Rachel's Radical Rantings

Ok, now you might be asking right now why I sound like a boy scout leader! Well, I'm not a boy scout and I never will be. I do want to be prepared though. All around me lately, there are preparations being made. Some are preparing for: deployment, re-deployment, jobs, parenthood, leadership, marriage, to go home after being in therapy, and some are preparing to meet Jesus. Life just seems to be a gamut of preparations. Why am I asking about this? Well, recently I had the privilege of spending time with a very loving, caring, godly man who I like to call "Pa." A few months ago, pa fell and broke his hip. He has had surgery to repair it and he has been in physical therapy for about two months now. I am amazed every time I go to see him. He always makes sure that people are focused on the Lord and if they are "prepared" to meet him at any time. A few days after I was to arrive home, he was going to be having a meeting with the administrators in the esta...

My whole life, yes even to this very day 30 years later; my mom has always said, "patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace; both of these together make a very lovely face!" Now, as a young child I didn't quite get it. As a teen, my thought was, "yeah ok mom..sure, whatever." I was a teenager...what did you expect? As an adult, I am starting to understand that more. No, I don't know everything! Something I did learn as a teenager! So, what's with the "patience talk?" Well, today I finally took the plunge and decided to put my Christmas things away..hey I'm trying to keep the spirit alive all year! I had all of the decorations including the tree and all the trimmings, taken down, packed, and put back into storage within about 2 hours. Then, it was time to "re-set" the house to pre-Christmas. Growing up, my mom liked to move furniture around all the time..and she still does! That is something that I learned from her and I ...

Well, I've always heard that God has a sense of humor and I know that to be true. I also know that when we bring things into light and God lays things on our heart..haha surprise, he's going to test it! For instance, when posting something about unconditional faith, guess what?? He decided to test mine! Yes, I have my moments of question..but I pose this question again; am I going to slouch and be defeated, or stand strong in his promises? After all, has he ever steered me wrong? He has protected me my entire life from myself and the things in this world that attempt to distract me from his goodness and grace. My husband told me this morning that he is having numbness in his body when he turns his head one way or another. It seems to be an endless cycle sometimes when it comes to physical ailments. Now, I hae my moments of weakness and break down. I start doing that "woman thing" and questioning things and thinking way too far into the future. Instead of li...

My heart truly cries out and mourns with those who have been affected by the trauma in Haiti. Recently, I learned that a friend of mine has a young missionary friend down there and this 18 year old has not been found. My heart is praying and pleading God to allow her to be okay and be reunited with her family. Now, here is the question: in times of trouble, do you run for cover; or do you stand and face the giants leering down at you? Lately, I have been wondering about "true faith." True faith says: "when the world walks out on you, it doesn't matter," guess what? It was never about "the world." Yes, we are supposed to love others and we should be loving others. The problem comes in putting others thoughts above God's. God is the only one that matters and pleasing him should be at the top of our list of priorities. True faith, at least to me, is knowing God can and will...in HIS timing. It's not just trusting him when things seem p...