Never Ending Praise The Lord

Devotions and short stories that draw me to God.

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Hey! I’m Chelsea and I started this website as a way to get closer to God through devotional time. I thought, why not share it with others? If I have questions, it’s very possible that you have questions as well. Eventually, this website will have short storiesarticles as well as devotions. I would also like to implement prayer requests and a place to share answered prayers and testimonials I can feature. I live in Texas with my mom and our two dogs Twiggy and Bella. I’m a woman who has been through the fire many times, and the only way I came out of it was the love of God. Until things come together, please feel free to comment your need for prayer. You have the option of telling me “Please pray, God knows.” or if you want it to be specific, you’re more than welcome to share. Praying it all comes together soon!
  • My Story, His Glory

    My Story, His Glory

                                                                                   

    Psalm 40:2-3 NIV  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

                One of my favorite things to do with my mom is sit down over dinner and listen to testimonies of faith given by different people around the world. I’ve heard some amazing stories of people who left behind really dark things in their past and now walk into a bright and glorious future with Jesus Christ by their side. As Christians, we all have testimonies that are meaningful to others. This is the shortened version of mine.

                I was born into a church going Christian family. I was also really blessed with many people through out my life who encouraged me to walk with Christ. Unfortunately, going to church didn’t mean much more to me than pretty dresses, easter egg hunts and later on, cute boys.

                As I entered my teenage years, many things affected my mental health. An older brother who was very emotionally and mentally abusive, being bullied at school, and learning disabilities are just a few examples. It seemed the harder I tried to seek worldly approval, the more I failed.  I wanted to be beautiful, smart, popular, and loved. Instead of opening my bible and seeking truth from God, I continued to seek approval from both platonic and romantic relationships.

                While I made a choice to accept Christ at nearly sixteen, I still didn’t make many changes. Because I so often neglected scripture, I couldn’t tell you why I had accepted Christ. On October 31st, 1998, I was on a youth retreat in Vero Beach, Florida.  My pastor, Dave, personally sat me down and explained the Gospel to me. I had a hard time with the concept at first because the answer to just accept the gift Jesus offered seemed too simple. I essentially said yes and accepted Christ that night but part of my confusion was having a belief that I was already a Christian. I was wrong- being part of a Christian family doesn’t save you. Dave must have really been led by God that night. God knew something I didn’t and he used Dave to reach the confused young girl that I was.

                I continued to make grave mistakes. Promiscuity, laziness, drugs and alcohol entered my life. I made a decision on two separate occasions to marry. Neither man was a Christian, and both ended in divorce. I don’t think I have to tell you that all these decisions led to anxiety and depression, yet I still didn’t call on the Lord.

                            Then, I lost my child. I was so heartbroken. I felt I was really at my very lowest. I didn’t know up from down, but somehow knew the answer was God. So, I went to church. I poured my heart out on a prayer card. Then the people at that church poured love into me unlike any I had ever known. I realized that what I truly needed was a true relationship with Christ- and there he was, ready and waiting.

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                            The road since then has been bumpy. I haven’t been the perfect example of a Christian because none of us are perfect. I’m still a sinner forgiven and saved by the grace of God. The beauty of my life is that God placed new dreams within me, he gave me new hope, and a new chance every day to try again. Much of my closeness with God is maturity but most of it is knowing my worth in his eyes.

                            I asked a question a few days ago. I wanted to know who Jesus is to you. For me, Jesus is not just my savior, but he’s also my King. He’s my light, my everlasting to everlasting. He’s my provider, my peace and my joy. Jesus didn’t just forgive me by dying for me, he forgave me over and over and patiently waited for me to return and set my focus on him.

                            Now that I’ve shared my story, I would love to hear yours. How has God answered prayer and changed your life?

  • New Thoughts

    New Thoughts

    Hey everyone,

    I’ve decided to do little “in between” posts where I ask a question and hope I receive answers! I would love to engage more with my audience. Devotions may not come out on Mondays anymore, but sometimes they might. Please know that even if it’s not a whole devotion, I will definitely post something every Monday morning.

