He has chosen you for such a time as this!
I had a great ride to and home from Bible Study with Rachel last night. As I look back over the past few years that I have lived in New Jersey, these hour long round trip rides with Rachel have become some of my favorite memories! We are able to discuss our lives, what God is doing in our lives, decompress from what we learned and discussed in Bible Study, and work on memory verses together – this time has been priceless and such a gift from God!! Well last night we discussed a lot of things on the way to church about where God has us right now, and where He has brought us from (and of course I cried even before I got to Bible Study – it seems I cry at the drop of the hat anymore since things that have happened in my life in the past couple of years. I used to NEVER NEVER cry except during sad movies – oh how God can change a person!). But one thing we discussed was how amazing it was that God has brought us both back to himself – see God is the author of all change and for whatever reason (actually the reason is to ultimately bring Himself the most Glory), He decides sometimes to not bring people who have strayed back to Himself. We both have seen him literally drag us back to Him many times in our lives and what an amazing blessing that is! I just want to cry right now thinking about how faithful He is and how special it is that He chooses me! And Rachel has seen it too – once when she was so far, God has brought her full circle to such an amazing close relationship with Him. Praise the Lord!!
One thing that strikes me as I watch Rachel deal with this season in her life, is how she so humbly and graciously accepts where God has put her at this moment in time. It truly is as the song say, Well with her Soul! Last night we were discussing how she will quite possibly very soon start to have to use a wheel chair because the tumor is sitting right on her sciatica nerve, making it very hard for her to walk even a short distance. Rachel discussed this so calmly and serenely, just as if she was discussing what she would have for lunch! Wow, this coming from my cousin who I used to watch in amazement clean her entire house the minute she got back from vacation, frantically scrubbing and doing laundry after she spent all day traveling. The girl who helped me unpack my entire house when I moved into my first house in just one night (and yes it was mostly her!), the girl who could run circles around me in the 5k races we would run just two short years ago. But now she understands that God has her at this moment for a reason and she is basking in her precious time with the Lord and with her friends and family and not worrying about what she cannot control!
Rachel told us last night that a visiting friend had thanked her yesterday for being so open and sharing her journey with everyone. I could not agree more! I love how Rachel has shared with us her feelings and what we can be praying about – allowing us all to grow as much as she is during this journey! One of my favorite things to watch is how Rachel has set aside special time to spend with friends and family that want to come visit. Even being as sick as she is, she wants to invest in other people’s lives and let them know how special they are to her! This to me is an amazing expression of God’s love!
I will leave you with this. God in His infinite knowledge, looked through all the generations there ever were, and all the generation that are to come, and decided to place Rachel in this century, in this country, in this culture, in this family, in this house, in this place. How amazing this that? He could have picked any other time or place, but He chose right here and now! And He did the same for you and me! Rachel and I were discussing last night that neither of us were at the places and circumstances in our lives that we pictured we would be. But you know what, He has us here for a reason, and just like Rachel is doing, I want to make the most of where He has me and not waste it by pining away for something else! Will you do the same? Don’t waste the time that God has given you, every hour and every minute is precious and God promises us that He works all things together for good to those that love him and are the called according to His purpose. I choose to follow Rachel’s lead (she always was way out in front of everyone ;-)) and Serve The Lord at this place and at this time!
To Him be the Glory forever and ever!
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