RE: ~ The Journey ~

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AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (10/2/2006 9:05:38 AM)
Good Enough… I cried last night. For hours. He’s truly ‘fallen in love.’ … and I fearfully struggle to love. “You loved me the best way you knew how” he once said. It meant that my love was not enough for him. … and now again. Last night. Another conversation – a different man. “Small arguments are not a big deal,” I said. “Yes they are,” he said, “it shouldn’t be like this.” … and Satan gently whispered in my ear, You will never be good enough. I tossed and turned in bed… choosing to believe the lies. My love will never be good enough for any man. I will never be good enough for any man… When I awoke, Jesus softly whispered… “Come find the truth… ask me.” … and this is the truth: I was fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalms 139 NASB [13] For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. [14] I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. [15] My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; [16] Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. I was created to be a helper. Genesis 2 NASB [18] Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Some day, there will be a man who will see beyond my faults. Colossians 3 NASB [19] Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. … and through a great mystery, this man will love me and help me grow in Christ by not focusing on my faults… just as Christ loves his church. Ephesians 5 NASB [25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, [26] so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27] that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. [28] So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; [29] for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, [30] because we are members of His body. [31] FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. [32] This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. [33] Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. One day, I trust that I will discover my love is good enough… more than good enough. Colossians 3 NASB [12] So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; [13] bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. [14] Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Always, Rachel

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (10/11/2006 10:29:26 AM)
Hugs . . . ........ I love hugs. I am a hugger. I was at the jail last night... It was my first service all on my own... it went well. I hugged all of the ladies at least twice... they were all smiles. I love my time there... I love seeing God working in them - especially during the lowest part of their lives. I'm honored. So... it's a rainy day, and I 'm thinking about hugs. ..... Do we recognize hugs we get from God? Here are a few of them which happened in the last day or so for me.... 1. The look of real joy on my mom's face when I dropped off my feverish child at her house yesterday morning... and the excited chatter from both of them as I gently closed the door on my way out. 2. A woman walking home from dropping her child off at elementary school. A stray cat was trying to walk under her feet... and she was smiling sooo big. She couldn't resist picking up that cat and holding him. My heart smiled... because I knew it was God hugging that lady... and noticing that fleeting moment was a hug to me. 3. Feverish child is home again with my mom. We were instant messaging a little while ago. Very precious to me. I love her so. 4. A friend in Oregon. He emails me when he wakes up. We have a lot in common... it's so nice to connect with him throughout my day... some of the stuff he says... the way he is... it's like a hug from God for me.... and he will never truly know it. 5. Reading an online diary full of real life and inspiration. This special lady's entries are like hugs from God. 6. When people seek me out... when they want to really connect with me in any way... that is a hug from God for me. 7. When people trust me enough to share their lives with me... 8. When my boss tells me... job well done... even though I'm struggling and barely treading water here at work. 9. When I go to sleep feeling absolutely loved.... when I wake up knowing that God is excited for my day.... 10. Living my life. Love always, Rachel

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (10/12/2006 10:20:49 AM)
Ashes It was my first church service… I prepared the message… I found the music and the lyrics… I was the leader of the women’s prison church service this last Tuesday night. … my guidance came from God. It was a wonderful experience. We talked about David, the writer of the Psalms… about his life… about how he learned from his mistakes and moved forward. We talked about how God truly forgets our sins when we ask for forgiveness with a right heart. We talked about how Satan likes to remind us of past sins… and sometimes those reminders keep us from moving forward. The Holy Spirit was there… moving and using my simple message to speak to the ladies. I asked everyone to write down a sin that they already asked forgiveness for… or a sin they need to ask forgiveness for… “We are going to give them to God,” I said, “and he’s going to forgive us and forget our sins. We won't let Satan use them to keep us from moving forward.” We each placed them in an envelope and sealed them. There were no identifying marks on the outside of the envelopes. I placed them on the floor in the center of our circle. I spread them out with the toe of my tennis shoe… and it made me catch my breath. Tears started falling… I heard a sob. I asked the ladies… “How does it feel to see your sin here on the floor?” “Relief.” “Like I don’t have to worry about it anymore.” Tears were still falling… and God was working in their hearts. I explained that I was going to take the envelopes… and pray over them and give them to God. I was going to burn them… as a symbol that our sin no longer has a hold over us and we can move on. The women seemed thankful… they left the service with no less than two hugs from me. They were smiling… and walking in faith. .... Last night, my daughters and I took the envelopes outside… it was cold, windy… rainy. The weather was symbolic of how Satan tries to dowse our joy, faith and hope in Christ. We prevailed. We prayed over the envelopes… and we burned them. The envelopes were reduced to beautiful embers… then small dark ashes. We tossed them to the wind… and watched as they were carried away in the darkness… no longer to be remembered by God. It was a beautiful moment. One I will never forget. Love always, Rachel

