~ Sweet Blessings ~

Letter & scripture card from my sweet Callie tonight that blessed my heart: 


Dear Mommy, 


I'm sorry you had a rough day at work.  I've had a day like that, but at school.  You just need to rest.  You are the BOMB, the most beautiful mom, the best foot massager, the best cook, baker, and the best mom in the whole wide world!  I wouldn't want any other mom!  I get to talk to you that some people wouldn't understand.  You are a woman for God and he made you just the way you are! Please don't change yourself.  I love you so so so so so so so much! 


Love, 
Callieboo 


P.S. You are the best shopper, you have a heart to share, you love Starbucks, you are very special to me and I'd do anything 4 you!  You are one of my special treasures! I love you!!!!

~ Sitting At The Feet Of Our Master ~

One of my favorite summertime activities is sitting on my front porch early in the morning and reading God's Word.  God has blessed me with a beautiful view and amazing sounds of his creation which all make the perfect setting for alone time with him.  With no school bells ringing, I look forward to these early morning rendezvous at my Master's feet. There is just something about those quiet morning hours with Jesus that I can't get enough of.   

Even my four-legged friend, Louie, looks forward to these mornings! I know it sounds crazy to you but Louie knows that when I pick up my Bible and cup of coffee that I am going outside. He starts to spaz out a little until I open the door, sit in my comfy rocking chair, and put my Bible on my lap.  Then he takes his place right at my feet, or right on my feet as he is doing this morning (you can see in the picture).  He knows there is comfort at his master's feet. He is at peace at his master's feet. 

When I think about all the times in scripture when Jesus was teaching, so many people were there in his presence to hear him teach.  I wonder, did they realize whose feet they were sitting at?  We know from reading, that there were those who actually grasped the moment of being at his feet.  Recall the story of Mary and Martha in Luke chapter 10, as they were hosting Jesus in their home.  Martha was in a tizzy because she was doing all the work and her sister Mary was being "lazy" just sitting there listening to Jesus speak.  But notice where Mary was....

"She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said." Luke 10:39 

She was at his feet! That is my girl! She knew the amazing opportunity that was in front of her and she seized the moment! Did you get that? SHE SEIZED THE MOMENT OF SITTING AT HER MASTER'S FEET! Oh my dear friends, how many times do we miss those opportunities to sit at Jesus feet and listen to his words? We have them right in our hands.  There will always be things and tasks that need to be done, but don't ever miss the incredible moments you can have when you pause to hear him, feel him, in his very presence.   

As Jesus answered Martha's whining and complaining that day, he did so with such grace.  He said to her, 

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 

Jesus longs to spend this time with you.  The Savior of the world wants to spend time with you! Seize the moment! 

I urge you to take some time today and "choose what is better".  Take your Bible and find a quiet place to sit at his feet.  There is peace, there is comfort, and there is joy at your Master's feet!  

Blessings at HIS feet today, 

Allison

~ A Contagious Spirit ~

Wow! That is the only way I can describe the last few weeks!  Things have been pretty busy but more than that, I have spent so much precious time in the Word that sometimes I stand in awe while I watch my God unfold his plan in my life.  If you read nothing else from my post today, I hope you understand that a relationship with God is better than ANY relationship you will ever have on this earth.  Yes, you read that correctly!  Now, I love my husband and children so much it physically hurts sometimes, but that does not even compare to the love I have for my Lord.  If you don’t understand what I’m talking about then, my dear friend, you can understand it and have it too.  Where do you start? Well, open your Bible and start talking to your Lord.  The more you do, the more you will crave!  So amazing!

My kids have been out of school for two weeks now, but we haven’t slowed down yet.  The first week out, Callie and I had a summer cheer clinic at the school, then my sister came in from Georgia and we had our annual “sister getaway”, then Ben left for basketball camp and now we are packing Ben up for another basketball camp to Tennessee for the week, and Callie, Caleb and I are gearing up for a fabulous week of VBS! Shew!  Let me take a deep breath!  Lots of amazing things in there!  After this week, we have some down time and I am looking forward to spending time with those awesome children of mine and also more time in God’s beautiful Word!

