Puremotif » God

so – how’s it going? working for yourself?

Rachel — Sat, 16 May 2009 20:51:42 +0000

This is the question I’ve been getting a lot over the last month. I think I can finally answer it now since I’ve had about 3 weeks to fully appreciate it.

Here’s what I can say. It’s WEIRD, NICE and OVERWHELMING.

Weird because the days and nights and weekdays and weekends sort of run together when you work out of your home and your office is across the hall from your bedroom. The signifying events that remind me what day it is are when I have a wedding on the weekend, when church is on Sunday, or when The Office & Grey’s are on – and now since those season finales already happened I’ll probably walk around in a groggy fog. (that was a joke)

Nice because every day feels a little like a Saturday in some ways, and because I don’t have to get dressed for work, leave the house, and I get to snuggle with my hubby when he wakes up every morning. My kitties sit behind the computer and in the office window keeping me company. I can listen to my music as loud as I want and be as fidgety as I want without bugging anyone. I am having quiet/devotional time again with the Lord and this is good. I can run downstairs and eat and I’m spending less money on food because there is less temptation to go out. Nice – because no one tells me waht to do, when to do it, and I can do everything MY WAY… that part I really love.

Overwhelming because everything is always top-of-mind all the time. I go to sleep thinking about the photos I need to edit and the albums I have to design and the clients I have to contact and the business expenses I need to track and the emails I need to sort through the papers building up on my desk and the organizations I’m a part of and how I’m going to pay for everything I need and whether we’ll be able to make it next year. I worry about how kids will fit into this schedule. I think about work more than I ever thought possible. When I’m home I feel like I should be working. When I’m working/editing/designing I feel like I should be cleaning or being a good housewife. And when I’m cleaning and being a good housewife, I feel like I should be editing pictures or working on my website.

So yes… it’s different. Life is completely different now… but this is good. I hope this doesn’t sound like complaining, because I’m not. I am so amazed I have this opportunity in my life, and I am so thankful to God for giving me talents, support and a network of encouragement to make it happen. This is where I’m supposed to be. Having that confidence means everything in the world!

photo by Amanda Kifer of Expy Images

worship gig – out!

Rachel — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:06:18 +0000

Brian and I and a talented team are running out to Williamsport, PA to lead worship at a senior high conference. I’m excited about it… especially spending 4 days in a car and a hotel with 5 boys. (that was a joke) Anyway, we had totally forgotten to get any flyers or cards ready, so we did the old buy the avery template from walmart and print them out and tear them last night. Hey it worked for last minute. This is the quick design I did. I really like it even though it was fast! Hey better than nothing.

Anyway – here’s to an entire weekend of worshipping God with our music until we are totally exhausted!!! It’s going to be a long one. I’ll have my laptop though so I’ll still be around

Also I have to note how disturbed I was by last night’s Private Practice on ABC. I hated the storyline with Violet, and I hate the storyline with Adison. I want to be strong and give it up, but I really want to see them fix this next season. So we’ll see. Either way it was so disturbing I could barely sleep, and I’m hearing a lot of similar things all over the internet. What are you smoking, writers???

gramma (s)

Rachel — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:56:18 +0000

Hey all – I’m on vacation with my family right now after an awesome trip to DC with Biz and an amazing engagement photo shoot. It’s been warm and wonderful here — blooming, spring TOTALLY…. i can’t wait for it to come into Erie.

Anyway – I just wanted to blog an update on our family. I was going to keep this personal with some close friends, but more prayer is never BAD, and my Grandma Koos especially is very open about her situation.

My dad’s mother (in England-Nan, Grandma Mason) died semi-suddenly last Thursday night. I say semi because she’s been struggling for a while, and the last few months have been rough, but I don’t think anyone expected it this suddenly. My father is flying to England on Tuesday and the funeral is this week. It is a tricky one because we feel very disconnected from it, but just pray for my dad and the family, … it’s tough being so far away. I am sad it’s been years since I’d seen her, and I feel conflicted about the grief in this situation.

