Mrs. G, I love you

Mrs. G,

I asked you to read my blog today. I want you to find healing and hope in your life.
I know that things have been difficult, but I am praying for you.
Jesus loves you and so do I. I hope you find answers as you sift through the pages of my blog. There is so much waiting for you that you even realize. I want the very best for you and your family. I have over 200 posts, but I hope that you will come back and read them often.
I love you,
You are a great woman of God!
I know that if you seek answers and God, He will give it to you. Don't give up. There is so much more for you..
Love, Rachelle

the things that numb us, are the things that dumb us

this post is anti-television. I loathe that little black box. I can't even count the number of times, I have longed for interaction and closeness with those around me, but it seems as if everyone is glued to the t.v...staring off into empty space, living someone else's life...

Life is too short! Live, make memories. Do things that matter.
Go to the beach, learn something new, make cookies with your kids, knit something for an elderly person, pray, learn about your Creator....

Anything.

I can see the allure of television. I have often turned to it when I am depressed. It has the effect of an anthestetic. It numbs. Don't get me wrong, it can be grossly entertaining. I have often been lured into the lives of others...

But it hurts when I can see relationships that need mending ....and people choose television over people in thier lives.

It doesn't fill. It is empty. It is numbing. And the things that numb us , are the things that dumb us...

Today, choose to live. Turn off the t.v.
Get close to God. Hug the person next to you. Have a water balloon fight. Fly a kite or camp in the yard.
Just please, turn off the television.

It seems that lately, my heart and mind have been so wrapped in God and the amazing truths that He reveals to me... I feel as if my reality has completely changed. I feel like I am thrust into a wonderous world...but when I turn on the televison...I am thrust back into a world where God does not exist.

I love the show 24. But God doesn not exist on 24. There are many shows that I find genuinely entertaining, but I am finding the reality of God to be much better. I am finding that I would rather be in places where He is welcome, rather than in places that He doesn't exist.

Don't take this the wrong way. God exists. He is the reality. Televison is the illusion. Anything else is the illusion. God exists whether the t.v. is on or not.

all i'm trying to say is that it is easy to forget about God while the t.v is on, because He is not usually a topic of television shows. or at least not in a true, positive light...

Rest in Me

Remember the Sabbath and to Keep it Holy

Today is Sunday. There are days when I inevitably have to work on Sundays. Today, I woke up and thanked Him for His Special Day of Rest. I asked Him how I could honor Him today.

He whispered something personal in my ear..... and He told me something else, "Rest in Me."

I was driving to work and a small bit of worry came over me. He has given me a heart to pray for the people at my job. He has given me a heart that longs to see them happy and whole. Occassionally, I worry about how they will recieve the love of Christ. I can see that many are resistant to opening themselves to His Love.

I said a prayer, "Lord, let your love flow from me in such a way...that is comes as natural as a breath."

Rest in Me. Cast all of your cares upon me.

As I began to truly rest in Him, I began to feel His Love. I can see how that rest can let the waters of love flow more naturally.

Sometimes I try to force things. I try to do and do and do....but sometimes, all we need to do is rest. Rest in Him. He will do the rest.

Today, I saw some amazing video footage of the bioluminescent tides that are gracing the shores of southern California. The tides look as if they are glowing. There are shades of the purest blue, rolling with the waves. I could see the work of His hand.

I watched a video of the Northern Lights. I can see the the most dazzling of lights flashing across the purest sky. The air is cold. I can smell hot chocolate. I can paint of a picture in my mind of my family there. Laughing, amazed at the wonder of the working of Hands.

Rest in me. I pray that one day He shows me these wonders.

Please say some prayers for the lost today. Honor Him today. Today is His day. Rest in Him. Let His presence fill your soul. You will be satisfied. Love will flow freely and effortlessly.

Breathe.

Guardian Angel

I am going to include this image in my shoebox for the orphans. I want them to know that there is safety in God. I want them to feel that sense of security and peace that only He can offer.

I love this photograph. The children are very obviously in a dangerous situation...

But God..

But God sent His angel to protect and care for them. He is there even when we do not feel Him or recognize Him...

He is there with loving arms of safety and security offering His protection from the world around us...

I don't know who this image belongs to, but it is beautiful.

Crazy Love

Crazy Love is a breath of fresh air, written by a man deeply in love with God..

It is both challenging and beautiful.

The book touches on the subject of lukewarm Christians. God said that if we are lukewarm, then He will spit us out of His mouth. It is better to be hot or cold.

Francis Chan points out that there are many Christians that just blend in. It's hard to tell they are even Christian, except for the fact that they grace the church pew every week.

A true Christian should be madly and deeply in love with God. In this brilliant book, Francis shows us what that kind of Crazy Love looks like.

I think every Christian should read this book. Every non Christian should read this book. There are few true living examples out there of what Christianity is supposed to look like.
This book is convicting because it causes us to look at our lives and seeing if they match up to God's word.

If anybody wants to borrow my copy, message me....
I love this book, and highly recommend reading it...
I love the people that inspire and Chan is one to inspire
http:///www.crazylovebook.com/the_book.html

The Great Book and Cd Giveaway

http://www.kplctv.com/story/15535916/the-gift-of-love-on-christmas-day

Recently, I heard about Operation Shoebox Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse.

The shoeboxes are meant to be prepared for orphans that would otherwise, have no Christmas presents.

