Sometimes, I can see people laughing.
I think God sometimes gives me visions of laughter.
My husband is a man bound by sin. His life is filled with overwhelming darkness. He hasn't yet surrendered his life to Jesus.
One day I looked at my husband and I saw him as God sees him. I saw my husband laughing. I could see what he would look like in Heaven.
It was the strangest thing because I have never truly seen David happy. But one day, Jesus showed me what David would look like if he would surrender his life to Jesus and turn his back on the darkness that is threatening his very life.
His eyes were closed. His head was tilted back and there was a very real, very joyous laughter that emitted from his lips.
Jesus showed me that this is He wants for everyone. He wants us to laugh,
The image is beautiful.
So reader, whoever you are,
whatever emptiness dwells inside you...wider than canyons run deep...
whatever your vice...
no matter your past..
Jesus wants you to laugh.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Prayer Works
It's amazing how prayer changes perspective.
earlier in the night, I was mopey...quite depressed about many things that are going on in my life.
After a moment of prayer and "handing it over" to Jesus,
I feel like I can handle anything and tackle the world.
Prayer Works
earlier in the night, I was mopey...quite depressed about many things that are going on in my life.
After a moment of prayer and "handing it over" to Jesus,
I feel like I can handle anything and tackle the world.
Prayer Works
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Addicted
Sometimes it seems that my heart is continually ripped out and handed back to me in unrecognizeable pieces.
Someone I care about struggles with addiction.
Addiction is hard to wrap the mind around.
On the one hand, I want to understand it..
On the other hand, I simply desire to run as far away from it as possible.
People with addictions cannot give themselves entirely to anyone.
They are bound by thier vice.
There are days when I literally feel trapped in a nightmare, not really understanding what to do next.....
So I continaully turn to God for comfort and strength and He lifts me up each time.
But this has been a trial and hard road to travel.
My addicted love one is in complete denial. On the one hand, denial becomes easy.
It would be easier not to face it....but the hard truth is that addiction kills. It kills not only the physical body, but it kills trust, it kills so much.
Addicts tend to lie. Addiction is it's own demon.
But I know that nothing is too big for God, so I know that I must place all in His hands.
Please pray for my addicted loved one.
Someone I care about struggles with addiction.
Addiction is hard to wrap the mind around.
On the one hand, I want to understand it..
On the other hand, I simply desire to run as far away from it as possible.
People with addictions cannot give themselves entirely to anyone.
They are bound by thier vice.
There are days when I literally feel trapped in a nightmare, not really understanding what to do next.....
So I continaully turn to God for comfort and strength and He lifts me up each time.
But this has been a trial and hard road to travel.
My addicted love one is in complete denial. On the one hand, denial becomes easy.
It would be easier not to face it....but the hard truth is that addiction kills. It kills not only the physical body, but it kills trust, it kills so much.
Addicts tend to lie. Addiction is it's own demon.
But I know that nothing is too big for God, so I know that I must place all in His hands.
Please pray for my addicted loved one.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
pray for restoration
Sometimes I can't help but wonder what it would be like to have a normal, healthy relationship.
I don't want this post to sound cynical, but I have always wanted to experience mutual, shared love, respect, and trust.
I have always fallen for the typical "bad guy." I guess my naive heart thought that things would always change. I wasn't truly following the Word back then and there are some serious scars from previous relationships that I am trusting God to heal.
The past month of my marriage has been a rollercoaster. There have been arguments, bitterness, and strife. But through it all, I have turned to God for counsel and guidance.
Each time He brings me out of my quandary and shows me something else about myself that needs to be mended and brought to light.
He has humbled me in many ways. I think many of the marriage problems that I was having are simply a result of my failure to get over the past. I have caused myself unnecessary worry over very trivial things. Sometimes I wonder if maybe my husband did change...only I am willing to not get over the things that were done.
God is teaching me how to handle my emotions with grace and dignity. I am learning how to truly forgive and speak words of life into the lives of those who have hurt me.
But I am still having trust issues. My theory is that once trust is broken, it is so hard to get back. That is why God commanded us not to lie.
I know that God is the only hope for this marriage. I am slowly learning to place everything in His hands. The hurt, the situation, everything.
But I have also learned through this process...that people will continually let us down. There is only one Man we can truly trust in this Life. ...
