Single this Valentine's Day?

Single this Valentine's Day? Don't be bitter. Celebrate God's Love for you. There's no greater love story than the cross. ❤️

- Rachel Marie

P. S. - Don't go out with a random just because you're lonely or emotional. Find your strength, contentment, and fulfillment in Christ. Trust Him. Wait on His Timing to reveal your love story to you. He's already written one for you, He just isn't ready to show it to you yet. Rest while your grow in your walk with Christ. 

"...And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

- Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

- Romans 8:38-39 NIV

"This is real love--not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

- 1 John 4:10 NLT

"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."

- Song of Solomon 3:5 NIV

Where Are Your Priorities?

This is statement by Michael Kendrick is so incredibly true. The more time you spend with God, the more time you will want to spend with Him. I know when you first commit to seeking God daily, it's a discipline. But in time, as you remain committed, you begin to look forward to, thoroughly enjoy, and thrive off of your time alone with God each day. It's like you can't function without it. And that's how we should view God, as a vital necessity, a priority and not an option. ❤️

- Rachel Marie

You can read the devotion by Michael Kendrick on spending time with God by following this link:

https://www.facebook.com/RachelMarieMinistries/posts/933487506706227:0

How Your iPhone Can Help You Memorize Scripture

Here's a tip that will help you memorize Scripture fast: 

Make the passcode on your phone the corresponding numbers to the Bible verse you're memorizing. 

For example:

• if you're memorizing Jeremiah 29:13, your passcode would be 2913

• if you're memorizing Romans 8:1, your passcode would be 0801

• if you're memorizing Matthew 6:33, your passcode would be 0633 

A few other tips that help me memorize Bible verses are:

• writing the verse

• making the verse my lock screen

•  taping the verse I wrote on a place I look often, like on a mirror or a wall.

I was excited when God gave me the idea to memorize Scripture by using it as my passcode, because if you can't get into your iPhone or iPad without remembering it, you're gonna memorize it pretty fast.  Do this once a week, changing to a new verse weekly. Remember that while memorizing Scripture is very beneficial, applying it to your life is of utmost importance.

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

- James 1:22 NLT

Relentless Pursuit

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

- Jeremiah 29:13 NIV

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

- Matthew 22:37-38 NIV

Our relationship with Jesus should be a relentless pursuit, a passionate pursuit. Jesus should be the love of your life. The song lyrics below perfectly capture what God wants our relationship with Him to look like. If you don't feel this way about your relationship with Jesus, move closer until you do. Walk with Jesus daily in prayer and in the Word, even when you don't "feel" like it. Ask God to give you spiritual tastebuds for His Word and for prayer. As you make this investment with God's help and self-discipline, in time you will feel like you can't function without your time alone with God each day. You will look forward to it. And before you know it, you will be passionately, relentlessly pursuing Jesus.

- Rachel Marie

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It's a relentless pursuit, relentless pursuit

I will not stop chasing after you

It's a relentless pursuit, a passion in pursuit

I will not stop chasing after you

I won't hold anything from you

Every part of me I've surrendered to you

And I am not afraid to run after you, oh

To run with all my strength, run into you

It's a relentless pursuit, relentless pursuit

I will not stop chasing after you

It's a relentless pursuit, a passion in pursuit

I will not stop chasing after you the love of my life

Oh you the love of my life

Oh it's you, you, you, you, you

Of my life

I can't take my eyes off of you

I can't take my mind off of you

I'm hopelessly crazy in love with you, you, you, you

You've taken the keys and you've opened up all of me

And now I'm running, I'm running after you

The love of my life 

Oh you the love of my life

- Kim Walker-Smith, "Relentless Pursuit"

-----------

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for each person who reads this. I pray they would pursue you passionately. I pray their hearts would leap for joy at the sound of Your Name. I pray their time with you each day will be their favorite time. I pray they would grow closer to You each day. Speak to them through Your Word and let Your ears be attentive to their every prayer. I pray any who aren't saved are released this day from the bondage of sin and released to run after You. I pray each one would be a doer of Your Word, not a hearer only (James 1:22). I pray they would deny themselves, take up their cross daily to follow You (Luke 9:23). I pray they will fall madly in love with you every single day. I pray they seek nothing more than Your Presence and to please you rather than people (Gal. 1:10).

