Lelia writes at www.leliachealey.com is currently working on a book for women encouraging them to stop hiding among the baggage of their past and let God use their story for His glory. Lelia has also led 5 blog on-line Bible studies with author interaction from March 2008-June 2009 known as YES to GOD Tuesday’s with women all over the United States, Malaysia and even Australia.
Lelia contacted me and wanted to write a guest post today to go along with the Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study, “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God” because this study impacted her life in amazing ways. Thank you Lelia for giving your time to share with us today! -Sue
#Amazed--What Happens When We Say Yes
I got out of my car and walked into my house in tears. I was supposed to be on my way to meet my sister and mom for some shopping, but instead I was standing in front of my husband crying. Before I took off on my afternoon shopping trip, my phone alerted me of a private message on Facebook. A message that would become my proof that when we say yes to God with the good and the bad, He will use us in ways that will leave us bewildered, excited and in awe of just how great He is.
I read the message to my husband and he immediately began to praise God with me. Back in 2002, I found myself sitting in an abortion clinic. A Christian wife and mom of three, I knew what I was choosing to do was wrong, but selfishly I took the life of the baby that was not from my husband. After a long journey of forgiveness & healing from adultery and abortion, God asked me to trust Him with my story. In 2008, for the first time He asked me to share my story publicly and I said yes.
Over the last 5 years, I have had many opportunities to share of God’s redeeming love through writing and in the last year, through speaking engagements. However, this Facebook message from a complete stranger would not only unleash praise, it would encourage me to keep saying yes to the Chief Shepherd.
Ladies, when you say yes to God get ready to be taken to places that only He knows you need to be. I had no idea that a young woman was driving herself to an abortion clinic in Texas on the same day I posted that status on Facebook, but God did.
“The love of Christ compels us to choose obedience.” ~Lysa TerKeurst
The more my Savior loves me and we grow in relationship, the more I want to say yes to Him. I could write all day about what has happened when I have chosen to say yes to God. Lysa sums up my experiences best when she said, “It’s true—God wants it all. And it’s in the exchange of what we want for what God wants that we experience the adventure and freedom and power of saying yes to God.”
Unfortunately, I have many more answers of no to God than I do of saying yes, but what I have learned is that when I trust Him, He will do things in my life and through my life that only He is capable of doing. Just like saving a baby in Houston, Texas. I didn’t do the saving, God did.
I just said yes when He prompted me to write a status about abortion on Facebook. That’s a big God. That’s a God that wants to use us for His glory.
“God is using all of your experiences, both good and bad, to develop your character to match your calling. After all, dear friend, you never know how God will use you until you let Him."
Let Him.
He’ll make your yes worth it.
-Lelia Chealey
Lelia lives in Nebraska and is a wife, mom of three and *very young* grandma of two little girls.I got out of my car and walked into my house in tears. I was supposed to be on my way to meet my sister and mom for some shopping, but instead I was standing in front of my husband crying. Before I took off on my afternoon shopping trip, my phone alerted me of a private message on Facebook. A message that would become my proof that when we say yes to God with the good and the bad, He will use us in ways that will leave us bewildered, excited and in awe of just how great He is.
I read the message to my husband and he immediately began to praise God with me. Back in 2002, I found myself sitting in an abortion clinic. A Christian wife and mom of three, I knew what I was choosing to do was wrong, but selfishly I took the life of the baby that was not from my husband. After a long journey of forgiveness & healing from adultery and abortion, God asked me to trust Him with my story. In 2008, for the first time He asked me to share my story publicly and I said yes.
Over the last 5 years, I have had many opportunities to share of God’s redeeming love through writing and in the last year, through speaking engagements. However, this Facebook message from a complete stranger would not only unleash praise, it would encourage me to keep saying yes to the Chief Shepherd.
Hi Lelia,
You don’t know me, but I just wanted you to know that your post on abortion showed up on
my friends ‘news feed on Facebook on Thursday. It is what kept going through the mind of my
daughter who just found out she was pregnant, and because of a previous difficult pregnancy,
felt she sort of had no choice, but to have an abortion. Once again, God has used you to save
another baby. PRAISE HIM!
I’m humbled and in tears as I write this. His power is SO awesomely obvious. For your post
to show up when it did…His timing is perfect. Twice, she sat in front of the abortion clinic
(including this morning), and both times knew that she couldn’t go through with it. I just found
this out a couple hours ago. I want to thank you for your story and am so sorry you went through
your painful ordeal. His glory is being exposed in our weaknesses and our imperfections.
Today, my eyes are more opened to HIS grace and His love than they have been in a long time.
This will be a risky pregnancy, but I know and so does my daughter, that He has it all in control.
May God continue to bless you and use you for His glory. I just had to let you know how grateful
am to God and to you for sharing your story on Facebook---it has saved a life in Houston, Texas.
Ladies, when you say yes to God get ready to be taken to places that only He knows you need to be. I had no idea that a young woman was driving herself to an abortion clinic in Texas on the same day I posted that status on Facebook, but God did.
“The love of Christ compels us to choose obedience.” ~Lysa TerKeurst
The more my Savior loves me and we grow in relationship, the more I want to say yes to Him. I could write all day about what has happened when I have chosen to say yes to God. Lysa sums up my experiences best when she said, “It’s true—God wants it all. And it’s in the exchange of what we want for what God wants that we experience the adventure and freedom and power of saying yes to God.”
Unfortunately, I have many more answers of no to God than I do of saying yes, but what I have learned is that when I trust Him, He will do things in my life and through my life that only He is capable of doing. Just like saving a baby in Houston, Texas. I didn’t do the saving, God did.
I just said yes when He prompted me to write a status about abortion on Facebook. That’s a big God. That’s a God that wants to use us for His glory.
“God is using all of your experiences, both good and bad, to develop your character to match your calling. After all, dear friend, you never know how God will use you until you let Him."
Let Him.
He’ll make your yes worth it.
-Lelia Chealey
She enjoys girlfriend gatherings at coffee shops over a hot cup of cappuccino whenever she can
get away. She loves sharing God’s greatness through her life, writing and speaking. You can visit
her at her website at www.leliachealey.com
That is such a powerful story! Wow, I was blown away by the depth of emotion and the "real life" of it all. Thank you so much for sharing this deeply personal and private experience, and showing that all of our scars can be used to create beauty in someone else's life.
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