A penny for your

Thought. A common thing people have, I know mine are sometimes... well you can fill in the blank. Now I know I haven't posted in a while and this will not do justice, but I just had an awesome thought and thought I would post a brief blog before I went to bed...

So I think we all have that place where we do our ''thinking'' whether it be the park, your job, your car, wherever. I have three. The first is my car. Shrek had many a moments where I pondered life. But nothing beats driving the backroads, the long way home from work, or just driving out in the middle of no where (watch out for animals) but just being alone. You and God. Nothing beats it. For me, I put in Jeremy Camp and I am good. I know random, but still. The words almost always help and I just clear my head. Another good one is Matthew West, but hey thats just me.

Second is on my back porch. This may seem really weird, and for any girls who use to watch the "torkelsons" (spell check) you may remember the girl talking to "the man in the moon" but for me just being outside under the stars ....''HUGE GOD!" helps me to understand what God's will really is. I guess it's something about being out in the creation that helps me connect with the Creator, but truly it helps.

Lastly, and way random is the shower. I know weird, but once again your alone. I remember once, the only time I saw this cousin cry, a few years ago I was at my cousin's house, and her mom and her had gotten into it and I believe so did her dad. But anways, she had just gotten out of the shower, but an hour later when this fight happened she got back in. I remember her brother saying "she does that when she gets upset." I'll never forget that, but I truly understand why. Your alone, it doesn't matter if your talking to yourself, singing, or bawling your face off. No one knows. But it can also be a time to connect with God if you cry out to Him in your despair.
(I know how weird this may sound)

I say all this to say that we all have our spots where we connect with God, but I was pondering one thought that I still think is awesome. You may not, heck you probablly won't... but this isn't your blog and I have links to the left where you can go for other's if you would like...>

but anyways, my thought is this: I heard some speaker guy or girl say once, and probablly more than one of them say this, "girls should do a character study through out the Bible, on the men who had a passion after God, who walked with Him, who knew Him, and loved Him. We as girls should take those characteristics and develop what we use to shape our expectations for guys."

As I was reading today, I noticed that all of my favorite books were written by one author. Paul. As Jordan and Caroline found out at Dnow, I have these passages that I LOVE! I can only quote them because they are all I read in the whole Big Book, (I know, I know I'm working on it) but it is always Galatians, Ephesians, Colosians, Phillipians, but most recently a inward desire to read Acts and Corinthians. I noticed tonight that they are all by Paul.

The funny thought I had though after reading some of Paul's powerful words ( and I know this is weird) but was that he was single. I know it's a no brainer, but it just stopped me in my thoughts. So many times us as girls, or at least the majority of my thoughts and the girls that i talk to constantly resort to dating, or relationships, or how lack of one. But 13 books aren't about that. Sure I know there are bits in there, but that's not what it's about. It's about The Gospel. Life is about the Gospel. Our ministry is about The Gospel. Not our Relationship status on Facebook.
This could be a whole other post for all girls out there (and probablly will be at a future point) but I am just amazed at how one man whose words I love have a characteristic just like me. I know it's small and even smaller to you readers, but for some reason, it's a thought that I just love.
The characteristics of this man, the character maybe these speakers were talking about wasn't about dating, marriage, and/or relationships. But about Christ. As should all believers. I believe when we wrap our minds around this truth a certain freedom comes about. "Our Chains are Gone...and in more than one way!''

A Year in the Life of...

So I have this friend. If you know me, you probally know her or know of her. I am not going to be weird and say she completes me or anything, because she does play softball, but you get the picture. Anyways, I have a feeling it is not a very intelligent thing to let us hang out...by ourselves.

Jordan and I have had many an excurssion. But one trumps all. The Uk 1975 Anniversary game. As we approached Rump, we realized that this was the first time our parents had trusted us to go alone to Rump Arena (not really, we were just reminising of being young.)

As we approached the door we began to run because it was quite chilly outside. We made it into the little tunnel thing that connects the buildings together. We were laughing and talking, doing what girls do best. All of a sudden we came to the second door. Jordan tried to pull it open. She continued to pull and pull I went to pull and WHILE reading the PUSH sign said oh we need to push. Notice the fact that this was right after the "maturity" statement had been made.

The night continued on, but I will spare you details. However, that was only one night in our life. Other nights have consisted of Alexis Texas concerts in MY ROOM!, Sonic adventures, many a long talks till 2 am if not later, STORMIN MORMON BASKETBALL.......

I have to go in detail here. Jordan plays on a basketball team called Stormin' Mormons. I mean I am laughing so hard I am crying still. Really it's great.

