Faith – The Coffey Break

15 Minute Guided Morning Meditation with Biko Gray

Hi guys!

Good morning! Today is a big day and not just because it is the first day of our annual fast.

So, here’s the deal, back in September, before my life turned into a real-life vacuum haha, I sat down with my dear friend, Biko Gray, to record a Meditation Series for The Coffey Break. Well, the time has finally come! Three mugs of tea, a few really unhealthy meals, and a bag of Sour Brite crawlers later and we have a 4 part guided meditation series that will roll out every Monday over the next 4 weeks!

A little background. I’ve spent the greater part of the past year and a half rotating four different meditation videos. Each video has had a unique influence on everything from my self-talk to my outlook on money to how I view my future self and the role I play in what that looks like, but I always felt like there was something I wished I could have added. So it finally occurred to me that it’s time to create my own. A tweak here and there, new music, new visuals, new voices, new messages, the whole nine.

My mind is always racing a million and one miles a minute, analyzing creating, dreaming haha the list goes on, and meditation is the one thing that actually allows me to slow down just long enough to find my center and more importantly quiet the distractions.

About two years ago, I think, I heard Biko do a breathing exercise in front of a large group at an event. Little did I know that we would go on to become friends, or that he would be on the board of my nonprofit Mia’s Closet. All I knew was that in that short time of breathing in the good and out the bad, I literally felt the stress melt away.

So, after a year and a half of listening to my bookmarked meditation videos, it was a no-brainer that it was not only the time for me to create something of my own but bring in someone who I greatly respected.

So! Without further ado! Please see below for the very first installment of The Coffey Break Guided Meditation Series. The footage in the videos is from my personal archive of my most favorite beaches around the country and a cameo, courtesy of my baby sister Madison, of the rock beaches in Nice.

I’ll be praying and standing in agreement with each and every one of you guys believing for God to do something incredible in their lives in 2017. Every time I fast, I jot down those specific requests on a sticky note and add it to my circular chalkboard. *If you haven’t read the Circle Maker, get it!) Please don’t hesitate to leave your prayer request below or DM me.

Please don’t hesitate to leave your prayer request below or DM me. It’s such a blessing to finally see this project coming to fruition!

Speaking of things coming to fruition, as tough as it is, I kind of love this time of year. It’s a great way to do a scan of the world around me, hit the reset in all areas and align my intentions for the year ahead. I always feel a closer connection to God when it’s over, and year after year, I’ve looked back and realized how He has simply blown me away with answered prayer after answered prayer.

Hope today’s a great one! Be blessed ❤

Peace, Love, & Sunshine ~Chels

Hello November

Hello November 🍃💕🍁✨🍂

Hi guys, I simply can’t believe the year is almost over… After a month of getting settled (I have the most amazing adoptive families 😪) It’s time refocus and get back on track.

There’s no way to anticipate the curveballs coming for us from day to day. Some come at you so unexpectedly that time completely slows down until you realize you’re standing or sitting there, frozen, trying to process whatever just happened. Others require a lightning fast response to handle the situation without time to think or even process anything.

Regardless of the type of curveball; prayer, my devotional, and time of meditation have been such an essential part of setting the tone going into each day. There’s no question whether or not it serves as an anchor when a full-blown storm rolls in, and I notice a distinct difference when I don’t have time or make time to find my center at the beginning of the day.

I always jokingly say this, but being a grown up is hard, really hard and we have protect our minds and hearts as best as we can from the things that come to knock us off our feet. Never underestimate how much of a difference it can make mentallly, emotionally, and spiritually to start each day with intention.

*And be on the lookout to encourage someone else? We never know what other people are going through and you just might be the very person someone needs to make it through the day.

Sending so much love y’all’s way. Hope it’s a great one ❤️ Xoxo -Chels

#pray

#meditate

#payitforward

#PathMinded

#TheCoffeyBreak

Why are you stressing? Making the most of Malta

Everyday we come across people. Some we simply pass by. Others we feel drawn to and greet with a smile and a hello. And then there are those that we say to ourselves, “I wonder what they’re like. I’m going to get to know them. *Smirk face + painting my nails emoji”

The first time I remember seeing my dear friend, Christopher Ballew, he was running up on stage at Hope City with the most perfect 70’s style wing bangs bouncing majestically (I kid you not) with his every move. The next time I saw him he just so happened to be at a team meeting for church. I walked in, and in my mind I was like, “Ohhhmygash! The guy with the fab hair is here!”

My cornerstone indicator for any potential friendship is whether or not I catch myself with a little smirk on my face from laughing at what the person said. By the time we had our first fall-out laughing sesh I knew it was a done deal. Humor wins me over every. single. time.

