Next month

I will have been dating the man of my dreams for a year!
Im so thankful that God blessed me and loves me enough to have him.

My heart is so full of happiness! <3

September 12 Devotional

Today I read this devotional. Something tells me God knew I'd need to read this exactly when I did...

I hope it touches your life as much as it did mine tonight.

Going Through Spiritual Confusion

Sep

12

2012

Jesus answered and said, ’You do not know what you ask’ —Matthew 20:22

There are times in your spiritual life when there is confusion, and the way out of it is not simply to say that you should not be confused. It is not a matter of right and wrong, but a matter of God taking you through a way that you temporarily do not understand. And it is only by going through the spiritual confusion that you will come to the understanding of what God wants for you.

The Shrouding of His Friendship (see Luke 11:5-8). Jesus gave the illustration here of a man who appears not to care for his friend. He was saying, in effect, that is how the heavenly Father will appear to you at times. You will think that He is an unkind friend, but remember?He is not. The time will come when everything will be explained. There seems to be a cloud on the friendship of the heart, and often even love itself has to wait in pain and tears for the blessing of fuller fellowship and oneness. When God appears to be completely shrouded, will you hang on with confidence in Him?

The Shadow on His Fatherhood (see Luke 11:11-13). Jesus said that there are times when your Father will appear as if He were an unnatural father?as if He were callous and indifferent— but remember, He is not. “Everyone who asks receives . . .” (Luke 11:10). If all you see is a shadow on the face of the Father right now, hang on to the fact that He will ultimately give you clear understanding and will fully justify Himself in everything that He has allowed into your life.

The Strangeness of His Faithfulness (see Luke 18:1-8). “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Will He find the kind of faith that counts on Him in spite of the confusion? Stand firm in faith, believing that what Jesus said is true, although in the meantime you do not understand what God is doing. He has bigger issues at stake than the particular things you are asking of Him right now.

-Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest.

Reblogged: I don't wait anymore.

Posted by gracefortheroad in The MercyFebruary 3, 2012

When I was 16, I got a purity ring.

And when I was 25, I took it off.

I didn’t tell anyone I was doing it — it wasn’t a statement or an emotional thing. I just slipped it off my finger that day and, before tucking it away in a box, ran my finger around the words on the familiar gold band.

“True Love Waits.” Waits.

What’s it “waiting” for, anyway?

*****

I had my reasons for deciding not to wear it anymore. Other people might have other reasons. It’s a graveyard of hearts, this place where single church girls crash into their late 20s and early 30s. Churches see the symptoms. They scramble to reach out to the ever-growing young adult singles crowd who feels alienated by family-oriented services.

But there’s something bigger behind it than that.

Much bigger.

There are a lot of girls out there who don’t know who God is anymore – the God of their youth group years just isn’t working out. Back then, that God said to wait for sex until they are married, until He brings the right man along for a husband. They signed a card and put it on the altar and pledged to wait.

And wait they did.

*****

And waited and waited and waited.

Some of them have prayed their whole lives for a husband, and he hasn’t shown up. They’ve heard the advice to “be the woman God made you to be, focus on that, and then the husband will come.” They’ve read “Lady in Waiting,” gotten super involved in church and honed their domestic skills.

And still they wait.

More than a decade ago, a youth leader handed them a photocopied poem in Sunday School written to them from “God” that said, “The reason you don’t have anyone yet is because you’re not fully satisfied in Me. You have to be satisfied with Me and then when you least expect it, I’ll bring you the person I meant for you.”

And the girls see it posted on their bulletin boards from time to time.

“You’re right, God,” they say. “We’re not satisfied in you yet. We will put you first and then you can bring us a husband in your timing.”

But many of them – if they’re honest – will tell you that time has passed, and it’s wrecking their view of God.

If this is who God’s supposed to be, then He’s tragically late.

So some decide to chuck “Lady in Waiting” out the window … and possibly their virginity with it. Church goes next. God might go next, too. If He doesn’t answer these prayers after they’ve held up their end of the bargain, why would He answer any others?

Whether it was the fault of the leaders, the fault of us girls, or both, a tragedy happened back then.

A lot of girls were sold on a deal and not on a Savior.

*****

I had that poem on my bulletin board all through high school – the one where “God” was telling me to fall in love with Him first and then I would be able to fall in love with a husband later.

Who wrote that poem anyway?

Pretty sure it wasn’t God.

When Jesus was here on the earth, the crowds would follow Him because they saw He gave good things. But that’s not what He wanted. He wanted their hearts for Himself. So He would turn to them and say things like, “If you don’t love Me so much that every other relationship in your life looks like hate by comparison, you can’t follow Me.” (Matthew 10:34-39, paraphrase)

That sounds a lot different from the poem.

