featured writer and superb friend

I have been blessed with not only a wonderful family, but dear friends who love Jesus and push me toward him more. I think that is what true fellowship is…what God intended 'the church" to be. People gathering together in his name, living life together, sharing joy and pain.
A particular friend of mine is Rachael Marie. Some may say the name Rachael is common. And some may spell it wrong- like Rachel. But for me, a girl who has the gift of friendship with Rachael knows that no other "Rachael" (or "Rachel" for that matter) is quite like this one. This one is beautiful, caring, and talented-just to mention a few of her remarkable virtues. She knows how to party, but can be for real serious when it's important. She looks awesome with photobooth effects and she drives a beast of a truck. Needless to say, we enjoy life , live out loud, and make lots of memories.
Here's a note that Rachael wrote recently on facebook that I loved and wanted to share with my blog readers. It encouraged me in more ways than one. I hope you enjoy and take something from it. 
And if you read it all, there's a special photo gallery at the end ;) ha!


-j
p.s. STAY ON YO SIDE.


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Come, My child.
Let Me encourage your heart.
I know the wait is lonely.
I know the wait seems long.
I understand the ache. I desire to soothe the longing.
Let my words bring you comfort.
Let My words fill you with hope.

Come.
Refresh yourself in Me as you wait...

Hi. My name is Rachael. And I am waiting...
I'm not going to start this note off like every other note. I'm not going to tell you God has laid this on my heart or that I've been praying about this...I'm just going to share with you. And hope that something I say will encourage your heart is some way.

Waiting is agony sometimes...but everyone has to do it. Whether you're waiting to hear if you got the job, a part in a play, a scholarship to a college. Waiting for your grief of a loved one to be over, for a loved one to get well, for a prayer to be answered, for something meaningful in your life to happen, for someone to spend the rest of your life with, to have your baby, for your child to be healed, for your sickness to be over, for a friend to come to Christ. Everyone waits...and none of us like it.

Psalm 119:83-84
I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, exhausted with waiting. But I cling to your principles and obey them. How long must I wait?

We should not ask ourselves how long should I wait, but how should I wait. When you're waiting, life doesn't stop. It shouldn't. If you're waiting for a cast list you don't go sit in your bed room for 3 days straight until an email pops up or you get a call do you? No. You wake up, eat breakfast, go about your day. It's always on the back of your mind, but you don't stop living...
In the same way, no matter what you're waiting for, or who, or when, or why, don't stop your life. Enjoy it. God knows you're waiting...he knows you're hurting over it too.

Psalm 40:1,3
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry...He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.

I feel like Satan tries to tell us God doesn't care. Like He forgot about us or something...and sometimes we're so weary, that we believe it. Satan doesn't give a care about you. Why the heck do we believe him? Blows my mind why almost everytime, I think he's right. There is no peace in that. Satan only cares about giving you what you want and having his way with you, God cares about giving you the best possible things in life. He loves you. So why would he abandon you?
Praise and contentment can get you through your waiting period...Satan can't stand it when we praise God even though we're not getting our way. So even when you lay on your bedroom floor and sob and ask God why...remember to get up and praise him because He loves you so. If you give whatever you are waiting for to God and continue to praise Him no matter what. Nothing and no one will be able to hinder God from giving it to you in time. In God's time...not our time.

Look....I know I sound like I completely believe this with all my heart and it's no struggle for me. But the only reason I'm writing this is because this IS my struggle. Everyday of my life...no joke. I still don't have this down, I still don't understand, somedays I still don't believe. But I know it's truth...and I know that God loves me. Therefore I do my best to praise Him. To thank Him. To love Him. To live life in the now as best I can...and to wait...because we all have to do it...

Thanks for reading this, I hope in some way you were encouraged. I love you all =]

~Rachael
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Here's to many more years and silly photographs…

     
i luff you rachael marie!