I was waiting for perfect, but it never showed up. So I decided I’d better start the journey without it. I thought I needed to be the perfect Christian, wife, mom, have the perfect family, and coin the perfect phrases. Then I’d have something to say. Then God could use my writing. I mean, who am I?
But it’s not about who I am; it’s about… Continue reading “Waiting for Perfect (Guest Post on Inkspirations Online)”
Some words get thrown around like confetti in January— “Happy New Year! What’s your New Year’s resolution?”
But what about when it’s not happy? What about when you don’t know which way is up, and what if you can’t see any resolution for issues in your life, much less make a resolution? While some began the new year with fireworks and hope, others look out on the future through the fog of uncertainty. What then? Continue reading “Now (Guest Post on Southern Ohio Christian Voice)”
I want to be sure of myself, but God wants me to be sure of Himself and find my security in Him. I’m not called to self-confidence but to God-fidence—His work equipping me for my calling in Him.
“I’ve failed you!” I say.
“I know,” God says. “But I love you anyway.”
“But I’m a mess, Lord! I fall so short.”
“That’s my specialty—Let Me make you.”
My God is the re-maker, the overtaker. Our lack is a chance for God’s provision. He is the difference maker; He makes messes into miracles when we give ourselves to Him. Continue reading “God-fidence”
The sky darkened and I tensed, gripping the steering wheel harder as the rain began to fall. I’d done fine on the morning ride to drop my son off for an out of state science class. The route was no different now as I drove to pick him up, but I hate big highways and unfamiliar roads, and the inclement weather just added to my anxiety.
Continue reading “GPS – God Positioning System”
I love sunny days, so when the sun dipped behind the clouds the other day my mood fell.
“No, Lord,” I said, “make the sun come back out!”
“I Am the sunshine in your soul,” Jesus whispered to my heart.
Without the sun, plants lose color and don’t thrive. Time spent basking in the Son-shine nurtures soul seeds and makes miracles grow.
The power of words to destroy or heal and release destiny is amazing. I let dagger-like 
words stall me for 10 years in my Christian walk. I loved God and remained faithful to my church and family, but it was business as usual. I wasn’t looking for happy when I found joy—I had given up on both. Then… Click here to continue reading my guest post on Pearl Allard’s site, Look Up Sometimes.
I am honored to be featured as a guest on Pearl Allard’s site, Look Up Sometimes. I encourage you to read the other great guest posts in this series, How to Nourish Your Soul and be Happy in the Lord, as well as Pearl’s own inspiring articles.
Pearl and I met two years ago as members of The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild. We joined the same private writing group formed within the guild, currently comprised of nine women with a passion for Jesus and to honor Him with our writing. Pearl is a precious sister in the Lord, a down to earth, gifted and anointed writer and speaker, “an imperfect Son-follower learning to enjoy the grace of Jesus and on mission to nurture others to enjoy it…to come along and glimpse and embrace God’s beautiful provisions for us”
Click here to continue reading my guest post and other encouraging articles on, Look Up Sometimes.
© 2018 Rachael M Colby Tattoo It On Your Heart
Lazy rays of afternoon sunlight stretched across the beach, the relentless waves strewing shell and stone along the shoreline. I bent for a beautiful shell partially buried in the whirl of sea and sand. Disappointed to find it broken, I flung it back into the angry waters. As it left my hand, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart.
“Aren’t you glad Jesus doesn’t treat you like that?”
Jesus walks through the sea of humanity, intentionally seeking the broken, the flawed, the less than perfect. He sets out to rescue and redeem the lost, those battered, even shipwrecked, by the storms of life. Sometimes, through no fault of our own, life beats us, leaves us breathless, lying on the ground. Other times we reap the consequences of our poor decisions. Regardless, we can cast ourselves, our cares, and sin, at Jesus’ feet.
Jesus, perfection personified, gave Himself to bring us to Himself. There’s no need to bury our brokenness or feel condemned because of it. Nothing is hidden from Him. God is not impressed with an act, or rote religious dialogue. When we allow Jesus to uncover our shortfalls and sin, we find shelter and safety. He covers us in His grace, forgiveness, and righteousness. Life can leave us worn and weary, off course and in need of direction. Jesus’ invites to us to come as we are so He can make us into who He created us to be. He knows us, sees us, and loves us anyway. He will not cast us away but welcomes a contrite heart and our honest, uncensored prayers for help.
He loves you too. Do you need to be found?
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalms 34:18 (NKJV)
I can give Jesus my sin, myself, and what I’m not meant to bear. He carries me when I can’t walk on my own.