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (10/18/2006 9:26:44 AM)
Answered Prayer… I love ‘going to jail’. I love the time I spend there with the ladies. Enough time has passed and they are starting to call me by name. They welcome me with joyous smiles and hugs… they are forgotten by the world – but alive in Christ. My experiences there continue to teach me valuable life lessons. The latest lesson… God can use me even when I am feeling drained and empty. I often remind the ladies that our walk with Christ is not an easy journey. We must not depend on our feelings at times… but instead, rely on our knowledge of Christ, and really dig into the word when we are feeling down and distraught. 1 Peter 1 NASB [24] For, "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, [25] BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you. … so even when I feel empty, I know that my God loves me, I know I am His child… I know I am living out His most excellent plan for me. I walked out of the jail last night feeling refreshed and full of the Holy Spirit. I am so very thankful for these small moments in my life… This morning, as I reflected back on my evening with the ladies, my heart smiled. God reminded me of a prayer I once prayed seemingly so long ago… “Lord Jesus, please help me to learn how to develop more meaningful relationships with women…. “ … most excellent! Love always, Rachel

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (10/30/2006 8:55:42 AM)
I Believe... We shook every hand and greeted them with smiles... making sure to look them in the eyes. We wanted them to know they were welcomed and loved. There were over 300 women in the first group. They were required to be there and sat in the bleachers under careful watch by the correctional officers... Some had been crying, others were sick because they were coming off of drugs, some were cheery and alive... They joined in singing I Believe I Can Fly, by R Kelly. Over 300 voices in unison... all full of hope... all acknowledging that they are not stuck... but able to overcome and move on. They listened to testimonies given by celebrities... and then were given a chance to talk about Jesus and ask him into their hearts... The final count: ... there were 2 groups of women... 600 in total. 123 women gave their hearts to Jesus for the first time. 220+ rededicated their lives. 31 volunteers walked out of that jail on a high which can be achieved by no drug. God is alive and well.... .... I am honored to live for Him. Love always, Rachel I believe I can fly I believe I can touch the sky I think about it every night and day Spread my wings and fly away I believe I can soar I see me running through that open door I believe I can fly I believe I can fly I believe I can fly October 28th, 2006 Cook County Jail Chicago, IL 10,000 inmates

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (11/20/2006 12:04:56 PM)
Thankfuls... ~ Love ~ Life ~ Laughter ~ Family ~ Cuddly dogs ~ Dwarf hamsters galore ~ Sunshine ~ Fresh air ~ Clear starry skies ~ Precious friends ~ Hope for the future Colossians 3 NASB [14] Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. [15] Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (12/3/2006 3:54:26 PM)
Weekend of Champions What a weekend. I flew to Dallas, Texas, to participate in a Weekend of Champions with Bill Glass. It was a blessing to travel with my prison ministry mentor. He is a coordinator for the Bill Glass organization. He has been going into prisons for more than thirty years. This spry little guy of 70 years old has a big heart for the lost. Over 1,000 people signed up to participate as team mates. Just over 500 were able to attend due to the icy weather and battles of spiritual warfare. There were 42 platform guests which were divided to perform at 13 jails and prisons. The staff, team mates and the platform guests united in Christ to reach over 10,000 inmates with the message of God’s love and hope for the future. We spent two days at CCA Bridgeport Pre-Parole Facility. It is a women’s facility which prepares inmates for their release. It is a more relaxed environment where the women are allowed to wear street clothes and can even buy yarn from commissary. It is known as the ‘Crochet Facility’ because of this freedom. The time spent there was wonderful. The women were able to lose themselves for a few moments while they enjoyed guests such as Matt Blagg, Frank Bower, Sandi Fatow, Amber Lee, Mike McCoy, Stephanie Miller, Zack Reynolds, and Billy Rogers. These performers volunteered their time to come in and encourage the inmates. Being able to see them was like sitting in on a private show for free. The women laughed, danced with broken joy, sang, clapped, shouted and wept. Many gave their hearts to Jesus for the first time and many more rededicated their lives to Christ. We encouraged them, we prayed for them and with them, and we spent one on one time listening to them. We loved them with the love that only Christ can give. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It meant a lot to me to know my CrossWalk family was with me in Spirit. Love always, Rachel ~ * ~ Hebrews 13 NASB [1] Let love of the brethren continue. [2] Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. [3] Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (12/4/2006 9:12:54 AM)
The Great Adventure… It was a day to myself… a long needed day to myself spent in my favorite coffee shop. It was a divine appointment… an older gentleman invited me to join him in prison ministry. I didn’t want to join him…. I said, “I’ll pray about it,” and I collected his phone number. I prayed… but I felt like prayer wasn’t enough… I called my friends… No one had the answer I wanted to hear…. ….. and then I called my brother. “Isn’t that just like Jesus?” he laughed. “Why are you laughing?” I was just a little alarmed and almost feeling hurt. “Rachel, God gives us many crossroads to take. We can say yes or no to any of them and He won’t love us any less. He will just keep providing us with more choices. Rachel, life is an adventure with God.” I called that gentleman and said yes… and prison ministry started. Now I am living the adventure. I have had many God given experiences and am faith-walking every day. This weekend, I learned that I still have so far to go in my walk with Christ. I was fooling myself when I thought I had a grip on God’s love… because I didn’t. His love for me is so much more than I can fathom. Yesterday, I sat at the breakfast table with my new biker friends. As one asked God’s blessing over our day and the food… I realized he was praying scripture. To this point, I have heard people pray a verse or two in their prayers… and it always hit me as a pompous show of knowledge. His prayer was complete scripture… It was so beautiful… I’ve never heard anything like it before in my life…. “I want to learn how to pray like him, Lord.” I quietly prayed. The conversation at the breakfast table was normal… we talked about stories which happened this weekend… and then it turned to the materials we use in our own prison. I told him how I use my devotionals God gave me earlier in this year…. He told me how he teaches his inmates to pray scripture. He asked for my Bible and showed me how with a couple simple verses I already underlined from Psalms. He explained how God gave us scripture and it’s a wonderful gift. Praying scripture is like offering our gift back to God, and He is blessed by it. Praying scripture sounds like this: (using following passage) Psalms 103:1-5 NASB [1] A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. [2] Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; [3] Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; [4] Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; [5] Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Lord God, I bless you from my soul, and from everything I am and all that is within me. I bless you, Lord. I bless you from my soul and remember all you’ve done for me. You’ve forgiven all my sins, every last one of them. You’ve healed me… mind, body and soul. You’ve brought me out of the pit of hopelessness and despair and have redeemed me. You crown me… You cover me completely with your love and kindness. You have compassion for me, Lord. You’ve given me good things… you’ve filled me up with wonderful things and my Spirit is renewed. I feel alive and strong when I am with you, Lord. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen I encourage you to try this on your own. You will be blessed beyond belief. Love always, Rachel I am learning… I am living… I am loving the great adventure....