    In anticipation of my upcoming devotion, I want to know…

    Who is Jesus to you?

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  • The Best News You’ll EVER Hear

    The Best News You’ll EVER Hear

    Romans 6:23 NIV For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

                    If someone asked you why we need Jesus, how would you answer? I’ve thought about this off and on for several years now. I’ve had so many different answers but the one I keep coming back to is so basic and it lays in Romans 6:23. 

                    The problem started when sin entered the world. Ah, sin. What is it? Allow me to give you a visual. I used to leave lipstick in my jeans pockets because for whatever reason, I hated carrying a purse. Then, my distracted mind would wash the jeans, throw them in the dryer and cry when everything in that load of laundry was covered in a deep berry color. Stained for life.  Sin is that lipstick and we are the load of laundry. We can spray the clothes all we want, and try every detergent in the house, but we can’t fix it.  Sin is that regrettable act we commit that we can’t take back- so we have to rely on the only one who can fix it. In the meantime, it affects everything and everyone around us.

     God intended for everything to be beautiful and perfect. Unfortunately, it’s been human nature from the very beginning to turn away from God and seek satisfaction in the wrong places. This is what leads to sin. Sin leads to death and unfortunately, we can’t save ourselves.

                    God, however, had a solution. Because he truly loves us, [john 3:16] he sent Jesus to die on a cross so that we would be saved. The best part of this amazing gift is that it’s free. You don’t have to buy anything or do anything because Jesus already did it.

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                    If you’re anything like me at all, you still feel like there’s a catch. I was a skeptic once in my life too because it seemed a little too simple. It felt like I had to think really hard about my response or say and do the right thing without being told what that thing is. Boy, do I have good news for you! Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, for you, you will be saved.’ [emphasis mine.]  Then verse 10 goes on to tell us that it is with our hearts that we are saved and justified and with our mouths that we profess this faith and are saved.

                    I want to take it one step further. You can be at your most broken place in life and still say yes. Claim it for yourself, then proclaim it to the world. God isn’t waiting for your perfection, your empty promises, or your bargaining. He just wants your heart.

                    So, the gospel is this; Jesus lived the perfect life we couldn’t live, he died the death we deserved, and then he rose again so we could have eternal life with him. Say yes and thank you, Lord AMEN!

  • Deemed Worthy

    Deemed Worthy

    Luke 12:6-7 NIV “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

    Have you ever looked in the mirror and wanted to be someone different? I know I sure have. And it doesn’t help when the enemy fuels this thinking by filling my head with lies from myself or through the comments of others.  Why do we desire to be someone else? Why do we struggle with accepting who we are for what we are? I’ve come to see that it’s not just about our self-esteem, but our self-worth.

    I’ve always thought self-worth and self-esteem were different names for the same thing. I was surprised to find that these are two very different concepts that are deeply interconnected. Our self-worth is an internal belief in our own value as a human being that’s not based on performance. For example, you lose your job, but you know that your value isn’t dependent on achievements or failures, it’s based on your personal qualities and values. Self-esteem is external and focuses more on abilities and performance. A good example of this is found in accepting compliments gracefully. Gosh, is anyone else getting a headache? In short, your self-worth is the foundation for a stable self-esteem.

    In my own experience, my absent sense of self worth led to a really low self esteem. I wanted the world to love me. I worked hard to get meager grades, I tried to look the way society told me I should look, I chose the wrong relationships because I didn’t trust in God’s plan and I certainly didn’t see myself the way he does. All these things made my self esteem even worse because I wasn’t gaining what I desired. That desire was to love myself.  The lie that I had to be better, be more, look different- that was all from the enemy. This led me to making bad choices thinking I would somehow get approval and love through sex, relationships, and even food.

