Thursday, July 26, 2012
Surgery Tomorrow
No blog for today.... I'm headed to bed early because tomorrow morning I'm having my wisdom teeth taken out. Probably will be a few days before I am able to get back to writing. Would appreciate your prayers (I'm pretty scared!). Thanks!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Less Familiar Road
We had a really bad thunderstorm yesterday during the middle of the day. The rain was pouring, flags were nearly torn off poles, and debris was scattered on the streets. Several businesses, homes and traffic lights lost power.
I was volunteering at the time when the storm hit and thought it was in my best interest to stay at the volunteer center and wait out the storm. Thankfully the downpour only lasted for maybe an hour, so I was able to head home after the winds and rain calmed down.
The route that I usually take home from there involves crossing a one-lane bridge. As I turned onto the street that would lead me to the bridge, there was a man standing next to his car parked on the side of the road. He was waving his arms, and my first thought was that something was wrong with his vehicle. Being a teenage female and one who is totally ignorant when it comes to cars, I opted not to stop and help him out, hoping that some other kind stranger would soon pull off.
But as I slowed down and prepared to pass him, he waved his arms even more wildly and started shouting, "Woah! Stop! Don't go any further!"
Must be something pretty important, so it seemed. I rolled down my window, trusting the guy and praying I didn't just get myself into something stupid.
"Turn around," he said. "There's a tree that's fallen over the bridge, happened during the storm. You'll have to go another way."
I'm sure that man wasn't the first to encounter the roadblock, but was the only person who stuck around to warn other drivers about the dead-end.
I thanked him for what he was doing and went on my way. Home was my destination, I just had to take another path to get there.
As Christians, Heaven is our finish line. One day we will call it "home" and ourselves, "dwellers." I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get there. I mean, I can... but just the thought gets me so excited.
We have our time here on Earth to find the staircase to those golden gates. And the only way to get Home is through Jesus. Sometimes, He purposely allows trees to fall and block roads in our lives so that He can direct us elsewhere. The path we then find ourselves traveling might be longer but necessary to better know Him and reserve our spot in His kingdom.
God has made a lot of detours in my life. There's always frustration in the fact that my fastest, easiest way home had been eliminated. But inevitably there comes a greater reward, that is the shelter He provides and the lessons He teaches as we journey along the less familiar road.
The Bible speaks a lot about God watching over us in this life:
"You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory." Psalm 73:24
"A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9
"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:6
You never know about strangers. They could be an angel in disguise, or they could be someone else God is using to get your attention.
Will you pull off?
-Rachel
I was volunteering at the time when the storm hit and thought it was in my best interest to stay at the volunteer center and wait out the storm. Thankfully the downpour only lasted for maybe an hour, so I was able to head home after the winds and rain calmed down.
The route that I usually take home from there involves crossing a one-lane bridge. As I turned onto the street that would lead me to the bridge, there was a man standing next to his car parked on the side of the road. He was waving his arms, and my first thought was that something was wrong with his vehicle. Being a teenage female and one who is totally ignorant when it comes to cars, I opted not to stop and help him out, hoping that some other kind stranger would soon pull off.
But as I slowed down and prepared to pass him, he waved his arms even more wildly and started shouting, "Woah! Stop! Don't go any further!"
Must be something pretty important, so it seemed. I rolled down my window, trusting the guy and praying I didn't just get myself into something stupid.
"Turn around," he said. "There's a tree that's fallen over the bridge, happened during the storm. You'll have to go another way."
I'm sure that man wasn't the first to encounter the roadblock, but was the only person who stuck around to warn other drivers about the dead-end.
I thanked him for what he was doing and went on my way. Home was my destination, I just had to take another path to get there.
As Christians, Heaven is our finish line. One day we will call it "home" and ourselves, "dwellers." I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get there. I mean, I can... but just the thought gets me so excited.
We have our time here on Earth to find the staircase to those golden gates. And the only way to get Home is through Jesus. Sometimes, He purposely allows trees to fall and block roads in our lives so that He can direct us elsewhere. The path we then find ourselves traveling might be longer but necessary to better know Him and reserve our spot in His kingdom.
God has made a lot of detours in my life. There's always frustration in the fact that my fastest, easiest way home had been eliminated. But inevitably there comes a greater reward, that is the shelter He provides and the lessons He teaches as we journey along the less familiar road.
The Bible speaks a lot about God watching over us in this life:
"You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory." Psalm 73:24
"A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9
"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:6
You never know about strangers. They could be an angel in disguise, or they could be someone else God is using to get your attention.
Will you pull off?
-Rachel
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
In the River
I love a good adventure. Today, my brother, sister and I went with some family friends to a nearby river. And I'm not talking some puny little creek, this was a legitimate river.
We changed into old clothes and wore water shoes, knowing we'd get dirty thanks to the inner eager explorer inside each of us.
The water was really warm and for the most part, shallow. We hopped from rock to rock, skipped stones, tried catching crawdads, and did other "play in the river" things.
I was walking upstream and my brother Matthew was ahead of me, looking down in the water at the minnows. Suddenly, there was a splash noise and immediately he lifted his head, glanced at me, and asked if I threw a rock. I heard the sound, too, and thought the same thing-- that he was playing a trick on me to scare me. I told him I didn't toss anything. I asked if he did and was trying to play dumb or joke around. He said "no," but none of us believed the other. We let it be, forgot about it, and went back to our individual ventures.
Not long thereafter, I took a step and, out of the corner of my eye, caught sight of this huge, scaly, slimy, spine-like object slither away in the water.
I screamed like a little girl and yelled something very very stupid, "EEL!!! EEL!!!! THERE ARE EELS IN THESE WATERS!!!!!"
Someone told me once, "If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, it probably is a duck." Well, let me tell ya. This thing looked like an eel and moved like an eel, so my first thought (obviously) was that it was, indeed, an eel. Later, after I got the attention of the rest of the group, it hit me that eels don't live in rivers (biology was never my favorite-- or best --subject). So much for that silly duck rule-of-thumb.
That thing, whatever it was, scared me so much. My body froze and was shaking for who knows how long. Now at least I knew what that sound was Matthew and I heard earlier.
Then someone looked yonder and pointed, shouting, "Look! Look!"
The puzzle finally came together. There must have been at least fifty fins flapping out of the water. Slowly, we moved closer and were able to identify what the mysterious beast was! Carp! They were swimming against the current trying to get upstream where the calm waters were. (Carp? Eel? Same thing, right? Wrong....)
My nerves, by this point, had calmed and we all stood there in the river watching in awe at the fish battle the forceful waters. They were SO big!! A few times, we got so close that we could even see their scales. It really was one of the neatest things I'd ever seen.
My friend Ally who was with us is obsessed with anything Japan-related. She informed me that the word "carp" actually comes from and is the translation of the Japanese word "koi." (You may have heard of koi fish before, whether you'e seen them at hotels or in little ponds at other attractions. The colorful variations of koi fish we know today are descendents of the common carp.)
When we left the river and made it home, I, being the nerd that I am, did some research. What I found out is pretty cool-- the word "koi" in Japanese is also a homophone for another Japanese word that means "affectionate love." This word association quickly caught on way long ago in the Japanese culture, and the koi fish are now symbolically representative of love, friendship and loyalty in various forms of art, music and literature.
By nature, the koi fish expands and contracts to the boundaries of its environment in order to fight past the currents, swimming forward and harmoniously through the waters even in suffering.
I love the picture of faith that the koi fish paints. God's Holy Spirit dwells inside of us and gives us strength to fight life's currents. As Christians, we battle constantly against worldliness but only because of His love, friendship and loyalty do we find strength to push through toward the calm waters. Even when we hurt or feel like giving up, His voice inside us says to "just keep swimming."
LOVE: "Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away." Song of Solomon 8:7a
FRIENDSHIP: "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15
LOYALTY: "But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by His decrees and obey His commands, as at this time." 1 Kings 8:61
When we feel like we're being forced backward, His power kicks in. We make it to peace with Him and because of Him.
We never swim alone.
-Rachel
We changed into old clothes and wore water shoes, knowing we'd get dirty thanks to the inner eager explorer inside each of us.
The water was really warm and for the most part, shallow. We hopped from rock to rock, skipped stones, tried catching crawdads, and did other "play in the river" things.
I was walking upstream and my brother Matthew was ahead of me, looking down in the water at the minnows. Suddenly, there was a splash noise and immediately he lifted his head, glanced at me, and asked if I threw a rock. I heard the sound, too, and thought the same thing-- that he was playing a trick on me to scare me. I told him I didn't toss anything. I asked if he did and was trying to play dumb or joke around. He said "no," but none of us believed the other. We let it be, forgot about it, and went back to our individual ventures.
Not long thereafter, I took a step and, out of the corner of my eye, caught sight of this huge, scaly, slimy, spine-like object slither away in the water.
I screamed like a little girl and yelled something very very stupid, "EEL!!! EEL!!!! THERE ARE EELS IN THESE WATERS!!!!!"
Someone told me once, "If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, it probably is a duck." Well, let me tell ya. This thing looked like an eel and moved like an eel, so my first thought (obviously) was that it was, indeed, an eel. Later, after I got the attention of the rest of the group, it hit me that eels don't live in rivers (biology was never my favorite-- or best --subject). So much for that silly duck rule-of-thumb.
That thing, whatever it was, scared me so much. My body froze and was shaking for who knows how long. Now at least I knew what that sound was Matthew and I heard earlier.
Then someone looked yonder and pointed, shouting, "Look! Look!"
The puzzle finally came together. There must have been at least fifty fins flapping out of the water. Slowly, we moved closer and were able to identify what the mysterious beast was! Carp! They were swimming against the current trying to get upstream where the calm waters were. (Carp? Eel? Same thing, right? Wrong....)
My nerves, by this point, had calmed and we all stood there in the river watching in awe at the fish battle the forceful waters. They were SO big!! A few times, we got so close that we could even see their scales. It really was one of the neatest things I'd ever seen.
My friend Ally who was with us is obsessed with anything Japan-related. She informed me that the word "carp" actually comes from and is the translation of the Japanese word "koi." (You may have heard of koi fish before, whether you'e seen them at hotels or in little ponds at other attractions. The colorful variations of koi fish we know today are descendents of the common carp.)
When we left the river and made it home, I, being the nerd that I am, did some research. What I found out is pretty cool-- the word "koi" in Japanese is also a homophone for another Japanese word that means "affectionate love." This word association quickly caught on way long ago in the Japanese culture, and the koi fish are now symbolically representative of love, friendship and loyalty in various forms of art, music and literature.
By nature, the koi fish expands and contracts to the boundaries of its environment in order to fight past the currents, swimming forward and harmoniously through the waters even in suffering.
I love the picture of faith that the koi fish paints. God's Holy Spirit dwells inside of us and gives us strength to fight life's currents. As Christians, we battle constantly against worldliness but only because of His love, friendship and loyalty do we find strength to push through toward the calm waters. Even when we hurt or feel like giving up, His voice inside us says to "just keep swimming."
LOVE: "Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away." Song of Solomon 8:7a
FRIENDSHIP: "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15
LOYALTY: "But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by His decrees and obey His commands, as at this time." 1 Kings 8:61
When we feel like we're being forced backward, His power kicks in. We make it to peace with Him and because of Him.
We never swim alone.
-Rachel
Monday, July 23, 2012
Star Gazing
Stars are so cool. I was taught that looking at a star is like looking into the past. The nearest stars are millions of light years away, so it takes a very very long time for their light to reach us. By the time we are able to see their shine, we may just be seeing what light is left of a burnt-out star that no longer exists.
If you've never taken time to go star gazing, do it. Lay out on the grass, sit on the roof, swing on the porch, something! Find a place where you get a good, clear shot of the sky and stare at it. Trust me, it is so worth it.
I know when I look up, I always see the brightest, biggest stars first. Usually there's only a small handful of them, and that's where my eyes immediately go. But when I look longer and harder, more and more stars appear. They are smaller and dimmer, although just as beautiful.
It really is mind blowing how many there are. A couple times I've tried to count them, but I only get frustrated when my eyes catch glimpse of another sparkle that I hadn't noticed before. Plainly, there is an infinite amount of stars in what seems to be an infinite amount of sky.
"The moon and the stars to rule over the night, for His steadfast love endures forever." Psalm 136:9
God's blessings are kind of like that, too. It's easy to notice His "bigger" stars, or blessings-- new job, sold house, new baby, getting married, pay raise, healed sickness. When good things happen to us, we are more likely and more willing to give Him praise. That's just our nature. God, in those circumstances, is the most obvious target to give glory.
But there are so many other littler stars, or blessings, God shines our way but we fail to see. I can think of a couple reasons right off the top of my head that we miss out: 1) We are too focused on the bigger stars 2) We don't look long or hard enough
When God lives inside of us, we see the world in a way we never did before. We see Him everywhere, we see His handprint on everything. Even when it comes to the simple stuff. We find ourselves lookers into His night sky, marveling at not only the big, eye-catching stars but also at the more distant, fainter ones-- a great price on an item, a warm day, the smile in a friend's face, a phone call from someone you love... those, too, are blessings from Him.
"When I look at your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for Him." Psalm 8:3-4
Have you been missing any of God's blessings in your life? Have you only been focusing on the ones that appear most obvious? Take time to look longer and harder at His world around you.
Jeremiah 29:13 says "You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart."
When we think of "stars," most of us envision sparkly diamonds in the sky. But let's not forget that the sun is one, too.
With that knowledge, we can take comfort in the truth that somewhere a star is shining.
Kinda like God's blessings... they're always there.
-Rachel
If you've never taken time to go star gazing, do it. Lay out on the grass, sit on the roof, swing on the porch, something! Find a place where you get a good, clear shot of the sky and stare at it. Trust me, it is so worth it.
I know when I look up, I always see the brightest, biggest stars first. Usually there's only a small handful of them, and that's where my eyes immediately go. But when I look longer and harder, more and more stars appear. They are smaller and dimmer, although just as beautiful.
It really is mind blowing how many there are. A couple times I've tried to count them, but I only get frustrated when my eyes catch glimpse of another sparkle that I hadn't noticed before. Plainly, there is an infinite amount of stars in what seems to be an infinite amount of sky.
"The moon and the stars to rule over the night, for His steadfast love endures forever." Psalm 136:9
God's blessings are kind of like that, too. It's easy to notice His "bigger" stars, or blessings-- new job, sold house, new baby, getting married, pay raise, healed sickness. When good things happen to us, we are more likely and more willing to give Him praise. That's just our nature. God, in those circumstances, is the most obvious target to give glory.