She parked on a railroad, I broke my arm IN HALF doing a cartwheel. She thought a plane was a shooting star, I called Tubby Smith, Toby Smith. She is addicted to Grey's Anatomy, I am obsessed with ONE TREE HILL! She plays sophball, I...........jog occasionally. She falls down stairs, SO DO I!

All in all we are a pretty good pair. I say that with as much un"softball" humor as possible. But seriously, should two individuals with about one brain BETWEEN them be allowed to spend as much time together in trechorous situations? you be the judge...

When we are weird in the right ways, and normal in the right ways. When we are different from the culture and actually take a stand. The world will shake their heads, some will condemn, and others laugh at us. But Jesus will smile."

Connector...

So I am constantly amazed at just how big our God is.

Maybe it is just me, but I have a feeling it's not. Ever so OFTEN I get these moments, where God shows me something one moment, and the next connects it too another. It's like this: I will read verse and totally not get the meaning of it at all. The next Sunday, the whole lesson is on that verse. CONNECTOR! When you do a devotion, and then Kenneth preaches on the same topic, just to say..."hey you know what I told you earlier, right on the money."

How cool that My Father, My Best Friend, My closest Friend, knows everything about the future, and becusae He loves me He decides to let me in pieces by pieces. Until it makes just one clear picture. Sometimes it takes a day or two, others a weeek, some a year, and I am sure He is doing it all the way through my life. I go back to my theory of stars, they make one huge picture. Promise they do, but we can only see one section at a time. It's like that in life, God connects each piece slowly.

I know through out these last view months, I have had certain issues that at the time seemed impossible or just incredibly stupid. Later on though, it is ONLY through that exact issue I hated, God has opened an oppruntunity to shine for His Glory and His alone. He is so soverign in ALL He does. And He does this time after time. But we miss it when, I, miss my time with Him. He can't connect our dots if we don't make the effort to have a dot to connect. (lack of a devo)

Perfect example, today and probablly yesterday I had just been struggling through some thoughts and meditating on what God wanted or was doing. And to be honest felt lonely with this issue, like no one would really get it. Got a phone call and my best friend was going through the same thing. Like exactly. To the tee. (ps college decisions stink for planner girls) So I say all this to say. God is totally in control and knows exactly what He is doing. I thank Him for making Himself even cooler by showing us these truths when we ask. ASK HIM! He gives "generously" to those who ask. James 1:5..."without finding fault." I have tons of faults, but like Francis said so clearly...He loves me, so He just wants our honesty and obediance. He WILL do the rest, cuz trust me...He IS able!



PS...cookies (or brownies) for the person to name why I chose a butterfly for the picture.

Creator...

So it's taken me some time to sit down and write for various reasons, but one topic has not left my mind since Passion last weekend. I have constantly been reminded of the lessons I learned in DC. One thing I loved was Louis talking about the stars. Anyone who gets to know me knows that I love stars, moon, sun, etc. Kinda funny how all my life, I have loved these things ever since I was little. I think the main reason that I have loved them is because of jsut how huge they are in comparison with who I am. I constantly have thought wow! I have heard all my life how creation groans and screams in retrospect of its Creator. Until last weekend, this didn't sink in. They are screaming, "HUGE GOD!" "BIG CREATOR!" "HUGE GOD!"

As I was driving back from Elizabethtown this weekend, the sky was perfectly clear. I saw all these stars and all I could think was "HUGE GOD!" "AWESOME CREATOR!" The amazing part to me is that that same Creator, 1-created me. But even better - He loved me. That in and of itself I have heard my entire life. But to meditate on that thought like Francis talked about was just unbelieveably life changing. That I, Chelsea Ball, am loved by GOD. Hello, that's tight. And when I truly grasp that I am changed in more than one area.

One quote that FINALLY helped me grasp the love of God was, "God created the world, then God stepped down into His creation to redeem what we had messed up so that we could glorify God.''

Wrap your mind around that. God created, then stepped into His creation. He came to us to redeem our screw ups. HI! THAT'S cool. But then we get the chance to love Him back. He had every right to make us slaves, but instead He made us free. Wow!

I know I rambled, but hey that's just a sneak peak of some of the truths I got from Passion that hadn't been touched on!

