Rachelle's Testimonies & Thoughts

SURRENDER when God picks you up!

2011-04-07T11:14:00.001-05:00

Many times the Lord will give me great pictures of His relationship to us. I sometimes cry, or smile, or just feel touched.... then my next thought is to WRITE IT DOWN. Most of the time, I either forget about it, or put it on my to do list --- which I never accomplish, and these sweet moments where God speaks to me (and I KNOW it could help others) get passed over and buried deep within my heart. Well, I sincerely want to share these things AND record them for myself and my future generations. So, today... before I do anything else, here is what the Lord showed me. I just cried immediately when He did it - it was so sweet. May you find comfort and blessings and most of all a relationship with Him if you do not presently have one. He is real, and He is your God and Lord and Savior too!

I was coming up to a stop light and noticed a man with a young boy getting ready to cross the busy intersection. My light had just turned red, and I was stopping behind the car in front of me, in the left turn lane. I immediately felt protective over their safety, and so I was scanning to make sure the intersection was safe, that the car had left enough room in the crosswalk, whose lights were on what signal, and where all the cars were.

I glanced at the father as he motioned for his child to start crossing the road with him. I am going to guess this child was either three or four years old, and he was riding his little three-wheeled push scooter across the road. It was clear the father was also scanning to make sure they crossed safely, and after just a few moments of them starting across the four lane intersection, it was evident that he did not feel it wise to allow his son to continue to cross the road with him trying to peddle on his little scooter - this was taking too long. Without any noticeable dialog, the man reached down, picked up his son in one arm and the scooter in the other, and hustled across the rest of the three lanes to get safely to the other side.

As the observer, I did not see any need to hustle as there were not many cars out, but as you know, timeliness in crossing the street is important (with right hand turns and unexpected drivers doing unexpected things), and so it was wise for him to hustle across. Even though there did not seem to be any reason for the man to pick up his son and force them across so fast, I imagine he perceived the possibility of danger, and therefore, quickly executed a decision to keep him safe.

Once he got to the other side, he sat his son down, gave him back his scooter, and they continued across a parking lot. As I was watching the little boy, push himself gleefully on his scooter, in front of his daddy, I started to cry. It hit me.

Before I came to the light, I was mentally in a conversation with the Lord regarding some issues in my life.

Well, when I saw this whole scene unfold in front of me, I heard, "Surrender. Sometimes I have to pick you up and do it my way to keep you out of danger, and then I'll set you back down and let you carry on in a way where you get to do it your way. But if you don't surrender, I cannot keep you safe. And, don't surrender kicking and screaming, just let me pick you up, carry you across, and then at the proper time, I will set you back down."

I imagine that little boy had no idea what was happening. In his little mind, he and his daddy were having an obvious outing and he was happily crossing the street, just like he was told to do, and then BAM! His dad picked him up, without warning, (the little boy was trying to hold on to the scooter) and carried him across, and only then did the little boy probably realize everything was okay when he got his scooter back.

Thankfully, that little boy did not throw a royal temper tantrum in the middle of the street or it would have been much more difficult for his father. And thankfully, his daddy was big enough and strong enough to handle him, even if he would have.

Can you imagine how big and strong God is compared to our biggest temper tantrums we throw when we are going along in our lives and suddenly we are picked up and disoriented. We did not see any danger coming. We did not do anything to deserve this kind of treatment. We have no idea why we cannot just keep going on the way we were going on. But, our Father knows, and He loves us and is constantly watching for our safety and our best interest. It's in His best interest that we get our best interest - because it all points back to Him and the kind of Father He is.

Surrender. Let Him pick you up and carry you. Don't fight Him. Surrender. He loves you.

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. " Isaiah 46:4 NIV

~Rachelle 4/7/2011 11:13am (a current day "Footprints" story)

Modern Day Abraham & Isaac Story - The Playground

2011-03-27T20:52:00.002-05:00

We knew for Christmas we wanted to get our three children a backyard playset. When a stranger donated $1000 to us for the holidays, we felt this was our "playground money gift" from the Lord.