But there are so many other littler stars, or blessings, God shines our way but we fail to see. I can think of a couple reasons right off the top of my head that we miss out: 1) We are too focused on the bigger stars 2) We don't look long or hard enough
When God lives inside of us, we see the world in a way we never did before. We see Him everywhere, we see His handprint on everything. Even when it comes to the simple stuff. We find ourselves lookers into His night sky, marveling at not only the big, eye-catching stars but also at the more distant, fainter ones-- a great price on an item, a warm day, the smile in a friend's face, a phone call from someone you love... those, too, are blessings from Him.
"When I look at your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for Him." Psalm 8:3-4
Have you been missing any of God's blessings in your life? Have you only been focusing on the ones that appear most obvious? Take time to look longer and harder at His world around you.
Jeremiah 29:13 says "You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart."
When we think of "stars," most of us envision sparkly diamonds in the sky. But let's not forget that the sun is one, too.
With that knowledge, we can take comfort in the truth that somewhere a star is shining.
Kinda like God's blessings... they're always there.
-Rachel
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Shifting Gears
In just a few weeks I head off to college. Among the long list of things still to do before I leave, one of them is learn to drive a stick shift. Dad's rules.
I am perfectly happy with my automatic, which allows me to be lazy and have an extra hand for dancing along stupidly to the radio.
Maybe because I'm a girl, but cars just don't interest me. To be honest, I can't say I was really looking forward to learning how to drive a stick because it sounded boring and too complicated. I mean, THREE pedals?!?! BUT I ONLY HAVE TWO FEET!!!!!
Dad drove me in the truck up to my empty high school parking lot. He first gave me the low-down about how the engine works, what the clutch is, when you shift gears, blah blah blah. I asked questions, tried to look as if I was interested, and reluctantly switched places into the driver's seat after he finished his lesson.
We both knew that it was going to be interesting, and I didn't disappoint.
I stalled. Again and again and again and again and again and again and... you get the point. I failed miserably at the timing of pushing on the gas pedal when the car began to "give." I was especially notorious for releasing the clutch too quickly. The car would tug, I would scream, dad would laugh, and we'd try once more.
It was frustrating. But, when I did make a smooth shift or an easy start-after-stop, I felt super proud (and of course boast with excitement only to be humiliated shortly thereafter when the car would quit once more).
I did realize that it is much easier to shift once you got going. My feet would begin to get used to the timing of when to push on or release the pedals, and slowly I improved.
Dad made me drive to a nearby ice cream shop to get some "main road" practice. I didn't think I was ready, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. I did, however, stall at a stop sign that was along the way and there unfortunately was a car behind me. Poor fellows, I kept stalling the car and they (I'm sure) were thinking, "What is this idiot doing?!" My dad eventually stuck his hand out the window and motioned for them to pass us by. I was so embarrassed and shouted out, "I'm sorry! I'm learning!" They didn't scream back any bad words or give me any fingers, which was good. They just waved, smiled, and probably drove off laughing at the fact that they witnessed a blonde teenager's epic stop-sign stick-shift failure.
Learning something new can be a challenge. In my case, I had to do more than just pay special attention to Dad's instructions-- I had to physically apply that knowledge when it was my turn to be behind the wheel.
He made it all sound so easy but I soon realized that it wasn't. Now, don't get me wrong, it did get easier as I kept practicing. But I still messed up and I still had lots of room for improvement at the end of the day.
When God teaches us new things, He often calls us to respond, or physically apply what we've learned. It could be by serving in our church, reaching out to the community, sharing the gospel with a lost friend, giving more generously with our offerings, or setting aside more time to study the Word.
In short, we learn by listening; we understand by doing. It's not always easy to respond to what all God teaches us. Doing so, we may feel awkward, afraid or embarrassed.
But God never intended for us to be "comfortable." As Christians, He calls us to step out in faith. Secondly, God doesn't want us to be scared of failure. After all, Romans says "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Finally, God asks that we not be shy about who He is. Consider this passage from Matthew 7:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’"
My dad kept reminding me that driving a stick shift is something you naturally do after a while without even having to think. Likewise, when we get past certain "faith barriers," living as a witness for God's kingdom is like second-nature.
Learn from God by listening carefully and responding obediently.
-Rachel
I am perfectly happy with my automatic, which allows me to be lazy and have an extra hand for dancing along stupidly to the radio.
Maybe because I'm a girl, but cars just don't interest me. To be honest, I can't say I was really looking forward to learning how to drive a stick because it sounded boring and too complicated. I mean, THREE pedals?!?! BUT I ONLY HAVE TWO FEET!!!!!
Dad drove me in the truck up to my empty high school parking lot. He first gave me the low-down about how the engine works, what the clutch is, when you shift gears, blah blah blah. I asked questions, tried to look as if I was interested, and reluctantly switched places into the driver's seat after he finished his lesson.
We both knew that it was going to be interesting, and I didn't disappoint.
I stalled. Again and again and again and again and again and again and... you get the point. I failed miserably at the timing of pushing on the gas pedal when the car began to "give." I was especially notorious for releasing the clutch too quickly. The car would tug, I would scream, dad would laugh, and we'd try once more.
It was frustrating. But, when I did make a smooth shift or an easy start-after-stop, I felt super proud (and of course boast with excitement only to be humiliated shortly thereafter when the car would quit once more).
I did realize that it is much easier to shift once you got going. My feet would begin to get used to the timing of when to push on or release the pedals, and slowly I improved.
Dad made me drive to a nearby ice cream shop to get some "main road" practice. I didn't think I was ready, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. I did, however, stall at a stop sign that was along the way and there unfortunately was a car behind me. Poor fellows, I kept stalling the car and they (I'm sure) were thinking, "What is this idiot doing?!" My dad eventually stuck his hand out the window and motioned for them to pass us by. I was so embarrassed and shouted out, "I'm sorry! I'm learning!" They didn't scream back any bad words or give me any fingers, which was good. They just waved, smiled, and probably drove off laughing at the fact that they witnessed a blonde teenager's epic stop-sign stick-shift failure.
Learning something new can be a challenge. In my case, I had to do more than just pay special attention to Dad's instructions-- I had to physically apply that knowledge when it was my turn to be behind the wheel.
He made it all sound so easy but I soon realized that it wasn't. Now, don't get me wrong, it did get easier as I kept practicing. But I still messed up and I still had lots of room for improvement at the end of the day.
When God teaches us new things, He often calls us to respond, or physically apply what we've learned. It could be by serving in our church, reaching out to the community, sharing the gospel with a lost friend, giving more generously with our offerings, or setting aside more time to study the Word.
In short, we learn by listening; we understand by doing. It's not always easy to respond to what all God teaches us. Doing so, we may feel awkward, afraid or embarrassed.
But God never intended for us to be "comfortable." As Christians, He calls us to step out in faith. Secondly, God doesn't want us to be scared of failure. After all, Romans says "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Finally, God asks that we not be shy about who He is. Consider this passage from Matthew 7:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’"
My dad kept reminding me that driving a stick shift is something you naturally do after a while without even having to think. Likewise, when we get past certain "faith barriers," living as a witness for God's kingdom is like second-nature.
Learn from God by listening carefully and responding obediently.
-Rachel
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Authors Note
Hey all!
Thank you so much for reading my blogs! I want to let you know that I will be out of town this week as I am going to church camp. I am so excited and cannot wait to spend the next five days grower closer to God! Will get back to blogging upon my return. :)
-Rachel
Thank you so much for reading my blogs! I want to let you know that I will be out of town this week as I am going to church camp. I am so excited and cannot wait to spend the next five days grower closer to God! Will get back to blogging upon my return. :)
-Rachel
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Weird
My sister informed me yesterday that anybody who showed up at Chik-Fil-A dressed like a cow would receive a free entree.
I guess it's true what they say, "love makes you do crazy things" (and I LOVE their chikin).
Now, I'm not as gutsy as my brother who, if he wasn't out of town, would have worn a body suit with plastic udders and all. But, I'm not so boring that I would miss out on an opportunity to be weird (purposefully, of course).
So, I put on a black shirt and taped on "spots," or ripped pieces of white paper, and drove to Chik-Fil-A.
Honestly, it was a bit embarrassing noticing other drivers giving you strange looks while stopped at traffic lights. But as soon as I was inside the restaurant, I felt right at home. My social discomfort quickly passed, as my outfit was one of the more milder ones. Actually, mine looked rather pathetic. There were some wearing full costumes and others had tails, hats, pinned-on ears plus anything else of the "cow sort."
We didn't judge because we were all there making ourselves look crazy for the same reason: free food. And that, in our minds, was well worth it.
Some people view us Christians as weird. Like, the things we believe, don't believe, do or don't do. But we're all in it for the same reason, and that is the reward of living for Him on this earth and then with Him one day in Heaven.
Having Jesus as our LORD makes us not "normal." Our convictions will get us some odd looks, but that's okay. Sticking out is a good thing. It means that we "do not conform to the patterns of this world" (Romans 12:2). It means we are living for something greater. It means we have hope.
And, in case you haven't noticed, today's "normal" isn't really working.
Craig Groeschel, in his book Weird, puts it like this:
The majority of people--the crowd-- is traveling the wrong path, the one that leads to destruction. They're the normal ones--intent on looking like the rest, spending money like the rest, living like the rest, keeping up with the rest. But their roads lead to a dead end. Only a few people--the weird ones unafraid to exit the normal highway--find the right road. Not many, but a small and brave group of travelers willing to separate from the crowd and embark on a different kind of journey down a less obvious path.
When you think about it at face value, Christianity does sound a little crazy: I mean, we gather on Sundays in a sacred building to worship some supernatural being who we believe spoke the entire universe into existence. We can't physically see Him, sometimes we can hear Him, but we have no doubt that He is there. And this dude named Jesus... He's the son of some greater dude named God but was born from a virgin woman named Mary. A long time ago, Jesus came to earth to die, arose again, and then flew back up into the sky to a place called Heaven that is somewhere beyond the clouds in some place "where milk and honey flow" (Exodus 3:8). With a simple prayer and a little faith, the same spirit that wakes the sun every morning can live in our hearts and work in our lives. Because of that spirit, we see and experience the entire world differently. Because of that spirit, we act differently. Because of that spirit, we believe differently. Because of that spirit, we are different.
Yeah, I suppose it does sound crazy. But "crazy" is the only explanation for a God who is crazy in love with us. And, like we've established earlier, love makes you do crazy things.
I like what Albert Camus said, "I would rather live my life [weird] as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life [normal] as if there isn't and die to find out there is." [my addition to quote]
Going to church is the easy part because there we are not challenged with the consequences of our faith. We are surrounded by like-minded believers who share a heart for God. In other words, we find ourselves mixed in with a bunch of other crazy people just like us. The difficult part is getting to the point in your faith when you actually desire to be different. To connect the dots, you're not just comfortable looking like a cow out in public but you wake up every morning and choose to dress like one. It's about changing your perspective so that the stares or weird looks you'll get for loving God are compliments of your faith rather than denouncements of your infringing upon worldly "norms."
It doesn't take something udderly ridiculous like wearing a cow suit to stand out from the crowd. Simply living like a Christian will turn enough heads.
-Rachel
I guess it's true what they say, "love makes you do crazy things" (and I LOVE their chikin).
Now, I'm not as gutsy as my brother who, if he wasn't out of town, would have worn a body suit with plastic udders and all. But, I'm not so boring that I would miss out on an opportunity to be weird (purposefully, of course).
So, I put on a black shirt and taped on "spots," or ripped pieces of white paper, and drove to Chik-Fil-A.
Honestly, it was a bit embarrassing noticing other drivers giving you strange looks while stopped at traffic lights. But as soon as I was inside the restaurant, I felt right at home. My social discomfort quickly passed, as my outfit was one of the more milder ones. Actually, mine looked rather pathetic. There were some wearing full costumes and others had tails, hats, pinned-on ears plus anything else of the "cow sort."
We didn't judge because we were all there making ourselves look crazy for the same reason: free food. And that, in our minds, was well worth it.
Some people view us Christians as weird. Like, the things we believe, don't believe, do or don't do. But we're all in it for the same reason, and that is the reward of living for Him on this earth and then with Him one day in Heaven.
Having Jesus as our LORD makes us not "normal." Our convictions will get us some odd looks, but that's okay. Sticking out is a good thing. It means that we "do not conform to the patterns of this world" (Romans 12:2). It means we are living for something greater. It means we have hope.
And, in case you haven't noticed, today's "normal" isn't really working.
Craig Groeschel, in his book Weird, puts it like this:
The majority of people--the crowd-- is traveling the wrong path, the one that leads to destruction. They're the normal ones--intent on looking like the rest, spending money like the rest, living like the rest, keeping up with the rest. But their roads lead to a dead end. Only a few people--the weird ones unafraid to exit the normal highway--find the right road. Not many, but a small and brave group of travelers willing to separate from the crowd and embark on a different kind of journey down a less obvious path.
When you think about it at face value, Christianity does sound a little crazy: I mean, we gather on Sundays in a sacred building to worship some supernatural being who we believe spoke the entire universe into existence. We can't physically see Him, sometimes we can hear Him, but we have no doubt that He is there. And this dude named Jesus... He's the son of some greater dude named God but was born from a virgin woman named Mary. A long time ago, Jesus came to earth to die, arose again, and then flew back up into the sky to a place called Heaven that is somewhere beyond the clouds in some place "where milk and honey flow" (Exodus 3:8). With a simple prayer and a little faith, the same spirit that wakes the sun every morning can live in our hearts and work in our lives. Because of that spirit, we see and experience the entire world differently. Because of that spirit, we act differently. Because of that spirit, we believe differently. Because of that spirit, we are different.
Yeah, I suppose it does sound crazy. But "crazy" is the only explanation for a God who is crazy in love with us. And, like we've established earlier, love makes you do crazy things.
I like what Albert Camus said, "I would rather live my life [weird] as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life [normal] as if there isn't and die to find out there is." [my addition to quote]
Going to church is the easy part because there we are not challenged with the consequences of our faith. We are surrounded by like-minded believers who share a heart for God. In other words, we find ourselves mixed in with a bunch of other crazy people just like us. The difficult part is getting to the point in your faith when you actually desire to be different. To connect the dots, you're not just comfortable looking like a cow out in public but you wake up every morning and choose to dress like one. It's about changing your perspective so that the stares or weird looks you'll get for loving God are compliments of your faith rather than denouncements of your infringing upon worldly "norms."
It doesn't take something udderly ridiculous like wearing a cow suit to stand out from the crowd. Simply living like a Christian will turn enough heads.
-Rachel
Thursday, July 12, 2012
The Ride
My parents took me to Disneyworld for the first time when I was three years old. I don't remember it all that much, but they sure do. One of Dad's favorite memories of me as a little girl happened there.
Goofy's "Barnstormer" was my very first roller coaster ride. It was a "mini coaster," which only meant that it was perfect in size for small children but big enough to match a young kid's spirit of adventure.
