Sovereign in all things

God showed me an incredible amount of His sovereignty over my life today...
I often thought of God being sovereign in areas such as his ruling over the world, over weather, leaders of nations, the length of our lives or in our salvation. I've heard the message of God being sovereign over every area of our lives, but I'm not sure I ever really spent a lot of time thinking about that until today.
That He has supreme and ultimate power over every area of my life... whether that is who I will marry, my ministry, my family, etc. That in every decision I make God's in that decision, no matter how big or small it might seem to me. Wow, He loves and cares for me that much! 
The thought that there are absolutely no boundaries to God's providence and his dominion. Just like it says in Romans 11:36 "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." 
My response to this truth is simple, it's trust. It's just about TRUSTING Him. The Creator and Ruler of all things. Nothing is beyond God's concern for me or his control over my life. He knows the very number of hairs upon my head. I struggle with trusting God in some pretty big areas of my life. Area's that for some reason I feel like I should control when in fact I do a horrible job at managing them. I desire to learn how to be surrendered in Trust to his sovereignty. That I would follow and not try to lead. 


Are you surrendered to His sovereignty in your life? 


I know I need this idea and understanding of God's sovereignty to grow in my life, every single day. His grace, comfort, love & providence are an everyday need. 


Revelation 4:11
"Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created.”

Hope Ahead

I'm not someone who often thinks about Heaven. From time to time it will cross my mind, that one day I will find myself in a physical sense standing in the presence of God, but that "one day" can sometimes feel a thousand miles away. 
Recently I've really been thinking about Heaven, and the hope that I have ahead of me...that I have a hope that no matter how great or how awful my day goes I still have joy because I know a God that desires for me to spend time with Him ... that I don't only get to spend time with him here and now but that I get a hope of being with Him forever. I have that to hold onto. 
As I was walking to meet a friend tonight, I was overwhelmed by this joy... and even though I am waiting to meet Him there in Heaven one day and that I have to continue running strong and running this race...pursuing relationship with my Creator, the one that loves me without condition ... As good as it is now, it's only going to get better. That's the hope I have. And once I get there, oh how beautiful that will be... that I will get to experience what Mary & Martha once were able to do.. to just sit at the feet of Jesus. 


Jesus, the one who poured himself out through his death upon the cross, the one who is exalted and raised up, the name above every name, the King of Glory, the Lord of the Heavens & Earth,  the Son, the one who regins, he who is the always the same yesterday, today & forever. 
He will be waiting for me. I have hope and full assurance of that through my faith. 


Do you ever dream of eternity? It's amazing that hearts as hard as ours can be changed and loved by this holy God. That He washes away our sin. That He welcomes us in. 


We were created to worship Him and trust me it will be worth it. 



"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." ~Hebrews 12:1-3 

Stuck in the moment

This is a bit long... First, A brief update...and then something raw...
As an SBS we have just finished our 1st Quarter of the school. It has been incredible working alongside all the amazing men & women God has brought here for this season. God has been so incredibly faithful so far, it's been such a privilege to see his hand at work in all of our lives. We have 6 more amazing months ahead of us, so please keep us in your prayers as we need endurance, to continue to be grounded in truth, growing in relationships & giving out what we have been given. 


I will be leaving for Australia in 10 days to help pioneer the Titus Project, I am really looking forward to it & I really believe God has a lot in store for each one of us that are involved. I look forward to spending a bit more time in Australia and I am hoping that God continues to give me vision and passion for my future there. 


Changing Gears... my heart is raw. 


So this last weekend several of us took a camping trip to celebrate the end of a successful 1st Quarter. There was a typhoon warning, but we decided to take the risk and just go for it. We had a few rain showers here and there but nothing too serious. We ended up having a great time, playing in the waves at the beach, eating burgers, playing several rounds of Mafia and then attempting to sleep...in the hot sticky tents. The next morning after tearing down camp most people took off for home...but a few of us stayed back to go up to the swimming pools for a while (yes, a campground near the beach with a swimming pool, hot showers & hair dryers...haha...only in Taiwan) Anyways I found myself playing a game with this smaller group of people which was just a simple, lighthearted game... But, as I played this silly game I felt so many insecurities rise up in my heart. It began with the insecurity that I'm not really a good or a fast swimmer - I basically swim like I'm drowning if I have to go fast, haha! Other outward insecurities followed...anyways all of this led into a black hole full of insecurity that I have been trying to shake for 2 days now... several layers of insecurities that are a wall high. I wasn't surprised by the attack, in fact last week all of the women in our school got together and we shared about insecurity and had a prayer time with one another...I was able to share with 2 incredible women about one of the deepest places in my heart, a place that I usually only share with Jesus. I don't think I can share that with you, but what I can say is that I have and am feeling very weak. Believe me when I say I HATE admitting that I feel weak right now... I am usually someone who is really good at holding it all together, or at least I think I am. I'm sure the enemy is stirring things up again while I am raw on the inside.