In Jesus' Name.

Amen

May God bless you and your daily effort to relentlessly pursue Jesus with me.

Rachel Marie

A Prayer for the New Year 2016

Just to give you a little background for today's post, in Ezekiel 34, God is calling out the shepherds of Israel for not doing what He called them to do. In verse 4, He says, "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them (NKJV)". In Israel, the Church was not doing its job. 

As disciples of Christ, we all have an important role to play, whether or not you are specifically called to pulpit ministry. That part is spelled out in Ezekiel 34. How can we do this?

• We can strengthen the weak by encouraging them.
• We can heal the sick by laying hands on them in prayer, taking Jesus at His Word in Mark 16:18,"They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover". Who is "they"? Not just ministers... Jesus said believers (See Mark 16:17-18).
• We can "bind up"or "bandage" the brokenhearted by comforting them and praying for them.
• We "bring back what was driven away" or "bring back the strays (NIV)" by doing what Jesus instructs in Luke 15:3-7. We need to go after those who have walked away from the Lord until we find them and joyfully bring them back into His Presence.
• We need to seek the lost, as Jesus did, for that is the purpose He came for (Luke 19:10). We can do this by sharing the Gospel with them individually, or bringing them to church with us.

God promises in verse 16, "I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice (NIV)". The Amplified Bible explains that the ones He will destroy are those "who have become hardhearted and perverse".

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for your heart of compassion. We repent for the opportunities we have failed to use to search for the lost, bring back those who have strayed,  heal the brokenhearted, and strengthen the weak. Take out our hearts of stone and give us a heart of flesh. Give us hearts filled to overflowing with compassion. Let us make the most of every opportunity you give us to minister to the lost and the hurting. Point out people who need our help, people we can bring your salvation and healing to. Let Ezekiel 34:16 be our description of ministry. Bring this Scripture to life in each of Your willing vessels. May each of us do our part also, to provide food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, and clothes for those who need them. Bless each ministry that does this. Bless each person who contributes to this type of ministry. Help us minister to widows and orphans in their distress and keep ourselves from being polluted by the world, for this is religion you accept as pure and faultless (James 1:27). In 2016, may each member of the Body of Christ fulfill these commandments. May we passionately, relentlessly pursue Jesus every single day of our lives. May we be like Jesus to the least of these.

Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from your relatives who need your help.

- Isaiah 58:7 NLT

Now, take action. Begin to fulfill the Scriptures we discussed in your daily lives in 2016. 

A few thoughts on ways you can help those in need according to Isaiah 58:7:

• Make a monthly donation to a local food ministry in your area and/or volunteer your time to help
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen
• Donate clothes to ministries who provide for those in need
• Start a homeless shelter in your area
• Keep blessing bags in your car with basic necessities in them; hand them out when you see someone in need

Happy New Year! I pray you all have a wonderful year filled with blessings, health, provisions, and spiritual growth :)

You Can Be Fashionable & Modest: the Proof is in the Pics!

I had someone comment on my "Modesty Matters" video and ask if I would be willing to show examples of how I dress modestly. I love dressing modestly AND fashionable, so I would love to show some examples. The keys are: cover-ups, tank tops, and cami secrets. With these tricks, you can make ALMOST any top modest (unless it's too tight or see through). Obviously, cover ups are for anything strapless or spaghetti straps and tank tops/cami secrets are to wear under anything too low cut.

Some of these are not full length, keep in mind that I didn't originally take these photos for this purpose. These are just a few random photos from my 2.5 year ongoing modesty journey :)

High/low skirts are my absolute favorite!! They are modest, stylish, and fun. This shirt is a valuable piece for making other pieces modest or a standalone. You will see it better in the next pic. It blends beautifully under a dress or a shirt that needs adjustments to be modest :)

This dress has spaghetti straps, so I added this beautiful top (ok, for some reason you still can't tell, but there's black jewels all along the top of it). It serves 3 modesty purposes: it covers the back, makes up for the straps that are thin in the dress itself, and covers  he front where the dress was too low... And just for fun: adds a little extra glam :) 

Spaghetti strap high/low dress with cover up

Aztec shirt that was made super short, but added a tank under it and pair it with high/low skirt.