I read an article on kplctv.com that really touched my heart.


Last week, I had a wonderful time shopping for three orphans. I put much love and care into choosing each gift to fit inside my box.

I want more people to participate in things like this...


It can truly make a difference in the life of a child.


Love's currents run deep and affect people in ways that you can't even imagine.

So, If you opt to participate...message me..call me...then, come and pick you out one of my books or cds...

The Light only grows when we spread it..

Jesus asks us to care for orphans...so today, please take his command seriously.


Participate...

Come by the house, drop off some donation items...take a book....take a cd...

or take it to a designated church ...

I'm attaching the link for more details...



http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/

False Teachers

Dear (insert your name here),

Lately I have felt as if Jesus would have me to point out false teachings. I'm sad that there is even such a thing as "false teachings" but the Bible warns us that many will be led astray by wolf in sheeps clothing. I'm sad because I have a true heart for the people around me and I don't want them to buy into something that is not Real. I don't want them to fall for the lies that are mixed in with truths.

Jesus has shown me so many things. I look at His life and I see a life of humility. I see a life of sacrifice. I see a Man who abandoned everything He owned, in order to set people free from the bondage sin and death. I see a Man who gave and gave and gave. I see a Man who exemplified love in such a way, that He was willing to die for the very people that mocked Him.

Lately, I have heard the term "prosperity teaching" floating around. It keeps coming up and it is no accident. I used to be a fan of Joel Osteen. I like Joel Osteen. But I don't believe that all that he teaches is sound and truly "Christlike".... As Christians, we are called to be "Christlike"..
wouldn't that mean walking in the ways of Christ? Giving, sacrifing, loving others in such a way that self comes dead last. I have listened to a few of Joel's sermons and my eyes were opened to a few things. Joel believes that God wants to make us rich. He wants us to have the best houses, the nicest cars, and all of the fine things in life. Hmmmm. Does that sound like Christ? No, it doesn't. Didn't Christ live humbly so that He could freely give of Himself to others? Yes, He did.

Joel wants to make us feel good. Christ wants us to carry our cross so that lives can be changed and people can come to Him through an overwhelming and Christlike love.

In one sermon, Joel talks about how God will get the last laugh at our enemies. Really? Didn't Christ teach us to love our enemies and to bless those that curse us? God isn't laughing. He is crying that people are preaching such hatred.

There are scores of teachers, preachers, evangelists, "people of God"...that claim to know Him...and speak about Him..but truly aren't walking the walk of faith. It bothers me when I see "Christians" will mulitmillion dollar homes and private jets. Joyce Myers has a private jet and a several multi million dollar homes. She says that she is blessed.

One thing I am learning is that blessings come in the form of giving. I honestly don't think I could live with myself if I had all of that wasted wealth in my life. Doesn't Christ call us not to have our best life now, so that we can store up our treasures in heaven?

How many children could be clothed and orphans fed with the money from one of those homes? Some days I feel Christ's love welling up inside me so deeply that I know I could sell everything I own in order to affect one life or cause only one person to come to Christ. It hurts me to see greed passed off as "blessings"..ouch!

The purpose of this post is simply so people will recognize and compare the life of Jesus to the ones that they are following on televison, on twitter, and whatever medium is available.

Don't be decieved into thinking that God wants you to be rich. God calls us to carry our crosses. He calls us to care for orphans, widows. He asks us to pray for the sick and let His name be known. He calls us to take the hard path...

He even said, "narrow is the path and few will find it.."
So I sadly wonder what will happen to all of these "prosperity" preachers and the ones who are busy trying to earn God's favor so that they can be rich and blessed..

We already have God's favor, as Christians. We have a Light that He gave it. He told us not to focus on ourself...or "our" blessings" but to look to Him so that we can Know Him ....
and then He asks us to care, not for ourselves, but for the people around us....

Look at the fruits of the Spirit...humility...Humility is denying self so that Christ's love can be shown in and through us...
But humility isn't something preached by the "prosperity" preachers. They, instead, teach what can God do for me...very rarely do they preach, What can I do for God.

Just be aware. This message is written in love. Only in following Christ's teachings will we ever really truly find our way.

I'm sad because there don't seem to be many out there that are living the true life that Christ has called us to live. I recently read a book entitled Crazy Love. I was both blessed and inspired reading about the countless people that carried thier crosses and lived the gospel. People who brought Light into dark places and sacrificed creature comforts so that others could know the true love of Jesus.

I hope that one day my life can be lived in such a way. That people will say, That is what if meant to be Christian. Jesus has given me a dream and a vision. I will share it in an upcoming post.
.....
I am sad. i am sad. i am sad. I am sad. I am sad because I can see so much darkness. I can see people around me that are lost and hurting. I see people that have turned away from God because they see corruption and the abuse of finances. I am sad that many of todays Christian leaders aren't setting true examples.

I once read that the original tithe of the church was meant for helping others. It was meant to reach out to those with nothing. It was meant to provide hope for the destitute and weak.
But it seems now many churches feel it necessary to use tithes to "bless" the preachers and "bless" thier own lives. They feel it necessary to build mulit million dollar churches instead of going out and spreading the true Light of Jesus.

For all those that are reading this that are hurting...seek not man for your comfort or your answers. You will be sorely disappointed. You may even be taken. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, knock and the door will be opened, seek and you will find.

God Bless