Happy Monday!

Good Monday morning, Lord!

It's a beautiful morning but also one that can be hard to handle. Knowing all that lies before us this week can be overwhelming. Waking up, today, to the news stories of storm devastation brings sadness. Lord, today, I come to you ready to be used however you choose. Help me to see YOU before all else and guard my heart and mind against the enemy. This is my pledge today:

Today, I will be intentional in giving YOU praise because YOU are so worthy.

Today, I will look for opportunities to encourage others.

Today, I will lay my burdens at your feet and trust your authority over them.

Today, I will remember others burdens and go boldly before the throne on their behalf.

Today, I will spend precious time in your Word as I nourish my soul with only what truly satisfies.

Today, I will fill my mind with verses of scripture and sing songs of praise to YOU.

Today, I will hug my children a little tighter and be grateful for the amazing blessings they are.

Today, I will pray over my husband as he is in another country working hard to provide the needs for our family.

Today, I will go to work and give my all remembering that it's YOU who I work for.

Today, I will look at your creation and give thanks for the beauty you have entrusted to us.

Today, I will remember and give praise because of your great love and sacrifice for me.

Today....I stand in awe of YOU! For YOU, precious Lord, are my EVERYTHING and TODAY is for YOUR glory!

"I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."

Psalm 146:2 (NIV)

"O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them."

Isaiah 25:1 (NLT)

And it's only Monday! What will the rest of the week hold?

40 Days

40 days from today we will embark on a much-anticipated family vacation! It is not to a tropical island with sandy beaches and umbrella drinks or a magical Disney theme park "where dreams come true" (of which both we also love ;) but to the mountains of Virginia, in a cabin in the woods where our souls can breathe deep beautiful breaths of refreshment!

So, what is going on during these next 40 days until vacation?

Well, some incredible, albeit very busy, things! Lol!

We will be wrapping up our current school years of preschool, homeschool, and "part time" school with lots of special events and end of year testing. While we wrap things up on the home front my hubby will be traveling the globe for work. Yes, it will be crazy! Yes it will be busy! Yes, it will probably have me in tears at some point! Ha! That is life! It is crazy sometimes. It is messy sometimes. It is hard A LOT of times. BUT I have an amazing God who promises to carry me through and give me strength for the journey! He brings me joy unspeakable and is the only One who can bring peace in the midst of "crazy", make a message out of "messy," and make sense of the "hard". He is so faithful!

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."

Psalms 28:7 (NLT)

So in HIS steps I will walk obediently and hold my hands high in praise because He is so worthy!

Then 40 days from now, I will still sing HIS praises, give HIM glory for the journey, thank HIM in all things, and welcome HIS presence with us at our little cabin in the woods. There, in the mountains of Virginia, we will take a deep sigh and rest in the glory of HIS creation while we enjoy the blessing of family and rejuvenate our souls in His Word!

Thank you precious Father!

"I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips."

Psalm 34:1 (NIV)

The Day Between Crucifixion and Resurrection

I was up early this morning. It was early for a Saturday when I could have been sleeping and believe me, I didn't intend to get up that early. Lol! But the Holy Spirit has a way of nudging me out of the bed when there is something I need to see in scripture or prayers that need to be lifted.

This morning I sat there in my kitchen with the rain coming down outside. It was dark and I had just the kitchen light on because I didn't want to wake the rest of the family. My loyal dog, Louie, of course was at my feet as he follows me from room to room. I sat at the kitchen table that is usually occupied by our sweet family during mealtimes. It's usually covered with food as lots of talk and laughter are going on. Sometimes it's covered with schoolbooks as the kids will spread out to work on academics. But this morning it was empty other than my opened Bible and my cup of coffee, oh and Caleb's soccer cup half-full of orange crush soda he apparently left from last night. Ha!

This morning it was quiet and I just soaked in His Word! I sat in the silence to just be still before HIM...my Father! I'm thankful the Holy Spirit disturbed my sleep this morning because reading through the gospels after they rolled the stone in front of the tomb had my mind thinking of the next day. How were they coping on that Sabbath? They just buried their King. Guards secured the location and nothing could be done until the Sabbath was over. Mary Magdalene couldn't even buy her spices to prepare her King's body until Sabbath was over. So what was going on in their hearts and minds that day?

Well, I can only imagine because scripture is silent here. Were they still in shock from the prior events that unfolded? They just saw Jesus stand trial unjustly and be horribly crucified before their eyes. They saw his lifeless body placed in a tomb. Their grief and sadness were probably overwhelming and I'm sure there was fear and uncertainty. Were they overcome with emotion because it was their sin that put him there? Did they realize the depth of love that was crucified for them?

I sit and ponder....