Sequin cami under this dress :)

Added a cami & cami secret to cover the top better with high/low skirt

Sweater cover up: you can use to winterize a summer shirt or one that's not modest by itself. Oh, and meet my Maltese: Barbie :)

Finally found a picture where you can see the details of the shirt in the first 2 pictures. I wore it under this shirtsleeve shirt because the neckline was way too low.

My favorite modesty guidelines are from purefashion.com:

To me, the main rules of thumb from above are that necklines should be no lower than 4 fingers below collarbone, skirts/dresses/shorts should not be shorter than 4 fingers above the kneecap, nothing see through, and a cover up for tanks & halters.

And if you don't know what cami secrets are, they are wonderful when you don't want to add a whole extra layer to be modest in the summer, you simply attach to undergarment and voila, looks like you have on an entire cami! They have these in all different colors (more than what's shown above) and some in animal print. You can buy them online.

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 NIV

Note: I don't believe this verse literally means you can't wear jewelry. It just means your beauty should come from your relationship with Christ and the fruit of it.

So.. There you have it. I hope you will all join me in dressing modestly! To find out more about WHY you should dress modestly according to the Bible, watch my video, here: http://youtu.be/z3dM6DiDliI

Let God Write Your Love Story

I always say that if you can't accept someone the way they are now, DON'T marry them. You have no guarantee that they will EVER change.

Don't even go on one date with someone who isn't a Christian. It's easier to say "NO" now than it is to break up with them after starting a relationship. Don't risk falling in love with someone you already know you won't be equally yoked with (2 Cor. 6:14). Don't be with someone who merely says they are saved-- make sure their life shows the proof of a daily walk with God.

Focus on growing closer to Christ. HE will show you the right one when it's the right time (Song of Solomon 3:5).

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

- Psalm 139:14 NIV

You are NOT a mistake! You are fearfully and wonderfully made! You are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27). He knit you together intricately in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). He knows everything about you: the good, the bad, the ugly YET He still loved you so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for your sins and sicknesses (John 3:16, 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:5). He put on human flesh to redeem you, to rescue you from the dominion of sin. 

Your body is God's handiwork. Therefore, it is flawless. Don't let the number on the scale, the color/style of your hair, the color of your skin, the size of your jeans, the brand of your clothes, or anything else about your appearance define you. Find your identity in Christ alone. Allow Him to fill your every void. Ask Him to help you see yourself the way HE sees you. It will blow your mind. Jesus is crazy about you. He wants a personal relationship with you. Spend time with Him daily in the Bible and prayer. Allow Him to transform your self image. 

Read Psalm 139 for more amazing truths about how God created you. 

Cleansing

Can I ask a personal question? When was the last time you showered?

If someone told you he hadn't showered in a week, you would be pretty grossed out right? In fact, you would have known beforehand... the stench would have been the tell all. 

When is the last time you read your Bible? Prayed? Repented? Worshipped? Don't take your spiritual shower only on Sundays or you will stink spiritually. As the saying going, "Going to church won't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car". Just as we shower daily to cleanse ourselves, we must take our spiritual shower daily by spending time alone with God. 

Allow God to cleanse you, to make you whiter than snow as you confess your sins to Him daily, as you spend time with Him in His Word and in prayer, and then, put His Word into practice.

Photo credit: Google

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

- Psalm 51:7

Scripture Reading:

1 John 1:9

Isaiah 1:18

Ezekiel 36:25

Autumn Leaves

Don't you just love the color of the leaves changing in the fall?

As I sat outside one morning, praying, enjoying the cool breeze, admiring the paints God had chosen for the leaves, He brought my mind back to a quote I read the night before. It read, "It's funny how beautiful autumn is when everything is dying".