When we noticed it while walking around in the park, Dad looked down at me and asked if I wanted to ride it. The way he tells the story, I was quiet for a short while then, with a faint smile, nodded my head.
We waited in line until finally it was our turn. Dad helped me fasten my seat-belt and then wrapped his arm around me so I could hold on tight.
They pushed a button and we were off. Dad says I just sat there the entire time, silent and still, gripping his arm and closing my eyes. When the ride slowed down and came to a stop, he leaned down to see if I was okay.
It was my most famous six words: "I'm a little scared right now."
I guess that's one thing I miss about being a kid... we can be honest about the way we feel. When we're young, we are okay with not being "okay" all the time or trying to act like a "tough guy."
And somewhere in the course of life we lose that mindset. But as we grow older and face more challenges, tragedies and pain, we need to relive those moments of being honest with ourselves and with those around us who love us.
Inevitably, tough times will come. One second we're walking in the Happiest Place On Earth... and then we turn a corner only to come face to face with our own Barnstormer. Good thing there's a hand to hold along the way and a God that doesn't change what He thinks about us when we get "a little scared."
But let me back up...
Dad never would have taken me-- his daughter, one of the loves of his life-- on that roller coaster if he knew it wasn't safe. He wouldn't have asked, he wouldn't have waited in line, he wouldn't have sat me down in the seat. He wouldn't have because I meant too much to him, because he loved me too much.
Now, Dad somewhat expected me to be scared. After all, it WAS my first roller coaster.
That ride was bigger than my three-year-old self. Wayyyy bigger. Dad was more than well aware of that. But he let me ride anyway. Why? Because it didn't matter if the roller coaster was bigger than me.... what mattered was that it wasn't bigger than him.
I think the difference between being a "little" scared and "a lot" scared was in my dad and me being on the roller coaster together. I mean, we didn't just share the same seat... we experienced the same ride.
We can expect to have that same relationship and experience with God when life throws at us twists, turns, bumps and hills.
I've grown some since that day in Disney. Were I to revisit the "Barnstormer," I'm sure it would feel a lot smaller than it did 15 years ago. It's a pretty cool moment when it comes; that is, when those roller coasters which once upon a time felt so huge are now only distant memories that bear a victory and not a fear.
I've had more than my fair share of even bigger roller coaster rides. Being 18, my earthly father will not always be physically right alongside me as I face changes and challenges. That's just a part of growing up. But I do know that my Heavenly Father will always be there. God doesn't promise that we can handle roller coasters on our own, but He does promise that together, we can.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
God knows that us being "a little scared" is worth everything that life's roller coasters can teach us. One may look too big, you may feel too small. But that's only for a little while.
Trust Him. He's not just along for the ride... He designed the track.
-Rachel
Goofy's "Barnstormer" was my very first roller coaster ride. It was a "mini coaster," which only meant that it was perfect in size for small children but big enough to match a young kid's spirit of adventure.When we noticed it while walking around in the park, Dad looked down at me and asked if I wanted to ride it. The way he tells the story, I was quiet for a short while then, with a faint smile, nodded my head.
We waited in line until finally it was our turn. Dad helped me fasten my seat-belt and then wrapped his arm around me so I could hold on tight.
They pushed a button and we were off. Dad says I just sat there the entire time, silent and still, gripping his arm and closing my eyes. When the ride slowed down and came to a stop, he leaned down to see if I was okay.
It was my most famous six words: "I'm a little scared right now."
I guess that's one thing I miss about being a kid... we can be honest about the way we feel. When we're young, we are okay with not being "okay" all the time or trying to act like a "tough guy."
And somewhere in the course of life we lose that mindset. But as we grow older and face more challenges, tragedies and pain, we need to relive those moments of being honest with ourselves and with those around us who love us.
Inevitably, tough times will come. One second we're walking in the Happiest Place On Earth... and then we turn a corner only to come face to face with our own Barnstormer. Good thing there's a hand to hold along the way and a God that doesn't change what He thinks about us when we get "a little scared."
But let me back up...
Dad never would have taken me-- his daughter, one of the loves of his life-- on that roller coaster if he knew it wasn't safe. He wouldn't have asked, he wouldn't have waited in line, he wouldn't have sat me down in the seat. He wouldn't have because I meant too much to him, because he loved me too much.
Now, Dad somewhat expected me to be scared. After all, it WAS my first roller coaster.
I think the difference between being a "little" scared and "a lot" scared was in my dad and me being on the roller coaster together. I mean, we didn't just share the same seat... we experienced the same ride.
We can expect to have that same relationship and experience with God when life throws at us twists, turns, bumps and hills.
I've grown some since that day in Disney. Were I to revisit the "Barnstormer," I'm sure it would feel a lot smaller than it did 15 years ago. It's a pretty cool moment when it comes; that is, when those roller coasters which once upon a time felt so huge are now only distant memories that bear a victory and not a fear.
I've had more than my fair share of even bigger roller coaster rides. Being 18, my earthly father will not always be physically right alongside me as I face changes and challenges. That's just a part of growing up. But I do know that my Heavenly Father will always be there. God doesn't promise that we can handle roller coasters on our own, but He does promise that together, we can.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
God knows that us being "a little scared" is worth everything that life's roller coasters can teach us. One may look too big, you may feel too small. But that's only for a little while.
Trust Him. He's not just along for the ride... He designed the track.
-Rachel
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
A Little Angel
My grandparents, who I call "Nana" and "Poppy," had five kids. My dad and his younger sister Jill shared a special bond. I've heard a lot of stories about Jill. She was really smart, so smart that her kindergarten teachers suggested she skip to the second grade. But she was more than just brains. She was fun.
My grandparents moved to a farmhouse when Dad was nine and Jill was six. There was a lot of land, which meant more space for animals. Dad had a horse named Cochise, and Jill called hers Sugar (but she probably spent more time spoiling her kitten, Carmel!). Some of my dad's greatest memories of living on the farm involve performing shows with his younger sister in the barn. They built their own stage with working spotlights, trap doors, and a curtain made from a bed-sheet. Dad recalls the friendly contest he and Kelly, the oldest sibling, would have over Jill. Sometimes, Jill was "Kelly's buddy," and other times she was "Matt's buddy." The rivalry never got too serious, but it was always a wonder who Jill was going to buddy with for the day.
Needless to say, everyone became well adjusted to the "country lifestyle." There were always things to do on the farm, but Dad found other ways to keep busy, like playing T-Ball for a summer league.
One Monday night in July 1978, Dad's team was matched up against the Vaughn Auctioneers, their biggest opponent. It was the bottom of the fifth inning and Dad was watching the game from the bench, bored (naturally). There was an ice cream truck across the street, and Dad escaped over to the bleachers where Nana was sitting and begged her for some money. Nana urged he focus on the game and get his butt back over to the bench, lest he forfeit a chance to get out on the field. He did as she said, and Nana then gave Jill and Kelly some extra dollars to go buy a cold treat.
It wasn't long thereafter when a loud noise turned heads toward the street. A red pickup truck disappeared behind the trees, and Jill's body laid motionless there on the ground.
The world lost an angel that day but Heaven gained one. In her six short years, Jill brought joy to all those around her. She loved God and was living proof of His love for us. Her favorite Bible verse was 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, of love, and of a sound mind." My dad's last memories of her are ones full of life. The day she died, Jill chose to be "Matt's buddy." In what precious hours she shared with my dad on that July 10th, the two of them played together and laughed.
The accident was decried by the local newspaper as "tragically avoidable," but Nana and Poppy decided not to press charges against the 26-year old man who killed their daughter. They thought making someone carry that burden was enough of a sentence, but Poppy was not content to move on without bearing witness to the power of God and His grace. It's a power that picks up where the weakness of being human falls short.
Poppy visited the man and, face-to-face, said he forgave him. Today marks 34 years that Jill has been gone, and this November she would have celebrated her 40th birthday. For my dad and his family, it could have been 34 years of bitterness, anger, hopelessness, and distance from God... But they have chosen forgiveness and experience the freedom that comes from His full restoration.
Understand that forgiveness is not forgetting or ignoring the pain, nor is it something that we wait until we feel like giving. If that was the case, our hearts would never be ready. Rather, it is a process that involves agreeing to live with consequences, releasing our right to vengeance, and depending on God for help.
You see, if we don't forgive, we are still bound by a weight to the exact same thing we're trying to get rid of. The LORD forgives us not because we deserve it but because of His grace, which supplies us with just what we need for the moment.
The Women of Faith "God's Goodness" Study Guide Series puts it like this: Mercy means not giving someone what they deserve. Grace is unmerited (unearned, undeserved) favor.
My dad has been working on writing a book about lessons he has learned from his life. With permission, I wanted to include an excerpt from the chapter about Jill:
Tragedy can destroy a family, ours was fortified. Loss can make one question their faith, we grew in ours. I would never pretend to indicate that Jill's death was a blessing; none of us would have chosen it given the option. But we weren't given the option, so the manner in which we approached our healing demonstrated where we placed our treasure.
Maybe you've been holding onto a grudge or a memory that has hardened your heart. Is there anybody you need to forgive, maybe not for their good but for your own? I heard someone say once that doing so lets go of all hope for a better past. You can't change what is already done, but you can change your attitude.
Today, choose forgiveness. Don't wait for tomorrow because, you never know, it might not come.
-Rachel
My grandparents moved to a farmhouse when Dad was nine and Jill was six. There was a lot of land, which meant more space for animals. Dad had a horse named Cochise, and Jill called hers Sugar (but she probably spent more time spoiling her kitten, Carmel!). Some of my dad's greatest memories of living on the farm involve performing shows with his younger sister in the barn. They built their own stage with working spotlights, trap doors, and a curtain made from a bed-sheet. Dad recalls the friendly contest he and Kelly, the oldest sibling, would have over Jill. Sometimes, Jill was "Kelly's buddy," and other times she was "Matt's buddy." The rivalry never got too serious, but it was always a wonder who Jill was going to buddy with for the day.
Needless to say, everyone became well adjusted to the "country lifestyle." There were always things to do on the farm, but Dad found other ways to keep busy, like playing T-Ball for a summer league.
One Monday night in July 1978, Dad's team was matched up against the Vaughn Auctioneers, their biggest opponent. It was the bottom of the fifth inning and Dad was watching the game from the bench, bored (naturally). There was an ice cream truck across the street, and Dad escaped over to the bleachers where Nana was sitting and begged her for some money. Nana urged he focus on the game and get his butt back over to the bench, lest he forfeit a chance to get out on the field. He did as she said, and Nana then gave Jill and Kelly some extra dollars to go buy a cold treat.
It wasn't long thereafter when a loud noise turned heads toward the street. A red pickup truck disappeared behind the trees, and Jill's body laid motionless there on the ground.
The world lost an angel that day but Heaven gained one. In her six short years, Jill brought joy to all those around her. She loved God and was living proof of His love for us. Her favorite Bible verse was 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, of love, and of a sound mind." My dad's last memories of her are ones full of life. The day she died, Jill chose to be "Matt's buddy." In what precious hours she shared with my dad on that July 10th, the two of them played together and laughed.The accident was decried by the local newspaper as "tragically avoidable," but Nana and Poppy decided not to press charges against the 26-year old man who killed their daughter. They thought making someone carry that burden was enough of a sentence, but Poppy was not content to move on without bearing witness to the power of God and His grace. It's a power that picks up where the weakness of being human falls short.
Poppy visited the man and, face-to-face, said he forgave him. Today marks 34 years that Jill has been gone, and this November she would have celebrated her 40th birthday. For my dad and his family, it could have been 34 years of bitterness, anger, hopelessness, and distance from God... But they have chosen forgiveness and experience the freedom that comes from His full restoration.
Understand that forgiveness is not forgetting or ignoring the pain, nor is it something that we wait until we feel like giving. If that was the case, our hearts would never be ready. Rather, it is a process that involves agreeing to live with consequences, releasing our right to vengeance, and depending on God for help.
You see, if we don't forgive, we are still bound by a weight to the exact same thing we're trying to get rid of. The LORD forgives us not because we deserve it but because of His grace, which supplies us with just what we need for the moment.
The Women of Faith "God's Goodness" Study Guide Series puts it like this: Mercy means not giving someone what they deserve. Grace is unmerited (unearned, undeserved) favor.
My dad has been working on writing a book about lessons he has learned from his life. With permission, I wanted to include an excerpt from the chapter about Jill:
Tragedy can destroy a family, ours was fortified. Loss can make one question their faith, we grew in ours. I would never pretend to indicate that Jill's death was a blessing; none of us would have chosen it given the option. But we weren't given the option, so the manner in which we approached our healing demonstrated where we placed our treasure.
Maybe you've been holding onto a grudge or a memory that has hardened your heart. Is there anybody you need to forgive, maybe not for their good but for your own? I heard someone say once that doing so lets go of all hope for a better past. You can't change what is already done, but you can change your attitude.
Today, choose forgiveness. Don't wait for tomorrow because, you never know, it might not come.
-Rachel
Monday, July 9, 2012
Remember Me
My family has a reputation on our street for being "the people always with a project." Whether it's adding on, finishing the basement, building a pond, planting trees, or doing other renovations, we enjoy it because of the outcome and because the whole family participates.
Years ago we replaced the carpeting in our family room with hardwood floors. After we took out the carpet, Dad and Mom let us kids draw underneath. We outlined each others bodies, drew pictures, and wrote messages in case someone in the future were to uninstall the hardwood or, for whatever reason, look under the floor.
The room turned out great! While our doodles are now covered up by the flooring, I know that they are still there. At times, I've thought about how neat it would be to tear apart just a few boards and see again what all we drew and wrote. But on second thought, I'd prefer to leave it there and let someone else enjoy uncovering that surprise.
I suppose you could say we've left our permanent mark. As long as the house is still standing, we will always be a part of it.
With our lives, we have the opportunity to leave a legacy. This is our temporary home, but we can use our time here to paint a picture or write a message for those yet to come. You never know who is going to be living in your home-- it could be family or strangers. So, why not keep something there for them to discover?
There's no telling who, when or for what reason someone will look under the floor. The influence you can have even after you're long gone is unimaginable.
I can promise your life will be remembered. What do you want people to say after you're gone? As long as the earth is still spinning, your footprint will remain.
"For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you." Philemon 1:7
Leaving a legacy is about so much more than looking back and seeing how we've changed the world with our life. It's about looking back at all the lives we've changed and then, in turn, watching those people change the world.
-Rachel
Years ago we replaced the carpeting in our family room with hardwood floors. After we took out the carpet, Dad and Mom let us kids draw underneath. We outlined each others bodies, drew pictures, and wrote messages in case someone in the future were to uninstall the hardwood or, for whatever reason, look under the floor.
