I have a Guardian Angel and I am so blessed. Javonte Clanton was a close friend of mine and he died a year ago in March from a car accident (check earlier blog posts for more details). Ever since he has passed, I have always felt as if he was looking down on me, watching me, and taking care of dangerous circumstances. I understand that the Lord is in charge of all, but I do believe that He appoints guardians on His children.
I have had several things happen in the 13 months that he has been dead that lead me to believe that he is my angel, but this one definitely proved me thoughts true. I was driving home from Charleston, delivering a car for my dad, when the gas light comes on. Ughhh. The way that I was coming home wasn't even my normal way because of a detour on the back roads. So I look around for a "safe" exit, but just pull off on one pray God protects me.
The gas station had bars all over the windows and NO cars in the parking lot. I grabbed my keys, pepper spray, and cell phone and went inside to the ladies room. As I'm walking out, 4 cars pull up from all different directions like something out of a movie. It really scared me. I prayed as I walked to the car to go fill up.
Now I hate pumping gas as it is but today was just not good. The gas cap would not come off. Would not even budge, it just kept locking. I tried for 10 minutes before I was on my knees behind the car praying, begging God to open it. I get back up, try again, nothing. A man walks to his car, so I get his attention and he comes over. He tries for about 5 minutes and gives up, says sorry, then walks away. I am devastated. I get into my car, lock the doors, and call my dad, almost in tears.
As I'm talking to him, I notice a different man at the back of my car. I get out, wondering what he's doing, while still on the phone with my dad. He says simply "Did you need the gas cap off?" I say yes, he twists it and smiles. It comes off no problem. Before I can barely say thank you, he walks away. I tell my dad what has just happened and look up to see the man again. He's gone. No cars are around anymore. No one to be found. I pump my gas and leave, praising and thanking my precious Lord the whole way home. I even think about Javonte and thank God for watching over me.
I get back to the office where I take off my dealer tag and go inside. I walk in my office and put the tag on the desk. I look down and almost pass out. The number on the tag is like two letters a bunch of 0's then 22.
22. Javonte's number. I just KNEW that he was watching me and was so thankful for having him as my guardian angel. I love you Javonte Clanton. Rest in Peace babe.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
My Head is Exploding....
I have so much I want to say and type and write...I just don't know that I can put all my thoughts out there and actually make sense. But of course, I will try...
God has been seriously teaching me this week. About patience, prayer, selfishness, and true Christian friends...so really, the things He's been teaching me for awhile now. I just can't get enough of Him. And a new thing: insecurity.
I went Beth Moore this weekend (in Atlanta) with the lovely women of my Church and she was AWESOME. The conference was based on her new book: So Long Insecurity, You've Been a Bad Friend to Me, which I of course had to buy. It's so great so far, and I'm only on page like 27. So for those of you who didn't get to go, I'm going to write out some of her main points that really stuck with me. :)
--Insecurity is not a weakness, it's a unbelief in God!
--God wants to bless you by being a woman--embrace it!
--A SECURE women is:
Saved from herself
Entitled to Truth
Clothed with Intention
Upended by Grace
Rebounded by Love
Exceptional in life
And she said sooo much more awesome, everyday things...but you should visit her blog for more: (http://blog.lproof.org).
Still learning about prayer in Sunday School and everyday in my devotions. One thing Matt has said that has really been ringing in my heart is how we always pay attention to these two verses: "11For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope...13When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11&13) But there is a verse in between those...a verse we sometimes read over. "12Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you." (Jeremiah 29:12) Hear that? For those other two verses to work, we have to PRAY, really pray.
Onto the true Christian friends. I seriously just wake up everyday and praise God for the people He has put in my life. It's so insane how much He has blessed me and how He keeps placing the most beautiful people in my life at the absolutely perfect moments. (On being patient--and we all know that God doesn't give us patience, He puts us in situations to be patient). "3I thank my God every time I remember you, 4constantly praying for all of you..." Philippians 1:3-4 So a little shout out to all my wonderful friends, love you guys.
...And onto a side note: we had our first Nicaragua meeting tonight and I am soo siked. I cannot wait to see what God is going to do through our team down there. A verse that I thought of during this was: "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in tents of wickedness." Psalm 84:10 And I love this because when it says doorkeeper, I just think of being a missionary and telling everyone about Jesus. And how much I can't wait to be in His house, at His door, with all my fellow believers.
Love.xoxo.
God has been seriously teaching me this week. About patience, prayer, selfishness, and true Christian friends...so really, the things He's been teaching me for awhile now. I just can't get enough of Him. And a new thing: insecurity.
I went Beth Moore this weekend (in Atlanta) with the lovely women of my Church and she was AWESOME. The conference was based on her new book: So Long Insecurity, You've Been a Bad Friend to Me, which I of course had to buy. It's so great so far, and I'm only on page like 27. So for those of you who didn't get to go, I'm going to write out some of her main points that really stuck with me. :)
--Insecurity is not a weakness, it's a unbelief in God!
