Blog Posts - RACHEL FOX FRAZIER

Keep the Pace Keep the Faith

6/18/2017

The world is developing FAST. As a society we go to the next thing. As a person I go, go, go! Sometimes when I set a goal for myself, I think that I need to reach it within a certain amount of time. But this is just a little reminder to myself and to you, take things day by day! As long as you're working towards where you want to be, honor your pace. God is working in your life differently and at a different pace than He is someone else's! Keep being obedient. Keep pushing. Keep being consistent. Keep your pace. And keep letting God work in His own time.

God's Gonna Work!

5/10/2017

God's plans are not always my plans. Actually, 88% of the time (more than that, but I'm being generous to myself) my plans are not His plans. I once heard it said that you need to be stubborn with your dreams and goals, but you need to be flexible with how you get to them! Ultimately, God is going to work how He's going to work. Use discernment, seek biblical council, read His word. God is always gonna do what He's going to do. He not only displays redemption in our own lives, but Jesus was the personification of redemption. Moreso than that, HE IS REDEMPTION. And because we know this, we can know He will turn our plans into His masterpiece in His timing. We just need obedience and flexibility not only in how we get there, but we need to allow God space to make our dreams bigger and more different than we could've ever planned for!

Remember Those Who Love You

4/25/2017

"I want a boyfriend" "I wish I had more friends" "I just want a husband" "I can't wait till I go to college and get new friends" Where ever you may be in life, it's really easy to want. Maybe you want a boyfriend, maybe you want your parents back, perhaps you want a husband and babies. Wanting, wishing, and praying is not bad at all! God sees. God knows. God cares.
But sister, just a sweet reminder and warning... don't focus on what or who you want so bad, that you miss the people in your life right now! God can and will move through you to make an impact on their lives. It's so easy to overlook the people that are in your life. Don't. Take the time to remember them. Thank God for them. And cherish the time you have with them.

The Cages of Fear

4/10/2017

Snakes, heights, darkness, public speaking, holes, bugs, death -- we each have our own fears. Whether it's a fictional clown that resides in a sewer, or if it's a stinging, very real reality happening in your everyday life, every person has fear(s). I don't think it's a sin to be aware of the fear and I don't think it's a sin to be afraid in the first place. But, when it does become a problem, in my own opinion, is when we let it control our actions and hinder our ability to do as Jesus would do.
Here's what I mean, sometimes this "cage" fear puts us in may be very small. The fear comes crashing down on us in a moment, like if you were to put me in a pit with snakes (NO THANK YOU)! I am very aware that I am in a pit with snakes... my fear is very there, in my face, and real. When I went skydiving, that was a small cage. Very real, quick to get out of. Small cages are moments in time that are easy to spot and probably easy to overcome.

God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment. " 2 Timothy 1:7

HOWEVER, there is another kind of fear. This kind of fear has the tendency, to put us in a cage. With this kind of fear, we usually can't even tell we're in a cage. The reality about this cage is that most of the time we make it ourselves. This cage comes from fears like failure, rejection, and aloneness. This cage allows us to go far enough without taking a risk. This cage wants us to go far...as long as we don't step outside, into the unknown. Honestly, we may not ever know we're in a cage. Often times, without our permission, our own fears give us parameters we spend our whole lives within.
My charge to you: identify your cage and work hard to break out of it. Don't let fear put and keep you in a cage!

The Hard Things in Life

4/4/2017

In life, hard things are inevitable. In fact, once you become a Christian, we are literally told life is going to be difficult for us. Being a Christ follower is not a walk in the park, nor should it be. I truly believe that the more we live our lives full of reckless abandon for Christ, the more trials we may endure! I say all the time (and I will continue to say), I want to be the type of girl that as soon as I wake up in the morning and my feet hit the floor, the devil freaks out and yells to his demons "SHE'S AWAKE!! GET READY!" Personally, I want to do the hard things so I can grow through the hard things. Going through hard things makes me rely on Jesus in a way I never knew I needed Him. Then, when I get through the hard things, I am shown He can provide in a way I never knew possible. So yes, we not only can do the hard things through Christ, but we get to do the hard things with Jesus ahead, beside, behind, and all around us. And for that, we are better.

Sow What?

3/30/2017

The definition of a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a lesson. Jesus speaks in parables so it’s easier for us to understand & get His lesson across. He also uses them because He’s fulfilling prophecies (in this case, from Isaiah 6).
The Bible tells us that everyone on Earth is going to hear the gospel of Jesus at some point in their life. But there are many different responses someone can have to the gospel.
The word “gospel” is used quite a lot in Christian culture. In greek, “gospel” simply means good news. What is the good news? If you don’t already know the good news is the news that Jesus took our sins by dying on the cross in our place. After he died, He was buried in a tomb, but three days later He rose from the grave to prove once & for all that the power of death and hell can not defeat God and His saving grace.
When you hear the gospel the Lord want you to respond to it with an open & accepting heart. He wants the power of Jesus to change everything about you.
If you accepted Christ at a young age, sometimes it’s difficult for us to think of something we need to change about our life because we haven’t necessarily had the chance to make a lot of unwise decisions yet. But let me remind you that the Bible calls our hearts wicked, and tells us that we are all born with sin.
It doesn’t always have to be something life-threatening like doing drugs. Changing may include changing what we watch, what we listen to, or even the types of people we surround ourselves with.
When we accept the gospel it should change everything about us. When we understand the gospel, we grow in Christ. It’s that simple.