The room turned out great! While our doodles are now covered up by the flooring, I know that they are still there. At times, I've thought about how neat it would be to tear apart just a few boards and see again what all we drew and wrote. But on second thought, I'd prefer to leave it there and let someone else enjoy uncovering that surprise.
I suppose you could say we've left our permanent mark. As long as the house is still standing, we will always be a part of it.
With our lives, we have the opportunity to leave a legacy. This is our temporary home, but we can use our time here to paint a picture or write a message for those yet to come. You never know who is going to be living in your home-- it could be family or strangers. So, why not keep something there for them to discover?
There's no telling who, when or for what reason someone will look under the floor. The influence you can have even after you're long gone is unimaginable.
I can promise your life will be remembered. What do you want people to say after you're gone? As long as the earth is still spinning, your footprint will remain.
"For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you." Philemon 1:7
Leaving a legacy is about so much more than looking back and seeing how we've changed the world with our life. It's about looking back at all the lives we've changed and then, in turn, watching those people change the world.
-Rachel
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The Hot Light
Before getting to Gatlinburg, you have to pass through another very cheesy town called Pigeon Forge. Even the name is enough proof that you can't take anything there too seriously. Go Kart racing tracks, showplaces, "As Seen On TV" stores, bluegrass music and "Honk if you love Jesus" billboards crowd the main street that stretches for maybe eight traffic lights.
Just before the eighth light or so, there is a small Krispy Kreme donut shop. This particular shop has a "hot light." You see it before you can even see the building, and it usually only comes on after 9pm. Invariably, when it is on, there is a long line of cars that continues all the way out to the main road. But trust me, the wait is worth it.
The hot light has a simple message: Krispy Kreme glazed donuts are fresh, hot and ready.
It has a simple warning: You will get fat.
This next part I can't explain. Whenever we drive near the building, it's like some natural force takes over and turns Dad's steering wheel into the line of cars. No matter how hard we try to avoid it, we just can't. Oh well.
The almost-best part is when you pull around to the drive-thru window and you get to look in and watch the donuts come out on a conveyer belt just after passing underneath what I call the "glaze waterfall."
Okay, that now leaves the best part. Eating. They literally melt in your mouth. I'm convinced God eats these things for breakfast!
I've learned the hard way that my stomach has a three donut max capacity. I would eat an entire box if I could, but as I said, I know my limit. Like most donut lovers, I've had Krispy Kremes before. They are good, but nothing compared to the ones you can get when the hot light is on.
Seeing the hot light and then getting our bakers dozen of fresh, hot donuts is always something I crave and look forward to when we go to Gatlinburg. Every time, my expectations are met: taste buds satisfied + tummy stuffed = road trip complete.
Sunday mornings are like a second "hot light" for me. I can't wait for Sundays. I absolutely love going to church, and every time I walk away "fuller" than I was coming in.
I think it is true for a lot of us that we come out of church on Sunday as if we just bought a bakers dozen of delicious Krispy Kreme donuts. Our faith is fresh and we want more and more of Jesus. Sunday mornings become something we look forward to, mainly because of how good or full we feel afterward.
Hello, Monday. You eat a left-over Krispy Kreme or two for breakfast but they don't taste anything like they did yesterday. They are stale and simply not as good.
Spiritually, getting through the week is tough. Sunday's message may still be in our mind, but often our busy schedules become a distraction and a playing ground for temptations. Enough of the "Super Sunday Spirit" will usually spill into Monday and maybe even Tuesday. Come Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, the heart can get dried up. Satan knows not to spend as much time attacking us on Sundays because our faith "hot light" is on.
The Bible talks a lot about spending time with God daily. Here are a few verses of Scripture:
Then [Jesus] said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23
Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11
Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my door, waiting at my doorway. Proverbs 8:34
Turn on your "hot light" by cracking open a Bible and spending some time with God.
Your "faith buds" will love it.
-Rachel
Just before the eighth light or so, there is a small Krispy Kreme donut shop. This particular shop has a "hot light." You see it before you can even see the building, and it usually only comes on after 9pm. Invariably, when it is on, there is a long line of cars that continues all the way out to the main road. But trust me, the wait is worth it.
The hot light has a simple message: Krispy Kreme glazed donuts are fresh, hot and ready.
It has a simple warning: You will get fat.
This next part I can't explain. Whenever we drive near the building, it's like some natural force takes over and turns Dad's steering wheel into the line of cars. No matter how hard we try to avoid it, we just can't. Oh well.
The almost-best part is when you pull around to the drive-thru window and you get to look in and watch the donuts come out on a conveyer belt just after passing underneath what I call the "glaze waterfall."
Okay, that now leaves the best part. Eating. They literally melt in your mouth. I'm convinced God eats these things for breakfast!
I've learned the hard way that my stomach has a three donut max capacity. I would eat an entire box if I could, but as I said, I know my limit. Like most donut lovers, I've had Krispy Kremes before. They are good, but nothing compared to the ones you can get when the hot light is on.
Seeing the hot light and then getting our bakers dozen of fresh, hot donuts is always something I crave and look forward to when we go to Gatlinburg. Every time, my expectations are met: taste buds satisfied + tummy stuffed = road trip complete.
Sunday mornings are like a second "hot light" for me. I can't wait for Sundays. I absolutely love going to church, and every time I walk away "fuller" than I was coming in.
I think it is true for a lot of us that we come out of church on Sunday as if we just bought a bakers dozen of delicious Krispy Kreme donuts. Our faith is fresh and we want more and more of Jesus. Sunday mornings become something we look forward to, mainly because of how good or full we feel afterward.
Hello, Monday. You eat a left-over Krispy Kreme or two for breakfast but they don't taste anything like they did yesterday. They are stale and simply not as good.
Spiritually, getting through the week is tough. Sunday's message may still be in our mind, but often our busy schedules become a distraction and a playing ground for temptations. Enough of the "Super Sunday Spirit" will usually spill into Monday and maybe even Tuesday. Come Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, the heart can get dried up. Satan knows not to spend as much time attacking us on Sundays because our faith "hot light" is on.
The Bible talks a lot about spending time with God daily. Here are a few verses of Scripture:
Then [Jesus] said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23
Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11
Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my door, waiting at my doorway. Proverbs 8:34
Turn on your "hot light" by cracking open a Bible and spending some time with God.
Your "faith buds" will love it.
-Rachel
Friday, July 6, 2012
I Do
I’ve spent most of the day in the car, as my family decided to take a long-weekend vacation to our house in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. While on the road, we drove past a billboard with a picture of a man’s face, a phone number and the tagline “DIVORCE $475.”
So easy. How sad.
With just less than five Benjamins, a phone call and two signatures, a bond God intended to be everlasting is broken.
Now, I understand that when it comes to this subject, I have no qualifications. But, I will say that I have grown up in a family that stresses the value and sanctity of marriage. Us three kids all came after my parents were married, which in itself is an accomplishment considering today’s sex-crazed society. It is also my honor to announce that my parents will celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary later this month.
They have had more than their fair share of arguments, disagreements and frustrations, but they have pushed through. They are happy and, if I do say so myself, they make two pretty amazing parents.
I know if you ask them, they will tell you that they aren’t “hot” like they used to be. Time has taken its toll on both of them (and I’m sure we’ve added a few grey hairs…). Mom has more wrinkles and Dad’s gotten fatter, but they are still crazy about each other. Now that I’m older and don’t get all creeped out when they kiss, I love watching them express their affections.
But what is even more inspiring than the fact that they’ve kept their marriage for so long is how they’ve done it. They understand that the only way they can grow closer to one another is by growing closer to God. For you visual people, I’ve drawn a diagram. :)
A quick Google search revealed that 40-50% of first marriages in America end in divorce.
Today people neglect principles of love, compromise a promise and depend on happiness for marital success.
We’ve come to the point where when the going gets tough, we quit.
I can’t write this blog without referencing 1 Corinthians 13. I know it’s on the “longer” side, but the reading is worth it:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I think one of the big problems is that we get so caught up in the idea that we will fall in love when we “find” the right person. I’ve heard many sermons that talk about the flaws with this philosophy. Instead, we need to focus on becoming the right person. Think about it.
Infatuation fails, love does not. A marriage will work when the love between husband and wife is rooted in God’s love. The world has misconstrued what love means, but God’s word reminds us that it is an outward expression of His inner dwelling.
Marriage is a gift from God. It is a sacred union, a holy bond and a blessing that can last forever.
Do you believe it?
“I do.”
-Rachel
So easy. How sad.
With just less than five Benjamins, a phone call and two signatures, a bond God intended to be everlasting is broken.
Now, I understand that when it comes to this subject, I have no qualifications. But, I will say that I have grown up in a family that stresses the value and sanctity of marriage. Us three kids all came after my parents were married, which in itself is an accomplishment considering today’s sex-crazed society. It is also my honor to announce that my parents will celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary later this month.
They have had more than their fair share of arguments, disagreements and frustrations, but they have pushed through. They are happy and, if I do say so myself, they make two pretty amazing parents.
I know if you ask them, they will tell you that they aren’t “hot” like they used to be. Time has taken its toll on both of them (and I’m sure we’ve added a few grey hairs…). Mom has more wrinkles and Dad’s gotten fatter, but they are still crazy about each other. Now that I’m older and don’t get all creeped out when they kiss, I love watching them express their affections.
But what is even more inspiring than the fact that they’ve kept their marriage for so long is how they’ve done it. They understand that the only way they can grow closer to one another is by growing closer to God. For you visual people, I’ve drawn a diagram. :)
A quick Google search revealed that 40-50% of first marriages in America end in divorce.
Today people neglect principles of love, compromise a promise and depend on happiness for marital success.
We’ve come to the point where when the going gets tough, we quit.
I can’t write this blog without referencing 1 Corinthians 13. I know it’s on the “longer” side, but the reading is worth it:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I think one of the big problems is that we get so caught up in the idea that we will fall in love when we “find” the right person. I’ve heard many sermons that talk about the flaws with this philosophy. Instead, we need to focus on becoming the right person. Think about it.
Infatuation fails, love does not. A marriage will work when the love between husband and wife is rooted in God’s love. The world has misconstrued what love means, but God’s word reminds us that it is an outward expression of His inner dwelling.
Marriage is a gift from God. It is a sacred union, a holy bond and a blessing that can last forever.
Do you believe it?
“I do.”
-Rachel
Thursday, July 5, 2012
To China and Back
My younger sister, Sarah, just arrived home from a 17-day trip to China. She traveled half way around the world with 43 other delegates as part of the People to People Student Ambassador Organization.
I missed her. A lot. After her plane landed this afternoon, she spent the rest of the day showing us pictures and telling us stories of her China adventure.
It really is different there. Sarah said that Americans are treated like celebrities, and the people loved her "pale" skin and long eyelashes. She ate the same meal three times a day and rarely got a good night's rest because the beds were hard as rock.
One fun memory was when they visited the Great Wall. She and her friends came up with a contest to see who could rub the most people's bellies. (I guess it's a cultural thing, where you give someone a compliment by randomly walking up to them and rubbing their belly. Doesn't make any sense to me, but "when in China..." you know the rest.)
Of course, my competitive, stubborn sister crushed everyone else and boldly claimed 13 tummies as her victory.
She went on to share other stories: working with disabled students, spending time in an orphanage, watching Kung Fu artists, going into different shops, drinking tea, taking boat rides, riding trains, and much much more.
I'm so proud of her for going there with an open mind and anxious heart. It humbles me to hear her talk about how much more she appreciates living in America. We have it so good here. I can already tell, she is a different person. I traveled with People to People in 2006 to France, Italy and Greece. It was such a life-changing experience, so I know the incredible influence this trip had in my sister's life. She said earlier that China and the Chinese people will always have a special place in her heart.
God may not be "allowed" in that culture, so to speak, but China has a place in His heart, too. The Chinese are just as much His children as we Americans are. It blesses me to know that Christianity is slowly but surely finding its way into the Chinese culture. I'm so thankful for the brave missionaries who make the sacrifice to spread the gospel to a nation that so badly needs to hear the Good News. I sing with a lady on my church praise team whose son and daughter-in-law are missionaries to China. They are living in the States now but will be returning there in a few months, so please keep them in your prayers. They have a fairly-newborn daughter, so also pray that they remain in good health.
For Sarah and for other missionaries out there, I consider Genesis 28:15 to be a guiding verse of Scripture: "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land."
Isn't it awesome to know that, no matter where we are, God is with us! When I wrap my mind around that, "home" doesn't feel too far.
I'm not gonna lie, sending your best friend thousands of miles away is a bit nerve racking. My prayer was that God keep her safe, show her what she needs to see, and teach her what she needs to learn. He did!!
This world is a big place, but it sure is hard to feel small when the God of the Universe-- The Creator of All Things-- lives inside me.
-雷切爾
I missed her. A lot. After her plane landed this afternoon, she spent the rest of the day showing us pictures and telling us stories of her China adventure.
It really is different there. Sarah said that Americans are treated like celebrities, and the people loved her "pale" skin and long eyelashes. She ate the same meal three times a day and rarely got a good night's rest because the beds were hard as rock.
One fun memory was when they visited the Great Wall. She and her friends came up with a contest to see who could rub the most people's bellies. (I guess it's a cultural thing, where you give someone a compliment by randomly walking up to them and rubbing their belly. Doesn't make any sense to me, but "when in China..." you know the rest.)
Of course, my competitive, stubborn sister crushed everyone else and boldly claimed 13 tummies as her victory.
She went on to share other stories: working with disabled students, spending time in an orphanage, watching Kung Fu artists, going into different shops, drinking tea, taking boat rides, riding trains, and much much more.
I'm so proud of her for going there with an open mind and anxious heart. It humbles me to hear her talk about how much more she appreciates living in America. We have it so good here. I can already tell, she is a different person. I traveled with People to People in 2006 to France, Italy and Greece. It was such a life-changing experience, so I know the incredible influence this trip had in my sister's life. She said earlier that China and the Chinese people will always have a special place in her heart.
God may not be "allowed" in that culture, so to speak, but China has a place in His heart, too. The Chinese are just as much His children as we Americans are. It blesses me to know that Christianity is slowly but surely finding its way into the Chinese culture. I'm so thankful for the brave missionaries who make the sacrifice to spread the gospel to a nation that so badly needs to hear the Good News. I sing with a lady on my church praise team whose son and daughter-in-law are missionaries to China. They are living in the States now but will be returning there in a few months, so please keep them in your prayers. They have a fairly-newborn daughter, so also pray that they remain in good health.
For Sarah and for other missionaries out there, I consider Genesis 28:15 to be a guiding verse of Scripture: "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land."
Isn't it awesome to know that, no matter where we are, God is with us! When I wrap my mind around that, "home" doesn't feel too far.
