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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 8/11/2008 11:45:44 AM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
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Rise Above.
This past weekend I had a ‘cry’ day... it doesn’t happen very often. It’s a day when I surrender. The entire world on my shoulders is placed at my Father’s feet and I tell Him that I can’t do it anymore. Do what, you ask? Anything.
It’s a day where I can’t identify the source of my tears… my father’s death, my aunt’s death, relocating, rude bill collectors, a job which is not my idea of a fun job, knowing I will have to send my girls to the worst middle school in town…. feeling alone.
I’m done. I can’t do it anymore… and as I lay on my bed weeping and surrendering… I hear Him.
Help is coming.
Three words. His messages are short when I hear them… but they always pack a punch.
Help is coming… I have no reason to doubt Him. Everything He said in our Bible came to be or is in the process of coming to be. If He tells me, “Help is coming,” than I choose to believe Him.
He led me to open my Bible to James…
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:2-3 NASB
Life is not easy… our faith must be tested… it will be tested.
... we can't rise above our circumstances until we surrender.
I surrender. I believe. I choose to rise above on the wings of Jesus and live as a daughter of the King.
Love always,
Rachel
Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.
For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.
Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You.
Psalms 33:20-22 NASB
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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 8/28/2008 1:31:14 PM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
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Soaking.
Disappointments are everywhere…
They sting.
They hurt.
They cause us to focus on the source of pain.
They block out the happiness we thought we knew…
Wait.
Does finding ourselves pinched by disappointment negate our happiness?
Can we still be happy… and disappointed?
I think so.
I know so.
A small green salamander sunned himself on my window shutter just inches away from my front door this morning. He was exactly at eye-level as I turned around to lock the door on my way out…
He didn’t run… he didn’t move. He just watched.
I wondered if he knew… if he could sense my disappointment.
… and then I felt peace as we quietly gazed at each other.
We shared a moment.
Not moving.
Soaking up the sun.
Soaking up the Son…
Love always,
Rachel
~ * ~
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:22-26 (NIV)
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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 11/26/2008 3:05:19 PM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
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Grateful
There was a table of goods for sale outside of our smalltown grocery store. The sign said 'Teen Challenge'...
I chatted with the men watching over the table... asking them questions about Teen Challenge and in return, sharing stories of my experiences in prison ministry. It was a wonderful time of sharing with my brothers in Christ.
I purchased a simple cookbook entitled Tasteful Treasures. I shouldn't have bought it. I didn't really have the extra money to spend on myself... and the purchase guaranteed one less package under our Christmas tree.
I found myself at the park leafing through the cookbook eager to try a new recipe or two. It was then that I noticed each recipe was submitted by someone directly involved in Teen Challenge.
The recipe that brought tears to my eyes was signed, "Grateful Mother of Graduate."
That's when I realized, it wasn't my money which bought the book...
... it was His.
Humbly grateful,
Rachel
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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 12/9/2008 4:19:31 PM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
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Ellen’s Favorite.
“Do you have a favorite verse?” I asked. She had just finished explaining how she was doing her best to read through the Bible. She was bright, she was clean, and her clothes matched every other woman’s clothes in the room. So is life in prison.
I was surprised when she eagerly answered me. There was no delay in her response, “Yes! I do!”
“Will you find it in my Bible?” She turned right to it: John 13:7. She boldly read:
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
“This is my favorite verse because it tells me that it’s okay if I don’t understand what I’m learning about Jesus right now. God is going to explain it to me later,” she beamed.
How profound.
What trust.
I’m thankful for her journey with Christ. Thankful that she has found a security in Him which others are afraid to embrace.
That day, I prayed with six women who were truly ready to rededicate their lives to Christ. Six women who were so humbled by their life circumstances that an outward profession of faith was no longer scary or un-cool.
… and I will always remember Ellen. I asked her to sign her name next to her favorite verse in my Bible. I will remember to say a prayer for her every time I see her handwriting. I will remember her genuine faith and her journey with Christ.
Love always,
Rachel
…………
There were 2200 inmates in Dawson State Jail that day. 316 people gave their lives to Christ for the first time. 818 people re-dedicated their lives.
It was a good day...
...in Christ.
