Stop Doubting and Believe!

What a blessed day it was! Easter Sunday is such a time of celebration as we praise our Risen Savior! The whole weekend was a time to focus on the ultimate love of our Jesus as he suffered and died for us but then conquered death and the grave and rose again! It literally makes me want to shout! I love this special weekend and I think that most of us can say the same things.

Now that Easter Sunday has come to a close for this year, what do we do now? I was studying through scripture as all the disciples began to see Jesus after his resurrection; it says, “they were overjoyed” (John 20:20). As you read a little further and realize that Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared, you can almost hear the conversation as the disciples began telling Thomas what had happened. I have to chuckle a little as I can imagine Thomas’ response to the disciples telling him that Jesus was alive! There was probably some “NO WAY!” or “Ya’ll are crazy!” (by the use of ya’ll, I’m assuming Thomas was southern like me! Ha-ha!)

Of course, scripture records Thomas as saying in John 20:25 “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

No wonder he is nicknamed “Doubting Thomas”. He earned that nickname! Lol! Oh, but the best part is yet to come as a week later and the disciples were all hanging out at the house and Jesus comes through the door. Now, mind you, Jesus could have knocked on the door that was locked, but instead he came through the door…that was locked and looked at Thomas and said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:26-27) I love it!

Though Thomas had been with Jesus before his crucifixion just as the other disciples, and had listened to all that Jesus told him would happen, he still did not believe it. He wanted physical proof that it was Jesus before he believed. But as Jesus walked right through that locked door and stood before him he told Thomas “Stop doubting and believe.” You go Jesus!

Thomas no more doubted that it was Jesus, no; instead he looked at Jesus and said, “My Lord and my God!” He knew it was his Lord! And as Jesus looked at this disciple, this friend that walked so closely with him, he said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

What struck me about all this, is if Thomas could doubt even walking all that time with Jesus, knowing Jesus as he did, how many now still doubt Jesus? We have his Word, we know the whole story, and we know what happens at the end! We say, Yes! Jesus is alive! But how many times do we doubt his presence in our lives? How many times do we ask, “Where is he?” “Are you there, Lord?”

Well, my friend, Jesus is ALIVE! Jesus is here and active! He says right here in scripture that “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

It is time to put away doubts, get into God’s Word, and spend time talking and listening to your Savior! His love for us is so great! It is hard for me to fathom the vastness of his love for me, but I know that he stretched out his arms and died for me, rose again, and IS alive and active in my life! Hallelujah!

Easter Sunday is over but a new day is here and life to be lived for our Risen Savior! Celebrate this life that he sacrificed for! There is so much to do! Souls out there that don’t know, don’t believe that we can share the good news to! The time has come!

I pray that you all have an awesome week of celebrating and serving our Lord! And in the words of my Jesus…”STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE!”

Believing~

Allison

~ O the Blood ~

I feel so blessed that God has given me the high honor of being mom to Ben, Callie, and Caleb! When I look at each one of them I just sit in awe that God chose me to be their mom! Thank you sweet Lord for the blessing of children, especially these precious three that you entrusted to Matt and me. As a parent, I laugh when they laugh and hurt when they hurt. The unknown that we are going through with Caleb right now is one of those painful times as a parent. It breaks my heart to see him having to go through so many tests but at the same time, his sweet spirit blesses my heart. As I sat and held Caleb on my lap yesterday, tears rolled down his little face as they once again stuck that needle in his arm to draw blood. There is so much that hinges on his blood and many things will be revealed. O the blood! I prayed the whole time as I watched each vial fill up with my precious son’s blood. “Lord, please let his blood be clean!”

As we rode home last night, my thoughts turned to Mary as she sat at the foot of the cross. She watched as her son shed his blood for ALL! The pain Mary must have gone through as she watched her beloved Son’s blood run out of his body is overwhelming. That precious blood is the blood that washes clean! She knew his will but had to watch in great agony. As Jesus carried his cross up to Calvary through the crowds of people as they shouted at him, did they not realize that with every drop of blood, that blood is the very blood shed for them? His love for us, for me, is the reason he shed his blood. Never again will we have to be slave to our sin. He paid the price with his blood.

Ephesians 1:7-8, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

O, the blood! Precious blood! There are many today that have heard the story of Jesus on the cross. They have heard the story of his shed blood, but do they understand the depth of love that was in the shedding of that blood? He carried the sins of us all on that cross and his blood washed them clean.

