30....

2015 didn't feel one minute past 1985.

We spent the weekend in "Throwback Thirty" mode.

High school reunions are a trip.....with differing opinions....some love it...some hate it.

I love looking backwards....days and nights filled with funny friends and funny memories....they shaped us in to who we are today.

This particular weekend was loaded with a wide range of emotions. 

Someone lost a parent...and we rallied around her, 

remembering times that we also spent with him. 

We hugged each other a little tighter....and remembered together.

Someone got engaged...woke up with an engagement ring...

I woke up with no keys, no voice and a headache.

Good times.

I did wake up with gratitude to God for longstanding friendships & history.

It's fascinating to me to see how much we have changed and how much we haven't.

The stories we reminded each other of...

"you haven't aged a bit.....I would know you anywhere....."

"where IS so and so....."

"How on earth did we get away with...."

"Friends come and friends go,

    but a true friend sticks by you like family." ~Proverbs 18:24 

God, Thank You for putting the right people in our paths at the right times...

Thank You for friendship. 

In His Dust,

DCC

He Knows....

We hiked the Judean Wilderness...it might have been 400 degrees.....

not an ounce of shade in sight.

It was hot, dry and dusty....the scenery was mountains, caves and rocks.

 (This is where David hid from Saul, and wrote several Psalms.)

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, My God.- Psalm 42:1 

After a long, long, long hike...imagine our surprise to find actual proof of the promise of God.... 

"He transforms a dry, lonely desert into pools of living water. Parched ground in to lively springs." ~Psalm 107:35

The water comes from rain that has been slipping into cracks in the rock, until it finally blasts out like this...into breathtaking waterfalls. 

Some days, weeks, months and even years...life seems to be filled with desert and rocks.

 The heat and the dryness of this world and all of the troubles that come with it...grief...

shocking news...bad phones calls...no phone calls...commitments...requirements...disappointments...demands...overbooked calendars. 

Here is what I know....God loves you and cares deeply about each and every "desert" you find yourself in. This includes today, yesterday and tomorrow. 

He knows it is hot...He knows you are thirsty...He knows you feel alone and afraid...

He knows you are overwhelmed....He knows you don't see hope, shade or water. 

He also knows exactly where the water and protection are that you and I need.

 He knows will be provided just for you....at the exact right time and the exact right place.

"Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, 'Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! The Scriptures declare, Rivers of living water will flow from their heart." ~John 7:37

God. Thank You for being exactly Who and what we need.

In His Dust,

DCC

Questions and Answers....

Questions I've heard since..... 

Friday morning..."What on earth are helicopters doing flying in circles around Alamo Heights?" 

"Do you think you can update my iPhone?

Friday night...."If I make you a drink, can you fix my iPhone?" (which is a lovely trade.)

Saturday morning..."Where do dinosaurs fit in Genesis? Also, can you help me update my iPhone?"

Sunday afternoon...."Have you updated your iPhone & iPad? Do you think you could do mine? I'll make dinner? (excellent trade)

Sunday night...my 7 & 9 year old neighbors as we watched the moon wanted to know-

"What makes it red and why is it turning dark? How do we keep warm at night with no sun?"

(Before you try to enlighten me on blood moon or any science facts- save yourself the effort. Like I told teachers in the past- I don't care. Then. Or now.) 

Monday morning walk....sun not even up....in the pitch black I heard, "Chesney- that you? 

Why are there 50 kids on the AH football field this am. They aren't in band or dance team." 

The one question from this weekend, that caused me to stop and really think was from a Senior Rabbi and a Cantor after a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday.... 
"Debbi, why do you believe.....Why does your church practice...."

I stood at attention as if I had just heard Weezie yell, "DEBORAH CHRISTINE CHESNEY get back here right this minute!"

I wanted to be honest, confident and gentle in my answers.
I immediately thought of Peter and his wise advice when put in this position.... 
"Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy." -1 Peter 3:15

From what I can gather, God seems to be drawing my attention to questions people are asking me- at all hours of day and night- at all places from football fields to synagogues. 

He has also pointed out to me that He has never asked to explain science or creation or who's on the AH field at what hours- or why a helicopter is flying over head in the hood -(clearly He has given me the lesser known spiritual gift of iPhone-ology)  

I am ok with not knowing all things....because I know The One Who does.

Here's what I do know about the moon.....

it was bright and pretty and lit my path this morning...

And The Very God who hung it up there knows my name. And Your's.

God, Thank You for being The Answer. You are all we need.

In His Dust,
DCC

Promise of Fall....

It's Monday......and I think Al Roker might be a liar.

According to him...and many other sources....SUPPOSEDLY.....Fall starts this week.

Hmmmmmm.

Not according to the source of my eyes or skin. 

On my pre-sunrise walk this September morning...

My eyes and skin felt like a Bikram Yoga stroll....

Which led me to think about other things that look & feel one way 

but, God Promises they are or will be...another.

He assures us that our "eyes" and "skin" might not always believe what they see and feel....and that they can't always be trusted. 

However...

God can.