Allow the green leaves represent the unsaved and the autumn leaves represent the saved. 

As Christians, we are to die to ourselves and live for Him. Just as the leaves are most beautiful as they are dying, we are the most beautiful to God when we die to ourselves.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

- Galatians 2:20 NIV

What's one way you can die to yourself today?

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To read more Bible Verses on dying to self, living for Him, hover over the below Scripture references:

Ephesians 4:22-24

Luke 9:23

John 3:10

Photo credit: Memogram, instawrite

He's Waiting for You

God devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from Him.

- 2 Samuel 14:14d NLT 

How amazing is this? When we are separated from God because of sin, He is in Heaven making plans to bring you back to Him. I mean, seriously, think about that. When you've messed up, while you're beating yourself up, thinking about how you missed it (when you need to just repent, turn from it, and RETURN TO HIM)... God is considering how He can win you back. It may be with that still small voice He uses to speak to you. It may be a song, a sermon, a friend or family member that brings you back to Him. How beautiful it is that He relentlessly pursues us because He is crazy in love with us.

So.. If you've walked away from God, willfully or ignorantly, run back into His Presence right now. Repent. Then let the rays of His glorious presence make you whole. What are you waiting for? He's waiting for you....

Rachel Marie

God is Calling You to Himself

Faithful is He who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (AMP)

Wow. Just let that sink in for a moment. God is calling YOU to Himself.

Maybe you've turned your back on God. Maybe you have never come to Him at all. Maybe you think you have messed up too bad, done too much wrong. Maybe you've been rejected and abandoned by so many people, you can't imagine why a holy, flawless God would want you.

But He does. God did not create one single person He did not want a personal relationship with. Let me reiterate: Faithful is He Who is calling you to Himself. Yes, you!

Maybe you're thinking.. "What if I'm addicted to drugs? Porn? Gambling?.... What if I've committed adultery? Been divorced? Had sex outside of marriage? Practiced homosexuality? Prostitution?"

Allow me to let you in on a little secret: No matter what you've done, if you come to God, He will make you whiter than snow. Yes, all of the above are sins. The wages of sin is death (hell- see Romans 6:23). BUT GOD.. sent His son Jesus.. to condemn sin in the flesh... to pay the price once and for all for your sins so that YOU might be saved. You can come to Him, repent, and turn from your sin today and start a new life. You don't have to clean your life up BEFORE you come to Jesus. Come to Jesus as you are and He will help you clean your life up. Without sin, we wouldn't be in need of a Savior. Fact is, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Without Jesus, every single one of us would be headed straight to hell, myself included. Jesus has the power to set you free from any and all of the sins listed above, and any of the ones I failed to mention.

"Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool."
-- Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)

Jesus was questioned by the "religious people" of His day for hanging out with the drunks, the tax collectors, the "especially wicked sinners (AMP)". His reply was that, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick" (Matt. 9:12). Jesus came for people exactly like this to bring salvation.

Guess who anointed Jesus with her alabaster box? A sinful woman. Because of her repentance, her many sins were forgiven. She had such a beautiful, unbridled worship of our Lord Jesus, as she washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. I imagine that out of gratefulness, she lived a life filled with dedication to Jesus, after this encounter. Jesus said, "Whoever is forgiven little loves little (Luke 7:37b)". We know that this woman was forgiven much and loved much.

Jesus deliberately went through Samaria In John 4 to meet the woman at the well. Her background? Previously, she had 5 husbands and at the time of her encounter with Jesus, she was shacking up. He sought out this woman to save her and set her free. Through her testimony, many others came to hear Him and were saved.

Paul killed Christians prior to His encounter with Jesus. He ended up leading many to Christ, as well as writing 13 books of the Bible. Clayton Jennings puts it like this: "I serve the same God who turned a killer into an Apostle". This same God is calling on you today.

Jesus already paid the price for your salvation. The only question is: Are you willing to accept it?

10) And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and [especially wicked] sinners came and sat (reclined) with Him and His disciples. 

11) And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and those [preeminently] sinful? 

