Steady my Heart - Kari Jobe - Acoustic version

This is the YouTube clip of the song I shared yesterday! Enjoy!
-RaVonne

Steady My Heart

     So often I have to be reminded that the pain that we as Christians face is for a reason and the Father takes all of it and makes something beautiful. Pain isn't easy and just because we believe that the Father let it happen doesn't make it less painful.

     Yesterday, several songs reminded me of the Father's love...here is one of them! 

Wish it could be easy

Why is life so messy

Why is pain a part of us?

There are days I feel like

Nothing ever goes right

Sometimes is just hurts so much

But You’re here, You’re real

I know I can trust You

Even when it hurts

Even when it’s hard

Even when it all just falls apart

I will run to You

‘Cause I know that You are

Lover of my soul,

Healer of my scars,

You steady my heart,

You steady my heart

I’m not gonna worry

I know that You’ve got me

Right inside the palm

of Your hand

Each and every moment

What’s good and what gets broken

Happens just the way You plan

But You’re here, You’re real

I know  I can trust You

Even when it hurts

Even when it’s hard

Even when it all just falls apart

I will run to You

‘Cause I know that You are

Lover of my soul,

Healer of my scars,

You steady my heart,

You steady my heart

And I will run to You

I’ll find refuge in Your arms

And I will sing to You

‘Cause of everything You are

You steady my heart,

You steady my heart

Even when it hurts

Even when it’s hard

Even when it all just falls apart

I will run to You

‘Cause I know that You are

Lover of my soul,

Healer of my scars,

You steady my heart,

You steady my heart

I’m not gonna worry

I know that You’ve got me

Right inside the palm

of Your hand



When the Father speaks......

     The past two months have been filled with some deep thinking on the importance of good friends. After hearing a sermon about friendships and the importance of having good friends, I felt very convicted! So often I don't really think about how important it is for me to make sure I am leading my friends in the right direction. I can tend to think that they take care of themselves and I take care of myself, but we just hang out together...but that is ABSOLUTELY wrong! I need to lead my friends <esp. younger ones> towards my Heavenly Father..in a direction that will benefit them down the road....
     He also spoke to me about being careful with who I hang out with and how they influence me...After being with some people for a long period of time, you tend to become like them...Are my group of friends taking me in the right direction?
     Just some thoughts! But I  challenge you to consider this! Who are your close friends and are they leading you in the right direction? Are you leading your friends in the right direction? It puts a lot of responsibility on those that lead, but it is worth it! Be sold out for Him and challenge others to know Him more!

From Interview To Blog!

Hey everyone!
I am still breathing on this side of the globe! :)
I just wrote a little for an interview that someone asked me to do, so I thought that I would share it with you all! Beware, the little bit turned out to be close to 2,ooo words! :) So, enter at your own risk! Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
-RaVonne
P.S. If you are wondering what the GG is about, it is from the interview...I didn't take that part out! :)

----------------------------

     My name is RaVonne Sabrina Rhodes and I am 17 years old/young. (which ever you prefer) Please refrain from asking too much about my name because I really don’t know what it means, which is truly tragic, and I don’t know anyone else that answers to this rare name. But don’t take me wrong, I truly adore my name that my parents have wonderfully gifted to me!

     I am the oldest of 7 children and the only girl. (which means I have 6 younger brothers) Life is never boring, and I am continually amazed at how God has blessed me with lots of young men (for now) in my life and even though I would love to have a little sister, brothers are just as important.

     Before I go into more details of my current life, let me give you a little history on the life of the Rhodes family. (my generation, btw) I was born in Minnesota (USA) and lived there until I was six years of age. Then we, my father, mother, 2 younger brothers, and I, moved to Grenada, which is a beautiful, small island in the Caribbean just above South America. We lived there for 4 years before we moved back to the US of A. 1 year and several months followed of life in Minnesota and then we made the BIG move to Asia, and that is where we are now! 

