Nothing Can Separate

by Chelsie Johnson

I’m a word type of girl. I love reading quotes, lyrics, and scripture that I can relate to at the present time. Recently, there has been a song that whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed or overly busy I start quietly singing, “Nothing can separate. Even if I ran away. Your love never fails." 

No, I don’t intentionally run away from God, but I do find myself getting too caught up in other things that I don’t make time for Him. I’m a full time student, nanny, daughter, girlfriend, friend, and sister. I shouldn’t use those as excuses to not have time for God, but can I be honest? Yes, there are times when I get so caught up in the things going on around me that by the end of the day I feel deprived of my time with God. There have many times I have to take my devotion into the bathroom with me and just sit on the counter and pour over it. At a stoplight, I’ve pulled up my Bible app and read over a couple scriptures. Recently, I started hanging scriptures up around my house with the hopes of changing them weekly, but it doesn’t always get done. I can get frustrated with myself for not spending more time with God. 

I’m reminded in Romans 8:31-39 (MSG) “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

It’s so encouraging to know that no matter how busy we get, no matter how much homework we have, how much time we have to take care of our loves ones-that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. 

Sisters, I challenge you, in your days ahead, to make it a point to have that time with Christ. If you feel like your relationship with Him is beginning to separate, run back to Him. He is there with open arms and He understands that we often can feel busy and overwhelmed with day-to-day duties. But He also knows that if you carry Him with you during those day-to-day duties you will accomplish them at a better degree.

Dating God's Way: My Personal Story to Courtship, Part One

By Chelsie Johnson

When I think about courtship I automatically relate it so dating in a biblical manner. I really don’t care for the term “courtship,” sounds so old fashioned.

Growing up I was never that girl who dated. The thought of bouncing from relationship to relationship sounded all too draining for me. I had one boyfriend the summer before senior-not at all a serious thing, just a couple of lustful teenagers. My second relationship started right before my freshman year of college-long distance, young dreamers, we thought we knew what love was. Honestly, neither one of those relationships were healthy. I knew that, but I wasn't ready to become that radical female who waits for that guy who God had for me. The thought of meeting the one seemed so far away…until a day in October.

October 2011 brought a lot of changes in my life. I moved to Indiana at the end of August of that year, to attend IU. I had no one other than Christ to lean on. I was moving with at the time was a very best friend of mine. But like they say, never live with a best friend. I struggled a lot that year, broken friendships, away from home. I had no other choice but to reply on Christ. As I feel more deeply in love with my Savior my eyes were open to the toxic relationship I was in. A relationship that was formed on friendship, but it turned into nothing more than lust and sexual desires. Yes, there was love…but not the love that God designed. Marriage was mentioned but not for the right reasons. For months I felt God calling me to end that chapter of my life and draw near to Him. So finally on a sunny Saturday morning, I did. It was by far the hardest thing I had ever done up to that point. I hated knowing that I had hurt someone, at the same time though, I knew I had to end it. It was either I end it, or keeping going in the wrong direction. For months, I questioned not only myself but God as well. I never went through a depression, but that was only because I remained friends with my ex-still speaking to him almost daily.

It wasn't until April 22, 2012, that I was finally able to trust God, COMPLETELY in my future relationships. I went out and bought a journal and a book called Praying for Your Future Husband and I started to just completely forget about the whole dating scene. I turned my focus completely on Christ. When my ex would make unannounced visits to my home (crazy, right!), I would dig even deeper into the word of God. I remember nights of crying myself to sleep with the same prayer running through my mind, “God I trust You, but this isn’t easy. Help me.” I wrote about how I would wait for someone to pursue me. I read more books on Christian dating and let God take the lead.

A few days after the new year, I causally wrote something along the lines of, maybe 2013 will be my year to meet my future spouse, I’ll be 22 this year-seems like perfect timing. After I wrote it, I completely forgot about it.

Little did I know that just a few days after that, the one person I had been praying for would come along.  

