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Wonderful God

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 04:15:09 GMT

Beautiful is Your Creation; Glorious in every way;

You surround us with Your faithful Love;

And we can Trust in ALL You say!

Wonderful God, Wonderful, O God

You are Worthy of all Glory, all honour and all praise;

All to You O God, forever and always;

You are worthy of our worship, and worthy of our love

We stand in awe of all You are;

You are Love

You are Life

You are all Glorious.

I love this song. It so puts me in this place of remembering WHO my God is. As I sing I am reminding myself and bringing out the feelings deep in the core of my being.

My God is worthy of ALL I have to give. No matter what is going on in my life, good or bad, He is worthy of all glory, honour, and praise. Just because my circumstances seem to be leading me places I don't want to go (or just not going where I want fast enough!), just because God doesn't SEEM to be doing what I think He should be...HE is still worthy of all my worship and every ounce of love I have to give. Because:

He is love---I can deal with any unrequited love because God fills me up with His all-consuming love. He lavishes His love on me so that I can love others without fear.

He is life--I can handle any change in my life, any disappointment, any death of a dream, job change, move, loss, because HE is my life. Even when everything in my whole world falls...He never changes, and He sustains me. He is my life, and I know that He is good, so no matter what...Life is always good!!

He is All Glorious--Everything Good thing comes down from the Father in Heaven. He is the Alpha and Omega of all things. One of my favorite things about Phoenix, AZ is the sky. When I think of Glorious, I think of the beauty of AZ skies...gorgeous clouds, colors, and light. He is more beautiful than anything in the world. He is everything Good about our world and our lives. He is the all-encompassing GLORIOUS King!!

No matter what happens in my life....I will always sing praises to my God, the Love of my Life, the Life that I live, the Glorious End All Be ALL!!

Surrender

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 14:23:34 GMT

So this is what I'm learning about right now: Surrender. Coming face to face with the reality of the question, "Do I want what God wants for my life more than I want what I want for my life?" Am I willing to allow Him to do something that is outside of realm of my ideas for my life? (even my ideas of what He wants for my life.) Our Pastor has been preaching on this the last couple weeks. Last Sunday he talked about how one of the main hindrances to us fulfilling God's purpose for our lives...is our plans. Then last night he talked about how the way to live a life of ecstasy is to allow God to choose our life for us. See, that's the real kicker to me. God allows us to choose. He has a plan, an ultimate, wonderful plan for our lives...but He allows us to choose things that are not necessarily a part of it. He will work with our choices and still accomplish His plan...sometimes it is simply the difference between the good and the best. The question is will we choose for ourselves (good choices though they may be) or will we trust God to choose for us? (since He can choose what is best...) Will we trust His choice even when it seems to not be what we want, or what we thought He wanted for us? This question of whether or not I want God's plan for my life above anything else I may want is one that I think must be answered before God will tell us what that plan is. Because it's about trust...trusting Him. Trusting that He knows what He is doing, trusting that He loves me and is going to do what is best for me, even if right now it hurts. But to live a life that is totally surrendered to God....that is the only way to truly live a life of ecstasy. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 14:18:49 GMT

A few months ago we had a guest speaker who preached on "Gaurding the Faith...Can your faith take a no?" It was a great message and extremely timely at that point in my life. I can think of many such messages that I have heard, and even words that I have said through the years that have come to fruition in this last year, and last month. I have heard a lot of teachings on Abraham sacrificing Isaac...one of my old worship pastors, Angie, used to make a big point of the fact that Isaac was not just his son...Isaac was the son of Promise. When I was given the opportunity to preach my senior year of college, I studied the life of Abraham...and discovered some things that have profoundly impacted my life...and I keep discovering new layers to them. I noticed when I was studying that the first thing God says in Genesis 15 is "I am your very great reward..." But Abraham asks what God can give him since he doesn't have a son. So God promises him a son. Abraham was called a friend of God...how I want that to be true of me, so what did Abraham do? He believed God...and He sacrificed. Abraham believed God's promise, but he was willing to sacrfice that promise in order to be close to God. He came to the place where He realized that without God, the promise was worthless. The promise of God as his reward was more important than any other promise God had given him.