     I currently am located (live) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which is in Southeast Asia. I have lived here for 5 years and 9 months. My father is a teacher at a mission training school and the rest of my family resides here since this is where the Father has lead.

     As I mentioned before, I have a lot of brothers! J So let me introduce you to them from oldest to youngest. (at least as much as I can without you seeing them in person)

     Riley Webster (14) is very much of a leader. He loves telling others what to do and how to do it! J Sports are definitely a favorite and he continually challenges me to spend more time in the Word. We often have very random conversations and enjoy teasing each other about random things. J <moving on>

     RaMont David (12) was born on January 1, 2000, which makes him a very special person. Jokes are a part of his everyday language and he always makes people laugh! <would make a great comedian> Once again, sports are a favorite <beware, they are a favorite of every Rhodes boy>, living life on the edge is not very new, and he loves to read.

     Reid Jamison (9) is the blonde <on the outside, mind you> among the mix of kids. Very smart and thinks things through…reading is a pastime and so are <dare I say it> sports! J He loves crafts and being creative…we are much alike! J

     Rodney Tyler (7)… the little bro. that laughs and teases and makes me smile…Sports rock his world and I think he likes to live life on the edge…the other day he fell out of a tree and skinned up his chin…later, at a friend’s house he does the EXACT same thing…<learning things the hard way?> J He loves to interact with friends and talk about whatever he finds interesting…he also loves to play rook <this he learned at a very young age> J

     Reggie Andre (4) smart, mischievous, and naughty at times…playing with legos, singing, and keeping up with his older brothers are what occupy his young life…I often find him playing by himself and singing some made up tune with made up words….love him! He also will crack off with some genius line that makes us wonder where he heard it…kind of scary…yet it makes us realize that he understands more than we often think he does.

     Rylan Elliot (1) is the baby of the family and in some ways is spoiled..ok, he IS! J He recently accomplished climbing the stairs, but has yet to walk all by himself. He tries to sing along with us when we sing...wonder what type of music genius he will be?! J

     My father, Rick, is my lifesaver  with homework, a preacher, and a teacher <guitar, and so many other spiritual things> ….He is a living example to me of what ‘living a life fully dedicated to whatever the Lord has for me’ looks like. He is…years old. Probably shouldn’t say….He likes to say he is still in his lower twenties! J

     My mother, Renita, is my teacher <not school work, but many other things> and shows me how to live with soooo <ok, its not that many> many brothers….She has taught me to be a woman that is dedicated to what my Heavenly Father has called me to do. Love her!  

     Hope that gives you a little look at what my family is like!

GG: What is your favorite food?

     My favorite food is…….. Well, actually, let me tell you first! I’m not really a person with a lot of favorites, so I often struggle when people ask me what my favorite food, color, and hobbies are. J So I will give you some favorites of mine. J Probably one of my favorites is a frozen pumpkin dessert that my grandma make. I really (like REALLY) like fruit! <but I’m not really a health freak> Drinks <not beer J>  are pretty special and Mexican food is right up there!

GG: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

     I love spending time with friends <quality time>, so I take any chance I get to hang out and chat…maybe discuss is a better word! J Swimming <and tanning J>, listening to music, taking pictures, playing basketball and volleyball <any kind of sport really>, reading a good book, rearranging furniture <mostly my room and it ISN’T a daily occurrence J>, and some writing/drawing…nothing professional!

GG: What is something that you are passionate about?

     Well, I think everyone should be passionate about serving the Lord no matter what, but as far as being passionate about something else? I would have to say that I am pretty passionate about music.

GG: What are a few of your favorite things?

     A good conversation with some friends! <one of my love languages is quality time> A cold Minnesota winter and all that goes with Christmas! <all holidays really>  Dressing up for a special occasion…well, sometimes my family thinks I make some occasions a little too dressy! :P I also like a good rough game of some kind with my brothers….and that usually does NOT include dressing up!