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (12/5/2006 8:22:07 AM)
This is a story I've written about faith-walking. Sometimes God asks us to do things which we don't understand or we see the request as unnecessary. I'm posting this for single women who are looking for love..... The Kiss… It is a fairy tale story. Two people who love Christ – walking in the same direction. They shared past struggles, encouragement, joy and sorrows. They chose to love each other… They were the perfect couple. …. and then the test came. It was a word from the Lord. “Break up with him,” the Lord said to her. “I want you to fully know my love for you. I want you to truly know I cherish you. I want you to know how beautiful you are in my eyes.” She was surprised. She thought she could compromise the Lord’s request. I’ll establish stricter boundaries with my prince charming, she thought. Surely the Lord did not truly mean for me to break up with him! As the evening drew to a close, the girl wrestled in her heart. Her peace with the Lord was gone… and only turmoil remained. She lay in her bed, pondering the message from the Lord. Finally she prayed, "Lord, if your words are true, please show me something I can see. Show me truth." The next morning the girl got up and checked her email. There, she found a rabbit trail to follow which revealed truth hidden by her prince charming; truth which hurt not only her, but others as well. “Thank you, Lord” the girl said. “I’m sorry I doubted you. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. Please help me to obey You today.” She did obey the Lord that day. She broke up with her prince charming. She has no desire to love another until she experiences and knows the Lord’s complete and undying desire to love her like she’s never been loved before. Her heart is full of joy because she obeyed the Lord. …peace and righteousness have kissed. Love always, Rachel Psalms 85:8-10 NASB [8] I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly. [9] Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. [10] Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (12/11/2006 8:38:38 AM)
Greater love… "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. ~ Jesus John 15:12-13 Love is so important to Jesus. There is so much more to love than warm fuzzy feelings you may have for one of your friends. It is more than the racing heart you feel when you passionately kiss your life partner. It is more than the joy you feel when you hug your children when they run to you with smiles on their faces. It is more than the warmth you feel from the gift of a wonderful sunrise. I was taught at an early age that love is laying down my life for another. Loving someone means I am willing to die for someone if the situation arises. I remember thinking “I don’t want to die for anybody.” I never understood how anyone could feel this kind of love for another. My thoughts about love were confused and my love for others felt inadequate because I was not willing to die for anyone. Now that I’m older, I realize true love is a sacrifice… it is giving. True love is living my life as an ‘others centered’ person. True love is setting my own issues and preferences aside for others. The more I practice living as an ‘others centered’ person, the easier it is to love… and today, I can truly say that I do lay down my life for others. How easy it would be for me to sleep in every morning and not wake up early to write devotionals for others. How easy it would be for me to spend every penny I earn on myself and my children, instead of sharing my resources with people who are less fortunate than me. How easy it is to live a self-centered life. Learning to love is a growth process… my love for others no longer feels inadequate. Today, I can sincerely say that I do lay down my life for others. .... and if the opportunity arose to die for another? Yes. I would… just as my friend, Jesus, died for me. Love always, Rachel "You are My friends if you do what I command you." ~ Jesus John 15:14