I'm not gonna lie, sending your best friend thousands of miles away is a bit nerve racking. My prayer was that God keep her safe, show her what she needs to see, and teach her what she needs to learn. He did!!
This world is a big place, but it sure is hard to feel small when the God of the Universe-- The Creator of All Things-- lives inside me.
-雷切爾
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
A Rising Sun
Happy 236th Birthday, America! I always look forward to the Fourth of July, not just because of the fireworks, food, family and fun (which are all great!) but mainly because I love this country so so much.
My family has spent most of our Independence Days in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where the first parade in the nation takes place right at midnight! The downtown street is lined with people, and just before the parade starts, it's tradition to throw money out in the street for the kids. This was my favorite part. One time I came home with 8 dollars!
After spending so many holidays down there, you develop a strategy to collect as much as you can. Like paying careful attention to the grown ups' every movement. If they reach for their purse or pocket, chances are they're grabbing loose change to chuck in the street at just the right moment. Another trick... listening rather than looking. The smaller, less-valuable coins (i.e. the greatly hated pennies) make a lighter noise when they hit the concrete. Also, dollar bills are rare. But you can't be afraid to run into some shoulders chasing after Mr. Washington. It sounds kinda violent, but I promise, it's good, clean, competitive fun.
I played the "I'm a kid" card wayyy longer than I probably should have. Hey, free money...Why wouldn't I?! But now that I've unofficially graduated from the street, I get to enjoy what it's like on the sidewalk. Throwing the coins is great, although the looks on the kids' faces are priceless.
It's memories like these that are just a small part of why I love being an American. There's something special about it-- something you just can't find anywhere else in the entire world. We really are beyond blessed. I thank God everyday for my country and my freedom. But I know that the United States didn't come to be without a great cost. On the way home from lunch today, I saw a bumper sticker today that said "Land of the Free because of the Brave." A mere 'thank you' seems so insignificant in light of the sacrifice men and women make so we can live in happiness, worship as we please, pursue the American dream, and be free people.
If you study the Founding Fathers, it is more than evident that, in their writing the Constitution, they believed that a spirit of freedom was intimately united with a spirit of religion.
In short, liberty is not without divine providence.
2 Corinthians 3:17 says it best: "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
Today is about something so much greater than politics. It is about remembering where we came from to get to where we are. Now, don't get me wrong. I worry about our future as a nation. The headlines and some of the actions of our leaders are, at times, despairing and scary. I love my country so so much and I want to do everything I can to give my children and future generations the best life possible. But I have to remember that, no matter what happens, God is still on His thrown. He is our only hope, and we must, as a nation and as a people, turn back to Him lest we face His judgement.
At Sunday's church service, our pastor shared a quote from Ben Franklin: “The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”
Please remember to pray for America. Pray for our leaders; that they have wisdom to make the right decisions, integrity to uphold their convictions, and faith to trust God's provision.
To close, I'd like to share one of my most favorite moments in history.
It is recorded that on the final day of the 1787 Federal Convention, while the last members were signing the Constitution, Dr. Franklin marveled at a picture of the sun on the back of the President's chair. He then observed to a few members near him that it was a challenge for painters to distinguish in their art a rising from a setting sun. After the 39th name was signed, Franklin famously remarked, "Now, at length, I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting Sun."
This Independence Day, celebrate our nation's history. May God bless you and yours, and may God forever bless America.
-Rachel
My family has spent most of our Independence Days in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where the first parade in the nation takes place right at midnight! The downtown street is lined with people, and just before the parade starts, it's tradition to throw money out in the street for the kids. This was my favorite part. One time I came home with 8 dollars!
After spending so many holidays down there, you develop a strategy to collect as much as you can. Like paying careful attention to the grown ups' every movement. If they reach for their purse or pocket, chances are they're grabbing loose change to chuck in the street at just the right moment. Another trick... listening rather than looking. The smaller, less-valuable coins (i.e. the greatly hated pennies) make a lighter noise when they hit the concrete. Also, dollar bills are rare. But you can't be afraid to run into some shoulders chasing after Mr. Washington. It sounds kinda violent, but I promise, it's good, clean, competitive fun.
I played the "I'm a kid" card wayyy longer than I probably should have. Hey, free money...Why wouldn't I?! But now that I've unofficially graduated from the street, I get to enjoy what it's like on the sidewalk. Throwing the coins is great, although the looks on the kids' faces are priceless.
It's memories like these that are just a small part of why I love being an American. There's something special about it-- something you just can't find anywhere else in the entire world. We really are beyond blessed. I thank God everyday for my country and my freedom. But I know that the United States didn't come to be without a great cost. On the way home from lunch today, I saw a bumper sticker today that said "Land of the Free because of the Brave." A mere 'thank you' seems so insignificant in light of the sacrifice men and women make so we can live in happiness, worship as we please, pursue the American dream, and be free people.
If you study the Founding Fathers, it is more than evident that, in their writing the Constitution, they believed that a spirit of freedom was intimately united with a spirit of religion.
In short, liberty is not without divine providence.
2 Corinthians 3:17 says it best: "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
Today is about something so much greater than politics. It is about remembering where we came from to get to where we are. Now, don't get me wrong. I worry about our future as a nation. The headlines and some of the actions of our leaders are, at times, despairing and scary. I love my country so so much and I want to do everything I can to give my children and future generations the best life possible. But I have to remember that, no matter what happens, God is still on His thrown. He is our only hope, and we must, as a nation and as a people, turn back to Him lest we face His judgement.
At Sunday's church service, our pastor shared a quote from Ben Franklin: “The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”
Please remember to pray for America. Pray for our leaders; that they have wisdom to make the right decisions, integrity to uphold their convictions, and faith to trust God's provision.
To close, I'd like to share one of my most favorite moments in history.
It is recorded that on the final day of the 1787 Federal Convention, while the last members were signing the Constitution, Dr. Franklin marveled at a picture of the sun on the back of the President's chair. He then observed to a few members near him that it was a challenge for painters to distinguish in their art a rising from a setting sun. After the 39th name was signed, Franklin famously remarked, "Now, at length, I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting Sun."
This Independence Day, celebrate our nation's history. May God bless you and yours, and may God forever bless America.
-Rachel
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Save the Bunnies
You'd think we lived in a barn considering our animal history. We've always had a dog, and one time we had a cat, Elvis. Unfortunately, he had a pee problem. When we accepted the truth that either the leather sofa or the cat had to go, let's just say poor Elvis found himself lonesome that night in the local animal shelter. There's also been rats, fish, turtles, hamsters, and rabbits that have found a place in our lives.
Once upon a time I had two cute little grey bunnies. I wish I could remember their names, but I can't. Must be because I re-named them maybe a gazillion times.
I was gone at school one day when the painters came to spray the walls in our family room. The bunnies were living inside at the time. My mom (in her good, honest intentions) decided it would be best to set the cage outside on the front porch so the bunnies wouldn't become intoxicated from the paint fumes. I guess she didn't consider the fact that it was one of the hottest days of the year.
I would imagine I had a fun day at school and got off the bus in great spirits. But that all quickly changed when I took one look inside the cage and saw two, lifeless grey fur-balls. My bunnies were dead. I screamed and fought back the tears burning behind my eyes.
"MOMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
She, too, was shocked. She tried to explain, but it didn't matter. The only thought my distraught mind could process was that she killed them. Accident or not, they bit the dust and weren't coming back.
We buried them underneath the apple tree, where our other lost animal friends now rest in peace. I never forgot about my bunnies or their unfortunate end, but in time I was able to forgive my mom.
Now I'm older and laugh about the irony of her killing my bunnies as a result of trying to save them.
In sort of the same way, it breaks my heart to think about how many people unintentionally miss out on Heaven as a result of trying to live a good life and be saved from Hell.
Hell is real, my friend. It is where we all are headed and where we deserve to be because of our sinful nature. I honestly think that no one would genuinely want to go to Hell, but I do think that too many of us believe we can escape Satan's eternal company by doing things we should do and avoiding things we shouldn't do.
That's just not how it works. Being a good person or having good intentions doesn't get us a "get out of Hell free-card." The only way to really be saved is by God's salvation. We can't save ourselves, God knows that. So He gave us a Savior.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says it best: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
There's nothing wrong with being a good person, but are you living for the dot or for the line? The dot being our temporal time on Earth, the line being life everlasting with Jesus in Heaven. What have you got to lose? Without Christ, it's everything. With Christ, it's nothing. What have you got to gain? Without Christ, it's nothing. With Christ, it's everything.
Maybe you grew up in church or maybe you just show up for Easter and Christmas. Maybe you were baptized as a child or had your first communion. Maybe you wear a cross necklace or a WWJD bracelet. Those are fine, but going to church, doing church things, or wearing Jesus stuff has no meaning at all if you haven't prayed the prayer inviting Jesus into your heart. And yes, I mean an actual prayer that you say out-loud with your eyes closed. You can't just "naturally" become a Christian. Sorry if I'm bursting your bubble, but you just can't.
Don't put yourself on the porch thinking you'll save yourself because you are avoiding toxic fumes. You'll end up a dead bunny. There's only one hope for the future and only one path to safety... that is through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Think about it for a moment and search your heart. Have you given Jesus the invitation to save your soul? Are you really a Christian?
If not, consider joining the family. I promise it will change your life forever. If you'd like or feel led to do so, you can pray the sinner's prayer to receive God's free gift of salvation:
Dear Lord, I know that I'm a sinner in need a Savior. I believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for me and my sins on the cross. It is because of that sacrifice that I have hope. I desire to live a good life because of the eternal reward You have for me in Heaven. Please come into my heart. Thank you for the gift of your salvation. Amen.
If you have already prayed that prayer some time ago, I look forward to celebrating with you in Heaven. If you just prayed those words, get ready for the most amazing ride. If you feel that for whatever reason you can't right now accept God's gift, I will be praying for you. I hope you will. Like I said, you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
That is a pretty sweet deal.
-Rachel
Once upon a time I had two cute little grey bunnies. I wish I could remember their names, but I can't. Must be because I re-named them maybe a gazillion times.
I was gone at school one day when the painters came to spray the walls in our family room. The bunnies were living inside at the time. My mom (in her good, honest intentions) decided it would be best to set the cage outside on the front porch so the bunnies wouldn't become intoxicated from the paint fumes. I guess she didn't consider the fact that it was one of the hottest days of the year.
I would imagine I had a fun day at school and got off the bus in great spirits. But that all quickly changed when I took one look inside the cage and saw two, lifeless grey fur-balls. My bunnies were dead. I screamed and fought back the tears burning behind my eyes.
"MOMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
She, too, was shocked. She tried to explain, but it didn't matter. The only thought my distraught mind could process was that she killed them. Accident or not, they bit the dust and weren't coming back.
We buried them underneath the apple tree, where our other lost animal friends now rest in peace. I never forgot about my bunnies or their unfortunate end, but in time I was able to forgive my mom.
Now I'm older and laugh about the irony of her killing my bunnies as a result of trying to save them.
In sort of the same way, it breaks my heart to think about how many people unintentionally miss out on Heaven as a result of trying to live a good life and be saved from Hell.
Hell is real, my friend. It is where we all are headed and where we deserve to be because of our sinful nature. I honestly think that no one would genuinely want to go to Hell, but I do think that too many of us believe we can escape Satan's eternal company by doing things we should do and avoiding things we shouldn't do.
That's just not how it works. Being a good person or having good intentions doesn't get us a "get out of Hell free-card." The only way to really be saved is by God's salvation. We can't save ourselves, God knows that. So He gave us a Savior.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says it best: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
There's nothing wrong with being a good person, but are you living for the dot or for the line? The dot being our temporal time on Earth, the line being life everlasting with Jesus in Heaven. What have you got to lose? Without Christ, it's everything. With Christ, it's nothing. What have you got to gain? Without Christ, it's nothing. With Christ, it's everything.
Maybe you grew up in church or maybe you just show up for Easter and Christmas. Maybe you were baptized as a child or had your first communion. Maybe you wear a cross necklace or a WWJD bracelet. Those are fine, but going to church, doing church things, or wearing Jesus stuff has no meaning at all if you haven't prayed the prayer inviting Jesus into your heart. And yes, I mean an actual prayer that you say out-loud with your eyes closed. You can't just "naturally" become a Christian. Sorry if I'm bursting your bubble, but you just can't.
Don't put yourself on the porch thinking you'll save yourself because you are avoiding toxic fumes. You'll end up a dead bunny. There's only one hope for the future and only one path to safety... that is through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Think about it for a moment and search your heart. Have you given Jesus the invitation to save your soul? Are you really a Christian?
If not, consider joining the family. I promise it will change your life forever. If you'd like or feel led to do so, you can pray the sinner's prayer to receive God's free gift of salvation:
Dear Lord, I know that I'm a sinner in need a Savior. I believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for me and my sins on the cross. It is because of that sacrifice that I have hope. I desire to live a good life because of the eternal reward You have for me in Heaven. Please come into my heart. Thank you for the gift of your salvation. Amen.
If you have already prayed that prayer some time ago, I look forward to celebrating with you in Heaven. If you just prayed those words, get ready for the most amazing ride. If you feel that for whatever reason you can't right now accept God's gift, I will be praying for you. I hope you will. Like I said, you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
That is a pretty sweet deal.
-Rachel
Monday, July 2, 2012
Because
I was driving home listening to the radio when Tina Turner's song, "What's Love Got To Do With It" came on. Being in the car by myself, I probably sang along louder than I should have. Not only that, but I'm sure I also gave other drivers a good laugh with my goofy, pathetic dance moves.
"WOAH-OH-OH, What's love got to do with it? Got to do with it... Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?"
I guess considering the love-sick, sex-driven, heart-aching, instant-gratification world we live in, it's a legitimate question.
But to God and in His world, love has everything to do with it.
John 3:16, arguably the most popular referred-to verse in the Bible begins by saying, "For God so LOVED the world THAT..."
Love was the reason, and love was the answer-- the reason God sent His son to die a most painful death, and the answer to Satan's attempt to destroy the world with sin.
I cannot even begin to grasp how wide and how deep His love is for me. Within it is everything I could ever hope for, and because of it I have all I'll ever need.
It is so simple, but something so complex I cannot understand. It is multidimensional and yet constant; He is more than worthy of my heart, but I am less than deserving of His.
