~ Down a Country Road ~

I love living out in the country! Now I am, by no means, a country girl, but I do love the peace and serenity of living out here in the country. I can look out my front window and see a beautiful field that grows different crops each year. The first year in our home, the field across the street was growing cotton and it was spectacular to watch it go through the different stages. At dusk you can see the deer congregating in large groups and it is just a beautiful sight! You see for me it is win/win situation. Out here in the country I have the beauty and peace of nature and spacious landscape but in as little as two shakes of a lamb's tail (okay, so I am a little bit of a country girl, haha!), I can be right in the heart of the city shopping at Mayfaire orTarget or sipping my “cup of joy” at my favorite little coffee house, Starbucks! How perfect is that?

As I ride down these country roads, I pass a number of old homes that have been abandoned. Some of those homes have been demolished recently and some are probably next in line for it, but I can only imagine that at one time, those homes had life in them. When I pass I try to make up a story for that home based on its character. I know, this may sound crazy, but I can’t help but think that at one time real people lived there and that home had a story. I just think one up myself. I passed a particular home one day that really caught my attention. It was so adorable and had so much character that I’m sure it had beautiful memories. I could almost here the laughter of children and picture a big family kitchen table where lots of family dinners were shared. I even imagined that the front porch definitely saw it’s share of guests as people congregated there maybe swinging on a porch swing and sipping sweet iced tea on a warm summer night. I could see families gathered there as they sang old hymns and prayed together to give God glory! I just knew that home had such happy memories! What a warm cozy feeling I had as I let my imagination run wild!

As I got home that day, the Lord started pricking my heart about the homes I pass by everyday that do have life in them now. From the outside that home could look completely normal. Beautifully manicured yards, white picket fence, nice cars in the driveway, but what really goes on behind those doors? Behind those doors, there could be heartache, pain, and lost souls. Do those souls know the real joy of living? Do they know my Jesus? I found that as I rode by I was convicted to pray for those who live in those houses. So many times we see people that look “normal” on the outside but on the inside could be in real pain and in need of a Savior. Appearance can be deceiving and I began to pray that God would open my heart to be more sensitive to those I pass everyday.

We live in uncertain times. Jobs are scarce, money is tight, the world is a mess but my God is a God of hope, joy, comfort, provision, compassion, love, forgiveness, and on and on I could go! What I do know is that my God loves the hurting, the broken! He desires to see those lives come to know him and love him. In these uncertain times, the ONE thing we can be certain of is that God has our futures planned for us. It is a plan of hope and joy. One of my favorite passages of scripture is:

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.”

Oh, if only people would know that they have real hope! That hope is my LORD! We need to be the ones that tell them! We who have experienced this hope, this joy, this forgiveness, should be the ones who shout it from the rooftops that there is HOPE and his name is JESUS! Hallelujah!

From a drive down my country road the Lord showed me that those I pass by daily need this hope.

Sweet Heavenly Father, may I be the vessel that shares and prays for those in need of you. May the hope and love that I have experienced through your forgiveness be the light that touches souls and helps them see that hope is there for them as well. Lord, mold my heart and use my words as a testimony of your unfailing love! You are the breath I breathe and life is so much sweeter being filled with your Spirit!

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. "

As you begin your week, stay open to the Holy Spirit’s leading of a home in need of him. As you pass those homes daily, be in prayer for the souls that abide there. What awesome power is in prayer!

Blessings~

Allison

Celebrating my Mom!

Today, I am so thankful for my mom!

She is the picture of grace and love and I always know that she will lead me straight to scripture in any situation I face. Whether we talk several times a day or if it's been several days since we talked, she is never quick to judge or condemn but only to encourage and lift up. She gives daily to her family, her friends, her church and those she doesn't even know because her heart is to share the love of Christ with all. Though her means are not vast, she gives so freely of what she does have and her time is spent in constant ministry to the needs of others. Her wisdom and guidance truly exemplify the heart of Jesus and God uses her in mighty ways in my life and the lives of so many others. If there was ever a human being born without a selfish bone in their body, it would be her.

You may be asking why am I writing all this?