I've come to that place again and again it seems...where I feel I am laying my Isaac on the altar. Now I realize I was only going up the mountain. We always seem to think that the place we are is the hardest thing we will ever face...this is THE moment. Only to often find that there is more. I thought I knew what sacrifice was. I thought I was willing to give up everything for God...I thought what I had already given up was so hard it would be enough. And you know what's weird...because I had made the decision in my heart a long time ago, that I wanted God more than anything, that I wanted what HE wanted for me not what I wanted...I barely realized I was plunging the knife in until it was already done.

Now before you start to feel sorry for me..."Oh poor Rachelle who isn't getting what she wants.." Let me just tell you...I am getting what I really want. years ago I made a decsion that i wanted what God wanted for me. That I wanted to be the best i could be for Him...whatever it took. That i wanted Hiim to be the Love of my lfe. Now, when I made the committment..I didn't know what I would have to gve up, true...and if I had..I may not have made it. But I did make that committment, and I asked God to keep me to it, and not make what I wanted work into His plan but give me the strength to to do whatevr HE asked of me. and let me tell you...there is an increidible intimacy that comes when you find throgh expereince that God is all you need. That He is enough...when everything else is taken away. I am amazed that He has actally brought me to a place where I can watch Him give MY dreams to other people...and still say"God is good, God is just, God loves me." Life is hard, and it isn't fair sometimes...but I feel like I've finally crested the mountain of trusting God....that i now know He loves me, and that I love Him....even when He kills the promise HE made. Right now I know nothing...nothing but that God is good, God is just, God reigns, and He LOVES me!

Friday, March 10, 2006

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 14:25:15 GMT

Alright friends...the sickness and tiredness has made me susceptible to some attacks. Isn't it amazing how being tired can just send your emotions all out of whack?! And isn't it amazing how Satan will always take those times when your defenses are down to attack you...often in the very area we have made such strides in. I always find it interesting that when I feel I've discovered some great new Truth in an area, or I've talked with someone about what I've learned...I will struggle with that same issue. I've really been focused on teaching about fear and insecurity lately...I even started to write a blog about the difference between insecurity and humility (I just didn't finish it yet cause it's a huge subject...) and I've really been thinking alot about it.... Then once again, one of those lessons I was so sure I had learned...comes back to haunt to me. I'm amazed at how I can even fall away from things that I know. I know a lot of it is just being tired...sleep is a weapon!! But still, it makes me angry that I can fall prey to those same insecurities I was so sure I had conquered. I guess it just goes to show that having the knowledge really isn't everything...I know a ton of stuff that I don't live all the time. Oh to get to the place where that knowledge truly gets from my head to my heart and changes the very pulse of my life.... So now ya'll know, just like Joyce says...all the stuff that I teach, I know because I lived it. I've dealt with it, am dealing with it, am learning it and how to walk it out. Keep me in your prayers, and I'll share with you what I'm learning. Especially because I feel very strongly that this fear and insecurity thing is absolutely essential to combat and conquer in order for us to be all that God wants us to be. So we will continue to grow and learn together!!

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 17:18:36 GMT

Ok people. I hate being sick! I'm tired of being tired!! That's all I seem to be lately. I finally went to the doctor (I hate going to the doctor...how can they tell what's wrong with me in the five minutes they spend with me...) Anyway, she said I have a sinus infection compounded by allergies. So now I'm on this antibiotic that makes me feel just as bad as no medicine at all. Ah, well, hopefully it will be worth it in the long run...if it doesn't make me get well I'm going to be mad though! I suppose it would probably help if I actually took more than one day off at a time. I have such a bad habit of thinking I'm well so I go out and do stuff like I normally would, and then I send myself into relapse...ie..softball games this weekend! (But they were sooo fun! And Barb wasn't there, so I had to keep score...it was very important that I be there...hehehe!)

