The Rebelution
Yesterday I went to the Rebelution, Do Hard Things conference at church and I wanted to jot down a few notes that I wrote in my journal. The 2 young men who started this, Alex and Brett Harris, are amazing and they are changing the world. The basis for the Rebelution is “a teenage rebellion against low expectations.” I love that! These young men are not accepting the labels and limitations put on teenagers today but are changing the world and to the glory of God. Wow, what a concept! I knew the Lord would speak to me although I am way beyond my teenage years and He did. Everything these young men talked about can be applied to everyone’s life, no matter what the age.
Here are some of the notes I wrote down as they were talking:
- Are my expectations of myself and other people to low?
- Whose expectations am I living by? Our culture? Other people? My family?
- Our ceiling [of expectations] is where the floor should be
- Don’t let other people put you in their mold
- We are susceptible to low expectations
- Our culture expects only the minimal from us
- Am I stuck in my own comfort zone?
- Am I too satisfied that I am complacent?
- We will become who we strive to become. Am I striving to become more like Christ?
They also gave 7 “Do Hard Things” that we need to do in order to have a Do Hard Things mentality:
- Fight sin in your life.
- Battle discouragement and complacency.
- Do more than is required [expected] – Rebel against low expectations.
- Get over your fear of failure: Fail while doing it greatly. Failure is never wasted and it’s ok to fail at the “hard things.”
- Looks different for each person: we are all gifted by God with unique gifts designed specifically for His purposes.
- Do small things: For the glory of God and not recognition of man.
- Live your best life – not the easiest or most comfortable.
During one of the sessions, their father shared on a very important portion of Scripture that God used in my life several years ago. Although at the moment of my salvation, I was broken, I really didn’t realize what complete brokenness was until God used Ezekiel 36:25-27 to speak to me. I will write a separate post on that soon. But their dad spoke about how there are so many people who look like Christians, speak like Christians and who know how they are supposed to “act” like Christians. He challenged the teens and asked if they were done pretending and if they were ready to have a heart change and accept the Lord into their hearts and lives. (That was my paraphrase by the way). He asked them to stand up if they are ready and although it took a little while, one by one, people stood up. The presence of God was moving through the church and we were praying and doing some serious warfare. He then called them to come up front and as the minutes passed by, people kept going up there. He also called them up if they waned to recommit to following the Lord and soon there were several hundred teens up there. I was sitting pretty close to the front and as they were returning to their seats, I watched some of their faces. I saw true repentance and brokenness and I felt such an incredible feeling in my heart and soul as I knew their lives would never be the same. I watched fathers walking back with their sons and saw the tears of joy. I can’t help but to think back to my salvation at times like this. How merciful God was and continues to be. We then sang Amazing Grace and I couldn’t even sing for most of the song. The words are so beautiful and being a former wretch, I can truly appreciate what the Cross means. Without it, there is nothing. With it, there is everything.
A Beautiful Poem
A friend just sent this to me and it really blessed me. It’s a poem from Russell Kelfer.
You are who you are for a reason.
You’re part of an intricate plan.
You’re a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God’s special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You’re just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones He chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind,
And they bear the Master’s seal.
No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into His likeness you’d grow.
You are who you are for a reason,
You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God !
The Last 7 Years
It never ceases to amazes me that on July 14, 2001 my life as a new creation in Christ began. Each year around this date, I take myself back to where I was and what I was doing before this. It’s not pretty and I don’t do it to condemn myself but I do it so I never, ever forget the depths that my gracious God pulled me out of. The last few days before I surrendered my life to Christ were filled with drunkeness, sin, shame, despair, depression, guilt and so much more. About 9 months prior to this, I was in the hospital hooked up to life support machines to breathe for me since I couldn’t do it my own. How does a person get to that point of desperation that the only way out is to take a bottle of pills with a bottle of liquor and hope they never wake up? I can’t even believe that was me 7 years ago. It’s almost surreal because I don’t think I have ever been happier than I am today. To think that the enemies plans for my life almost succeeded but because I am so loved by my Creator that God chose me before time began and has called me for such a time as this. Boggles my mind!
As I look back on another incredible year, I see God’s hand and goodness all over my life. Another year in Bible college, going to Africa last summer, bringing my family closer together, paying off more debt, a new job, great friends who love me, brokeness at the sins in my life, greater faith, another year walking in purity, learning that I am a princess, a new church and a godly man who thinks I am “drop dead gorgeous.” There is so much more but those are a few highlights. I know this next year will be even more amazing than the past one although to think that my life will get better just blows my mind.
I am going to go dig up my old journals and will try to post some of my entries from around the time of my salvation. It’s always heart wrenching to read about my past but on the same note, so fantastic because I am the result of someone who has been chosen, forgiven, redeemed, cleansed, loved and set free and for that, I will always be forever grateful.
