The new Church Lady

This is real love (1John 4:10)


 Recently several friends re-posted a Blog to me from PearlsandGrace.blog because the blogger mentioned "the new church lady". Since I wrote a book titled- Church Lady-Freed To be a Woman of God; they thought I'd like to read it, and I'm so glad I did.


It’s exciting for others to be talking about the church lady. When this happens I see it as a confirmation from my heavenly Father that I'm on the right track of what He wants me to communicate. The blogger asked the question- “Do you feel that Christians are known more for what they stand against or what they stand for?” Interesting question! This could lead into a great round table discussion or....blog conversation, no doubt.


The bloggers story could be included in the pages of Church Lady. She talks about the morning she walked into the church "unwed single mama raising a baby on about $6.00 an hour and no support of any kind", and was judged.
As my friend Max Lucado says, "Isn't it good to know that when we don't love with a perfect love, God does."


In my book, transparent stories unveil the real hurts, of real church ladies, who've been trying to act like they have it all together, when really they don't. Surely you too have judged others. It’s such an ugly characteristic, don’t you agree? Praise God, He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be!




Eye’s Like His


Although my optometrist told me that I had 20/20 vision, I was in real need of an adjustment. I was seeing with human eyes when what I needed was eye's like His. The Great Physician got me still enough, for long enough, to adjust my heart, which adjusted my eyes. Then The Lord sent me on a journey where I began to recognize my flaws, my judgmental ways, and religious pride. For some reason, (remember we are born with a sin nature and that's why we need Jesus), I think women feel the need to appear that they have it all together no matter what hurt they may be facing out in the “real world”. So they (we) act like they (we) are happy and content, have good children, beautiful homes, great marriages, a content happy single life, etc... There is freedom found when we are REAL. Guess what? People like REAL! So instead of trying to change everyone else, ask your heavenly Father to adjust your vision. I highly recommend it! Seeing others through eye's like His...Wow! It changes the way we see ourselves and others.


The reality is that Christians often expect people who do not know God to act godly- to uphold the standards that we strive to.  (1 John 1:5-7) God is light and no shadow of darkness can exist in him. We've been called out of darkness, into the light. (1 Peter 2:9) Those still walking in the darkness cannot see.


We are called to love-everyone!


"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” -Romans 12:9




The church building is a place of worship where we come together to honor and adore Him, hear and study The Word of God (the Bible), all while surrounded by the love of Christ that flows from the people; children of God. 


The church is nothing without the people. Let’s desire to become the light in the darkness, the help to the hurting, the hand to the hopeless, the hug to the lonely, and the friend to the friendless. Let’s remember not to just teach the Good News of Jesus Christ but to live it outside the walls of the building so others will want to come and see.


A sample prayer if you’d like to pray with me.


Father forgive us, your followers, your daughters; church ladies- when we reflect self instead of being a reflection of You. Help us remember that no one is perfect, not even one (that means not even me!). Help us to love others with a genuine love.  Lord, I am thankful for the many beautiful, (inside and out) Church Ladies who have reflected your love; who’ve been godly examples of a church lady. Lord, continue to adjust our human vision. That in each moment You would give us grace to see, a heart that’s open, and a joy that not only brings new light to our own eyes, but that spreads like fire to those around us. Oh Lord, give me Your eyes-agape eyes. Amen.


 


“See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! -1John 3:1


“Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other, let us really show it by our actions.”
 -1John 3: 18


“God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him, this is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us.” 1John 4:11,12

On Valentine’s Day and every day, never pass up an opportunity to tell someone that you love them.

May you be filled with much love today and always, because you know the One who is LOVE.
Love in Christ, Chandra

 Redefining the modern day Church Lady, Peele challenges her reader to embrace her calling to take the church into the world. Admitting none of us have it all together (although we try real hard to act like we do), Chandra challenges us to reflect the love and beauty of Christ in spite of our circumstances; the good, the bad and the ugly. Who is the Church Lady? Take a look in the mirror-YOU woman of God, are the Church Lady!  

“Church Lady or un-churched lady, you will be blessed as Chandra shares what God has shown her, taught her, and done in her. As you read, you will feel like she is your best friend taking you on a great road trip. This trip will be insightful as you see yourself in the Church Lady. So, sit back and relax with your favorite travel mug, and enjoy the journey of- The Church Lady. “ –Denalyn Lucado

 

Chandra Peele

Speaker/Author

www.ChandraPeele.com

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I'm A MiMi!

