Not a Blemish

If you were asked to pluck every flawed leaf from a tree, you would find that it would be easier to burn the tree than to sort through the leaves, for no leaf is perfect, every one holds its blemish.  Not one is perfect in human eyes.  But, if you only look through the eyes of the Creator, you may find that not a single leaf would fall to the grass, for He created them ALL.  AND EVERY ONE IS PERFECT. ~ Rachel

We all like to look at ourselves and point out all of our flaws and shortcomings.  Some of us even do these things to others.  We can easily tear ourselves and one another to shreds, or we can look to our Creator.  He created each of us exactly how he planed.  He loves you because of what he made you for and because you are so beautiful to Him. Yes, yes, we can be evil beings as well...it is true.  He did not put that evil in us, we did.  We had free will and in the beginning we chose death.  Try reading Genesis Chapter 3.  But when it comes to YOU, He created YOU and he loves you and because of His Son's death on the cross, you are made new and you are perfect.

~Rachel

"Will you take the nails?"

     Often I lay on my side in bed facing my wall.  Not at all odd huh?  No.  Most of the time I stare at the cream colored paint until I drift of into slumber.  Well, last night I placed my hand on the wall.  I couldn't see it real well as all the lights were out.  I have done this before, ya know, wondering if your hand print were anywhere, would you be remembered for the things you accomplished with your hands...well, I did this once again.  It drove me to tears just looking at the outline of my hand, I asked myself, Have my hands changed the world? Will they change the world?  Will they try to change the world? Have they saved someone's life?  Have they praised God with every part of their being? Have they served honestly, joyfully, and peacefully? Have they been strong and courageous, finding the root of evil?  Have they lifted the fallen back to their feet? Have they cared for the elderly and the sick? Have they held the sword of truth in trembling awe?  Have they been raised in worship to their Creator?  Have they written the Words of Life for all to see?  Have they expressed deep love and passion?  And most of all, have they been willing to take the nails, and die as Christ died?

     This struck me like a ton of bricks.  I don't know if it has or will affect you as it has me.  God is showing me that the work of ones hands (and ones heart) can change the world.

     Will you die to yourself?  Will your hands take the nails? 

     Matthew16:24-26

     Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will loose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?


     "WILL YOU TAKE THE NAILS?" :

     Draw your hand print on your wall, in your journal...somewhere that you will see it in the years to come and write what I wrote above in the green letters, next to it.  Write the date.  
Be remembered for having done something great in the name of the Lord.
God bless! 

~Rachel

Deception

          So I went to Life Church tonight and they are doing a sermon series called 'Deception'.  It is about how the Enemy (The Devil) tries to deceive us.  You are thinking well, duh!  Anyways, it was a great sermon.
          The devil is able to disguise his true motives and twist good into evil and evil into good, at least he makes it all look that way. 
          The beginning of deception started in the Garden of Eden.  Gen 3:1-7 is the story of the Fall.  The serpent says to Eve, "Did God really say that?"  And Eve questions it.  Then her convictions change because she is being deceived.  She thinks of how the fruit would be good for food and how beautiful it is and what wisdom that it might offer.... (As the snake had told her).  As Eve bit into the fruit, the Devil was triumphant.  his very first victory.  We don't want HIM to be the victor do we?
Our Enemy has been deceiving from the BEGINNING!  Don't let him fool you, he is still around.  He still wants to snag your heart.
          Lust is a deception.  We look at what we DO NOT HAVE in stead of WHAT WE DO HAVE.  And the devil and our own sinful nature tells us that we need that thing.
          The Devil will do anything, play upon your every weakness.  Don't let him prevail, take hold of God, do what He commands and know that the Devil is a deceiver and that he will not hesitate to make you stumble.

~Rachel