Mugswap Update

About a month ago, I signed up for a mugswap!

 ( I blogged about it as well, move on to 'Free Gifts' when you're done reading this! ) 

You might be asking yourself...'Whats a mugswap?" Well, I stumbled across this blog and saw that this wonderful lady named Kim was organizing an INTERNATIONAL mugswap. You love coffee, tea or hot chocolate? Do you LOVE funky/fancy/unique/vintage/ALL coffee mugs like me? This was the swap to get involved in.

It's a lot like secret Santa, only with complete strangers. You get your assignment, find out a little bit about your receiver and then send off your package and then patiently, (or in my case compulsively/obnoxiously stare the mailman down) wait for your own secret mug to arrive.

My package arrived a few weeks ago:

How fabulous is that!? 

My senders name is Jeniffer, from Mississippi and y'all let me tell you. She is a God send.

I think one of the reason's I've always been weary of 'blogging' is that I don't ever feel like I have a lot to say. Each week I struggle with something I consider 'worthy' of blogging. I write and re-write these things sometimes 2 or 3 times before I have the guts to press 'publish'.

But today the message for me was clear. 

The Lord is involved in my everyday life.

Maybe one of you out there needs to hear that God cares, that He really is involved in every little thing. Well I'm here today to tell you - HE IS. He cares about us and He's so invested in us. He wants to be apart of our lives, and He wants a relationship with us. So much so, that He has a hand in everything that goes on with us. 

Point in case? - #mugswap2013.

I realize that probably not everyone who signed up for the mugswap is a Christian. I also realize that out of the 800 or so people who participated, that the odds of Jeniffer becoming my mugswap sender are pretty large. (I'm super bad at math or I could give you an actual percentage). Along with the mug and sweet gifts, Jeniffer wrote me an encouraging, lovely note that has found a permanent spot on my fridge. 

This past week, while wondering what to blog about, I came home to find another note in my mailbox from Jeniffer:

Jeniffer has been following this blog, and we're friends on various social networks. She took my desire for accountability partners to heart, and has gone above and beyond to send me helpful and encouraging notes, and uplifting verses.

This note reads 'You've been in my thoughts this week, and I thought you  might need some encouragement today. First of all, you can do this. God holds each of your dreams, and He carefully chooses which to give you. He knows your heart so deeply, and He showers you with gifts'  She also wrote out:
'Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing' - Psalm 143:10

I was blown away by her. How she took the time to write me another uplifting note, and pray for me and my walk with The Lord.

I truly believe The Lord put this together. I know that He knew my heart, and my want to further my relationship with Him. I know He understood that sometimes I fall, I doubt, I fail and I stumble. He knew that I needed accountability partners, in many forms - and He gave me another one, through this mugswap.

I love having someone so far from home that I've never met, and might never get to meet, praying for me and encouraging my walk in Christ. I love getting to do the same for her. I love having a Lord who is so invested in me that He intervenes and acts on my behalf in so many ways, big and small. I love that The Lord brought the mugswap to me and that through that mugswap, He created my friendship with Jeniffer.

I believe God puts these moments in our lives so that we can make a differences in each others walks. We never know why opportunities are presented to us, or what could come of them. Whether it be a mugswap, buying someones meal in the line behind you, or just offering a helping hand or listening ear. God works in our lives in so many ways, and I'm so thankful for that. 

xoxo,
Rachel

Unexpected

Fun Fact About Rachel #93

I'm really stubborn.

(or so I'm told, :] )

I'm also really independent, and don't like admitting defeat. And if I think I'm right about something, good luck changing my mind. 

I am my father's daughter.

If you're reading this than you probably already know I've been asking for people to hold me accountable in various areas of my life. I want to be a good wife and friend. I want to be a great cook and someone who lives a healthy life. But most importantly I want to be a good Christian. 

Last week, I was unexpectedly held accountable to living a Christian lifestyle, and it shocked me. I thought to myself, what gave this person the idea that they had the right to 'be in my business' and that he needed to get over his 'holier than thou' attitude. 

I was pretty mad.

But then The Lord had His way with my stubbornness. I was praying, asking God to calm my heart in this matter and show me how I was supposed to feel, when I heard The Lord say to me ' You wanted to be held accountable...'

BAM. 

Have you ever been proven wrong to your face, and had absolutely no come back to defend yourself? That was me with The Lord's answer...I just sat there, in shame, with no argument to prove my case.

I had asked for, and even wanted people out there who cared enough to hold me to certain standards, and I go upset the first major time it happened. I felt really silly.

At that point, I thanked God for another lesson and the fact that He's so patient and forgiving of how stubborn I can be sometimes.

So this past Sunday at church, our pastor was speaking on being All In for Christ. That we as Christians, and a church live such passionate, Christ centered lives, that it starts to change the city we live in and those around us to where everyone in our town is a follower of Jesus Christ. 

His sermon got me thinking about being all in. I found myself asking if I was really all in? If I had put all I had out there for Jesus, and didn't look back? If I was one of the people that lived that passionate and Christ centered life that he was talking about?
 I knew the answer, and it wasn't what I had expected.
It made me think of how far I've come, and how far I still have to go in my walk with The Lord. But I do still struggle with putting it all out there, and being all in. I still give in to temptation and fall over my own selfish desires. It's taken me a while to realize, that it isn't just an over night change. It's being broken, it's being proven wrong, and it's asking for help.

Today I am thankful for unexpected accountability partners. I'm thankful for unexpected answers. I'm thankful for His patience with me, and His willingness to put up with my stubbornness. I'm especially thankful for a God that calls me out and proves me wrong, and still loves me. 

I pray today friends, that not only I would give it my all, but that you will too. Let's put all we have in our Lord, and live the lives that He's called us to live.

'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

-Romans 12:2

xoxo,

Rachel.