Matthew 13:1-11 & 18-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Yes, Lord.

1/27/2017

Matthew 26:36-46.
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

There are so many times we encounter decisions that we do not want to make. Being a girl, one of our most hated traits is our indecisiveness when it comes to picking a place to eat. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about, we are the worst when it comes to this! In this section of scripture, we take an intimate look at Jesus in the garden, we can easily see the pain, torment, and suffering He is going through knowing the weight of the cross is looming over Him.
Jesus was in distress over going to the Cross because He knew what it meant. Jesus was facing the reality that He was about to be arrested, falsely convicted, beaten, & crucified. More than that He was preparing to suffer the Father’s wrath. Jesus was literally about to face all of God’s judgement for humanity when He had lived a perfect life and did not deserve any of it. Can you see how much your Savior values you?

When Jesus said “Yes” in the garden of Gethsemane... He did for me, what I could not do for myself. - Doug Adams

Jesus begs the Father to “let this cup pass” from Him. When a cup is seen in scripture, this is usually used as a symbol for judgment. When Jesus talks about drinking from the cup, He is referencing the fact that He is about to take on God’s judgment in order to save every single sinner. After Jesus pleaded with the Father, but He continued on to say, “…nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus was faithful to the Father’s will.
Our sinful nature is weak and it will always lead us to the easiest, most self- gratifying, path. We will always choose what is most comfortable. God’s will is that we follow Him, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. We must choose everyday which to listen to. Since Jesus said yes to the cross for us, we say yes to living for Him.

Seen & Satisfied

1/16/2017

Matthew 14:10-21
He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given
to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried
it, and they went and told Jesus. Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

During this same account Mark 6:34 says, “When Jesus came ashore, He saw a large crowd. He felt deep concern for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them many things." Jesus loved each and every person in that crowd and He knew that there was so much they still didn’t understand about the kingdom of God. So even though He needed rest and time to grieve, He put the spiritual & physical needs of the crowd before His own by teaching and feeding them. Mark tells us that the people in the crowd were like sheep without a shepherd, which means they were lost and confused. By teaching and feeding them Jesus was a kind and loving Shepherd they needed Him to be.
The disciples thought that the only logical explanation was to send the crowd away. They didn’t have the money or the materials to feed such a large crowd on such short notice. They did not have the means to meet their needs. BUT Jesus’ response to their solution was His way of showing the disciples that there was no way they could solve the problem on their own. Jesus wanted the disciples to trust Him and to know that He alone was able to meet their need.
The disciples didn’t multiply the bread and fish, but they got to be apart of the miracle anyway. Though the disciples had unbelief, Jesus still chose to use them during this miraculous circumstance. So many times we, as Christians, have trouble trusting if God is really going to come through for us. And even in our times of unbelief, God shows us His faithfulness.

Above Opinions

12/8/2016

Jesus changes the question from asking what other peoples’ opinions are to who do YOU think He is. Jesus is pressing the disciples to understand that what other people think about Jesus shouldn’t shape their opinion about Him.
Many people had a high opinion of Jesus, but as believers, we must go beyond a high opinion of Jesus & realize that He is the Son of Man. He is God. He deserves ALL of our worship & attention every day of the week.
Our culture is comfortable with Jesus until He demands that they lay everything aside to follow Him alone. Jesus is inviting the disciples (and us) to understand who He truly is, which can only be done when we spend time with him daily.

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
- Matthew 16:13-20

Who is Your "orphan"? Where are Your "widows"?

10/12/2016

Studying James the other day, I came across something that caught my eye. At the end of the first chapter, the author encourages us, that as Christians we are to “visit orphans and widows in their affliction” That got me thinking...orphans & widows are mentioned so much in scripture- Exodus 22:22; Psalm 146:9; Isaiah 58:7; Jeremiah 7:6; Lamentations 5:3; Matthew 6:1-4; John 14:18- just to name a few.
To be honest, when I read in the bible about orphans and widows, I always kind of skip over it. Not on purpose, but I always clumped them with the act of being kind & loving to those who are less fortunate. I wanted to know why they are specifically mentioned multiple times when we read the word of God. So I decided to do some digging as to why orphans and widows are mentioned so often.
After researching, I discovered that I wasn't too far off. The author's of the Bible do use orphans and widows as an example of those who are less fortunate, but the Lord revealed that it goes deeper than that. Orphans and widows were not only less fortunate, but these were the people that were overlooked by everyone. These are the people that were needy, and the people who did not have an advocate.
True religion says that it is our joy to be an advocate. I've heard it said that, “Genuine faith is being actively obedient to the Word.” If we are to be an obedient advocate for the gospel, it is our responsibility to not only ask ourselves who the "orphans and widows" are in our society today, but who the orphans and widows are in our churches, at our schools, and in our own lives.
So as we go throughout our week, let's ask ourselves
Who the orphans and widows in my own life? Who will have no advocate unless I am that for them?