fire

ok, i know it's been a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time since i last blogged, but today is something totally worthy of being blogged. today was my niece's birthday party at katy's house. it was great! had good cake, a lot of her friends showed up dressed like princesses, family, etc. i took several pictures (to be posted soon). the last picture i took was of all the girls together. katy had lit two candles on either side of her entertainment center...i was on one side of it trying to take the picture. i leaned back to try to get all the girls in it. next thing i know, i hear all the moms there screaming at me..."YOUR HAIR IS ON FIRE!!!!!" so i flipped my hair over and obviously put it out that way. but my hair caught on fire!! i thought it was kind of funny...no thought of "maybe i could've lost all my hair" or "maybe i could've caught their house on fire"...nothing like that. i just laughed and went outside to brush all the charred hair off my shoulders and back. poor susan...i made her asthma act up MAJORLY! she was outside catching her breath and trying to help me get the char out of my hair. by the way....that's the worst smell EVER!!! it stunk up their house big time. anyway. after that, i went home and washed my hair twice to try to get the smell out of it....it worked. you really can't tell that it has caught fire. i'm going to get janice to look at it tomorrow at church to see if i need to get a trim. i hope you have had a good laugh! i know i did!! oh...did i mention that i had mousse in my hair???

Plates

I heard a quote tonight that got me thinking and is really cool.

"We are the plates that serve the Bread of Life."

It's a really profound, yet simple thing. I am a plate that God uses to serve the living Bread to other people. Yes, sometimes it's dirty and He probably doesn't want to use it, but He still does. Our Middle School pastor, John Steen, told us that he does the dishes in his house. Sometimes when he doesn't get a chance to wash them that night, he does it in the morning. By then all the food, etc. on the plates has had a chance to dry and be crusted and layered on them. They're harder to wash. The same applies to us as Christians. When we don't deal with a matter that the Holy Spirit has laid upon us to deal with, the next morning it'll be harder to get rid of it. We have to deal with the junk in our lives as soon as He lays is on our hearts, or else it will be hard to get rid of. John also talked about "fine china". You usually only get that out to use it like once a decade or something like that. Then you have your everyday china. We don't need to be like the "fine china" as Christians...only used once a decade; we need to be like the everyday china, where God uses us everyday to serve the Bread of Life! This has challenged me. I hope it challenges you!

"Hold Me"

Read the words to this song that I just got done listening to:

"I'm weak. I'm poor. I'm broken, Lord but I am Yours. Hold me now."

How many times do we find ourselves saying that to others?? I know for me it's a lot; but how many times do we actually go to our Heavenly Father and tell that to Him?? Yes, He does already know it, but He WANTS you to tell Him! He wants you to tell Him everything you're going through. I'm weak. I'm somewhat sore from playing ball Monday night, working out, and standing on my feet forever at work. I'm poor. Well, that one is my fault. I haven't FULLY trusted my money with God. I'm still working on that. I'm broken. Why did You have to die for me? I'm only a sinner who still messes up! I know I'm not perfect. It's hard for me to grasp the concept of grace. Lord hold me now. Have you ever wanted to crawl up into His lap, shove your face into His shoulder and just cry?? I know I have on several occasions. Let Him hold you as you cry, as you vent your frustrations to Him. He wants to hear you...He wants to comfort you in only the way He can! Just crawl up in His lap and sit. May you be blessed today!

God's Mercy

Today at church, everything that I heard was pretty much aimed at me...from the worship songs to the sermon to our ladies Sunday school class...it was directed from God to me. These past few weeks I've been struggling with a life I've lived in the past. I thought that God would never forgive me nor take me back because I constantly deal with this. It's one of those things where I do it, repent and not do it for a while, then it comes back. It's a vicious cycle I deal with. This time it seemed, for some reason, worse. I ended up dropping my digital cable and have just the basic cable (channels 2 thru 22, and sometimes ESPN). I also uninstalled my chatting devices. The reason is is because God convicted me of what I was doing. I told a friend of mine that I KNOW that I know that I know that I'm a child of the King because of the strong convictions that I've had these past few weeks. It's amazing. I knew that He loved me, but I honestly turned my back on Him for at least a few days...well for about a week. It breaks my heart now to know that I broke His. I look up to God and ask, "why do you still love me? After all that I've done to you or not done for you, why do you still want me?" Like everything that I heard today at church, it's all about His grace. There's a hymn that we sang this morning:

"Grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that is greater than all our sin."

That's really the only song that I remember singing...and we sang several good ones. But that one in particular stood out to me and what I had gone through. God's grace is bigger than anything I could do or think of doing. It's a gift. We don't deserve it, yet He lavishes it out to us on a daily basis! I know that I am in awe of how much He loves us and cares for our well-being. He only wants the best for us. Did you know that? Even though you think you're going through the toughest thing, it's only going to make you a better person. God has His reasons for what's going on; like I know that He has a plan in what I went through. I didn't really like the fact that I turned my back on Him and did what I did, but honestly, He knew it was going to happen. He knows how to get you through it. You/I have to just trust Him and lean on Him when things get tough. It's hard to do, but if you do it, the results will be awesome!

