Josh and Rachel

Lover of my heart and soul!

2010-01-31T14:52:00.002-05:00

God as lover. What a new, different concept. A deeper, intimate relationship to enter. Reading the Song of Songs as a love dialogue between God and I. He longs for me as my lover. He delights in me and is enchanted by me as a lover. Accepting my flaws and seeing perfection. Longing to spend time with me and cuddle. How fulfilling. How confident He makes me. He lavishes love upon me and kisses my face. My husband. He desires no one else but me. There's a place in His heart only I can fill. He wants us to spend the rest of our lives together intimately sharing ourselves with one another. He wants to be the one I turn to first for everything. He wants to take care of me. He wants me. He finds me lovely, beautiful. He takes me just as I am. He's written words of poetry just for me in the Bible and recites them to me. He's earned my trust. Romanced my heart with tender care. He's gone into passionate pursuit after me and continues even still. He calls me precious darling... His beloved bride. He seeks to conquer my whole heart, that I would love Him alone with passion and adoration. To be complete and made whole with His love. He longs and aches for our alone time. He wants me all to Himself. He pours His heart out before me- words of devotion, sincere with truth. He is my true love. The man of my dreams. Beautiful in my sight. I long to be in His arms and just to be held. He is my God, my everything. In the morning, He is my first thought. I smile when I think of spending time with Him. He keeps me safe in His love. He fights to protect me. I am worth it to Him. Our love satisfies one another and fills our hearts entirely. There's no doubt, no fear. Pure, abandoned, wild, passionate, delicate, everlasting, unconditional, radiant Love! A love as I have never known but always wished for. Deeper, truer, and completely real. I cling to this love as if my life depends upon it, simply because it does. My life has an existence because of this awesome love. I have purpose and power. I delight in pouring out my love for Him. Such an ache and need has been met by You. My heart-cry has been heard. Finally I know what I've been created for. Now I know why I've been in love with love... because of You. You are the source and giver of love. And I am Yours- You are mine. Your promises and acclamations wash over me- head to feet. Renewing me and cleansing me anew. Your love purifies me. In our love-relationship I find Holiness-Righteousness. There's no striving- the love flows freely as it is my essence to do so. I was designed for You. What a perfect fit. Your songs lift my spirit. Your soft whispers quiet my soul and I lovingly hold out my hand to hold each one to treasure. I belong to You and You belong to me. Sweet ecstasy and contentment. In my lovers presence I long to spend all my days... And You with me. Expanding, growing, bursting, beautiful love. Thank You! Lover of my heart and soul! Forever devoted to You I choose to be. And I love You only because You first loved me. You've been my teacher of love. I am Your willing pupil. Teach me more of Your love through blessed experience. Love beyond feeling. Incomparable. Set the standard in my life. I choose You forever- in wedded bliss. Perfection that lasts. Faithful until the end of time- which happens to be eternal. I'm on a love mission with You. It goes on and on and on. Hand in hand with eyes aglow. Shining faces with happiness. Wherever You lead I'll follow. I give You my life- my heart. You've caressed me into the open. No longer shy about my love for You- I proclaim to the world. Boasting of my Lover. I'd wait forever to be in Your arms. To mold myself into You. I hold Your counsel dear and take heed when You implore me to. Your loving words give me life. I am fiercely clinging to You. I am nothing without You. I desperately need You. I am the apple of Your eye. You will never forsake or abandon me. You've promised me forever. A promise I can rely upon. You've laid Your life down for me- the ultimate sacrifice. You show me love in the most extravagant ways. Pouring grace upon me. You bless me with Your presence. I thirst and hunger for none but You. You are the most important of all things. Revelation and insight You give me to draw me closer. I long to see Your face- Your brilliant smile. Your eyes lighting up as You gaze at me. Let me stare into the windows of Your soul. Nothing can separate us because the strongest ties bond- this purified love. You are my King- I desire to serve You. You've honored me with riches and position by Your side. You've given me Your heart. I have the image You love best. You've called my form captivating. You build me up. Rejoicing over me with love. I sing just for You. Songs that pierce Your heart. You call for me celebrate with You in triumph. You come to me and weep in sorrow. You've chosen Your bed with me. You promise me another day in Your arms. With You I'm promised tomorrow. You give gifts no one else can give. You make a way for me when there is no way. With You all things are possible. There's no question You can't answer. You're bigger than anything- even my perceived problems. I come to You for all my needs, and they are met beyond imagination. A description of You is hard to come by. You reign over my heart. You envelop my thoughts. You are everything to me. There's no where I can go where You aren't already. Dependable, devoted, wise beyond understanding, stronger than any man, solid as a rock- that's You! You're all I need. You're all I want. More than enough. Beyond my comprehension and I'm swimming in Your liquid love. You impregnate me with Your seed to bear fruit. You've caused me to be swollen with excitement and joy as Your woman. You've given me a reason for sensuality. Unashamed I am before You. My heart expressed to You in these pages. From one Lover to another. My sweetheart- I'm Your darling.