Please say some prayers that God will continue to work in this situation.
on another note, I realize that this issue isn't really that huge. Nothing is too big for God to handle. I mourn for the people in Africa who are dying by the thousands due to drought and famine. I mourn for the loss of lives due to hurricane Irene. And I mourn for the thousands of abused children that I constantly read about in the news.
I guess that puts things in perspective. Our problems are small and trite compared the trials of many.
Please pray that God will strengthen me.
Today I was at the grocery store and I saw an elderly lady pushing her buggy through the aisle.
I felt like maybe I should approach her and offer to say a prayer with her. A prayer in the middle of the grocery store? I know, it's not something that is "done in our society"...
I felt a true, genuine compassion for this little old lady that I have never met. I am so thankful for compassion. It is how I know that He is with me.
I wasn't sure if God was telling me to approach this lady or if it was"my idea." But, in retrospect, God writes on our Hearts and Minds....
Jesus wanted me to pray with her.
I want to come to a place where I have no fear of stepping out in greater ways. I read the verse, "perfect love casts out all fear."
I have been praying that God not only abolish my fear.... I pray that He perfect my love.
Today, ask Him to perfect your love.
I don't want this post to sound cynical, but I have always wanted to experience mutual, shared love, respect, and trust.
I have always fallen for the typical "bad guy." I guess my naive heart thought that things would always change. I wasn't truly following the Word back then and there are some serious scars from previous relationships that I am trusting God to heal.
The past month of my marriage has been a rollercoaster. There have been arguments, bitterness, and strife. But through it all, I have turned to God for counsel and guidance.
Each time He brings me out of my quandary and shows me something else about myself that needs to be mended and brought to light.
He has humbled me in many ways. I think many of the marriage problems that I was having are simply a result of my failure to get over the past. I have caused myself unnecessary worry over very trivial things. Sometimes I wonder if maybe my husband did change...only I am willing to not get over the things that were done.
God is teaching me how to handle my emotions with grace and dignity. I am learning how to truly forgive and speak words of life into the lives of those who have hurt me.
But I am still having trust issues. My theory is that once trust is broken, it is so hard to get back. That is why God commanded us not to lie.
I know that God is the only hope for this marriage. I am slowly learning to place everything in His hands. The hurt, the situation, everything.
But I have also learned through this process...that people will continually let us down. There is only one Man we can truly trust in this Life. ...
Please say some prayers that God will continue to work in this situation.
on another note, I realize that this issue isn't really that huge. Nothing is too big for God to handle. I mourn for the people in Africa who are dying by the thousands due to drought and famine. I mourn for the loss of lives due to hurricane Irene. And I mourn for the thousands of abused children that I constantly read about in the news.
I guess that puts things in perspective. Our problems are small and trite compared the trials of many.
Please pray that God will strengthen me.
Today I was at the grocery store and I saw an elderly lady pushing her buggy through the aisle.
I felt like maybe I should approach her and offer to say a prayer with her. A prayer in the middle of the grocery store? I know, it's not something that is "done in our society"...
I felt a true, genuine compassion for this little old lady that I have never met. I am so thankful for compassion. It is how I know that He is with me.
I wasn't sure if God was telling me to approach this lady or if it was"my idea." But, in retrospect, God writes on our Hearts and Minds....
Jesus wanted me to pray with her.
I want to come to a place where I have no fear of stepping out in greater ways. I read the verse, "perfect love casts out all fear."
I have been praying that God not only abolish my fear.... I pray that He perfect my love.
Today, ask Him to perfect your love.
Mel's blog
I just found out that my sister in law writes a blog.
I couldn't help but cry as she spoke about the loss of her mother and father and the many hardships that she has gone through.
Melonie has been an inspiration to many people.
Take a moment to read her blog.
I love all of her pictures. That is one thing my blog is lacking. Good pictures. I had a camera but it broke. ...but I love a blog with good pictures.
check it out...
www.notanyotherblog.wordpress.com
I couldn't help but cry as she spoke about the loss of her mother and father and the many hardships that she has gone through.
Melonie has been an inspiration to many people.
Take a moment to read her blog.