Anyway, I learn alot when I'm sick, cause I have more time to think...sometimes I think God does it on purpose to slow me down. I've also had a lot more fun this time around! I've read a couple of books that are super cool!! Anyone who likes to read, let me know...I've got some great books for ya!

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 14:11:14 GMT

Well, for those of you who haven't figured it out yet, I'm always quieter when God is teaching me a lot of things. I seem a lot more open than I really am...cause I always seem to be sharing something...but I'll let you in on a little secret , I usually only share what I have learned, stuff I've already gone through and completed...I'm often much more quiet about what I'm learning and going through at the moment. You know what the funny thing is...I keep learning the SAME things over and over again. Oh, there's always a new layer, a depth of meaning I had not gotten before...but still, it's the same lessons. I was talking with someone the other day and he said something about how we are the kind of people who get things right away. "We hear it, read it once, and then go out and do it." While I was flattered by this assessment of my smarts and my obedience, if I could have figured out a non-rude way to interrupt, I wanted to say "Whooaa, wait a sec....not me bub!" (but I still want "Some-o-dat"....I know, only Talena and Tiff got that, but I can't only say part of the line! I love Carman!) Anyway, for like the last week, I've just been thinking about how untrue that statement is (at least about me, the person who said it gets things faster than I do). I so don't get things right away. God has to tell me many times...in many different ways before the lights really come on. Oh, I may think I got it on the first try, and I will go out and do what I think is right...but so often I have done that only to later discover (after much more study and hearing of the Word) that what I thought was right and true, really wasn't. At least, it wasn't all of it. And the part that was missing, made a HUGE difference in the way I should have acted. One of the things I am learning tons of stuff about is humility. And so many of the lessons are ones I have been taught before, but they either didn't stick, or I just didn't get it compeletly. One of the biggest things I am learning is that there is always something more to learn. I will NEVER know or understand it all. Which means I must ALWAYS be willing to learn (even from people who I think don't have much to teach me), always be willing to admit that my world-view (my map (Scott Peck is so much better at explaining this than I am)) may not be grounded in the Truth, and therefore must be changed if I am going to live in reality. Because changing my map is such a scary thing, I must determine to be "dedicated to the truth..." no matter what it is. Well....I've probably confused people by now, cause sometimes I'm not the best at laying my points out logically...sometimes my brain gets ahead of my mouth (or fingers as the case may be). Anyway, so much else I'm learning, but God can tell it to you much better than I.

Just know this: God loves you, unconditionally, extravagantly, and uncomprehendingly. His plans for you cannot be ruined because you screwed up. God does not see sin as failure! He is not surprised by our sins!! God can even use our mistakes for His purpose! (Check out David and Bathsheba!) For that matter, look at me!

Love you all!!

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 15:02:24 GMT

Ok, I know I said no more seriousness...so I'm not going to say much, but I just wanted to let those who care know...I'm really learning alot of stuff. Once again, stuff I thought I knew, but find out I actually didn't, or at least not all there is to know of it. Particularly about love. Can you believe it...something that is actually deeper than I thought!! I thought I had a good grasp, and now I find I had only scratched the surface...I didn't really love, I only thought I did.

Kind of on the same subject: you know what annoys me..hypocrites! People who don't keep their word, or live what they preach. You know what stinks? At some point, all of us fall into that category, including me (see above). So I guess what really annoys me is people who won't admit their hypocrisy. But alas, I guess we can't all desire perfection. (Wait, we can...some just don't) Mediocrity annoys me. Settling....yuck!

Ok...enough griping! FUN!! I watched Everybody Loves Raymond last night. I love that show! He is hilarious!! I laughed so hard. It's really sad that I live alone, cause I talk to my TV all the time. Seriously, I think (as long as you aren't one of those must have silence while the show is on people) people would get a kick out of watching me, watching TV . Especially 24 (where I am constantly yelling at the STUPID people). So sorry Tiffany that you are having to watch that show without me. I understand your pain, and yes, some people really are that stupid. (I know, it's really sad, but hey, the writers had to think it up...and obviously people think it's believable)

Speaking of 24... all my 24 buds...is it just me, or is it still really hard to take Sean Astin seriously. (And yes, I was yelling at him about how stupid he was being...)

