'The Saving One'- Starfield

Hey friends!

Well, I really just wanted to share this song with ya'll. You know, one of my favorite ways to worship God is through music. To stand and sing praises to Him, to know that He's listening... It's just amazing!

Reasons I don't get my homework done.

Top reasons I don't get 

my homework done.

(In no particular order, just the randomness of my brain)

I'm a music addict.

I like to facebook stalk.

I go for a lot of walks these days.

I'm a horrible procrastinator.

I forget that I have homework to do.

I don't make enough 'to do' lists.

I fall asleep at random times.

I really like hanging out with my friends.

I really like hanging out/going on dates/ going for walks with my boyfriend.

I get distracted by everything within ten miles.

I like talking to my RA.

I get hungry.

I read the news online.

Someone texts me.

Someone invites me to do something.

I get an idea for a blog.

Basically, there's always a reason to not do the things you need to do. If you want, you can explain away all your wasted time. But, guess what, that doesn't accomplish anything.
But, you weren't looking to accomplish anything, were you?

'Be productive!

Be productive! 

B-E-P-R-O-D-U-C-T-I-V-E!'

-My Cheerleading Mother :)

Do some research & get back to me.

Hey guys.
So, let me first say, I'm a 'pro-lifer'. Yes, I believe that it's morally, ethically, and biblically wrong to kill an unborn child. You aren't gonna change my mind on that! (Psalm 139!!) But, just to be clear, I do not support any kind of hateful, mean, or rude messages towards anyone, including those who disagree with me. My belief in the sanctity of life is a direct result of my faith in Christ, which also results in my desire to love all people with the love of Christ and be able to share His truth with them. My God, the God of the Bible, is a God of justice and love.


Second, I wanted to share some websites with you, that discuss this issue.

http://abort73.com/

http://www.survivors.la/

Third, I urge you, especially students, to consider taking part in the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity. More info can be found here:

http://www.silentday.org/index.php


Please feel free to share your thoughts with me- I'd love to hear what you have to say :)

Comment.Rate.Share.Follow.
-Rachel :)

What if??

What if….?

What if today you changed someone's life?

What if today you fought demons, and won?

What if today you told someone they weren't alone, and they believed you?

What if today you realized how powerful God is?

What if today you made yourself 100% available to your Savior?

What if today you had a conversation with the Creator of the universe?

What if today your life changed forever?

What if today you told someone how they can know ultimate joy, peace, and love, and they listened?

What if today God used you to speak for Him?

What if today you fought for the things of God's kingdom?

What if today someone was saved from eternal damnation, aloneness, and misery in hell?

What if…?

But, wait…

What if….?

What if today you were to tired to spend time with a loving, powerful God?

What if today you were in a bad mood?

What if today you were focused on all the things you have to do?

What if today you were angry with God because things didn't turn out like you planned?

What if today you were most worried about your friends and family?

What if today you felt far from God?

What if today you claimed Christ and lived the world?

What if today the things you decide the things you think look like fun are more important?

What if today you thought you knew how to help people, without Him?

What if today you decide it's totally fine to make mistakes?

What if today you're focused on your emotions?

What if today you put God aside?

What if today you're just to tired?

What if today they die, physically and spiritually?

…..

What if we lived every moment like

 we understand the reality of eternity?

It's this year.

It's this month.

It's today.

It's right now.

2 Timothy 4:1-2, 5 'In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage- great patience and careful instruction… keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.'

Revelation 3:1b-2 'I know your deeds, you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.' 

Revelation 3:15-16 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.'

1 Peter 4:7 'The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray.'

Hebrews 12:1-2 'Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…

I am Forgiven!

I love this song! God's truths fill it, and every time I hear it I just want to dance!!

I AM FORGIVEN

VERSE 1

All sufficient, rich in mercy

You have given, given freely

With intentions, You've designed me 

Your forgiveness never ending

VERSE 2

All sufficient, rich in mercy

You have given, given freely

With intentions, You've designed me 

Your forgiveness never ending

When I fall, I fall at Your feet and You tell me…

CHORUS

I am forgiven, I have been given another chance

There's no condemnation

Your grace is sufficient to cover my past

Your love is more than enough

More than enough for me

VERSE 3

With Your loving, loving-kindness 

You have drawn us to repentance

Ever reaching, You pursue us

We are moving with a purpose

When I fall, I fall at Your feet and You tell me…

CHORUS 2

I am forgiven, I have been given another chance

There's no condemnation

Your grace is sufficient to cover my past…

(repeat)

Your love is more than enough

More than enough for me

BRIDGE

God of another chance, God of another chance

Nothing can separate me from Your love

(repeat…)

CHORUS 2

I am forgiven, I have been given another chance

There's no condemnation

Your grace is sufficient to cover my past…

(repeat)

Your love is more than enough

More than enough for me

Why don't we speak up?