I love all of her pictures. That is one thing my blog is lacking. Good pictures. I had a camera but it broke. ...but I love a blog with good pictures.
check it out...
www.notanyotherblog.wordpress.com
Friday, August 26, 2011
just a quick hello
Just a quick hello... I've been hit with a nasty bug...but will write more soon...
Hi to my blog follower from "united states" ...Jesus loves you!
Hi to my blog follower from "united states" ...Jesus loves you!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
35 cool things I've done
....Just wanted to introduce myself to my blog readers. I'm 35...so I'll talk about 35 cool things I've done.....
1. had lunch at a park in England where a squirrel climbed on top of my lap and tried to eat my apple.
2. Spent Christmas in England..We didn't have a Christmas tree so one of my buds decided to go to the campus to dig one up.
3. Took a trip by myself to Ireland, met a very cool Italian girl from Austrailia named Claudia. Went hiking in a little town called Howth, north of Dublin. Picked up a hitchiker, named Dan Breen. We thought he was so cute, we tried to find him a few days later but couldn't.
4. Took a trip to the dales of northern England, just so I could see the sheep in the fields. Baaa.
5. Bottled up some of the North Sea and saved it for my sister.
6. Walked across London Bridge, sat in front of Big Ben, saw the crowned jewels at Buckingham Palace, and went on a tour of the Tower of London.
7. Got a Private Investigator's License, just because.
8. Saw the graves of one of the Bronte sisters and went to Scarborough fair
9. I have driven a train at my job and I can operate a forklift. Woohoo.
10. Got two degrees. One in Advertising, with a minor in English. And one in Plant Process Technology.
11. Wrote the song that I sang at my sister's wedding.
12. Climbed Dunns River falls in Jamica and drank Blue Mountain coffee in the Jamican Mountains.
13. Went to Edinburgh, Scotland with one of my roomies from Hull, England. We stayed in a youth hostel.
14. Walked in castles and abbeys.
15. Rented a jeep and paid a guy named Pedro to drive me and a friend around the island of Cozumel. We ate mango to our heart's content and stopped at beaches to get our toes wet.
16. Ate an overpriced hamburger in Grand Cayman.
17. Saw the actor Harry Hamlin at an airport in Canada. He smiled at me!
18. Worked at a cajun restuarant in Baton Rouge, where there was a full fleged zydego band. I got fired for playing an air guitar.
19. Saw Elton John in concert (twice), The Who, U2, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Bad Company, KD Lang, Yes, Collective Soul, Train, Shania Twain, and went to Crue Fest back in my concert hopping days.
20. Went to the top of Pike's Peak, the Denver Art Museum, The Garden of the gods, drove thru Kansas, camped in the Smoky Mountains, saw a 6 legged cow in Kansas, along with some cute little prairie dogs, marveled at the wonders of Carlsbad Caverns and walked the streets of Santa Fe with my son.
21. Took a sign language class.
22. Performed in a few college plays.
23. Dated a professor
24. When I studied abroad in England (thru LSU), we stayed in a student house. I lived with people from all over the world. Three girls from Italy, two girls from Spain, one girl from France, and a guy from the UK. Several nights a week, the Italians would have Italian dinners at various friends houses. We indulged on homemade spagetti, Italian coffee (Lavazza) and toasted bread dipped in olive oil.
25. Had coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Mond.
26. learned an Irish Dance
27. had a meteor shower party, with a huge bonfire, a bevy of hotdogs and buns
on the coldest night of the year.
28. rode on a riverboat in York England at night with my mom, saw the famous church in the movie Elizabeth, and gazed down at York's famous red roofs.
29. ate lunch at a cafe in London, saw Rembrants and Picassos, and saw the double decker buses, fed the pigeons in Trafalgar Square, and went to madame Tussand's wax musuem.
30. Ate dinner on Royal Carribean Cruiseline, my Turkish waiter kept calling me, Julia.
31. Sent my boy Cade to Disneyworld.
32. saw the Great Roman Baths, in Bath, England
33. lived through a hurricane
34. fished at night
35. My name is Rachelle. I love adventure. I have had many and I will have many, many more. My life up to this point has been filled with wonder and sorrow. I have to say though, that the coolest and most precious thing I have ever done. The most important experience in my life, was when I surrendered my heart and soul to Jesus. Everything else is futile and fleeting in comparison. No joy comes near simply claiming the love and joy that He has for us. Every day with Him, is an adventure. He leads us into unexpected places and bids us to bring hope and joy into the lives of others. Nothing else compares. Nothing else even comes close!