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (12/14/2006 9:04:32 AM)
My Journey: A New Year Every year, I work on a theme… The Lord and I started this journey the year after my divorce. I felt lost and like I was a floundering fish out of water. I felt like I had too many issues to work on… and the thought of discovering and bettering the real me seemed overwhelming. God gave me an idea… I would work on ONE issue during the entire year instead of making an empty New Year’s resolution at midnight December 31st. I would live daily… seeking God… and pay special attention to circumstances which had to do with my issue as the year progressed. The goal was to find a better understanding of the issue… and to sincerely make wonderful heart changes. A quick recap of past years: 2003: Brutal Honesty This was the year after my second divorce. I had lived a lie for twelve years. I pretended all was well when it wasn’t. I wasn’t able to ask for help when I needed it. I wasn’t strong enough to face the truth – knowing that staying in an abusive relationship was not only destructive to me, but harmful to my children as well. This year, I made a conscious effort to always tell the truth. It was a tough year… and I found myself asking for forgiveness many times. It was sincerely a humbling year for me… 2004: Getting Closer to God I found myself living in ‘self-destruct’ mode. This is the year I did the best I knew how to shake myself out of self-destruction after the divorce. I knew the only way to be healthy emotionally and spiritually was to get as close to God as I could. The closer to God I got, the more balanced my life became. A lot of healing happened this year, and I think more-so than any other year because I worked hard at getting to know God on a more personal level. 2005: Discipline This is the year I thought I would work harder at disciplining /training my children to be better little people. The funny thing about this year is- the discipline turned out to be a ‘Rachel’ thing instead. This is the year when I started a blog on CrossWalk. I was required to post every nine days in order to keep the blog active. It was a wonderful year for me… blogging did wonders for me and my writing style started to develop nicely. I’ve found my writing niche… I love to write material that will inspire and possibly challenge others as they walk with Christ – no matter where they are. 2006: Honor This year, I wanted to learn how to truly honor the people who are in my life. Ultimately, I wanted to learn how to honor God with my life. I never imagined the path my journey would take this year. I never imagined the pain I would endure to learn about honor. This year, I lived through a wonderful relationship which led to a broken engagement. Through this experience, I learned what honor does not look like… and walked the path to a healthier heart. I realized that I was honoring God through my willingness to live in God’s plan for my life, as I walked with Christ through my tears. I was honoring God by being obedient to Him. I learned that I can fully trust God with any area of my life… and I do. God blessed me with a wonderful opportunity to join two prison ministries. I have had the opportunity to lead many people to Christ, and now I help others to work on heart changes, too… and by this new life development – I am honored. *~ ~ 2007 is drawing close. I have been listening to my heart and I have been listening to the whispers of the Holy Spirit. I am surprised at what I’ve heard: this will be the year of LOVE. I have no idea what this year will entail… each year is a wonderful adventure for me… and I’m absolutely positive that what I learn in the months to come will be nothing of the traditional sense of love. The seemingly ironic thing about this issue is the fact that one would assume you need to be in a serious relationship to learn about love… and I am not. My heart smiles because this is exactly how God works. His thoughts are not mine… He is strong in my weakness… and He can create an ocean out of a drop of water. ~ * ~** My challenge to you… Will you pray and ask God for an issue to work on this year? Will you commit a short year of your life to seek Him? Love always, Rachel "I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.” Proverbs 8:17 NASB

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (12/22/2006 8:46:00 AM)
Romans 12v15 There was a day in my life when I would not let anyone see me cry. I saved my silent tears for the darkness of the night. My heart was hardened… abuse does this to a person. My life circumstances drastically changed and now I find myself seeking Christ daily with my entire heart. Tears are now welcome as Jesus softens my heart and I am able to allow myself moments to grieve or to express tears of joy. Last night, I sat on a hard cold metal picnic table behind bars. Across from me sat a woman who had just been sentenced for a crime she committed over four years ago. Her abusive husband was an acomplice to the crime. She covered for him and the authorities set him free. He now enjoys freedom while his children live in a foster home and his wife is paying the price for her actions. Her sentence is two years, straight time, in prison. There is a very good chance that she will lose her children. Their care will most likely be trusted to the State of Indiana through a court hearing. She lost her house and all of her belongings in it. Her friends have abandoned her. She has nothing. She literally has not one thing of value to her. Sitting next to her at the cold picnic table was a woman with a wonderful heart. Her crime is living in the United States without going through the motions to make her life here a legal residence. She has two children who were born here. She will be deported back to her country of birth while her children remain in the United States as US citizens. She had not seen or heard from her children in weeks. She sat with tears of joy as she recanted her news of her day’s events in Spanish. She had been taken to court for earlier that day. An act of God allowed her children to attend the court hearing. Physical contact is not allowed for inmates during court, but another act of God made it possible for her to hug her children. She told me her story of joy and thankfulness for the opportunity of being able to connect with them after weeks of wondering if they were okay. She had tears streaming down her flushed cheeks as she talked to me in Spanish. She will be deported as soon as possible. She has no idea when she will be able to see her children again – yet she is filled with joy. I was completely humbled as I tried to imagine myself in the same circumstances as these women. Hot tears streamed down my face for each of them… and I was thankful. I’m thankful for the bills I struggle to pay, thankful for the home repairs that I am not equipped to handle and thankful for the opportunity to pray for my children each night as I tuck them into bed. Most of all, I am thankful that my tears are no longer confined to the darkness. I didn’t know what to tell these ladies. My words of encouragement seemed futile. We took everything to the Lord in prayer. We told him our disappointments, our sorrows and our joys. We bathed them in tears – together. Love always, Rachel Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12v15 NASB

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (1/3/2007 3:49:45 PM)
I miss you... I believe part of living life is embracing all aspects of it. Joy, sorrow, happiness, and pain… it’s all a part of living. We all have these experiences. One day, God will introduce me to a wonderful gentleman… and we will complete each other. Until that day, I chose to embrace the moments when I miss him. Love always, Rachel ~ * ~ I miss you. When I rise in the dark with demons dancing in my head… When my laughter fills the air… When life overtakes my heart during the sunset… I miss you. When silent tears wash my face… When my indecisiveness runs ramped… When fever consumes my body… I miss you. You travel a journey of the heart… Far away from me… Every step you take is one step closer to me… You miss me, too. You play ‘Follow the Leader’… Faith-walking on a road laid with bricks of peace… Let your step tread lightly, my friend… I miss you. As you round the last bend… You will see me there… waiting for you… You will recognize me by the tear in my eye… I’ve missed you. Welcome home.

