Romans 9:22-23

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exist because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.

-John Piper

Good Morning Washington!

Sunny with a high of cold. Real cold.

Babysitting the nephews.

I have this new book fetish. Obviously.

“Sometimes when we are called to obey, the fear does not subside and we are expected to move against the fear. One must choose to do it afraid.”

–Elizabeth Elliot

Frances

Meet Frankie.

I couldn't snap an artsy picture of her because I spoke to her through a fence at this coffee shop:

She's 58.

And life has dealt her a bad hand.

She listens to Delilah on 95.5.

She also loves to talk (and smoke).

Frankie has a handful of kids, I couldn't add up/distinguish how many.

She has lived with Larry for 20 years, but is actually really in love with Rick.

Rick's name made her smile and blush.

Larry was in a motorcycle accident a couple years ago that made him lose his ability to talk, but he taught himself how to talk again.

Larry doesn't ask God for much because there are people out that need things more than he does, and God must be really busy.

Frankie married at 15, baby by 17, psychiatric hospital by 18.

She was forced to have a procedure that completely erased her memory. It's not legal anymore.

But she is just now getting memories back because God gives them to her.

The Lord also took her off the streets, out of abusive marriages, and she somehow ended up with a trust that has allowed her to have a wheelchair, a van, and a gorgeous new set of teeth.

"God's will is the best," she kept telling me.

We talked about how we'd see each other in heaven someday, because chances are, I won't see her again.

What a story, huh?

Thanks Lord for making us the only copy in all of history. It makes life so much more interesting.

love.chloe.

We take the good days from God—why not also the bad days?

Job's response to his doubting wife changed my perspective on the bad day, recognizing that the bad are also from Him.
God created each day, like a shell, the solar system aligns and the sun shines.
Will I receive the bad as they are from the Lord? Or just walk through them as 24 hours.

You have been given fullness in Christ. -Colossians 2:10

love.chloe.

today's joys.

Opening my front door and having to turn around and put shorts on. Welcome to Texas, Spring.

Studying the meaning of the word Paradise in Luke 23:43. Isn't it cool that the God who made the stars and grapefruit calls Heaven Paradise? It must be really stellar.

Thinking back on my sugar/joy filled weekend with Megan.

Thinking forward to my next week in Seattle.

A fedora.

Being spontaneous and doing something on Valentine's day that involves a man named "Pineapple". You'll hear more about that.

This photo.

Anthropologie's new wedding line is out.

God made the sun come up again this morning.

I am especially enjoying that tucking in your shirt is coming back in style. Or maybe it's not... Eh, it's Austin. I've seen scarier, and I like the freedom it gives me to do the YMCA without the fear of revealing my mid-section.

Finding out that they (animal people) have discovered a new hedgehog species that can make clacking sounds with its quills to communicate with other hedgehogs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9392000/9392070.stm

Wishing I were a hedgehog.

Google has a new project where you can look at the world's most famous pieces of art as close as the brush stroke.

http://www.googleartproject.com/

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

Did I already say that it's warm enough to go stand-up paddle boarding today?

From the city that never ceases to eat granola and ink up,

Chloe

This is what heaven is going to be like.

Pray for this little girl.

www.prayforkate.com

Katie in Uganda

If you haven't read this blog, do it now!

http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

love.chloe.

God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.
Isaiah 40:28-31

Excuse the sarcasm. It's a Tuesday.

Life is slower here. God's glory can be soaked up in the second by second. The sun is a little brighter and you can notice things like the smell of grass and the movement of the body. Sometimes too mechanical, I have to catch myself in moments of just living. I want to remember what I was doing last Thursday and how I have grown since then.

I've mastered Savasana. It is known for being the yoga posture that baffled Yogis around the world since 3000 b.c. It looks something like this:

People who aren't familiar with ancient hindu names for postures can refer to this as "the Corpse". So, whichever you prefer, I highly recommend it.

In the past week, I've had my parking spot blatantly stolen twice. It's in these times that all of my yoga breathing comes in handy, but also when I'd like to help others master their Savasana, if you catch my drift.

Anyways, I'm really starting off this post with pointless, organic sarcasm because I'm avoiding what I need to say.

I told the Lord yesterday that I am here to be poured out like an offering, and that if He chooses to send me to Rwanda, I'll go, northern China, I'll go, pretty much whatever at this point. It didn't help that I bumped into an old friend and he said, "who knows girl, you may be in Africa..." Shhhh. Don't tell God, Jimmy. Who am I kidding?

For lack of a better word, I'm getting my act together. In all manners of the word.

All steps are being taken to root out this false Jesus I have created, that helps me make friends, gain respect, and get a respectable job someday. Who am I to use His holy name for my own aims?

If I had 3 minutes to say something on a worldwide megaphone, I'd say sin is sin. Jesus doesn't gage our rebellion against a holy God by the culture "shock" factor, or how much counseling you'll have to go through to sleep at night. Sin is sin, my friends. Self-righteousness, self-preservation, it's all black as it comes, it all stirred a dark chasm between us and the Just one.

He has given us the choice. What can be more just?

I chose rebellion. And that is why I am clinging to Jesus Christ. I have been boiled down to the question of which Jesus will you worship, Chloe? Your beautiful, unspoiled, intentional, Aggie Jesus? Or Jesus of Nazareth.