Why am I telling you this? ... because I desire to be free of these specific chains, these chains of insecurity that tell me I am everything different from who I have actually been created to be by God. The God that knew me and formed me in my mother's womb tells me of his love for me...He speaks incredible promises to me about my future... and he speaks about these things often... but often times I end up believing the lies over believing what HE says about me. The lies are many but to name a few... The lie that I am not smart enough. The lie that I don't work hard enough. The lie that I am boring. The lie that I am doing the wrong thing in life. The lie that I won't get married or have a family. The lie that I am unwanted. And so many more. 
I know why I struggle with so many of these things, when and where they come from...but I don't need to go there.


I just want these chains to break. Every single one of them. 


I don't want to be stuck in the moment anymore of believing these lies over the truth. I don't want to think less of myself when something in my life doesn't go the way I want or think it should. I desire to be free in Christ, completely free...I know this won't happen until I'm with Him but for now I want to really believe not just know that I am loved, unconditionally. The way that God's word speaks about love. 
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends." 1 Cor. 13:4-8 


And I want to be able to give this same love to others. I know I will do a better job when it goes from knowing to believing in my heart. I have been on a long journey with God so far in my life, and am fully aware of the fact that although I have grown, I have so much further to go. So please pray for me. That is the purpose of sharing this with you, that you would pray. Of course everything in me says, DON'T POST THIS...it's too personal...and that's exactly why I am posting it. I don't want to stay stuck in the moment anymore. 


There is a song that has helped me the past few days called 'Break every chain' and the main line of the song is: "There is power in the name of Jesus, to break every chain."  


Here's the link:


http://youtu.be/b6ncg2pLYks

The Land Down Under: Transition time...again.

I have struggled with what to call or name this blog post because let's face it, it contains some pretty crazy, unexpected and huge changes that have been taking place in my life. 


As most of you know I have been working with the School of Biblical Studies here in Taiwan for the past 3 years. God brought me here with a vision to be a part of this school and to develop my knowledge for the Word, my passion for God and to be transformed through it all. I have developed a love for Taiwan and many other nations living here. I know that I have grown and matured into more of the person God created me to be and I have come to see many of the areas I have been gifted in and many others that I have had the opportunity to grow in! There are so many of those areas...to name a few areas I feel that have grown or have been developed in me would look a bit like this: Teaching, Discipleship, Evangelism & Commitment. There is so many things I could say about my time here and I'm sure over the next few months I will be processing a lot of it on here. 


You might be wondering now why I am saying all of this... and I am about to tell you. 


I believe that God has used my time here in Taiwan to develop a heart and calling to pioneer a school in Australia called the Titus Project as well as partnering with the School of Biblical Studies there as they have a need for experienced staff to join them in critical areas. The SBS is a new plant in Australia, it's only on it's 2nd year there, but is growing so quickly, it's so awesome to see how God is working there. The Titus project is an outreach phase to the SBS, where graduates will then take the inductive method to teach to many church pastors, leaders, etc. into areas where bible training is very limited and needed. The main focus that Australia will have is on the south pacific islands. There is a need and request for Bible teachers to come teach in many of these islands. 


Anyways, there is so much more that I could say...and want to share with you all. But for now this blog's purpose is to ask for your prayers as I will be MOVING TO AUSTRALIA after this year in Taiwan finishes in December. This is going to be a hard transition for me to leave many amazing people and investments here in Taiwan but it's also a very exciting change that I am looking forward to with all my heart. 


Please write me if you have any questions, thoughts, etc. I would love to hear from each of you. Please be praying for me as I will be going to pioneer Titus this coming July ... but then will return to Taiwan for the rest of the year until SBS finishes up in December. I will go back to the States for around 5 months in between this transition to meet with my supporters & spend time with my Church who all invest so much in me! I am so grateful to have such incredible people a part of my life. Seriously blessed. 

