NEW SEASONS

WELCOME TO MY "FIRST" BLOG!! 

I haven't picked up blogging in 7 years and I feel like its time to start again!! God gave me a vision for 10minutemoms.com back in January when I was away on a retreat with my hubby. I had just come off a few months of non stop traveling and ministering and was feeling exhausted and burned out (I have 3 kids so its expected) and I am a firm believer of rebuilding my self by watching some Biblically sound  teachings via youtube or podcasts. I just found it hard to carve out 45 minutes in my schedule that day, so it dawned on me, "but, I have 10 minutes!" I wish I could make a 10 minute video or quick blog to help moms out there, "recharge their batteries" and to let them know they are not alone... And poof! 10 months later, here we are! I've been sitting on this idea ever since January and I sincerely hope you enjoy my "first" one!

I love when the natural seasons change. I use to be kinda nervous when it came to change (in general) because it was the fear of the unknown that would leave me uneasy. But, now I embrace it with all of me! I specifically love when the Autumn season arrives. Oh, the smell of fire wood burning, cool autumn breezes, boots, sweaters, scarves, Almond Milk Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Apple picking, My kids laughing as they push each other into the leaf piles (lol),  leaves falling, and my 2 favorite holidays: Christmas and Thanksgiving!

I like when seasons change from the hard ones to the less hard ones. And believe me when I tell you I have had my share of hard seasons, but we will save that for another blog! I seriously use to freak out when we would go through the "valley" because I was always afraid I wouldn't know how to get through it. FEAR was my biggest giant in life. Which, I refuse to allow to control me or my family anymore. So, I started learning more about myself through the struggle. I went to the Bible. My prayers changed and my trust in God started changing. I began worry less and pray more. Gods faithfulness began to show itself and I would stand amazed at it. every. single. time. You see, once I began to realize that I couldn't fix the problem, or pay the unexpected bill, or reverse the diagnosis of a friend. I had to put every ounce of my trust in my God. The creator of the Universe. My best friend. He has never let me down. NEVER.  And when my prayer wasn't answered in my time line, I realized it wasn't suppose to be. It always just happens when it supposed to.

Sometimes it takes us hitting rock bottom and starting over to show us what we are made of. I believe God can use any circumstance and turn it for good. One day, I will post about my rock bottom experience, but more recently, I watched my parents who have been pastors for my entire 34 years of life, loose everything the church had in a hurricane/flood. Their church had 12 inches of standing flood waters in it. But, seeing the community within a few days come and rally around them and help them tear out sheet rock and carpeting and deliver food was a beautiful thing to see. They needed $20,000 to meet their flood insurance deductible. Within 2 weeks God provided that and more!!! A local church opened its doors to them on Sunday afternoons free of charge. In America, how amazing it to see churches helping each other instead of competing with one another! That is what "church"is suppose to be! Loving one another and serving each other. God used this horrific event and turned it completely around. They are continually receiving what they need far above and beyond their expectations.

A very sweet lady once told me "Mans rejection= Gods protection". I have never forgotten that.  There have been so many times I doubted myself because things didn't go the way I thought they should. One of my fave scriptures is, 

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

"Many are the plans in a persons heart, but it is the Lords purpose that prevails."

So if something doesn't go the way I intended it to, just means there is a better way or another route God wants to take. So if you are going through a rough patch right now, DONT LOSE HOPE! Things will get better. Just have faith, believe and pray!(I know it sounds "churchy" but its the truth.) If it takes that 100th prayer, then so be it. Let God expand our trust and let God expand our hearts and watch His goodness surprise you and watch the miracles begin to happen. Its hard for human nature to just let something go,  but I guarantee you can do it. 

Never let the voice of FEAR be louder than the voice of courage. You can do ANYTHING you put your mind to...

Rachel <3