I had the check in my purse. We were on a routine visit for my husband's outpatient physical therapy. Our family decided to go to the inpatient floor to see if we could visit a friend's uncle who we heard was there. He had checked out already, but in the process the Lord orchestrated us meeting a different family. We tried to encourage them, and in the conversation, I had picked up on a few key words the mother said about their needs.

When we left, I felt the Lord impressing on my heart that we should donate our $1000 to this particular family. It sounded like they needed funds for food and gas while their 20 year old son was just beginning his journey of healing.

I presented this "feeling" to my husband and two daughters. We stopped in the hallway to discuss the details. Ultimately, we all concluded we needed to give the money. Our six and eight year old girls were willing to use the whole check and put their playground on hold.

We had so much fun getting healthy groceries and cashing that check and going back to the hospital to suprise them.

When we got back to the family, I let them know we had been blessed with some funds to purchase a playground, but after our initial meeting earlier that day, our whole family, including the girls felt the Lord speaking and the girls were willing to sacrifice getting their play center in exchange for blessing them with the $1000.

The mother and bigger brother both started to cry. It was then that she transparently told us that she had come that day to let her son know she could not afford to continue to come visit him in the hospital because she had not paid her car payments, did not have gas money, and was down to one can of food in the house. The injured son, was speechless and staring, and said, "We always have done nice things for people, like give them what they needed when it was our last. But, we've never had anyone do something like this for us. It really shows me that it [God's ways] really works!" I was so touched that God had used us to be His light to this family in a way that they saw Him! Clearly, this was the LORD's work here and it was truly a joy for us to see this in action.

Amazingly, the children have gone three months since then, and NOT once asked for or complained about giving up their playground.

So, yesterday, we were doing our budget, trying to find the money to try to purchase a playground for them again. I had talked with a neighbor friend who was also looking for a playground for her three children for the last three months, only to have the sets get sold before they could get to them.

In our search online, we found one that looked like a good fit for our neighbor. So, we called them and let them know it was online. After we looked some more and looked closer at the one we had told her about, my husband and I started to really like it as an option for our family. I was conflicted about what to do, because it seemed wrong to call about it after we had suggested it to our neighbor friend. Nevertheless, we had inquired, via email, about it along with many others. Fortunately, we got a response that the set had already been spoken for and the other person was coming today to make the purchase. So, I felt that issue was a nonissue.

However, late at night, we received another email that the other person had backed out and if we wanted it, we were next up! So, by this time, we really did want it and so replied that we did.

Today, we went to see it and make payment for it. On the way home, we told the children that we felt we were at a crossroads decision because we had already suggested this particular playground as a possibility to our neighbor friend when we did not really think we wanted it, but then how all the circumstances worked out, we got it. Even so, it seemed like betrayal.

Without us even having to give the scenario that we might want to rip this away from the children (who loved it and just played on it thinking it was going to be theirs), our eight year old daughter suggested that we give it to our friends! Both daughters and my husband were completely and nearly automatically on board (once again).

Here are some of the amazing things the girls said as they reasoned this out with us:

-8 year old: "If it's harder to give away, then it's a bigger and better sacrifice and God will just love it!"
-8 year old: Even though it's hard to give it away, because we love it so much, it's the right thing to do.
-6 year old: I feel like God's telling me to give it and we will get one exactly like it or better
-6 year old: I did not know I was going to experience faith today.
-8 year old: Remember when dad made the benevolence game, and you said you'd give up your house, your car, and your whole world - and you won't even give up your swing set? (she was talking to our 6 year old who started to waiver back and forth. They had played this game on our 1 hour drive to see the swing set)
-8 year old: If we give away that playset, then maybe we'll get a bigger, better, more sturdy playset.
Dad asked: Are you just giving up the playset just to get a bigger, better one.
8 year old replied: No, because I like to give, it makes me feel good in my heart. (It is an understatement to say that she truly was the epitamy of a "cheerful giver". Excited, giddy, motivational, persuasive (to sister and mom who were waivering, etc).

