Rachel's Writings: Photos

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Farewell 2010

Rach J

As my farewell to the incredible year that was 2010 I have put together some top 10's as a reflection of my year. It has been one of challenges and joys. I have learnt oh so much and there are so many moments and memories that will continue to stop and marvel at.

Top 10 moments

Seeing Valerie B’s face when we held a surprise birthday party for her.

Seeing Petra Hr on her first day of a year spent in NI.

Hearing a Czech student at English Camp share this phrase ‘I don’t know what it is, but there is something different about the people here. They are so nice.’ This being said on the first day of discussion groups.

Taking my nephew Corey to play in the autumn leaves.

Praising Jesus with some of the most amazing students at Fuel 10.

Being reunited with beautiful friends in the summer (both in Czech and NI).

Spending time with Erin and Talitha for Erin’s birthday.

Grace and love filled conversations over coffee with Brittany and Bec.

Spending intentional quality time with my family.

The honour of meeting beautiful God seeking girls for coffee.

Top 10 Songs

Standing out for You- Bluetree

Awake my soul- Mumford and Sons

How He Loves Us- John Mark McMillan

What Happens When the Heart just Stops- The Frames

The Story- Brandie Carlile

Beloved- Tenth Avenue North

You Make it Real- James Morrison

You’ve Got the Love- Florence and the Machine

Heaven Song- Phil Wickham

White As Snow- U2

Also worth a mention are:
Strangers like Rock and Roll- Ray LaMontagne

Your Song- Ellie Goulding
He Reigns (this child)- Rick McKinley

Top 10 photos

Your love makes me high, August 2010.

Winter Sunset, 2010

Hello cupcake.

Love like you're forgiven, April 2010

University Square, Autumn 2010

Brittany, March 2010

Sunrise, Prague, July 2010

Cardiff, November 2010

Christmas Bussle, Cardiff, November 2010

Pride&Joy, June 2010

Charles Bridge, July 2010 (with help from Amy B)

All you need is Love, John Lennon Wall, Prague, July 2010

LOVE, White Rock Beach, Portstewart, August 2010

Top 10 Verses&Quotes

Bible Verses, quotes and song lyrics that inspired, motivated and encouraged me throughout this year...

"I'll be with you. I won't give up on you. I won't leave you. Don't be timid, don't be discouraged for God your God is with you every step you take."
~ Joshua 1:1-9 (paraphrased)

"Free me Lord, to live this life believing all I really have is You
Free me from these binds Lord, I am choking on the gifts this world gives
Jesus I am waiting on Your love."
~ Justin McRoberts- Waiting on Your Love

"If the world hates you, remember it hated Me first"
~ Jesus - John 15:18

"This is easy for Jesus"
~ Paul Bowman

"If you could allow yourself to feel it, are there not times when you would love to cry on God's shoulder, to let God tell you that you are worthwhile and beautiful? And is there not something in you that would be delighted if you could bring a smile to God's face?"
~ Gerald May

"Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."
~ Jesus- Mark 2:17

"Where you invest your love, you invest your life"
~ Mumford&Sons - Awake my soul

"Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful."

~Genesis 29:17 (one Jesus spoke to me)

"God couldn't have brought you this far to leave you."
~Val Bowman

"Remember your history...His Story. Remember where and what God has saved you from."
~ James Hyndman

"I am slow to anger and abounding in love. I understand you."
~ Psalm 86:15 (parapharsed)

There are my top 10's for 2010.

2011 will be a year of challenge as I enter my final semester of my degree, I hope and pray that I will graduate in the summer and then I will step into the unknown.

It is terrifing and exciting all at the same time.

I wrote last year that I desired to continue on the journey of letting God love me and with His grace and patience I feel I have moved small steps forward. But I am so looking forward to continuing on this journey with Him.

I am sure over the next few weeks I will continue to refelct on the year that has been 2010 but
for now I will say farewell to 2010 and Hello 2011.

May your 2011 be filled with peace, hope, love, joy and adventure!

Labels: 2010, 2011, moments, Photos, quotes, songs, top10 2 comments |

The Christmas Story.

Rach J

Merry Christmas to one and all.

It still seems unreal to me that today is Christmas day, nevertheless I have been reflecting the whole month of Decemeber upon The Christmas Story.

