Here are some words of wisdom I received recently from people I highly admire and respect. Maybe you will be inspired and enlightened as well. Enjoy.

"When you're creative, you're experiencing what God made you to be."- J.E.

"Doing one thing a week working toward your dream or goal gives you 52 things in one year."- C.C.

"It's our job to see the beauty in others and make it known to them."- M.W.

"The gift of love is to the receiver; the power of love is to the giver."- M.W.

"God uses people- the enemy does, too."- M.R.

"Don't confuse motion with action."- M.R.

"The good thing about mistakes is that God can use them- when we step out."- M.R.

"God wants to bless you, but he can't 'find' you because you're trying to be someone else."- unknown

p.s.
lots of life has happened lately.
God continues to be good.
He always will be, you know.

-J

Essential Gear for the Daring Girl

So I pulled out my Daring Book for Girls book the other night and was reminded of how wonderful being a girl (and a daring girl at that) is and can be. But, I realized that there are some things I don't possess that I need to, in order to be a true adventurer. I thought you might benefit from this information as well.

Here is the list of "Essential Gear" according to the book:

1. Swiss Army Knife.  Yeah, definitely need to get one of these ASAP.


2. Bandana check! 

3. Rope and Twine Twine, check! I need to find a good old rope though.

4. Journal and Pencil- with a back-up Pen check and check!

5. Hair band duh.

6. Bungee cord mmm can't say I own my own bungee cord…


7. Flashlight check!

8. Compass definitely need to get one of these. this will also benefit me as a pirate. 

9. Safety Pins always hanging around, but never seem to be around when you need one. 

10. Duct Tape should probably keep a stash of this under my bed...

11. Deck of cards and a good Book have these in excess!

12. Patience good grief. lay it on me, please!


I feel so inspired to go exploring. Adventure is always there if we are willing to seek it out.
Have you been on any expeditions lately? Found treasure of any sort recently? Discovered something new or fascinating today?

If so, tell me all about it!

-J

here's a shout out to my wonderful Sister who just started her blog. Go check it out and comment to let her know you visited! Don't forget to follow her blog, as well. I know it will be a good read! :)
www.mysoulsurvivor.blogspot.com

Oh, goodness. Life.

As you've probably noticed, I changed the blog look a little bit… i like to mix things up every so often. Keep it exciting, you know?

Lately, I've just been really melancholy. I kind of hate that word, and certainly don't like it when it's referring to me.

How about, instead of writing a bunch of things that will sound good and get nice comments, I'll just be honest about life. Is that okay?

I'm not satisfied with how i'm living. I don't spend enough time with Jesus. I am not seeking him with all that I am. I'm looking to others to fulfill me. I spend too much time on my computer. I feel like I suck at life. I know the truth. I need to make some changes. That scares me. I have lots of hopes and dreams that truly deep down I don't think will ever happen. That scares me. And thinking that they might really happen scares me, too.

I know the truth, and I know what I need and for that I am grateful. I must ask for courage and wisdom. And seek the one who knows me best.

Thanks for reading.

Also, if you ever want to totally make my day… send me a hand-written letter.
My dear kindred spirit, Annah Beth sent me one today and I love her ever so much for the gesture.

-J

Today.

Today is good.
Today I will stand as a witness to one of the most beautiful things God made.
Today the beloved brother of mine, becomes a beloved husband to a beloved friend, who becomes a beloved sister! :)
Today the name of the Lord will be lifted high.
Today will be lovely, no matter what the weather may be.
Today Satan will not be happy.
He will try to ruin the day. God is bigger, better, and wins.
Today Jesus will be glorified by the obedience and faithfulness of his people.
Today I will see so many people from so many places. weird.
Today I will pray, trust, and hope.
Today a commitment will be made that will never be broken.

Today is good.

it's nice to know...

Without going into detail about my life lately, I will tell you some things I was thinking about today, and undoubtedly other things too, which I wasn't thinking today. Or something. Moving on…

I have shared a lot on my blog about my thoughts and opinions on things, but I really haven't been too open when it comes to stuff that's really personal. And I haven't because I don't think it's healthy. For me or my readers. I feel likes it's too easy of an access into who I am, without knowing me well and personally. This post isn't really that insightful, but it touches on a deeper level. Hope you can relate and it encourages you in some way.

Maybe you have felt like this before and can relate to these worries. I often live through each day with a feeling of anxiety, or pressure to get certain things done, accomplish special tasks or move forward with the things I want to pursue. This isn't that bad of a thing, it's actually probably a good thing to help me be productive, and not lazy. But, I've realized that it's not just in everyday things like doing my laundry, working, sticking to a schedule etc… it's a whole life, all the time thing. Like stressing about the future, regretting not learning things when I was younger, wanting to be the perfect girl I wish I was…

Yeah. Not good stuff. It's good to have dreams, hopes and passions. And it's good not to be lazy. But there has to be a line in the middle. A place to be able to be content in where I am, what I am doing, and how I am living- but still be striving for more, and better, and seeking to grow in all areas of life.
I know that there is joy and peace in the salvation I have and I need to seek the giver of that to find it. Satan loves to have me just getting through each day feeling unsatisfied, unfulfilled, and longing for something more. And he's done too much damage already all around me. I cannot let him win this battle.
I've struggled with feelings of failure and inadequacy for as long as I can remember.

Today, the Lord gently reminded me that I don't have to worry. He is in control and I can trust him. I look back on the times when I really, fully relied on him for strength and wisdom- I haven't been let down. The scary part is really letting go. Giving him the pen to write my story. After all, who is better at writing stories than the author of life itself?

p.s. have i ever told you how much i love the thesaurus?

My Dad.

My dad is incredible. I am so terribly blessed by this man and I don't really know how I got so lucky to have a father like him. He is simply the best.
He is a hard worker and has always provided for us, but never made work more important than family and encouraged the relationships within our family to be top priority, which makes the fact that my best friends ARE my family pretty neat.
He's always given us what we need, but never went overboard with spoiling, which I'm grateful for (though, when i was younger and Jessa had the pool, the sims game, the ferbie, the cable, and a bunch of pets… I may have felt a little differently ;)
We were spoiled with the fact that we traveled/travel a lot! His passion for seeing the world, became my passion as well. Some of our most memorable times have been on family vacations when he's herded us all over the world on long, incredible adventures.
I'm also thankful for his disciplinary action when we were growing up. Though again, I certainly did not appreciate or understand it then, I do now and know now how important that is. And along with the discipline came love and assurance. He did it the right way.
Though, I know reader that after reading all that, you must think him a superman by now (I didn't even get started! ;) but, I could not let you leave thinking he is what is he because of himself or anything he has accomplished. It is by Christ's sacrificial love and the grace of God that his life is what it is. And he would not want you thinking anything different! I am so thankful that my father made the choice to serve the Lord, not just using words but by deeds and actions. Because of that, I have seen Christ in him and know how better to serve the Lord, my personal savior.

Needless to say, I love him.
How will I ever find anyone who comes close?

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!