Deep thoughts...

This morning, I woke up and really didn't want to do anything. So I sat down and started to watch tv. There was really nothing on, so I went to the OnDemand thing and looked to see if there were any good free movies on. I decided to watch a movie called Jack. It's with Robin Williams. The character Robin plays is named Jack. He has a disorder that makes him grow 4x as fast as normal. So like when he was born, his mom was only 2 months pregnant. So by the time he was 10 and in 5th grade, he looked like he was 40. By the time he graduated high school, he looked like he was in his 60s or so. But it got me thinking...technically Jack only really lived 18 years, but he lived it to its fullest! How are we living today? How am I living? Am I living everyday as if it's my last? Am I living like John 10:10 says that I CAN live? Honestly, I don't think I am. I tend to lay around and sleep or watch tv instead of going to the park and walking-taking in the scenery- or cleaning my apartment so that I can invite friends and family over to hang out...it's making me sad to think about all this. Anyway. I just wanted to encourage those that read this to live life to its fullest! Get to know the people that you work with or see or talk to every day. Get to know the One that created us. I'm going to try.

Well, here I am back from 6 days of Christ! Camp was stinkin awesome! God did some great stuff while we were there. I think there were about 100 or so commitments to Christ - first time - then there were some rededications and commitments of baptism. I don't know the final number. There were almost 500 middle school students there. Every day was packed full of stuff to do...no down time at all! We got up at around 6 or 7 and didn't go to bed til 12 at the earliest. Needless to say, I'm physically and mentally drained but spiritually FIRED UP!! Sunday night: Jeff had told us adults that worship was going to be intense...almost like high school. No "fun" worship (where we jump around and such), etc. He told us as family groups to pray for the Spirit's "downpour" there at the service...and oh my goodness He did!! Even before worship started, God was already moving in lives. Jeff gave a salvation call, then he asked if anyone was struggling with something. It was then I sat down and prayed for the kids in there. In that moment, I honestly believe I heard the still, quiet voice of God tell me to get my Bible, stand up, and look for a girl in my group. I was so scared because I'm not good at the one-on-one thing, but I got up anyway and watched. Just then I saw two of my girls walking toward the back. I met up with them and we went outside to talk. Ok. You know how God allows you to go through some crap? Well, the crap that I've experienced, struggled with, and conquered through the blood of Jesus were the very things that these two girls were struggling with!!! Hallelujah! So I got to encourage them and pray with them about it. Then the next day during my quiet time, He spoke to me again. People who know me well, know that I work at Chick-fil-a. A lot of our "regulars" went with us to camp. Every single day I heard at least one thing about work. I was honestly trying not to think about it because I wasn't there. This was my vacation (unpaid, but a vacation)...I'm not supposed to think about it!! Well, everyone who said something to me got the reply that I didn't want to talk or even think about it. Well, God wanted something different! During my quiet time it talked about how Moses felt as he heard all the clawing and screaming from the ark as they were drowning and he couldn't do anything about it! There are people that I work with every day that are clawing at the ark. The difference is that I CAN do something about it! I pray that they'd see God radiating from me so that I can tell them of how awesome He is and how He has changed my life! God told me that I needed to start praying then for the people who don't know Him at work. Crazy stuff, huh? When I heard Him speak, I was scared, yet excited! I have never heard His voice so clearly before. It kinda freaked me out, but at the same time it was great. I know that He loves me and cares enough for me to speak to me like that. There was one song that we sang that really made me think:

"Oh praise the One Who paid my debt and raised this life up from the grave!"

Think on that....meditate on it....let it soak in your brain. How awesome is our God!!

Camp

This blog comes 5 days before we leave for middle school camp. I'm excited, nervous, anxious, yet ready for what God is going to do there both in the lives of our students and in my life and the other adults' lives as well. I am paired up with someone I've never officially met but have seen at work before and a friend of mine who's only staying til Sunday. This is the third year out of three that I've been paired with someone I don't know for the week. I'm not complaining because one out of the two have become REALLY good friends. I wanted to get paired with her this year, but I guess God has another plan! He is ultimately in charge so I'm just going with the flow! (haha the theme is downpour) I guess I'm writing this so that you would pray for us. MS camp is the 15th thru the 20th and HS camp is the 20th thru the 25th. If you would partner with me and pray for the students whose lives will be changed, as well as the adults. Pray that God will move with power...that His Spirit would be ALL over the camp (we will have the WHOLE camp to ourselves this year!). Pray that hearts and lives will be changed and that they are willing to change. When I get back next Wednesday, I will write and tell of all God's goodness! I can't wait! Thank you for praying with me. May God bless you this week!!
Rachel :O)