Well, that's my thoughts for now!

Monday, February 20, 2006

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 14:50:53 GMT

Once again, the Joyce Meyer daily devo hit the spot!

"I'm OK, and I'm on my way!"

Change in our lives does not come through struggle, human effort without God, frustration, self-hatred, self-rejection, guilt or works of the flesh.

Change in our lives comes as a result of having our minds renewed by the Word of God. As we agree with God and really believe that what He says in His Word is true, it gradually begins to manifest itself in us. We begin to think differently, then we begin to talk differently; and finally we begin to act differently. This is a process that develops in stages, and we must always remember that while it is taking place we can still have the attitude: "I'm not where I need to be, but, thank God, I am not where I used to be; I'm OK, and I'm on my way!"

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Phil. 1:6

We had a tremendous service last night...Pastor preached on admitting our sins and we had an incredible altar time...this goes hand in hand with this lesson to me. I cannot change what I don't admit too, but I cannot let my sins condemn me either. I must admit that I am a sinner, wretched and prideful, I must repent of those sins [turn from them with a broken and contrite heart] and then trust that God forgives me and His grace covers my mistakes, and walk in the knowledge that as long as my heart is tender towards Him, He IS going to change me!!

The funny thing is, after all of that, one of the things I feel I need to change...I need to be less serious. More fun! More fun, I say!! I need to be silly, and let others be not serious...Just relax and let God change us into who He wants us to be...stop trying to teach everyone lessons that perhaps they really do need to learn, but why am I so arrogant I think they must learn them from me? (Oh, wait, I'm a sinner..that's why I think that...) Well, I'm going to work on letting God change that in me. I apologize to all (some more than others) Please extend me grace while God works on me too! Grace, grace, God's grace!! (I'm singing in my head) Isn't it amazing!! Ok...enough for me, must get back to work. Next blog is going to be totally silly...promise!!

Joyce Meyer Daily Devo

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 13:24:05 GMT

Realistic Expectations

Unrealistic expectations concerning our life and circumstances can be a tool used by our enemy, Satan, to bring us into discouragement and despair. As long as you live in the deception of unrealistic expectations, you will never succeed at being yourself. Expect God to meet your needs rather than people.

Wow. This so amazed me this morning. On my way home from work yesterday (and throughout the rest of the day) I started really thinking about how much of my life I have wasted looking ahead to where I want to be instead of enjoying where I am. I think of Star Wars and Yoda talking about Luke Skywalker, "never his mind on where he was, what he was doing." I must admit that I am often like that. Aaron Baddley spoke on Sunday night about God having a plan for our life. A specific plan, not just a destination, but He has also planned the journey. And that is something I forget. He was talking about how five years ago he expected to have accomplished much more in his career than he has up to this point...he expected to be farther along the journey. But he isn't. And so he must recognize that God is in control, and believe that this is part of God's plan. It's always hard for me as such a goal setter and results oriented person, to think that NOT meeting my goals (in MY time table) is part of God's plan. And that even if someone (including me) in their free will chooses to go against God's plan, He is not surprised, He always knew what they would choose and already has a plan that includes that choice. Therefore I cannot allow my loss of faith in people, when they don't meet my expectations, to cause me to lose my faith in God and in His ability to accomplish His plan for my life. My new goal (new, it's not really new, God's been trying to work this out in me for the last year, I just keep screwing up and falling back into my old far-sighted ways) is to live each day in the palm of His hand. To live in the ministry of the moment. To use each day as He wants me to. To trust Him guide me in His will today, and to accomplish His plan for tomorrow. This isn't really easy for me (hence the fact I'm still working on it after a year) so pray for me! Thanks!

