College

I’d like to ask you to please pray for me this semester while I’m away at college. Please pray I’d do well in my classes and have fun, but most importantly that I’d trust God while I’m there rest and rely on Him for my strength. I know college is going to be really busy and I want to make sure I keep God first.

I’m so thankful for all the promises of God and who He is. Something I’ve been reminded of a lot this year is to know God, and how knowing Him brings so much peace. If I am truly focused on God and resting in Him, I can’t be worried at the same time. God promises so much to me! He is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower (read Psalm 18 for more). He says to me, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” I'm glad I have the privilege to serve such an amazing God!

-Rachel :)

Press toward the mark

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

We need to do what that verse says. We need to leave those things which are behind us. Even if we have fallen 7 times we need to just get right back up again and reach for the prize. Isn't it great that God is merciful and forgives us!

Psalms 26:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Psalms 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Jesus is my Best Friend

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. John 15:13-15

…A friend of publicans and sinners! Luke 7:34b

Jesus is my best-friend! He was a friend of sinners like me, and He died on the cross so that my sins could be forgiven! I have some great friends, and I am very thankful for them, but they can’t always be there when I need them. I am so glad that Jesus promises never to leave me or forsake me. He will always be there with me no matter what is going on! I can cast all my cares on Him, because He cares for me! Jesus is a friend who is always the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Other friends will let me down, but not Jesus…He will never be fair-weather. I praise Jesus for the friend that He is to me!

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged:
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness:
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

- Rachel