I am finishing that thought over at the Unraveled Mom today! Please join me here to read why it is time to let it go!
As always. . . thanks for visiting!
Rachael
Linking with:
Essential Fridays
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Photo Credit goes to my friend's daughter, Abbey! Thank you, Abbey for a beautiful water shot and for letting me use it on my blog! Sometimes there are seasons of letting go and sometimes we have to let go of seasons. I think I just survived both. I said goodbye to my 30’s on August 20. That was a decade that began with the birth of my daughter and ended with growth and a newness in Christ, and the fullness of family and friends and the counting of 3000 plus blessings of thanksgiving. It was easy to say goodbye to a number with the remembrance of all that Christ has done and the hope of all that He will do in my 40’s. Summer, too, has come to an end. And in that summer there was a lot of letting go. . .
I am finishing that thought over at the Unraveled Mom today! Please join me here to read why it is time to let it go! As always. . . thanks for visiting! Rachael Linking with: Essential Fridays Fellowship Fridays
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"The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17 I read my bible every day and some days, depending on the circumstances of the day, I feel like certain verses are God's gifts to me.. Gifts to help me cope, gifts of encouragement, gifts of going a little deeper with Him, gifts of wisdom and understanding for life, gifts of love to receive and to give.
I have been anticipating my 40th birthday coming this week. I am not quite sure what to think about that other than the fact that it is a reality and there is nothing I can do about it's coming. One of the hardest things for me on my birthday, and in life really, is receiving. In my anxiety of the anticipation of the "big" day, I came across this verse. above. I felt like the Lord had something to "give" to me through this verse that specifically applied to my birthday. So I am practicing receiving early this year. I am receiving His rejoicing over me with gladness. I will receive His love that quiets my anxiety. I will receive the song He sings over me and the sound of His voice. Will you receive this with me? I don't want to do this alone. Knowing that I have a body of believers close by who are humbled by His love, stretched by His Word, and quieted in His presence too, helps the receiving be a little easier. Be blessed this week and I am promising to really receive any blessings that come my way this week too. Love, Rachael *Photo credit goes to my pastor who took this shot on a beach along the Pacific Ocean. It was stolen from facebook with permission:) Linking with: Word Filled Wednesday TellHisStory Wednesday Prayer Girls Tell Me a Story A Holy Experience Scripture and a Snapshot Sunday Stillness Heart Reflected This is where a brave and beautiful bunch gather every week to find out what comes out when we all spend five minutes writing on the same topic and then sharing ‘em overhere. Today's prompt: SMALL I am learning from the child king this week. And it is breaking me. He has the tears flowing in the quiet of the morning. This 8 year old King Josiah became king after the darkest period in Judah's history. Then God shined a light on this child. After 10 years of reigning, King Josiah decided to clean out the temple And there it was. . . the diamond in the rough, the Light in the darkness, the Book of the Law GOD'S WORD uncovered, discovered after so many years of filth and sin and blasphemy in the land. AND KING JOSIAH HEARD THE WORD OF THE lORD AND IT PIERCED HIS SOUL IT TENDERIZED HIS HEART IT BROUGHT HIM TO HIS KNEES. "because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the Lord. "Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place." 2 Kings 22:19-20 And this week as I fight to urge to be seen, to be known, to be big
God speaks to me to be small. He tenderizes my heart He speaks to me of humility and He promises peace in the end. I cry because having a tender heart makes me raw in the exposure and brings the pain of past disappointments. I cry because humility does not come naturally, but God has transformed my heart to serve not be served. And serving means I need to give up my position to be big and instead be small, a servant to all. But not a doormat or one to be taken advantage of because going low and serving takes strength and courage and a letting go of self to be more like Jesus. It is only by letting go of my own will that I will have hands empty enough to grab hold of Truth. The Truth that promises PEACE. Stop I had one of those days where my mind just would not stop wandering. I was desperate for peace and I found this Isaiah 26: 3-4. Peace to you this weekend! Love, Rachael Photo shot taken at Calvin Crest during 6th grade camp with my daughter Linking with: Word Filled Wednesday Heart Reflected She stood at the waters edge. "I am going to catch a fish," she said. She had been watching the man in the middle of the lake. He was sitting silently in a kayak, pole in hand and bait in water, waiting. Fish were all around him in those open waters. Like candy in the hand of a stranger, his baited hook floated among them, waiting for a bite. Then with a tug of the fisherman's pole the hook would sink deep within flesh and the catch would be pulled up to the surface only to take it's last breathe. But this little girl, she had done her share of fishing and catching and eating. Now she just wanted to hold one of those one-inchers in her hand. So