12) But when Jesus heard it, He replied, Those who are strong and well (healthy) have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick. 

13) Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).

- Matthew 9:10-13 (AMP)

Find Your Identity in Christ

Have you ever been called names? I know I have. Maybe no one's been criticizing you lately. Maybe YOU have been the one putting your own self down.

In Daniel 1, when the Jews are deported to Babylon, one of the first things they do is change the names of Daniel and his friends. Identity theft is a common scam today, but in Daniel's case, they desired to steal their identity and faith in God. They were determined to force them to serve pagan gods.

In a She Reads Truth devotion, I saw this chart that depicts the original name and meaning of their names, as well as what their names were changed to. Below is an excerpt from Raechel Myers on it.

Each of the four Jewish exiles were given names by their fathers which relate with the one, true God. But, as a part of their acculturation—in order to make them forget the God of their fathers—the chief official gave them new names that reject their upbringing and instead savor the idolatry of false gods.

Of course translations of the names will vary slightly from commentary to commentary, but look at the wildly intentional similarities! Matthew Henry says the name changes were intended to “wean them from the [religion of their fathers] and instill [that of their conquerors] into them.”

- Raechel Myers in Daniel via She Reads Truth

Your identity is not based on financial status, your career, your education, your race, your height, your weight, or anything else. Just like we see vividly in Daniel, it is not about what people call you. It's not even about who you call yourself. It is about who you are in Christ.

In Christ, you are forgiven, loved, treasured. You are a child of the King. You are whiter than snow (Is. 1:18, Ps. 51:7). You are healed and made whole (1 Pt. 2:24, Is. 53:5). You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14). You are more than a conqueror in Christ (Rom. 8:37).

In Daniel, it is clear that their name changes did not affect their character or their devotion to God. Their minds are made up that they are going to serve God no matter what the cost. Have you?

Thought for the Day: Decide today to focus on who the King of kings says you are, not the opinions of mere human beings made of dust. 

More than a Conquer in Christ,
Rachel Marie

Father, I thank You that You have heard Me

41) “So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42) I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43) When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44) The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.””

- John 11:41-44 (NIV)

While Lazarus was STILL dead, Jesus thanked God for hearing Him. After praying for something we know is Scripturally promised to us, like salvation, healing, deliverance, etc., we can say in faith BEFORE we see the answer, "Father, I thank You that You have heard me", as Jesus did. So we can certainly thank God for hearing us before we feel delivered, before we feel healed, before we see the answer, for we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

FLEE THE EVIL DESIRES OF YOUTH: DARE TO RUN TO JESUS

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

- 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

Photo credit: Scripture made via Expressgram

In today's world, the battle for purity is more intense than ever. With technology's advances, we must constantly be on our guard. We must put on the full armor of God to help us stand against the devil's evil schemes (Eph. 6:10-18).

In Genesis 39, we see Joseph put in charge of the home of an Egyptian officer, Potiphar, after being sold into slavery by his brothers. Even as a slave, God grants Joseph success in everything he does. Then comes the temptation.

Potiphar's wife tries to seduce Joseph. He remains faithful to God by refusing her. Instead, he asks, "How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God (v. 9, NLT)." Nonetheless, Potiphar's wife was relentless. She pressured him day after day. Still, Joseph stood his ground and denied her.

Like Joseph, we are faced with temptations to compromise daily, not just physically but with our minds and our hearts. Purity is about more than simply saving yourself for marriage (which is very important and if you have made mistakes, you can repent & recommit to waiting today. God will cleanse you & make you whiter than snow. See Isaiah  1:18, Psalm 51:7). It's also about keeping our minds pure and guarding our hearts. We need to avoid polluting our minds and hearts with music, television, and books that send out the message that drinking, drugs, premartial sex, and homosexuality are ok when we know this is contrary to God's Word. 

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

- 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

A major key to keeping our thoughts pure is not putting garbage in our minds with the things we read, watch, and listen to. Keep your mind on God's Word. When your thoughts go in the wrong direction, submit them to Christ (See 2 Cor. 10:5). Feed yourself spiritually daily by making time with God a priority.