My God is a restorer. That’s why He likes to show up when things are broken. Sometimes He needs to break us, so He can make us again.
He brings purpose to pain. With a touch from His healing hand my heart is made whole.
He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Psalms 147:3 (NKJV)
He is the designer of our destiny.
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
We are His treasure.
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. John 6:37 (NASB)
I want You, Jesus
I want all of You
Have all of me
Thy will be done
Have Your way in me
You fulfill me
But I am not satisfied
Empty me
Fill me
Teach me your ways
Oh God, I want to know You
You are my sustenance
My life, my breath, my strength
My friend
My God.
“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 7:6 (NKJV)
© 2017 Rachael M Colby Tattoo It On Your Heart
Daddy held my hand as we entered the arched iron gates to the botanical gardens. Memories of his buying me Wrigley’s gum, elephant ear pastries, and Matchbox cars still bring a smile. He carried me when I was injured and scraped every speck of black pepper off my food. And bumper cars. I hated them, but I never told him because I liked to hear him laugh—and we were together.
I lived with Grandma in the countryside on the north coat of Jamaica, and Daddy lived on the south coast in the city, so I treasured his visits. He gave me a toypiano, like Schroeder’s in the “Peanuts” comic strip. I played it as loudly as I could because I believed it would make him visit us sooner. I loved our adventures. Sometimes he brought gifts.
One morning, Daddy showed up for a visit and handed me a big box. Grandma gave him a warning look as he hadn’t sought her pre-approval on this one—a tie-dye set. Perhaps he thought his gift was just fine for a six-year-old and Grandma’s nice tile floors.
“You gave her the tie dye set. You get her cleaned up!” Grandma said and pushed us outside. A bucket of soapy water, a scrub brush, and our stifled laughter under the mango tree. Pinned to the clothesline, my brightly colored creation flapped happily in the breeze. I loved that hat.
We made kites with bamboo and tissue paper. They always crashed, but that was okay. He drove too fast on the windy island mountain roads in his little ultramarine Triumph Spitfire. At the amusement park, Daddy emerged pale and shaky after riding the corkscrew roller coaster, but waited for me while I went again. He got upset when I fared better with a drop line than he did with his expensive fishing rod.
When I was a young teen, he took me to Disney World. His camera bag embarrassed me, as it looked like a purse, and I feared someone might recognize us. So I pretended I didn’t know him and walked several feet ahead, or behind.
Daddy wouldn’t let me accept the invitation to run off for the day with the boy I met at the Disney resort. I cried when Daddy scared him away. All the boys were afraid of my daddy. I didn’t yet appreciate his protectiveness.
He was a businessman and laughingly called me his rapacious little capitalist for running my underground fudge business at school. I made more than over $1,000 before they caught me. We were proud of the “F” I received for my class presentation on a controversial topic. I did a good job on it and stood up for my beliefs.
Daddy had his problems. At times, he missed the mark—and it was painful. But he loved his children and grandchildren. Sometimes God uses imperfect people to guide our lives if we let Him. We only have a finite amount of time to know, understand, and reconcile with each other, to extend forgiveness and grace like God does to us. I’m grateful for our time. Life is too short, and eternity too near to be at odds with those God calls us to love.
Then one day he was gone. Just. Like. That. Death gave no warning. I didn’t know that was our last I love you. I wasn’t ready. But God is the one who numbers our days; He said it was time.
Though he’s gone, his voice still echoes in my mind. “Daugh-tah, come here. Child of mine, I love you so much, yuh see,” my father would say in his accent.
My Daddy made mistakes; he wasn’t a perfect father. None of them are. Except for one. He calls me daughter too.
Relentless and reckless in His love for us,
He seeks and rescues us from our wanderings.
God is ever-present.
He is holy.
He is our help in all He calls us to,
A father to the fatherless.
He offers hope and healing to the hurting heart,
Strength to the weak,
Forgiveness from failure,
A new beginning at the end of our road.
In my destitution,
He clothed me in His righteousness.
Adopted and adored,
Never alone.
I come into His presence,
Call Him Abba, Father.
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 NLT)
“You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15 NLT)
*This piece, In Step with My Father, was originally posted on 6/10/2016. Revisions and additions made in 2017 and 6/2025.
~~~*~~~
God is the only perfect father. He is a father to the fatherless. Jesus went to great lengths to meet us where we are. He left his throne in Heaven, donned human flesh, and died to save us from our sin, and reconcile us to Himself, to God. He loves us in spite of ourselves. But we have to accept Him.