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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 3/19/2009 10:40:00 AM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
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The Pain of a Faith-Walker
You know.... our church has a BUNCH of members suffering from illnesses... I think the one person who has been on my mind the most is my landlord's wife. They live right across the street from us.
They are true faith-walkers. Their entire lives reflect the love of our precious Lord Jesus. A few weeks ago, Donna started experiencing a bunch of dizziness and was not feeling well at all. She went to the doctor thinking that it may have been in inner ear infection.
She found out several days later that she has a tumor in her ear canal and a cyst which is pressing against a nerve behind her ear. She has been seen by several doctors and finally a 'game plan' has been devised. She will be in surgery tomorrow. My pastor will be there the entire time.
Now, why would God allow this to happen to such a faith-walker?
We all must reach a point where we realize that our lives are really not our own. We all strive to reach the point where we trust God with EVERYTHING in our lives...
Check this out... we have a 'Lost' prayer list. It is a prayer list with specific names of people we want to win for Christ. There are two names on Donna's list that stand out - they are her sister and brother-in-law. She has been staying with them in Houston for over a week while she waits for her surgery appointment to arrive.
Donna sent a message to Pastor through her husband. The message was, "The fields are ripe and ready for harvest."
Could we be bold enough to guess that the LORD has allowed all this pain to happen to Donna in order to win more hearts for Him?
Could we be bold enough, as brothers and sisters in Christ, to realize that sometimes the pain we endure has nothing to do with us... but everything to with someone else?
Just some simple thoughts....
... and if you feel compelled to pray - pray for Donna's surgeons, pray for a miracle in the operating room (they say she will lose hearing in her left ear), but most of all - pray for Larry and Kathy. Pray that they will come to know the LORD through this experience.
Love always,
Rachel
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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 7/8/2009 12:49:26 AM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
Status: offline
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TidBits
All I have tonight are tidbits. Nothing exciting. Nothing important. Just me. Just God.
Jail Mail: I love jail mail. I write inmates. I think I've spent so many years in a 'downtrodden' lifestyle, that I have a special place in my heart for those who are experiencing the same kind of crushing.
I write when I can... although lately, it's been less than I prefer. Yesterday I received a letter from an inmate I met in Elkhart County Jail. She moved on to prison. I moved to Texas. We've kept in touch this entire time. She sent me a picture... her college graduation picture- in prison.
...I cried - more like sobbed.
I have so much admiration and respect for her. I can't imagine living penned up in an overcrowded room. Having to deal with outrageous noise day in and day out. Trying to study but not being able to find any quiet time... yet, because of God's grace, she prevailed.
I dare say, many of us would have quit.
She thanked me for being there for her... All I did was write letters, I thought. Somehow, God used those letters as a lifeline. A little bit of encouragement goes a long way... I suspect that we will never really know how far that encouragement went until we are able to see the Big Picture.
Not Nice: Is it just me... or are there more people who are just 'not nice' around here? Maybe it's just me seeing life through new eyes...
I am certainly not one to point fingers... there was a time when I was not so nice, myself. How shameful. How true.
Funny how sometimes the LORD changes us as He pleases... but the people around us aren't able to extend grace enough to see us through His eyes.
... maybe others are changing, too.
... maybe I need to find my grace eyes a little faster.
It's true. I have a long way to go. Sanctification is a life-long process. Loving Jesus is a lifestyle... and spiritual warfare is a daily thing, for me.
Sometimes I need out loud reminders. Here it is for all of us: We are loved. We are cherished. He loves us more than we will ever know.
Lord, please don't let me forget how much You love us all!
Moses and Aaron and Bondage: I forgot that Moses and Aaron were brothers... I've decided to read through the Bible from cover to cover. The only problem is... I can't just read the Bible. Verses pop out at me all the time and I have to write. It's a God-given desire for sure. It will probably take 3 years to finish reading the Bible at the rate I'm going...
Bondage? Oh yes - my notes on Exodus 5v5-14:
People in bondage. This passage seems to be a witness of how Satan holds people in bondage. He clenches them tightly. He will not give them up without a fight. I noticed when I read these verses that people in bondage experience more hardship before they are released. I've experienced this struggle... have you?
The added struggle is very hard on those who are in bondage and some would rather continue to live without change rather than push through with hope for something better through Jesus.