November 14th, 2013, Bruce and I became grandparents- MiMi and Moose. We are thrilled and overjoyed to welcome sweet Adelyn Grace O'Flaherty, into our family.



The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy! - Psalm 126:3



Is there anything sweeter than holding a new born baby in your arms? Yes! Holding your own grand baby in your arms! It has been such a joy to watch Holly and Caleb love, adore, and care for this precious baby girl since her very first breath. The nurturing and love that come instantly with the birth of a child; what a thrill to witness from the sidelines. 



The night Addy was born, after all the visitors were gone; I watched the nurse bathe Adelyn through the nursery window. It took my breath away when she literally counted every toe and every finger then gave me, the proud new MiMi, the thumbs up. The verse that instantly came to mind as I watched this precious moment - "For you created Adelyn's innermost being; you knit her together in Holly's womb. I praise you because she is fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well. Her frame was not hidden from you when she was made in the secret place. When she was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw her unformed body. All the days ordained for her were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139 13-16



Months earlier, Holly asked me to paint Zephaniah 3:17on a canvas to hang on the wall in Adelyn's nursery.  Adelyn cried when the nurse poked her so without hesitation, as I wiped the tears from my cheek, I put my hand on the glass and said out loud, "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." -Zephaniah 3:17 Can you believe that baby stopped crying as I spoke the words over her...it was a precious moment that I will hold dear- always.



What a delight! My cup overflows! 2014 may just be the best year of my life, yet! I'll be keeping Adelyn while Holly goes back to work. There is no greater ministry than to minister to my own family.  What a privilege and honor it will be to love and care for this precious baby girl in the first year of her life and... enjoy little Miss Prestyn, when she gets here in March, too!



What about the ministry?

This year I am excited to co-teach the Dayspring Ladies Bible Study class at my home church, Houston's First Baptist. I also hope to speak at one event a month outside my church and I'm already booked through August. Who knows, maybe I'll write my first children's book. Several years ago a little boy who is very dear to me asked if I would write a children's book about a Knight whose name is Rowan McFarland. I think God was already at work because Adelyn means- noble beauty and the O'Flaherty's built some of the first castles in Ireland. Also, every little girl needs a best friend…that means Prestyn will be a character, too! Hmmm....sounds like a good idea to me!

 

From my heart to yours –Happy New Year!

As I sat on my drive way, New Year’s Eve, watching and listening to the fireworks; I couldn’t help but reflect on the year -2013. With my head held high, I hoped my heart of gratitude looked like fireworks to my Lord, as I praised Him for all the good in my life! Two words came to mind-abundantly blessed! I am grateful to my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, for the JOY I've experienced and anticipate more of the same in 2014. My prayer as I kissed my husband at midnight was ...more Lord! More!

 “Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us HE is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope for.” Ephesians 3:20

As Holly (my daughter and mommy of my first grand baby) and I watched our husbands, Bruce and Caleb, act more like boys than men (as they lit and threw fireworks), the past year seemed to re-run through my mind. Like a slide show, the BOOM and POP where the back ground music to the show- This is my life!

Bruce and I, so in love after 32 years of marriage, have been blessed beyond measure! Both our daughters are married, we love having “sons” in our family and now a beautiful-precious, 6 week old grand baby, Adelyn Grace, is in my arms! Knowing that we are 11 weeks away from Lindsey and Bryan blessing us with a second granddaughter, Prestyn Leigh...life is good and I love this sweet spot! Our blessings seem uncountable, like the stars above my head! Can life get any better than this? Oh… with Christ I know that it will! But for this precious moment…awe…I’ll bask in the joy of the Lord and count my blessings, one by one, thanking God for what He has done!

I’d love to share a few verses with you as a reflection of my 2013.

“Yes! The Lord has done great things for us! What joy!” -Psalm 123:3

Give thanks to the Lord of lords. To Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. -Psalm 136

“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” -1 Samuel 1:27-28

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.-James 1:7

My prayer for my family and for yours- let us be confident in Jesus Christ who knows our every need and trust Him with our future, as we settle in to 2014.

“See, the former things have taken place, and the NEW things I (The Lord) declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, your  islands, and all who live in them. Let the desert and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.” Isaiah 42: 9-11

And…let them raise their voices in Cypress, and San Antonio, and Dallas; let them shout from the mountaintops of Denver and Jackson Hole, from the deserts of Africa, let them praise the Lord…and from wherever you call home…raise your voice there, too!

Let’s keep shining the light of Jesus Christ, y’all!

Wishing you blessings, good health and much joy in 2014 and always!

Chandra