In the sixth grade, my teacher told me a story that I, to this day, remember. I'm not sure if the story was true, but nevertheless it had a strong message. It goes something like this:
There was a professor who, on the very first day of class, give his students an exam. He told them to take out a sheet of paper and prepare to respond to a question he then wrote on the chalkboard: "Why?" He gave no further instruction and answered no further questions. Students had until class was finished to turn in their paper. They were confused and hastily wrote down as much as they could and whatever they could that, in their opinion, effectively addressed the question. The science-minded in the room gave explanations to natural phenomena. The mathematics-minded verified formulas by writing out proofs. The humanities-minded suggested reasons for basic human behavior. The philosophy-minded offered existential rationales on the purpose of life. But one student turned his paper in within five minutes of being given the assignment. As the boy went to sit back down, the professor, curious, turned over the paper to see what was written. What he saw was just one, short sentence: "Because." The professor smiled.
God loves us. Why? Because. God sent His son to die for us. Why? Because He loves us.
Instead of trying to over-think His love, we need to just let ourselves be loved. We need to accept the simple "because" answer, because there is no rational explanation for his irrational love.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16
Love has everything to do with it.
-Rachel
"WOAH-OH-OH, What's love got to do with it? Got to do with it... Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?"
I guess considering the love-sick, sex-driven, heart-aching, instant-gratification world we live in, it's a legitimate question.
But to God and in His world, love has everything to do with it.
John 3:16, arguably the most popular referred-to verse in the Bible begins by saying, "For God so LOVED the world THAT..."
Love was the reason, and love was the answer-- the reason God sent His son to die a most painful death, and the answer to Satan's attempt to destroy the world with sin.
I cannot even begin to grasp how wide and how deep His love is for me. Within it is everything I could ever hope for, and because of it I have all I'll ever need.
It is so simple, but something so complex I cannot understand. It is multidimensional and yet constant; He is more than worthy of my heart, but I am less than deserving of His.
In the sixth grade, my teacher told me a story that I, to this day, remember. I'm not sure if the story was true, but nevertheless it had a strong message. It goes something like this:
There was a professor who, on the very first day of class, give his students an exam. He told them to take out a sheet of paper and prepare to respond to a question he then wrote on the chalkboard: "Why?" He gave no further instruction and answered no further questions. Students had until class was finished to turn in their paper. They were confused and hastily wrote down as much as they could and whatever they could that, in their opinion, effectively addressed the question. The science-minded in the room gave explanations to natural phenomena. The mathematics-minded verified formulas by writing out proofs. The humanities-minded suggested reasons for basic human behavior. The philosophy-minded offered existential rationales on the purpose of life. But one student turned his paper in within five minutes of being given the assignment. As the boy went to sit back down, the professor, curious, turned over the paper to see what was written. What he saw was just one, short sentence: "Because." The professor smiled.
God loves us. Why? Because. God sent His son to die for us. Why? Because He loves us.
Instead of trying to over-think His love, we need to just let ourselves be loved. We need to accept the simple "because" answer, because there is no rational explanation for his irrational love.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16
Love has everything to do with it.
-Rachel
Sunday, July 1, 2012
(never) Losing Power
It's a hot summer. Very hot. The temperature these last four days has been over 100 degrees, and forecasts show nothing but 90's and more sun headed our way. Earlier this week, I babysat three kids who live in my neighborhood. Needless to say I was more than relieved when they asked first thing I walked through the door, “Can we go
swimming?”
We spent nearly 4 hours at the pool in my backyard,
splashing each other under the bright sun and, most importantly, staying cool.
At 4:30, we got out and went back to their house for a late afternoon snack.
The two older siblings changed into normal, dry clothes right away but the
youngest, Kiera, waited until she finished her bag of Dorito’s.
I must not have noticed the sky getting darker outside and
the trees bending from the strong winds. Their built-in weather-alert system
alarm went off, and an automated voice interrupted the "Phineas and Ferb" episode
on TV.
“We are under a severe thunderstorm warning.”
As if on cue, the lights flickered and we lost power. I
heard Kiera scream from upstairs and I immediately rushed to her bedroom. She
was standing there
holding a flashlight underneath her chin. The entire room was dark, except for
her lit-up, wide-eyed face.
“I’m shaking I’m so scared!,” she said. After I helped her
get changed, I told her we were going to take shelter in the basement. She then
pointed the flashlight to her bed and hurriedly spoke, “Wait! My stuffed
animals!”
The seven of us stayed downstairs, and by that I mean
myself, Kiera, James, Shannon, Mr. Frog, Mr. Bear and Miss Pony. We had
flashlights and the comfort of each other. That was just enough.
The
power was out, the skies were dark, the wind was strong, the rain was loud… and
to a kid (or anybody, for that matter!), it was scary. Eventually, the storm did pass, along with our fear.
As humans, we will always face storms. But as Christians,we never have to worry about losing the Light, because He lives inside of us.
Everyday, we walk in the light
of His presence, as the Psalmist writes (89:15). With Him, there is no darkness. That's a pretty amazing thought!
I love what is said in Isaiah 60:19:
“The sun will no more
be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the
LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.”
God’s light is a forever-burning flame. Every time we glance
at the fiery sun or the brilliance of the moon, we are looking at the Light of
the World.
C.S. Lewis, among his many other talents, was a man who
sought after the heart of God. At age 15, Lewis became an atheist after growing
up in a Christian home. It was not until studying English at the University of
Oxford when Lewis slowly began to re-embrace Christianity. He went on to become
one of the greatest intellectual giants of the 20th century and
arguably one of the greatest Christian influences of all time.
He once famously said,
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only
because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
How true! With God lighting and leading the way, we not only see the world more clearly... we see it differently.
As much as Kiera loved her stuffed animals, so are we even more precious to God. When the storms inevitably come, we are the first thing He thinks
to protect, save, hold onto, and promise everything's gonna be okay.
God’s eternal light shines within our hearts, and no storm can
ever put out His power.
-Rachel
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Big Kid Now
Today is my 18th birthday. It's been quite a ride, although nothing short of amazing. I have been so blessed to see a lot and do a lot, thanks to God and my wonderful family who give me so many incredible opportunities.
I've also learned a lot. More than "a lot," rather. If there's one fact that has really been made clear to me over the years, it is that life goes on....and it moves pretty fast.
I think back to when I was a little girl and wasn't tall enough to ride the "big kid rides" at the amusement park. That seemed like such a huge deal to me, and sometimes I would stuff paper towels in the heels of my shoe so that I had the few extra inches needed to experience the coolest, fastest, most daring rollercoaster in the park. I can remember wanting more than anything to be old enough to sit in "big kid" church or order off the "big kid menu" or watch a "big kid" movie.
Now I am officially a big kid. And it's not all that it's cracked up to be.
Responsibilities are bigger, work loads are bigger. There's more stress and less "play," more things to get done, more deadlines to meet. There's taxes to pay, clothes to wash, rooms to clean, people to please, and not enough hours in the day.
Life is hard, and I'm told is doesn't get any easier. I believe it.
Why is it so easy for us to look forward to the "not yet", reminisce about "what was" and yet struggle to live in the "right now?" Right in front of us, the present moment becomes a memory of the past and all so suddenly we find ourselves in the future we hoped would arrive soon. It's kind of a paradox when you think about it.
With the knowledge that time flies by, so I have come to realize a secret to at least make life feel like it's slowed down: Embrace every moment as if it was a precious, extraordinary gift from God..... because it is.
With every thought, we should have an awareness of His presence and likewise a spirit of thankfulness.
Psalm 118 says "Today is the day the LORD has made, rejoice and be glad in it!" There will never be another day like today. Never ever ever. It's not just a "once in a lifetime" day, it's a "once in forever" blessing. Friend, that is HUGE!!!!
Picture this: There's a pirate searching for buried treasure on an abandoned island. He looks ahead as far as the eye can see and notices mountains in the distance. He wonders if the treasure lies somewhere out there, and he worries how he'll ever be able to scale those majestic walls to find the loot. The pirate then looks back as far as the eye can see and observes the calm, blue ocean that stretches for miles upon miles. He wonders if the treasure lies somewhere out there, cached deep in the sand. He worries how he'll ever be able to navigate the waters and doubts himself ever locating the chest's coordinates. If only the pirate would think to look down at his feet... because then he'd realize he's been standing on the "X" all along.
We already have the key to the buried treasure, only in order to open it we must unlock the present moment.
There's a passage of Scripture (Matthew 6:25-34) that addresses our natural flaw as humans: we worry.
Verse 27 reminds us that we cannot add a single hour to our life by worrying. So, we must believe the simple truth that God Takes Care Of Us!!!! He always has, He always is, He always will. He promises to do so for forever, and forever is a very long time.
The last verse of this passage summarizes its entire message: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (37).
In translation, embrace today. When we do, we play more, see more, laugh more, love more, learn more, and live more.... just as if we were a kid again. I'm convinced that a "child" still remains in every one of us. What if we viewed the world through that lens?
Growing old is no option. Growing up is.
-Rachel
Writers Note: We had a very bad storm yesterday and lost power until early this morning, so there is no blog for 6/29.
I've also learned a lot. More than "a lot," rather. If there's one fact that has really been made clear to me over the years, it is that life goes on....and it moves pretty fast.
I think back to when I was a little girl and wasn't tall enough to ride the "big kid rides" at the amusement park. That seemed like such a huge deal to me, and sometimes I would stuff paper towels in the heels of my shoe so that I had the few extra inches needed to experience the coolest, fastest, most daring rollercoaster in the park. I can remember wanting more than anything to be old enough to sit in "big kid" church or order off the "big kid menu" or watch a "big kid" movie.
Now I am officially a big kid. And it's not all that it's cracked up to be.
Responsibilities are bigger, work loads are bigger. There's more stress and less "play," more things to get done, more deadlines to meet. There's taxes to pay, clothes to wash, rooms to clean, people to please, and not enough hours in the day.
Life is hard, and I'm told is doesn't get any easier. I believe it.
Why is it so easy for us to look forward to the "not yet", reminisce about "what was" and yet struggle to live in the "right now?" Right in front of us, the present moment becomes a memory of the past and all so suddenly we find ourselves in the future we hoped would arrive soon. It's kind of a paradox when you think about it.
With the knowledge that time flies by, so I have come to realize a secret to at least make life feel like it's slowed down: Embrace every moment as if it was a precious, extraordinary gift from God..... because it is.
With every thought, we should have an awareness of His presence and likewise a spirit of thankfulness.
Psalm 118 says "Today is the day the LORD has made, rejoice and be glad in it!" There will never be another day like today. Never ever ever. It's not just a "once in a lifetime" day, it's a "once in forever" blessing. Friend, that is HUGE!!!!
Picture this: There's a pirate searching for buried treasure on an abandoned island. He looks ahead as far as the eye can see and notices mountains in the distance. He wonders if the treasure lies somewhere out there, and he worries how he'll ever be able to scale those majestic walls to find the loot. The pirate then looks back as far as the eye can see and observes the calm, blue ocean that stretches for miles upon miles. He wonders if the treasure lies somewhere out there, cached deep in the sand. He worries how he'll ever be able to navigate the waters and doubts himself ever locating the chest's coordinates. If only the pirate would think to look down at his feet... because then he'd realize he's been standing on the "X" all along.
We already have the key to the buried treasure, only in order to open it we must unlock the present moment.
There's a passage of Scripture (Matthew 6:25-34) that addresses our natural flaw as humans: we worry.
Verse 27 reminds us that we cannot add a single hour to our life by worrying. So, we must believe the simple truth that God Takes Care Of Us!!!! He always has, He always is, He always will. He promises to do so for forever, and forever is a very long time.
The last verse of this passage summarizes its entire message: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (37).
In translation, embrace today. When we do, we play more, see more, laugh more, love more, learn more, and live more.... just as if we were a kid again. I'm convinced that a "child" still remains in every one of us. What if we viewed the world through that lens?
Growing old is no option. Growing up is.
-Rachel
Writers Note: We had a very bad storm yesterday and lost power until early this morning, so there is no blog for 6/29.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The Boonies
My dad is a car aficionado. Let me just illustrate that statement: there are five members of my family (four of whom can drive), and we own seven cars. Now I'm no genius, but those numbers don't exactly add up. It only makes sense that he is a stickler for keeping any and all of our vehicles in top-notch condition, but especially his Infiniti FX.
I used to get so annoyed when we'd run errands or go places and Dad would park way, way out in what he calls "the boonies." It's the back part of the parking lot and, more descriptively, a lonely sometimes scary setting with no cars or people anywhere nearby. The walk from the car to the place you wanna get to feels like a mile, and I'd make sure to whine the entire way so Dad got a good taste of my irritation.
Every time, he'd give the same exact boring speech... "Rachel, my car is important to me and I don't want it to get dinged or clipped. So the safest, smartest way to avoid that happening is to park it where it isn't even at risk."
Blah blah blah. It was worse during the winter months when we had to trudge through snow and avoid slipping on icy streets. Those were the times when I really thought he was nuts.
But I guess it's true what they say, "you'll understand in time...."
God desires us to live as faithful, pure, righteous people. Considering today's culture, that sounds like a pretty hard thing to do. But it really isn't all that difficult. The danger is when we trust our own selves to maintain faith, purity and righteousness in tempting circumstances or situations, because the reality is that we just can't. We have an enemy who lurks about like a hungry lion, waiting for the right moment to trick us, try us and tear us down. Satan plays to our humanness because that's his only shot at winning. One of his greatest skills is to mess with our mind and convince us that we are strong enough to stand alone and still be firm in our convictions.
But we are not strong enough, at least not when we're by ourselves and betting on own moral margin to kick in when it should. Naturally, we push the lines; we cross the boundaries. We end up the very person we never hoped we'd be. And then we wonder how we got there.
The secret, then, to living faithfully, purely and righteously is to not even "park" ourselves where we are vulnerable to any damage. Yeah, it's not always the shortest, most convenient path but it's the most rewarding. It is also the safest, smartest way to protect our hearts, respect those around us and honor God.
I love the New Living Translation version of 1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Stay away from every kind of evil."
The Greek word apechesthe is used here, which literally means to "abstain" or "to keep oneself from." This is not just a caution but a command. We must choose carefully where we put our car because it affects us physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Physically, our bodies are "temples of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:13). God desires a pure heart and we should, too.
Mentally, our thoughts reflect who we are. Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think about whatever is "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy."
Spiritually, our faith should be an outward expression of His inner dwelling. Titus 2:11-12 says that it is the grace of God that "teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."
Think twice about where you park your car. It makes a difference and can save you a whole lot of pain and heartache.
I'm realizing the "boonies" aren't so bad after all.
-Rachel
I used to get so annoyed when we'd run errands or go places and Dad would park way, way out in what he calls "the boonies." It's the back part of the parking lot and, more descriptively, a lonely sometimes scary setting with no cars or people anywhere nearby. The walk from the car to the place you wanna get to feels like a mile, and I'd make sure to whine the entire way so Dad got a good taste of my irritation.
Every time, he'd give the same exact boring speech... "Rachel, my car is important to me and I don't want it to get dinged or clipped. So the safest, smartest way to avoid that happening is to park it where it isn't even at risk."