What's the most important observation I saw? Our lives are worth fighting for!
Don't give up, my friend. Freedom is close... freedom is in God's timing... freedom is ours!
Check out the Word: Romans 6v22-23, John 8v36 (Red Letters!), Galatians 5v1, and Galatians 5v13.
It's late... and I think I'm good to go. Are you?
Love always,
Rachel
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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 9/13/2009 11:10:27 AM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
Status: offline
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From the Piney Woods
I traveled from the piney woods in east Texas to the Bay area in California. Living in east Texas is like living in the past. Access to current technology is limited. You are lucky if you can get a cell phone signal. Most people have learned which hill tops to drive to in order to receive a signal. Internet access is sometimes reduced to dial-up which can take 2 minutes to load a single page – or if you have a substantial income, you can qualify for satellite service. Cable service is not available in some areas. In other areas, the cable service quality (and satellite service quality for that matter) is dependent on favorable weather circumstances.
All this to say – we spend a lot of time interacting with each other. Interacting with each other is a good thing… after all – God wants us to establish strong communities, right? But sometimes I wonder….
Culture shock began to set in as early as the Houston airport. The man in the screening line who was ironing out important contract details as he spoke on his cell through a device which seemed amazingly glued to his ear. The woman who sat across from me in the seating area who made at least four lengthy calls before she finally tucked her cell phone into her purse and turned her attention to her husband. The announcement over the intercom blaring that the lost day-planner had been found….
Our lives seem filled with ‘gadgets’.
I’ve been having a great time here in California. I wouldn’t trade this time spent with my brother for anything in the world. Or should I say – I wouldn’t trade this time spent with my brother and his friends for anything? The first day here, he left his cell (3g network equipped, I might add) tucked away in his pocket. The second day, I got to see all the cool applications it had… the third day – well, lets just say that putting away his cell is just too difficult to do for three days in a row and now all his friends have joined us as we spend time together.
My brother is the best… so I don’t want to dog him about his gadgets, but I can’t help but think about so many people who seemed distracted by the need for constant communication and feedback. Is it possible these people are searching for love and acceptance which can’t be found through technology? Take the girl at the movie theater for instance. She was there to see a movie with her dad. She sat on a bench with me while her dad stepped into the restroom for a moment. As soon as her father disappeared behind the door, her cell phone came out and I’m absolutely positive she was texting at 45 words per minute.
What happens to our lives when we have absolutely no quiet moments? What happens when we fill every moment with ‘I need to call so-and-so’ or the need to continuously check for texts or emails?
What happens when we can no longer ‘be still’?
I am fully convinced that we were created in God’s image. I am also fully convinced that being made in His image also includes the fact that we have His same driving desire for a deep connection ‘something’. I am also fully convinced that the deep-hearted connection we are looking for cannot be truly satisfied with a man-made gadget or our friends waiting for us at the other end.
So here’s the challenge. Are you able to show God that you have no idols before Him? Can you turn off your cell for one day… or shut down your computer for 24 hours?
… can you be still, and experience the complete love of God?
Just a few thoughts…
… from the curly-headed girl who lives in the piney woods.
Love always,
Rachel
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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 9/28/2009 8:01:36 AM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
Status: offline
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Sprint No More
I am realizing more and more that my sprinting days are over.
Years ago I tried reading the Bible in one year. I got a handy dandy check off list and I was behind in my reading after only three days. I tried to catch up… the more I tried to catch up, the more I fell behind. Two weeks later – I gave up. The task of reading the Bible all the way through in one year was too daunting.
When it comes to knowledge and learning… I want to learn as much as I can – right now. Fortunately for me (and maybe you?)- life doesn’t work like that. God did not create life as it is on earth for us to sprint through at blind paces.
We are running a marathon. Now that I’m older, I think I’m finally grasping that concept. I threw away my Bible-reading checklist. I am committed to reading and spending time with God each morning instead. Maybe I read one chapter… maybe I read four. Maybe I read a couple of verses and look up the footnotes… Maybe I just rest my curly head on my Bible and pray or wait on the LORD.
Marathons are long distances. It doesn’t matter how we get there… it just matters that we are daily working towards the goal.
