"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. Deville..."

Sometimes I just wish that my life was like a movie. I wouldn't have to deal with all of the "what-ifs" that pop into my head on almost a daily basis. I wouldn't have to worry about what was going to take place tomorrow, next month, or even next year. No concern over making sure that I "word things right" so as not to make a complete fool or donkey out of myself. The script would already be written and I'd simply be acting in the starring role. Well, guess what? My life has already been scripted... it just takes a little more practice and listening to the Director to get things just right.

Some of the leading character's attributes:

Love - I've got to work on this one. Some people are a LOT harder to love than others...

Joy - Most of the time, I don't have a problem in this area. Granted, there are the rare occasions when I get in a slump, but that's once in a blue moon.

Peace - I do my best to live peacefully with others, but as for peace in my heart? Yeah, that's something that the Director & I are working on...

Patience - One of the hardest... Scenes in which this needs to be used keep coming up CONSTANTLY, however, so I'm getting better. Slowly but surely...

Kindness - I think I'm kind the majority of the time. Could I use more practice? Sure.

Goodness - Listen, I'm practically wearing a HALO here! ;-) But no, I've kind of tripped in this area. Only slightly, but I do have to catch up.

Faithfulness - Same answer as Joy: Normally don't have a problem with the whole faith thing, every once in a while I need to get back in line, but rarely.

Gentleness - The Director's notes describes this as: "Meekness"... Am I meek? I don't think so. I mean, there are times when I can be as "meek as a mouse" but then there are times when my gentleness flies out the window. So yes, could definitely use some work in this area.

Self Control - *sigh*... I honestly had no clue how hard this one was until I wanted to take control of the movie myself. I tried to sit in the Director's chair and call all the shots, but He calmly asked "Rachelle, what do you think you're doing?"..."I'm doing things the way that will work best for me!"..."Oh, really now? Who wrote the script? Who's directing this movie?"...*awkward pause*…"I'm sorry, You are."..."I've got it all worked out for you in the end, don't you worry, kiddo."



So, basically, this role that I've been selected to take has challenged me in ways I'd never thought possible. It's a lot harder than you think listening to the Director as He brings you in line when you kind of get doing your own thing. He's a tough One...but He's a good One, too. ;-)

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show...

There's a reason I'm alive...

You put me here for a reason,
You have a mission for me...
You knew my name and You called it
Long before I learned to breathe...

Sometimes I feel disappointed
By the way I spend my time...
How can I further Your kingdom
When I'm so wrapped up in mine?

In a blink of an eye, that is when,
I'll be closer to You than I've ever been...
Time will fly, but until then
I'll embrace every moment I'm given...
There's a reason I'm alive:

For a blink of an eye

And, though I'm living a good life,
Can my life be something great?
I have to answer the question
Before it's too late...

Cause in a blink of an eye, that is when,
I'll be closer to You than I've ever been...
Time will fly, but until then
I'll embrace every moment I'm given...
There's a reason I'm alive:

For a blink of an eye

If I give the very best of me
That becomes my legacy...
So tell me what am I waiting for?
WHAT am I waiting for?!

In a blink of an eye, that is when,
I'll be closer to You than I've ever been...
Time will FLY, but until then
I'll embrace every moment I'm given...

In a blink of an eye, that is when,
I'll be closer to You than I've ever been...
Time will fly, but until then
I'll embrace every moment I'm given...
There's a reason I'm alive:

...for a blink of an eye...

Oh, to be clothed with strength and dignity...

...and to be able to laugh at the days to come. To speak wisdom and have a tongue where faithful instruction can be found.

Psalm 37:3-9

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

Psalm 61:1-5

For the Director of music. (I love that...)

With Stringed instruments. Of David.

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

Psalm 62:5-8, 11-12

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge... ...One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 6:33-34

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

............Selah............

a million miles an hour...

I'm done trying to keep up with the world's pace.

Running that fast, for that long, can't be good for anyone.

It's like the Jimmy Needham song ("A Breath or Two") that I posted the lyrics to on here a while ago:

I want to breathe in, I want to breathe in and out again...
I'm tired of putting one foot in front of the other.
I'm weary of where it leads me to.
I'm tired of moving on from my Father.
Make me rest my head and take a breath or two...

Lately I've been taking things at a slower pace, because I've realized that to run along with the world is to run yourself ragged in a race that you will never win (in the world, not of it).

3 months ago the Lord started doing this work in me that I have yet to even fully understand.
Bondage, that I didn't even realize that was holding me back, was broken. And a freedom that I hadn't known since, well...EVER...was revealed to me.

So for me, time has really been redefined...
I'm refocusing my attention on my relationship with my Rescuer... I've had to re-learn all of the 'basic' stuff that I had 'known'. Mostly because the significance of the "little" things was lost on me. Like...His LOVE for me. For US. It truly is a beautiful romance...

I'm also spending more time with my family, which is something that I had neglected HORRIBLY over the past year and a half. My relationship with each member of my family is being rebuilt (though some of them are much HARDER than I'd like), and it's growing me in ways that I could have never imagined.

So basically, what I'm trying to say, is that I am finally getting things in gear at the RIGHT speed. The GOD speed. Not the WORLD speed. And if that means "taking it easy", then so be it. If some people want to judge me because of that, so be it, but this is God's life, not mine, so I'm doing things His way this time around.


...this is my pace:

Happy birthday to you...

...happy birthday TO you...

...you LOOK like a monkey...

...AND YOU SMELL LIKE ONE TOO!

(smile) x 1000... <-(Dan, you know what that looks like.)

Happy Birthday, Dan!

loose itinerary...

Today's layout:
7am-3pm: work @ TH
3:30-6pm: relax at home
6-6:30pm: taking care of job-related issues
7-8:30pm: Reality
9-9:30pm: The Office
10-sleep: packing for trip and whatever else I want to do

Friday's layout:
6am-2pm: work @ TH
2:30-4pm: finish packing up & getting ready
4pm-7pm: driving up I95 to Presque Isle
7pm-???: hanging out with DJ and NB!

Saturday's layout:
morning: relaxing, doing whatever, maybe going out for breakfast.
early afternoon: visiting the Cheneys and other loved people
evening: cooking at the Jackson's, practicing at the church, watching Baby Mama

Sunday's Layout:
morning: attending & playing at Dan's church
early afternoon: re-packing, last bit of visiting, whatever else
late afternoon: heading back downstate <-(don't even want to think about this part right now...)