Earliest Years: I grew up in a home where both of my parents were believers who took my sister, brother, and I to church and were faithful to read the bible with us and pray. As a child I’m certain I didn’t realize the great value and worth of this – this was just the way life was. As an adult I am so thankful for the incredible Godly foundation my parents were faithful by the grace of God to lay in my little life. Because I was introduced to the gospel at an early age and the Holy Spirit was working in my heart even then, I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior around the age 6.

Teen Years: As a result of some bad teaching my family had sat under in a well-meaning church, I had a hard time understanding the love of God. I lived with constant fear that I was going to do something that would displease my Father so much he would decide I was no longer his child. It seems silly now, but it really was a huge concern for me during that time. Thankfully my family began attending a church that was more faithful to scripture and I began to understand more about the love and grace of God – that none of us deserve God’s favor, but that God chooses to give it to us anyway. That all the judgment and wrath I deserve was poured out on Christ on the cross and that that God was my heavenly father who loves me and desires that I grow in grace.

College Years: These were some of the most wonderful and terrible years of my life. Wonderful because I feel like I grew by leaps and bounds in my walk with God and terrible because of an illness that left me physically and mentally drained and extremely depressed. I had a terrible case of reactive hypoglycemia that left me with a myriad of yucky symptoms that made life very difficult. It wasn’t until several years later, after I had my first child, that I discovered my illness was being caused by a medication I was taking. This dark time was definitely something I would not have chosen for myself, but looking back I can see how during it I reached the proverbial end of myself and clung to Jesus for dear life. God’s word became alive and very precious to me during this .

Married Years/Kids: This is so funny b/c some of the things that God has been teaching me as a wife and mom, I’m being reminded of right now as I’m “attempting” to type this with a two year old climbing all over me talking non-stop . I’ve been known to jokingly say that having a child puts a person on the “sanctification fast track”. Honestly though, this has been probably my favorite stage of life to this point. I love being Haddie’s mommy and being Brance’s wife. It has also been one of the most eye-opening stages of my life to this point. I am not as nice as I thought I was… in fact my depravity runs much deeper than I recognize or even would like to admit. Thankfully I am finding that as I say no to myself and yes to what God desires and requires that I experience an overwhelming joy that I would not otherwise.

Future Years: As I think about the future I can look back over where I’ve come from and can be encouraged by God’s faithfulness. Philippians 1:6 reminds me that it is God who saved me and it is God who continues the process of sanctification, making me more and more like his son and my savior the Lord Jesus Christ.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
In Romans 8:28 I’m also reminded that God is working out things for good for his children.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
God does not guarantee that everything in life will be rosy for his children. To the contrary, Jesus says in John that as Christians we will face difficulty like he our master did. But because of God’s faithfulness I rest confident that everything, even the difficult circumstances in my life, are meant for my best good of becoming more like Jesus and that I have a loving father guiding me every step of the way.

If you didn’t get a chance to watch or listen to her message, I would really encourage you to do so.  It is an hour well spent.  I listened to it a second time yesterday and felt like I gleaned even more.  I’m so thankful that it has caused me to step back and reflect on my own life and areas (and attitudes) that need adjusted.  I’m convinced that amazing things would happen if we Christians would live understanding and acting on the four things she suggests we know!

Here is a link to Rachel’s message:

www.deathisnotdying.com