Well, because my mom has touched my life so deeply and set such an example of what a woman of God should be. But also this week she will celebrate her 70th birthday and I just felt it necessary to share some of the amazing things about my mom. My mom is not on Facebook but I can tell you this....her face is always in "the Book". Her love for God and his Word have made a huge impact on my life. I love calling her up to share what the Lord has shown me in the Word and being able to share that excitement with my mom. I love that she always points every situation in my life back to scripture, whether good or bad. I love that she loves my husband as her own son and is an incredible granny to my children, even Louie. Ha! I love that she has such an open home to all who need a place of rest or comfort. I love that she doesn't let her past and hurts define her but chooses to walk in victory of what God has done in her life. I love that she has embraced this modern technology of texting (even though it has been hard. Haha!) and is quick to send me text of encouragement and scripture almost daily. I love that she embraces this life that God has blessed her with. Even though many things in her life most would not see as blessings, she has found the blessing in it all.

I have looked back over her life in preparation of her special day and my heart fills with gratitude to my God for blessing me with the MOST AMAZING mother but also blessing the world with her presence. This world is definitely a better place because she is in it. She is the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman and I am blessed immensely. My prayer today is that I can be even a portion of the amazing woman of God that she is and that others will see Christ in me as I see in her.

Mom, I love you and I thank you for just being YOU!

"Her children arise and call her blessed"

"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy."

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."

"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

"Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

Proverbs 31

Pure Worshsip

On the way home from church, Caleb was telling me all about his night in Rt. 56 and how he just felt like he needed to raise his hands in worship to God. I told him that was the power of the Holy Spirit and he was praising his God! Then I get home and one of those amazing leaders sent me this picture of Caleb tonight. My heart is full and I thank God for his work in each of my kids' lives! I pray they follow their God always!

~ God-Comfort After a Turbulent Week ~

I love those special moments with my Jesus! Time to get away from the craziness of life and just bask in his presence. O, how He is welcomed to this weary soul after an exhausting week!

It was one of those weeks where challenge was at every corner, fires were popping up everywhere and Satan's fiery darts took great aim at the large target on my back. Thankfully God has given us direction to be armed and ready for battle!

God's Word tells us how to prepare for battle:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

I praise God for His Word that brings comfort and guidance. When trials and difficulties arise, He is quick to remind me of scripture to cling to. My heart sings His praises because I know that no matter how turbulent the storm is, He comforts this child in the midst of the storm.

There is no doubt that we live in a fallen world and the evidence of that grows more apparent with each day. But, today, I choose to cling to the hope I have in Christ that "greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4) and look expectantly for the glorious return of my Savior!

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

Revelation 22:12-13 (NIV)

No matter what lies ahead, I will serve Him faithfully and trust His ways. In him I have hope! In Him I have peace! In Him I truly LIVE!

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT)

Month of Church Homecomings!

This seems to be the month of church homecomings! I love looking at everyone’s pictures as they celebrate the amazing work of God that takes place at each church. We celebrated ours at SHBC last week and this week we get the privilege to celebrate with my family at their church, Coastal Community Baptist Church. For four years God has faithfully carried them through a church plant right here in Wilmington and the ministry is growing by leaps and bounds! Souls are coming to know the Lord and they are seeing lives transformed by the gospel as they reach out in the Wilmington area. Hallelujah!

This morning, I get to join my family in celebration and praise to God for who HE is and listen as my brother preaches a sermon that God has laid on his heart. What an honor it is to encourage them in the work of God and worship alongside them!  I am so thankful for each and every church in our area that carries out the work of God in a nation that so desperately needs to see and hear the message of salvation and hope that can only come from Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed day in the Lord as you worship and praise HIM!

