Complete Surrender/Complete Rest

When something painful occurs it is hard to see the rhyme or reason behind it. All we can see is that we are hurting and that things will never be the same again. And at the moment all we can see is the pain and sorrow. But is doesn’t stop their. No in fact that is only where is begins.
God desires to use every situation to bring us closer to Him. And this is no different. It was through my weakness that He showed me His strength through my pain that I discovered true joy. And that joy is in the fact that I trust what God is doing.
When something amazing happens I thanked God and said I trust what you are doing when something good happened I thanked God and said I trusted what you are doing but when something bad or even hard happened I asked God what are you doing?
I thanked God for all the gifts that He had given me. My family, my country, my friends but I never thought about the hard things being gifts as well. But when I look back I can see that He has taught me. I see His goodness, mercy and patience. I have experienced God in a way that I never would have if I had not suffered a little down here.
I gave God control over my life. At the time I though that it was something that I would never be able to do. But I all I had to do is say I surrender all. And then I let go of the reins and God took over and did the rest.
My pain has turned to Joy, my sorrow into peace, my bitterness into happiness. Through Gods suffering on the cross we can have true joy and maybe just maybe through my pain I can point others to the one who set me free.

Photography Scavenger hunt

Vanishing Point. Off into the distance

Broken. The family chains have been broken but the missing links are safe I know.

Making a statement. Happy

Squirrel. Oklahoma what can I say

Coffee. The best way to start the day

Police. My brother and siters playing cops and robbers

Date. Happiness graduation

Self Portriate. Ha Ha

Stapler. Helps hold things together

Time. What will you do with it.

Fear. Failure

Leap. My brothers on our trampoline

White Trash.one mans trash is another mans treasuer

Reflection. A pretty Princess

Freedom

I have been thinking a lot about the lies that we believe. I know that in my own life I have believed many many lies. The lie that I am stupid, alone, worthless,ugly and the list goes on and on. I have justifies these lies in my head yes I am stupid I cant spell I cant read very well , Yes I am alone because I am different , you bet I'm worthless who wants a person who cant spell or read very well I have no amazing skills and I have been told all through my life that I was ugly . But wait I know those are lies . God has told me as much. So why do I struggle so much with believing them? The truth is that I have grown comfortable with them. I have believed them for so long I know what to expect. Their are no mysteries no hidden passages ways. But with giving them up or choosing not to believe them anymore , now that is a whole new ball park ,I don't know what to expect I have no clue what is going to happen. And to tell you the truth part of me still is scared. Now at this point all I have done is identified these as lies. But I had not yet asked God what He thought of me. The truth is that God has made me perfect. He loves me and I am worth more to Him than anything else in the world. He laid down His life for me , He suffered bleed, and died for me. And He is My friend. "Greater Love Has no man than this ,that a man lay down his life for his friend"John 15:13. As for being afraid "1 John 4:18 There is no fear in Love; but perfect love casteth out fear;. And who is that perfect Love? 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, God dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. So i guess it all comes down to trust. Am I willing to trust God with those lies . The answer is yes. I am willing. So I have given those lies up. Given them to God and Cast has casted them away.
So are you willing. Satan wants nothing more than to dampen your effectiveness for God. And if you choose to keep believing those lies then you and not being an affective witness for God.
Now I still struggle but God will always be their for me.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in dispair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. There is true victory in Jesus. Will you chose today to be free?

Is it worth it

Graduation Day is only a week away for me. And I am so excited. Things are going great people are coming the decorations are just right and I am one happy camper.That was how my day was going until around 7:30 pm . I had been feeling like everything was going great sure their was a few things that had happened earlier that made me upset and a little sad/mad but overall I thought I was feeling fine.Then I got the call informing me that a certain situation wasnt going to work out. That is when I lost it. Those feeling that I thought I had cleverly pushed aside came flooding back. I was all alone. So I started asking questions. Well God why? I dont understand. God I really needed this to work out and now it isnt and I dont understand.God just listened and with the sweetest voice He said "Rachel is it worth it"?Is what worth it? Rachel all this time you have been depending on yourself and looking at what you think you need. And now here you are feeling alone and depressed and I am wanting to know is it worth it. No God it isnt worth it. And now Rachel I think the question really is do you trust me. Trust me with this situation and the one that just happened and the ones to come. God I will fail you. Rachel first of all you are mine and yes you are going to fall but when you do know that I am right there to pick you up and to help you .God am I worth it. Rachel there has never been a time that I have ever regreted having you . In fact it is quite the opposite. So the question still remained do I trust God . And now I can say yes. I do. So now God I come before you now acknowleging my weekness and knowleging my faults and I give them now to you. Lord I know that you can use all situations for good so I am giving you it. I am laying it at you feet. Take it and use them to bring praise and glory to your name.