Graduation Reflections

Graduation symbolizes the end. 
Years of accomplishments. 
Years of memories. 
Years of learning.

However, graduation is also a beginning. 
New school. 
New friends. 
New lessons.

Graduation is a time to remember God's call for each of us, no matter what age.

“Delight yourself in the LORD, 

and He will give you 

the desires of your heart.” 

Psalm 37:4

We are called to focus on our Lord. 
Seek Him continually. 
DELIGHT in Him.

Then our desires and priorities will be in line with His ~ to shine His supremacy and glory in EVERYTHING we do.

Then He will faithfully follow through by displaying the glory of His Name through our lives.

"Our life is a gift from God.

What we do with our life is 


our gift to God."

God has blessed each of us with gifts and abilities. It is our job to keep striving to use those all, solely, for His glory!

One step at a time...

Rachel <><

A Letter From Hell

140,000 people DIE. 


EVERY DAY.

Famine. 
Old age. 
Accident.

Here one moment, gone ~forever~ in the next. Souls so lost. People headed for eternity in hell.  

Listen to A Letter From Hell


I have listened to the above presentation many times.  The message rings clearly in my ears ~ flooding my mind throughout the day and keeping me awake at night.  The words clamor for answers.  Answers I'm not sure I want to face.

What do I truly believe?

"Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). 

"Jesus said, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6).

This is the reality.  This is the truth.  Without Jesus, people will be thrown into the lake of fire (hell).  They will be separated from God the Father FOREVER.  But do I believe this?

Everyday I come into contact with people who need to hear the good news of salvation.  God has placed them in my life for a reason.  Yet I often have my own agenda.  Often don't look on them with compassion.  Often block out God's prompting to share with them.

BUT I AM A CHRISTIAN!  I have a personal relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ!  Why do I hold back  from sharing that relationship with others?

Friends.  Neighbors.  Classmates.  Co-workers.  Enemies.
Why don't I tell them how to become Christians?

Do I truly care about them?
If I do, I need to tell them about Jesus... tell them how to escape the terrible torment they are headed for.
As they are, they are without hope.


Fire.

Pain.

HELL.

Why don't I tell them about JESUS?

  

One step at a time...
Rachel  <><

God's Provision

Through trials in our lives, God reveals His mercy and love in new, wondrous ways. In His wisdom, He allows each of us to come to the limits of our physical, mental, and emotional abilities so that we can experience His strength.

Daily trials cause weariness and discouragement because they show just how weak we are on our own strength. Sometimes the temptation to focus on the discouragement of our current circumstances is so great! Instead we need to focus on God's strength and provision in the midst of the trial.

Some of the most encouraging words to me lately have been spoken to me by my mom. Almost daily, she reminds me, “God will always provide you with the strength you need to do everything He asks you to do.”

As God has brought me through some taxing trials lately, He's shown me His incredible provision. He never asks me to go through any trial without providing the perseverance, strength, encouragement, and support to endure. Rather than becoming completely bogged down in weariness and disillusionment, I have been encouraged by these hardships. Only through them do I experience Christ's grace in a profoundly new way. And I am learning more about His character through this special time of focusing on Him.

No matter what I am facing right now, I know that I shouldn't become bogged down. I should focus on the love God poured out and the effort He exerted on my behalf. God knows far better than me what trials feel like. Yet He overcame them; He never gave up ~ never grew weary in doing good. He was victorious! So, I will choose to stand in His victory, thanking Him for choosing to work through me DESPITE my weaknesses.

One step at a time...

Rachel <><