Why

Berfore I post, I'd like to preface, that I am not posting lyrics again, but I really did love this song. Maybe you'll understand why! (pun)

So I found a song by Nichole Nordeman called "Why" and it was really slow so I almost didn't give it a chance. After listening to the whole 6 minute story, I was really forced to think and ponder the words. The song talks about a little girl riding with her dad on the day of Passover through Jerusalem, as she nears the down she sees a crowd rushing and shouting. She asks her father,

"Daddy why are they screaming,
why are the faces of some of them beaming,
why is he dressed in that bright purple robe,
I bet that crown hurts him more then he shows.
Daddy please can't you do something, he looks as if he's gunna cry.
You said he was stronger than all of those guys.
Daddy please tell me why,
why does everyone want Him to die.

She then tells how her dad sent her into the house because a storm was coming, but this girl wasn't scared so she followed the crowds to a place where she knew people had been killed and she heard a voice come from the cross:

"Father why are they screaming,
Why are the faces of some of them beaming,
Why are they casting their lots for my clothes,
this crown of thorns hurts me more than it shows.
Father, please can't you do something, I know that you must hear my cry,
I thought I could handle a cross of this size,
Father REMIND me why,
why does everyone want me to die...

My precious Son, I hear them screaming,
I'm watching the face of the enemy beaming
Soon I will clothe you in robes of my own,
Jesus this hurts me much more than you know
But this dark hour I must do nothing, though I've heard Your unbearable cry.
The power in your blood destroys all the lies,
soon you will understand why.....

See that girl there trembling by her father's side,
She is why you had to die!

I am why HE had to die.

As I listened to this song, I truly began to imagine the cross as more than just a story out of a book. I know that may seem stupid seeing as how I am going on 18 years old, saw the passion, have grown up in church, and A SONG put it into visual for me.
But it was the first time that I realized how much Jesus cared. True I know He didn't question the cross or "why" he was doing it. But He went through all that pain for me. for you. and to see it in the words of this song, as a little girl asking her daddy why, just amazed me. For Jesus to cry almost the same words to the Father, just put into picture how much like you and me he truly was, he felt pain, he felt loneliness, and he had questions he wanted answers to...but he also saw the bigger picture. Now it's our turn to look past our "little, tiny crosses" and look to The Cross.

Not so happytimes...

As I started this post I would like to begin by showing you a bit of who I am. I am the type girl or in general the type of person who likes plans. I like to know what is going to happen, when it is supposed to happen, etc. When things do not go according to this plan, however, I still need an explaination. As I was reading David Nasser's A Call To Die (highly recommended) I came across a portion today that I really liked how it made me think:


So we've all asked those questions or had someone ask,
Why does God let us go through suffering?
Why doesn't God, my Savior just make this pain end?
Why is this happening to me?
What did I do wrong?

"Pain produces character in our lives like no amount of pleasure possibly can. Failure and rejection force us to seek God's face just as Moses did. When we go to him in desperation, our ears and our hearts are more open to him than ever before. In that face-to-face encounter, God can expose and purge away impurities in our behavior and our motivations. We see our selfishness as nev er before, and we also experience God's grace as never before. failure and rejection have a way of striping us of dependence on our own abilities. We realize we can't accomplish a thing apart from God's direction and power. As our motives are purified and our faith grows, we are better able to rest in and trust in God's hands. This will allow us to become more useful in his loving hands."

I think that says it all. Now you know why.
Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

History!

It's been a bad day, You've been looking back And all you can see is everything you wish you could take back All your mistakes A world of regrets All of those moments you would rather forget I know it's hard to believe Let me refresh your memory

Yesterday is history

And history is miles away

So, leave it all behind you

But let it always remind you of the day

The day that love made history

You know you can't stay right where you fell. The hardest part is forgiving yourself. But let's take a walk into today, And don't let your past get in the way. Would you believe that you are history in the making? Every choice that you are making Every step that you are taking, Every chain that you are breaking, History is in the making. Every word that you are saying, Every prayer that you are praying, Every chain that you are breaking, History is in the making.

-Matthew West

Just Call Me, Dory!

So there is this thing in the retail world known as inventory. At most jobs this is a task that is dreaded day. Today was such a day. Alot of normal people get sick on Inventory day, their family members randomly die, they get in wrecks, etc. (for the most part they invent ways not to come.) However, at rue21 we sign up to work it.

Yesterday, when of course, I was told that I would be working inventory in one of those "you don't have to, but it would really help us out even though you are NOT scheduled" tones I began thinking of the excuses I could use to get out of working.
"I have a test" (which I do, and yet I am blogging)
"I was sick this weekend and don't want strain myself. (true again)
"My parent's won't let me stay out that late." (Man, I'll miss this one next year)
and the last "It's illegal, I'm a minor......"(Oh wait!)