Here I find myself at the doorstep of the stable in Bethlehem, peering in from the side lines.
Although, this year it has been different.

This year I have allowed myself to enter the story...flaws, failures, fears and all.

I have entered regardless of any of these things that try to hold me back.

It feels as though The Christmas Story is actually real to me this year. Ok, yes I've always known the truth but I've never experienced the truth. Not fully.

This month my eyes have been revealed to the wonders and depths of The Christmas Story. No longer do I look at it as a child's nativity story but a true and living event that did actually unfold in history.
But the birth of Jesus is not how the nativity plays imagine it or how some old time carols (some of which I love) paint it. A song that was introduced to me last year was 'Labor of Love' by Andrew Peterson and the lyrics have lingered in my heart throughout the year. The lyrics of this song is the most honest, realistic and humbling description of Jesus' birth I've ever come across.

Labor of Love lyrics:

There was blood on the ground

You could hear a woman cry

In the alleyways that night

On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean

And the cobblestones were cold

And little Mary full of grace

With the tears upon her face

Had no mother's hand to hold

It was a labor of pain

It was a cold sky above

But for the girl on the ground in the dark

With every beat of her beautiful heart

It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph at her side

Callused hands and weary eyes

There were no midwives to be found

In the streets of David's town

In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed

Shafts of moonlight on his face

But the baby in her womb

He was the maker of the moon

He was the Author of the faith

That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain

It was a cold sky above

But for the girl on the ground in the dark

With every beat of her beautiful heart

It was a labor of love

For little Mary full of grace

With the tears upon her face

It was a labor of love

It was a labor of love. Love that Mary and Joseph had for their creator. Along the journey of discovering the deeper meaning of the Christmas Story I have come to understand and get to know the people of Mary and Joseph (Mary more so this year!)

Mary.

Mary was probably not much older than me. So around 19. And she was told she would have a baby. An unmarried teenage girl would give birth to a Saviour. WOW! So an Angel of the Lord shows up and tells her she will bear the Son of God and His name will be Jesus.

An angel shows up, that in itself is enough to send me over the edge. At the start Mary is hesitant, unsure of what this greeting means. Once Mary has got all the facts straight.

She says "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:38

Her response has lead my mind to wonder over and over what my response be?!

Could I trust my God that much?

I would be terrified, I would feel unworthy for the task at hand, and ultimately I think, I'd like to runaway rather than have to tell my fiance (or family) I'm knocked up before the wedding.

Later in this same chapter we hear of Mary's song, and my prayer would be that no matter what God brings before me that I can celebrate and be joyful in that. I desire God to put the passion in my heart to trust Him to the ends of the earth. Not just trusting Him with my life, but what is even harder...my heart.

Mary's Song

46And Mary said:

"My soul glorifies the Lord

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

50His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

53He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

54He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

55to Abraham and his descendants forever,

even as he said to our fathers."

Luke 1:46-55

I want to be a Mary, not just at Christmas time but my whole life through.

~ ~ ~

Ultimately this year I have seen The Christmas story unfold in a bigger way. From experiencing The Story of God (taking the whole Bible and revealing and highlighting Gods redemptive arc across history) I can see clearer how the Christmas Story fits in with the rest of scripture. I have found the Andrew Peterson album 'Behold the Lamb' such a blessing to my heart this month. I adore how Peterson begins the album with preparing (and foretelling) us for the The Christmas story to unravel across Old Testament history right up to the birth of Jesus. It feels as though Jesus' birth story is just being sung to you and I have found joy, comfort and sorrow in these songs. I have found myself (especially in Labor of love) going through the emotions of Mary and Joesph. (So if you don't have it...buy it!)

I want to finish with two of my favourite prophecies from the Old Testament about the birth of Jesus:

Isaiah 9 v6,7:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Micah 5 v 2:

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

The verse from Micah has especially touched me this season. I put myself in the place of Bethlehem. Though I am small, weak and at most times feel insignificant in God's huge story...I am still a part of it and great things can happen if I let Him use me.

So that is the end of my rambles for this evening, here are a few photos from my Christmas day. I hope and pray you all had an amazing day celebrating our Saviour's humble (and humbling) birth.