Object Lesson....

A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says that Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons. One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture. Sally's friend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased with the overall effect she had achieved. The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such! force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target. Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall. Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced. Dr. Smith said only these words.... "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me. Matthew 25:40. No other words were necessary; the tears filled eyes of the students focused only on the picture of Christ.

Where we all struggle...

I was reading from My utmost from His Highest. Today's was so good! I knew it applied to me, and I know many have said they struggle with concentrating on God. So I'm going to paste some of it in here!

The great difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and it is His blessings that make it difficult. Troubles nearly always make us look to God; His blessings are apt to make us look elsewhere. The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is, in effect - Narrow all your interests until the attitude of mind and heart and body is concentration on Jesus Christ. "Look unto Me."Many of us have a mental conception of what a Christian should be, and the lives of the saints become a hindrance to our concentration on God. The very thing we look for, we shall find if we will concentrate on Him. We get preoccupied and sulky with God, while all the time He is saying - "Look up and be saved." The difficulties and trials - the casting about in our minds as to what we shall do this summer, or to-morrow, all vanish when we look to God.Rouse yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter if there are a hundred and one things that press, resolutely exclude them all and look to Him. "Look unto Me," and salvation is, the moment you look.

Isn't that awsome? That was really what I needed when I read it! I tell you this book hits every nail! I love it! ( although I am excited about the 1 Peter book! ) Pray for me as often as you can!
Rachel

A Few Prayer requests...

I give you permission to pray for me =). Actually I need you to pray for my attitude. It hasn't been the greatest latelly, and I know that there is absalutly no excuse, but my cold hasn't been helping the fact, and my leg problem isn't either. Just pray that I will start feeling better, and that I would be able to rest in God. If i'm resting in God my attitude will be right. So, keep me in your prayers... I would greatly appriciate it!

The Necessity of Prayer...

I have been doing a lot of studying on prayer lately. Prayer is so important! Even just the act of prayer shows faith, in that you are talking to someone you cannot see. I love the verse “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24) I have an awesome bible program on my computer which has a bunch of different Devotionals, Commentaries, dictionaries, bibles, bible studies... etc. It has a ton of books on the program. So I was reading from it the book " Necessity of Prayer" Its really good. The first chapter is all about how prayer and faith go hand in hand! Anyways, I love my new program. =)
Rachel

Struggles, struggles...

I was thinking lately how really it can be a good sign if you are struggling... it shows that you are wanting to grow closer to God. If you seem like you are coasting along than something is wrong. The more light you let out of a lantern the more dirt you see on the glass. So the closer you get to God, you see more and more things that you need to change. But, that is the only way to grow in your relationship with Him. So, if you are tired of struggling remember that it is the only way to get where you want to go.Praying that God will give you grace as you continue to struggle to become more like Him.
Rachel

Happy sweet 16 Anna!!!

Love you so much!! We are growing old =) lol... but it has been fun. I'm glad to have you as a friend.

Welcome 2008!!

Security from Yesterday. "God requires that which is past." At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise from remembering the yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God's grace is apt to be checked by the memory of yesterday's sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them in order to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual culture for the future. God reminds us of the past lest we get into a shallow security in the present.

Security for To-morrow. "For the Lord will go before you." This is a gracious revelation, that God will garrison where we have failed to. He will watch lest things trip us up again into like failure, as they assuredly would do if He were not our reward. God's hand reaches back to the past and makes a clearing-house for conscience.

Security for To-day. "For ye shall not go out with haste." As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, unremembering delight, nor with the flight of impulsive thoughtlessness, but with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays present irreparable things to us; it is true that we have lost opportunities which will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ.

Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him.

The simpleton and the fool....

Sunday night Renee and Jon's pastor was talking about the simpleton and the fool and the difference between the two. he was saying that a simpleton is a person who is very naive and someone who goes through life just kinda following the crowd not having any concept of the bad choices they are making. A fool is someone who chooses to turn their back on God and Make those bad choices. They know what they are doing, and they will argue to no end that they are not wrong. And he was saying that The simpletons can be reached and should be reached. But with a fool it is pointless to try to talk with them. you will be literally wasting your time. Their are many simpletons out there and it is our job to reach them. And then he was saying look at your own self. so you have the characteristics of a simpleton or a fool? I can't really remember all the verses and stuff he used but most were from proverbs and psalms... anyways, I thought the message was really good.