Comments for Rachel H Gittens

Comment on These Knots Were Meant To Be Untied by tara

tara — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:59:43 +0000

love.

Comment on I Thought I Killed My Landlord’s Cat (Greetings, November) by M2

M2 — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:00:35 +0000

Love the line about Grannie Annie…. you and I definitely inherited our emotions from that side of the family! Love you

Comment on Let Others Remind You When You Forget What’s True by Tara Davis

Tara Davis — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:12:12 +0000

One of my favorites & esssactly what i needed tonight. So many thumbs up emojis.

Comment on Like Coming Back To An Old Home by Harry

Harry — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:32:50 +0000

Oh Rachel, I have missed you!! We need to skype soon!

Comment on Hunting and Shopping by Andrew Davis

Andrew Davis — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 06:17:07 +0000

(perhaps you’ve figured this one out, as this post is a bit older, but I’ll share my very “narrow” thoughts anyhow…

Rachel, I know a bit about the search for spirituality in strange and/or new places. Churches can be especially difficult when considering dedication, and (monetarily speaking) tithe placement…the difficulty lies in several things including rituals that you have gotten used to, and ones that you simply believe in. The most honest and true thing I have ever heard someone say about church comes from a pastor I’ve known for a long time, who actually got it from someone else (Christ originally I believe), and it goes something like, “church was never a building…” In other words, and everyone knows this but it’s easy to lose sight of, The church has always been intended to be…well for lack of a better word at the moment, fellowship. It’s a gathering of somewhat like-minded individuals to worship and discuss something/someone that no one can put their sticky fingers on. I say all of that to say as your search continues, try and not dig for things that make you feel necessarily peaceful or at ease, but rather the things that you know to be real. E.G. – a gathering of people that focus on a mission as opposed to what they are wearing on that particular mission…

Atlanta is a great city that I lived in for about 6 months… I hope your search becomes and remains fruitful at its least.

PS- in the very little time that I got to spend with you, you made a lasting impression. I think about you regularly and wonder how things are going for you. Hopefully all is well…Andy

Comment on Hunting and Shopping by Terrence

Terrence — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:36:43 +0000

Hello.I loved reading this post because I really could sense your heart and its longing through your words.I have been employed by several different churches since I was 10 years old. As a musician I usually have to be in place for pretty much every service,bible study,prayer meeting,funeral,etc that happens. I’ve spent thousands of hours in sanctuaries around the country.But, honestly, I’ve never really felt completely connected. As a natural introvert/loner,I often enjoyed that fact. But God has been changing me over the past 3 years or so. I have been craving true community and connection more than ever. I want to find a place where I am involved not only in my job at the church but in the ministry beyond the music. I want to have true connection with people who share some of the passions and convictions that I have. I want to know people that will meet me at coffeehouse to discuss life,God,culture and even share a few jokes. I want to have a few people who will join me for a drink as we shoot our dreams off of each other and help each other see God everywhere around us,even in the pub or the concert.
Out of everything on the list of what I want, I still place God’s presence at the top of the list. The church I play at now does leave a lot of room for experiencing God,but I still feel like I’m missing out on certain things. The “culture” of the ministry isn’t exactly what I desire. But this church does value the most important thing on my list.And the thing that gives me hope is that I’m getting closer than ever. I am connecting with people and churches on the Internet who are examples that some of the things I want do exist. Though they are too far away for me to really be a part of,they let me know that God has already created people and places that fit into the desires he has put in my heart. As you delight in God,He gives you the desires of your heart. I heard someone say He actually puts the desires in your heart and then He gives them to you. I believe that when you really connect with him and delight in him,you’ll find those things that you are really seeking. I’m saying that to you because I believe it for you as much as I believe it for myself.

Comment on Hunting and Shopping by Rachel Gittens

Rachel Gittens — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:13:33 +0000

Thanks, Ashley. I really appreciate you taking time to say all of that. I went to Grace a couple of weeks ago and I’m probably going to go again this week. Maybe see about the house churches, etc. Thanks again for your words and reminders.

Comment on Hunting and Shopping by arbuzzy

arbuzzy — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:38:20 +0000

i’m sure aaron has told you about the church we go to in atlanta – grace midtown. they have an extensive house church network that is organized based on interest/mission and can add to sundays at midtown or be substituted for it, based on what the house church wants to do. they’re all coming together right now, adding to one wouldn’t be like jumping into concrete, like those situations sometimes go.

anyway, i suggest it because I agree with your struggles about churches. collin and i move always and never even bother trying to “shop for churches” where we are because no matter what, we feel at home at midtown – near or far, i connect with the people there via phone, email, whatever. whenever we’re home we go there. i’ve been part of a coffee group for the past two years. they meet whenever, they talk, they send me the detials every week and i show up when i can. i’ve never had something like that before at any other church.

also, i will admit that i am a gigantic raving lunatic, a complete idiot, and i still feel connected to God. not because i believe that connecting with him is about following the rules enough for him to bother with me, but because i understand that he’s there always – whether i’m sorted out or not. i made huge mistakes before i beleived in him and i’ve made even bigger ones since. that’s life. god is still there, still helpful, still planning. his name is Consistent. our name is Inconsistent. i think confidence in Him having our back is what we long for, even when we’re stupid. nobody is envious of perfection, just a peaceful mess.

Comment on Hunting and Shopping by joanne garcia

joanne garcia — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:56:58 +0000

i want to tell you all those things – that He redeems our brokenness, He’s in our good stories and our bad stories, etc etc. but i guess i’m still re-learning this whole biz. honestly, church has been such a staple in my life that sometimes it feels weird not going. but finding community and a sense of belonging, and keeping a connection to God on top of that … that’s hard to do.

my life has been a mess these past 2 years. and somehow, even when i’m super disconnected with God and i’m the numb and cynical one (i have been – it’s not just you), sometimes church is the only place that i can sit down and feel like i can breathe again. i literally find my heart saying “i’m so happy to be in the House of the Lord” and that’s not because of people but because it’s God’s grace meeting me halfway.

you’ll find it too. it takes times.

Comment on Hunting and Shopping by Shannon Kennedy

Shannon Kennedy — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:21:40 +0000

You write beautifully. <3