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. Psalms 68:5
For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26 NLT
Father, daughter, son, is there a breach that needs mending? Will you start the journey to restoration? Just take one small step. May I suggest the first one be to pray; and the second, forgive? Maybe you won’t get where you’d like to on this side of eternity. Maybe you are only able to take those first two steps. That’s okay. Just start, and let God be God, the mender of hearts. Extend grace like God does for us, even though we don’t deserve it.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NKJV
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15 NLT
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:21-22 NLT
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV
SONG: The Blessing – Jim Trick
Dads- your children, your wives, your country needs you. Will you step up to the plate?
“Here I am Father. Forgive me. Help me to forgive those who hurt me. Help me to step in Your footprints, and walk a little closer with You Jesus.”
SONG: Lead Me – Sanctus Real
Yeah, you are probably going to mess up sometimes, stumble and fall in the process. But God will pick you up. He’s like that.
SONG: Good, Good Father – Chris Tomlin
John Finch grew up the youngest of 3 boys in a suburb of Dallas where he lost his father to suicide at age 11. As a young man, John did anything he could to avoid confronting the wounds he suffered as a result of being fatherless. His craving for affirmation from a father who was not there to provide it, led him to… http://thefathereffect.com/about
Encouraging Dads Project- Stories and resources to encourage dads Creating a community where we can share positive stories and ideas about becoming better and stronger fathers.
Encouraging Dads: 30 Short Stories That Inspire & Encourage Dads Kindle Edition
Focus on the Family is a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive. We provide help and resources for couples to build healthy marriages that reflect God's design, and for parents to raise their children according to morals and values grounded in biblical principles.
To speak with a family help specialist, request resources, make a donation over the phone, inquire about general information, or to report a problem, contact us at the number below.1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459)
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Family Life Ministries -Help for today. Hope for tomorrow
Relationship problems are the result of sin played out in that forum. Sin is the culprit- our own brokenness, the gap in our relationship with Christ- where we are, as opposed to where Christ would have us to be.
Sometimes I catch myself praying for God to change circumstance and behavior when what is needed is for God to change hearts-oftentimes my own. Our actions and reactions are merely a symptom of the problem. When God transforms a heart, the change will spill out to influence all circumstance and relationships. We need to treat the root, not the fruit, if we want true and lasting change.
When I focus on my unmet needs, nobody’s needs are met, because no one is serving. I’m just having a self serving pity party. If I want to see change, then I must change, and the only way that will happen is if I let Christ have His way in me. I must give Jesus the reins of my heart.
“Will the tears ever stop, Lord?”
You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? Psalms 56:8 (NKJV)
“Sometimes I think that must be a really big bottle, Lord.”
But to forgive the incessant provocations of life- to keep on forgiving the the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son- how can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning what we say in our prayers each night,“forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.” -C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
Forgiving means letting go of offenses, not holding it against the person. It means wiping slate clean, canceling the debt, not retaliating.
What if I dared to speak the words I’ve never said?
What if I set them free from the captivity of silence?
Would the chains of pain be broken?
Or would the weight of regret be too great?
For once let loose I cannot call them back.
“Lord…?”
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV)
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven- …A time to be silent and a time to speak. Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 7 (NASB)
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.Psalms 141:3 (NKJV)
Extending forgiveness requires humility, putting aside my pride, emotions. It means valuing relationships and being right with God over my rights.
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV)
Life is too short and eternity is too near to be easily offended by those I am called to love. Bitterness is like barbed wire around a heart. The walls I build to protect my heart are the same walls which keep Christ and His healing out.
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV)
Rather than trying to fix others, I need to fix my relationship with Christ. When I let Jesus overhaul my inward man, the core of me, many of my relationship problems resolve themselves. He is the restorer.
Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? (Matthew 7:4 NKJV)
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.Psalms 147:3 (NKJV)
As the old song goes, “It’s not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer.”
I’m guilty, Lord.
Here I am
Forgive me
Heal my divided, renegade heart.
Deliver me from myself, my sin.
Change me, Jesus
I long for one accord with You
But I fail; I fall
Remember,
I am dust, Lord
Help me
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (II Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)
You are The Way
Have your way in me, Lord
Burn up the dross
Make me pure
I want to love like You
Refine me until I reflect You
Jesus,
Song of my soul,
My heart’s desire and delight,
Form Yourself in me
I want to be one with You
I must extend forgiveness if I want to be forgiven, even if the other person is wrong and unrepentant. This requires a supernatural enabling.
How I forgive others = God’s grace extended to me in forgiveness
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
To be Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because Christ forgave the inexcusable in you. -C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
Many times what God asks of us is impossible in our own strength. He knows we will fail in our own strength. He want us to acknowledge our brokenness, failures, our need, so He can change and empower us.