Blah blah blah. It was worse during the winter months when we had to trudge through snow and avoid slipping on icy streets. Those were the times when I really thought he was nuts.
But I guess it's true what they say, "you'll understand in time...."
God desires us to live as faithful, pure, righteous people. Considering today's culture, that sounds like a pretty hard thing to do. But it really isn't all that difficult. The danger is when we trust our own selves to maintain faith, purity and righteousness in tempting circumstances or situations, because the reality is that we just can't. We have an enemy who lurks about like a hungry lion, waiting for the right moment to trick us, try us and tear us down. Satan plays to our humanness because that's his only shot at winning. One of his greatest skills is to mess with our mind and convince us that we are strong enough to stand alone and still be firm in our convictions.
But we are not strong enough, at least not when we're by ourselves and betting on own moral margin to kick in when it should. Naturally, we push the lines; we cross the boundaries. We end up the very person we never hoped we'd be. And then we wonder how we got there.
The secret, then, to living faithfully, purely and righteously is to not even "park" ourselves where we are vulnerable to any damage. Yeah, it's not always the shortest, most convenient path but it's the most rewarding. It is also the safest, smartest way to protect our hearts, respect those around us and honor God.
I love the New Living Translation version of 1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Stay away from every kind of evil."
The Greek word apechesthe is used here, which literally means to "abstain" or "to keep oneself from." This is not just a caution but a command. We must choose carefully where we put our car because it affects us physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Physically, our bodies are "temples of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:13). God desires a pure heart and we should, too.
Mentally, our thoughts reflect who we are. Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think about whatever is "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy."
Spiritually, our faith should be an outward expression of His inner dwelling. Titus 2:11-12 says that it is the grace of God that "teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."
Think twice about where you park your car. It makes a difference and can save you a whole lot of pain and heartache.
I'm realizing the "boonies" aren't so bad after all.
-Rachel
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
White Board
Growing up, I had this five-foot long white board that leaned against the foot of my bed. Every night before Dad tucked us kids in, we all gathered in my room for "drawing time."
We'd pick a character for Dad to then draw on the board (it was usually one from a Disney movie). Some of my all-time favorites were Raja the tiger from "Aladdin", Flounder the fish from "Little Mermaid", and Terk the monkey from "Tarzan."
I was always amazed at how fast and accurately he drew any and every character we'd suggest. Understand that my dad is an IT guy, so his genes do not necessarily code for artistic abilities. With that being said, the pictures were never perfect but they were close enough that you could make out his intended subject.
Invariably, the character's head would be too big or a hand, too small. If that wasn't the case, Dad would run out of room on the board and consequently body parts would be missing. So, we'd all laugh and call it a night. In the rare case that Dad felt he needed to start the drawing over again, the second picture always looked differently from the first and still nothing completely like the original illustration.
I would imagine that the Disney animators spend a great deal of time outlining a character in their head before they put any ink to paper.
Likewise, the Bible tells us that God designed every component of our being and already had an image of us in His mind before we were brought to life. He is aware of our every detail, shade and shape. Psalm 139 talks about God "knitting us together in our mother's womb" and simply knowing His creation before the actual 'creating' part.
Were we to take the marker into our own hands and draw ourselves, the image (if we're lucky) may be good enough that others are able to identify it as "us." But no matter how hard we try, our picture cannot even begin to compare to God's original portrait. And just think, no two of His drawings are alike!
By humbling ourselves and giving the marker over to God, we accept the truth that anything we attempt to draw is merely a sloppy, flawed copy of His perfect picture. We need to live our lives trusting the Artist and His vision.
Consider this: You are a living, breathing God-designed masterpiece. The world is His art gallery, and none of His portraits are cheap. In fact, God paid the ultimate price with His son Jesus, who died a most painful death on a cross.
The picture He drew of you hangs on the front door of His heart. And it will never, ever be erased.
-Rachel
We'd pick a character for Dad to then draw on the board (it was usually one from a Disney movie). Some of my all-time favorites were Raja the tiger from "Aladdin", Flounder the fish from "Little Mermaid", and Terk the monkey from "Tarzan."
I was always amazed at how fast and accurately he drew any and every character we'd suggest. Understand that my dad is an IT guy, so his genes do not necessarily code for artistic abilities. With that being said, the pictures were never perfect but they were close enough that you could make out his intended subject.
Invariably, the character's head would be too big or a hand, too small. If that wasn't the case, Dad would run out of room on the board and consequently body parts would be missing. So, we'd all laugh and call it a night. In the rare case that Dad felt he needed to start the drawing over again, the second picture always looked differently from the first and still nothing completely like the original illustration.
I would imagine that the Disney animators spend a great deal of time outlining a character in their head before they put any ink to paper.
Likewise, the Bible tells us that God designed every component of our being and already had an image of us in His mind before we were brought to life. He is aware of our every detail, shade and shape. Psalm 139 talks about God "knitting us together in our mother's womb" and simply knowing His creation before the actual 'creating' part.
Were we to take the marker into our own hands and draw ourselves, the image (if we're lucky) may be good enough that others are able to identify it as "us." But no matter how hard we try, our picture cannot even begin to compare to God's original portrait. And just think, no two of His drawings are alike!
By humbling ourselves and giving the marker over to God, we accept the truth that anything we attempt to draw is merely a sloppy, flawed copy of His perfect picture. We need to live our lives trusting the Artist and His vision.
Consider this: You are a living, breathing God-designed masterpiece. The world is His art gallery, and none of His portraits are cheap. In fact, God paid the ultimate price with His son Jesus, who died a most painful death on a cross.
The picture He drew of you hangs on the front door of His heart. And it will never, ever be erased.
-Rachel
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Three Little Pigs
It's something that seniors spend weeks developing, something that administrators spend way too much time trying to intercept (always to no avail), and something that underclassmen anxiously anticipate with the end of the year. It's the senior class prank.
Okay, I admit that us riding bikes and scooters to school was rather wimpy. Hey, at least we kept it legal and had a greater following than the Class of 2011's flash mob! We had fun, played it safe and kept the principal happy... at least for the most part.
But nothing could top the three little pigs story.
Years ago, there was a graduating class that got a hold of three pigs and somehow managed to get them into school without being caught. They labeled the pigs "1, 2 and 4" and let them run loose in the building.
Needless to say, a great deal of time was wasted searching for pig #3. The seniors, nevertheless, were more than amused.
Teachers and staff expected to find four pigs because they were tricked by the students into thinking such was the case. I can only imagine the frustration in looking for something for so long and then realizing later that what they were searching for never existed. It didn't even matter how far or wide or high or low anyone looked, the cause was lost.
The world easily tricks us into thinking that we can find in things or people what only God is able to give. Looking to the world to meet our deepest needs or fill our deepest desires is a fool's errand. Doing so leaves us feeling even more lost, confused, dissatisfied and incomplete than we were before.
We lose energy, money and time in constantly searching for cures to our loneliness, sadness and pain. That's how addictions start-- drugs so we feel better, alcohol so we forget, pornography so our lusts are satisfied, I could go on.
Likewise, we lose purity, trust and faith in constantly turning to others for love and encouragement. That's how good relationships become destroyed and unhealthy relationships get started-- husbands are caught cheating on their wives, teenagers find themselves being sexually abused, girls let their boyfriends beat them, and parent-child interactions practically cease to exist.
What is it you are looking for in life? Chances are, it's something. Where is it you have been searching? Chances are you've had no luck looking around you, so how about looking up?
You will find everything you will ever need in Him. He has more than enough to give, and He does so freely and fully. Are you feeling unwanted? He will love you. Are you sad? He has happiness. Are you lonely? He has comfort. Are you scared? He says "don't be." Are you worried? He has peace. Are you hurting? He can heal. Are you broken? He's got glue. Are you burdened? He will give you rest.
The pureness, wholeness, and richness of His gifts cannot be found in any person or thing of this earth, so don't bother wasting your time in pursuit. Go to God. He's only a prayer away and a blessing ahead.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
There's good news for you, and that is God exists. He waits patiently, holding out hope you will find Him. When you do choose to seek Him first, you don't ever have to face the frustration of realizing later on that you wasted your life searching for pig #3.
And that, my friend, is a great feeling.
-Rachel
Okay, I admit that us riding bikes and scooters to school was rather wimpy. Hey, at least we kept it legal and had a greater following than the Class of 2011's flash mob! We had fun, played it safe and kept the principal happy... at least for the most part.
But nothing could top the three little pigs story.
Years ago, there was a graduating class that got a hold of three pigs and somehow managed to get them into school without being caught. They labeled the pigs "1, 2 and 4" and let them run loose in the building.
Needless to say, a great deal of time was wasted searching for pig #3. The seniors, nevertheless, were more than amused.
Teachers and staff expected to find four pigs because they were tricked by the students into thinking such was the case. I can only imagine the frustration in looking for something for so long and then realizing later that what they were searching for never existed. It didn't even matter how far or wide or high or low anyone looked, the cause was lost.
The world easily tricks us into thinking that we can find in things or people what only God is able to give. Looking to the world to meet our deepest needs or fill our deepest desires is a fool's errand. Doing so leaves us feeling even more lost, confused, dissatisfied and incomplete than we were before.
We lose energy, money and time in constantly searching for cures to our loneliness, sadness and pain. That's how addictions start-- drugs so we feel better, alcohol so we forget, pornography so our lusts are satisfied, I could go on.
Likewise, we lose purity, trust and faith in constantly turning to others for love and encouragement. That's how good relationships become destroyed and unhealthy relationships get started-- husbands are caught cheating on their wives, teenagers find themselves being sexually abused, girls let their boyfriends beat them, and parent-child interactions practically cease to exist.
What is it you are looking for in life? Chances are, it's something. Where is it you have been searching? Chances are you've had no luck looking around you, so how about looking up?
You will find everything you will ever need in Him. He has more than enough to give, and He does so freely and fully. Are you feeling unwanted? He will love you. Are you sad? He has happiness. Are you lonely? He has comfort. Are you scared? He says "don't be." Are you worried? He has peace. Are you hurting? He can heal. Are you broken? He's got glue. Are you burdened? He will give you rest.
The pureness, wholeness, and richness of His gifts cannot be found in any person or thing of this earth, so don't bother wasting your time in pursuit. Go to God. He's only a prayer away and a blessing ahead.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
There's good news for you, and that is God exists. He waits patiently, holding out hope you will find Him. When you do choose to seek Him first, you don't ever have to face the frustration of realizing later on that you wasted your life searching for pig #3.
And that, my friend, is a great feeling.
-Rachel
Monday, June 25, 2012
Chocolate Milk, Cheetos and Bingo
As a part-time job before I head off to college, I take care of a 91-year-old woman. Let me tell you a little bit about Mary.
She's the exact picture of a little old lady. Her maybe 100-pound body sits upright in a wheelchair, and her hands keep warm under a handmade blue-and-white checkered fleece blanket. She wears cataract glasses that darken in the sunshine, and always has a spare Kleenex up her sleeve. Her hair is white as snow and is kept out of her face by a pink butterfly clip. I'm pretty sure her teeth are false and that she smoked in her younger days, but I never asked. Her voice is very, very deep and, to be honest, it scared me the first time she opened her mouth.
She doesn't talk too much about her past or other things I would expect someone who's lived so long to recall (things like presidents, wars, or historic events). In fact, most of the stories she tells are simple memories about her family or her job as a school lunch lady.
I don't remember exactly how many years ago she said it was, but one day while working at school, Mary fell down the stairs and broke her hip (and she worked there till she was in her 80's!). That was the end of her career and the reason she's left in a wheelchair living with her daughter and son-in-law. Besides that, her health is great and her mind is quick as a whip.
For her, life is all about routine. She wakes up everyday around 8:30, has coffee with breakfast, then takes her morning meds. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the nurse comes to give her a bath. She has an afternoon nap, eats half a sandwich for lunch, takes regular bathroom breaks and, in the meantime, watches the animal world outside. She eats an early-bird supper and never misses the evening showing of "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune." At 8 o'clock sharp, she's in bed.
Mary can't wait for me to come. I get there everyday at 2:00pm and leave once her daughter gets home around 5:30. The first thing Mary makes me do is blow out the scented candle that the morning sitter lights. Mary says, "I hate that thing. Makes me sick." The next thing on the agenda is to read what she calls the "Bible," or her daily health journal that the morning sitter writes in before she leaves for the day. Invariably, after I read the entry out loud, Mary makes faces at the comments the previous caregiver writes and sums up her disgust with a, "She's crazy! Stupid book."
The days are slow, so to help pass time we drink chocolate milk, eat Cheetos, and play Bingo.
We each play two cards, and I've figured out that one game of Bingo lasts approximately 15 minutes. We usually will go for a good hour and a half, sometimes even two. She takes it pretty seriously but prefers we both win some and lose some. There are, however, days when Mary will win every single game. When I ask her how she does it, she always responds with the same expression and line, "I can't help it if I'm lucky."
Needless to say, she keeps me laughing and I keep her young. That's more or less the essence of our friendship.
I've asked her a few times about God, and she does believe in Him. She said she's a Christian and grew up going to church. She did tell me once that she prays every night and that God answers her prayers. She knows what she believes and no one, at this point, could convince her otherwise. For example, one time the chaplain came for a visit and Mary pretended to fall asleep so he would leave and not talk to her. That's pretty typical of her... playing jokes and doing things that make others laugh. But she's also full of wisdom and every so often throws out her two-cents worth.
She's told me how important it is to work hard, take good care of my family, and give back what you can to others. But I have learned even more from just watching her and listening to the things she doesn't necessarily "say."
I've learned patience. I've learned to slow down at times. I've learned to thank God more often for my health. I've learned to notice the birds. I've learned that laughter is, indeed, the best medicine. I've learned that simple stuff matters.
There's a quote from George Washington Carver that I just love. He said, "How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."
The best way for us to be "tender, compassionate, sympathetic and tolerant" is to look to and imitate the One who is perfect in His handling of us, the "young, aged, striving, the weak and strong."
God needs to be our number one priority and therefore a large part of our daily routine. There is so much He has to teach us, but we will only learn if we give Him the time of day He deserves. Sometimes, He may speak aloud to us. Other times, we learn best by watching Him work in our life or in the lives of those we know. Certain times, we learn by listening to Him in the silence.
Mary's voice scared me the first time because it was not what I was expecting to hear. Don't get yourself in that kind of a bind with God. Welcome Him with an expectant heart and learn to be in tune to His voice.
"But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom." Job 33:33
It's a rather simple principle: the more time you spend with God, the better your relationship is with Him.
