Hello Faithful Readers,

I write a short update to inform you of my latest hopes and what I believe is God-ordained plans. 
After weeks of searching for jobs in the U.S. and my only probable and available option was working at Chick-fil-a (not that there is anything wrong with that), I found myself at a stand-still. In the words of Corrie Ten Boom, "when you find yourself at a standstill, stand firm still."  Thus, this is what I have done.

Yet, in this midst of this, I have felt the strongest movements of my heart and life toward the nation of Israel.  This is nothing new, for those of you who know me well.  Although, I have sensed something like a window of heaven opened up for me, in order that I might go. 

I am in a transitional period of time in my life... wherein my two desirable and available options are 1. to stay in Fredericksburg and pick up more worship leading slots, record music, and be nearby to my remaining family (D.J, Angela, Ava, and baby that is coming)... or 2. Sell my possessions and move to Israel, wherein I will also be working with the House of Prayer there leading worship, possibly recording, and having either full support supplied or a part-time job.  (I will probably need a job in order to have an extended visa.)

I have decided to hope for option number 2.  My Dad, Brother D.J., and my Pastor Bradshaw have all said that the perceive the Lord's guidance over me with this desire.  They have all "released" me from all of my hesitations; such as my niece and nephew, and responsibilities that remain here in Fredericksburg.

So, all that I am asking for is a great amount of prayer as I go. I am asking the Lord for divine and supernatural opportunities to be opened up to me, through favor.  I am asking the Lord for deeper levels of healing- for my heart.  I am asking the Lord for full and swift help with the details; cleaning/repairing/selling of my car before I go, helping my dad pack up our basement, a renter for our basement, a plane ticket, and the rest of what God knows that I need; a job, visas, etc. LORD HELP us! We need Your power to strengthen us!

This is a trying time, but I do feel that it is an important and Holy Spirit directed window. I am asking the Lord for the promises of Isaiah 66:12-13, "For thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. 13.  As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem."

My Mother always claimed the promise of Isaiah 60 for me where it states, "Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you." 

I was surprised to see similar wording between Isaiah 60 and 66 about being carried upon the hip.  The Lord knows what we need, and HE HIMSELF knows how to give it.  Right now, He has promised me comfort... and truly this is what he wants me to declare to the Jewish people.

Thank you all for your prayers... I ask God to remind you of me that you might pray. I know that not a single one is wasted.

Shalom aleichem and Love!!
Rachel

All flesh is grass, fading away... only You last, only You remain.  The same, You never change... Holy, Holy, Holy you are fairer than the sons of man.
I am reminded of the truth within the Word of God... as it thunders, lightnings, and hails outside my window.  I sit in a house in Fredericksburg, VA... and just long to be near the Lord.  He opened up the heavens tonight and gave me a taste of the throne room.  I am exhilarated. 

Much of my time is spent longing... now.  I have always experienced longing... but certainly never to the degree that I am this point in my life.  I long for almost everything... I walk though the grocery store and see ripe fruits and vegetables and I long to take them ALL home with me.  I walk down the street and see couples walking happily together, amazed and amused by one another... and I long. I see artists painting pictures of heavenly realities... I long to be able to express the things above in this way- through paint & color and reflections... I long, I long, I long, I yearn, I yearn, I yearn... sometimes I wonder if it is envy?  I mean is it?  Am I coveting everything and everybody?  I don't believe so... and I certainly pray not...

Could it further be my God-given DESIRE for beauty, love, and romance? One-hundred percent.

Yeshua, God of the universe, creator of the stars and Heavens is reminding me that happiness, wholeness, fullness, satisfaction, wellness, beauty, friendship, romance, joyful bliss, creativity, color, light, spontaneity, adventure, flavor, goodness, mercy, etc, etc, are all ONLY found in Him, at the end of the day.  Sure, we can find these things in everyday life with people and things that utterly deny the existence of the Lamb of Heaven ... you can buy ALL the vegetables and fruits from the supermarket... you can have a deep and significant relationship with another... you can paint, you can ponder, you can be creative, you can think, you can philosophize but if it is not entirely surrounded and consumed with the knowledge of Yeshua, at the end of the day you will find your heart is cold, with-drawn, mistaken, confused, and disappointed. 

Abba, You ARE love. You are creator! You possess all beauty. You are far above and beyond anything that I could ever imagine- but I will see you with my eyes.  I will behold you. I will find you.  You WILL come back again. You have promised and you are not like the sons of man that you would lie.  You are eternally good to me.  You are eternally pleased with me, because of your own work of redemption.  You are eternally my Father. You are eternally my bridegroom, THE bridegroom God.  You do ALL things well!

Yet, my inheritance is obtained, here on the Earth by Grace through Faith.  It is not a heritage to be gained only through the cords of death... but it can be experienced (in part, to be sure) here on the Earth.
Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Thus every Heavenly reality, desire of God's heart... has been placed inside of my heart in order that I might REFLECT who he is and all that He presents in Heaven- on Earth.  Think about it, the CITY of Jerusalem... the ETERNAL city of God was REFLECTED and is at present partially reflected in the Earthly city of Jerusalem; and was in the the temple of Solomon...
The bridal paradigm... Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church and GAVE himself UP for her!  Wives, respect your husbands and submit to them.  The church must be in submission to God... The bride must be in submission to God... but as the Husband is the head of the Bride, so the Husband must be submitted to God.  Does this speak of the relationship between the Son- Yeshua and the Father? At least in His earthly pilgrimage where he CONTINUALLY submitted himself to "him who judges righteously."  
The Heavens DECLARE the glory of God... therefore the entire created order is a magnificent REFLECTION of the glory of God and the presence of His splendor and majesty.  What does God look like? Noone has seen the Father but the Son and to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him.

So, why do I long?  Why do I desire? Who is this God-man that He would create me with capacity to have to wait for the good things that he has in store for me?  What is God like that he would make all of Human history the story of Yeshua, King of Kings and Lord of Lords and His Bride, the Church and Believing Israel?  The consummation of ALL things will be summed up in Christ as he unites all things in Heaven and upon the Earth (Ephesians 1).  What a God of suspense, purpose, foreknowledge, and understanding.  He is the God who Plans... who prepares... who extends time so that more people can receive His propitiation, thus his forgiveness. 

Wow... before the lightening storm began, and most of my days, are spent in Song of Songs 3:1-3, "On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not.  I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not. The watchmen found me as the went about in the city. "have you sen him whom my soul loves?" 
And I thought that I was stuck... forever caught in the longing.  I have actually believed that this place of desiring, but not having was sticking itself to me like a burden upon my heart, my shoulders, and my existence.  Hope deferred, absolutely.

But, for verse 4.  "Scarcely had i passed them when I found him whom my soul loves.  I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me." 
And I thought the lightening storm had ended, until I just wrote this last verse... and then, seriously, I exaggerate you not- the heavens opened up and roared a thunder, and the sky flashed a strike of power in glorious lightening.  WOAH Yeshua... woah.  What are you saying?!

He was reminding me that there is more.  There is more of Him to know.  He is faithful to those who wait upon Him.  He is the alpha.  He is the omega.  He is eternally amazing.  He IS.
Behold your God!