Right Kind Of Purity!

This seems to be such a touchy subject. But I believe the world looks at it the wrong way. It is not supposed to be a restriction, though you do have to have self control. But when you truly look at purity, it is a freedom, a freedom to put your faith in Christ that He will show you your perfect match. Purity in its true sense is not to be as close to the ways of the world as you can be but still have a "pure" body. Purity is rejoicing that God is in control so we don't have the pressures that those of the world have, trying to make ourselves physically appealing to the opposite gender, and always looking for a boy friend. Personally I rejoice in my purity every day! Because it means that one day I can give myself, my whole self to my husband! When we are pure it bring joy to our Savior. Now I don't know about you, but I like bringing joy to my Savior ;) He says right in His word that He wants us to be pure! Pure for Him!

Now I believe that modesty ties into this too. And again, touchy subject. But I think that modesty should be an outward appearance of the joy of purity. Dressing modestly does not mean you have to dress in a sack that covers you from head to toe! Dressing modestly also blesses Our Savior! And more than that even, when you make the choice to dress in a modest way, you are helping your brothers in Christ! Christian young men say it all the time, they convey their daily struggles with lust and temptation. And they are over joyed that there are young women that care enough about them to cover themselves to reduce temptation and lust! So dressing modestly is not only a help and statement to your purity, its helping out the guys too!

I think purity is presented in an offencive way so much that girls seem to think that its like being in bondage. Not being able to look cute in some shorty shorts, not being able "be with" their boy friends or others. I think if it was presented correctly, if people were told, that purity is a freedom we have as Christians, and explained as something beautiful, maybe peoples opinion would change.

My experience with purity has been wonderful, and such a blessing. This is the right kind of purity, rejoicing that you are a new creation!

Thanks for stopping by ;)

~Living By His Grace~
Rachel

Future

Where will I be, in ten years? Married, kids? I don't know. And that's hard for me, not knowing, each and every chapter of my life. All I know is the chapter I'm in right now. Sometimes sweet, sometimes boring, and sometimes down right hard!

Sometimes I think I should have been born in a different time. Just because of my ideas and things, among "young people" in this time, I'm strange. When I first entered into the teen years, I had no idea the changes the Lord had in store for me, not just in the world around me but in me. I've learned so much in the past few years, about myself, my family, and The Lord.

Purity was just something my parents talked about, never really important to me. That changed. I went from trying to fit in with all the "cool" people to not really caring what they thought. I was me, but more than that I was pursuing a deep relationship with The Lord. I struggled to find Friends. But they all just seemed to go a way I did not want to go. Casual dating, immodesty, and clicks. Oy the the clicks! I considered my sister and brother to be my best Friends, I still do. But I'm a talker and wanted to have all these Friends around me. That changed too, I began to get closer to the Lord, and through that began to see people differently, and as time went on the Lord blessed me with a few good Friends. And its funny because most of them live far from me and I cant see them but I still love them so much and thank God for them! Now back to the purity thing, I started to view it differently too. The Lord pressed on my heart to begin to really look at that the importance of purity. What it meant, for my relationship with Him and even my future marriage. I was pure in the flesh, but I just hadn't made that commitment in my soul yet. But as time went on I learned that that was my desire, to save myself completely for my husband. To have a have pure courtship and marriage.

Another thing I learned about myself was my love for writing. Several people said things about a gift in writing they saw in me. So I stared a blog (obviously). I found comfort in writing down my feeling, beliefs, and idea's. And people would say that they loved my blog. One woman we know now addresses my mom as "mother of the writer" lol.

Anyway all that to say, I'm not where I thought I would be a few years ago. But I'm so glad I'm here. So I don't know where I will be in ten years. But this I do know, it will be where He wants me to be. And that's fine with me :) Even if I do have a hard time giving my future to Him.

~Living In Grace~
Rachel

Contentment

Today I had a wonderful day. Today I woke up, spent over a half hour with the Lord praying and reading The word. Took a shower. Went outside and read a lovely book and had some yummy strawberry lemonade and laid in the grass looking up at the beautiful sky:). Right then and there I had contentment. I felt The Lord telling me, you are here right now for a reason. I have placed you in this family (the same family I loose my patience with so often) in this time, in this place, for my perfect will in your life. Right then I realized that I live for tomorrow way to much. I'm to often looking forward to whats happening next, what event I'm attending, who I'm gonna see, and where I'm gonna go. As I was watching a segment in a show the other day on menopause (don't ask) and they were talking about the effects emotionally and fiscally, it dawned on me, I cant always be looking forward to the next thing, especially this summer, it is literally the busiest summer I can remember! Seems like we are always going somewhere! So now more then ever I feel the need to try and enjoy every moment, every memorie, every little baby kiss, every smile, every kind word, every laugh, every Friend, every prayer, every song, every blessing I have in my life. For they are completely uncountable. I am blessed beyond compare. I don't have to worry about my future. I have such peace in my life. And I know it cant stay like this forever, someday, when its the Lords will, I will marry my prince, have children, and move on from this life, I will start my own family and make all new memories. I cant relive these times, I cant go back. This is such a special time. Having my family so close. I have dreams, of exiting things, and some, of peaceful things. But some times lying in the grass looking up at the glorious creation that is the sky, drinking strawberry lemonade, reading a good, and thanking The Lord for this time in my life, can be a beautiful dream <3

So look around you today and saver what you have, thank Him for this time in your life.

