-18