By the time we arrived home, about an hour and a half later, we sat in the car and continued to debate. Mostly, this was me, because even though I KNOW we will get a return blessing(s) from the Lord, I was struggling because I have so much to do, and felt we have been so benevolent in this particular category and I just wanted to be content with this little $250 playcenter set.... and not pass it forward and then watch and see how we end up with something "bigger/better" later. I told my husband it was not a faith issue for me, it was a fatigue issue. I am tired and just want to move on to other things.

But, he encouraged me to see the bigger picture and that it was not about the playcenter, but about the training experiences our daughters are getting to be true givers, compassionate and thoughtful to others, and to watch God continue to work in our lives through our generosity to those around us. We are building their faith stories.

So, we started the van and went to our neighbor friend's house to let her know the exciting news that we had bought them a playground! She was going to get it for free!

Amazingly, she declined because she suddenly had received six replies to her ad (looking for one) and had more options than she knew what to do with. It also sounded like there was a particular one that they had their heart set on. So.... she thanked our family for "our kind hearts" and had to get in her van to leave (we had barely caught her)!
Our 6 year old said, "I knew God would give it back to us!", and she repeated her earlier statement that God had told her we'd get one exactly like it or better.

My husband made the analogy to the girls of Abraham and Isaac. God knew our hearts. We did not have to go through that process today for Him to say, "Now I know that you would sacrifice the swing set for me on my behalf." But, He took us through that so that we would understand how much we love God and what we would do for Him.

Today, the faith of our children, and us, grew a little bit more. One thing I love about this story, is we walked the path that ultimately led to peace. Peace in our home, peace with our neighbor friend (can you imagine how awkard if we did not offer and she did want it afterall but we got to it first), and most of all peace in my heart by setting it all out in the open and walking through it - no matter how painful. Because, if we had not done that, then assumptions would have been made by me, and these could have been footholds for the enemy in my mind.

Thank you Lord for your leadings in our lives, for your faithfulness in our provisions - always! Thank you for letting me "rest" with this playground. :)

-Rachelle 3/27/2011

6 Year Old Perspective on Giving Church Offerrings

2011-03-27T20:16:00.001-05:00

This morning in church, I wrote our pre-determined tithe check and remembered I had a $20 bill in my purse as well. I had received it for my birthday (over a month ago), and had forgotten about it until this moment. I felt compelled to give it to my six year old daughter to let her drop it in the offerring plate as it passed by. I gave our check to our eight year old daughter.

Later, in the car, when my husband asked if I had given our tithe (he had been in a men's classroom study), our six year old was excited to share with her daddy that she had also put in $20.

I said, "It was my birthday money. I decided we did not need it."

My 6 year old daughter replied, without missing a beat, "Yeah, we don't need $20, we need more!"

I found this really comical and precious to see her ability to think about giving completely differently than I was. She already understands that we cannot outgive God (Malachi 3:10). Even I was looking at giving the $20 as an altruistic sacrifice, and attempt to show my gratitude for the Lord's blessings in our lives, and show Him that I trust Him. She was able to look at the situation from the standpoint that I had made an investment! From her perspective, we had turned the $20 in to get back more! :)

-Rachelle 3/27/2011

Heed God's Warnings to Repent & Obey or Discipline MUST come

2011-02-03T18:17:00.001-06:00

We are in the middle of trying to learn more about God's love, His discipline strategies, and His character. I don't claim to have that all figured out - but I wanted to record today's impression I received.

