Sisters of the Faith: Rachel

Today we're sharing an interview we did with Rachel.  May you be encouraged and blessed in your walk with the Lord!

A note from Joanna:  Rachel is a dear friend and sister in the Lord.  God has used her to be a huge blessing and inspiration in my life.  There have been times when she said the exact thing I needed to hear - because God was shining through her to minister to me.

When I first asked Rachel if we could interview her for Bloom!, her response was this:  "I am honored but do not really see what would be so wonderful to tell about my life. I guess that's just it, you don't want to know about my life but what He's done in it."  

Rachel got it right - we don't do the Sisters of the Faith section to show how great a certain girl is or how nice she is but rather that Christ be lifted up and you all be encouraged.  May He receive the glory and honor from Rachel's life and you be blessed through it!

Rachel, when did you come to Christ?

  

I came to know Christ when I was five years old. I was kind of listening (as a five year old would do) as my Mom taught my two older brothers in school about Revelation 3:16 that talks about lukewarm Christians.  That night I told my mother, as I was getting ready for a bath, not to make the water lukewarm - that it needed to be hot or cold. I first had to explain to her why I was saying that (because of what I had overheard) and she began to explain that the verse was not talking about the temperature of your bath water but the kind of Christian you were!  She went on to explain that I was a sinner and not yet a Christian. I was soon in tears, praying to be saved. It was not until I was twelve, though, that I really realized how much sin there was in the world and how much the Lord had saved me from as a sinner.  It was then that I was reawakened to the beauty of that time and made me more in awe of Him and thankful for His amazing grace. 

Who has been a big influence on your life?

My mom has been the greatest influence in my life – she’s has been there through each day and has shaped my thoughts and mindset over the years.   As I have grown, she has become my best friend. I really like it that I can bounce things off of her and talk to her about anything. As a young lady, that is probably the most valuable relationship that you can have.  You may have many friends, but perhaps none will be more encouraging and involved in your life than your mother.

I’ve also been influenced by Jim and Elisabeth Elliot.  I read Jim's journal, "Shadow of the Almighty", and was very impressed with his obedience to surrender. Elisabeth went on to be my favorite author because of her candidness about her own struggles in life. They were a couple united by their surrender to Christ and that really encouraged me.

What has the Lord been teaching you lately?

The Lord has been teaching me to look toward the future in faith and to make an effort to minister to and bless the lives of others. Without faith I can't think very far into the future and therefore, I don't make plans for what I ought to be doing and miss opportunities to minister to others that I, in turn, would receive blessing for.

What is your favorite Scripture and why?

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."  Matthew 10:29-31

God really used these verses during a very trying time in my life when I needed to feel assured that God truly cared for me. I knew that in my heart it was not right for me to want to be the one in control instead of God and I wanted to surrender and be at peace but could not do it on my own.

Tell us about a joy in your walk with Jesus.

Oftentimes, the reading/singing of a hymn will take my heart from a straying path and lead it on to the path it should've been on all along.  The hymn “His Eye Is On the Sparrow”, inspired by Matthew 10:29-31, is a joy that God used to encourage me:  

1. Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
   Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
   When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

• Refrain:
  I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
  For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

2. “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
   And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
   Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

3. Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
   When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
   I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I could sing just fine until the refrain of the song because I felt that although I could surrender to God there was no way that I could be happy about it. But here's a little clue, surrender = happiness.  

Surrender to Jesus ultimately brought peace and without peace one cannot really be happy.

A few of Rachel’s favorite things…

precious children :: hymns :: cooking :: fun times with my family :: friends who encourage ::