Blessings

I've started to do a little Bible study called "Adventurous Prayer" from the Women of Faith study guide series and holy cow! The part that I did today really spoke to me. It took me through some Scripture to find what assurances God has given me. Psalm 32:1 tells me that my sins are covered; Psalm 103:12 says that my sins are as far from me as the east is from the west; John 15:15 tells me that I am a friend of God *breaking into song* ;) Romans 8:15 tells me that I am an heir of Christ. How cool is that?? Think about that. Romans 8:26 tells me that I have and intercessor who prays for me even when I don't have the words to pray; Hebrews 7:25 says that I am COMPLETELY saved!! Nothing nor no one will EVER take my salvation away from me! No matter what I do (or don't do), no matter where I go or how far I run away from God, He's always there right behind me waiting on me to turn around. He's there with His arms open so wide, ready to accept me. I know for me that's so encouraging! I mess up A LOT! But God is quick to forgive me and I praise Him for that. I pray that I'd be that quick to forgive others.

I was wondering...what are some other promises from His Word that you know and claim?

Blessed,
Rachel :O)

Closing

ok...so I've been learning how to close here lately at work. Well, the schedule's up for next week and I'm all by myself next Saturday! I'm really excited, but really nervous because there's not going to be another manager there....JUST ME!! As I think about it...I'm there by myself in the mornings a lot when I open, but for some reason it's a little different. In the morning it's adults opening with me; at night they're high schoolers with a couple college-aged...that's it. I'm nervous that I'm not going to remember everything that I have to do...and Saturdays we have to break EVERYTHING down! ...ice dream, lemonades...everything. I know a lot of the kids know what time to do stuff, but I probaby won't remember. Well, at least til I start closing more often. Tonight was interesting. We looked over in the Dairy Queen parking lot cuz a cop had pulled a car over...no big deal right? Well, another po-po pulled in behind him. Then next thing we know, the old lady was being handcuffed and put into the back of the car!! Crazy huh? We're not quite sure what she was being arrested for, but before they left, another car came to pick up the girl that was with her. That was fun. Then I went to the back to do something in the office and I come back up front to see Jamie kicking a teenager out of the store. I asked what was going on and they tell me that she kicked him out for dipping in the store!! He is only 16!!! He had the balls to come up to the counter to ask for a cup to spit in! Jamie got all riled up cuz she said that he tried to push her...like starting a fight or something. It was an interesting night to say the least. Then we ran out of the milkshake base at around 9....pretty much everyone after 9 wanted a milkshake....seems to always happen that way. You run out of something and the very next person wants it! Anyway. I need to get to bed. I wanted to write so that Sarah had something to read! :O) May you be blessed!!

God is glorious!!

So tonight, I really had nothing to do. So I decided to go to Shane's Rib Shack to eat cuz I had a coupon (by the way...it's the most amazing place to eat!!). I also decided to start the whole reading the Bible all the way through thing...a little late, but I'm gonna do it. So I took my Bible to eat w/me and read what I was supposed to read, then left. I didn't want to go home, so I drove around for a long while. I popped in a cd that I had burned from my iTunes entitled "Worship". Holy cow!! I didn't want to stop driving! I drove some back roads and saw some deer in a little field...that was neat. But I just drove around praising God so loud in my truck and loved every single minute of it! Have you ever had days/nights/what-not like that?? I haven't had on in a while. I also wanted someone to talk to, but no one really came to mind except one person. She didn't answer her phone. I just left her a message and went on.

I realized tonight how much God wants us. He doesn't NEED us, He WANTS us. We're the reason He came to earth. I'm the reason He died on the cross. The awesome thing is...He rose again...He conquered death!! He lives! He did all that just so that I could have a relationship with Him and His Father. Have you ever thought about that? God...the Creator of the universe and everything that's in it...wants to have a relationship with you! I know that humbles me. I do all this crap and don't deserve anything, yet He lavishes it upon us - His grace, His mercy, His love! I never can, nor never will do anything that's good enough for Christ. All I can do is trust Him and live for Him daily. Ok. I think I'm done rambling now. :) I hope you are blessed!

Rachel :O)

First One!!

Alright!! Here's my first blog on blogger! I'm pretty stoked about having another avenue for blogging. Sometimes Myspace doesn't really cut it. Anyway. Tonight I'm closing at work. For those who know me, you know that I open 99% of the time. Now my operator is allowing me to learn to close so that someday (hopefully soon) I could become manager. I'm excited about it. God has allowed me to come back home and to work at a Christian-based company for His glory. He has also let me come back and work with such an amazing group of middle schoolers at church! People call me crazy for wanting to work with them, but I simply just tell them that where God wants me right now. I don't even know if I could work with high school right now. My passion is with the middle schoolers. I'm sooooo pumped about being able to go to camp this year too!! I'm sad that I'm not going to Samoa like originally planned, but it's all gravy baby! Anyway. I've got to go get ready for work. The next posts hopefully will be meaningful and insightful. Have a blessed day!!

Rachel :O)