Thank you Jesus for loving me when no one else did. Thank you that before time began, my name was engraved on your hand. A hand that was pierced for me and my sins. Thank you for making me the apple of your eye. Thank you for loving me with an everlasting love. Thank you for setting my heart free. Thank you for taking my mustard seed sized faith and growing it up to where I believe you will move any mountain for me. Thank you that although I am stained crimson, you see me in a white robe. Thank you for making me your bride. Thank you that you are restoring to me what the locusts have eaten. Thank you for taking me out of the mud and mire and setting my feet upon the Rock. Thank you for being the lifter of my head. Thank you that my sins are forgiven from as far as the East is from the West. Thank you that your plans are to prosper me and not to harm me. Thank you that you are loving to me. Thank you for hearing my cries for mercy. Thank you for disciplining me because you love me. Thank you that you are close to the brokenhearted. Thank you that I have been called according to your purpose. Thank you that you are slow to anger and abounding in love. Thank you for creating my inmost being. Thank you that you have ordained all my days. Thank you that you keep no record of my wrongs. Thank you that you never sleep or slumber but always watch over me. Thank you that your mercies and compassion are new every day. Thank you Jesus, for the Cross.
Paul and Silas
I was reading in Acts 16 yesterday morning and for some reason, I can’t get it off my mind. Paul and Silas has just been severely flogged and thrown into a prison in Philippi and they were praying and singing hymns to God. Every time I read that, I am dumbfounded. If I had just been beaten and severely at that, I think I would be whining and complaining because they really did nothing wrong. Yet, here were these 2 godly men, with their feet in stocks in the inner cell singing their hearts out to God. It’s interesting that we are told the prisoners were listening to them because whether we want to believe it or not, people are always watching us. They want to see if we walk our talk and as I have said so many times, we often fail. The story goes on to say that their was suddenly a violent earthquake and all the prison doors flew open. When the prison guard saw this, he drew his sword to kill himself because he thought all the prisoners had escaped but Paul yells, “don’t harm yourself, we are all here.” The next statement the guard is asking them what must he do to be saved. Unbelievable! As I was thinking about this yesterday and today, it struck me that this guard asked them about salvation, not the other way around. Could you imagine if our lives reflected Jesus and our love for God so much that people would stop us and ask us, “what must I do to be saved?” I imagine the guard probably thought Paul and Silas to be crazy. They has just been beaten and they were singing to God!! I can hear them singing, Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. Wow. I continued to read the rest of the chapter and not only did the prison guards whole family come to know the Lord, but Paul and Silas actually went to their friend Lydia’s house once they got out. It says they met with the brothers and encouraged them. The last thing I think I would want to do after I had been beaten and up all night was go to someone’s house to encourage them! I would have wanted a bed STAT and about 12 hours of sleep. I was really challenged by this but also encouraged. It seems like most of my testing comes when I am at my weakest and tired and to know that God gave these 2 men spiritual strength to do what He called them to do reminds me that He will do the same for me. All I have to do is allow Him to do it!
Back to reality
Vacation was great. I am definitely going to be taking more time off in the future. Relaxing and playing are such an important part of life and necessary. I had a blast with my nieces and nephews at the beach and although I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep, it was worth it. My 3 year old niece slept with me most nights and she is the wiggliest thing. All night long she tosses and turns and almost pushed me out of bed a few times! She is used to falling asleep with music on but we didn’t have it so she asked me to sing her a song. I sang the Revelation Song and there is a part that goes, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” She was so adorable and asked me what holy holy means. I shared about God with her and she was really listening to me. The next night we were all snuggly in bed again and she laid her little hand on my cheek and asked me to sing the holy holy song again. It melted me!
We walked the boardwalk and I finally got to eat funnel cake, yummy! We caught frogs by the lake (well, I confess the kids caught them, I watched). I did touch one though! Yuck. We made s’mores in the fire pit and danced to MC Hammer in the yard. The kids were cracking up as I was busting my move and getting my groove on.
I am glad to be home because I missed this really cute guy and although we talked everyday, it’s just not the same. We texted so much that my little 7 year old niece would ask me every five minutes, Auntie Rachel, what did he say??? I cracked up. She would go boogie board in the ocean and as soon as she came out of the water, she would ask me if he texted me. Funny girl.
Life is good. I am so blessed and thank God every day for my new life He has given me. I can’t believe that in 9 days, it will be my 7th birthday as a new creation in Christ. July 14, 2001 was the best day of my life and I am constantly amazed at how much the Lord loves me. God continually pours out his blessings on me and once again I stand in awe of Him.