New Revelations

Tue, 14 Feb 2006 15:03:35 GMT

FOOTPRINTS...A New Version

    Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down
the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along
steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.

      But your footprints are a disorganized stream of
zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.

      For much of the way, it seems to go like this,
but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon
paralleling His consistently.

    You and Jesus are walking as true friends!

        This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing
happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now
walking precisely in His steps.

       Inside His larger footprints are your smaller
ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.

      This goes on for many miles, but gradually you
notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to
grow larger.

        Eventually they disappear altogether. There is
only one set of footprints. They have become one.

       This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the
second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all
over the place.   Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand.   A variable mess of
prints.
   You are amazed and shocked.

        Your dream ends. Now you pray:

        "Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags
and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on
through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You."     "That is correct."

      "And when the smaller footprints were inside of
Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very
closely."

       "Very good.. You have understood everything so
far."

      When the smaller footprints grew and filled in
Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way."

         "Precisely."

          "So, Lord, was there a regression or something?
The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first."

          There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a
smile in His voice.
        "You didn't know? It was then that we danced!"

This new version really struck me….it seemed to go right along with a message Kristie just spoke last Sunday. Kristie spoke on 2 Timothy 2:20-21, “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

Her main point was this: The choice is ours. WE can choose whether we want to be gold or something less. If we want to be gold, there are things we must get rid of, sacrifices we must make, Truth we must confront. And while God desires us all to be gold, useful vessels of great importance to His House, He allows us the choice. We can choose to keep some of those things we like about ourselves that need to go in order for us to be gold, and simply be wood, clay, or even silver. He will still use us, and He still loves us the same, it’s us who suffer. And this is how the “footprints” tie in:

See, at the beginning of our walk with Him, when we are not in line with His steps, He must do some teaching to get us on His path. We know Him as our teacher…and pretty much, only as a teacher. It’s hard to view someone who is constantly correcting you as a friend. (that is until you change your view of correction) But for most of us who don’t like to be wrong, we pretty much see God as “Teacher.” (This is what His disciples called Him during His time on earth.) Then, once we start walking in step with Him, things get a little easier, and we are able to see Him as our friend. The correction gets less painful, we begin to see its point, and we don’t need it as often. Our steps are in line with His. So many people stop at one of these two points, thinking that is all God has to offer. For those of us who choose to go beyond thinking of Christ as teacher and allow Him to grow us to the point where we consider Him a friend, we look back at those who are not willing to go through the process necessary to be closer to Christ and think how sad it is that they are missing out on our wonderful relationship with Him. And yet, God is still looking at us and thinking, how sad it is that we will settle for a friendship with Him, when what He wants is to DANCE!! To have the kind of intimate relationship with us that we think is only reserved for lovers. (and I guess, really it is) God wants to be our Lover. And I think the thing that struck me the most is this…God always wanted that! Even when we were back there only seeing Him as our teacher…He always saw us as His Lover. He always wanted that relationship for us and from us. His heart has always been set on the closest relationship He can get with us. It is us who have caused the distance. See, we must get our steps in line with His before that intimate relationship can be established. And some of us are never willing to do the changing necessary to be that close. We’d rather not deal with that. We would rather settle for friendship, and just be silver, than go through the painful purifiying process it takes to be gold. But only gold vessels can ever dance with God. Because the closer you get to Him, the more refined you have to be. Our nature cannot be in His Presence and not be changed. So the only way to keep those things in us that we like is to keep our distance from Him. And so many of us do that, sometimes without even knowing it.

Today is Valentine’s Day. And I for one commit myself once again to learning to Dance with my King. He is the best Valentine I will ever have, no matter who else He puts in my life. And I will never settle for being less than gold. Whatever I must give up, or change about myself…I will do. Whatever it takes, I want to see things the way God sees them, to understand the Truth of His love for me and others, to know Him better than I have before, to know Him as He wants to be known. I want to have the relationship HE longs for, not the one I am comfortable with…to please Him with everything I do and all of who I am. I’m going for the gold and learning to dance!!