DON'T FEED THE MONSTER!!!

    We started watching a TV series that was very interesting.  It was rather entertaining and worldly I must say.  We watched several episodes and we were all getting sucked in to the plot, the unknowns, and the adventure mixed with slight romance.  It's funny how you don't realize how much something can pull at you. The Devil does this every day.  He wants us to get sucked in, he wants us to be blinded to the idles in our lives.  We were sucked in, but not to the point that we didn't notice it.  After two nights of wasted time, we all came to the decision that the show was not edifying and that it was extremely worldly.  We are not going to watch any more of it, I am glad because I know that the sin in me was starting to enjoy the show. 
    As Christian we should not indulge in sinful behavior or place anything before our eyes that is unclean.  I know that Christ would want us to throw away that movie, that game, or that photo that causes us to feed our sin nature.  It is up to you to realize and act upon your convictions when you find yourself in a compromising situation. Just think of your sinful nature as a monster.  DON'T FEED THE MONSTER!

Prayer Covering

          Sitting in the library on my community college campus.  I don't have enough time to do another math problem, but I have just enough time to write you :) (Math problems take me forever!)
          I pray every time I walk in the doors that God would cover this college with his blessings, mercies, and peace.  He can change a dark place.  I just pray that we (and all the Christians that may go to this campus, and on campuses around the world)  would be lights in the darkness.  I pray that they would be the witness and possibly the only "Jesus" that others will ever see.  Pray for our schools and campuses! 

Thanks, got to run!

Always,

~Rachel

October Baby,Soundtrack #12 Ocean Floor-Gianna Jessen

Will you take the Nails?

I know I wrote this post a few months ago, but I wanted to bring it back up tot the top.  It has changed my life, I pray that it may yours.

    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 someones 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?

      I want to start a movement called, "WILL YOU TAKE THE NAILS?"
I need help if this is going to gain any momentum at all:)  Please copy and paste, send this to friends, whatever you can do to get this out there.

     "WILL YOU TAKE THE NAILS?" :

     Draw you 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!  And I pray that this will become a movement that shakes the world (I hope that it isn't just wishful thinking on my part...)

Tenth Avenue North - By Your Side official music video

Tenth Avenue North - You Are More

You Are More

     Sometimes we don't even see who we have become.  We don't look in the mirror.  We don't want to look at our reflection.  Really, most of the time it has nothing to do with how we "look".The way we look can be fake, created, molded, or whatever else you want to call it.  Our physical appearance can be a mask, covering up who we really are.  Or in some cases, it shows exactly who we are, good or bad. 
    
     To be honest, I am not real good at masquerading what I feel!  I guess it's just me!  Sometimes it's a bad thing (In my opinion).  I can't hold something inside for too long, I swear I'd burst!  Some of us are so good at putting on a smile, that everyone else thinks that we are the happiest people in the world.  Not good.  I'm not saying that if you are feeling particularly nasty that you should 'act' nasty!  I'm saying that sometimes it's better to let things go, talk, and vent your thoughts and feelings.  Don't bust!  It can get messy...trust me!

     To be perfectly honest.  There is a fine line that we can try to be balanced upon.  That is the Word of God.  There is no way that we can go on being the person that we think we look like, or the
"got it all together" act, without breaking down at some point.  There is an end to every rope except the one that can reach from heaven to pull you out of your mess.

JUST ASK.

DON'T MASK.

Ask God to bring things to the surface, to show you what needs to change.  Ask Him to place the mirror in front of your eyes so that you can see who it is that He has saved you from.  He has reached down to earth to save mankind, HE CAN SAVE YOU!

Ok, so who have you become?  Take a moment to identify what you think about yourself.  Do you see growth?  Do you see pride (Pride never fails does it!  Cunning pride, always tripping us!)?

Wow, so I have to confess!  Sometimes I break down.  Not because I am hiding something, or because I am not me.  I fall to pieces when I do not lean on Christ.  I blow up when I miss seeing the pools of blood that, really, blot out my sin and mistakes.  I run from myself, screaming for salvation...when I am trying to save myself, and run from myself...it doesn't work....does it?  Ok, be honest!  Really, does it?  Not really!!! :P

I fall into a pool of tears when I say something wrong and it seems like I can't do anything right.  When I am trying.  When I am crying. When I am striving...He sees it all.  I ask Him, why?  WHY?!

He has not said why.  Deep down he has placed the answer in my heart.  It is, "I am refining you.  Shaping you into who I created you to be.  I am showing you.  Teaching you.  Weeping over you, and molding you.  I am loving you.  Watching you.  Blessing you.  Showing you Me.  I do not wish you to suffer or fall away.  I want you to be strong and beautiful, without this Time of trial, you will not be my tool or a world changer.  Cast it all upon me..."


You may think, how can hating ones-self refine them????

Well, not exactly that.  It is the learning to lean on Christ that refines.  it is the searching and seeking, the prayer and weeping.  We cannot work and gain Christ on our own.  We must ask Him to help us. 

So, to wrap up this tangled mess of many thoughts, I will say this :  Look at your reflection.  Know who you are.  AND CHANGE.  Grasp Christ and hold on to the Words that he has given you.

Don't you ever give up hope!  Listen, don't give up :)  He loves you more than all of this.  Your are more.  I love you and I care about you.  Don't let go.  If you need prayer, please don't hesitate to email or comment on my blog asking for prayer.  I will pray for you.

This music video is really inspiring.  Please take a peak! :)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwtcwQwgdsA

Sometimes Selfish can't help herself!