My goal is spending time with God each day… and if one of these years I actually finish reading the entire Bible- we can all celebrate with a happy dance.
What is your goal?
Love always,
Rachel
PS. There is no shortage of Happy Dances at my house. Let me know if you reach your goal. I love celebrations! ;o)
I press on to reach the end of the race
and receive the heavenly prize for which God,
through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 9/29/2009 7:50:48 AM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
Status: offline
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The Gaze
My eyes jumped for a moment... something caught them. I was being held captive by the gaze of my lover. My heart beat wildly in my chest as his eyes enveloped mine... He did not look away. He was not afraid. I was drawn into him as if I was a young woman fully engaged in his love. There was no one else but us....
What did I see? An old car with rust patches pulled off the exit ramp... a long trail of footprints up the grassy hill... a forty year old man changing a tire as an elderly couple looked over the man's shoulder in thankful apprehension. I saw the busy traffic of the world speeding by without a care.
I saw him today...
I saw my lover...
... I saw Jesus.
Love always,
Rachel
You are altogether beautiful, my darling,
beautiful in every way.
Song of Solomon 4v7
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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 11/9/2009 7:07:48 AM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
Status: offline
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Continual Praise
It’s been a while since I’ve written. I’m doing my best at getting back to the place where I knew the LORD the best… exercising at 4 am… Bible studying at 5am… wishing that there was more time with the LORD at 6 am.
My husband, Dave, and I have been working hard at starting our new Celebrate Recovery group. To me – it felt like I did a majority of the work. The hard part is out of the way. There were a bunch of preliminary items to take care of: advertising, purchasing food supplies and items, making signs, organizing a table tub, etc. It wasn’t too bad – I wasn’t freaked out. This is God’s program so no freaking out is absolutely welcomed!
I’m excited as more and more people express an interest in the group. I’m excited because I know that healing waits for them. I also know that God will only build the group as He sees fit. My responsibilities will even out eventually. For now, I need to spend more time with Him.
God has been teaching me about how I talk about Dave. I am too quick to point out his shortcomings to others… Too quick to let his mannerisms and habits get in the way. Too quick… (I know - sometimes the truth is very ugly.)
Jas 1:19b - 20 But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
I can’t say that I was truly angry at Dave at times… but my frustration level was way too high.
.
.
.
...... God also showed me something as I struggle with temptations. At times I feel helpless and hopeless and I do what I don’t want to do.
(Sound familiar? Rom 7:14-15 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.)
When I am thinking about that temptation… my focus is on that temptation. What if…
What if maybe I changed my focus? Check this out:
Psa 34:1-5 A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.
No – I’m not saying that I should feign madness to drive away the temptation… look at this part: “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” I have found that it’s even more difficult to carry through with acting out a temptation when I choose to praise the LORD.
Try it – sing a praise song while you are trying to smoke a cigarette. Doesn’t feel right, does it? How ‘bout talking to God while you are thinking about sexual temptations? How about exclaiming, “Praise the LORD!” right before you begin to gossip about someone?
Remembering that we are never really alone – knowing that God is always beside us takes the excitement and fire out of sin, doesn’t it?
This week His praise will continually be in my mouth… because I want more of Him and less of me.
Love always,
Rachel
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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 12/10/2009 7:58:50 AM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
Status: offline
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Does it ever get old?
Once again, I spent time in a women’s prison. I was up at a dark and cold 4 a.m. in order to be ready for the bus ride to the unit. Most of the other women chattered excitedly as the bus jostled down the road. I slept.
“Oh LORD,” I prayed, “please make this experience fresh to me again.” This was my 17th event as I volunteered for Bill Glass Champions for Life. Many of the women on the bus were ‘freshmen’ – first timers. The excitement and nervous anticipation they felt was evident and possibly contagious.
I knew the drill: waiting in line to check in, when to push on the security doors as they are unlocked, listening intently to officers orders with quick obedience. I loved the familiarity of the system.
I met hundreds of women during the two days. I shook hands, smiled and encouraged them as they pursued a relationship with Christ. “LORD, please don’t let me leave without knowing in my heart how special serving You really is,” I prayed quietly in my spirit.