He is worthy of our trust.

He says, "I don't think the way you think. 

The way you work isn't the way I work." -Isaiah 55:8

He understands things and time in a way we can't possibly fathom.

"He changes times and seasons." -Daniel 2:21a

So, if He can make a cool & crispy Fall come out of a long & sweaty Summer....

(and make no mistake, He will.)

certainly...I can trust him with the days of my life.

God alone, can take our "sweatiest days"....and cool them right down.

He promises to take our most broken days...

and turn them into something beautiful, through

The Promise of Fall.

God, Thank You for keeping Your Promises.... 

In His Dust,

DCC

Happy 50th Mom and Dad!!!!

Dear Mom and Dad,

Happy Anniversary...
It was September 4, 1965 at 8:00 pm when you stood at Christ Episcopal Church. 

As you stood there, you made a promise to God and to each other....
and September 4, 2015....50 years later.....you both continue to keep that promise. 

I am so blessed and grateful to have watched your marriage for 48 years. 
You have shown me what real love, real commitment, a real life Godly marriage looks like.

Love is patient.....

Love is Kind....

It does not envy....(but it laughs...alot)

It does not boast,

It is not proud.

It does not dishonor others....(although it apparently had a stache at one point)

 It is not self seeking....

It is not easily angered....

It keeps no record of wrongs....

Love does not delight in evil, (although does delight in travel)

Love rejoices in truth....

Love always Hopes....

Love always perseveres.....

Love never fails.....

And today September 4, 2015.....Love is 50......

and it looks just like you Mom and Dad. 

Happy, Happy 50th Anniversary! I love you so very much!

God, Thank YOU....for connecting these two in Your Name. Thank You for two people who know how to keep a promise....to you and to each other. For richer, poorer, sickness, health hard times and good......Thank You especially for choosing them to be mine.

In His Dust,
DCC

Worm Dance....

Text exchange this morning..... 

Mikey: "You up?"

Me: "Hi Mikey- you ready for Junior High?!!?!"

Mikey: "I think so!"

Me: "You are gonna be great!"

Mikey: "I hope so. I did "the worm" at the dance on Saturday night. So, there's that."

Me: "Never underestimate the power of The Worm at your first dance." 

It hit me, at end of our conversation....we're ALL starting something new...

Today, for many it's school....

But it's not just today....it's each time the sun rises again......

We're all trying to put our best foot forward....

we're all bringing our best "Worm Dance." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Flashback to 2009.....Hey Howard Kindergarten, Meet Big Mike D.

Mikey: "I was in the front row. I even made a friend. She was on my bus....also, she's a girl."

Me: "I've got one thing to say...Peas and Carrots."

*Truth by known, I prefer him to be "peas in carrots" with a different girl. 

Who by the way is also enjoying her first day of Kindergarten! 

Ok...back to Howard...

First stroll of the Kindergarten halls and his head's in the game...

Well, until he got to the actual classroom.

Hmmm....Fear of the unknown.

"Fear Nothing, I Am with you always." ~Isaiah 41:10

ALL of you.

God, Thank You for being with all of us, all the time. For fresh starts each and every day.

In His Dust,

DCC

God's Shade....

"The Lord Himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade."
~Psalm 121:5

    I used to picture God's "protective shade" in the desert, as a humongous sequoia. However, after standing in the actual Negev Desert-
I quickly realized I was sorely mistaken. 

Oh, there was shade, but not exactly a comforting amount of it....

and certainly not what I had pictured. 

THIS is a broom tree.

I took this picture as I was blown away by the small size of it and the large lesson in it.

God used broom trees in the Bible as a symbol of renewal and for shade.

This is the "shade" King David writes about. 

Remember the story of Elijah?

(I didn't either)

When Elijah arrived at the broom tree- he was "exhausted, depressed and ready to die"

and that is when and where God renewed him....under a broom tree.

For times like this in our lives...God Himself, had Isaiah write,

 "those who hope in The Lord will renew their strength." ~Isaiah 40:31

you down....or that might just be circumstances?

If you find yourself in "that desert" today.

Some days, shade feels more necessary than others.

August in Texas...people are cranky...fuses are short...judgement is high...for some it feels like the sun is literally smothering you....

Emotionally melting....

Where you can't imagine one more minute.....

God is right there.

As close as the very breath you just took.

He promises to, "stand beside you as your protective shade" 

I sat under the above broom tree 

Would it surprise you to know that in the midst of rocks and rocks for miles and miles....

God was able to give me just enough shade to continue the hike. 

More importantly that day, I learned....that God has, God does and God will continue, to give us just enough shade.

For the moment.

For the day. 

It may not look like much from afar, but when you recognize it and "sit under it,"

you will know...it is Him.

God might be putting a broom tree in your path today...and it might look different than expected.

We are to be the shade for one another. 

Don't know what that looks like? You might be surprised to know- it looks smaller than you think. 

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing." ~Thessalonians 5:11

God, Thank You for providing exactly the amount of shade we need.

In His Dust, 
DCC