My Notes from Staff Meeting..

The most important attribute that you can possess as a leader is TRUST.
 -It has to be given to you.
-You have to be trusted as a Leader.

Pre-Requisite for Trust:
SELF CONFIDENCE..it inspires Trust.

1. Be sure of Yourself...be confident in your ability.
2. Be comfortable in your identity.

THREE Things that help Build Trust:
1. SHOW RESPECT...When you make others feels valuable it draws them to you.
2. BE DEPENDABLE...You trust what has been reliable over time.
3. SPEAK TRUTHFULLY.... Don't over promise and under deliver.

-Mean what you say
-Stay close to the truth even when it's uncomfortable
-speak the truth in LOVE.


HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!

POWER!

The past two days this word just seems to come to my mind a lot- POWER!

When I think of POWER....I think of power rangers, my dad's big diesel truck, power chocolate bar, power tools....etc

But God really showed me something about POWER that I never really understood until now. I had heard it before, but to experience it is another thing.

*THE POWER OF PRAYER*
It's stronger than anything else! I can't fix everything- but I can pray- which can cause things to change!
It's more powerful than you and I and my dad's diesel truck.... It can move mountains, alter our future, heal the sick, and cause the lame to walk!  There is Power in Prayer! Yeah now that's POWER right there!!!

So now when I think of power , I just think of Prayer.... Cause I'm talking to the ONE who is the Most Powerful who can do anything!

p.s. One of our TFC Groups at The Family Church this semester is called "the power of a praying wife."
go to www.thefamilychurch.cc for more details..

Taking things for granted..

It's funny how we complain about things we take for granted....
Complain that I have clothes to fold, dishes to put away, a house to clean, fill up gas in my car, wait in one open line at wal-mart....etc

God has been showing me that it's all about PERSPECTIVE...

Rachel at least you have so much clothes that you have to actually set aside time in your day to fold them all!
You have dishes for days...
A beautiful house to clean instead of a shelter being my home..
At least I have a car to fill up gas and money to pay for it..
Yeah the line in Wal-mart is very long..but I am so blessed to buy all these groceries and shop in a nice store with ac!!!

Lord, I don't want to take anything for granted--including your son Jesus!! You have done sooo much for me, that if you never do another thing for me- you've done enough already!!

John 4:23-24

John 4:23-24

New International Version (NIV)

²³ Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

1. The time is NOW! Not tomorrow, not yesterday, but NOW..This is what He is looking for today.
2. Worship in SPIRIT. God is not limited to one place. He is not just present in the church, but His presence is everywhere. Which means, don't just worship Him at church but in spirit (EVERYWHERE AND ALL THE TIME)
3. Worship in TRUTH. God's word (the Bible) is truth. When I read his word, I am worshipping Him in TRUTH- Because I believe His promises are true and not what the world says...

So how can I worship in spirit and in truth the rest of this week?
By talking to God throughout the day, reading His word, and actually believing in His word. 

The more I think about this scripture- the more I realize that's what He looks for all day long! 
This IS your Worship!

P.S. HIS TRUTH- HE THINKS YOU'RE AMAZING!! BELIEVE IT :)

ARE YOU A READER?

Growing up I HATED to read. But as I got older, I started MAKING myself read, because of a statement my dad said in the car one day that really stuck with me. We were talking about someone in particular and he said, "that guy is really smart...He reads a lot." I know it's hard for you to believe- but I'm not smart :) lol...No Seriously, I'm not. In high school I made good grades because I would study all the time, not because I was smart. School never came easy to me, and neither does common sense. But now, I don't make myself read. Over the years I have developed a LOVE for reading.  So hopefully, one day someone can say "that girl is really smart..she reads a lot."

I'm sure you've heard it said a number of times that "you can do anything you set your mind to."
I believe it's totally different once you experience that accomplishment... :) 

P.S. The book I am reading now is called, "IT." by Craig Groeschel. I highly recommend "IT" for church staff and leaders. It's a great read!

Pour life, not death

I received an email from a musician who experienced a breakthrough while playing on stage. It so encouraged me because God showed me how powerful my words are. I want to build people up and not tear them down! (This is easier said than done for me). You see, Victory is Yours! There is no mountain that I can't climb with God, but it sure is easier when I have an entourage of people encouraging me along the way. So God questioned me...Rachel, who are you believing in? Who are you pouring your "life" into? (not "death")
Never give up on the people around you, because people around you didn't give up on you! We all have to face our fears. That's why I love when people around me are pushing me, even when I don't really like it at the moment...
(Here's the email)
I wanted to tell you that today was a breakthrough for me and I'm excited about it.  Not only did I get through the intro twice!, but playing in service was different today.  I worshipped on my instrument at a new level and it was great!  A few weeks ago when you talked to me about "performance anxiety" was a key.  I have had to address a lot of fear and anxiety in my life, but when you said it that day, God put His finger on something in me.  He has been working in me and so today was a triumph, not just in playing the right notes, but that I didn't have performance anxiety!!  This is what God created me to do, and He never intended for me to be afraid while doing it.  Thank you for loving me and leading me and letting me worship with you!

have a great week