Galatians 2:20a
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not i, but Christ liveth in me:
My Life Verse

Ephesians 6:6

Not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Friday, February 29, 2008

(54) Wanna make a pledge???

Ok....now i feel like typing a bit....i been saving this info.

uh....where to start......

Every year my youth group goes to youth conference in Hammond Indiana. It is a week long event and they go to 6 flags and hit the touristy spots of Chicago. I, however, have never been. BUT, this year i will be attending which brings a minor problem. It is about $200 to go. That includes 6 flags ticket, food, lodging, and the conference itself. SOO....Bro. Randy Mullenix introduced us (the youth group) to a new type of fundraising. We are having a car wash....classic yes but with a twist. We are only charging 49 cents to wash each car and we only plan on washing 100 cars....we all know that that ain't gonna get 150 teens 200 bucks each. Sooooo the twist is we are asking ppl to pledge so much money for each car we wash. For example, my grandfather pledged 2o cents per car we wash and if we was 100 that means (20 cents times 100= $20.00) he is giving us 20 bucks....cool huh? But the beauty of it is that all the teens are getting ppl to pledge on the same 100 cars.....so i got papa to pledge 20 cents on a car, but say Kailyn got her neighbors to pledge 25 cents on the same car....and so does the whole youth group...each car we wash could be like $ 65!!!! SOOO COOL.....Just today i got $1.60 worth of pledges...and you don't have to be Einstein to know that is $160.00!!!! Wow! That is just from 9 ppl too! Kailyn and I are a team, we are doing it together and splitting our profits. I am sooo excited......it is practically dummy proof.....practically!

I'll keep you updated on what we make.....

:) =0)

~Rach~

Thursday, February 28, 2008

(53)Me

Well.....i can offically not wait until next week!!!!! We are getting comcast!!! and i will no longer be SLOW!!!!

Yes....so excited!!!!!!!!! =)

That is all.

~Me~
(would you love me any other way??)

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

(52)Doubt

I was right...and don't ya know there was no one to tell "and you were wrong".
It snowed. . . and snowed. . . and snowed some more. But as Uncle Mike says " You haven't lived in Antarctica until you go to Michigan".
There was no Teen soul winning, we still made it to church though.

Tonight Pastor taught another helpful lesson on Doubt. . . or disbelief. A.K.A a lack of Faith. . .
Doubt is proof of a lack of faith and/or trust in God.
Pastor has been teaching on a lot of things like Doubt, Covetousness, Pride, etc. then giving a solution on how to overcome these things.

G2g,

Later Maters,

~Rach~

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

(51)bummer.....

hey...it snowed....bummer....always on a tuesday night.....prob no tsw tomorrow....:(

~Rach~

Monday, February 25, 2008

(50)Salutations!

Hey, ( I start a lot of posts that a way don't i?)

Yo, ( Nope, that's not it)

Wazzup? ( Still not feeling it)

How's it hanging? (too....ummm....uhhhh......it's just too)

So, (I think i like Hey better)

Hey!

How's it hanging? So, Wazzup? Yo.....

Salutations people,

I went to the dentist today and they said i am gonna die of bad breath. But other than that i am good.

I also went to walmart and got a "spend the money in your purse" urge. So i did....i bought two sweaters. One will go with my easter dress and the other just looked at me and said "BUY ME" so i was willingly obedient. :)

I then came home and washed the dishes......man i have an interesting life!!!!!!!!!!!
hehe

~The Blogger did not enter a signature~

Thursday, February 21, 2008

(50)Open Toed Shoes No Matter What!!!

I was just looking through my posts and i have NO IDEA where posts 37 and 38 went but they are gone and I KNOW they were there!

Yesterday was another COLD one....39 degrees but it felt like A LOT colder! The girls of course were sent to the nursing homes while the guys saw 4 saved in the freezing outdoors.

Also the teens are no longer allowed to walk up the hill on Wednesday nights (long story) which i am TOTALLY ok with.....it be too cold fer that nywayses.

Can u tell i dun't like the COLD! OY! I cannot wait until EASTER.....did you know it is in MARCH this year? It is kinda like when school starts....they move it earlier each year! I don't care how cold it is on March 23....i am wearing open toed shoes!!!!!!! And a White dress!

okey doke....well....that is it.....oh and i got my ipod to work so we're good now!

Byes
~Rach~

Monday, February 18, 2008

(49)I went easy on him ;)

Hey.....

Last night was a blast! The activity was suppose to last an hour after the service but i lost track of time and they didn't tell us to leave till 9:40pm! Mom told me to just call her when i was done.

The guys dominated the ping pong table so the girls really didn't get to play unless it was around the world. (which i never made it very far.) Most of the time the person if front of me didn't let go of the paddle in time or it got caught on the table or my skirt. Depressing!

But there was also a fooseball table....i like fooseball! hehe probably cause i don't stink at it! hehe
At the very end of the time i was there Dustin challenged me to a match one on one. (Which in case you haven't ever noticed takes a lot of concentration!!!!!!!) BUT...i won!!!!!!!! So of course....like all guys when they lose.....wanted a change to redeem himself. So we played again and he did win. ( I went easy on him! hehe)

Kailyn wasn't there yesterday cause her family was traveling and singing this past weekend. I wasn't able to go to church wednesday due to slick backroads so it has been monday since i have seen them.