Eight women I prayed with were ready to rededicate their lives to Christ. The tears welling up in their eyes were evidence of God working in their hearts. God always shows up in prison, I thought smiling to myself. My heart was warm because I knew I was witnessing a new and wonderful beginning for these women. They are new creations today….
The last program was touching… earnest tears rolling down cheeks with fervor in a small, cold chapel. God was moving. He was touching lives as no one else can. Our time as volunteers was short. We would be leaving in less than an hour. I silently spoke to God, “Father, please make prison ministry new to me. Don’t forget my prayer.”
I circled up with about twelve women after the program. They all had an active relationship with Christ. “What do you guys want to talk about?” I asked. They smiled from the heart. Each woman had a searching question about Jesus. One woman was so hungry for Christ, she could barely contain herself. She had tears in her eyes and the intensity of her questions pierced my heart with gladness.
The officers determined our time was up. What was left unsaid would never be said. God would have to fill in the gaps – and I trusted Him to do so. The Bill Glass volunteers were asked to line up at the door to the chapel. Surprisingly, cheers went up. The inmates were giving us a standing ovation! Enthusiastic clapping, whistling… and they were calling out our names. They remembered who spoke to them in huddles around the room.
“Bless you, Sylvia!”
“Thank you, Sandy!”
“Kelly! Come back again!”
I was taken aback. I could barely breathe. These ladies found a way to bless us… not through a gift, not through a secret letter… but through their spoken words.
“Rachel! Rachel! We love you!”
… and I choked back the tears as I exited the building with the others. “Thank you, Father, for reviving my passion for prison ministry,” I whispered, “You are faithful… I love You.”
Does it ever get old?
Never.
Love always,
Rachel
~ * ~
Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope;
This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.
Zechariah 9:12 NASB
~ * ~
PS. Please consider being part of my prison ministry team by praying for these women and their families: Sylvia A., Ashley F., Brenda W., Dee Dee T., Nichole H., Eva B., Cynthia McF., Betty W., Darlene (who is so hungry for Christ), and Sancelia’s family.
PPS. My husband, Dave, had a really cool experience, too. He spent two days in two different men’s prisons. The highlight of his weekend was leading a man, who was living in Ad. Seg., to Christ. Jesus met them there… right through the food shoot. God shows up in prison!
(Ad. Seg. is the hole or solitary confinement. It’s where they send violent offenders for separation from the rest of the inmates – also used for punishment. The inmate has no physical contact with anyone.)
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RE: ~ The Journey ~ - 2/4/2010 4:15:12 AM
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AlwaysR8chel
Posts: 4224
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Indiexas :P
Status: offline
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A Surprise January 2010
Austin, TX
It was another weekend in prison. Another line to wait in. Another security search. Excited anticipation.
A hard week of spiritual warfare at home was a foretelling of a fantastic weekend with God behind bars. I knew God had some exciting experiences waiting for me just down the hall. I call those experiences 'surprises'.
I joined maybe seventy-five volunteers as we made our way to a ready room. There we gathered and waited as our leaders worked out last minute details with the Lieutenant in charge. The excited anticipation had surged into loud chatter and nervous laughter.
God’s surprise had a name – Hattie to be exact. She was a dark-skinned elderly woman. She wore a long blue denim dress. Her black curly hair peaked out from under a soft black velvet hat. The joy of the LORD bubbled out of her when she spoke. Her smile twinkled with a little bit of gold which outlined her front teeth. Her servant’s heart depended on her health and what her body allowed her to withstand. Today was a good day for her.
Someone mentioned we should sing. Hattie would lead us. She stood at the front of the room wrapped in grace. It seemed as if she was standing at the very feet of Jesus. We joined in as her strong and sure voice rose to the heavens in adoration. Together we offered up the words to How Great Thou Art to our Maker, our Protector.
I closed my eyes as I sang from the depths of my heart knowing that God was already at work. I felt as though, if I opened my eyes, I would see no less than a legion of angels surrounding us as we prepared to fight a battle for the LORD.
Tears fell. Hearts were broken. We were ready….
Love always,
Rachel
~ * ~
"I will go before you and make the rough places smooth;
I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.
I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden wealth of secret places,
So that you may know that it is I,
The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name."
Isaiah 45v2-3 NASB
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