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (1/5/2007 10:55:01 AM)
Pain... “When pains come from God, He only can cure them. He often sends diseases of the body to cure those of the soul.” ~ Brother Lawrence, 1691 It’s a God thing. He heals our hearts by leading our bodies through pain. No matter how I tried to deny this fact… no matter how hard I tried to believe this fact was a fallacy… I could not deny the Truth. God heals our hearts by leading our bodies through pain. What a difficult concept to embrace. Don’t we want to always believe that walking in God’s light is a wonderfully warm and fuzzy experience? Don’t we think that we deserve His truckloads of blessings during each day of our lives? Don’t we deserve to have an easy life since, after all, many of us risked our coolness when we asked Jesus into our hearts… right? Wrong. Look at this: Psalms 23 NASB [1] A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. [2] He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. [3] He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. [4] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. In short: The LORD is our shepherd… He makes us… He leads us… He restores us… He guides us… After all this leading and guiding and making us… we end up walking through the valley of the shadow of death. The LORD is the One guiding us through the valley! I can’t imagine that this valley is filled with brightly colored posies and babies breath with majestic golden eagles soaring over head. I think this valley is quite the opposite. It is the valley of the shadow of death… cold, lonely and as close to death as we can get. I have experienced depression which felt like the shadow of death. It was so deep and so dark – I felt like I had to fight for each breath of air just to live. Any other ordinary task was inconceivable. I was literally walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Through the entire experience, I had no idea I was being led by God. I had no idea God was just ahead of me making a path through the miry clay for me. All I could see and feel was my ugliness and pain. I felt like I was stuck in a pit and didn’t know how to escape. I realized there was no other way to go but forward. I started moving forward in faith only to round that last bend of the path to find my LORD smiling… waiting patiently for me with outstretched arms. “Follow Me…” He said as He comforted me – and I did. God began a wondrous work of healing in my heart, but I had to go through some pain in order for Him to heal my heart perfectly and completely. I survived and was a stronger person for it. God heals our hearts by leading our bodies through pain… We finish up with: Psalms 23 NASB [5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. [6] Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. You have nothing to fear… He cherishes you… He takes care of you… He brings you out of the valley and covers you with goodness and lovingkindness… You will live with the LORD forever. I can think of nothing better… God heals our hearts by leading our bodies through pain… Amen. Love always, Rachel ~ * ~ Psalms 40 NASB [2] He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. [3] He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (1/23/2007 2:12:59 PM)
I will follow... Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." [Matthew 8:19 NASB] I've been blessed to be in prison ministry. I am witness to life miracles... every week. I am honored to be a part of the lives I touch... This week, I am going to Austin, TX, for a prison ministry event. Again... there will be several hundred of people like me... divided into groups and sent to several prisons. We will tell people about Jesus and His amazing grace. There is no way I could do this without leading and provision from the Lord. Three amazing things happened and it could only be God making them happen. 1. Someone donated 90% of my plane fair to Austin. 2. Someone gave me a very nice pocket pc so that I can track my ministry more effectively. 3. Someone is giving me $$ for the Austin trip which will help offset hotel bills. (all prison ministry expenses come out of my pocket) I am overwhelmed at God's love.... and the way he uses others to confirm I am walking in His path. I am much like the scribe...... Blessings, my friends. Love always, Rachel

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (1/31/2007 9:44:33 AM)
Austin, Texas "I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, In paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them And rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, And I will not leave them undone." Isaiah 42:16 NASB “It’s like a free concert,” I told someone once. “You get better seats, the setting is more intimate, you get to meet the performers...” my description always peaks interest. “The best thing about the show is the performers talk about Jesus!” I’m excited to sit with the real captive audience – literally. Captive as in inmates – prisoners. They are people serving hard time for horrific deeds. They are people suffering humiliation on a daily basis… and people who have a hole in their hearts which can only be filled by the precious love of Jesus. I am happiest when I can sit among the inmates. I want to spend every second of my time with the inmates… I want to hear about their lives… I want to know what they believe… I want to help them find the only One who can fill the hole in their hearts… I want tell them about my best friend, Jesus, and how He has worked in my life… and I do. Every prison ministry event is different for me. My first one – I lead about 12 people to Christ. My second one, I was able to make good connections and am now in the process of mentoring one lady through the mail. Austin, Texas, was my third prison ministry event and I found myself training other volunteers and even inmates on how to lead someone to Christ… and how to give a new believer the tools she will need to learn more about Christ on her own. I spent my time empowering others… for the cause of Christ. The entire experience was wonderful. I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be in life… because God keeps providing for me and my children. Specifically for the Austin event, God provided someone to sponsor my plane ticket to Austin, someone else gave me funds to cover expenses and hotel room costs, and a third person actually paid for my room while I stayed in Austin. My parents sacrificed their own time and expenses to care for my girls when I was gone. Every gift was a complete surprise and a wonderful gift from God. I’m thankful for the obedience of others… I’m thankful God has chosen me to work in this ministry. I’m hoping to be involved in prison ministry for the rest of my life. Thank you for your support and prayers. We are all on the same team… working to further the Kingdom… working to save the lost. Love always, Rachel "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10 NASB