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:24-25

"Daddy"

O, how I love this time of year! At this moment, I'm sitting on my front porch, Bible on my lap, dog at my feet, cup of coffee nearby and cuddled up with two blankets! Lol! It was only 46 degrees this morning when I headed for my porch but it is absolutely perfect! Summers here are pretty dreadful with scorching heat and high humidity but the fall is beautiful. I'm not a beach girl. Though I love waking up to see a beautiful sunrise over the ocean or seeing the magnitude of God's creation at the sight of an ocean sunset, I don't enjoy days at the beach baking in the scorching sun, with buckets full of sand in every nook and cranny, surrounded by more skin than should be visible. It doesn't appeal to me. I know I'm in the minority on this living in a coastal town and most of you think I'm absolutely crazy...but, it's just not my thing! I have no problem with those who love it; it's just not for me. Lol!

I'm more at home in the mountains. It has always been that way for me. Every time we visit, my soul sighs sweet relief when that first view of the mountains comes in sight. I, along with my daughter, feel at home every time we visit the Virginia mountains. But God has me and my family here in this coastal town of NC and I will continue to bloom right where he plants me! There is work to be done for the kingdom here in this coastal town and I want to stay focused on God to guide me where he wants me to serve. It's all about HIM!

The other morning, I was sitting at the breakfast table with Caleb as he was reading his morning devotion. He stopped and looked at me and said, "Mom, did you know that another name for God is Abba? It means 'father' or 'daddy'. I shared with him that, yes, I knew that and how we have the comfort of our Father, our Abba, every day.

Entering this fall season, I have so many things on my heart. But I'm thankful that I can take them to my Father...my Abba...my Daddy. There are days when I just want to crawl up in his lap as I share my heart because I know he listens and always has the right answers. It's only when I'm honest and still before him that I can hear his voice so clearly though. When I share the deepest aches of my soul or the longings of my heart with my Daddy, I KNOW that he listens. He doesn't always lead me to what I want to happen but he leads me to what he desires for my life. When I immerse myself in his Word and come to him in utter abandon, I can discern his sweet voice so much clearer and trust his ways are better. Being in the center of his will is where I long to be. Trusting in myself can be dangerous because my wants can be put before my needs. But trusting in my Father, my Abba, is where my soul finds rest and full contentment. He is amazing God!

I don't know where you are today. You may have burdens on your heart or are seeking direction in this time of your life. My friend, crawl up in the lap of your Father, and trust him completely to guide you to where he wants you to be. There is no safer place than in the arms of Daddy!

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Galatians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

~ My Three Blessings ~

This morning I'm sitting here cuddled up with a blanket, my Bible and a cup of coffee on my front porch. The cotton is growing across the street and the sun is shining so beautifully this morning that I just sit and praise God in his majesty. The song I sing this morning in praise is, "How Great Is Our God". No matter how hard my week has been, I can ALWAYS sing that song in truth!

I sip my coffee this morning out a special mug....my "mom" mug! It was a gift from my sweet Callie a couple of years ago and every time I drink from it, God reminds me what an incredible honor I've been given to mother the three most amazing children in the world!

Right now, so many things come to my heart that remind me of just how blessed I am by these children and it would take me hours to share it all. But after an emotionally draining week, these are some things that blessed this mom's heart:

Ben, waiting out for the package of medication while I was at work and sending me a picture to offer comfort. Then coming home to find he had washed all the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. Callie, my teenage daughter, reaching over to hold my hand while we're driving down the road and sending me words of encouragement. Caleb's sweet hugs and finding me in the mornings asking me how I slept the night before.

Those three blessings right there....Ben...Callie...Caleb! I feel so unworthy sometimes that God allowed me to be their mother. I absolutely treasure every moment of them. Though not every moment is easy and pleasant (because parenting is hard), I treasure every second because God, in His divine providence, created those special miracles and entrusted me to be their mother. Wow! I will continue praising God for them and looking for His direction in guiding them through life.

So, right now, I will sit and rock some more on my front porch. I will sip my coffee and praise the One who blessed me with motherhood. I will enter my house in a little bit and hug my kiddos tightly and tell them again, just how much I love them! I will hug their dad tightly too because...well, he is my man and I always look for opportunities to hug on him! Lol! ;)

Enjoy your Saturday, dear friends, and remember to praise the One who gave you breath this morning. Then hug your children tightly and tell them how much you love them. If they aren't near you today, then call them and tell them. Don't take that privilege for granted!

"Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him."

Psalms 127:3 (NLT)