Also, we’ve gotten a few recent updates on my grandmother’s (Betty, mom’s mom) health…. her lymphedema and pain level, cough has been increasingly worse and worse. She is on 3x a week physical therapy for her legs. Anyway, about 2 weeks ago a doctor shocked us with the news that she thinks her time is very limited – in fact, not sure if she’ll make it another 6 months due to the speed the cancer is spreading through her lymph nodes and the amount of pain she is in. Then on Friday, they had an appointment with a diff cancer doctor – this one’s prognosis was worse – not sure she’ll make it through the summer, maybe more like 3 months. I think we are all reeling with this information, it hit me particularly hard last night. If her legs, hard and swollen and painful from the lymphedema caused by radiation/chemo could improve, I believe her last months could be lived out in much greater comfort. Hospice has been called in and I believe have started attending to her already – and they are beginning to make some funeral plans. I know the family and all of us who love her want to spend as much time with her as humanly possible… and that will be hard and overwhelming. Pray for her legs to improve so her last months can be better.

This is all so confusing… weird, thinking that we have been blessed enough to not lose any grandparents, and now it’s sort of happening all in the same year. Although nothing is set in stone, who knows how much time God really has for Gramma Koos. She is so incredible, so amazing, I just want to spend every moment I can with her now. I love you Gramma!!!!

And yet – here’s what I can say. My family are Christians – and therefore I know where they will be. And my Gramma Koos is ready for the Lord, and her faith is what started my entire family on the journey we’ve been on – and thinking of her in heaven with Christ is one of the most joyful things I can think about.

I don’t want to jump ahead of myself – there is still time – she’s still here! And we’ll spend our time together with joy – no matter how much is left. And who knows, I could die tomorrow. …. none of us know what time we have here on this earth. Let’s make the most of it, and know that we are secure in our Maker.

good friday

Rachel — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:12:05 +0000

If you have 5-6 minutes, it would be so cool if you could watch/listen to this song. It’s one of those ones that has literally been affecting me for around two years since I first heard it – and as the song goes on, it gets better & better. It came on last night and I couldn’t believe it’s beautiful relevance to Good Friday. Jesus – You took my place, KNOWING You’d be crucified. But You love – You love us. A people undeserving.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXh44eXaMsQ]

The precious blood of Jesus Christ redeems
Forgiven I’m alive, restored set free
Your Majesty resides inside of me
Forever I believe
Forever I believe

Arrested by Your truth and righteousness
Your grace has overwhelmed my brokenness
Convicted by Your Spirit
Led by Your Word
Your love will never fail
Your love will never fail

I know You gave
The world Your Only Son for us
To know Your name
To live within the Saviour’s love
He took my place
Knowing He’d be crucified
And You loved
You loved
A people undeserving

________________________________________________

If you don’t have plans for Good Friday, come out to Grace to truly experience the love Christ has for You on this day we remember his sacrifice.

happy birthday kristin (s)

Rachel — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:05:39 +0000

Yesterday (March 16) was my dear friend Kristin H.’s birthday. I didn’t get to see her and I was bummed about that. Kristin and I have been friends for so long, I don’t even remember when we met because we were so little. Kristin is a source of hope, joy, beauty and laughter in my life and I could never picture it without her. She has a worshipping heart and loves Jesus like no one I know. She’s also my Will & Grace chum, the only person who truly can quote almost every line, and no matter which line I say, she knows exactly what episode it’s from. She also alerts me to new music and makes me love Hillsongs big time.

I also love how whenever I talk about any sort of fantasy, science fiction books or movies I love, she doesn’t even try to be into it – she stays true to herself and says “that’s just not me.” lol!

Happy Birthday dear Kristin H.!

Friday is Kristin L.’s bday! Kristin is a newer addition to my life and to the many Kristins, Christy’s, and Christas, and Christies that I know. Kristin is hilarious, and she makes me feel like I am worth it to be a friend to. I don’t think you could find a more loyal person to be your friend or your confidant. Her advice is so sound, I only wish she’d take it more herself We enjoy similar things, and she always helps me with anything I need, even when I don’t ask.