People say, "God did not make you sick." or "God does not hurt His children." We wonder why then do we endure such physical hardships. This morning, in my time with the Lord, I read something that really hit me as an answer to this dilemma I have had. It basically said that God eventually turns us over to the evil side when we refuse to repent or obey (I am paraphrasing). This finally made sense to me. I know God is a just God and He cannot be just and allow His children to repeatedly disobey without any consequences - not for their sake or for the sake of others. So, though GOD is not the one that brought the specific hardship, it is possible, by our refusing to obey and follow in His safety and protection of our lives, WE have allowed ourselves to exit His safety and enter into the kingdom of evil. We are game for the devil's schemes. So, today, I have a greater understanding that GOD's WILL IS for us to be whole, strong, free of sickness and disease, unbroken AND spiritually saved AND at the same time, He MUST discipline us as His sons. We should not get discouraged when we undergo discipline or fight it with more rebellion, but rather draw close to Him and repent! Don't stay in the "WHY ME?" God? Ask, "WHY" and listen for your convictions - but confess, repent, and be free and walk obediently forward and receive His forgiveness, love, and blessing on your life.

Here's today's picture of this I believe the Lord allowed me to see (after the fact).

I asked our six year old daughter to go check with our eight year old daughter if she needed any help doing the dishes. I had just outlined the schedule for the day, and both girls were to help with the dishes, laundry, and pick up. I was in the middle of changing the laundry, and I heard my oldest daughter respond with, "Does it look like I need help?" I was a bit overwhelmed with the attitude and sarcasm that came from her and not sure what to do to help he not be so venomous towards her younger sister (this has been an ongoing problem I have seen develop over the last year or so - for no apparant reason this animosity toward her younger sister at random times - some may chalk it up to moodiness, I personally think it's the devil's schemes to divide and conquer).

I stopped what I was doing, went to the kitchen and explained how I'd like her to respond. I role played it for her and asked my younger daughter to ask again if she needed any help.

"Do you need any help with the dishes?"

Unfortunately, my oldest daughter still had her arms crossed, her head bent low with hateful eyes, and she murmured whatever it was I had told her to say.

I felt I needed to raise the bar and this response was NOT what I was after. I want the "heart" attitude to be peaceful and loving. So, I kept after her. I modeled again with cheerful inflection in my voice what I wanted her to say and how I wanted her to say it. I validated that even though she may not be happy, I wanted her to "fake it" and act out the part as I had given it to her (she had an acting class last semester so she understood what I was saying). I told her to pretend she had a marble in her mouth (which she cracked a smile to laugh and quickly caught herself) and say something like, "Sure. I'd love your help. Thank you for asking."

Now - I recognize myself in this situation. It is HARD to swallow your pride and respond in any way positively once you have made up your mind to be miserable and let those around you be miserable. However, as the parent, I needed her to obey my leading for her sake, my other daughter's sake, and for our home environment.

So, we tried it again. Still, eyes hateful, head bowed low, mumbled response. I immediately reacted and told her we needed to have a discipline. I took her to her room and her and I worked through it. In the end, she actually pointed out that I read the Bible and I don't do everything it says. This was said with a sincere and loving heart. It really hit my heart that my responsibility to model what I am expecting of her is SO great! (I took that comment as a discipline from God! - or we could say a "natural consequence")

When it was all over, it hit my husband and I that we had just experienced what we are reading in the Bible. MANY times, God gives His children warnings and instructions. He tells them over and over, this is what I want you to do. He begs them to repent. When they just won't do it, He must discipline them! This is what creates the justice that He has. This is the safety net for all His children. The discipline gets their attention that He is serious. The discipline also motivates them to take Him seriously the next time He tells them to do something (for their own good and the good of those around them). The discipline is what motivates them to follow all the rules of God, out of the fear of what could be.

The discipline can be painful and it is unpleasant for the parent to administer. This is why the warnings, the explanations, the teaching and training. But, when that is not working, the discipline must come.

We should not rebel against God when He disciplines us. And, we should not feel God does not love us when He disciplines us. After all, He has given us His WORD to live by. It is us who are choosing to hold onto our pride and ways and refusing to bend where He asks us to.