GG: Can you tell us a little about Thailand?

.Tropical. .Mostly Hot. .Spicy Food. .Mostly Buddhist. .Spiritually Dark.

     It’s a country that definitely needs Jesus…so much darkness…Lots of Buddhists and lots of temples. A country that has a lot of foreigners…you can get a lot of ‘American things’…we really can’t complain!

GG: What are some of the things that you love about living in Thailand?

     I love the challenge of learning another language. I also love that I can drive a motorbike (yes, I know that they’re “want-to-be” motorcycles, but they are still a kind of bike!) J Swimming can be done year ‘round! <happy dance>

GG: What are some of the toughest parts of living in Thailand?

     Thailand has its own language, Thai, + I am not Thai = I need to learn a different language. (Now you are probably wondering why in the world this is under things that I love AND things that are tough???) Well, there are the times of discouragement and feeling like a ….. <not sure what word fits> (idiot isn’t quite right!) J

     For the most part I like Thai food, but I have my moments of wishing I lived in a country where I just LOVED the food! L So it’s probably a tough thing! J

GG: What are some of the toughest parts of being in “missions”?

     Not having people to totally understand where you are coming from….I am a TCK (third culture kid) which means that I am American (first culture), I lived in Grenada and Thailand for most of my life, combined, but I’m not Grenadian or Thai (second culture), and that makes a combination of those cultures a third culture…well, actually four, but it’s called a TCK. It’s hard to find someone that has lived life similarly to the way I have, so to really have a close friend is very hard…

     For me, nothing has really stayed the same, except my family and my Heavenly Father! That makes it hard to just live life the same way that a lot of my friends in the US have lived.

GG: What are some things you love most about being in “missions”?

     I am so blessed with so many different experiences that many others don’t even have the chance to experience…getting to know different cultures <which isn’t always easy>, different languages, being able to travel <I have done this almost my whole life> and see different parts of the world…Those are probably the things that I enjoy the most…

GG: What are some of the things you miss most from the states?

     I really can’t say that I don’t miss much, because I really do….Probably friends and family in the States are the most important things…Then there are the amazing Minnesota winters and some strawberry twizzlers that aren’t found here! J Along with some other foods! J But we really have it nice here!

GG: What does having a family “involved in ministry” mean for you personally?

     Wow! It makes my life different, mostly because our purpose is to be here (at IGo) for other people, not just ourselves…and my parents can’t be with us all the time either because they are here for other staff and students!

     I have a lot of opportunities to show God’s love to those that may have never heard of Him before…teaching English to children who need someone to care for them, and helping elderly women carry their groceries to their house…those are a few of the opportunities that we have here!

     My responsibilities are pretty normal. <what’s normal?> Helping out at home….laundry, baking, cleaning…things that each of you probably have to do! L  <It’s not that bad!> I study Thai during the summer and some during the school year. Each day I have my daily duties such as jobs around the house, but my schedule can’t be super picky because the rest  of the world does NOT operate around the same time schedule as I do, as an American. I have to keep in mind that things will come up that you don’t necessarily plan to happen.

GG: What is something God has been teaching you recently?

     Surrender! That my ideas and my plans are not always exactly what He has in store for me. Being able to say, “I will do whatever You have for me.”

     Disciplined!  My relationship with Him is so much more important than ANY thing else! Knowing how to spend my time wisely, and that goes for Spiritual and Physical things!

     He also has been teaching me how I can know Him better. Being able to have a relationship that continues to grow.

I hope this gives you a ‘little’ <never mind that I just wrote over 1,500 words, no joke!> peak into my life. If you want to know more, you can visit me at .my house in Chiang Mai, Thailand…just take a plane there. J Actually, you can read my blog at www.thespeciallifeilive.blogspot.com …I enjoy having visitors! May God bless each one of you in the special life that He has given you! Signing off! 

-RaVonne