Late Night Talks {Guest Post by R.B. Denney}

Hey all! Sorry for no posts in so long. It's been a crazy couple of months. Today, however, we have a special treat! R.B. Denney from Writing is Home to Me and Foundations 274 has granted us with a guest posting!

Thank you so much, Rachel Beth, for agreeing to guest post! I know how late I am in getting this out, but the message is still, and always, relevant.
Here it is!

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Yep, summer has definitely given its grand entrance and is now enjoying its dominion over our lives. That sounded rather harsh--but for me, especially when it comes to doing my devotions, I struggle with summer.

I love the bright, warm days with friends, iced Americanos, and sandal tan-lines, but on a personal level, I struggle most with God during the summer.

And ever so much have I been wrestling lately.

During the summer months I take anywhere from one to four weeks off (from my regular life) to work at Cocolalla Lake Bible Camp. This place is my second home, I connect so much with God when I'm there. It's a lot of hard work, but I love it--and I love the people. I am always so refreshed when I'm there, I feel so alive and so in God's will. Those are all good feelings, but then when I'm on my own again at home, I topple.

Okay, so it's not that bad--I still do my devotions pretty regularly and I live for the Lord, but it's so much harder when I'm not constantly surrounded by my much adored Christian friends.

I have entitled this post "Late Night Talks" because at the moment it's a little after midnight and I'm just now getting my quality time in with God. Don't get me wrong, I talk with God throughout my day, but there is something special about purposefully setting aside time to just be with God.

It's important for every Christian to be spending time with just God and themselves, be it in prayer or in reading His Word, we all need to be growing in God on a personal level.

So, how do we fit God into our busy summer schedules?

First off, I would give you one of my favorite quotes.
"You have plenty of time for whatever it is you choose to make time for."

The idea is not to guilt you into spending time with God, but much rather to remind you that you have the power to make what you love most a priority in your life.

I know, reading through books like Deuteronomy, Judges, and so on are not always super "exciting", for lack of a better word. But God does everything with a purpose, so ask yourself this, "What can I see of God's character by reading this?"

To close, remember this: there will always be busy seasons in life, but God is always available. Seek Him. Love Him. Trust Him.

Psalm 33:4 "For the Word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does."

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Hello! I'm Rachel Beth, so I'm typically pretty bad at introductions and/or telling about myself, but here it goes. My heart belongs in the woods, I would be lost without my towering trees and endless mountains. Black coffee is where it's at. I've always adored the art of writing since I was young and about four years ago I seriously took it upon myself to tell the stories that are in my thoughts with the words from my heart.

Am I doing pretty good so far? Hope so. Continuing on--I want to explore, and by exploring I don't mean just being there, I mean meeting the people, getting to know where there is, wherever there may be. I want my life to honor my Savior and it is my prayer that His story would come through all of my stories.

I simply adore my folk music. I have no idea what I would do without music. I play guitar and a bit of piano. I grew up in a family of music and it has always been such a way into people's hearts, it mak
es me smile when someone tells me about a song that pulled at their heart.

Oh yes, and I read. A lot. I enjoy all kinds of genres, but I really enjoy reading things that have been around for a long time. I enjoy trying to figure out why it is that particular books have lasted so long, hearing what they have to say.

Hope to get to know other young writers out there, and to encourage you all.

~Rachel Beth

So You Think You're Alone? {On Trials II}

In the beginning, God made man...and man was just man surrounded by animals and plants. God was there, yes, but man needed more. So God made woman.

It's obvious since the beginning of time that humans are in need of other human companionship. We need to fellowship and have others around. It's a fact of life.

I know some of you introverts are shaking your heads, but the truth is, as Christians, we need people. Like I said earlier, we need to fellowship with other believers in order to grow. {Proverbs 27:17}

And then there's this very human thing called loneliness. I'm sure at some point in your life you've felt this loneliness. It's not a fun feeling. In fact, it can very scary thinking you are alone.

One of the dictionary definitions of loneliness is: isolated
When I think isolated, I think of somebody who is wrapped in chains, by themselves, with nobody to hear them cry out for help. They are stuck in a deep, dark dungeon.

So...do you think you're alone?

I have news for you, dear. You're not!
Believe me, I know how incredibly easy it is to feel lonely in a world so crazy and big as this, but this loneliness that often tries to knock me down? It's a lie.

Let's start here:

1. The enemy of our souls wants to destroy us by whatever means necessary, aye? {John 10:10} He doesn't want us to flourish in our walk with God, he doesn't want us to be Lights and speak Truth. He wants to decimate us.
And one of his greatest weapons against humankind is the mirage of loneliness.
Make the Christian (son or daughter of the MOST HIGH GOD) think they're lonely (isolated)...BOOM! Easier victory for him.
But this isolation is a lie. It's a mirage.

Do you know why?