    The same can happen when someone has a heightened sense of self worth. I’m not talking about love for yourself. I’m talking about someone thinking they’re superior to everyone else. I’m talking about straight up pride and arrogance. This also comes from the enemy and it’s dangerous. Pride and arrogance create a blindness within ourselves and we end up judging those around us. In Matthew 7, Jesus talks about taking the plank out of our own eye before we can see to remove the speck in our neighbors eye. [Matthew 7:3-5]

    So how do we change our thinking? Well, it starts when we open the Bible. There are so many verses about how God sees and values us. When we see ourselves through his lens, we get the chance to hang up our world view and see ourselves as deemed worthy by Christ. Remember the foundation I talked about? When our self-worth is rooted in Christ, you have this solid foundation that builds confidence, a secure identity, and freedom from the world’s ever-changing standards.

                    2  Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!”  So rejoice. You are made in the image of God, You are a new creation, and you have more value than the sparrows.

  • Yes, No and Nothing In Between

    Matthew 5:37 NIV  All you need is to simply say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

                    When the Holy Spirit put the word “boundaries” on my heart as a devotion, my mind immediately went to a physical intimacy context. Woweee, how pure and Christian of me right? As I’ve looked through scripture though, God showed me he has so much more for me to learn about this subject.

                    It’s not just about  being able to say no to a man. I also wrestle with trying to balance everything out, and what needs to be a priority. I want to say yes to every invitation or request for help I receive and still have time for the things I have to do or want to do. Honestly, when I look at my calendar, there just aren’t enough hours in a day or days in a week to pull that off! It sometimes feels like I have no time to breathe.  When I have to say no, there Satan is with the guilt and the idea that I have to come up with an excuse of why I’m saying no. I’ve had to wonder if I would ever know when and how to turn down activities without that guilt and explanation. Does anyone else experience this?

                    So, the question is, are we taking on too much? If so, how do we trust in God to help us discern what to let go of?

    We are told in Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your hearts for everything you do flows from it.” As I dwell on this verse, I can see that God will give us the ability to simply say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ I want to say I completely embrace this theory but the truth is I am still learning to step out in saying ‘no’ without hesitation. I’m also still learning God’s priority and what can be dropped from my calendar of ‘yeses’.

                    A wise woman [my friend and writing mentor] once told me to pick a day and just rest with God. Even Jesus retreated in prayer despite the demands and needs of people. I don’t know if Jesus had a specific time or day, or if he just knew when he needed to be alone with the Lord to refresh his focus. In this day and age, it can be difficult to just pick an entire day. There is a constant streaming of needs and demands on our time. But it’s important to find time somewhere like after work, before you start your weekend chores, before the kids get up, maybe while you sip on that much needed cup of joe. Give yourself even an hour.

                For me, I gave up an extra hour of sleep so I could sit in prayer with God. This has given me a much clearer head and a growing joyful heart. My next goal is to make Friday my sabbath night- a night where I simply sit with God, in his love and glory and let him just give me rest. In order to do this, I’ve got to tell him yes and something else no- really, there is no in between.

  • Less About The Wounds, More About The Healer

    Romans 15:4 NIV For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

    Many believers journal which can have a huge positive impact. But what happens when the words we write down hold us captive instead of setting us free? This was my experience with journaling. For years I poured out my heart and soul onto paper. Instead of healing though, I found I was reliving pain again and again.

    God, in his mercy, clearly commanded me to move forward. He called me to stop looking back and defining myself by written reminders of past hurts. Destroying twenty years of journals didn’t erase or diminish my experiences, it merely shifted my focus right to God.

    Believe me when I say; journaling still carries incredible blessings. Today, I don’t journal to dwell on pain. I journal scripture and prayers. I record testimonies of God’s faithfulness, words from the Holy Spirit, and reminders of his guidance in every season.

    Did you know that there are scripture verses instructing us to journal? I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that God had blessed us with the tool we call journaling. However, he never intended for it to trap us in the past and cause more harm. Journaling should be less about the wounds and more about the healer.