--God wants to bless you by being a woman--embrace it!
--A SECURE women is:
Saved from herself
Entitled to Truth
Clothed with Intention
Upended by Grace
Rebounded by Love
Exceptional in life
And she said sooo much more awesome, everyday things...but you should visit her blog for more: (http://blog.lproof.org).
Still learning about prayer in Sunday School and everyday in my devotions. One thing Matt has said that has really been ringing in my heart is how we always pay attention to these two verses: "11For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope...13When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11&13) But there is a verse in between those...a verse we sometimes read over. "12Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you." (Jeremiah 29:12) Hear that? For those other two verses to work, we have to PRAY, really pray.
Onto the true Christian friends. I seriously just wake up everyday and praise God for the people He has put in my life. It's so insane how much He has blessed me and how He keeps placing the most beautiful people in my life at the absolutely perfect moments. (On being patient--and we all know that God doesn't give us patience, He puts us in situations to be patient). "3I thank my God every time I remember you, 4constantly praying for all of you..." Philippians 1:3-4 So a little shout out to all my wonderful friends, love you guys.
...And onto a side note: we had our first Nicaragua meeting tonight and I am soo siked. I cannot wait to see what God is going to do through our team down there. A verse that I thought of during this was: "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in tents of wickedness." Psalm 84:10 And I love this because when it says doorkeeper, I just think of being a missionary and telling everyone about Jesus. And how much I can't wait to be in His house, at His door, with all my fellow believers.
Love.xoxo.
Rachel :)
My lovely little cousin, Rachel Larson, was baptized today! I was so super proud to watch as she started her journey with Christ. I love her so much and I cannot wait to see what she does for the Kingdom of God when she gets to be a little bit older.
Love you Rae
Love you Rae
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
YES, I do believe I can do all things through CHRIST who strenghtens me!
A large update is in need. Tis the last week of classes and I've been pulling almost-all-nighters a lot. Just finished a speech on Deaf Communication, dedicated to my beautiful friend Ashlyn. And speaking of speeches...I have a prayer request/story....
This past Thursday, I presented my Spanish oral presentation in class on Nicaragua. I really rocked it and everyone was laughing and clapping at everything. My professor even said I did great and that I could sit down after question and answer time happened. I handed him my outline and sat down.
He looked at, looked back at me, and asked me if I really believed I could do all things through Christ who strengthened me. I said YES. You see, I write that verse on every speech outline I do, so that I don't get too nervous. Well, he replied and said that if I could do all things through Christ who strengthened me, that I would have done better on that presentation. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait a second, did he just say I did bad because I love Jesus? Yes, he did. Not much else was said during class, and I left pretty quickly after wards.
I was upset, but walked along in the hallway. I turn around a few minutes later and my professor is there. He says he has a question for me and asks me again if I really believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me. I answer with a very bold YES. He basically says that's all nonsense and that he doesn't believe in my God. He always says that I should be bi-lingual if I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. He asked me what I stood on and I said MY FAITH and he walked away.
So God has planted a seed through me and I pray that He will continue to sow it. I will definitely be a witness to him, still and try to help him see the truth. I have just never been prosecuted for my faith in this way, but I know that God has a plan for everything. I trust His plan and I trust Him.
On a lighter note, I had a wonderful weekend with my family and friends. Dad, Kendall and I went to Atlanta for the Hawks game Saturday which was so much fun. I really cherish time with both of them. Family means everything to me, nothing is better :)
Sunday was church and then to Charleston!! We went to Folly Beach and had blast in the wind! lol And then to Needtobreathe!! They were amazing and it was a great night.
Loveeeeeeee.
This past Thursday, I presented my Spanish oral presentation in class on Nicaragua. I really rocked it and everyone was laughing and clapping at everything. My professor even said I did great and that I could sit down after question and answer time happened. I handed him my outline and sat down.
He looked at, looked back at me, and asked me if I really believed I could do all things through Christ who strengthened me. I said YES. You see, I write that verse on every speech outline I do, so that I don't get too nervous. Well, he replied and said that if I could do all things through Christ who strengthened me, that I would have done better on that presentation. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait a second, did he just say I did bad because I love Jesus? Yes, he did. Not much else was said during class, and I left pretty quickly after wards.
I was upset, but walked along in the hallway. I turn around a few minutes later and my professor is there. He says he has a question for me and asks me again if I really believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me. I answer with a very bold YES. He basically says that's all nonsense and that he doesn't believe in my God. He always says that I should be bi-lingual if I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. He asked me what I stood on and I said MY FAITH and he walked away.
So God has planted a seed through me and I pray that He will continue to sow it. I will definitely be a witness to him, still and try to help him see the truth. I have just never been prosecuted for my faith in this way, but I know that God has a plan for everything. I trust His plan and I trust Him.