1. God told us that He would never leave or forsake us. Not only that, but He told us to be strong & have courage! Woah! He commands us of these things...so that must mean that through Him we can do it. {Joshua 1:5}

If that's not enough, here's more proof that we're never alone:
2. God gives us the Holy Spirit as a counselor, a friend, a helper...we have a part of God living in us. How crazy awesome is that? The Holy Spirit is our own connection to Abba God as his royal sons and daughters. And the Holy Spirit directs us, helping us along the path if we let Him. {John 14:15-20;26-27}

3. Not only does He never leave us, and does He give us the Holy Spirit, but God "places the lonely in families". {Psalm 68:6}
Now this doesn't mean you have to be an orphan who doesn't have a mom or dad. This means you might just be lonely, you might not have family around, you might not have friends around. Maybe you just moved off to college and you don't know what in the world you're doing. This verse is talking about anybody who is lonely.
God surrounds these people, us, with community--a church family to support, welcome, and encourage. Friends who do the same. God looks after us. We're His kids, y'all. And He loves us eternally. He knows we need human interaction to help us along the way and He provides.

There is proof all throughout God's Word that He never leaves us. We don't have to fear...because our Savior and Author of all creation and life is by our side, holding our hand.

If you are often overcome by loneliness, I'd encourage you to read the verses that I referenced in this post. I'd also encourage you to conduct your own study of God's living, powerful Word and see for yourself that He never leaves.

Know that loneliness is a lie. Whenever we feel it creeping in, turn to Jesus and talk to Him. Tell Him what you're feeling. Read His Word. Listen to worship music.

Ignoring it or occupying yourself elsewhere is not going to fix the problem.

But facing it head on and declaring victory over it in Jesus' name is a sure way to defeat that tactic of the enemy.

For Christus Victor! Christ is Victorious! He has defeated everything. So, why then, do we let ourselves live in the defeated?

Let us live in Freedom as God's Light and Truth shines upon our minds and hearts.
Amen!

God Bless!
Rachel

#MCM {Timothy}

Hey all! So I meant to write a few other blog posts last week, but it turned out to be a far busier week than I expected. So here I am on Monday for a second installation of #MCM! This week we'll be taking a look at Timothy, but basically

Can I just say... 1 and 2 Timothy are two of my absolute favorite books in the Bible. These few chapters are jam packed with amazingness. So, Timothy has two letters written to him by Paul. And in other letters of Paul, it's noted that Timothy is with him at the time or going to be with him.

I mean, shoot! He traveled with Paul--that's already pretty cool.

Timothy: Greek name meaning 'Honoring God'. From the Greek roots 'timao' which means 'to honor' and 'theos' which means God.

This dude definitely lived out his name.

1. Like Jeremiah, Timothy was called from a young age. 
The letters are chock-full of references regarding Timothy being called as a youngster. He sought after Jesus from infancy--he was open to God.
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:14-15
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
Can I get an 'Amen' up in here?

2. He had a calling from God and he did what he could to fulfill it.
Paul is always making reference to the special calling that Timothy received and encouraging him to live it out. Looking at what the letters contain, I can only think that some place of leadership in the church is where Timothy was destined to be. A missionary even...as he traveled often with Paul.
"Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience." 1 Timothy 1:18
"Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you."
Guys, this is legit! Timothy had God-given gifts that he used for the purpose and Glory of God and that's just so cool to me. I want to be like that! I want to use up the talents God has given me so there's nothing left at the end!

3. The dude knew how to pray.
Uh, what's cooler than a passionate prayer warrior?
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lies in all godliness and holiness."
Paul wanted him to pray! I mean, that's got to mean he knew how to pray big time...

4. He was strong in his faith.
Not only was he following Jesus from a young age, but it continued and continued.
"If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and the god teaching that you have followed." 1 Timothy 4:6
"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12
"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:5-7
Throughout the letters, Paul is constantly encouraging and directing Timothy to be strong in the faith and to improve always and more and more.

5. Like all the good heroes of the faith, he was human.
He had his struggles and his time of just pure humanness. I mean, he cried for goodness' sake (ref 2 Timothy 1:4). That means he had a gentle and sensitive spirit, though, I think.
Paul was always encouraging him to 'flee the evil desires of youth'. He was always telling him how a servant of God ought to be--often directing him to steer clear of gossip, to be patient, to be slow to anger, and always keep his head. And I think that's absolutely interesting. It means he had major areas to grow in, just like we do. He wasn't perfect. And that's so relate-able. We can read through the letters to Timothy and find out just how much we need to improve on and how we should be as God's servants.

2 Timothy 4 is one of my all-time favorite chapters of the letters. It talks all about being a servant of God and just how we should be. I mean, all of the chapters do...but you know.


Hope this made some sense! Ths was supposed to go out last week, but Mondays are so busy for me and it passed me right by. So here I am two hours from Tuesday and finally posting!