Deep Thoughts

 At church we have been doing a bible study based off of the movie Courageous, and it has been tons of fun.  About 2 weeks ago we talked about abiding in the Lord, spending time with him and really seeking him in our lives.  I had one of those moments where the Lord kind of thumps you on the head and goes uh hum this is for you Rachael.  So I started last Sunday making a big effort to spend more time in God's word.  I sat down on my bed and I prayed, "O.K. God, give me a place to start, something that will give me a peace and comfort with David being underway." So, I took a breath and opened my bible right the the very first Chapter of Ruth. I Just began reading and It's one of those books that from the beginning I was interested in the story line, and then I hit a passage of scripture....

"But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.  WHERE YOU GO I WILL GO, AND WHERE YOU STAY I WILL STAY.
Ruth 1:16.  

When I sat down and started reading this book I COMPLETELY forgot that I had that same scripture reference engraved into David's wedding band 3 years ago.  I know Ruth was talking to her mother-in-law but with David's military career I thought that it was very fitting.  All of a sudden I felt so much better. Such a comforted feeling fell around me and  it was just what I needed as David and I start this new experience of under ways and deployments. 
Things only began to get better from there.  For the last couple of weeks we have had David's car up for sale and VERY little interest had been shown in it, which was very discouraging. On Monday morning after my trip to the gym I had a voicemail from someone interested in buying David's car!  This was so exciting....and I immediately began hoping that this was it! I was kind of skeptical at first because it was a lady who searches Craigslist for used car to buy for a used car dealership and so I kind of thought they weren't gonna make a decent offer. I prayed and asked that this would all workout. (I just wanted not to have to deal with it anymore....It would be one less thing on my plate).  Then I started wondering, Oh goodness this is David's Car, what if I sell if for a price he disappointed with.....and I have no way to run it by him first.  Luckily all went well and I think David will be happy with the price...we wanted more for it but it was a couple hundred over his lowest number!
Since I sold the car and had no one to take me home the receptionist from the dealership had to give us a ride. During our ride back to my house I was worried that it was going to be super weird and awkward but it wasn't! Some how the subject of being a christian came up and we had the most natural and wonderful conversation.  She fell away from her faith after mother had died and seemed to be a little lost.  I've always been nervous about a chance to witness because you begin to doubt if you really know enough to actual be an effective witness. During our bible study we talked about how in the movie Courageous how natural one of the characters witness was and how it doesn't have to be about bible thumping and scripture quoting. For me my witness to the young lady was based purely off my personal experiences and how the Lord has shown his presence and grace in my life.

WOW What an amazing week! After abiding in the Lord for only a couple of days I could already see and feel him moving in my life and I look forward to seeing what else he has in store for me!

On another note, I heard something this week that kind of got me fired up.  I was searching through Netflix for something to watch and happened upon Glee, this show is a MESS! The singing and dancing is great but the rest of it is just a bunch of liberal junk.  In this episode one of the characters is  basically trying to convince the other gentleman that it would be OK to sleep with this girl because that is what he wanted. He was making it out like the bible is old news and that what was written back then doesn't apply to Christians today.  That is the biggest load of bull of heard in a while. 

While times have changed and things are different then what they where back in Jesus's day we are still being judged and held accountable by the same GOD. For example,  we may not sacrifice animals anymore but the Lord does call us to sacrifice of other things in our lives that might be more pertinent. A cow doesn't mean to us what it did to those people back in biblical times. Today our time, talents and extras in life hold more value and there will be times that the Lord will ask us to sacrifice those things in his name.  For me the best test is still the WWJD phrase.  Would Jesus sleep with a women just because that is what his physical body desires? Would Jesus be in a homosexual relationship?  Would Jesus sit and watch this movie or listen to that music?  (The music area is where I struggle.) Just because times change, doesn't mean that the way Christians live their lives should.  This why so many people say Christians are hypocrites because we say one thing and live our lives in a completely different way. 
I want people to know that I am different...and I love the Lord with all that is in me!  Everyone struggles with different things and I am probably the person furthest from being perfect (David could say AMEN to that one) but the Lord forgives all sins because they are all equal. 

OK end soap box :-) Thanks for listening!

Rachael