    “Write therefore, the things that you have seen” [Revelation 1:11] “This will be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord” [Psalm 102:18] Jeremiah himself recorded God’s promises, [Jeremiah 30:2] These are just a few examples. Romans 15:4 also reminds us why we write things down- not just to teach but to give hope through endurance and encouragement.

    So, I’ve learned this; God meant for journaling to be a tool of freedom, testimony and truth. Each page can become a prayer, a declaration of faith and a record of God’s goodness. Take every thought captive. You can write it down, but don’t hold onto it- Give it right to God.

  • 16,000 Chances To Speak Life

    Ephesians 4:29 NIV  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

    If anyone exemplified the verse above, it was Charlie Kirk. He changed me with the words he spoke. How did he do that?  It’s so simple. He stood on the Word of God and then shared it with everyone he came in contact with. This inspired me to continue digging deeper into my Bible and allowing the words of God to change me.

    Do you remember the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me”?  Well, from personal experience I can tell you they actually do. Words have the power you build you up or tear you down. Nothing helps me more than the positive words I hear and receive from friends and family. Likewise, I enjoy seeing the joy on someone’s face when I tell them something positive like how beautiful their art is, or how smart they are. You never know when a kind word will turn someone’s day around for the positive.

    I want to emphasize where Paul says ‘only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  My goal in life is to follow scripture and Charlie Kirk’s example of encouraging others to know and apply God’s truth.

    I read something that said the average human speaks approximately 16,000 words a day. That’s 16,000 chances for us to share God’s love, The Gospel, and words that will put joy in someone’s heart.  I don’t plan to be as powerfully effective as Charlie Kirk was, but I can affect those around me. I’ve got 16,000 chances a day to make it happen and so do you.

  • Exaltation

      “Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3 NIV

    I don’t know about you, but I have been pretty confused about the word exaltation. I started writing these devotions because of that word. Every time I would hear it from a pastor or in a song, I always wondered what exactly it meant.

    Then, as life unfolded, understanding came and the Holy Spirit said, “Write about it.” BOOM. The devotions began. 

    Still needing an understanding, I needed to look up the definition, so I went online.  Exalt means “To lift up, to praise and\or to glorify.”

    I asked myself, “how much exalting am I doing?” It’s easy to attend church on Sunday mornings and sing the songs or say the words and nod in agreement with the pastor. I wonder, what does Monday through Saturday look like?

    Do we exalt our fears by letting them overpower us? What about our problems. How much more attention and focus do we give our fears and problems than we give to God?

    It reminds me of fairly recent times spent in and out of hospitals and medical offices. I was sick with a mysterious disease, at the time, and trying desperately to find answers. That problem seemed too big for me but instead of focusing on God, I allowed the fear and problem to overrule me.

    Sure, I prayed the prayers and sang the worship songs- with a smile even. I claimed to trust in him. However, I would be lying if I told you my focus and attention went to God. I would be lying if I said I had unshakeable faith. Instead, I fretted and googled and obsessed. I bought the lie that the diagnosis was the key to everything.

    Here’s what I was missing. A magnifying glass doesn’t change the object, but it changes how we see it. Likewise, exaltation changes our perspective of God.

    When the fears or anguish of every day life have us in a chokehold, the first thing we should do is immediately surrender to God and pray earnestly. Sing those songs and pray those prayers wkith tears streaming down your face! God isn’t afraid of big emotions. He does however want our focus, attention, and our whole heart.

    So what are you magnifying today? Your struggles or your Savior? Pause and exalt Jesus right where you are. Declare his name! Shout with praise and worship that he is greater! Thank him for his perfect love.