I know that I haven’t been keeping up with my blog as I usually try to do.  I can assure you that it is not from lack of “teachable moments”.  On the contrary, I have had many teachable moments and the growing pains to prove it! Haha!  About a month and a half ago, I began taking some online classes.  Now, from someone who was so excited to finish her schooling and never wanted to go back there, I entered the online classroom yet again, and a little nervous too.  This was something I never intended to do, but as I’ve shared before, my hands are up and I have said, “yes”, to whatever God would have me do.  A while back, he began burdening my heart for women and leading them deeper in the Word.  As I was praying about where he wanted to me to go with it, I felt led to begin some study into women’s leadership and Christian life coaching. So, I just finished one class, with an “A”, and I’m in the middle of two more classes.  What a blessing to sit and listen to lectures from some amazing men and women of God.  This journey has also led me to facilitate a ladies summer Bible study that began a couple of weeks ago.  It has been incredible!  God is teaching me so much about him that sometimes it is hard to contain myself! 

As I watch women around me catch the same desire to know more of him, it just ignites the fire even more.  Now, I have always loved my time with God, but through my journey these last couple of years, this time has become so much more precious to me that it is hard to describe.  It is my heart’s desire to be contagious in my love for God and that those around me catch it as well so that the desire to know our God becomes an epidemic! That’s the kind of outbreak we need in this country, isn’t it? Hallelujah!  Ok, let me calm down a minute! Lol!  Now, you know why my blog has been a little silent lately, but I will try to stay in touch.

In all humility, I do ask you to pray for me.  Pray that my eyes stay fixed on my God wherever he leads me.  As I take these classes, lead these studies, and whatever God asks me to do, pray that I have the courage to go where he wants me to go.  Pray that I grow stronger in him every day and that my heart will never be settled, that it will always be growing in him.

As I said earlier, if you get nothing else out of this post, I pray that you understand that the relationship you have with God is the most precious relationship you will ever have.  Don’t take it for granted.  Grow in him.  You won’t ever regret drawing closer to the One who gave his life for you!

Thank you, in advance, for your prayers and encouragement! I need them!  The enemy does not want us growing closer to God.  He wants anything but that.  So I covet those prayers as I continue this marvelous journey.  It’s all about HIM!

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

All for HIM~

Allison

~ Summertime With God ~

A couple of months ago, the Lord placed on my heart a burden to do a summer Bible study with other women.  I did not know where, when, or how, but I knew God was leading me in that direction.  Being involved in many other ministries for the last decade, I have not been able to attend a ladies Bible study and felt as though it was time to get into the Word deeper with other sisters in Christ.  I was able to facilitate a couple at my church since February and what a joy that was!  So as I began praying about summertime, I knew that I wanted to stay in the Word and give other women an opportunity to do the same.

Don’t you love how God works out the details?  When you say, “yes” to him, he will work it all out.  I decided to step out in faith and start a study and now we are getting ready to begin next week with a class of 23… in a home!  God is so amazing!  This is a group of women that God brought together for a Divine appointment! It will be women from all walks of life, from newly married to widowed, from young to mature age, from different churches in our area, and from different circles of friends. The one common bond we will all have is a love for Jesus and the desire to grow closer to him through the study of his Word!

I look forward to seeing the amazing things God is going to teach us through his Word!  I ask you all to pray for this group of ladies as we begin our study of the book of James.  As we embark on this journey I pray that we grasp the need to not just “talk the talk”, but “walk the talk” and live the Christian life as God intends us to live.  May we surrender our lives to him and may this be the summer that is forever etched as a spiritual transformation of our souls!  We will give God all the glory and all the praise!

James 2:18

 “But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”

Praying and anticipating,

Allison

- WARNING -

~ Saying “Yes” to God may take you out of your comfort zone, make you do things you didn’t plan on doing, walk new territory, stretch your faith, and…experience total peace and joy being in the center of HIS will! ~

It seems as though my blogging has been a little more spread out lately and for that I apologize.  We are in the homestretch of finishing up school for this year and that means utter craziness.  Finishing up projects, exams, lots of field trips, sports banquets, Celebration banquets, etc., etc., etc.  You know what I’m talking about! Whew! Just typing that made me take another deep breath! Lol!  But the end is near!  Only 4 school days left and the burden is getting lighter!  Our preschool finished up a week ago so I have been tying up loose ends in the office and enjoying some extra time in the Word since my kids are still in school.  Though things seem very busy, I wouldn’t trade a second of it!