~Living In Grace~
Rachel

Children

{Warning, this post will be full of loving on little kiddo's :)} Those who know me (well I think most of them :) Know that I loooooooove children. And if there are little one's around, most likely I will have one on my lap or be chasing one around or pitching a baseball to one or of course tickling one ;) It wasn't like that a couple years ago, at least not as much. Everyone would say, Christy is so good with kids! And I would be off playing football (shutter's), or baseball, then when I got a little older I just wanted to be with the older girls (oy) Sure I wanted to be a babysitter, but mostly because I was old enough and because i would be making money. Yes I thought kids were cute and all but it wasn't until the last few years I really developed a love for children. I cant really explain it. I just love to be around kids :) I find a joy in making young ones giggle and grin and show their little dimple's :)

But more than that I feel a calling on my life to care for and teach little ones. And what better time in my life to do that than now, of course when I have children my caring and teaching will be to them. But for now I will content to love on other peoples children :)

Children are a beautiful thing. So Innocent and fun loving. Everything they say seems to be comical (Although some things you must hold your laughter) Everything is so new to them, amazing! Even when you don't think they are they're watching your every move, learning how 'big people' do things. So when little kids say things like "I want to be like you when I grow up" Its sometimes a bigger complement then anything else :)

I feel a responsibility to set an example for children younger than me. For them to learn from my mistakes and treat them like their opinions matter but that they still must obey.

Anyway I think I'm through with my rambling on ;)

~All For Christ~
Rachel

How?

How did He do it?
How did He take this torn, broken, lifeless form, and give me hope unbreakable.
How could He hang there on that cross, for ME?
How can He forgive me every time I rebel against the commands He has given me?
How can He hold me when peace seems so far away, knowing the things I have done?
How can He carry me when I can not walk on my own, when I have turned my back so many times?
How can He pick me up every time I fall, when I have ceased to profess His name when He gave me so many opportunity's?
How can He catch my every tear, and turn it into hope? How can such a love be real?

These are questions in my heart. How can it be? I don't understand. Why didn't He leave me for dead? That's what I deserved. I have defied Him so many times. I was a lost cause. But still He stayed by me until I let go, until I surrendered and stopped fighting the very thing that gives me peace. Though I don't understand how. This I know for sure, I am His and He is mine. And no mater what, He wont let me go, wont let me fall, slip, or slide. And I will spend the rest of my life striving to become what He has created me to be. I'm sold out, committed, and fighting for Him!

~All For Christ~
Rachel

Why YOUR best?

When did the saying "Do your best" come into play? Why is America so obsessed with doing their best? There's a quote I like allot it go's, "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got". When someone hears "do your best" they get a satisfied feeling, like, okay well I did my best and that's all I can do. No! We have to go for more! We need to stop settling for "our best" and go for "His best" for us. Because His plans for us surpass anything we could ever dream of. Our best is not even close to His best.

He has already written our life story, all we have to do is put our trust in Him. Easy right? Well not always. I heard a song lyric the other day that said "If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans". Sometimes this is so true. Just when you think you got it figured out, boom He throws you a curve ball.

I've learned that sometimes my plans are so much different than His, that it's quite amazing to me. When storms of pain and brokenness blow through my life He reminds me that He is in control, and no mater what His perfect plan for my life will play out in His timing.

I guess what I'm trying to say is when you feel that you've done your best, dig deeper. Go for His best.

~All For Christ~

Rachel

P.s I kinda go off subject sometimes huh ;)

Like a little seed

My faith is like a seed. It was planted into the ground, and then it began to take root. I began to see the depth of love my Savior had for me. Then it had a little sprout, I began to see the depth of need that I had for my savior. Then it grew a little taller, I began to let my faith shine through to the outside. Then it grew a little bud, I began trust His plans for me. Then it blossomed, and I began to be completely sold out and living for Him. And sometimes it closes up in fear, and sometimes it gets dry, and sometimes it gets covered. But with Him as the gardener, I will always blossom into a deeper beauty, brighter colors, and have my thirst satisfied. He will always fix my petals, mend my torn leaves, and care for me. Dear Lord give me sunshine, water, and nutrition so that I may continue to grow, with each passing day, to grow into the full, rich, fruitful, beautiful person you've called me to be.

~All For Christ~
Rachel