Triple-Layer Mud Mint Pie

By Chelsie Johnson

This is my favorite dessert to make anytime we gather for holidays or birthdays. It is always a hit and I usually get a request to make it for someone just so they can have it at home! 3 squares of Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate, melted Andes mint pieces (I don’t measure, the more the merrier!) ¼ cup of canned sweetened condensed milk 1 Oreo pie crust 2 cups of milk 2 packages of Jell-O chocolate instant pudding 1 tub (8 oz.) of Cool Whip, thawed Mix: chocolate and condensed milk; pour onto crust *the mixture gets thick fast, so mix and pour as soon as you can, might have to spread with fingers on the crust Put desired amount of Andes pieces on top of chocolate later Beat: milk and pudding mixes for whisk for 2 min.; spoon 1 ½ cups over Andes pieces; stir half the cool whip into pudding-spread over the pie; top with remaining Cool Whip Add Andes pieces to top Refrigerate: 3 hours (the longer the better!)

Pursuing God This Year

I’ve never been one to make New Year’s resolutions. January 1st is known to strike up the attitude “new year, new you.” The reason why most people don’t follow through with New Year’s resolutions is because a day on the calendar can’t successfully change your heart and mindset, at least not for most people. We try. Our new diet and exercise plan may last a couple months but after that it’s back to your old eating habits and watching TV, thinking ‘maybe next year…’

As the New Year is upon us, I can’t help but want to encourage everyone I come in contact with to make the decision to pursue Christ in 2013. There is no better time than today. I’m always for new believers accepting Christ, but what about us seasoned believers? We can ALWAYS grow deeper in our relationship with our Creator.

I think back to previous circumstances in my life, the ones that drew me closer and the ones that caused me to flee. Were the activities in my spare time robbing me of Christ? Too much TV? Sleeping instead of spending time in the Word? Are you a sports fan and spend your Sundays watching football? Me personally, I’m a huge reality TV fan. Awful, I know. It keeps me entertained, but not in a good way. I encourage you to think about the things that draw you closer to Christ. Do you enjoy walks outside? Worship music? Quiet mornings with Him? Learn to separate the your actions and pursue ones that better you as a child of the King.

This is no easy task. Like most of our New Year’s resolutions it will take time and effort. The most important thing is putting your whole heart into it. Giving your all up for Christ is so worth it. Going into the New Year, instead of having a ‘this is right, this is wrong’ kind of outlook, look at the things you do and remind yourself over and over again that you are giving up old ways for Him, to get to know Him better, to fall more deeply in love with Christ. If we don’t have Jesus as number one we are lost. Philippians 3:7-8 reminds us, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whose sake I have lost everything.” It’s not about what you did in 2012 it is about what you are going to do in 2013. It is never too late to get to know Christ on a deeper level. The perfect time is NOW.

As you start this journey I invite you to pray aloud Psalm 63:3-4 “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”

Going Outside Your Comfort Zone

By Chelsie Johnson

I've always had a heart to serve others. I’m the type of person who is drawn towards people who are going through obstacles in life and I want to do everything in my power to help them out. However, going out of my comfort zone - meaning getting too close to someone I didn't know, was a no. I could volunteer at church without second-guessing it, or donate clothes for clothes drive easy. Sitting down and getting to know a stranger, which was something I would never do.

This all changed in October of this year. I was doing research for class when I came across the Big Brother, Big Sister (BBBS) website. I read through the mentoring programs they have and what it means to be a Big. A sudden heaviness overcame me along with the urge to volunteer. I told myself, no, while closing out of the site. Not even five minutes later I was back to the BBBS website filling out the application. I remember calling my friend and telling her I was going to volunteer…she laughed at me. Literally laughed. Her response was that I am far too busy to add anything else to the schedule. My reply, God laid this on my heart at this moment in time, I’m not sure where I will find the time, but I know I can spend at least 10 hours a month mentoring someone. She got quiet and we got off the phone. The following week I heard from an employee at BBBS, named Yvonne. She immediately wanted to set up an interview and within a couple weeks I was in her office answering questions about my past, present, and future. Talk about intimidating. My background check came back clear and I was in the process of being matched!

