Time With My Lord

So here I am, up again at 4:30 prompted to spend time with my Lord. When God whispers his loving voice in my ear, I count it an honor to get up and spend this time with him!

Do you long to spend time with God? Does your soul thirst for the only thing that can truly satisfy?

Oh, sweet friend, my alone time with God is not a choice, it is a necessity! The more time I spend with him, the more I desire! There are so many things and obstacles that can hinder our time with God but can we really afford to miss those precious opportunities? Being in the presence of God is such a gift! When I am there, I cannot imagine being anywhere else! There is that deep longing to be in his presence and heed his Word! That is where true living is! He is the One that satisfies the soul! He is the One that brings comfort! He is the One that loves like no other! He is the One that offers protection!

David, alone in the Desert of Judah, records this prayer to God recounting his loneliness but also his confirming the One who can truly satisfy.

Psalm 63

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; 
my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, 
in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, 
my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; 
with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God’s name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.”

David recognized what truly satisfied his soul! Where are you searching today for satisfaction? No matter what you may be going through, cry out to God and cling to him for comfort. Time with him is priceless and there is peace and comfort in the presence of God! Whether it is at 4:30 in the morning or at 12:00 in the afternoon, He is worthy of all that we have! I thank him for spending time with me and showing me more in his Word! He is amazing God!

My prayer of praise for today is:

Psalm 63:3-4 “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”

Blessings~

Allison

~ Walking in Obedience ~

My post today will be a short one. Yes, I know I can get very lengthy when I speak about my Lord but today, will be short!

I am up early this morning because the Lord whispered sweet promptings in my ear to get up and spend time with him. I am so glad he did! What beautiful time in his Word! Time with him is such a special gift and one that I do not take lightly! My Savior wants to spend one-on-one time with me! How awesome is that? This is time to be quiet and listen, time to give him praise, time to heed his direction, and time to worship Almighty God! Hallelujah!

As he guides and directs our lives are we completely sold out for him? Are we giving in to the “practical” because we fear that people will talk about us or not understand? Or do we really focus on the obedience that God calls us to and only seek approval from our Master? Well, this is not always easy and takes great boldness and courage! When God calls and directs your life in ways that you don’t even understand yet, be bold and say “yes” to him no matter what others may say, no matter how it “looks”. God’s approval is the only thing that matters! When we say, “yes” to God, he works out the details and he is in control! Our lives belong to him to do his will and complete his work!

There are so many people in scripture that chose to obey God even when others questioned their behavior, but they stood firm in God’s calling. Their lives were of great significance because of their obedience to their Lord. Think about Abraham when he was told to sacrifice his own son, but God provided a lamb (Genesis 22), think about Noah when he was told to build an ark and God spared he and his family in the flood (Genesis 6-8). The list could go on and on, but when God speaks, we are to obey no matter the circumstance and have faith that God will complete his work in you!

Genesis 6:22 “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”

Genesis 22: 3 “Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey…”

Both accounts, they did not question, they did not complain, they OBEDYED even when it did not all make sense, they had faith in their God! Amen!

I want my life to reflect that same obedience to my God! I will obey and look to God for approval, not from man!

Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Okay, so my post was not as short as I had promised, I apologize. Lol! I told you when I start talking about my Lord I can go on and on! He is my LIFE!

My prayer is that we all walk in obedience to God and not be concerned with what others think or say. It’s not about us (or them); it’s all about HIM!

Have a beautiful, obedience filled day!

Allison

Faith & Trust ~ Keeping it Real!

I know it has been a while since my last post but let me say that it has not been from a lack of “teachable moments” that is for sure. The best I can describe this last month is an unprecedented amount of “teachable moments” that, Lord willing, at some point I will share those with you. The one thing I will say about this last month is that I have seen Jesus in a way that I have never experienced before! Over the last couple of years, God has been growing me and shaping me more and more into the woman he desires me to be and at times that has been painful. (Just keeping it real here!) Though painful sometimes, very necessary for me to see the abundant life he has for me and surrendered to his will, is the BEST and most fulfilling place to be. This last month though, has been the real test of faith and trust in him that in my 38 years of life, I have not experienced before. Now before you start wondering what in the world is going on, let me assure you that God is and always has been in control and this journey is one that began months before but really turned a corner this last month and let me say, God is so good my dear friends!

Though my times with God have always been special, these last several weeks, they have taken on new meaning. They have been times of tears, some of sadness and some of joy; times of praise, because he is so worthy; times of healing, because he is the Great Physician, times of quietness, to be still in the presence of my Lord; times of openness, to be laid out completely surrendered to him; and most importantly, times of saying “YES”, because when he says it, I am to obey. When you come to a time in your life when things are out of your control, God makes his presence so known that he is in control and we can choose to trust in that or we can continue in the turmoil that is present in this life.

God’s Word has been my source! His Word is our direction! I don’t expect my children to go to school for a test without first studying their textbook for the answers, and the same is true with our Heavenly Father. He has given us his inspired, infallible Word for the answers to life’s test. If we study and have faith in him, he will carry us through every test!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Coming off of this last month, I am more amazed at my Savior than ever before! Faith and trust are no laughing matter and when faced with the realization that yours is being tested, is gets serious. I have a heart overwhelmed with blessings today! Every day God shows me more of his beautiful face and in ways that I never imagined! I am eternally grateful for the people God has used in my life this last month to help me through a very difficult time physically, emotionally, & spiritually. Though my precious husband had to be everywhere around the globe during this difficult time, he was lifting me up in prayer and supplying Godly encouragement, my dear mother and the “too many to list” ways that she stayed by my side, my amazing kids for pitching in and helping out, my sweet sisters (through blood and at the “Hill”) for surrounding me with Scriptures and prayers, and godly friends for keeping it real in the Word and being quick to pray over me whenever needed. But most importantly to my Awesome Heavenly Father for never leaving me during these trying times and reminding me that He is faithful to fulfill his promises! He is my Strength, my Hope, my Comforter, my Deliverer, and my Healer!

Isaiah 40:28-31 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? 
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. 
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I don’t know what you are going through. Your story may sound similar to mine and your faith and trust may be going through a time of testing as well. You may be physically, emotionally, and spiritually tired and ready for things to lighten up. Dear friend, I know where you are. I have walked and continue to walk in those same steps, but there is Hope and his name is Jesus! He will see you through! Know that his timing is perfect! When the darkness comes, HE is the Light that you cling to! His Word is true and his promises are forever! I am determined to keep it real to you because he already knows your heart and mine. I am a girl that is worth nothing apart from my God and HE is my LIFE! He has carried me through and I am here to testify that God is good! Cling to his Word, get on your face and bare your soul to your Maker. Keep it real, allow God guide you & be your strength, and your life WILL be transformed!

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Blessings for a life changing day~

Allison