Christ is the source of everything we need and the giver of all good gifts … but in telling people about Him, it’s possible we’ve sold them on a solution for life’s problems and not life itself.

What if we as girls had learned early on that having Him was everything, not a means to the life we think He would want us to have.

If we had learned we don’t abstain from sex because we’re “waiting.” We abstain because we love Him.

If I’d had on my bulletin board, “Fall in love with Jesus.” That’s it. Bottom line. That’s everything you need to know, to work toward, to put your hope in.

If I’d learned who He is, what He wants, how to give Him everything, not “wait” so that one day I could give my everything to someone else.

If I’d learned that it’s not bad to pray for a husband, but that my greater prayer should be for Him to spend my life as He chooses for His glory.

If we as believers make that our message, things could be drastically different for a lot of girls wondering why the God they think they learned to follow doesn’t compute. It doesn’t necessarily stop the desire for a husband or end all feelings of loneliness, but it does show a God who provides, loves and gives infinite purpose even to our singleness rather than a God who categorically denies some who pray for husbands while seemingly giving freely to others.

It shows that while marriage is good, He is the greater goal.

*****

Don’t think I’ve done this perfectly.

I’d be deceiving you if you thought that. I’ve had relationships where I made major mistakes. I’ve gone through angst-ridden phases where I met with friends to plead together with God to bring us husbands. I’ve planned major life decisions around possibilities.

I lived like I was waiting for something.

And that’s why I slipped off my ring that day. It wasn’t that I wanted to sleep with people – I haven’t. It wasn’t a slap to True Love Waits, or to anyone who wears a purity ring – saving sex for marriage is good and is His design.

I just didn’t want to wait anymore – didn’t want to live like I was waiting on anyone to get here.

I already have Him … and He is everything.

“Follow Christ for His own sake, if you follow Him at all.” – J.C. Ryle

Summer 2012 overview

At the end of Mission Adventures Switzerland, we had to write about our experience and what God has done. I am going to share what I wrote with you.

Looking Back Getting Here...
-Wow, God definitely provided for me to come - I've done past MAs, and God gave me lots of confirmation and open doors. I raised the EXACT amount of money to the dollar to pay for a one-way ticket and all my fees.
-Beth's encouragement for me and the fact that she also went was definitely the Lord.
-God's perfect timing - With Jacob leaving to go to England with his family and do His school, I knew that my time had began to come to an end for that season of my life in Mexico, and God has something for me and Him.
-I met JP and Sarvia (who were my leaders from last summer) and they encouraged me to come this year.
-One of the Pastors at my church, Sean, spoke some words over me before I left. It confirmed all the doubts and fears I had about going, and was one of the biggest encouragements for me to follow what the Lord had planned for me.

Looking Up What God has Done...
-One night during MA as I was praying, I said "God, I have nothing left... No money, no place to go after this, and absolutely nothing except myself left." God said in reply, "That's all I've wanted this whole time. Just you." God just wants me, nothing else from me, and for me to be willing and able. That's all. What an amazing thing that is!
-God gave me peace about everything; my future, money, life... and soon as I returned back to Switzerland, I had almost $200!
-I've been able to see God fulfill his promises to me and heard him speak so clearly. He really renewed my passion for the youth and how much I love MA!
-I've built life-long relationships with staff and students, and was able to stay with some of them for a week after MA was finished - it was an awesome time!
-Shown me that God is my provider. Over all things. And He has rebuilt so much of my faith and trust, and really challenged me in my relationship with Him. I've grown to a new level with Christ and that is so great, we never want to stop growing.

Looking Forward My Future...
-Doing MA has again reminded me that I would love to do long-term missions work --> Mission Adventures, DTS schools, etc.
-Again, God's given my peace about my future. Whatever it may be..
-I always knew I love to travel, and now that I've gotten to see so much more than North America, I realize how much I love traveling, cultures and all that... Jacob and I have talked about a future "Traveling Mission Adventures" and I see how possible and how incredible that really would be.
-God has opened a few doors for my pretty distant future, but doors nonetheless. I've had opportunities to staff DTS schools in Ensenada in April/be a student, or helping pioneer MA in Finland next summer.

Also, an opportunity for me to get a ride to England was possible. I also kept reading, hearing, and thinking about a DTS in Harpenden... I wasn't sure why, or how... But I prayed that if I could get a ride to England and visit and if God began to open doors, I would go. I've filled out an application and am still in the process of applying. I got that ride to England and have been here for over 2 weeks now. If I want to do long-term missions work, especially with YWAM, then I know that a DTS is my next step. However, in order for me to do this I need to return to the USA to get a specific visa, even though I am allowed in the country for 6 months (really stupid process). Please be praying that if this is what God wants, I will be able to return home on a cheap flight and get a visa quickly. 