Why do we keep our thoughts to ourselves? More importantly, why do we keep the truth God has filled us with to ourselves?

I'm thinking about this for a specific reason. Recently I was sitting listening to people who are so involved in their sin that they're actually willing to give everything else up. They make jokes about not graduating, about getting fired, etc, and they say that the extreme 'partying' lifestyle is worth it.

I sat, quietly listening. Listening to people that are regularly presented with God's truth, and I said nothing.

Have I forgotten what it's like to be in a broken state, and not even fully realize it?

' No, it's not worth it. Yes, I do know. I've made mistakes that very few people think I've made. I've done horrible things, and lived to tell the tale. I have not always been the woman of God that I'm blessed to be today. I have been to the darkest places, lived in the worst way. God forgave me, cleansed me, saved me, made me completely different. I know it seems hard to imagine right now, but God can bring new hope and purpose into your lives. He loves you, no matter what you are doing or have done. The Bible says 'God demonstrates His own loves towards us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us'. Did you catch that? While we were sinners. But, make no mistake, the life you're living now will break you.  Don't despair- there is a hope you cannot imagine. You have to realize that yes, you are wicked. Then you realize the fullness of God's grace.'

That's what I could have said, should have said....

I have a passion for God's truth, I love speaking His name, and I find it impossible to keep it to myself... Usually.

'But if I say 'I will not mention Him or speak anymore in His name', His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in, indeed, I cannot'

-Jeremiah 20:9

That's how we need to be filled. This week, let's pray that God would so fill us that we would be incapable of keeping silent.

Beautiful

A beautiful flower patch in downtown Lynchburg. (Photo taken by Rachel)

'If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? for the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own.'
-Jesus, quoted in Matthew 6:30-34

Hey, guess what? I can send a text message from my phone that posts itself on my blog! WOAH. -Rachel :)

Hi, again.

Wow. Sometimes all it takes for me to feel guilty is to look at my blog. My very empty blog. Today my good friend Bert posted a link on my facebook. It was a link to someones blog about yoga. Bert told me that he wasn't saying I should start yoga, just trying to help me get inspired to write more on my blog. He also pointed out that all my blogs don't have be videos... You know what? It worked! Here I am, feeling a lot less intimidated by my mostly empty blog. Also, I'm getting over the fact that I had to give up 'rachelredmond.com'. I was sad to lose that. But here I am, blogging once more. And this time I will do better! I will post more frequently, and I'm excited!!! Friends that help us do things we love rock!! Be a good friend today. -Rachel :)

'You only live once'

Wow. I'm graduating high school in nine days. Now, I realize that some graduated a long time ago, and think that it's not that big a deal in the scheme of life. But, right now, it's a huge deal. I'm turning eighteen this summer. I'm moving out. I'm going to college. I'm even hopefully, finally, getting a drivers license. So here I am. I've always known that the choices I make matter, that I should do the right thing. But now everything seems so much more important. At this point, the decisions I make have lifelong consequences. I can change the entire course of my life with the choices I make this year. Right? Everyday I look at all the other seniors I'm around and I wonder where we'll be in a year, in five, in twenty. I mean, a lot of us don't take life that seriously. One phrase regarding this that drives me crazy is 'You only live once!'. Now, on the surface that seems completely true, and not something up for debate. However, it's frequently used as an excuse to make bad decisions. Like, someone is about to do something stupid and they say 'Well, hey, you only live once!' But... Well, if you only live once.... Don't you want to live well? Why would you throw away the one life you have? I mean, I want to live a good, purposeful, meaningful life! I want to do good things, help other people, laugh constantly, love deeply! So, why would I waste time on doing stupid things because I only live once? You only live once. So use every day, every moment to change the world for the better. Look at every person as a precious creation of God. Look at every situation as a way to bring glory to God. Don't waste time thinking about yourself, about what you think might make you happy. God has a wonderful plan for your life, and when you follow it, and serve Him, you'll be filled with more joy than you can imagine. You only live once, but, when this earthly life fades there's eternity. Where are you spending it? Heaven or hell- it's one or the other. Maybe you already know you're going to be with Jesus- but what about the people around you? What if we're so caught up in trying to have fun that we miss the chance to share Christ with others? What if you're so caught up in yourself that you let people around you die, and go to hell, because you were to busy partying to tell them about the love of God? You only live once- live in His love. 'It would be crazy to choose this world over eternity.' -Mercy Me