Chips & Salsa

Hey Friends,
Just wanted to give you a quick update on all the "haps" in my life right now! As you've probably noticed I have labeled this update "Chips & Salsa" ... well what many of you might not know is that Chips & Salsa are hard to come by where I live, except when you can get to the Costco which takes up about a whole day to go there, shop & come back so you always make sure and stock up every now and then or send a list with someone who is going! Recently I had someone pick me up some Chips & Salsa on their last trip to Costco and it has seriously added some much needed flavor to my life! I have grown up having this as a staple in my house and so when it takes a lot of time & effort to get it, you appreciate it EVEN more! I don't know there's just something about Chips & Salsa that adds a bit of comfort  to my life.

Now that I hopefully have your attention...
Recently I have been discussing the topic of contentment with some of my friends. It's really interesting to me that the longer I stay committed to something,  the more this idea of being "content" in life seems to rear it's ugly head. I have been thinking about some conversations I had with some people during my Christmas break back home, people I had a deep respect for, people who are older and more experienced than I am ... and how even in the midst of their lives, doing things they have long desired to do, there is still this void of not feeling content or fulfilled in life. The more I have thought about this and began to process it I realize that we were never meant to feel content or fulfilled on this earth ... we can only give God everything we have, and with that even our greatest gifts to him are filthy rags & offerings and all we have is a hope in him, a hope that says he will extend his mercy towards us each and every morning. We can only set our hope of fulfillment on the Son who is seated on the Throne, who reigns above all things. Eternity with HIM is the ultimate fulfillment.

While thinking about this, realizing we live in the "age of tension" ...I came to the realization that it doesn't matter what my age is, what I want to accomplish in my own life, what things I desire to have in life (marriage, kids, etc.) ... Why? Because I am created and called simply to follow the greatest commandment: To Love God and to Love my neighbor and that by doing those things I will have life.
How do I do this? By preaching and living out the Gospel. Obviously there are a lot of other things that fall under this, but it's simple really. As God's daughter am I living out this commandment? Am I loving him, serving him, obeying him with my entire heart? Am I serving & loving my neighbor by being Christ to them or by proclaiming the gospel to them?

I know God desires that I live this way, that I walk according to his will for my life and I desire to live a life of obedience to him. I know that as I walk with God in this way that His promises in my life are true and real and will come to pass in his ways and his timing. I can't expect to be fulfilled in this life. I have come to realize that I may end up not getting everything I hope for or desire or that I'll get to experience everything I want to in this life ... but what I can expect is that I have a place waiting for me in eternity with my Creator - because that is what has been promised to those who choose to believe in Christ and allow their identity to be shaped by Christ. Those who choose to walk in this commandment.

This is and will continue to be a challenge for me in life. I hope it also becomes a challenge for you in your own. Especially during the times where we feel the most discontent, that in those times we could learn how to truly live out this commandment given to us out of Love from our Father, our Father that knows what is the absolute best for each one of us.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself .... do these things and you will live." [Luke 10.27-28b]

I'm wide awake, it's 4:00 am on the dot and I'm laying here wide awake. I surfed the internet a bit, nothing really to see. I'm not in the mood to watch a waistless television show. I can't quiet my mind. I just taught the book of Luke last week, and have been meditating once again on the cross. This heavy piece of wood that my Savior had to drag up a hill after he had been whipped, scourged, beaten, mocked and condemned. "Carry the cross up the hill, to your death…You call yourself a king, where is your kingdom?" … We become so familiar with this as if it's a story in a book up on the shelf that we all read once as kids, knowing this "yeah, Jesus died for my sins" … do we ever stop to think about that?

 I know I get used to singing about it in worship songs, that his blood washed away my sins … it feels good to sing it … It feels good knowing, my sins are washed away... until I stop to think about how disgusting, brutal and dark that day was. A man getting his flesh ripped off his back, a man getting curses yelled in his face, a man getting nails driven through his hands and feet and hung up on the cross to just wait for death to come. A man who was also God, the Creator of the Universe, the Creator of those who persecuted him - hold on, that's us as well, the God whose love came down into the form of a man to die … to die for you and for me. 

