Misconceptions Abound

In July of this year I made a decision to delete entirely my facebook in which included losing communication with about 85% of my friends.

I decided that I was tired of trying to keep up with the lastest "news" with my "friends" and waiting for any reply or interaction. In hindsight I have decided that facebook is extremely superficial and time consuming. I am grateful that I chose to delete facebook. Don't get me wrong, I miss knowing some things like parties birthdays and the latest news flash of someones life. But it has given me so much more freedom. for example; I don't have to worry about what I want to say about an event/person/place/feeling. I can just say it and that's it. its not posted to 70+ people I rarely talk to, and they aren't scrutinizing everything about what was said. I don't have to think about why didn't she comment or how come everyone is ignoring my post.. ect. I don't have to think about the reasoning behind some of the more angry and rude posts. I don't have to see if someone is not naming me or if what I did/said effected someone negatively.

I mean.. To be able to wake up each day and my biggest concern is "am I going to please God today, or dissapoint him?" and really, thats not very big because his grace is sufficient if I fail, he's right there to pick me back up again and encourage me and give me alternatives and forgive me. There is no condemnation. where  as before, there was so much belittlement and anger and slight comments that people have made that at the time I am sure they didn't think twice about it, and really didn't consider how it would effect my own personal outlook.. but sure enough it was discouraging, angering, and plainly insulting.

I used to absolutely love facebook. and I am not saying that facebook is the root of all evil, on the contrary it helped me stay in touch with my family and friends when I was living 2,500.00 miles away in Montana. It actually helped bring me home because it brought the reality of how much life I missed with my family. and really opened my eyes to see who truly cares about me. But all good things must come to an end, and I have to say that over time especially after I got my smart phone, I was breathing social networking.. it was all about who posted what and what I commented and liked and so on. So for my own personal well being, facebook really became an idol that distorted my self image and created emotional pains that shouldn't have ever been introduced.


Now I admit, I have hacked my sisters facebook. and my brother's.. just to get a glimpse of what is going on... but after each attempt, I am left feeling sort of empty and disappointed because of course, its just the same as before. Empty, superficial, and only a partial glimpse of reality. And even then its more often than not a reality created by that person to hide the truth. So after a long drawn out battle within myself over facebook and the pros and cons and regret and joy, I have decided its benefits, of deleting it that is; far outweigh the disadvantage it has created in my social life.

So I shall end with this; When you hear God tell you specifically to do something, the sooner you obey him, the sooner your life will change for the better. With Love.

-Rachel

International House of Prayer : The Prayer Room Webstream

International House of Prayer : The Prayer Room Webstream

I just love IHOP.

one of my greatest desires is to have 24/7 worship in my hometown.

They say "Time flies when you're having fun".... so how do you fly with it?

   So it seems rightly fair to post when there is but one week until I am 22 years old. 7 days until I am no longer 21. I have to admit, I never thought I would have gone through so much in a years time, but that just goes to show how much you learn over your life, and how much things change from childhood to adulthood.

   Take for instance, this week. At the beginning of this week I felt like I failed somehow. Now, at the end of this week I feel like God is using everyday, good or bad; to teach me and show me just how much he loves me. How he wants me to react and treat others, and how I shouldn't allow negative thoughts to overpower the truth in His Word.

  Like, he would never tell me that I am a failure, or that I will never amount to anything. He would tell me to try again, but maybe in a different way. He would tell me:
      Jerimiah 29:11-13 NIV ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
 
  I know without any doubt in my mind, that God will never leave me or forsake me. and for that, and so much more I am forever grateful. I am excited to see what his plans are for me in the coming weeks, months and years. He has already done so much in bringing me back into his arms, I can only imagine what he has planned for me next. Until next time... I pray you have a blessed day for reading my blog. =D

Image credit to ~janussyndicate VIA deviantART. Page Link:http://janussyndicate.deviantart.com/art/Time-Flies-85400304

An Introductorial Assumption

Its funny how much your perspective changes from being 6 yrs old to being 21. Don't get me wrong, I knew and still know that my perspective will probably be ever changing due to new experiences and maturity and all that. I am just beside myself on how different things are now than what I had hoped.

When I was six years old, I was so sure of myself. I knew exactly what I wanted. I thought that at 21, I would be married, have my own house, drive an expensive car and I would always wear heels. Right now I am single, between vehicles, living at home with my parents, I only wear heels on special occasions.. and even then only to dinner.

I assumed that I would have it all together, be a college graduate, and be happily ever after. Right now, I am working at a great job, but I haven't taken any college courses yet. I suppose I just haven't decided what I would like to invest in... For education that is. I have played with so many different ideas of what I want to do for a career. I thought about becoming a Writer. An Artist. A Radiology tech. A Chef. A Fashion Designer. An Interior Designer. A counselor. So many different choices. I have prayed about it, but I haven't gotten any clear direction yet.

 Perhaps in due time, things will fall into place. Right now I am working on my family relationships, my church life, and my relationship with God. Things have changed so radically in the past year I am beginning to savor each day just a little more. It seems time flies faster, and faster as the years go by.. Especially the past few months.. October seems like yesterday. I remember it so vividly... Its hard to believe that I will be 22 in under a week and a half. My brother will be 20 years old this year. My youngest sister will be 16.

Tomorrow is a new day, and I hope that it will be more productive than today was. Goodnight World.