good stuff =]

ok, so i haven't exactly been on a mountaintop lately, but God has been showing me some important lessons. When he seems far away, He may be testing to see how your faith will hold out. but, don't ever stop!

something good i read last night -


“Did not our heart burn within us …?” (Luke 24:32).

We need to learn this secret of the burning heart. Suddenly Jesus appears to us, fires are set ablaze, and we are given wonderful visions; but then we must learn to maintain the secret of the burning heart—a heart that can go through anything. It is the simple, dreary day, with its commonplace duties and people, that smothers the burning heart—unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus.

This is so true! So often I get these visions of how i can serve Christ, and I have that burning desire to do his will, but when I get back to everyday life i forget, and ignore those things. We must learn to abide in Jesus at all times! That will take quite a bit of work, i pray we don't ever lose that desire!

another thing i read =] -

“He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

When you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur Providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.”

So often I look at somebody who is struggling and say "why would God allow that?" and we pray that he will take the pain away, but we must realize that God knows what is happening, and he not only knows what is happening, but what WILL happen in the future, he has it all under control. God uses tough situations so that people can do nothing but run to him!

Anyways, i just thought I'd share what i had been learning, I hope that was helpful to you as well!
praying for you!
Rachel

Blessings of Spring......

Lovely flowers show us God’s faithfulness...

If God cares so wonderfully for flowers...
won't He more surely care for you?

Matthew 6:30 TLB


Singing birds tell us of His tender care...


Look at the birds...
Your heavenly Father feeds them.
And you are far more valuable
to Him than they are.

Matthew 6:26 TLB


Soft rains remind us of His refreshing grace...


I will send down showers in season;

there will be showers of blessing.

Ezekiel 34:26 NIV


Sunny days reflect the light He brings...

I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows Me will... have the light of life.

John 8:12 NIV


All of spring proclaims the hope God gives our hearts!


See! The winter is past; the rains are
over and gone. Flowers appear on the
earth; the season of singing has come.

Song of Solomon 2:11-12 NIV

Thank you Lord!

Lord,
Thank You for the gift of HOPE
You gave us on Easter morning.
Because of You we know
that no problem is too difficult
and even death does not have
power over us.

Thank You for the gift of JOY
You gave us when You were resurrected.
Because of You we know
that no matter how challenging life may be,
in the end we will rejoice again.

Thank You for the gift of LOVE
You gave us when You laid down Your life.
Because of You we know
that there is no sin too great to separate us
and we are incredibly valuable to you.

Thank You for the gift of LIFE
You gave us when you left the tomb.
Because of Easter we know
this world is just the beginning
and we will spend forever in heaven with You.

We celebrate You, JESUS,
with hearts full of praise and gratitude
for who You are and all You've done for us!

Amen.

~~~Holley Gerth

Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keep You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going!

Pics from my grandpa's funeral....

IT IS STRANGE ISN'T IT...

Isn't it strange
how a dollar bill seems like such a large amount
when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange
how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, and so short when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange
that you can't find a word to say when you're praying but.. you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn't it strange
how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?

Isn't it strange
how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church?

Isn't it strange
how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last
minute?

Isn't it strange
how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others; but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange
how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say but...we question the words in the Bible?

Isn't it strange
how everyone wants a place in heaven but... they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

My Grandpa...

I haven't written on here in a while, but I have been extremely busy. My Grandpa went home to be with the Lord last Thursday. It was really unexpected, but we are all happy that he now gets to spend an eternity in heaven with the Lord, and all of his generation of family members. One of my fondest memories is when just two days before he died, he was playing a game of tag with us kids! He was literally running around the house! But his heart just gave up two days later. My Grandpa was a quiet person, but he was so wise! when he said something we all wanted to listen because we knew something good was coming! Another reason why I am so happy for him is because he now can again worship the Lord! He had al-timers, so he no longer could remember much of anything. So, now he is free to again be in fellowship with his Lord! So, this is not a time of greiving, but a time of true happiness! But, the funeral is this Sat. so if you all could remember us in your prayers as we have much to do. Also, for all those who will be traveling here. Thanks for all your prayers!
Rachel