#prayer – Tattoo It On Your Heart

Piece of My Heart

Hi, my name is “Ridiculous” and sometimes it’s “Crazy,” and I am a P.O.T. (Parent of Teen). My support group is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and other mothers. My only escape is prayer.

So I prayed, “God, give me children lest I die!” and He gave us children. Then, sometimes I want to die. And we parents do die, right? Every. Single. Day. For-the-rest-of-our-lives.

Yeah, this is where I live and I can’t move out because it’s a lifetime lease. How about you fellow P.O.T.s? (And yes, you MOPs and MOAs and ones in between those too.) Do you ever tell God, “Hey God, this was Your idea! You told me to be fruitful and multiply. So God, You have to help me! Help me help them—in Jesus’ name, amen. Please.”

I don’t drink, I don’t swear, and I don’t believe in happy pills, but there’ve been times I wished I did. I used to swear a lot, especially right before I became a Born Again Christian. But then I gave my heart to Jesus and I had no inkling to swear again—until my firstborn turned fifteen. Then I found myself going, “mmmmm…help me Jesus!” And there are three more after her!

Moonlight, Streetlights and Stage Fright

Moonlight spilled across the page and streetlights twinkled below when I penned my first piece, a poem, at nine years old from the lofty perch of my 14th floor bedroom windowsill. The opening line read: “Tis the time when the north wind doth blow.”

My latest poetic endeavor is a rap song. Yes you read that right. I said I’m writing rap. And no, I’m not sharing it today. And yes, I’m as surprised as you are.

But, “He is not a tame lion.”

Jesus calls us to run toward fear which tries to thwart obedience to our call, to honor Him and serve others with the gifts He gives.
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So, wide eyed and trembling, I showed up to present a poetry workshop with friend and award-winning poet and writer Patricia Tiffany Morris at the kind invitation of Writers Chat in honor of #PoetryMonth.

For those who claim they don’t like poetry—this post is for you too! You just may change your mind with this collection featuring several authors.

How a Mail Carrier’s Mistake Saved Me from Suicide

Disappointment set in when there was no response, but I figured the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association had thousands of correspondence to monitor a day and probably wouldn’t see mine.

“Lord, I just want some of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association team to see my article and be blessed by what I said about Billy and their magazine.” I prayed when I tweeted the link to my 2018 blog post entitled What #BillyGraham Meant to Me in answer to a #HealthyFaith Chat question on Twitter.

Several days later, I was stunned to receive the following message from BGEA’s Twitter account:

“Hi Rachael! I’m a website writer at Billy Graham. My team recently came across your incredible testimony involving Decision magazine, and we’d love to have an interview with you and write an article. Is that something you’d be willing to do?… — Lizzy Long”

#IfMyPeople ~ Battle for the Soul of a Nation

Four hundred years after pilgrim and American forefather Edward Winslow settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, his descendant returns to lead the charge to battle for the soul of our nation.

Pastor Greg and Suzanne Winslow, former missionaries to Mexico, church planters, and founders of If My People New England and Hidden Manna Ministries from NH share about their upcoming adventure and the part you can play. They also cover the state of the Church and America, how to navigate these turbulent times, the power of prayer, and more in this video interview. (Welcome back, Pastor Greg and Suzanne.) 🙂

#FaithOverFear from the Perspective of a Mom, Nurse, and Teacher

There’s only one explanation for Robin—Jesus. And also for her sons Miles and Jake. Robin and Jake are nurses currently caring for Covid19 patients. Miles serves as a teacher in Malaysia. Robin is also an award winning author, speaker, and leader of Higher Ground Outreach ministry for incarcerated women. What an honor to interview them during Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week and in time for Mother’s Day, and to share their timely and timeless, inspiring and joy filled stories with you in these two videos and the article that follows.

Now (Guest Post on Southern Ohio Christian Voice)

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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)”

God-fidence

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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”

GPS – God Positioning System

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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”

Prayers

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Nothing is wasted when we yield ourselves to Jesus. When life turns upside down, you can choose to become a casualty of calamity or cling to Christ and stand on His Word. Crisis is a chance to grow closer to Christ—to hand your quivering heart to Him who made it. He makes all things beautiful in His time. Knowing God and keeping this eternal perspective helps me navigate some of the mess and heartbreak of life. In the end He makes all things right. Continue reading “Prayers”

Son-Shine

Rachael_M_Colby_Tattoo_It_On_Your_Heart_Guest Post _on_Pearl_Allard_Look_Up_Sometimes_How to_Nourish_Your_Soul_Series_Son-Shine 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 Look_Up-Sometimes_Pearl_Allard_How-to_Nourish_Your_Soul_Series_ Rachael_M_Colby_Son-Shine 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.