Jesus didn’t just die for those who would accept Him. He paid the penalty for all the sins of those He knew would reject Him too. The sins of all humanity were borne on the shoulders of the great I Am.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NKJV)
Jesus did His part. He paid the price and provides forgiveness- it’s available up front, but we must choose to accept or reject it.
We must let go of unforgiveness, of sin, if we want to receive the forgiveness He offers. We can’t hold on to both.
The reason people mistreat others is because of what’s broken in them. If I focus on their need for healing, the injustices I receive will be so much easier to bear. When I really pray for someone, not just for my vindication or relief, I find God gives me the heart, the grace, to forgive them. And besides, I need forgiveness too.
Regardless of the behavior of others, if I forgive them and yield to God’s refining of my heart and character through the circumstances in my life, I will be rewarded with a closer walk with Jesus and the peace that comes from a right heart.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him. (Psalms 28:7 NKJV)
Love is forgiving. Love is serving. We are commanded to love. When I set my heart and mind to love and serve others as Christ calls me to, even if it is unrequited, Jesus will fulfill me. There is joy and contentment when my heart rests in Jesus’ hands and I walk in His ways.
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7 (NASB)
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)
On January 26 2002 my life changed forever. My son Spencer Macleod was brought into the ER where I was working as a nurse, barely clinging to life from a stab wound to the heart. He was pronounced dead fifteen minutes later. It was then that I discovered his identity. He died coming to the rescue of…Continued at: http://spencersmom.com/the-story/
©2017 Rachael M Colby Tattoo It On Your Heart
“Am I enough?” He said.
“Yes, Lord. Of course, You are enough.”
“Then stop making excuses. Whatever you lack, whatever your need, I am enough. Come to Me.”
“I am ashamed Lord. I’ve done wrong. I’ve been hiding my sin, my self.”
“I see all. Come to Me, just as you are. Let Me cover you, clothe you in My righteousness.”
“But Lord, I failed You. I failed myself, I failed others.”
“I know, but I want you”.
“I want You, Jesus. But I’m broken.”
“That’s what I’m for. Give Me yourself. Let Me make you.”
“Lord, make me whole. Make me holy and wholly Yours. You are enough, Lord. You are intoxicating.”
“Yes.” He said. “I Am. “
You don’t have to be a victim of your failures, shortcomings, or circumstances. Every obstacle, every failure, every defect, every unmet need is a chance for Jesus to move on your behalf, to prove Himself in your life, and bring Him glory. Your defeat is Jesus’ opportunity to bring victory if you give yourself to Him. He is the God of the turn around, the God of a new beginning.
Sometimes it’s like digging deep and climbing and failing and falling and finding I have landed at Jesus’ feet. But then, He reaches down, and pulls me to Himself.
God is easy to please, but hard to satisfy.
But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense… You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage; but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself. – George MacDonald
God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man.
The more we get what we call “ourselves” out of the way and let Him take us over, the more truly ourselves we become.
Nothing of you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. – C S Lewis, Mere Christianity
My best is a gift from Him. My worst is an opportunity for God to do miracles and testify of His grace. I bring a lot to the table for Jesus to work with. I just keep laying all my raw material, my broken pieces, on The Workman’s table, putting my whole self, my life, in the Master Builder’s hands.
Jesus is my pleasure, my joy,
But I am not satisfied. I want more of Him, and Him to have all of me.
I never tire of Him.
He occupies my mind.
He’s the winner, the captor, and ruler of my heart,
Rescuer and lover of my soul.
I am His.
© 2017 Rachael M Colby Tattoo It On Your Heart
Reasons aren’t excuses. God is fully aware of all my circumstances, but He doesn’t believe in situational ethics. He wants me to keep my attitude and responses in alignment with His Word, regardless of who is right or wrong.
I hear Jesus say, “Do you want Me to defend you, or do you want to defend yourself?” He lets me choose. Why do I struggle with this? Why do I rush in and react, instead of waiting on God?
I know The Lord is my defender, and if I keep my heart right and stay out of the way, He will fight for me. In His time, He will right the wrong and truth shall prevail.
“But Lord,” I say, “this is hard, I just can’t seem to do this. I keep tripping over myself.”
Life is hard. It is bigger than I. I can’t bear it on my own. I’m nothing on my own, but His Word says,
My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV
Jesus knows me, with all my failings, and loves me anyway. He expects me to fall. That’s how I’ll learn to walk. When I call, He hears my cry. He picks me up and says, “Lean on me. Try again.”
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalms 141:3 NKJV
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 NKJV
© 2016 Rachael M Colby | Tattoo It On Your Heart
Tattoo It On Your Heart 