This was in his plan ever since Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve decided they could outsmart him. That's how foolish we are as mankind, that we think we can outsmart this God. Challenge this God. Mock this God. Even from the beginning, he loved with the greatest love of all. Giving this promise of Redemption. Continuing to promise this through thousands of years. Prophecy being given about Jesus through the lives of so many in the Old Testament, they were all pointing towards Jesus. In the book of Psalms, David depicts the death of Christ in the most accurate way. How, Why? Is our God's love really this deep, this true, this strong that from the first sin done against him he gives this promise … and continues throughout history...the promise that says, as people we will fail over and over and over again but he will send his Son, his beloved to take our place …. to allow all the darkness of existence mark HIS SON. 

How easily we forget the surrender of Christ, that he did all this with a willing heart. He did the Father's will, not his own. The greatest act of selflessness and humility. He did all this in the face of uttermost hatred, still choosing to love. When we read "For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only Son"  Our minds cannot even comprehend this love. Still we get numb to this, we forget about this unconditional love, that if we choose to turn from our dirty sin, if we choose to walk away from selfishness and pride, that this love then becomes our own. This love then pulls us out of darkness, this love stands in our place and says "you shall not taste death, but you will now have life, because you have chosen to believe and trust in this love." 

This love that was lead like a sheep to the slaughter. This love that became life. This love that conquered death. This love that is alive. This love that is called Jesus. 

There are many that are still dying in this world, lost in darkness. Many that are still enslaved to their sin.  There is hope. 

We are but a vapor on this earth. This world will pass away, and everything in it.  In Luke it says, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." 

I hope to live as though my treasure is in the palm of his hands, in the hands that are forever marked by the greatest love of all. 

To live surrendered to Jesus. 

I know what you're thinking ... Rachelle is the worst blogger, 3 blogs in like a year ... I would agree with you! Here's the thing, I knew I wouldn't be good any good at this, my journal entries jump from January to April - one page right after the other ... but hey at least I have a "few" memories to look back on! :)
Anyways, I hope you enjoy the update! I have been back in Taiwan since February this year, after spending time at home over Christmas break, which was incredible by the way - to see family & friends, to rest & to have my socks blessed off. Thanks to all of you who played a part in my time at home - I came back to Taiwan feeling like I had people who really believed in me and are a part of what I am doing here.

I have been staffing the School of Biblical Studies, we are nearing the end of our first quarter - I actually get to teach for the first time in the school this coming Monday. I will be teaching the book of Hebrews, and would love to blog about what God is teaching me, although I think I will wait until next week after my teaching is finished. :)

We have 57 amazing students here studying the word of God with all their hearts, It's really awesome to be a part of what God is doing here. I feel so blessed and privileged that I get to be a part of something that is expanding the gospel throughout Asia. I am excited to see where God takes these students after they complete the school this coming December - I know and believe God has incredible things in store for them, places they are called to Go and teach others the knowledge they have been given in this season. Partner in prayer with us that they would make the most of this time, and gain EVERYTHING they can of God in studying, giving out, and in making solid deep relationships with each other and with the Taiwanese. We are almost 3 months into the school, and have 6 more to go, so prayer for endurance in studying is really appreciated. This year along with teaching Hebrews I will also be teaching the book of Joshua and Ecclesiastes. I am excited to learn even more about God's word - that's something I have been blown away by this year - that no matter how much I study, there is so much more to learn... the word of God is so rich!

As far as what God is up to here in Taiwan, we are seeing people come to know him, and it's often a long process but it's a solid one once that change is made in a heart. I love seeing the fruit that comes out of the Taiwanese lives that give their lives over to serve God. As a base we have been challenged with the way that we are living out evangelism - that we wouldn't "sugar-coat" the gospel but really show the reality of what people are giving their lives to, this has challenged and rocked me. I know I have such a HUGE responsibility to make God known here. As I was running this morning and looking out over the city I live in ... as I looked at all the buildings I was so overwhelmed by the thousands of people here that are still in desperate need of the gospel, of life ... I am desperate for God to give me more of an eternal perspective, that as I look at people I would see so much more than the physical but that I would see their need for Christ, the emptiness inside of them without him. That they aren't alive without salvation!
Wow, God please use us!

That's all for now - I would love to hear from all of you to see what God is up to in your lives.
Much Love,
Rachelle