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

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 :)

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. 

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).

Are you putting God in a box?

They spoke against God; 
they said, "Can God really spread a table in the wilderness? 
True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, 
streams flowed abundantly, but can he also give us bread?
Can he supply meat for his people?"
- Psalm 78:19-20 (NIV)

They even spoke against God himself, saying,
"God can't give us food in the wilderness.
Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out,
but he can't give his people bread and meat."
- Psalm 78:19 (NLT)

It's easy to read this Scripture and think WHAT?? The Israelites have seen God do many signs and wonders to deliver them from Egypt, part the Red Sea, guide them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire by night, split open rocks in the wilderness to give them water as abundant as the seas, and fed them with the bread of angels (see Psalm 78). Even after seeing all this, they still limit God? They still doubt His ability? They still doubt that He cares for them? Seriously?? The Israelites trust in God was limited. As many do today, they put God in a box saying, "This is what God can do; this is what He cannot do".

How often do we do this? Not necessarily with our words but with our attitudes and actions. When we take a step back, it's easy to see that we are not so different from the Israelites today. In Philippians 4:19, God promises to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus. Not only is it a promise in His Word (which should be reason enough to believe it!), but you have seen Him supply your needs 1,000 times (okay, if you're honest, more times than you could count), yet you still worry that somehow this time will be different-- that somehow God will fail you, that He won't come through this time. You believe God has saved you but you don't believe He will heal you. You believe God has redeemed you from eternal damnation, but you don't believe He desires for you to have a more abundantly life, that His plans are to prosper you and not to harm you. God has healed your body, but you struggle to believe He will heal your broken heart. You believe God created you, but you don't believe you're beautiful. God has brought you through things time and time again, but you just don't believe He will do it one more time. You believe God is bigger than your problems but you insist on carrying the burden yourself-- burdens you were never meant to carry. 

Why do we limit God? Why do we tend to have this "God can do this, not that" mindset? We have to cast down imaginations and every lofty thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and take captive EVERY THOUGHT and make it obedient to Christ (See 2 Cor. 5:10).

We learn from Mark 11:24 that we have to believe BEFORE we receive. 1) Ask. 2) Believe. 3) Receive. We have to believe not just that He can, but that He will. We have to build our faith by hearing the Word (See Romans 10:17). Stay in His Word daily. Listen to Bible-based preaching often! Build yourself up in the Word to keep the faith!

So as you face your current "impossible" situation, take time to reflect on what He's already done for you. Won't He do it again? His mercies? New every morning.

Trust God. Stop limiting what God wants to do in your life with your lack of belief.. Let God out of the box in your mind and see the power He will unleash in your life.


Scripture Reading:

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

- Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)

...for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? 

- Hebrews 13:5-6 (AMP)

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

- 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. 

- Isaiah 53:4-5 (AMP)

This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.” 

- Matthew 8:17 (NLT)

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

- John 10:10 (KJV)

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.

- Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

- Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

- Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

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

- Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

- Psalm 68:19 (AMP)

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

- Matthew 11:29-30 (NIV)

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).

- Psalm 55:22 (AMP)

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

- John 14:27 (AMP)

---

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)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

- 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)

---

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

- Mark 11:24 (NIV)

God is Faithful,

Rachel Marie

HOW SELFISH WOULD I BE TO KEEP HIM TO MYSELF?

But if I say, "I will not mention His Word or anymore in His Name," His Word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed; I cannot.

- Jeremiah 20:9

Oh, many times I feel like Jeremiah, with a fire shut up in my bones!!! I cannot hold in my love and passion  for the LORD, even if I tried. And WHY WOULD I WANT TO? Salvation comes from His Name alone: Jesus Christ. Only through HIM can all men be saved (who are willing to accept Jesus & live their lives for Him). Only through HIM can we get to Heaven. Oh, my God, with tears in my eyes, I declare with David, "I DELIGHT TO DO YOUR WILL, O MY GOD (Psalm 40:8)!!! 

JESUS is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father EXCEPT through Him (John 14:6).

This verse is not plural. IT DOES NOT SAY that Jesus is one of the ways, one of the truths, one way of life... It does not say that He is one of the ways to Heaven, contrary to popular belief. The Word of God says Jesus is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. SCRIPTURE SAYS JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY. HE IS THE TRUTH. THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN IS THROUGH A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. Not through religious traditions, but through having an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. 

********* Note: If you do not have a relationship with Jesus and would like to, it is so simple. Do not be ashamed to want this. It is the only way to Heaven. Right now, wherever you are, you can just say a simple prayer, like this: "Jesus Christ is Lord. God, I believe you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to die for my sins & heal me from all sickness & disease & that you raised Jesus from the dead. Please forgive me for my sins. I dedicate my life to you."

That prayer of salvation is only the beginning. Now, get to know God. You can purchase a Bible or begin reading daily in the Bible app (it's free! or at Bible.com). A good place to start is in the Gospel of John (in the New Testament, the 4th book). You can also get involved in a good Bible-based church to learn more. Begin to learn what God asks of you and more about who He is through reading His Word & doing what it says. **************

I couldn't continue with this post without telling you all how to be saved.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO KEEP GOD & HIS WORD TO MYSELF? Through Christ, we can make it into the Beautiful Kingdom of Heaven & forever soak in the presence and majesty of God. In Heaven, there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4).. But in Hell, (if you die without a relationship with Jesus), there will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth (Luke 13:28) in a lake of fire forever. Through Jesus, we can be healed from every sickness and every disease (Matt. 4:23, Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6). Through Jesus, the lame can walk, the blind can see, the deaf can hear, the mute can speak. Through Jesus, the captives are set free. Jesus sets us free from all sin, all sickness, all forms of evil bondage!!!! GLORY BE TO GOD!

Oh, God, I would be selfish to keep the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to myself. Oh, I would be selfish to keep the Name above all names locked up deep inside my heart: never to tell of your salvation, healing, forgiveness, mercy, grace, comfort, and love. Never to release the electrifying power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave. Oh, how selfish I would have to be to keep the commands of God to myself. How selfish would I be to not speak in the Name of Jesus & release the salvation, healing, and freedom that comes from Him?? OH, THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS TO BREAK EVERY CHAIN!!!!!!!!! How selfish would I be to remain silent & allow people to go to hell because I refused to speak about Jesus? How selfish would I be to not tell how Jesus saved me, changed me, and healed me & let others perish eternally, to let them be sick & in pain & suffer through this life, to rob them of the comfort that comes from the Holy Spirit? Oh, how selfish would I be not to share my testimony of how Jesus healed me when doctors couldn't? & tell of how Jesus is willing and eager to do the same for others, as well as save them & give the gift of the Holy Spirit & eternal life because GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM (Acts 10:34). What He has done for me, He is able and willing to do for you!

Burning with a Passion to see people Saved, Changed, and Healed through my Savior,

Rachel Marie