Jesus had told them what would happen! Jesus had been preparing them, before His death, of what would be to come. Grief and sadness, questions and pain could not last long because Sunday came! Hope arose and death was defeated! Jesus came forth...JUST AS HE SAID! Hallelujah!!

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

Mark 10:33-34 (NKJV)

Today, as we prepare to celebrate the events that DID take place on that glorious resurrection day, my heart is filled with so much gratitude to my Savior. He did ALL of that for ME! He did it ALL for YOU! He conquered death and the grave and paid the ultimate sacrifice for MY sin...for YOUR sin. He marked it PAID IN FULL!

"Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said."

1 Corinthians 15:3b-4 (NLT)

Read the story today! Read it for yourselves! Read the gospels account in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John! The greatest love story of all time is recorded right there in those beautiful pages of scripture. The greatest sacrifice that could ever be made but also the greatest outcome that no Hollywood movie could ever grasp on the big screen. It's the love story of a Savior to YOU! Prepare today!

Read it...grasp it...accept it...celebrate it...and go forth in the will of the Father!

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

John 14:1-4 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. "

John 14:6 (NIV)

~ Hannah Sharon DeHass, April 18, 1996 ~

April 18, 1996, started off beautifully! I woke up that morning excited as I felt my son moving around in my belly. It was a glorious feeling and one that I didn't know if I would ever experience. After years of infertility and the devastating loss of my first child through miscarriage, I had reached five and a half months in my pregnancy with Ben and my dreams of becoming a mom were finally coming true! To top it off, my sister, Stephanie, was also pregnant and due any second! Excitement was in the air and lots of visions of baby booties and rocking chairs were in my head.

Shortly after I woke up, we received the call that my sister was in labor. I could hardly wait to get to the hospital to welcome my newest niece or nephew. I was finally able to be excited about going to the maternity ward knowing that I would be there soon having my own child.

That beautiful morning quickly turned to a horrible nightmare as the elevators doors opened and I saw my mom standing there crying. What came out of her mouth, still to this day, crushes my heart.

"They couldn't detect the baby's heartbeat. The ultrasound shows that the baby has died."

That phrase entered us into a heart wrenching day of grief and loss. Spending the day in the waiting room of the maternity ward is supposed to be exciting awaiting newborn cries and passing out candy cigars. This waiting room was turned into a room full of mourners questioning how this could happen.

How could the cord that is supposed to provide life in the womb to this precious baby be the very thing that takes this baby's life?

It couldn't be real. It had to be a terrible nightmare.

But it was real and we were thrust right into the middle of the nightmare.

Walking into my sister's hospital room seeing the devastation on her face still breaks my heart. The pain and agony she endured through hours of labor only to hold her baby daughter in her arms, lifeless, seems more than anyone should bear. Instead of preparing pink bows and frilly clothes at the end of the day, we were preparing for a funeral. Instead of loading a baby seat in the car, we were putting it away and grieving the emptiness. Instead of celebrating new life, we were mourning death.

Hannah Sharon DeHass left this world on the day of her birth, April 18, 1996, and entered the arms of Jesus.

So here we are, 18 years later and I remember it like it was yesterday. The pain is still there but so is the tremendous hope that I will see my niece again. I think of my sister today and her amazing strength and courage. She didn't give up. She put her hope in the Lord. She is my hero and I love her so much!

Today, I pause in honor of my sweet niece, Hannah, and picture her twirling around in a beautiful dress on the streets of glory. I see her happy and whole as she runs straight into the arms of Jesus...her Abba...her Daddy!

Happy 18th Birthday, sweet girl! Aunt Alli loves you!

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Detours

What if, instead of seeing setbacks as roadblocks to where we want to be, we recognize them as the detours that take us closer to the heart of God.

This was something that came to my heart a while back as I was spending precious time at my Father's feet. You see, during that season of my life, I was experiencing many setbacks and I would, at times, get very discouraged feeling as though I would never move forward. But God so tenderly wrapped His loving arms around me and gave me this realization. He showed me in that moment that these setbacks were not roadblocks that I couldn't get past, but that they were just detours on this journey of life that would take me closer to His heart.

My desire has always been to know more of my Savior, to seek His heart and in those moments of discouragement, He revealed His face and lovingly drew me closer to His heart.

"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." 

Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV)

His strength is what we need to make it through the challenges, the setbacks. On this great journey there will be many, but one thing to hold on to is His promise that He will always be with us. Through every obstacle, every hurdle, and every detour, remember that He is there to guide us closer to His heart and in His perfect will.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

My precious and very wise mother gave me such a treasure of comfort as I was facing a huge obstacle. She told me to remember that God can get me over any obstacle better than I could ever go around them. Oh, how I treasure the godly encouragement from my mom!

What a beautiful reminder!

Once our God guides us over the obstacle, we get another glimpse of His beautiful heart. Strength for the journey and breath to my soul! This was a reminder I needed this week and I thank God for His Word that gives peace, clarity, and direction.