Not our will but His. It is in the bending that we truly find joy, peace, love, and rest. We don't have to have it our way. That only results in wasted time and energy on our part - and even can hurt those around us.

Scripture References:

Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you. Deut 8:5 NIV
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. Hebrews 12:10 NIV
Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. Job 5:17 NIV
Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law; Psalm 94:12
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline... Proverbs 1:7
My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke... Proverbs 3:11 NIV
For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life... Provers 6:23
He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Proverbs 10:17
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. Proverbs 12:1
He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Proverbs 13:18
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. Proverbs 13:24 NIV
A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. Proverbs 15:5 NIV
Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die. Proverbs 15:10
He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. Proverbs 15:32 NIV
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death. Proverbs 19:18
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15 NIV
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Proverbs 23:13 NIV
Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul. - Pro 29:17 NIV
Yet they did not listen or pay attention; they were stiff-necked and would not listen or respond to discipline. - Jer 17:23 NIV
I am with you and will save you,' declares the LORD. 'Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.' - Jer 30:11 NIV
They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline. - Jer 32:33 NIV
Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, for I am with you," declares the LORD. "Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished." - Jer 46:28 NIV
The rebels are deep in slaughter. I will discipline all of them. - Hsa 5:2 NIV
And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, - Hbr 12:5 NIV
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? - Hbr 12:7 NIV
If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. - Hbr 12:8 NIV
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. - Hbr 12:11 NIV
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. - Rev 3:19 NIV

RR 02/03/11

"I'll do it myself" Attitude vs "God, can you help?"

2011-02-03T17:27:00.003-06:00

This morning I felt the Lord show me myself, once again, through the example of our toddler.

He came into our room so frustrated, because he was trying to put his baby guitar in the carrying case. He had the large part of the guitar going into the large part of the case. However, the problem was, once it got inside, the neck was still sticking out and the case was upside down. In his frustration, he came in and asked, "Can you help?"

"Of course, I can help you!" I said cheerfully as I hopped out of bed to "rescue him".

This was the first we had heard or seen him. Our entire family had slept in (we are in the middle of a nice ice storm and are completely off schedule).

I actually suprised myself with my immediate cheerful response towards him. I saw what he was trying to do. I saw how frustrated he was. I knew the answer. I knew I could help them, and I was anxious to do so as soon as he asked.

I was able to turn the case around, put the smaller neck in first, and then let him zip it up (so he could feel he accomplished it).

That's scenario 1.

Scenario 2.

Not long after, he decided he was going to go outside to play in the ice/snow. He came into the room without a shirt and his winter coat on his arms upside down. He could not figure out how to zip it up. When I offered to help, his reply was, "No, I do it myself." He tried a little longer and at my persistance finally agreed to let me take if off him, put a shirt on (in which we went through the whole thing again as he wanted to button the top buttons himself until I was finally able to help him), and then put his coat back on.

Both of these scenarios were great pictures to me of myself and my relationship with God. I get an idea and try to accomplish it. Oftentimes, I become very frustrated as it is not working. When I go to God and ask, "Can you help?", He must be SO excited to jump in and intervene at my request. He can see the thing I am doing from an entirely different angle, it's a simple fix for Him, He can simply turn things around or add something to my situation to make it workable.

I also imagined the compassion He must have for me when I insist on doing it myself. He waits patiently for me to give in to His leading and availability to help. Many times, he jumps in and shows me He is there and when I finally just relax, let go, and let Him take over, my goals get accomplished much faster and with a lot less frustration.

So, whether your trying to put something in your life together the wrong way, or you have something backwards, don't wait until you are exasperated! Don't labor needlessly. Go to God and ask Him for help and then take your hands off and let Him lavish His love and wisdom on you.