   She just can't keep away sometimes!  Selfishness is a form of greed and a deep rooted nature of mankind.  Selfish is slippery, cold, and mean.  She does nothing to help another being out.  She cares for herself and herself alone.
    Because you are a human being, you have invited her in one time too many, am I right?  It's like she can't help herself, she has to butt in and have her say in the conversation.  It is too bad that we answered the door in the first place isn't it?  It is hard to tell a "guest" to leave.  Well, if you didn't want her in your home, then why did you let her in?  I know, I know, she is pitiful and quiet until she crosses the threshold.  Then, once she has been entertained for a moment, she starts blurting out why you should have this and that, and how you don't need this person because of that...yadety, yadety, yadety, and she will go on and on if you don't stop her.  Trust me!  She can sneak in, and then take over.  I say, kick her skinny little rump back out in the cold where it belongs.  Don't be fooled my friends for she will ask to come back in.  Do not listen to Selfishness for she is destruction.
   I hope that you were able to follow the odd personification of our dear friend Selfishness who so gladly budged her way up to the plate for us to see under open eyes. I am often selfish, I am prideful, I can be unkind.  All of these are close relatives of Miss Selfishness.  Let us not invite them into our hearts or our homes.  Pray that God would grace your days with love and prosperity, and contentment.  Selfishness will gain you nothing, she will only take, take, take, and then leave you poorer and emptier inside that before.
   The picture above is a picture of a devilish little dog (Her name is Skeeter, she is really cute and energetic), that would not share this stick with any of the other 6 resident dogs.  After the second day of hording it, it was taken from her and passed through 3 more sets of paws.  As you may see, she has this SELFISHLY POSSESSIVE look on her face.

GRACIOUS! DO WE LOOK LIKE THAT WHEN WE ARE BEING SELFISH??? [Goodness, if I do...yikes!]

Many Laughs,

~Rachel

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Talk of Freedom

  
 Does freedom still stand?  It's a hard question to be honest.  It is sad that I have to question freedom in a nation that was practically founded upon it.  Freedom is no longer a liberty or a privilege.  Freedom is a word used in books of old and on the lips of soldiers that died for it.  There is a filtered form that is left for us.  The kind of freedom that the government accidentally squashes from it's cold dead hands. 
    If you say something that offends the government you are labeled a hate speaker and your name is smeared in the mud.  What is this!? There goes the first amendment.  Here, let me state the first amendment for you: 

Amendment I

Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

    Can't you see how things have changed?  If you speak against Islam, you are labeled a terrorist.  What is this!?
    Is it not Islam that has caused all actual TERROR attacks.

    The Devil has blinded the eyes of the people.  People cannot see that the President and his campaign are promoting the behavior of terrorism (building mosques on universities and in cities, allowing Muslims to infiltrate the school systems with their "Peaceful Religion") What is this!?   Hey, if they can come to the USA (where we invite them!) and fly into our buildings and kill thousands of infidels (so they call all who do not believe in Allah), then they are perfectly happy.  Can't you see that there is something going on?

    This is just one example of the loss of freedom.  and the ignorance of the American people.  

    Freedom is not what it used to be, as I have stated.  What of the second amendment?  Obama is trying to squeeze things and make it harder for gun owners.  that does not match up with the Bill of Rights.  Here is the second Amendment:

 

Amendment II

Right to bear arms

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

    Thousands of people fought and died so that you could be free.  Now think, ARE YOU?

    I'm not trying to start anything, I just want you to think about this stuff.  What if all freedom is wiped from the land?  What will "We The People" do?  Will we sit and let whoever it may be trample us and our country?  Or will we fight for our freedom one again?  I don't know what we will do.  Pray that God spares us from having to make that choice.   

    I know that if you are in the opposite party, you probably don't agree with anything that I am saying.  I pray that no matter what, God would guide those who chase after him.  Not after the worldly things. God Bless America!

 

K-LOVE - Citizen Way - "Should've Been Me" LIVE

Election Day Comes

     The dreaded day approaches.  A day of excitement, anticipation, and horror.  A time for votes, cheers, and butterfly stomachs.  One will come out on top.  The other will slowly meld into the crowd, the faces of every day life.  One will endeavor to save this nation.  One will stop at nothing to bring it to its knees.  One will be victorious whether in a true sense or a dictating one.  The other will  be shaken by the thought of how his nation will not be what it once was. 
     I dread.  It is what has to be said.  I am afraid.  It is what is true.  Why?  Because I see before I am supposed to see.  It is because I feel before I am supposed to feel.  The United States of America is going down.  The question is:  Which president will try to stop it?  I think that most of you know the answer to this question.  Maybe you don't.  I feel like this land is suppressed by a people, by and evil, by something.  Like it is going to burst forth any day now, and God will show his justice to those who deserve it.  The Devil is the prince of this earth and I have a feeling that he is very excited about this Election.
     It is the most violent campaigns I have ever lived through.  You see all the threats?  Primarily from the Obama party. Satan sure knows how to divide a Nation! He is dividing the peoples.  The Bible says, "A house that is divided falls", does a Nation that is divided fall?  A Nation that is fighting, pulling back and forth, threatening, and cheating, will fall.  Doesn't it strike you that people don't see this?  Why cant they see?  They have been blinded by their own reflection, technology, and lies.
    I know that S should not worry.  Christ holds even the smallest sparrow.  He holds me.  I pray that God would give me peace through this election and that he would bring peace to those who feel the way that i do.  I pray that God is able to show his glory no matter the outcome of this election.