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (2/9/2007 9:48:00 AM)
From the Mouths of Babes… A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. _____ "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- age 8 _____ "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4 _____ "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5 _____ "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy - age 6 ___ "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4 _____ "Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7 _____ "Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8 _____ "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7 _____ “If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," Nikka - age 6 _____ "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7 _____ "Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6 _____ "Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-age 5 _____ "Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7 _____ "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4 _____ "I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4 _____ "When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." Karen - age 7 _____ "Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross." Mark - age 6 _____ "You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Jessica - age 8 _____ And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry." ~ * ~ Love always, Rachel

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (2/12/2007 9:45:28 AM)
Dear Brother… Remember when I told you that every year, God and I pick something in my life to work on? This year is love. I’m learning about God’s love for me, my love for others and anything else He decides to throw in there. The only way for me to truly learn about love is for God to empty me out so he can start with a fresh vessel. This letter will reveal an ugly part of me. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I’m going to share this with you. This is real life… For the first time in my life – I don’t have a boyfriend, I don’t have someone waiting in line, and I’m not ‘working on anybody’ in order to try to move them in my direction. I’m not even interested in anybody. A bad habit broken: When I am lonely… I tend to seek out male relationships. Not for physical intimacy… but to fill the emotional side of me. Men are cool… they tell me how great I am… How pretty I am… how my voice is attractive…. they tell me all the things I want to hear. I found myself looking at singles profiles on the Internet a few days ago. My friend, Joy, caught me and told me up front: “Rachel, you are depressed. This is what you do when you are depressed.” She was right. I’m thankful for her – she is a Godsend. I was not only feeling depressed, but also looking for possibilities to fill my emotional emptiness. So… what is the point of this entire letter? I want to tell you that God has taken away every male emotional attachment in my life (except for two father figures) in order to start a new work in my heart. Not having a man interested in me is a new thing for me. It makes me feel funky… lost… and empty. I’m not empty – because the Lord is filling me with His complete love and teaching me how to love others with that same love. I am learning not to rely on my feelings and to trust in the knowledge that I am loved and cherished by God. I am learning to live a new way. Learning new lifestyles are difficult and I know you can relate to this. Please don’t let my melancholy moods freak you out… they will disappear as soon as I am fully adjusted to where the Lord wants me to be. As my brother in Christ, I ask for your prayer only when the Lord puts me on your mind. It’s so important for you not to let your thoughts dwell on me because I know the Lord is doing great things in your life as well… and that’s where your focus needs to be. We are each on a journey to become the righteousness of God… in Him. Yours In Christ, Always, Rachel ~ * ~ Luke 5:37-38 KJV [37] And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. [38] But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 NASB [16] Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. [17] Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. [18] Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, [19] namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. [20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [21] He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (2/27/2007 11:01:47 AM)
Alone… This last weekend I was in Cincinnati, OH, attending a prison ministry event. I was sharing with a group of women inmates about my relationship with God and how, each year, God and I work on a character building issue or a life issue which needs to be refined. I explained to them that this is my year to work on LOVE... I am learning to grasp a better understanding of God’s love for me and to learn how to love others more fully in Christ's love. "Isn't it kind of freaky that God would take away every romantic interest anyone has for me? Isn't it freaky that He has taken away any romantic interest I have in any man?" I asked. They were wide-eyed. To them – love means having a man around, even if he doesn’t love you. I explained to them, “For the first time in my life – I don't have a husband or a boyfriend. I'm not even working on anyone to line them up or trying to move anyone in my direction. For the first time in my life.... I AM ALONE." I shared with them how God is working on my heart and changing my attitudes about love into healthy attitudes. “God is re-training my brain," I said, “and even though I feel melancholy some days, I trust God and know that only good can come from being alone." I could tell the concept of being completely alone was foreign to the women – but they were receptive of my message. One woman said, "Rachel, you have given me the courage and strength to finally make the decision to let go of my boyfriend. He is not good for me... he doesn't really love me. If you can be a single mom... ALONE.... so can I." Her eyes were brimming with tears. .... my heart smiled. I couldn’t help but wonder if God used my transparent life to help to break an unhealthy life cycle for generations to come…. …… it’s all worth it. Love always, Rachel ~ * ~ Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever. For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. Psalm 86:11-13 (New American Standard Bible)