she devised a plan. "I am going to throw rocks a ways out and all around, so when the rocks fall behind them the fish swim closer to me and then I will scoop them up with my hands." She was hopeful and excited and began tossing her rocks and waiting. She never did catch a fish this way, but they still swam around her feet. I figured the fish had two options when those rocks came crashing into their world. One, they could swim past the splash out into the open waters where the fisherman's baited hook was waiting. Or two, they could swim toward the shore where loving hands were waiting to scoop them up. It's a lot like life really. Things get thrown our way and we have to make a decision. Will we run out into the vastness where it seems safe, where the big fish are swimming, continually searching for fulfillment? That is where the one hiding in the shadows is waiting, bait anchored on a hook, whispers of prosperity, and snares for our souls are set. "For among my people are found wicked men; they lie in wait as one who sets snares; they set a trap; they catch men." Jeremiah 5:26 Or will we turn and swim toward the one with open hands? There is no snare in His hands, only a refuge. He offers eternal life and puts to death only that which puts us in bondage like pride and greed. He gives unlimited mercy and His grace offers a freedom deeper than any open waters can ever provide. David once said, "I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man." 2 Samuel 24:14 Rocks fly our way everyday and we constantly have to decide: Are we going to put this into the Lord's hands or deal with it on our own, making us vulnerable to the schemes of the enemy? What is it going to be with the rock that just flew past you? You can click here for more photos from this little girl's adventures.
Linking with: The Weekend Brew Chasing Blue Skies Cozy Reading Spot A Royal Daughter Tell His Story Wisdom Wednesday Wednesday Prayer Girls True Story Blog Party Titus 2 Tuesdays This was one of the first bible verses I memorized as a new Christian.
Growing up near the ocean, I knew what it was like to get caught in a wave, to be blown and tossed around with no breathe until the wave receded If doubting what I believed was going to cause a series of tumbles and tossing around, always gasping for air, then I decided early on I was going to live a life believing, not doubting. Believing in one God Believing the Bible to be true. Believing that God hears my prayers. Believing God will provide. Believing God really does work all things for the good of those who love Him. Believing God heals, restores, frees, comforts, protects, anoints, and saves. Believing God is the creator of ALL life. Believing God is worthy to be worshiped. Believing Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day. Believing that the grace of God is sufficient. . . What am I missing? What do you believe? Believing _______ (fill in the blanks in the comments) Blessings to you this weekend! Photo credit goes to my son this week! He is becoming a little photographer just like his dad. So, here’s the skinny: every Friday for over two years hundreds of people have joined a kind of writing flash mob over here. (@ Lisa-Jo's-) We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt - Today is Story. So here it goes: Story Quite a few years ago I had a girl's party at my house. We watched the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. All the characters had a story, we all had a story. After it was over we shared about which character we could relate too and who we thought each other could relate to. It was fun connecting in this way. It was surprising to hear how others saw me and how I saw others in the lives of the characters. Our perspectives of ourselves often differ from how we are perceived by others. We have past stories, but our current stories that are being written are shaped in part by these honest opinions of others, by those we love who tell us what they see in us. Good and bad. When we rely on ourselves to write our story I don't think it is always accurate. We are hard on ourselves. We are too close to see an accurate reflection of Christ in us or areas where He is not in us. Sharing our hearts, sharing our stories, listening to other's stories about us: that is part of the big picture of our story. So let's not exclude other's opinions about us because we miss the blessing when we live in fear of the truth we can't or don't want to see in ourselves. Connect with someone today. What do they have to contribute to your story that the Lord is writing for your day today? STOP Extra Minute Disclaimer: ALWAYS pray about that feedback. Not everyone has our best interest in mind, but God always does. What He says about us is always the Truth that should be written on our hearts! Who does God want to use in your life to speak that Truth to you in love? For I, the Lord you God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.' If you don't know the Truth about Who God Says you Are, please click here. I have spent many weeks writing these Truths out for us. Only the Bible will give you the the fullest picture of the relationship that God desires with you but I inked the messages from my heart for you. But don't take my word for it . . . open your bible and read the Word for yourself.
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WelcomeMy name is Rachael. I wear many hats but author is not one of them....yet. I'm trying it on for comfort, searching for the perfect fit for my creative outlet. Archives
September 2022
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