  • A Mustard Seed Of Faith

    “…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 NIV

    I used to take this bit of Scripture extremely serious as a child. I can remember shutting my eyes tight and thinking, “Okay Mountain…. MOVE!”  I imagine that somewhere in this world, surely a mountain has shifted! I don’t know about it because I was usually left staring at South Florida palm trees. Of course as I grew up, it became obvious that faith doesn’t equal magic. As an adult believer, I struggled when I didn’t see changes in situations I prayed over.  It’s only in the last year that I’ve really seen my personal mustard seed begin to grow.

    The truth is, the mustard seed is one of the tiniest seeds on earth and yet, it grows into a strong tree. (Luke 13:19) This represents our faith. When our faith is placed in the limitless hands of God, we can move mountains. [Eph 3:20]

    Recently, I’ve thought about people in the Bible who showed a little bit of faith- yet did big things. I found so many stories that began with a shaky yes, a hesitant step or even a simple whispered prayer. I have two favorite characters who show this kind of faith. The first one is David, a shepherd boy who, with just a sling and a stone, defeated a giant while others trembled in fear. The second one is the unnamed woman who Mark 5:25-29 reports had been bleeding for twelve years! In her desperation she thought to herself, “If I could just touch his clothes, I would be healed.” She didn’t expect a big show, she just took a little leap of faith.

    Guess what? She touched his clothes and her bleeding stopped immediately. My favorite part of this is that Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.” Instead of being angry that someone had so personally touched him, he encouraged her act of faith!

    I’m pretty sure I haven’t moved a literal mountain- yet- but the mountains of life that we all face daily? They seem to move all the time. Instead of closing my eyes and pretending to be a magician, I now see a mustard seed planted in my heart, and I know that God’s hands are pruning away, helping it turn into a beautiful, strong tree.

    So, what mustard seed are you planting today? What small act of faith can you take?

  • Someones Tony And Janelle

    1 Peter 5:2-3 NIV

    Be shepherd of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

    Think of a time God blessed you with special guidance from someone else- a pastor, a friend, a small group leader… if I was a betting woman, I would certainly bet that this person or these people helped you draw closer to God and understand his word on a deeper level. Maybe they mentored you through a really difficult time in your life.

    During a period of loss, heartache and confusion in my life, God did this very thing for me. That’s where Tony and Janelle come in. I’ve already written about Janelle once before, but now you get to hear a little more about her and- added bonus- hear about my other friend, Tony.

    It started with God’s rescue, flowed into my willingness to attend church, and extended into a mentorship- and friendship that still stands! After losing my child, I attended the same church Janelle had invited me to countless times. I remember writing on a prayer request card- basically pouring my heart out. I needed help. You wouldn’t believe the love that was poured into me. I received cards and letters from total strangers.

    Tony’s beautiful and kind wife sat next to me one day at church and verbally poured into me. I’m not sure she will ever know how present God was through her. It’s honestly because of her that I got connected to Tony. Long story short, she pointed me in his direction and a beautiful mentorship unfolded. We asked Janelle to be a part of this mentorship as well. Both Tony and Janelle sacrificed time with their families to disciple me. Not because they felt they had to, but they did it with willing and joyful hearts!

    I thought I was just being counseled on how to deal with grief.  My friends definitely did that but what really happened was that they taught me how to walk with God in faith, obedience, and trust. It opened the door to- finally- cracking open my Bible and reading God breathed truth.

    When I decided to move away, it was with deep sadness. There was so much of my life that I was leaving behind- including Tony and Janelle. I didn’t want to give up our weekly meetings that drew me closer to the God of restoration and promise. Who would continue showing me that I was being pursued by the pursuer himself? These disciples had taken the blindfold from my eyes and shown me what walking with Christ really meant.

    Tony and Janelle laughed joyfully and just reminded me that at some point in my life, God would call me to be someone else’s Tony and Janelle. I’ve thought about that off and on, still experiencing and learning. I know the time is coming and I am praying about where God will place me all the time.

    Discipleship is a special blessing straight from THE shepherd. What season are you in? Is it time to be someone’s Tony and Janelle? Or do you need your own Tony and Janelle? Ask God for guidance. His answers will always amaze you.