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 

Throw Your Stone...

Crocker preached on David and Goliath yesterday....and it reminded me of one of my favorite "faith lessons" while studying in Israel. The Story of David and Goliath.  

One of our first stops in Israel was to the Valley of Elah, where David fought Goliath.

It was as hot as a South Texas summer afternoon....and we stared at a dry riverbed. I was pretending to remember what had happened in this place....as our leader Ray VanderLaan asked us each to grab a small, smooth stone, just like David did.

Aha! I think know this one!

We were then taught the ancient story...and quickly realized how applicable it is to our modern day lives. 

David was gifted at throwing stones. (Remember he had killed lions and bears in order to protect his sheep...and probably himself.) He was very well practiced.

God made him for throwing stones.

So....that is what he did....He threw stones....in order to give direction to sheep, as well as protect them. It must have felt like a monotonous day after day activity. Although this gift from God became monumental in his faith....and in ours.

David Threw His Stone.

The miracle of David and Goliath was not David’s marksmanship. It was David’s faith and coming to the battle field when he was needed....he used the gift God gave him.

A little tidbit- Saul is from the tribe of Benjamin- the one thing the tribe of Benjamin was known for? "Their special detachment of left handed men, each that were gifted with the sling."

"Among Benjamin’s elite troops, 700 were left-handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target within a hairsbreadth without missing." ~Judges 20:16

Um. what? 

Little David was not the guy that was supposed to be out there with a sling- SAUL WAS.

To human eyes.

Our David knew better....he was man after God's Own Heart....he stepped up...had confidence in God...and wanted the whole world to know it.

What are you doing today that feels average? You might be surprised to know....that God is preparing you and me, for something bigger He might want us to do with it.

I believe that God calls each and every one of us to throw our stones.

So what's Your stone? Being a mom? Being funny? Writing, teaching, baking? Are you a thoughtful gift giver? Are you level headed advice giver? Are you the caretaker? Don't have a clue what your stone is? ASK HIM. No matter what it is....since God gave you the talent...He can use it. 

When we throw our stones we are showing God that we are willing...and trusting in His Power and not our own.

God, Thank You for giving us stones----help us to throw them for Your Glory.

In His Dust,

DCC

Mount Everest....

I don't remember going to a Vacation Bible School as a kid....

I do remember going to some lady's house for "The Good News Club"....

and I am sure was a God-fearing sweet lady...but what I remember was BOOOOOORING. (and she might have possibly been a hoarder.)

Last week we had Vacation Bible School here. There were over 400 kids....

100 youth volunteers and over 100 adult volunteers.

It was organized and run as smoothly as the moon landing. 

That's how I know God picked the exact right people to be involved in it and run it...

from the head honchos....down to grandmothers who worked the kitchen and kept us all fed like we were on a cruise ship (thanks for the extra 10 pounds)

It was 5 days filled with whipped cream, laughing....and singing....

and learning about running the race

Wrapping ourselves in His Love and Presence....

From what I heard....

there was not once ounce of boring in any room on this campus.

from what I witnessed...kids and adults of all ages spent last week....

learning, without a doubt....that God loves them and will never leave them.

And that is one thing that will never change.

We live in a community of people of all ages and all walks of life who BELIEVE in Jesus....

We get to see He HAS done...What He IS doing and what He WILL do.

I saw beauty from ashes.....

I saw a grieving mother laughing with her grandchildren...

I saw families that I didn't think would ever smile again, smiling and singing  

I saw miracles....kids dancing that were never supposed to even stand up 

or leave the hospital ICU....

I saw answered prayers and promises come true....

The Theme was "Mount Everest- Conquering Challenges with God's Mighty Power"

And sure enough.....we heard and saw mountain sized lessons from what the world refers to as "the least of these"

"I look up to the mountains;

does my strength come from mountains?

No, my strength comes from God,

Who made heaven and earth and mountains.

He guards you when you leave and when you return." -Psalm 121:1,2,8b

God, Thank You for taking each of us to the mountaintops with You....and staying so very close to us in the valleys.

In His Dust,
DCC