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

- 2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)

Flee sexual temptation. Flee from porn. Flee from impure thoughts. Flee from things that tell you to compromise. Flee the evil desires of youth. Dare to run to Jesus.

Scripture Reading: 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 

- Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. 

- Genesis 39:1-10 (NIV)

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.

- Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

- Psalm 51:7 (NASB)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

- Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

In the Love of Christ,

Rachel Marie

Do Not Be Unequally Yoked: Wait on God

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

- 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV)

Singles, wait on GOD & HIS TIMING to bring you the right person. As the saying goes, "Wait on the one who pushes you closer to God, NOT closer to sin. I challenge you to defy the urge to take matters into your own hands out of fear of being alone and obey Song of Solomon 3:5, "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.". God's Timing is perfect. 

The person He has for your will help you guard your purity. Chase hard after God, and when it's the right time, He will bring "the one" into your life.

I love what Heather Lindsey said of her single days, "As I grew closer to God while I was single, I grew further away from wanting to marry someone who did not have a relationship with Him." She also said she wanted one of God's sons, not one of satan sons. Don't allow satan a foothold to interfere with who and what God wants you to be and do by marrying or even being in a relationship with someone who is not a Christian. (If you're in a relationship with them, you can fall in love and end up marrying them- being unequally yoked which is exactly what God does NOT want you to do). Marrying a non-Christian will not only hinder you, but any future children you may have.

Trust God. Wait on His Timing. He is faithful.

Look Like Love

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. 

- John 3:30 (NLT)

When Jesus becomes greater in us, we begin to look like love.

As He becomes greater inside of us, we aim to please Him and not ourselves. We seek His will and not our own. We develop in the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 

- Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

A couple months ago, my mom saw this on facebook and shared it witih me. It gave me a totally different perspective on this Scripture. We are all familiar with the "Love Chapter" in the Bible, frequently read at weddings. But this perspective challenged me:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
- 1 Cor. 13:4-6 (NIV)

We should consider this Scripture daily and keep it in the front of our minds. This is a mirror to show us what we look like spiritually-- we can easily see what areas are our strengths and what areas we need to work on. Think on this Scripture each morning and ask God to help you “look like love”

My purpose of sharing this is to challenge you to become more like Jesus. When you subsittue your own name, you can easily see what areas you need to work on (Oh yeah, I was convicted when I inserted mine!) It is also good to insert the name of the person you're in a relationship with. This can be very eye opening to the character of others, as well as our own character. Don't get overwhelmed by this list. Joyce Meyer simplifies our walk with God and all that it entails by "walking in love".

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

- Ephesians 5:2 (ESV)

As the definition of love is evident in our lives, our light will shine brightly for Jesus. We will be humble, not arrogant. We will be servants, not demanding to be served. Jesus Christ humbled Himself before God. He came down from Heaven… if the Son of God left His comfort zone, how much more does He desire that we leave ours? He calls us to committed, not comfortable. Jesus left Heaven, where He was constantly praised and acknowledge to be despised, rejected, beaten, humiliated, and hung on a cross. He came not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). I love the way Kimberly Jones-Pothier puts it, Jesus got off His throne and went to the cross. Jesus humbled Himself before God in doing this. Then, God exalted Him when He was resurrected. 

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

- Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)

I pray we have the humble attitude of the tax collector, not the Pharisee.


In humility, Jesus calls us to take up our cross, deny ourselves and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). We die to ourselves and our own desires to live for Him. Yes, Psalm 37:4 says He will give us the desires of our hearts if we delight ourselves in Him. However, as we grow closer to Him, His desires become our desires. As we die to ourselves, we make room for more of Him. We have to put off the old self & put on the new self: 

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires: to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 

- Ephesians 4:22-24

Put off impatience, rudeness, envy, boasting, arrogance, rudeness, selfishness, and unforgiveness to stay afloat on the ship to the place God is taking us. 
As we draw near to Jesus, there will be no room for jealousy, boasting, pride, and self-centered ways.

P. S. - Yes, I got the title for this message from Britt Nicole's song, "Look Like Love". 

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