Happy 1st Day of Autumn!

"Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God,
for He has given you the autumn rains in righteousness."
Joel 2:23a

This is my favorite season of the year! I'm so happy Fall is here!

Grace and peace!


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Song of the Week

Cause inspiration and blessings are found everywhere....here's my song of the week, and a salute to Mr. Bob Dylan for being a City Shining in a very dark industry.
:)

I BELIEVE IN YOU

They ask me how I feel
And if my love is real
And how I know I'll make it through.
And they, they look at me and frown,
They'd like to drive me from this town,
They don't want me around
'Cause I believe in you.

They show me to the door,
They say don't come back no more
'Cause I don't be like they'd like me to,
And I walk out on my own
A thousand miles from home
But I don't feel alone
'Cause I believe in you.

I believe in you even through the tears and the laughter,
I believe in you even though we be apart.
I believe in you even on the morning after.
Oh, when the dawn is nearing
Oh, when the night is disappearing
Oh, this feeling is still here in my heart.

Don't let me drift too far,
Keep me where you are
Where I will always be renewed.
And that which you've given me today
Is worth more than I could pay
And no matter what they say
I believe in you.

I believe in you when winter turn to summer,
I believe in you when white turn to black,
I believe in you even though I be outnumbered.
Oh, though the earth may shake me
Oh, though my friends forsake me
Oh, even that couldn't make me go back.

Don't let me change my heart,
Keep me set apart
From all the plans they do pursue.
And I, I don't mind the pain
Don't mind the driving rain
I know I will sustain
'Cause I believe in you.

- Bob Dylan

True Worship

"Yes, worship of the loving God is man's whole reason
for existence.
That is why we are born and that is why
we are born again from above.
That is why we were created and that is why
we have been recreated.
That is why there was a genesis
at the beginning,
and that is why there is a re-genesis,
called regeneration."
-AW Tozer

"But the hour is coming, and now is,
when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth;
for the Father is seeking such
to worship Him.
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him
must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:23-24

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Awesome Devo

Day 1 -- Monday, September 13

Today's first step together is a simple prayer.

God, I need you more than anything.

Breathe this confession throughout the day as you lift your eyes to the source of everything you crave...everything you need.

Psalm 73

25Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

What/who are you looking to today to provide what only God can do? Release it/them from the pressure of meeting a need that is beyond their capacity and confess your hope in God who can do infinitely more.

Prayer -- Father, I lift my eyes to You, Maker of heaven and earth. I confess that I have relied too often on my own strength or the strength of others. But, in truth I am tired and weary, and I know that end the end my own efforts will not be enough. Today, I choose to look up to You. You are my God. You are my source of life. You are everything. Restore my hope that You will come through that the world may see and know that Jesus alone is God. Amen

- Passion City Church

Think on these things....

"Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise,
think on these things."
Philippians 4:8

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I Remember... 9/11

As we come to the anniversary of 9/11 I wanted to just say that I remember...

I remember where I was when I first heard about the attacks.

I remember almost every hour of that day.

I remember how our country came together to mourn the loss of family and to support our neighbors.

I remember how the American flag was hung in front of almost every single home.

I remember how we all, gathered together to pray for our country.

And as I remember all of these things, I want to encourage each of us to not just remember, but to carry on.

Carry on loving our neighbors and supporting and encouraging one another.

And can we please have our flags hanging, as we show love and pride of this very special country the Lord has blessed us with.

But above all...can we please, get on our knees and pray for America!
Pray for our citizens
Pray for the November elections
Pray for forgiveness
Pray that God will bless our Nation
Pray for our elected officials

Can we please pray? And not only as we remember 9/11, but can we please pray for our country everyday!

Grace and peace....and God bless America.

Rachel

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The Father's Song

I had a really great weekend camping....I'll have to write more about that later....

On one of my drives I listened to this Bible study by Louie Giglio and Passion City Church. It's probably one of the best and most powerful studies I've heard in a long time.

You have to watch it!!!!

Click here





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Saved to Worship and be Poured Out

I am getting ready to go camping for this fabulous 4 day weekend. I am so excited to get away, go for a long drive up towards Santa Cruz, CA and spend some time in a tent all alone under the stars with my Lord!

I have been feeling a little overloaded lately. Not really overwhelmed, but overloaded. Just a lot going on at work and at home, and a giant unknown in my immediate up and coming future. But that unknown is really just an opportunity for the Lord to show Himself faithful once again...as He always does. So I'm excited to get away and just spend some time with Him and the beautiful nature He has created and just quiet my heart and mind before Him.

BUT, before I take off I wanted to leave you all with some amazing quotes. To remind us why we were created and to inspire us to give our best to the Lord.

"We do not come to God that we might be automatic Christians, cookie-cutter Christians, Christians stamped out with a die. God has provided His salvation that we might be, individually and personally, vibrant children of God, loving God with all our hearts and worshiping Him in the beauty of holiness. "
-AW Tozer

and

"When Mary of Bethany broke the box of precious ointment and poured it on Jesus' head, it was an act for which no one else saw any occasion; the disciples said it was a waste. But Jesus commended Mary for her extravagant act of devotion, and said that wherever His gospel was preached "this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." Our Lord is carried beyond Himself with joy when He sees any of us doing what Mary did, not being set on this or that economy, but being abandoned to Him. God spilt the life of His Son that the world might be saved; are we prepared to spill out our lives for Him?

"He that believeth in Me out of him shall flow rivers of living water" - hundreds of other lives will be continually refreshed. It is time now to break the life, to cease craving for satisfaction, and to spill the thing out. Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him?"
-Oswald Chambers

These 2 quotes from my devotional time tonight, just seemed to fit together...we are saved and created to worship our Lord and out of that worship, we should be pouring our lives out to Him, to be abandoned to Him and His will. And prayerfully, a natural outcome of our worship and our pouring our lives out to Him, will be that others will be blessed around us, as He overflows in us. It's not the work itself that He is wanting from us, it is the worship and the poured out life before Him, the work is only secondary to our relationship with Him. Putting our wants and desires aside and looking unto Him!

Kinda like a light...it doesn't just shine within itself...it lights up the space around it. Lord, let me be that city shining on hill....

have a blessed holiday weekend!

grace and peace
Rachel

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