Whatever you may be facing at this moment, I pray that you place your complete trust in our great God and embrace the detour that will lead you closer to His heart!

"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah" 

Psalm 62:8 (NIV)

Blessings~

Allison

"Hosanna! Blessed is He Who Comes In the Name of the Lord!

“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Matthew 21:8-9

I can just imagine myself being there that day! The whispers going around that Jesus was coming! Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee was coming in to town! 

Can you feel the excitement? 

People scurrying around trying to find that spot where you could see him and maybe even get close enough to touch him! This was Jesus!

As I envision myself there, I see the crowds forming. And there I am just trying to find the perfect spot, but the crowds are so thick that I can’t get through. I run up and down trying to squeeze in somewhere, just so I can get a glimpse of my Jesus! Please someone let me in. There are so many people running around trying to get through just like me and then, I hear the shouts, 

“There he is!"

The people start cheering and my heart is racing but all I can see are the crowds. Where is he? Where is my Lord?

Then, the crowds start making room for his triumphal entry! In such great honor, they start taking off their cloaks and spreading them down on the ground for our Lord to walk on. People were waving their branches as they shout and cry,

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 

At this point I am feeling so overwhelmed, just the very presence of my Lord brings me to tears and then I see him! There he is! In all his magnificent glory! HOSANNA! He was riding in on a donkey and a colt that were covered with cloaks. There was just something about him that changed my life! As he passed me by, he looked straight at me and as his eyes met mine, there was something so peaceful, so comforting in those eyes. It was a look of love, a love like no other, an indescribable love! This was MESSIAH! My Messiah!

This same Jesus, riding through the streets of Jerusalem, is the same Jesus that in just a few more days would be betrayed (Matthew 26). People would turn their shouts of praise and honor into angry shouts of hate and murder. Oh, how it makes my heart hurt to see them bow to the pressure and turn their backs on him.

Then I think…would I have done that? If I were truly there, would I have succumbed to that pressure and desert my Lord? My heart is heavy because my love for my Jesus is so strong and I cannot fathom betraying him in that way. But we have seen it done so many times by those close to Jesus and I just pray. I pray that I will not be a life that betrays the very one who gave me life.

Oh gracious and awesome Father, my love for you can match no other and the very thought that you were betrayed and murdered on that cross causes my heart to hurt a deep, deep pain. Knowing that these were people just like me, it could have been me, turning my back on you. Precious Lord all I can say is, I’m sorry! I may not have been in the streets of Jerusalem that day, but, there could be times in the present where I praise you one minute but turn my back on you in another. Lord, keep my eyes and my heart focused on you and your saving grace and mercy! My heart’s desire is to always honor you! You are worthy of all that I have, all that I am! Your love for me stretched out on a cruel cross and caused you pain and death. Not a moment goes by that the very thought of that love for me doesn’t bring me to my knees. Father, you are everything, and may my life bring you honor and glory! Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Your child,

Allison

O, How I Love Jesus!

There is a name I love to hear,

I love to sing its worth;

It sounds like music in mine ear,

The sweetest name on earth.

Oh, how I love Jesus,

Oh, how I love Jesus,

Oh, how I love Jesus,

Because he first loved me!

Yesterday, this song came to my heart that I haven't heard in years. And though I've known it my whole life, it touched me in such a strong way. The more I know my Jesus the deeper my love goes. It's all because of his love for me! Today, I'm so eternally grateful for that love....unconditional, never-ending, pure, complete, true, perfect, agape!

Thank you sweet Jesus!

"We love Him because He first loved us."

I John 4:19 (NKJV)

"Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

Here is the rest of the hymn written by Frederick Whitfield....I pray it blesses you as it has me this week!

It tells me of a Savior’s love,

Who died to set me free;

It tells me of His precious blood,

The sinner’s perfect plea.

It tells me of a Father’s smile

Beaming upon His child;

It cheers me through this little while,

Through desert, waste, and wild.

It tells me what my Father hath

In store for every day,

And though I tread a darksome path,

Yields sunshine all the way.

It tells of One whose loving heart

Can feel my deepest woe;

Who in each sorrow bears a part

That none can bear below.

It bids my trembling heart rejoice;

It dries each rising tear;

It tells me, in a “still small voice,”

To trust and never fear.

Jesus, the Name I love so well,

The Name I love to hear:

No saint on earth its worth can tell,

No heart conceive how dear.

This Name shall shed its fragrance still

Along this thorny road,

Shall sweetly smooth the rugged hill

That leads me up to God.

And there with all the blood-bought throng,

From sin and sorrow free,

I’ll sing the new eternal song

Of Jesus’ love for me.

Oh, how I love Jesus,

Oh, how I love Jesus,

Oh, how I love Jesus,

Because he first loved me!