There is a huge difference.

Jesus of Nazareth says, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. " Luke 12:49-52

I can just see Jesus looking the disciples in the eye with that "are you for real?" look.

WHAT? No Jesus! You can't be serious. I had it all figured out. I really did. Every day till May 16 of 2013. But I'm guarding my heart, I'm not planning ahead, I'm not placing ungodly expectations on the people around me to even be breathing by 2013.

Alllllllllllllll gooooooooooonnneeee.

I met a man once that said that he used to want to convert from Hinduism to Christianity because Christians always seemed pretty and happy. Then he converted...

Now life is "full of trial and suffering". Amen.

If only I could wrap my heart around this Jesus, but that's the thing. He cannot be contained. But I can look intently to the revelation that God inspired that we all have at least 6 copies of. Want to see how to look like the Kingdom and Authority of God on earth? Jesus did it. Perfectly at that.

I pray that God shakes us. Really violently.

"This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life." 1 John 5:11-12

Jehovah-Rophe is our only hope. The life He offers is beautiful. I mean, who the heck comes up with things like this?

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I just love hippos.

love.chloe.

New blog project?

People?
Pastries?
Austin?
Tea?
Dogs I pass on Town Lake?
Ball point pens?

The options are endless, really.

Today's a joyful day.

Few delights can equal the presence of One whom we trust utterly.

-George MacDonald

A Letter

God spoke to Moses: Camp on the shore of the sea opposite Baal Zephon.“Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are lost; they’re confused. The wilderness has closed in on them.’ Then I’ll make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn again and he’ll chase after them. And I’ll use Pharaoh and his army to put my Glory on display. Then the Egyptians will realize that I am God.”
And that’s what happened.
When the king of Egypt was told that the people were gone, he and his servants changed their minds. They said, “What have we done, letting Israel, our slave labor, go free?” So he had his chariots harnessed up and got his army together. He took six hundred of his best chariots, with the rest of the Egyptian chariots and their drivers coming along.
God made Pharaoh king of Egypt stubborn, determined to chase the Israelites as they walked out on him without even looking back. The Egyptians gave chase and caught up with them where they had made camp by the sea—all Pharaoh’s horse-drawn chariots and their riders, all his foot soldiers there at Pi Hahiroth opposite Baal Zephon.
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them—Egyptians! Coming at them!
They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God. They told Moses, “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen? Didn’t we tell you, ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt—we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.’ ”
Moses spoke to the people: “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again.
God will fight the battle for you.
And you? You keep your mouths shut!”
God said to Moses: “Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving. Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground.
“Meanwhile I’ll make sure the Egyptians keep up their stubborn chase—I’ll use Pharaoh and his entire army, his chariots and horsemen, to put my Glory on display so that the Egyptians will realize that I am God.”
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and God, with a terrific east wind all night long, made the sea go back. He made the sea dry ground. The seawaters split.
The Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground with the waters a wall to the right and to the left. The Egyptians came after them in full pursuit, every horse and chariot and driver of Pharaoh racing into the middle of the sea. It was now the morning watch.God looked down from the Pillar of Fire and Cloud on the Egyptian army and threw them into a panic. He clogged the wheels of their chariots; they were stuck in the mud.
The Egyptians said, “Run from Israel! God is fighting on their side and against Egypt!”
God said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea and the waters will come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots, over their horsemen.”
Moses stretched his hand out over the sea: As the day broke and the Egyptians were running, the sea returned to its place as before. God dumped the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. The waters returned, drowning the chariots and riders of Pharaoh’s army that had chased after Israel into the sea. Not one of them survived.
But the Israelites walked right through the middle of the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall to the right and to the left. God delivered Israel that day from the oppression of the Egyptians. And Israel looked at the Egyptian dead, washed up on the shore of the sea, and realized the tremendous power that God brought against the Egyptians. The people were in reverent awe before God and trusted in God and his servant Moses.

Exodus 14

God has called me out of College Station, into a very uncertain and unpredictable semester in Austin.
Beginning the first week of school, my health started to deteriorate and I started experiencing immense amounts of unrest and loss of peace to the point that it was making me sick. The Lord grabbed my attention through me being sick and through the encouragement of my family and the people around me that something was not right. And here I am. As I sit in my room here in Austin and often let Satan manipulate me into thinking I made the wrong decision to come home this semester, there is NO wrong decision when Yahweh is your God.
At the time, I thought that coming home was an escape, a way to get better, but little did I realize that it was going to be an act of obedience. I want more than anything to be there with you laughing and learning about what it means to love Christ but sometimes God asks us to unclench our fists. Sacrifice is not always giving up bad things, but things that we hold most dear, like 2014, like A&M. Like the Israelites, I told God, “wouldn’t it have just been easier to stay in College Station and keep doing my school work, keep loving girls, keep going to Breakaway?” And the Lord has answered, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at your fears today for you’re never going to see them again. God will fight the battle for you.”
All this to say, I love you all from the very bottom of my heart. Each of you has taught me so much about the power of the God we worship. Keep looking up at His face, it’s the only place you’ll find peace. Crave the Word like your life depends on it. Love each other well.

I’ll be seeing you,
Chloe