Graduated!!!!

I graduated on Monday with my three other siblings!!! It was such a blessing to graduate together! Love you guys so much :)

So blessed to have the family and friends that I do :)

Thanks guys!

Love,

Rachel

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Perseverance and Pride

          "I fear that I might never change, that the ones I love will turn away from me before I have a chance to better this pride shattered heart of mine." - Rachel (Journal entry 5/9/13)

          Do you ever feel this way? Do you ever feel that your sins are next to hopeless? That no matter how strong you try to be, you always fall once you come to the tightrope of Pride? I am feeling a little like this.

           Somehow I managed to make both my sister and one of my brothers upset with me this morning. I realize that the blame falls on my shoulders, after a long bloody battle with Pride, that is. I have yet to ask forgiveness, but I know it is called for and that my heart wouldn't allow me to go on as-is.

          Pride is a beast that can easily choke out poor Humility, Joy, and Peace. It has a terrible way of preying upon one's weaknesses. Please, my friends, don't allow this beast into your heart in the first place, for Pride will waste and ravage what you hold dear. 

          Call upon Christ when you see the battle at hand, for alone you cannot hope to gain victory.

          There is hope friends :) there is always hope, He is calling your name, beckoning you to the foot of the cross.

Persevere,

~ Rachel

Falling In Love Again

          I have my good days and my bad days. Some days I feel like I can't even talk to God because I am so humanly sinful. I get down about the things in my life that seem to plague me every day and every hour.

          A friend just recently mentioned to me how God knows our needs and he knows the things that bug us. He also cares enough about us to do even little things for us. God places both road blocks and gifts in my path everyday. It is up to me how I react to them. Often enough I don't jump at the opportunity to honor God by working through a difficult situation. God cares about how you see things and how you deal with the little things. For example: I am walking along having a perfectly miserable day, everything seems to be going wrong and BAM! Another issue pops up. Am I going to choose to honor God through this thing that has come up? Will I cast my gaze to heaven and say, "Thank you God that you see me here, and that you care for me the way that you do." Or will I stumble over this trial in a way that would make my Father sad? Truly, I wish to take every opportunity and work through it for my good. Everything happens for a reason, remember this.

          Through this amazing realization, I have become open to the world of God all over again! It's like falling in love with a God I hardly knew. God is so great and mysterious that we can never hope to know a fraction about him. Isn't it good to know that we can't "figure God out"? If we could come to the "End" of God, what kind of an amazing being would he be? He wouldn't be God at all!

          I'm just overjoyed to rediscover the awesomeness of our God! I know it may seen weird, but I am so lucky and so happy! Thanks for reading :)

Health, Happiness, Kindness, and Joy,

~Rachel

Stay at home?

          I have been going through a book called "Joyfully at home" with a group of friends. A friend of mine is leading the discussion, I am so thankful that she was led to start the study.

          We have been talking about stay at home daughter hood. You may be thinking ...ok so...well it is very interesting to examine the thought process behind staying at home as a daughter. Is it because we wish to be lazy? Is it because we expect to be married ASAP? Is it because we are afraid to go out into the world? The answer to each of these questions is A resounding NO! My reasons for staying at home are biblical. I plan hope to be married some day, but I'm not out searching the streets for a potential mate, or waiting at home for him to ride in on his white horse. I know that God has a plan for me and He also has a man for me (if He desires that I should be married). Why should I wait around for him if I can be keeping busy doing what God wants for me?
          One thing that God has for me is to serve my father while I am still under his roof. I can still go out into the world and be myself, and still ask advice and be led by my loving father. I am so blessed to have the dad that I do. I understand that many of you may not have the earthy influence that a dad can bring. Pray that God would lead you in his footsteps :)
          I guess I just wanted to share this to let y'all know what I have been up to, and to see what your thoughts on the subject are.

Love,

~Rachel

What is Devotion?

          This question came to me today as I sat and thought about my relationship with Christ. I thought about how much He has done for me and how little I have done for him. He stooped to our level in order to love and devote His life to us, so much so that He died for us.

          The picture of a young man hanging on a bloody cross is the very picture of devotion.

          I sit and think about how "devoted" I am in my life. I'm not exactly as devoted as I want to be. I would like to be devoted to my family, friends, and most of all, to Christ. I can see where my relationship with Christ would be 99.9% better if I would try my utmost to devote my life to Him. It seems like a cliche matter, but it is serious.

         There is no way that we can devote ourselves as Jesus did, but we can try. There is nothing that should (or can) stop us from trying to be like Jesus.

         Take a moment today and think about what devotion really means and how (if played out in your life) it could change your world.

          If anyone has more thoughts on devotion and what it means, please, do comment!

Yours Truly,

~Rachel

Change

          Things are changing so fast around me, it's like a storm is on its way, it is hard to keep up. Graduation is on the 20th and I have no idea where to go from there. I don't have to go anywhere, I just feel like I should have a bigger part to play for some odd, selfish, reason. I want to be able to serve Christ the way that he has designed me to serve, but what way is that? How am I to praise God when I don't know where He wants me?
          The change makes my stomach twist into knots, yet at the same time it makes me smile to think about what might be ahead. My sense of adventure starts to stir every time I think about the future.

          I realize that change is a good thing. I see where God has changed my life in may ways and created a realization of my abilities and failings. I have become a better person through the Holy Spirits Changing hand.

           Of course I find myself wandering the road of condemnation. I find my sin to be repulsive and disgusting, yet somehow I still run back to it every time. We all struggle I am sure, yet I feel that my doubts have gotten the best of me. Deep inside there is a voice that whispers to me all the time. It speaks of love and peace, joy, and kindness. The woman that I wish to be. It tells me that I improve every day, no matter how minuscule the improvement may seem. I am trying to glorify God through my actions and deeds, but sometimes it is so hard, is rubs against the grain of my nature. I think that we may all feel this way at times...?

I feel like am rambling, so I guess I will take my leave. Blessings to you! Good day.

~Rachel