It's Monday, but It's OK!

Well, here we are on the morning of that day that rolls around every week that seems to draw deep groans of out people and a huge increase of complaints all over social media. Yes.....it's MONDAY!

You may be dreading today for various reasons but I assume it's mostly because it's the first day of the work/school week and then there are 4 more that come after it before another break. And for many, this break is the one you have been waiting for....SPRING BREAK! After the oddest winter I have seen, this spring break comes as a welcome rest to most. Of course, my kids had their spring break already so for us, in many ways, it will be business as usual but I won't have to be at work every day and those days I do, it won't be at the crack of dawn so, I guess you could say I'm somewhat excited. Lol!

Maybe you don't get a "spring break". Maybe you're a 5-day-weeker that doesn't work off an academic calendar so you feel that there is no light at the end of your tunnel. Or, maybe your a mom (like me) who may or may not work outside the home but the "mom" hours don't get a break even on a Saturday morning. Maybe you are waking up in a not-so-great mood this morning, unmotivated to get going, and stumbling to the coffee pot on that smidge of hope that the caffeine will give you a much needed boost of energy to get through this dreaded Monday.

Well, my dear friends, wherever you find yourself this morning, may I please have the privilege to offer you some encouragement?

First of all, let me remind you of just how amazing you are! Right in front of me this morning is the Book of all books. The Word! And in this incredible Book, God tells us just how He feels us....about YOU!

1 John 3:1 

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Matthew 5:14 

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."

Psalm 139:13-16 

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

1 Peter 2:9 

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Ephesians 1:4-5 

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-

Ephesians 2:10 

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

If that doesn't make you want to shout "Glory" then let me continue.....

Also in this wonderful Book are the promises He has given us. Let me share just a few but you will want to go back and look for yourself because this Book is full of them and they are for YOU!

Psalm 91:1

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

John 15:7-8

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Wow! I could go on and on but I do have to go to work this morning! Haha! This is AMAZING stuff here!

My point is this, yes, it's a Monday and yes, we have several days before even the slightest break BUT we can go forth in the power and glory of God and be ALL that He desires us to be today. We can walk in assurance of his incredible love for us and be a part of His Kingdom's work in every opportunity He places before us this week. That could be at our jobs, our schools, our homes and anywhere else our journey takes us this week. Now, doesn't that sound more exciting??

Let me just say that you have been prayed for this morning! If you are reading this, you, my friend, have been prayed for! I have lifted you up to the throne room of heaven and prayed for YOU!

Have a beautiful Monday! Rest in His promises and glory in His will!!

How Can I Pray For You?

This morning, my rendezvous with Jesus is taking place on a balcony over looking the water. Yes, it is beautiful and not the normal setting for my quiet time. My normal setting is in the quietness of my home in the wee morning hours while the sun is still trying to wake from its slumber. But today I didn't have to wake before the chickens and got to experience this beautiful sunrise and sit at the feet of my Master in a new setting! Although, it really doesn't matter what my setting is, whether it be a tropical paradise or a kitchen where we didn't quite get all the dirty dishes in the sink cleaned the night before, when I'm in the presence of my Jesus...HIS presence is all I need! He is so good!

Before I began my study of His Word, my heart turned to those who are struggling today. Over the last few days, I have received many texts and emails from dear souls who are burdened and struggling through valleys. Precious souls who are waiting for answers, searching for direction, and just weary and in need of encouragement. All of them with the same requests.....PRAY! Oh, what an honor! Our brother, James, tells us that we will face trials and we should consider it joy. Yes, that's right...JOY! Well, it doesn't feel quite joyful in the valley but what comes from it will strengthen us to bring glory to God. Listen to this:

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

James 1:2-4 (NLT)

Wow! That's intense and encouraging!

Each and every dear soul has been lifted to the very throne of God this morning and He hears our cries! We have that blessed assurance that He is in control! Hallelujah!

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

What about you this morning?

Maybe you too are struggling and trying to make sense of the valley you are in. I've been there, my friend. The valleys are hard and we need the encouragement and prayers of those close to us to keep us focused on God through it. I've had some precious friends that prayed me through some deep valleys throughout my life and I praise God for them! Their encouragement to trust God through it and the assurance that He truly was working all things for my good gave me peace in the storm. You see, He didn't necessarily calm the storm at that moment but He calmed this child in the midst of it!

I've seen God at work in such mighty ways this week! Fears have been faced, walls have been broken down, souls have been encouraged. The trial may not have been defeated yet, but what God is doing in the midst of each circumstance is truly a blessing to behold! He is AMAZING God and I praise HIM today!

How can I pray for you?

It's my high honor to lift you up today! Please know you can private message me, email me or text me your requests in confidence and they will be prayed over today! Let's continue seeing God move this week!!

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)