I Peter 1:18-21 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

O the blood of Jesus washes me,

O the blood of Jesus shed for me,

What a sacrifice, that saved my life,

Yes, the blood, it is my victory!

Thank you Jesus, for your blood! It is because of that sacrifice of your shed blood, your life, that I can truly live and have hope. My heart is overwhelmed by this great love! You paid the ultimate price for me, for all, and the very thought of that brings me to my knees. The blood, your blood, it is my victory!

Allison

"Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes..."

“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

~Desperately Needing Jesus~

A few weeks ago I had the awesome opportunity to attend a Christian women’s conference in Greenville, SC, and hear some beautiful women of God share their testimonies of what God has done in their lives. What a blessing that was to go and be refreshed in the Word! These were women that led ordinary lives but were transformed by an Extraordinary God! I was stirred in my soul, as the Holy Spirit was moving in that place!

A speaker that really touched my heart was Lysa TerKeurst. She has such an infectious love for God and ministers to women all around the country. As she shared her testimony I noticed a young woman walk onto the stage. At first I thought that this sweet lady was part of Lysa’s testimony and was about to share something herself, but then she just stood there. She stood there looking a little “lost” and I came to realize that Lysa apparently didn’t expect her there either. Lysa, reading from God’s Word, so gently put her arm around this woman and kept speaking. A few moments later, Lysa’s assistant, very respectfully walked onto the stage and took the lost young woman by the hand and led her down. I wondered about that woman and felt a burden for her. A few days after I returned, I read Lysa’s blog and there it was, the story of that precious young woman. I have been moved by this testimony and wanted to share it with you.

This was Lysa’s blog:

____________________________________

I Was Her

I saw her coming across the arena. Deliberately. Intentionally. Her eyes fixed on the stage… on me… on what I must have represented in that moment, a woman who might understand.

Through the crowd, up the stairs, across the stage. She stood next to me pressing her shoulder against mine as I was speaking to 6500 women.

And there she was staring out at thousands. But pressing into one. Needing more than words.

Later she explained she needed to feel God and thought if she stood close enough to me, she just might be able to feel Him.

I didn’t have time to carefully plan what to do. I’ve never had this happen before. I’ve never seen this happen. It wasn’t even on my scope of possibility. But there she was. And there I was. Two women who simply and desperately need Jesus.

And because I am so hyper aware of my own desperation for Jesus every moment of every day, I simply wrapped my arm around her and kept on speaking.

It was a wrinkle in time. Something that wasn’t supposed to be and yet was. And I think I now know why.

I needed to remember that ravenous longing I once had to press against somebody who knew Jesus. I was her. Looking at other people’s faith wondering how to get that. That depth. That closeness. That unswerving conviction.

I truly thought if only a person with that faith would let me close enough, I’d discover their secret. I’d learn their routines. I’d mimic their obedience. I’d follow them to the ends of the earth until I got it right. Then, then, then, I’d feel close to Jesus. I’d understand the Bible. I’d pray powerful prayers. And all would finally make sense.

However, there is a big difference between being close to people who love Jesus and being close to Jesus Himself.

I can certainly learn from people. “He who walks with the wise, grows wise.” (Proverbs 13:20)

But if I want closeness with Jesus, I won’t find that in following anyone but Jesus Himself. He is the One who must be pursued.

There have been a thousand whispers from my heart, “Show me, Jesus. Show me how to follow you, be close to you, press into you, be more like you… show me. Show me today. Show me in this minute. Show me, please Jesus, show me.”

A thousand whispers. And there will surely be thousands more. For Jesus isn’t One to be figured out. And closeness isn’t something that can ever be explained.

He simply says, “Follow me.” And those who dare to whisper and then walk, find Him.

Yes, there she was. And there I was. Two women who simply and desperately need Jesus.

Lysa

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What a beautiful reminder of how desperately we all need Jesus! May we all pursue him this week and celebrate the greatness that is our Jesus!

Blessings~

Allison

"...but the LORD directs his steps."

