GUEST POST: Rachel, precious friend

I am honored to have a guest post (wow, I feel like a real blogger!) by Elizabeth Wessel. Elizabeth and I have never met but we have a beautiful friend in common named Rachel.

This post was written to be linked to Kelly's Korner Blog for a special link-up.

Take it away, Liz!

I have a precious friend named Rachel - she is just wonderful! It's going to sound like I'm bragging - but I'm just so excited to write this about her! She is absolutely beautiful - on the inside and outside!

Rachel is from Florence, Alabama and now she lives in Huntsville, Alabama. She went to UNA, became a drug rep, and now she shares her story as a motivational Christian speaker. She has a truly unbelievable story - before I share it I want you to know that the Lord is Rachel's rock and her shield. She is so in love with Jesus and He has blessed her with an awe-inspiring faith. A man for her would need to share this first love - Jesus! She is currently leading a bible study that I'm a part of and her friendship has been such an encouragement to me. She is constantly listening to new worship music (she is a singer too), sharing verses the Lord has shown her, making meals for others (um, she's a gourmet cook, might I mention!), sending out encouraging emails and texts, and using the love Christ has placed in her heart to minister to others. She is the kind of friend that draws you closer to Christ and makes you feel his love in tangible ways. She is a gem!!! She knows Jesus, she loves Him, and she is confident that He is guiding her life.

How does one develop such a strong faith and confidence that God is in control of her circumstances??

Well, Rachel has had quite a crazy journey. She has been widowed twice (keep in mind she is only 34 years old). She married Todd right after she finished college and was married for 3 years. Her sweet husband Todd passed away when he fell playing basketball with some friends and severed his spinal cord. Rachel clung to Jesus through this time, resting, as she says, under the "shadow of His wings" (Psalm 17:8). She knew that God is good and that He would carry her through - and He did.

Two years later she fell in love again, to an amazing man who was an Air Force pilot, Blair. They had two precious children (a little boy, Davis, now 5, and a sweet girl, Campbell, now 3). When Campbell was just 5 months old, Blair lost his life in a horrific plane crash. Again, Rachel was in a place where her only solace could come from the true lover of her soul, Jesus Christ. She knows God in such a REAL way and her faith is just ROCK solid, as you can imagine. Her full testimony on this can be viewed here: http://vimeo.com/7651719

This is quite a crazy story, I know. To pursue a child of God like Rachel who has been through so much could be intimidating. Rachel has had the healing that only Jesus gives. Her faith is unwavering - her friends are all confident that God has a man for Rachel and that the Lord Himself has been preparing this man to have just what it takes to sweep her off her feet!

Davis and Campbell are precious little ones, and they would love a Daddy! Rachel pours herself into Davis and Campbell, instilling in them the Word of God, His truths and promises, and training them up in "the way they should go" (Prov 22:6). If you feel a nudging in your heart that the Lord may be leading you to pursue Rachel, know that there will be lots of people lifting you up in prayer. We are praying the Lord would fully equip you as a Godly husband and father! Godly men, please email: elizabethwessel@gmail.com if you feel the Spirit's leading!