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (3/19/2007 8:42:24 AM)
Bill Glass Champions for Life… Day of Champions Cincinnati, OH 2/23-2/25 I went with my prison ministry partners to a Day of Champions in Cincinnati. Bill, Pam and I all piled into Bill’s car and ended up driving hours and hours in order to make as many prison visits as possible. We left a day early so we could stop at Indiana Women’s Prison in Indianapolis on the way down. Pam and I are not on anyone’s visitation list, so we couldn’t get in. Bill was able to enjoy a short visit with Hannah. She is going through a rough patch right now, so pray for Hannah if the Lord brings her name to your mind. (She is 19 years old and has a minimum of 35 years to serve.) Cincinnati was an amazing experience. The jail seemed very clean. We were not allowed to go into the wards. The first program was all female inmates. The second program was MALE inmates! It is not normal for the CFL organization to mix women ministry volunteers with male inmates. Some of the women hung around the sidelines, some women paired up with male volunteers and other crazy women (me!) didn’t mind being mixed in with the male inmates. The officers did a wonderful job at keeping watch over us and many people gave their hearts to Jesus for the first time. We stopped at the Madison Facility (Southern Indiana) on the way back. Bill, Pam and I were able to visit with Daniella. I’m always so impressed, blessed and thankful when a complete stranger will take time out of their day and schedule to meet and get to know us. Madison is a minimum security prison. The grounds are beautiful and there are many opportunities to be involved with extra-curricular activities. I loved meeting Daniella and hope to exchange crochet patterns with her in the near future! Weekend of Champions Huntsville, TX 2/28 - 3/4 Bill and I flew down to Huntsville, Tx. (No, I am not rich! I used my tax return $$ for this trip!) Bill was a coordinator, so we flew down a day early. We’ve also found that traveling is much easier if we leave a day later. There were over 543 volunteers, including platform guests. We were divided up into 24 sites and over 1,271 people gave their hearts to Jesus for the first time! Praise the Lord. I’m always amazed that He wants to use me to help people find Jesus…. I’m blessed to be part of prison ministry! I met a new friend in Huntsville. Her name is Mary. She was my roommate. Mary drove all the way to Huntsville (almost a 5 hour drive) by herself. She didn’t know anyone, but she was determined to be part of the Champions for Life weekend. Kudos to her… she was sooo brave!! Mary is a cool chic. She actually served time in the jail where we were assigned. It was wonderful to witness her really connecting with the inmates… and then to watch as she found one of her friends. God really did some amazing things for Mary during the weekend. Mary is interested in dedicating time to prison ministry and is looking for opportunities so she can serve in prison ministry in the future. I was glad to get home. My daughters and dogs missed me terribly! I’m thankful for my parents. They took over my ‘mom’ duties while I was gone. I was hard for them, but they support my ministry. Once again… I was completely blessed. Love always, Rachel

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (3/28/2007 8:39:46 AM)
More Than Love… Lately, I’ve been noticing love which other people have and display towards each other. The kind of love… … where a man tells a woman who is serving jail time that he loves her so much – he wants to marry her by proxy. … where a couple have the desire to dress alike and spend time doing things together. … where a man will write a letter to his wife who lives in jail every day, regardless if he gets a response back or not. Last night, I spent time in jail ministering to a few women. We worked through a simple study on God’s love written by a Christian author named Max Lucado. Max says: “Our love depends on the receiver of the love. Let a thousand people pass before us, and we will not feel the same about each. Our love will be regulated by their appearance, by their personalities. Even when we find a few people we like, our feelings will fluctuate. How they treat us will affect how we love them. The receiver regulates our love.” (Learning to Live Loved, www.maxlucado.com) How true this seems. In the same regard, we feel our spouses don’t love us if our love is not returned. We feel our children don’t love us if they don’t appreciate our efforts. Sometimes we feel like giving up on love… because we are not getting the feedback we desire from others. I’m thankful God’s love for us doesn’t work like this. “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” (Jeremiah 31.3 NLT) God loves us in spite of ourselves. He always will… Love always, Rachel As He says also in Hosea, "I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, 'MY PEOPLE,' AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, 'BELOVED.'" (Romans 9:25 NASB)

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (4/4/2007 12:21:43 PM)
A Psalm to My LORD You are the creator of this universe. Creator of all living things. The seasons bow at your Name. Stars are birthed at Your command. Strong men rise up because of your enabling power. Weak men grow stronger because of your unfailing love. The weary have undying hope in their hearts. Our spirits soar because of Your faithfulness. How long, O LORD, will You make me wait? How many truly beautiful souls will cross my path … before even one desires to pursue me? How many times must my tender heart be dashed? How long before he proudly takes me as his own? I am small compared to Your glory. I am weak compared to Your strength. I am insignificant to the world. I am cherished by You. I will cling to Your love, O LORD. I will continue to follow You in all my ways. I will speak of Your glory, LORD. I will record many thoughts of Your unfailing love … and share them with others. You, O LORD, are my strength. You, O LORD, are my strongest desire. You, O LORD, are my life. You, O LORD, are my love. Selah. ~ * ~ But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; The LORD hears when I call to Him. Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Psalms 4:3-4 NASB

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (4/6/2007 1:59:29 PM)
The Gift... This is the day the LORD made… Ironic… he made this day. The very day – years ago, when he was endlessly beaten, scoffed, spit on… mocked from the evilest pit… … for us. He did not speak up for Himself. No one came to his defense. No one saved Him – not even His own Father. Why? What did Jesus have to gain? Why would he endure physical pain, emotional pain and the pain of separation from His very own Father? He knew life was more than numbered days on this earth. Life is more than living day in and day out, wondering how to pay the bills. He knew that true life is everlasting and the only way for his precious children (us) was to give ALL He had… for the bigger picture. This picture resounds with vivid colors of belief, forgiveness and an open invitation. The base color is one which never ends… eternal life. If we believe with all our hearts that Jesus is alive… and we ask Him for forgiveness of our sins… and we invite Him to live in our hearts… we will be saved. We will be saved from the depths of eternal hell. Plucked from the darkness and given the gift of life – eternal life… no matter what choices we’ve made in the past. His life was the gift. He is the gift… … all we have to do is receive Him. I have no words to express my gratitude for the Gift. My tears are a melancholy mixture of endless joy, thankfulness, and a realization that He didn’t have to do anything for us… but He chose to die for us… because He loved us. ...Jesus loves you and me. With my deepest love for you, Always Rachel John 3.16, Romans 3.23, Romans 6.23, 1 John 1.9, John 14.16, Revelation 3.20, Romans 10.9.