The only thing more beautiful than a funny friend who totally vibes with you, is a friend who encourages you to trust God and helps you grow spiritually. Fun times aside, this awesome friend of mine has been such a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness during this time of transition. I recently moved to New York to job search, and boi I tell ya –Let’s save that for later… That’s a whole other post for another time haha

Anyway, yesterday, he gave me one heck of a pep talk about detours and embracing the journey. One that was so good, I had to share it with you guys. Thank you again Chris for being such a ray of sunshine ❤️

See below! Enjoy!

Peace, Love, & Sunshine ~ Chels

Why are you stressing? The Lord has already promised to take care of all of your needs. It’s just a matter of being patient, continuing to trust in him, until you walk into that “fullness of time” moment.

For sure! If we have nothing else, we have his promise!

I was reading in Acts this week about Paul’s ship wreck on the island of Malta while he was headed to Rome. They ended up stuck on this island for three months. I know that would cost me a great deal of frustration if that was not a planned stop on my journey.

But through this detour, God use Paul to miraculously heal one of the leaders of those people. Which totally impacted that region. By the end of the three months God has provided for them a boat to continue their journey and all the supplies they would need to finish out their trip to Rome

What if that shipwreck wasn’t a detour? What if that was part of gods plan? What if God’s vision was bigger than on arriving safely around? What if his vision involved impacting the island of Malta for his kingdom?

More than ever before, I’m receiving revelation that it’s not about the destination but about the journey. That’s a cliché we use all the time but it’s becoming more and more real to me.

When we have a destination mentality, we continue to live our lives and disappointment because with every change, shift and schedule, detour, we see it as an interruption to what we feel is our destination, whether we feel we have arrived there or not.

But, if we truly have a journeyman mentality and look in every situation in search of Jesus and how he wants to use us in that moment to impact his kingdom, then what we used to see as detours actually become exciting opportunities for adventure and encounters with the Lord.

We end up in places, whether because the Lord has led us there or because he has used an attack of the enemy to bring beauty from ashes, that we never dreamed we would be! And we get to do things and be a part of things, miracles! That we never would have imagined or even thought to pray for.

Because the experience on the island of Malta was not just about impacting those people. But because the guards who were holding all the prisoners on that ship Sompong in action and being used by the Lord, it completely altered and changed his experience in Rome. Where he may have been tortured and his prison experience made worse he was allowed to live alone and enjoy some comforts.

One thing is for sure! God has a handle on all of this way better than we ever could! So, take your hands off of it, release it to the Lord, and just trust that he will get you to Rome. 😃

… And enjoy the journey. LOL

-Christopher Ballew

The Grind

Hey guys,

Good mornin’, ya know, I don’t always have the words to articulate what I’m feeling or going through, and in times when I’m feeling that way, I find myself so thankful for the internet.

Yesterday a friend shared and article from GQ, and Sarah Paulson’s interview was such a thoughtful reflection on the beauty of discovering and appreciating the path that is uniquely yours. Below you’ll find a snippet from the interview. Hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe. Tell a friend, show a friend, pay it forward 🙂

Peace, Love, & Sunshine ~Chelsea

Start Out Disappointed If at All Possible

If my career had turned out like the fantasy I had of what it was going to be, it would never have made me happy. But I couldn’t have known that until it didn’t happen. I found a success that is so much bigger and deeper and better, and it’s because it happened later. If any of what I’m having happen now—the successes—would have happened to me when I was younger, I would have been ruined. Because when you’re young, and things come super easily to you, and you have success right out of the gate, you’re liable to think that’s how it actually works. You start to think you don’t need to be fully prepared or committed to have these things meet you.

Don’t Keep Calm, But Carry On

I muscled a lot of what I’ve achieved by sheer force of will and relentless determination. And I wasn’t hearing a lot of “Everything’s going to be fine. You’re going to have everything you want.” I would get one job, and then I wouldn’t work again for two years. Or I would get one great job, and it would very quickly become a nothing thing… Read the rest of her interview here.

let’s connect!

ig/twitter: @thecoffeybreak

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It’s time for a change

This year I did things a little differently. I planted written reminders of my vision for my life and words of encouragement all around my room and in my devotionals. The beauty of vision is that it creates a filter, so whether I come across one of these intentionally or it slips out of my Jesus Calling like this one, I have a reminder right there in front of me of my vision for this year and beyond. Each time I come across one, it serves as a checkpoint for me to ask myself, what’s working? What’s not working? Is there something I can do differently? It also allows me to recognize when it’s time to switch things up and/or try something new all together. If we change when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing, it’s imperative to recognize that pain, angst, or whatever you want to call it, and create opportunities to win. So many battles start in the heart and mind, and I choose to believe that we can position ourselves to welcome a beautiful shift once our minds can convince our hearts of the fullness we have in store in each and every area: our careers, our families, love, all of it. Chase the vision. It’s wonderfully beautifully ours for the taking.Happy Thursday guys! Xoxo-Chels 💋

#DailyAffirmations

#Meditation

#PathMinded #TheCoffeyBreak

#Chelseainthecity315