If I can love my son this much, than I can imagine that God must love us even more! I should never be ashamed to come to Him for help. He knows I am limited in my knowledge and skills. He is eager to step in and assist - even when I have not said "Good Morning" to Him yet.

I did not hold it against my son that he just jumped right out of bed with a mission on his mind. Though I love when he wakes up and brings his pillows and blankets and jumps straight into our bed to snuggle, I understand he's just a toddler.

Scripture References Coming To Mind as I wrote this:

"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11 - NIV)

"God is our reguge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

RR 02/03/11

This IS what I signed up for!

2010-03-09T08:42:00.002-06:00

Over the last few weeks, I have had conversations with various people about our current situation (how difficult it is to manage all that has been thrown into my life after my husband's spinal cord injury July 15th). Two people finished my sentence with "like this is not what you signed up for." They were trying to empathize, so I do appreciate their listening ear and sentiment, but this phrase has been just replaying in my spirit with such uneasiness. This morning, at 3 am, I finally woke up with it needing to get out, so here it is!

I DID sign up for this. When I accepted Christ as my Savior and committed my life to His will, I signed up for this. When I accepted Scott as my husband, who is also a follower of Christ, I signed up for this.

I signed up to be vulnerable, available, and committed no matter what obstacles would come my way. I signed up to be a servant, for Christ and my husband. Now, maybe I do not like the circumstances, but to give myself the thoughts that "I did not sign up for this" is simply giving the enemy ammunition to make me believe that I don't deserve this, or that I am better than the circumstance around me, that I should have a backdoor plan B option to bail out, that I am not responsible, nor should I be held responsible for any of this. That is NOT of God, and I guess the lesson I would want my readers to hear would be this:

Be careful what you sign up for! You are NOT in control. We are at the mercy of God's will. All of us.

The good news is, because He is such a loving and God of grace, so omnipotent and amazing, when we obediently follow His ways and His Word, no matter whether we like it or not, He can do amazing things through those circumstances for us and others.

I write this lovingly, but boldly, as I just felt it needed to be said. After all, if the Holy Spirit is going to wake me up at 3 am, then I ought to share it, because it must be important to someone else too. God is no respecter of persons. He loves you just the same as He loves me.

May you find strength in Him as you continue on the journey He has set before you too. Don't bail out. Be strong and take courage in the Lord Jesus Christ! He IS your rock! He IS your refuge! His glory CAN be shown through you!

Lovingly,
Rachelle :)

A Mother's True Beauty

2010-02-16T08:58:00.001-06:00

The other day, Avery was snuggling up to me and told me how beautiful I was. I felt so loved and appreciated her sincere compliment UNTIL I caught a glance in the mirror later that day. My hair had not been brushed at all in at least an entire day and was thrown up in a crazy looking hairdo, I had not had a shower in days and really smelled not feminine, my face was dry, my skin broken out with acne here and there, I saw wirey gray hairs here and there not obeying the pattern of my pony tail, my clothes were tshirt and sweats... I just looked so horrible. I am not saying this to come across in some backwards vain way - what struck me was that she was seeing something completely different than what I was seeing. My mind has been so tainted by the media, the actresses, the magazine covers, the ideal girl and woman photos. My mind has also been so tainted with my negative issues about myself. Her mind is capable of seeing the beauty in who I am, how I am acting, God in me. Believe me when I tell you, I am NOT a saint and I most certaintly do not deserve her sweet comment all the time, but for whatever reason she saw my inner beauty - the beauty of Christ in me, and when I saw my physical self in the mirror later, I couldn't help but feel a bit puffed up that I had Christ in me - because there was no other way she could say "Mom, you are beautiful." Scripture says, "Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day...." Pretty cool.