So I begin my next set of adventure, only this time...I Go with Jesus.
1. had lunch at a park in England where a squirrel climbed on top of my lap and tried to eat my apple.
2. Spent Christmas in England..We didn't have a Christmas tree so one of my buds decided to go to the campus to dig one up.
3. Took a trip by myself to Ireland, met a very cool Italian girl from Austrailia named Claudia. Went hiking in a little town called Howth, north of Dublin. Picked up a hitchiker, named Dan Breen. We thought he was so cute, we tried to find him a few days later but couldn't.
4. Took a trip to the dales of northern England, just so I could see the sheep in the fields. Baaa.
5. Bottled up some of the North Sea and saved it for my sister.
6. Walked across London Bridge, sat in front of Big Ben, saw the crowned jewels at Buckingham Palace, and went on a tour of the Tower of London.
7. Got a Private Investigator's License, just because.
8. Saw the graves of one of the Bronte sisters and went to Scarborough fair
9. I have driven a train at my job and I can operate a forklift. Woohoo.
10. Got two degrees. One in Advertising, with a minor in English. And one in Plant Process Technology.
11. Wrote the song that I sang at my sister's wedding.
12. Climbed Dunns River falls in Jamica and drank Blue Mountain coffee in the Jamican Mountains.
13. Went to Edinburgh, Scotland with one of my roomies from Hull, England. We stayed in a youth hostel.
14. Walked in castles and abbeys.
15. Rented a jeep and paid a guy named Pedro to drive me and a friend around the island of Cozumel. We ate mango to our heart's content and stopped at beaches to get our toes wet.
16. Ate an overpriced hamburger in Grand Cayman.
17. Saw the actor Harry Hamlin at an airport in Canada. He smiled at me!
18. Worked at a cajun restuarant in Baton Rouge, where there was a full fleged zydego band. I got fired for playing an air guitar.
19. Saw Elton John in concert (twice), The Who, U2, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Bad Company, KD Lang, Yes, Collective Soul, Train, Shania Twain, and went to Crue Fest back in my concert hopping days.
20. Went to the top of Pike's Peak, the Denver Art Museum, The Garden of the gods, drove thru Kansas, camped in the Smoky Mountains, saw a 6 legged cow in Kansas, along with some cute little prairie dogs, marveled at the wonders of Carlsbad Caverns and walked the streets of Santa Fe with my son.
21. Took a sign language class.
22. Performed in a few college plays.
23. Dated a professor
24. When I studied abroad in England (thru LSU), we stayed in a student house. I lived with people from all over the world. Three girls from Italy, two girls from Spain, one girl from France, and a guy from the UK. Several nights a week, the Italians would have Italian dinners at various friends houses. We indulged on homemade spagetti, Italian coffee (Lavazza) and toasted bread dipped in olive oil.
25. Had coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Mond.
26. learned an Irish Dance
27. had a meteor shower party, with a huge bonfire, a bevy of hotdogs and buns
on the coldest night of the year.
28. rode on a riverboat in York England at night with my mom, saw the famous church in the movie Elizabeth, and gazed down at York's famous red roofs.
29. ate lunch at a cafe in London, saw Rembrants and Picassos, and saw the double decker buses, fed the pigeons in Trafalgar Square, and went to madame Tussand's wax musuem.
30. Ate dinner on Royal Carribean Cruiseline, my Turkish waiter kept calling me, Julia.
31. Sent my boy Cade to Disneyworld.
32. saw the Great Roman Baths, in Bath, England
33. lived through a hurricane
34. fished at night
35. My name is Rachelle. I love adventure. I have had many and I will have many, many more. My life up to this point has been filled with wonder and sorrow. I have to say though, that the coolest and most precious thing I have ever done. The most important experience in my life, was when I surrendered my heart and soul to Jesus. Everything else is futile and fleeting in comparison. No joy comes near simply claiming the love and joy that He has for us. Every day with Him, is an adventure. He leads us into unexpected places and bids us to bring hope and joy into the lives of others. Nothing else compares. Nothing else even comes close!
So I begin my next set of adventure, only this time...I Go with Jesus.
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