School's Out for the Summer!

2009-05-14T15:21:00.002-04:00

In case you've been wondering what's new with the two of us, we just completed of first semester at Christ Central Institute in Wagener, SC! What an amazing place and what a marvelous God we serve. I believe I can speak for the both of us when I say that the hand of God is at work in little Wagener, SC and all over the world, for that matter! We've learned and grown so much in the past 4 months.
Currently, we're in Washington, DC at a mission station that focuses on bringing the love of God and the good news about Christ to the youth in the projects of DC. We're having a great time with the mission director here and her three grown daughters who help her with the ministry. Its been a blessing to come and see what others are diligently doing in their communities to share God's love with people and foster an atmosphere that promotes unity to the communities they serve. We've been busy passing out fliers announcing the return of Kid's Konnection's "Side-Walk Sunday School" program. This is the eighteenth summer Kid's Konnection has been setting up after school and summer programs in the parks of 3 of the housing projects in the Ana Costia area of northwest DC. We would love to stay longer and be a part of next week's kick off up here but we start internships in SC next Monday so we have to get back. We will, however, be in Lexington, NC this weekend so those of you at Heath Church, we look forward to seeing you Sunday!
As for this summer, we will be interning at mission stations for 4 weeks then attending a week long missions intensive at CCI (June 22-26), followed by a missions trip to Guatemala and Honduras (June 29-July 22). We hope to get a break and come back to NC for a week when we return from our trip, then its back to our internships until the the discipleship program begins in August.
Thank you so much for your prayers! They help tremendously! Please pray for our trip; pray that God goes before us and directs our steps, provides the means needed, and readies the hearts of the people we will meet along to the way.

God bless you! :)

Catching up....

2009-04-06T16:44:00.004-04:00

Last weekend we had the opportunity to go back to NC on Saturday and spend Sunday morning with our church family at Heath Church. It was a last minute trip; one that was decided upon Friday night. Funny, how I received an email from Pastor Dan saying " Please HURRY BACK to Heath Church as soon as you can!!" just days before... and next thing you know, we are coming back in town! So... I wanted to let everyone know that we are thinking of coming back this Easter weekend as well! Again, we will probably make the final decision late in the week (as we often do!), but I wanted to give a heads up.

I love to come back but it is bittersweet, in that we do not really have the chance to catch up and spend time with our friends and family. More so with family, but we are seeing friends in passing- sometimes barely saying a hello. It hit me on Sunday in seeing a dear friend, Melissa Freeman, that regardless of how busy I am- I could stand to try to be a better friend and stay in touch. So, please forgive me... as I adjust with the juggling of school, work study, etc. Nothing seems big enough to excuse the slacking of communicating with my friends and loved ones. How easy it is to become distracted and inundated with daily routine or even planning and scheduling of new things. I hope to prove to be a better friend.

I ask that you pray for me when you think of me and I will do the same. Relationships are so important as we each part of the body of Christ. Therefore, we are each dependent upon the other for abilities that God gives us. Each represent a different part of the body but "have equal concern for each other." (1Cor. 12:25) We can lift up one another in interdependence, showing each one has it's own value.

I love you all and I am grateful for the contribution you add to Our Father's Kingdom!

Rachel

Links to find out more about Christ Central.

2009-03-26T16:12:00.003-04:00

This is a website that gives information about some of the different mission fields. It has not been updated in quite a while. This will also be one of our jobs. We will probably create a blog for the different mission stations etc. They also want to set up Facebook pages for each mission.

http://christcentral.info

This is the website that gives information about the institute. People are always curious how it can be free tuition etc. You can click here and see answers to questions, class calendar, teachers etc.

http://ccins.org

First Attempt at blogging!

2009-03-26T15:02:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone... funny, so far we have no one added to our blog. I am just trying this out. Thought it sounded like an excellent way to keep in touch with everyone.

Currently, we are attending Christ Central Institute. We are both living on campus and taking full-time courses. Our courses include: Missions on Monday at 9AM, Teaching and Learning Theory on Tuesday at 9AM, Isaiah on Tuesday at 6PM, Martin Luther on Wednesday at 9AM, Chapel on Wednesday at 11AM, and Galatians on Thursday at 9AM. We do not have class on Friday. In exchange for free room and board (including 9 meals a week), we have a work study that includes 4 hours a day (Mon-Fri). Josh usually does his work study contributing in manual labor... whether it's working outside planting 10,000 cabbage plants or working in the one of the recently acquired buildings that is being renovated using a jack-hammer to bust thru 18" concrete. He seems to enjoy his work for the most part since he was in sales for almost 10 years. Now he is able to get a physical workout everyday. My work study is much easier... Thank God! I work in the administration building as the receptionist. This works out well for me when it is slow and I can catch up on homework etc. Hopefully, it will allow me to update on our blog as well! YAY! ;)

Missing all of you.... Whoever gets on our blog!

Rachel