Tuesday, 02 March 2010 10:12

Rachel

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Rachel Rachel

I have always had a great need to “belong.” I grew up with parents who loved Christ, an older brother, and two younger sisters. We had to get along, as we moved quite a bit until we settled in Penticton when I was 9. Always finding ways to fit into a new group taught me the value of family, but it also taught me how to be like everyone else. I prayed for my salvation when I was quite young.  Growing up in the church and in a Christian family, I took my faith for granted for most of my childhood. When I was 12, I was baptized at the Penticton Alliance Church. I believed I was choosing Christ of my own conscience; I was “belonging” to Him.

However, as I entered the rollercoaster of my teenage years, I became lost in my need to “belong.” Although I knew God was steadfast, my friends through the church had not been, so I chose to explore what the world had to offer. It took me a few years, but I eventually saw what I knew all along; I was not meant to belong to the world, and God had never let me go anyways.

With some deep wounds from too many bad relationships and poor choices, I entered a Discipleship Training School though YWAM, in the Sunshine Coast, Australia. What an amazing experience to soak in God in such a way. On this mountaintop, I saw that God could take my brokenness and use it for good; that I would forever belong to Him. I have had my ups and downs since then, but God has been faithful. Through the years I have had to struggle with my need to belong, but I have always come back to lean deep in to the One I truly belong to. I have gained a great confidence that I am loved and valuable, and can now love those around me for who they are not how they make me feel. God has provided me with an amazing husband, two beautiful boys, and some fantastic mentors and friends, all who belong to the same family as me.

It is my hope that God is using me to help others see that He can fill their need to belong, that they are inherently valuable to their Creator. I know, whatever purpose He has for me, He is steadfast and faithful to fulfill all my needs, and provide for me above and beyond.

Two verses that constantly flow through my head are: “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.”  Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 NIV

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3 NLT (but don’t stop there…it’s all so good!)  I am so thankful for everyday.

Read 413 times Last modified on Tuesday, 02 March 2010 13:57
Published in Life Stories
Mike Penninga

Mike Penninga is first a foremost a son of God, a husband of Michelle, a father of 3, and a pretty good tennis player. A grad of Trinity Western University and ACTS seminary with a background in broadcast journalism, Mike has a passion for sharing the life changing news of Jesus Christ in understandable and captivating ways. He has been the lead pastor at KGF since March 2009.

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