Well that was a little more interesting than the last post i must say!

Today i haven't done anything. It is 6:00 pm and i am still in my pj's....didn't go anywhere so i saw no use in changing....haha. I go comfy!

Okey dokey....well if you really have the urge to comment PLEASE DO!!!!! No really I DON'T MIND!!!!!!! ( no i didn't say i don't have a mind!)

Talk to the 3 of you that acctually read this later!

~Rach~

Sunday, February 17, 2008

(4 somethin) If i really wanted to!

Hey peeps....long time no chat i still have nothing to say...but i just wanted you to know that i could post if i wanted to! haha.....
~Rach~

Saturday, February 16, 2008

(47)Worth it? naw........

Hey ppl.....no i didn't forget how to post i just haven't had anything happen worth posting about.
And i don't have the patience to write all about missions week....:( If you really wanna know...call me i;d love to chat to about anyone.....hehe

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

(46) No words to discribe!!!

Hey guys....is said that one could be a long one but i was cut short cause my papa was being moved to a regular room. Well today he was able to go home and due to SNOW my mom be able to go be with him till tomorrow. One of papas friends are with him though.

Last night the Kailyn and her family brought us dinner. Thank you so much! The spagetti was AWESOME!!!! And there are no words to discribe the brownies!!!!!!

still trying to get my email to work right so comment bunches....that's bout the only way hear from ya!

Love ya all
~Rach~

Monday, February 11, 2008

(45)CCU

Hey People....i have some time so this could be a long one.....

I am at the hospital right now and YEAH they have highspeed wireless!!!
Notice the AT not IN......my grandfather Wallace Craig would be the one IN.

He had to drive himself here wednesday night because he couldn't breath.....i won't give all details but he had been in CCU (Critical Care Unit) since then and finally today they are moving him to a regular room. Several things have went wrong but the main problem is his heart. He has had open heart surgery twice before.....but nyways....he is doing better today and is continuing to improve.

There is just way too much to tell about missions conference....

More later

Rach

Monday, February 4, 2008

(44)Garlic BREATH!

I'll be sure but i can't say how Dan acted tonight cause i wasn't there. But i did get to attend an activity that isn't a published part of missions conference. Because the guys got there time to be men the ladies go out to eat every year which we weren't informed of till now. It was fun we went to olive garden and i can still taste the garlic! hehe

Yesterday went smooth......the two men that preached were good....with one minor detail that the first one was REALLY hard to understand...(ask dan!) but it kept u awake if you were really consentrating on it and trying to listen.

Ms Cassie is SOOOO SWEET.....she bought me a skirt like hers because she knew i loved her skirt....she said oh it was on sale.....yes but she still paid ten bucks for it.....i absolutely LOVE it!!!!

Gotta go fer now.....if you tried to email me i haven't gotten it because my email isn't working currently...sorry!!!!

Lots of Love!

~Rach~

Saturday, February 2, 2008

(43)Missions Conference

Hey.....another long week behind me......and the next is one i have been looking forward to every since it ended last year. South Haven Baptist Church's 19 Annual Missions Conference!!!!

There is something happening every day! (well for me every day but monday!)

Sunday the 3rd marks the beginning of this week long event and i cannot wait!
We will have special speakers and activities!

Monday there is a mens BBQ which i am sure you are aware i don't attend.

Tusday night is the cottage prayer meeting which will be a first for me. We are going to the Randopoh's where i believe the Carter Family will be teaching. And i know that Kailyn and her family will also be there because they are singing.

Wednesday i'm not sure if we are having our regular teen soul winning or not but we will have our regular service where another missionary will preach.

Thursday morning is the ladies lucheon which will be another first for me to attend. I am soo excited about it all. This lucheon is where the missionary wives tell their stories and their missions. That night we have another service just like the one on Wednesday night....we have to have a whole other night to get all the missionaries in!

Friday......hmmmm........my absolute FAVORITE!!!! That morning is the Parade at the school! Last year was my first for it and i thurally enjoyed it! It is a parade around the gym at the school and all the students gather in the middle with TONS of confette! The Missionaries are then paraded around the edge countless times and confette is throne at them for as long as it lasts!
Then each grade presents a play or song of some sort and gives the money that class has raised to it's missionary. It is great fun and very encouraging to see the kids work so hard for missions!
But that night is even better. The missions Banquet! The banquet is for adults 18 and up. So you wonder why i am so enthusastic about it? Well the teens get the be the waiters and waiteresses.
They pair us up guys and girls and we serve the missionaries and adults. We also get to hear all the preaching.

Ok....then we follow up with another one-of-a-kind Sunday and it's all over just like that.

Can't wait and i'll be sure to report all the details of the awesome week!

~Rach~

I Have Been Blessed!!!!


THE ROOM

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room.
There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to
catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at." Some
were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents.

Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth.
Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched", I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content.

I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it
and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this
room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw
a sorrow deeper than my own.

He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again.
He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name
of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.

He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.
- Brian Moore