I grabbed my Americano from the counter and sat down at my favorite coffee shop in Napa (Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company). You cannot miss Rachel Parrish walking in. She carries this presence with her: warm and inviting. Plus, she just went platinum and looks AMAZING. She walks in smiling, in a killer outfit she probably just picked up at a flea market for ten cents. I have the distinct pleasure of calling Rachel friend, and am so happy to sit down and talk with her about life and about captivating women.

After a quick time of catching up (actually, let’s be honest, after two hours of catching up), we finally get down to business…

Jamie: First things first, where do you live, who do you live with and how old are you?
Rachel: I live in Napa, CA with my hubby, Nate. And I’m 29. 30 in November!

J: What three words would you use to describe yourself?
R: Outgoing. Enthusiastic, to a fault. Quirky (which is just a nice way of saying weird).

J: What is your day job?
R: Christian High School Bible Teacher. I also teach Chapel Leadership and Chapel Media Arts. We basically run Chapel for our high school and middle school. It is super fun!

J: What made you get into teaching?
R: Weirdly, becoming a teacher just happened to me. I also loved working with kids. I was a day camp counselor and worked on staff at my church with the youth group. Teaching just came very natural to me and I loved it! Also, I love shushing people.

J: That’s awesome! And, having sat next to you at church, you are very good at shushing people. But, what are you most passionate about?
R: Wow. That’s a hard question, actually. I’m a really enthusiastic person, I get really excited about lots of stuff, so I often mistake that for passion. When I think about passion, I think of Jeremiah 20:9 when he speaks of sharing the Gospel like “fire in his bones.” Whether it’s songwriting, teaching, or preaching, I have a passion for communicating the Gospel in a way that’s accessible, but not sugar-coated. Part of what makes the Gospel so sweet is knowing the gravity of sin, and the lengths that God would go through to make us His children. Grace isn’t amazing if we don’t realize what it’s actually about.

J: Have you ever had an experience or time in your life where you wanted to just throw in the towel and walk away?
R: Yeah. Heck yeah. The first nine months of Nate’s and my marriage were spent living with my parents. For the first three months it was intentional as we were saving money to buy a house. It was the next six months that we were there out of necessity. Nate was in a band called Worth Dying For at the time, and they were in the process of recording their second album with Integrity while I was working on staff as the youth ministry assistant at my home church. Within three months Nate and I both experienced unexpected unemployment. There was a lot of questioning God in that time. We were mad that He would “do that to us”. We knew that God had a plan, but we weren’t too stoked on it. It was very difficult to see any end to our situation. It was a pretty hopeless time. Now, of course, we can see that the Lord really was working it all out for His good, and ours, but our journey has been just one big surprise after another. Sometimes it’s really awesome, and other times it’s not. But those first nine months really taught us how to trust the Lord and walk with him through the fog.

J: During that time, did you receive any really great advice?
R: I can’t think of anything specific, but it probably came from my mom or dad. They are always right.

J: Speaking of advice, what advice would you give to someone who is chasing their dream?
R: Go to college and study something you love. AND…don’t read those “5 Worst College Majors” articles that come out around graduation season. My degrees (Music and Theology) top those lists every single year. There is so much more peace in obeying the Lord and living out your calling than living by the fear of man and our culture.

J: If you could travel anywhere, where would you choose and why?
R: I would really like to visit Israel. I want to see all the places I talk about with my students every year in Bible class.

J: I’m not going to, but if I came to your house tonight for dinner, what would you serve me?
R: Probably breakfast. Nate and I are big on breakfast. Like Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson.

J: Who are some Captivating Women you love and how could we find them on social media?
R: I really love the She Reads Truth gang. Those bible studies are so dynamic. Also, a friend of mine that I went to school with, her name is Gennean, you can find her at Blog.Gennean.com or Instgram @gennean. She is an adventurer in the the Lord. She is serious about seeking Christ, but in a sweet and very genuine way. I just adore her. AND last but not least, Vanessa Shepherd is another woman I hugely admire and love. She is passionate about ministering to teen girls and meeting where they are at, while digging into scripture. She runs a ministry called Living Head Over Heels, and you can find her at DearLHOH.com and her Instagram is @dearLHOH.

J: What do you think makes a Captivating Woman?
R: Finding your identity and worth in Christ. When you serve in response to the cross, it puts your soul at rest in a way that makes others want that peace for themselves.

J: What is your favorite Bible Story?
R: The woman caught in adultery. It is my favorite lesson to teach in my Bible class. It is such a clear reminder to me to check my heart. Am I being like Jesus, or am I being like the Pharisees?

As we finished our coffees, Rachel and I had an epic adventure of us both locking our keys in our cars…in the ignitions. So, if you need a reminder that we are ALL human and mess us, there you go. Seriously, check out Rachel’s blog (http://rachelparrishthethought.blogspot.com/) and her Instagram (@parrishthethoughtblog). And, don’t forget to give Parrish a listen. Rachel and her hubby, Nate, are amazing songwriters and musicians.