I met Diamond a couple weeks ago. She is 12 years old, in 6th grade, and has an amazing heart. Diamond has experienced things at such a young age, that I hope to never experience in my life. I have formed a bond with not only her, but also her older sister who takes care of her. They welcomed me into their family immediately. My automatic reaction is to want to spoil Diamond. However, I know reaching her through the gift of serving is going to give her a far greater reward. 

I went 100% out of my comfort zone when signing up for BBBS. Maybe you’re okay when it comes to strangers, perhaps you say no every time you’re asked to go on a mission’s trip. I challenge all of you to say ‘yes’ just one time. I guarantee God is going to bless you while receiving the glory of whatever He has called you to do. Going out of my comfort zone was the best thing I did that October day. I gained a little sister, a summer internship with BBBS (again, totally God) and a chance to minister to a complete stranger. We are called to make disciples of all nations. Get out and go!

S'mores Please

By Chelsie Johnson

My favorite thing about the holidays, second to family, is the food. By food I mean dessert. I have the biggest sweet tooth I know. I’m the type who eats dessert before dinner incase I get full. Yep! That’s me!

My favorite treat to have when it’s cold outside is S’mores. I’m constantly looking for S’mores recipes to try out for friends and family. I like to take the recipes I find and switch them up a little to make them my own. 

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That usually means adding more of something!

I found the recipe for S’mores cookies from Say Yes To Hoboken.

• In an 8x8 pan, line graham crackers on the bottom

• Using a wax piece of paper sprayed with nonstick spray (I used PAM) spread soft chocolate chip cookie dough making the shape of the pan. Then flip over on-top of the graham crackers and spread evenly

• Bake on 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Cookie dough will still be soft when you take it out the oven

• While hot, take pieces of Hershey chocolate and cover cookie dough. Then top with mini marshmallows

• Place back in the oven until marshmallows begin to brown

Surviving the Holidays. . .Single

By Chelsie Johnson

If any of you are like me, you’re single this holiday season. Maybe newly single or this is a repeat of what seems to take place every year. Did you ever notice that all the ‘couple’ holidays fall back to back?  There’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and the dreaded…Valentine’s Day.

Last year at this time I was freshly coming out of a long-term relationship. Although it was long distance, we did our best to spend every holiday together. Even in the first few months of being apart, we habitually saw each other for the holidays.

Why?

Why did we feel the need to be in each other’s presence, spend quality time together, fake a happiness that was no longer there, and hide the pain that was?

Why is it that being single during the holidays is so much harder than being single on a random day of the week in the middle of April?

I think we often forget our wholeness in Christ. I know I do. We are told in Matthew 9:22 “Daughter, be encouraged! For your faith has made you WHOLE!” We have everything we need in Christ. He completes us. Not a guy that we are dating, not even our future spouse will complete us in the way that Christ does. He loves us despite the fact that we fail him every day. We are never alone. He is jealous for us. He longs to spend 24/7 with us. No man on earth wants to be around you all the time; no man on earth wants to be around me all that time. And no, it’s not going to be easy. As humans we crave that attention from the opposite sex because that is how we were designed.

I’ve struggled with it too. This past Thanksgiving was my first Thanksgiving back home in two or three years. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do emotionally, but I held up pretty well. Family, love, laughter, and food surrounded me! But as I was making my way home I was overcome with memories of the past few Thanksgivings. I literally had to pull over and cry out to God, asking Him to take away the hurt, the pain, and to give me peace in my heart. I can’t even begin to explain the feelings of peace I had when I woke up Friday.

Allow God to use you in your time of singleness, especially during the holidays. There’s so much good that can come out of this time. Have faith and believe that God has you in this season for a reason. We are reminded in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a Time for Everything. Go out and volunteer. Take the money that you would’ve spent on presents for a significant other and bless someone in need. Have peace that your time to spend this holidays with someone is coming…in His time. Find comfort in Christ.

“May Your unfailing love, be my comfort” –Psalm 119:76