Written 02/15/2010

God's Really the One Carrying the Load

2010-02-16T08:36:00.002-06:00

This morning, I was in the midst of a sweet time with our 23 month old son. He had just returned from the trip to take him to the nursery school, because he had "thrown up" his breakfast and we were not sure if he was sick, or just had an upset stomach. I met my carpool mom at the apartment and helped her take him and the carseat out of her SUV. I decided it would be safer, though a bit gross, to take Samuel out of his carseat and carry him with my left arm and carry the carseat with the other arm, my legs, and any other part of my body that could help me limp up the long walkway, into the apartment, through the foyer, up the elevator, down the long hall and into our apartment. Well, if you have ever carried a large booster/carseat, you can relate to how cumbersome and heavy these are. Add a 23 lb child in the left arm, and you might picture how awkard and tiring this was for me. By the time we got in the elevator, I decided it would be better to go ahead and let everything down on the floor and have Samuel walk (knowing his thrown up remnances all over his clothes were now going to flake off on to the floor).

So, when the elevator door opened on our floor, we waddled out into the hallway where I noticed Samuel confidently take hold of a little plastic part on the carseat. He was trying to help me carry this out of the elevator and down the hall. I started to tell him no thank you, that I had it. After all, it would be so much faster if I could carry the full weight at my full standing position, than me bending over to make him think he is really helping - when I knew full well, I was the one carrying the weight. I was just letting him think he was helping so he could grow in his confidence. My back was hurting, my arms were being pulled with the weight, but we proceeded down about 100 feet of the hallway.

Along the way, in addition to the sweet moment I was experiencing, recognizing how my little son wants to help his mommy, it hit me. I believe the Spirit of God showed me.

"Rachelle, this is the picture. This is what I do for you. You think you are helping me. You think you are carrying the load. Really, I can carry it all by myself to get where I am going, but I am letting you come alongside and grab a piece of the load and feel like you are helping. I am carrying it. You are not carrying it alone."

Wow! Powerful. Thank you God for your sweet voice and for carrying the load, AND for letting me a part of your master plans. :)

Site Purpose / Description

2009-11-06T13:03:00.001-06:00

As I am organizing my "God Stories" and thoughts, I am sharing them online for the Lord to use however He sees fit.

I want others to know how my relationship with God works, so they may glean wisdom (practical nuts and bolts) from my experiences (and I have been blessed to have quite a number of "tragedies" occur in my life that have led me to a deeper relationship with God that I do not believe I would have otherwise).

As a student of the Bible, I welcome your feedback if my theology is ever incorrect (according to the Bible).

To God be the glory! May all know God is real, proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and embrace the life God has planned for them.

Donate to Scott Rankin Medical Fund

2009-11-06T11:20:00.018-06:00

Thank you for your interest in helping our family with our financial needs during this adjustment period. Your generosity and support are greatly appreciated!

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A Hug From God

2009-11-06T09:16:00.001-06:00

This morning, after dropping all three children off at their schools, I was rushing into the apartment lobby to catch the elevator up to our home. We're paying $17/hour for a personal attendant for my husband, Scott, (who is currently recovering as a quadriplegic from an injury 3 months ago), and I only have a few short hours to do tasks that could take me weeks on end.

Joe was sitting in his usual spot, on the lobby couch, as the cheerful greeter to all who pass by him. (Joe is an older man who uses a walker and has a hearing aid. I would guess he is in his eighties.)

As I zipped past him, he smiled and waved, and I waved back and said, "Hello!". I walked just a few steps when I heard my thoughts, "Give him a hug."

"What?"

"Give him a hug."

"I am not going to give him a hug. He'd think I'm crazy. I hardly know this man. Oh.... this must be from God. I just need to do it. I never know what blessing will come about, or what God has planned. Obedience."

"Love."

So, I obediently, turned right around, walked over to Joe, said, "I want to give you a hug," and leaned over to give him a hug around his neck. When I did, that man's face lit up and he raised both arms and grabbed me into him, almost making me lose my balance, squeezing my neck so tight and giving me a big kiss on the cheek. He was saying things like, "Bless you." and "I love you." and "I'm a lonely man, I have no family, Thank you, etc." It was in this sweet embrace that I knew that the hug was not just for this old lonely man, but that God was giving me a hug too. He knows my heart's longing for my husband to hug me. He knows Scott's longing to hug me.