On a lighter note, I had a wonderful weekend with my family and friends. Dad, Kendall and I went to Atlanta for the Hawks game Saturday which was so much fun. I really cherish time with both of them. Family means everything to me, nothing is better :)
Sunday was church and then to Charleston!! We went to Folly Beach and had blast in the wind! lol And then to Needtobreathe!! They were amazing and it was a great night.
Loveeeeeeee.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Lost Sheep--yesterday's sermon--
One of my friend's that doesn't really go to my church, Millbrook Baptist, obviously didn't hear yesterday's sermon "God's Lost and Found: The Lost Sheep" (Eddie Leopard) and God has laid it on my heart to tell her about it. So here you go dear friend...
The Lost Sheep
Luke 15:1-7
1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 3So he told them this parable: 4"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep that was lost.' 7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
I. The Condition of the Sheep
*sheep--not very smart--a person without Jesus in their heart lacks spiritual wisdom
*sheep lack direction, they often leave their shepherd--a person without Jesus (or not fully following His will), will lose their way from God
*sheep are defenseless at the mercy of what comes along--a person without Christ lacks defense against the devil
II. The Compassion of the Shepherd
*also check out: Psalm 23 & John 10
*he leaves 99 sheep and goes after the one lost sheep--the good shepherd always goes after the lost sheep
*not about the value of the sheep, but the love of the shepherd
III. The Celebration of Salvation
*Luke 19:10: For the Son of the Man came to seek and save the lost.
*you don't find God--He finds you. He pursues you, seeks you, and searches for you.
*you obtain salvation when He finds you, and you accept Him--when you seek Him with your whole heart!
So basically, do not ever feel like God has given up on you, that He is mad or upset with you. Yes, He might be disappointed and sad in your actions, but He will always love you! You are His child and He is sitting and waiting on you to come back to Him. Start putting Him back in your life. He wants you.
The Lost Sheep
Luke 15:1-7
1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 3So he told them this parable: 4"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep that was lost.' 7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
I. The Condition of the Sheep
*sheep--not very smart--a person without Jesus in their heart lacks spiritual wisdom
*sheep lack direction, they often leave their shepherd--a person without Jesus (or not fully following His will), will lose their way from God
*sheep are defenseless at the mercy of what comes along--a person without Christ lacks defense against the devil
II. The Compassion of the Shepherd
*also check out: Psalm 23 & John 10
*he leaves 99 sheep and goes after the one lost sheep--the good shepherd always goes after the lost sheep
*not about the value of the sheep, but the love of the shepherd
III. The Celebration of Salvation
*Luke 19:10: For the Son of the Man came to seek and save the lost.
*you don't find God--He finds you. He pursues you, seeks you, and searches for you.
*you obtain salvation when He finds you, and you accept Him--when you seek Him with your whole heart!
So basically, do not ever feel like God has given up on you, that He is mad or upset with you. Yes, He might be disappointed and sad in your actions, but He will always love you! You are His child and He is sitting and waiting on you to come back to Him. Start putting Him back in your life. He wants you.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Pray
Today in Sunday School we talked a little bit about wisdom and prayer. Prayer. I just get so caught up in my day-to-day that a lot of times, praying is the last thing that I do. You know, right before you go to sleep, that 5 minutes when you're eyes are heavy and you're almost out. Yup, that's when I've been praying. However, the past week or so, I have been doing better.
Matt Bracket (our Sunday School teacher) said that if you love God with all your heart that you'd be praying without ceasing. Whoooooooa. That made my heart drop. Does that mean that I don't love Him with all my heart? I know that if I neglected another relationship that I had, like I sometimes tend to do with God, that they would thing I didn't love them. So why do we neglect our relationship with God? Why do we only give Him the last 5 minutes of our day?
Praying without ceasing and fully trusting have always been my biggest struggles, but lately I've been making those the start of my day. If you continue to pray about something, it will always be on your mind. So I've just been praying about trusting God and continually giving everything to Him. Yes, everything.
So when you read this, reflect about your prayer time and think about how often you do this. How many other things come before you praying? God should be first and foremost. Make Him that!
Matt Bracket (our Sunday School teacher) said that if you love God with all your heart that you'd be praying without ceasing. Whoooooooa. That made my heart drop. Does that mean that I don't love Him with all my heart? I know that if I neglected another relationship that I had, like I sometimes tend to do with God, that they would thing I didn't love them. So why do we neglect our relationship with God? Why do we only give Him the last 5 minutes of our day?
Praying without ceasing and fully trusting have always been my biggest struggles, but lately I've been making those the start of my day. If you continue to pray about something, it will always be on your mind. So I've just been praying about trusting God and continually giving everything to Him. Yes, everything.
So when you read this, reflect about your prayer time and think about how often you do this. How many other things come before you praying? God should be first and foremost. Make Him that!
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