That's how it has come to be with Mary and me. What we have is something special, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. True, there are a hundred other things I could think to do instead of sitting with her for nearly three hours every day, but she is too important for me to give her up. She tells me how much she enjoys my company and how much she misses me when I'm not there next to her.
What if we have that same attitude toward God? It's easy to come up with a list of stuff to do other than reading your Bible, but God should be too important in your life for you to skip spending time with Him. He misses you terribly when you leave or when you choose something else above simply being with Him.
I can see it now... one of these days, Mary and I will both be sitting with God at His table drinking chocolate milk while eating Cheetos and playing a game of Bingo.
What a moment that will be.
-Rachel
She's the exact picture of a little old lady. Her maybe 100-pound body sits upright in a wheelchair, and her hands keep warm under a handmade blue-and-white checkered fleece blanket. She wears cataract glasses that darken in the sunshine, and always has a spare Kleenex up her sleeve. Her hair is white as snow and is kept out of her face by a pink butterfly clip. I'm pretty sure her teeth are false and that she smoked in her younger days, but I never asked. Her voice is very, very deep and, to be honest, it scared me the first time she opened her mouth.
She doesn't talk too much about her past or other things I would expect someone who's lived so long to recall (things like presidents, wars, or historic events). In fact, most of the stories she tells are simple memories about her family or her job as a school lunch lady.
I don't remember exactly how many years ago she said it was, but one day while working at school, Mary fell down the stairs and broke her hip (and she worked there till she was in her 80's!). That was the end of her career and the reason she's left in a wheelchair living with her daughter and son-in-law. Besides that, her health is great and her mind is quick as a whip.
For her, life is all about routine. She wakes up everyday around 8:30, has coffee with breakfast, then takes her morning meds. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the nurse comes to give her a bath. She has an afternoon nap, eats half a sandwich for lunch, takes regular bathroom breaks and, in the meantime, watches the animal world outside. She eats an early-bird supper and never misses the evening showing of "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune." At 8 o'clock sharp, she's in bed.
Mary can't wait for me to come. I get there everyday at 2:00pm and leave once her daughter gets home around 5:30. The first thing Mary makes me do is blow out the scented candle that the morning sitter lights. Mary says, "I hate that thing. Makes me sick." The next thing on the agenda is to read what she calls the "Bible," or her daily health journal that the morning sitter writes in before she leaves for the day. Invariably, after I read the entry out loud, Mary makes faces at the comments the previous caregiver writes and sums up her disgust with a, "She's crazy! Stupid book."
The days are slow, so to help pass time we drink chocolate milk, eat Cheetos, and play Bingo.
We each play two cards, and I've figured out that one game of Bingo lasts approximately 15 minutes. We usually will go for a good hour and a half, sometimes even two. She takes it pretty seriously but prefers we both win some and lose some. There are, however, days when Mary will win every single game. When I ask her how she does it, she always responds with the same expression and line, "I can't help it if I'm lucky."
Needless to say, she keeps me laughing and I keep her young. That's more or less the essence of our friendship.
I've asked her a few times about God, and she does believe in Him. She said she's a Christian and grew up going to church. She did tell me once that she prays every night and that God answers her prayers. She knows what she believes and no one, at this point, could convince her otherwise. For example, one time the chaplain came for a visit and Mary pretended to fall asleep so he would leave and not talk to her. That's pretty typical of her... playing jokes and doing things that make others laugh. But she's also full of wisdom and every so often throws out her two-cents worth.
She's told me how important it is to work hard, take good care of my family, and give back what you can to others. But I have learned even more from just watching her and listening to the things she doesn't necessarily "say."
I've learned patience. I've learned to slow down at times. I've learned to thank God more often for my health. I've learned to notice the birds. I've learned that laughter is, indeed, the best medicine. I've learned that simple stuff matters.
There's a quote from George Washington Carver that I just love. He said, "How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."
The best way for us to be "tender, compassionate, sympathetic and tolerant" is to look to and imitate the One who is perfect in His handling of us, the "young, aged, striving, the weak and strong."
God needs to be our number one priority and therefore a large part of our daily routine. There is so much He has to teach us, but we will only learn if we give Him the time of day He deserves. Sometimes, He may speak aloud to us. Other times, we learn best by watching Him work in our life or in the lives of those we know. Certain times, we learn by listening to Him in the silence.
Mary's voice scared me the first time because it was not what I was expecting to hear. Don't get yourself in that kind of a bind with God. Welcome Him with an expectant heart and learn to be in tune to His voice.
"But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom." Job 33:33
It's a rather simple principle: the more time you spend with God, the better your relationship is with Him.
That's how it has come to be with Mary and me. What we have is something special, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. True, there are a hundred other things I could think to do instead of sitting with her for nearly three hours every day, but she is too important for me to give her up. She tells me how much she enjoys my company and how much she misses me when I'm not there next to her.
What if we have that same attitude toward God? It's easy to come up with a list of stuff to do other than reading your Bible, but God should be too important in your life for you to skip spending time with Him. He misses you terribly when you leave or when you choose something else above simply being with Him.
I can see it now... one of these days, Mary and I will both be sitting with God at His table drinking chocolate milk while eating Cheetos and playing a game of Bingo.
What a moment that will be.
-Rachel
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Un-bear-able
I was in big trouble. We were staying at our vacation home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and I had done something that really pushed mom and dad over the edge. I can't remember exactly what it was, but I do remember being sent downstairs to my room for the rest of the day... and there was still a lot of the day left to go.
It was the worst punishment, sorta like being stuck in some kind of asylum (okay, not that bad, but you get my drift). The rooms at our chalet were all so boring, since the idea was that they were meant to suit any guest or renter. I mean, they were nice rooms but not anything like my blue, cloud-painted bedroom at home with books, games, and clutter that could entertain for hours. There was just a bed, a closet, a lamp and a few pieces of furniture. Being stuck in an empty room was torture, especially considering I was at that stage in my life where patience hadn't fully developed.
Boy, was I headstrong. I slammed the door as hard as I could to make sure mom and dad knew what horrible parents they were for punishing me so cruelly over something so stupid. I threw myself onto the bed, beat my pillow a few times, and laid down facing the window opposite of the door so nobody would open it and see me crying.
Mom and dad left me alone and I felt every quiet, long minute. What was maybe a half hour felt like two. Part of me hoped that they would eventually knock, offer forgiveness and we'd all agree to start over. But my other half was bitter to the point I was planning an escape route.
Needless to say, it was one of my more melodramatic childhood days.
This next part I'll never forget. I was lying in bed looking out the window through my teary eyes when I saw it. I lost my breath for a quick second before letting out an ear-piercing scream. A big, black monster passed in front of the window just three feet away from my face! After I processed that the gigantic, grim creature was a bear, my mind started racing. My first thought was that only a thin sheet of glass separated me from the beast. My second thought was that it was hungry. My third thought was that I was going to die.
I jumped out of the bed and bolted out the door faster than a policeman could say "yes" to a doughnut. I flailed my arms and hollered, "MOM! DAD! SAVE ME!" all the way up the steps until I was finally safe in their arms.
We looked through a side window of the house and watched the bear walk down the driveway and away into the woods. It was gone... phew! I was alive... thank God. I was out of my room... success.
My punishment was called off thanks to the unexpected circumstance and to the sincere pity my parents had toward me, fearing for my life.
We all have days when we anger people we care about or do things that cause those we love to be angry back at us. As children of God, there are times when we upset our Father and, likewise, times when we feel mad at Him. Such is the reality and consequence of our humanity brushing against His perfectness.
God may choose to distance Himself for a while or become silent so that we learn a lesson. But His intentions are that of any good, loving parent. In our bitterness, we may react immaturely and slam the door of our heart as loud as we can. Yet there is a natural hope that He soon returns, knocking on the door with an offering of forgiveness. And He does.
But sometimes we run back to Him before He comes back to us. When we feel afraid or threatened by things of this world, we know that we can rush to and be held safe in His arms.
I may have been downstairs moping in my room, but I knew all along that mom and dad were close-by upstairs and that they still loved me even though I upset them. I'm sure they heard my feet pound up the steps, and they accepted me with forgiving hearts. God is the same way. He's upstairs, never too far away, and He hears us when we come running. He loves us, no more no less, even though we make mistakes. He welcomes us with open hands and forgets any unresolved anger.
Isaiah 41:10 says, "Do not be afraid for I am with you."
We can find peace in Him. As it is written, "Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders." (Deuteronomy 33:12)
If we listen to what our Father is trying to teach us in the silence, nothing becomes unbearable.
-Rachel
It was the worst punishment, sorta like being stuck in some kind of asylum (okay, not that bad, but you get my drift). The rooms at our chalet were all so boring, since the idea was that they were meant to suit any guest or renter. I mean, they were nice rooms but not anything like my blue, cloud-painted bedroom at home with books, games, and clutter that could entertain for hours. There was just a bed, a closet, a lamp and a few pieces of furniture. Being stuck in an empty room was torture, especially considering I was at that stage in my life where patience hadn't fully developed.
Boy, was I headstrong. I slammed the door as hard as I could to make sure mom and dad knew what horrible parents they were for punishing me so cruelly over something so stupid. I threw myself onto the bed, beat my pillow a few times, and laid down facing the window opposite of the door so nobody would open it and see me crying.
Mom and dad left me alone and I felt every quiet, long minute. What was maybe a half hour felt like two. Part of me hoped that they would eventually knock, offer forgiveness and we'd all agree to start over. But my other half was bitter to the point I was planning an escape route.
Needless to say, it was one of my more melodramatic childhood days.
This next part I'll never forget. I was lying in bed looking out the window through my teary eyes when I saw it. I lost my breath for a quick second before letting out an ear-piercing scream. A big, black monster passed in front of the window just three feet away from my face! After I processed that the gigantic, grim creature was a bear, my mind started racing. My first thought was that only a thin sheet of glass separated me from the beast. My second thought was that it was hungry. My third thought was that I was going to die.
I jumped out of the bed and bolted out the door faster than a policeman could say "yes" to a doughnut. I flailed my arms and hollered, "MOM! DAD! SAVE ME!" all the way up the steps until I was finally safe in their arms.
We looked through a side window of the house and watched the bear walk down the driveway and away into the woods. It was gone... phew! I was alive... thank God. I was out of my room... success.
My punishment was called off thanks to the unexpected circumstance and to the sincere pity my parents had toward me, fearing for my life.
We all have days when we anger people we care about or do things that cause those we love to be angry back at us. As children of God, there are times when we upset our Father and, likewise, times when we feel mad at Him. Such is the reality and consequence of our humanity brushing against His perfectness.
God may choose to distance Himself for a while or become silent so that we learn a lesson. But His intentions are that of any good, loving parent. In our bitterness, we may react immaturely and slam the door of our heart as loud as we can. Yet there is a natural hope that He soon returns, knocking on the door with an offering of forgiveness. And He does.
But sometimes we run back to Him before He comes back to us. When we feel afraid or threatened by things of this world, we know that we can rush to and be held safe in His arms.
I may have been downstairs moping in my room, but I knew all along that mom and dad were close-by upstairs and that they still loved me even though I upset them. I'm sure they heard my feet pound up the steps, and they accepted me with forgiving hearts. God is the same way. He's upstairs, never too far away, and He hears us when we come running. He loves us, no more no less, even though we make mistakes. He welcomes us with open hands and forgets any unresolved anger.
Isaiah 41:10 says, "Do not be afraid for I am with you."
We can find peace in Him. As it is written, "Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders." (Deuteronomy 33:12)
If we listen to what our Father is trying to teach us in the silence, nothing becomes unbearable.
-Rachel
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Live Laugh Smile
It was our last school night and for the first time, I was wishing summer would wait a while. I loved everything about being an eighth grader-- my teachers, my classes, my friends, my school and, most importantly, the privileges that came with being the "big kids" at the junior high building. In less than 24 hours, I could call myself a "high schooler." But to be honest, I wasn't too thrilled. I was happy just being in the eighth grade, and I was really going to miss it.
My younger brother Matthew and I are 11 months apart, which means that he follows one grade level behind me. The poor guy probably got so sick of listening to me talk about how great of a day I had at school, what all I learned, the jokes we told in history class, and how totally wicked awesome it was to be a Hopewell Junior upperclassman. Okay, I admit that I found pleasure in making him jealous, but part of me really did want him to be excited about moving up the academic social ladder.
Secretly, though, I was the jealous one. He was going to be in eighth grade, and I wanted to spend another year at Hopewell. I would have given anything to switch him places. Too bad life wouldn't let that happen.
Tomorrow would be my last day of junior high, and I wanted to make sure it would be a special memory. Mom took Matthew and me to Walgreens to pick out cards for teachers. I probably read through every "thank you" note in the aisle just to be certain that I chose the one with the best wording. Once I finally found it, I grabbed eight of them and met my mom and brother at check out.
After we got home, I locked myself in my room for the next hour or so writing long, detailed, personal messages to each of my teachers. When I finished, I came downstairs and noticed Matthew sitting at the table busy addressing his cards. I asked to see one, and he got this stupid grin on his face. I thought, "Oh lord, this is gonna be good."
The card had a picture of a pink flower on the front and cursive writing that read, "With deepest sympathy."
I opened it up:
"I am sorry for your loss. Someone so special can never be forgotten. As you move forward, may you find peace in the memories."
Matthew's short, simple, scribbled note followed in the space below:
"I know you'll miss me in class. But don't worry, I'll be here one more year. Signed, your favorite student."
Knowing Matthew, I guess I can't say I was too surprised. It was perfect, hilarious, and all the teachers loved it! (I bet that was a first for them)
My brother has the gift of making people laugh. He teaches me that I can't take life too seriously. God wants us to experience earthly joy so that we look forward even more to living in happiness with Him in Heaven. He designed us to be creatures that laugh and smile and delight in the world around us.
I believe wholeheartedly that God has a sense of humor. For one, He gave me blonde hair... and I KNOW He gets a kick out of my, how can I put this, less-intelligible moments.
Laughter is mentioned all throughout the Bible, and the word "joy" alone appears over 160 times. Clearly, God cares about how we feel, and He wants to replace our tears with laughter and our mourning with shouts of joy.
Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Life is too short to miss out on happiness, and happiness is an attitude we choose. Do you look for the bad things around you or are you a "glass half-full" sort of person? Do you look for someone's flaws or do you notice their good? When it rains, do you complain there is no sunshine or do you thank God for watering the flowers? When you lose someone you love, are you angry for the time you didn't have with them or grateful for the time you did?
Living a happy life starts by surrounding yourself with those who have a joyful attitude. When you laugh, you share the language of God and experience a little slice of Heaven. It draws us closer to Him and each other.
Some unknown author once said that "a smile is like tight underwear-- it makes your cheeks go up." (Did you laugh? It feels good, doesn't it?!)
-Rachel
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