So needless to say by the end of the night, I was actually excited for it because we were really prepared for this year's inventory. I know it's weird, but I was. See the thing is at Rue, their like my "athletic" team, another family, We all just have a blast, and alot of us would be working it. So i just knew that it would be crazy. So I drank my quad-no whip-venti-whitechocolatemocha this morning and went in to work at eleven AM. I got to leave and take care of things, brought the pizza back, and the good times started.

That was until we started counting.....

I was given the task of all the rounders. No big deal right. WRONG! I cannot count in twos past fifty. Period. I just can't do it. To make matters worse, you have the "regis counters" who have to come in and scan everything, with their little machines beeping everytime they scan each item. So I'm trying to talk and do this. Not happening. So it's quiet (minus the beeping) EXCEPT me counting outloud. Then I lose count. this is how it goes....
1,2,4,6....till 50
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,60
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, 70.....oh wait was that 60 or 70. This goes on for quiet sometime as I count EACH rounder, 5 different times. At one point, for ONE rounder, I got 121, then 149, then 141, then another girl counted and got 151. A MANAGER then counted and got 151. So basically...I SUCK.

I then move on. Proceed to count the next rounder, get a final total and forget the number by the time I get to the paper to write it down. Literally 5 seconds. (in my excuse my manager had taken my pen)

I get to the next rounder. Start counting and the shoplifter alarm starts randomly going off. I just started laughing (props to Adam). Finally I get a system down for counting, and it's time for me to leave. Story of MY LIFE!

Moral of the story,
I can't count.
Mommy did my taxes.
I'm good in life.









______________________________
MORE happytimes...

Pull throughs...parking spots where you can pull straight through.

Driving through parking lots after everyone has left and you have full rein to go through them horizontally!!!!

Sudden snow bursts!!!

You might have OCD if....

OCD! Obession Compulsive Disorder is not a joke. It is a very serious issue that many of us, perfectly normal people have. There are several ways to find out if you have OCD!

You might have OCD if...

1. You must have a clean room before you go to bed at night.
2. Have a order in which you take your shower.
3. Don't like your food to touch.
4. You eat each food one thing at a time.
5. YOU LOVE PLANNERS
6. You like organized plans.
7. You get frustrated about not knowing the future.
8. Hate your car being unvacummed.
9. Leave work to change accessories you were wearing because they gave you a black shirt to wear. (Or just think about it all day!)
10. Can't stand the little blue man at the bottom of your phone telling you that you have an UNread voicemail.
11. Your closest is color coded by season (aka sleeve length)
12. You go back to check if you locked the door or turned off your curling iron.

However, some people just need help. Some people are just plain weird.

You might be weird if...

1. You cannot leave a piece of trash in your car over night.
2. You have to have someone shake your right hand after someone shook your left one.
3. You must have all the tv's on the Christian radio station before you go to bed.
4. When you leave your mom's room, she tells you how much to crack the door.
5. You must touch the ENTIRE door handle of the refrigerator before opening it.
6. You tie your shoes more than once.

As you can see there is a huge difference in the two lists. Only freaks have done any of list number two! I am sure you will understand these differences.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happytimes CONTINUED

1. Seeing One single set of foot prints in the fresh snow.
2. Hitting that note in a song that seems impossible
3. Listening to a song that reminds you of a specific moment.
4. Having someone tell you that you look nice on one of your not so good morning days
5. The feeling you get after you have done so much that day, the feeling of accomplishment at night
6. The feeling you get right as you sit down after you go jogging.
7. The feeling you have after you have truly worshipped God or had an amazing quietime where God reveals your flaws to you!!! (funny but true)
8. Knowing that for once...someone said something dumber than you did!
9. Getting your car back after two weeks of notta!
10. ....................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The act of leading someone to Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....................

Bill Wallace?

I grew up in a church where i thought it was just so much funn to run the whole place. Every room, every closet, every crevace I covered. The church was Wallace Memorial Baptist Church. It wasn't until tonight that I realized that memorial means in memorial of someone. (I know, give me a break.) Bill Wallace was "a man intoxicated with Jesus."

That statement kinda hit me in the teeth, becuase how many of us "Christians" can truly say that about our lives?As I am getting ready for college or life in general I catch myself thinking "what am I going to do with my life?" when in all reality God is sitting in Heaven saying "What are you going to do with MY life?" For so long it has been about me and my feelings, Bill got the concept early in life that life wasn't about him, but about him making God look good. He felt God calling Him early in life to a life of missions. So many times we sit there and think that we don't have anything to offer or we aren't good enough at anything to do anything for the kingdom. Well I have news for you, God doesnt always call the qualified, He qualifies the called. He equips them with exactly what they need WHEN they need it. He doesnt always show you the full picture. He shows piece by piece. (WHICH IS SOOOOOO ANNOYING!)