By my simple acts of listening, discerning, and obedience, this man was blessed, I was blessed, and my husband was blessed (by his wife getting a hug).

I will confess, Joe asked if I would sit with him and visit a while. I told him I could not (feeling a bit guilty that God may have been requiring more of me than I was willing to give up at the time), but got his apartment number, and I am hoping our family can make it a point to go visit him at times (now that the Lord has opened this door up for this relationship). Who knows what blessings are missed and how our actions truly affect the kingdom of God. We are all so intricately woven together in time and space.

* * * * * * *
Thoughts to ponder:

Are you listening to what your thoughts are telling you?
Are you able to discern God's voice, your voice, the voice of the enemy?
When you hear God's voice, do you obey - at all cost? Or do you also argue and even ignore.
How are you missing God's blessings for you and through you because you are not "taking captive every thought"?

Scriptures:

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:14

"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Luke 11:28

For Further Study:

How can you tell when it's God's voice telling you to do something?

Rachelle's Answer: The way I handle this: In short, I ask myself:

Does this please God?
Does this please me?
Does this please the devil?

When a "commanding" thought comes into my mind, and I become conscious of it (it's brought to my immediate attention), I ask myself filtering questions like:

If I respond or react in this way, is it in alignment with what I know to be true of God, Jesus, and what the Bible teaches? Usually if I have planted seeds of Scripture, a verse will come to mind to support the instruction. I will then choose to proceed by faith and in obedience. Not always, but many times, I am blessed to see the fruit of the obedience, as in the case today with the hug.

Is this something that I want to do, or does it require that I make some sort of sacrifice (physically, emotionally, humility, etc)? If it's something I do not want to do, and requires my sacrifice (time, humility, risk of embarrassment), and it is in alignment with God's Word, then I have learned to trust that it is most likely from the Lord.

Is this something that is what I want to do, but is at the expense of others, or would only serve me? If I answer yes to this question, then I need to NOT be obedient to this thought.

Is this something that would hurt others, in alignment with what the devil would prefer to hurt my witness for Christ or hinder the furthering of the kingdom of God? If I answer yes to this question, then I need to NOT be obedient to this thought.

Is this something I will be proud of later or will set me up to feel guilty later? This question has really helped me a lot. When I consider whether or not the action could lead me to later feel guilty, and I choose not to even take the chance, this is so freeing for later! I heard it years ago, and I believe there is a Proverb similar (unfortunately, I could not locate it on the spot, but am trusting the Lord to bring it to me so I can add it here later), "Do everything you can to be able to lay your head on your pillow at night without any guilt about what you have done that day." Taking it a step further, I sometimes remember to strive to do even more than required, so at night, in addition to not feeling guilt, I can also be proud of the service to my Lord that I may have contributed that day. For example, not only giving back the change that was wrongly counted back to me at the store, but initiating returning someone elses grocery cart that is hanging out in the parking lot.

"The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception." Proverbs 14:8

"A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways." Proverbs 21:29

"Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways." Haggai 1:5 & Haggai 1: 7

"I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes." Psalm 119:59

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." Jeremiah 17:10

"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." Matthew 16:27

"The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor." 1 Corinthians 3:8

Last thought:

By the way, I used to feel guilty about all the times I do NOT obey the thoughts in my head that I believe are from the Lord (because I am embarrassed, or doubt they are from him, or what-not); however, I have realized this is just another foothold from Satan... guilt!!! So, I now try to shake those times off, and work to be better the next time I have an opportunity, and consciously notice I am being spoken to. I have learned that God is going to meet His children's needs, whether I comply or not. It's an honor to be a part of His work, and be His hands, when I do listen, and usually I receive blessings too (inner joy, inner peace, etc.. all that good stuff)!