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (4/23/2007 10:34:40 AM)
14 Goin' on 25... Cook County Juvenile Correctional Facility Chicago, IL The students' ages ranged from 12 to 19 years old. There were about 300 boys… and only 23 girls in the facility. We've got it easy.... I joined a group of girls in their dorm. The subject of spankings came up and they made light of their past experiences. Even through laughter, my heart grieved at the reality of the situations described… "My aunt tied my hands behind my back and told me we were gonna play a new game," one 14 year old laughed. "Then my momma tied a sock around my face. I thought she missed my eyes because I thought it was gonna be 'Hide and Seek.' She had a different idea… she tied it around my mouth." The rest of the girls laughed at her animated comical replay of the scenario. She continued her story, "My momma beat me. I didn't like that game." The girls again roared with laughter. Another girl piped up, "My grandma used to hit me with a belt. One day I ran from her and she couldn't catch me. She waited until the next day and beat me in the shower because there I couldn't get away." I spoke with another 16 year old girl who showed pictures of her 2 year old son…. she defensively spoke of how the charges of neglecting her baby were untrue – only to admit later they were true. She was a baby doing her best to raise a baby. I couldn't even begin to imagine giving birth to a baby at 14 years of age… much less entertain the idea of sharing my body with someone for the sake of love at such a young age. They were babes… and they all talked about their boyfriends, using drugs, and the special code word to use in order to buy cigarettes without being carded. Twelve, fourteen, sixteen year olds… going on twenty-five. Three of the girls rededicated their lives to Christ… and even if they make poor choices after their release date – they will have a memory of the day Jesus truly forgave their sins. They will remember a curly haired lady from Indiana who was there to eagerly point them in the right direction because she loved Jesus more than she loved her own life. I walked into the 'intake' ward later on in the afternoon. There were 11 boys watching a basket ball game on TV. They were sporting 'tudes'… arms crossed, hardened looks on their faces and body language which screamed – "I hate you!" I was given a brief introduction by their counselor… and through my insecurities – I stuck it out. Telling them about the free gift of salvation… telling them about forgiveness of sins… and giving them the opportunity to receive a clean heart filled with Jesus. I lead 9 out of the 11 teens to Christ. Maybe it was 'Jail House Religion'… maybe it was an act of desperation for some… but what I do know is that Christ is bigger than anything anyone else can think or say. No matter what others think – I know God will use every word I said… every hand I shook… and every smile I shared… for His glory. I have no doubt. By the end of the day – 91 kids invited Jesus into their hearts for the first time. 81 students rededicated their lives. It was an excellent day… on earth – and in Heaven. Love always, Rachel

AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (4/27/2007 8:51:45 AM)
Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more." John 8:10-11 NASB Quietly Spoken It was Tuesday night Jail Church. The agenda of church was not set in stone… it goes this way in jail. As volunteer chaplains, we never know what to expect when we walk in. The classroom chairs were lined up in rows as if someone was standing in front to teach. Normally, we place the chairs in a circle in order to promote a more relaxed atmosphere. Tonight we decided to leave the chairs as they were. After a short prayer, we headed down the lifeless hallway to the ward to get the ladies from Ward 16. We went in and personally invited each woman to come to church. Ten ladies accepted our invitation and joined us for church. It was a good service. We did a Bible study about God’s love. Conversation and discussion was most excellent and the volunteer chaplains were delighted to see the ladies find a better understanding of Christ. Share the tract. A small tugging on my heart was happening. I knew it was the Holy Spirit quietly speaking to me. I waited a few minutes and conversation started dwindling. Share the tract. There was the tugging again… The tract is a proven tool we use to help people find Christ. It contains verses for simple discussion… and then an opportunity to give their lives to Christ. I asked the ladies if they would humor me and work through the tract with me. I also wanted to train the other volunteers how to use it. The ladies were eager to comply. As we gently walked through the tract, there was a woman in the back row. She was interested in what we were doing but clearly feeling conviction. She moved to the very back of the room not wanting to answer any questions. She is struggling with same sex attraction. It was the Holy Spirit clearly speaking to me again. Sometimes I don’t know what to do when He speaks to me, so I wait. We finished the tract. One woman asked the Lord into her heart for the first time. The rest prayed a prayer of rededication. Fast forward. Thursday. I started out my ward visits with Ward 16, Bible study in hand. I never go there first – but it seemed that’s where the Holy Spirit wanted me to be. The ‘back row’ woman sat next to me on the floor. She insisted I sit on her sleeping mat. “You are not sitting on the floor!” she exclaimed. I was honored. After the Bible study, she drew me aside. “Do you have a little time for me?” she asked. I did. She spilled her heart to me… She was indeed struggling with same sex attraction and was feeling conviction. Her body was confusing her mind which was beginning to grasp a new way of life through Christ. I took time to help guide her and to encourage her. Soon I saw a smile on her face. For a moment, she felt empowered to deal with her struggles. She felt hope. She felt the unconditional love of Christ. It was a wonderful experience for me. I learned a little more about how the Holy Spirit speaks to me... and how to obey His voice. Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8:12 NASB Love always, Rachel

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