I've been praying and seeking God on the situation and every time He tells me the same thing... "Be still. I am God. Wait on the Lord. Just believe..."

Thank you to everyone who has been praying and supporting me in any way. I owe you all so much, and so do the kids who's lives were changed during this time. I am so thankful to know you. May God bless you and Keep you.

With Love,
Rachel

Budapest train station - with Dan

The team in Romania. Nous Sommes Fous!

Jessica and I during Romania outreach. She's a clown :)

Beth and I during a day trip to Annecy, France.
Le Point de Amour

Some of the MA kids I stayed with after the cycle.
They came to see me off at the station :)

beautiful view from a castle in England

My wonderful boyfriend and I at Stonehenge

Romania

Wow, I don't know where to begin.

Our time is a bit more than halfway through in Romania. It reminds me of a European version of Mexico! These Swiss students here are the most incredible students I have ever experienced with Mission Adventures. We've been working with gypsy villages, doing VBS, and today we will paint a school.

This country has so much heaviness over it, yet it is so beautiful. I am so lucky to be serving here. God is speaking to the kids every day and showing them new things, as well as myself. I've really been stretched and I have grown so much on this trip -- and it's not finished yet! 

Last night we took a train to see Dracula's castle. We planned to take the train back and were stuck at the train station for over 3 hours. However, no body complained and it was a blessing in disguise because the kids got to really unite, and I was able to speak and pray for some of the kids, and watch them pray for each other. It was incredible. 

God's really teaching our team and the Swiss team what He meant when He said, "Be FLEXIBLE."

God has a sense of Humor.

I can't wait to tell all about the rest of the trip.

With Love from Medias,

Rachel

Today is the day.

Today is quite a historic day in the history of YWAM Burtigny/Switzerland.
Today is the day that the first ever Mission Adventures team arrives.
Today is the day that all of this preparation and prayer really comes into play.
Today is the day on which people will look back and say "The first ever MA in the summer of 2012...."
Today is the day I get to be a part of something historic. I am so blessed to be able to pioneer this programme here with so many incredible people.

Our staff consists of: a Korean, American, English, Swiss-French, Swiss-Italian, Mexican, and a Canadian. If there is one thing I love about this base, it is the diversity.

All of us have put in countless hours of preparation for this day. We've put in hours of prayer before and during the time I've been here. Everyone of us has gotten God's word spoken over the lives of each individual coming here -- very specifically and clearly.

I'm so excited but nervous because I speak NO French, and it's mainly in French.........and Romanian because we are going to Romania. Pray for that whole tricky situation would be appreciated, because it changes a lot of what I normally do during cycles.

file://localhost/Users/rachelvillaire/Documents/MA/Switz%20'12/Staff%20Photobooth/DanBuck%20copy.xcfI am so proud to call myself Burtigny MA Staff. I love each one of these people and can't wait until the team arrives - the countdown is on...Now, it's less than an hour.

The wonderful MA staff! Dressed up for our Rules Video
The theme was "sports" because of the Olymics

Dressed up for our staff video - we did cultural cliches
 I was a cowgirl, and Beth was a proper English lady :)

Beautiful view from the little restaurant Beth and I visit.

Prayer Requests: 

• That God would use me and give me peace about not speaking French/Romanian which makes things pretty difficult
• God would speak clearly to these students lives, as he's already shown He has so much to teach ALL TWENTY of them! Including the leader, Gael.
• Continual Financial Support - I still owe a chunk of staff fee's, and am in need of monthly supporters. God has provided this far, and I believe he will continue to.

July 3

Today I sewed about a total of 5 costumes (not including the ones yesterday and the day before!) for the Jesus Passion Play we are going to have next week. I also taught two other staff members how to sew.

Tonight we had prayer and intercession for Mission Adventures and we interceded for two students specifically. God revealed many amazing things about these kids, and we were able to pray into their lives, and prepare ourselves on just how God wants us to show His love to them. I am excited to see what God has for their lives.

Today Beth and James and I took a walk down the road to take some photos of the area around us (Soon to come). We couldn't help but stop and stare at the beautiful sight of the fog on the hill, and the sun shining through it onto the valley, with mountain surrounding us, and green as far as the eye can see. It was so humbling to look at, and a great reminder of the ginormous and magnificent God we serve -- I am honestly struggling for words to describe Him. He is simply...Indescribable.

Please continue to pray for the students as God continues to reveal things to us and prepare their hearts for what is to come this next week.

Also for flexibility as a team, because we will be doing most of our sessions in Romania, but none of us have ever seen the base, so it will be a big challenge

Love from Burtigny,
R

PS: Happy Independence Day, America ;)