Also she loves cats as much as I do, and is the only friend I can talk to about my cats like they are people who GETS it, and won’t make fun of me for it

I hope I can be even half the friend to her that she is to others. I’m excited to see where her life is going to go and to see the potential for incredible leadership in her that I see right now.

Happy Birthday on Friday Kristin L.!

on the mind

Rachel — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:47:41 +0000

SNOW!!! That’s what’s on most people’s minds right now.

Also in my mind… after feeling shame and regret about a situation in life to the point of obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and after profuse apologies, God hit me at The Tuesday Night Thing. The church is broken, we are broken, we are parts of the whole. God’s love is over us, and is why we can have change and love still between these broken people.

“I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way He loves us…

He loves us.”

Yes, struggling-to-define-your-identity, straying-from-your-faith, you.

Yes, processing-a-loss, going-through-chemo, healing from a broken heart, you.

Yes, dealing with hard-times, feeling worthless, hurt-by-others, yet so beautiful inside, you.

And yes, silly, sinful, selfish, self-promoting, speaks-before-she-thinks, slightly OCD, sometimes-feeling-lonely, overly-dependent

me.

merry christmas

Rachel — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:00:42 +0000

from my kids to yours. No seriously, have an awesome awesome Christmas season and celebrate our wonderful Lord’s birth. It’s true, kingdoms and crowns . . . A God who came down to find you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

it’s true

Rachel — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:21:06 +0000

In your heart you hope it’s true
Though you hold no expectation
In the deepest part of you
There’s an open hesitation

But it’s true, kingdoms and crowns
A God who came down to find you
It’s true, angels on high
Sing through the night

alleluia

You’ve heard it told; you think it’s odd
The whole thing fraught with complications
The play begins with a baby God
And all his blessed implications

But it’s true, kingdoms and crowns
A God who came down to find you
It’s true, angels on high
Sing through the night

alleluia

-Sara Groves

prayer for the election

Rachel — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:40:55 +0000

I read this on Desiring God this morning by the amazing John Piper, and I couldn’t resist sharing it. This is what we need to pray as Christians. Deciding on our issues is so hard. I love that this prayer doesn’t lean any particular way, but just tells us how and why we should be considering our voting decisions.

A Prayer for the Election

November 3, 2008 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary

Father in heaven, as we approach this election on Tuesday, I pray

1) that your people will vote,

2) and that they will vote with a sense of thankfulness for a democratic system that at least partially holds in check the folly and evil in all our hearts so that power which corrupts so readily is not given to one group or person too easily;

3) that we would know and live the meaning of

being in the world, but not of it,
doing politics as though not doing them,
being on the earth, yet having our lives hidden with Christ in God,
rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s;

4) that we would discern what truths and values should advance by being made law and which should advance only by the leavening of honest influence;

5) that your people would see what love and justice and far-seeing wisdom demand in regard to the issues of education, business and industry, health care, marriage and family, abortion, welfare, energy, government and taxes, military, terrorism, international relations, and every challenge that we will face in the years to come;

6) and above all, that we will treasure Jesus Christ, and tell everyone of his sovereignty and supremacy over all nations, and that long after America is a footnote to the future world, he will reign with his people from every tribe and tongue and nation.

Keep us faithful to Christ’s all important Word, and may we turn to it every day for light in these dark times.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

worship practice

Rachel — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:32:48 +0000

Brian and I and some amazing guys are practicing together as an official worship band getting ready for our November 2nd worship event. Anyway I was just messing around taking pics yesterday and some turned out pretty cool.

of course gotta get in the gorgeous long grasses. notice the fall foliage coloring starting in the background? there’s no turning back now. it’s FALL.

Design Fruit started making wall decals. I might just have to get a set of these ones in deep brown for our bedroom . They are so cool! They are available on etsy.com. I should check out and see what other decals are out there too.

And our babies have found a home with Miss Christa (Graffiti Girl Designs!) and her hubby Mr. Sean (shown below with casey at a wedding). Thanks guys, you won’t regret it. I’m so glad it could work out so my parents didn’t become completely cat crazy people or have to give them to a shelter.