It is hard to believe that I am coming up on my 20^th anniversary of graduating high school! Whew, just saying that makes me feel old! Haha! I took a little walk down memory lane recently and started flipping through my senior yearbook. I had a good laugh as I relived all those memories. I also shared a few tears as I remembered 2 very special friends that have both gone to be with the Lord leaving behind their husbands and small children. We had a small graduating class of 15 so we were all very close. I was sharing with my kids all the wonderful memories we had and also giving them some tips because they now have some of the same teachers that I had when I was there. Oh, the joys of school!

As I read through my “last will & testament” from my senior yearbook, I got a big smile on my face. You see, I am a planner, and I knew my senior year just what direction I felt the Lord was leading me and I had no problem putting that in print. To some of you this may come as a surprise, but, Matt & I became engaged the first week of my senior year and we knew without a shadow of a doubt that God intended for us to be husband and wife. Of course, our wedding would not come for another year and a half, but we knew it would come. So, my “last will and testament” declared what my plans were. We also, as seniors, documented where we thought we would be in 5 years, 10 years, etc. That was a lot of fun looking ahead and making all our predictions. My prediction was that in 10 years, I would be married to Matt and have 3 kids. I also loved working with children and doing accounting but chose my college major in accounting because I knew I would have my own children one day and decided to go that route. Well, today, 20 years later, I am still married to Matt, have 3 kids, work at a preschool where I get to do accounting as well! How great is that!

I am by no means saying that can I see the future. I believed, and still believe, that God is in charge of my future, but it is also my belief that we are to have a plan.

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.”

My senior year was a turning point in my life! I recommitted my life to the Lord that year and really looked to the Lord for direction and discernment. I made decisions that some looked at as “crazy”, but God’s will for my life was my focus and I desired a life that honored and glorified him and him alone.

Though I had a “plan”, I see how God was really directing my steps. Matt & I did get married 9 months after I graduated from high school and we began living a beautiful life as a married couple. I finished college, got a job working in accounting and then it was time to start a family. Everything was going according to this master plan of mine, but the steps to that plan began to take a different path. When I look at the difficult steps that encountered my path, I can see those opportunities that God had for us to draw closer to him. These painful, but oh so precious, challenges that came drove our marriage into a place that made us even more dependent and thankful to our God. Never in “my” plan did infertility and miscarriage have a place, but there it was. Painful and heart-wrenching, but such a growing experience that brought me to the very throne of God to see his comfort and healing in ways I had never experienced. God brought us through and as we welcomed our 2 blessings, Ben & Callie, we decided that we were done. God blessed us with 2 and we were thankful and DONE! Well, guess what, God was not done. He opened our hearts to adoption and directed our paths in that way. Through that adoption to our precious Caleb, he reminded us of his great and perfect love as he adopted us as his children.

Ephesians 1:5 “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will”

Through the blessing of my 3 children, God brought with each one of them, a special attribute to grow me into a deeper relationship with him. After years of infertility and miscarriage, God blessed us with Ben and through that process God brought healing. God worked in my life through that very difficult circumstance and healing came not only physically, but spiritually as well. When Callie entered our home without years of doctors and medication, God brought hope that not everything in life had to be hard. When Caleb came into our home, God strengthened our faith. We, in obedience, took a step out of faith and God carried us all the way. Our faith was strengthened in a mighty way. Though 3 kids were part of “my” plan, God had bigger plans and used each one of them to grow me in my trust of him and brought healing, hope, and faith! Only my God can do such amazing things!

God has shown me that having a plan is great, but he is in control of my destiny. He is the “Master” planner! I trust the Lord to know what was and is best for me and I will continue to look to him for direction in my plans. When the plans we make don’t exactly take the path we think, do we still have that complete trust in him?

When life’s challenges arise, will that trust waiver? Or will I still trust him completely because I know from experience he loves me and knows what is best for me? Even now as I type this, there are challenges in front of me. Were these challenges part of “my” plan? Absolutely not! But as God’s Word tells me;

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

What comfort I have in his Word! What I learned my senior year of high school is right here in front of me. God loves me and his desire is to prosper me. My love for him has grown so much over these last 20 years. It took the challenges to really know his love and I am so grateful to him for that. So I trust him completely through the joys and the difficulties because he is God and I am NOT!

A verse that became so special to me as an 18-year-old senior and is still so sweet now is;

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

This week as you go over your plans, remember that God directs your steps. It is only in his steps that spiritual growth happens and love becomes deeper and sweeter than ever!

Blessings~

Allison