Last year, as I was studying and searching God’s Word, I began to feel God tugging at my heart.  I shared with Matt that I felt as though God was preparing me for something that I didn’t quite know what it was.  Matt encouraged me to continue praying and seeking God’s will and in time he would reveal his plan for me.  Over the next month or so, I continued seeking his face and had such a sense of excitement that he was preparing me for something.  In March, me and two of my sisters attended a women’s conference in Greenville, SC.  It had been almost 10 years since I was able to go so I was very excited to attend with my sisters.  I spent a lot of that time in tears over the teachings that were shared by these great women of faith.  It seemed as though God was speaking through them the exact same things he was showing me in Scripture.  Yes, God had my full attention!

When I returned home, I couldn’t wait to get started on whatever road God had before me!  I was so excited!  Little did I know that 2 days later this road, or journey, would begin with health issues that would test my faith in ways like never before.

At first, I thought it would be just a bump in the road that didn’t affect my journey at all.  But over the next month it seemed that this was actually part of my journey.  I remember sitting outside one beautiful spring Sunday afternoon just praying and crying to the Lord.  “Lord, this isn’t supposed to be part of my journey.  Please fix this problem so I can move forward.”  Yes, honestly, that was part of my selfish prayer I am ashamed to admit.  As I sat there going through Scripture, there were several that leapt off the pages straight into my heart.  It was as if God was asking me, “Do you trust me?”

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God, 
I will strengthen you and help you; 
 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

“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

“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Romans 5:2-5

In that moment of unknown, I said, “Yes” to God! “Yes God, I don’t know what lies before me but I trust you. Yes, God, I am surrendering this journey to you. Yes God, I will do whatever you ask of me.”

That was a defining moment in my life and I will never forget that day!  Over the next several months I will admit that it was hard to wake up and say, “yes” many mornings.  The road before me was very uncomfortable and at times I questioned if I heard God wrong.  Satan threw me lie upon lie.  It was a physical and spiritual battle like I had never experienced before.  But I am here to tell you that Satan is a liar! 

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

God began showing me that this was part of what he had been preparing me for.  Though the journey was hard, I began experiencing his indescribable love and comfort in ways I never had.  My faith was stretched far beyond what was conceivable for me and I had to make many decisions that felt unnatural.  I stepped back from things in my life that I cherished for this time of physical healing but also a time of spiritual growth.  Saying, “yes” to God wasn’t always easy but oh so worth it!  This journey wasn’t what I expected but was what God had in store for me.  He brought me through the physical issues and strengthened my faith and love for him.  He has directed me and opened doors for me that I would never have expected to go through but it is all for his glory.  I am experiencing the peace in his center of his will and though times are not always easy, they are so full of joy because he is with me always!

I am excited where God is taking me!  The journey to this point was tough but you see it had to be to bring me to the point of utter surrender and reliance on him alone!  I experienced his full control in my life, defeating Satan and his lies, and shining his glory all around!  Is the journey over?  Definitely not, it is ongoing for me to see where he wants me to go and what he wants me to do.  I am here to tell you to follow HIM!  The journey may be scary at times and it may make you uncomfortable but from someone who has been there, surrender the journey to him and say, “Yes!”  You will experience more of him than you ever thought possible and there is beauty on the other side of the pain!  But sometimes you have to go through it to see what awaits!  I have so much joy in knowing that he is in control of my life!  The paths he is directing me now are different that what I would have expected but so exciting because it’s all about HIM!

I know I have written a lot today, but I wanted to share my experience so that if any of you are dealing with issues of saying, “yes” to God, you can see that it is worth it!  Persevere and have hope that God is so good!  He will show you, in time, what his perfect and glorious will is for you! 

“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Blessings for an obedience-filled day!

Allison