Bill ended up going to China at the age of 26 after getting His PhD as a surgen. At the same time, a man in China began to pray that God would send a surgeon to China. Bill wrote a letter explaining that He had felt a calling from God since he was eight and had been working out his residence at the hospital in Knoxville and would love to go overseas as a surgeon WHEREVER needed upon completion of the program. God sent Him to China.

Now here's a thought... What if Bill had not been obediant to his calling? To that little voice telling him to do the different tasks in his life? If he hadn't listened, then the prayers of the man in China would not have been answered. Bill was the answer. Who is praying for something that I am the answer? Who is praying for something where you are the answer? The thing is by your obediance, you may be God's way of working, his hands and feet. What an awesome blessing!! Bill was willing to do anything, anywhere for Christ. Christ was His Passion. His sole passion. Jesus Christ was his everything. He was Christ's ambassodor in a communist country. He was willing to go to a place where he knew he could die. Not only was it just overseas. He was walking into a country as people were fleeing it. Yet I have trouble speaking to the kid in the hall or even right next to me in class.

A fellow chinese believer stated that "Bill actually lived out Christ right before us."

Conviction: How many people could say that about me? How many could say it about you? If you asked someone at my high school would they be able to say I resembled Christ even a little? I mean what a testimony to have said about you.

I just am amazed at how big our God truly is. How personal He is. How much joy He can truly give an individual. How He loves me. And I look at other poeple and they don't know that. And if I, if we, dont tell them, then for eternity, they will never feel that peace, that joy, that love that we feel from being loved by our Savior.

Happy Things :)

Have you ever sat down and thought of truly great happy things. not smiley faces and rainbows. just awesome happy things....here are a few.

1. New Deodarant
2. New Toothbrushes (YES!)
3. New Underwear....think back to Christmas.
4. Getting mail....like real mail, like cards in the mail.
5. Personal Emails....awwww
6. Clean Sheets on your bed.... (thanks to Gina)
7. A brand new Bible....you get to start over underlining straight.
8. OH MY GOSH.......A NEW PLANNER!!!!!! (that's all I'm saying)

man i am just getting so excited....i got a planner the other day and it is awesome. It is pink and brown. and it has tabs. tabs. yes for each month. and then it also has each day...with a designated place for tasks of the day. then it has note sheets that you can put in between the weeks. it even has two special secret pockets. i was just so excited. And in case you didnt know you can pay half cash and half card at target, which made buying the planner just even so much better.

9. Sweat pant days. (I would like to take the time here to apologize for ever dissing this invention. I love sweat pants. I look back at my oh life over the past few years where I was a stuck up snob and thought i had to try to look perfect everyday and i want to gag. Sweat pants and tee-shirts are totally the way to go. And for all you girls out there, there are these hair bands that are little and you use them if your athletic. Well they work for people who aren't "Sporty" as well. and they are just wonderful.) Anyways, these days are good.

10. The smell of freshly cut grass

11. Having a pair of matching socks clean (maybe just me)

12. Going a day without a certain person making fun of your outfit

13. Putting clothes on right out of the dryer on a cold day.

14. Having a very clean room when you lay down at night. (AWWWW)

15. Seeing that Fayette County is closed for snow.

16. Having more than one facebook notification when you get on.

17. Actually making someone laugh (instead of them laughing at you)

I think I am out for the day, but i will think of more i am sure, and i will let you all know of the happy moments in life, there are so many, you just have to look. But it's these little things that make life so great. The small things in life. The things that we take for granted, or jsut dont care about. All these little things are after all what make up the big thing we call life.

As i sit here trying to come up with a good entry for the very first blog of Chelsea Ball, I feel an immense ammount of presure. See alot of people just tell you to sit down and well blog. But it is truly not that easy. You see i have heard of this "blogging" world since i was a sophmore. Wes and Bryce Cooper were known to have the funniest blogs in town. How do I beat that? Then i go home to Jordan's house and Nathan and Betty are completely consumed by this blogging experiance ....and they are old. So i am thinking man i am missing out.

So i finally take the step and click on jordan's blog. which leads to adam's blog. and wiley's blog. and the famous wes blog. and not to mention twherle's. I just feel like i have been so left out for so long. It hit me like a ton of bricks that it was time.

That's all I am going to share with you today. I am just so in awe at the fact that I have finally seen the light that i can no longer write. But I can say, that this blog will bring joy to your life. Even if it is just an outlit to laugh at the fact that God created an idiot like me just so you could have a perfect and wonderful laugh.