Saturday, December 8, 2012

the Exodus.


I am currently reading through the book of Exodus, and the encouragement I have received from my Father through His word is so extremely overwhelming.  


God's people came to Egypt during the beginning after Joseph was sold by his brothers to be a slave, and through a series of events he became Pharaoh's right-hand man. Through God's grace, God used Joseph to save all the people from famine.   The Israelites began settling in Egypt and for a long time they had favor with the Pharah and Egyptians. Over many many years, it was forgotten how the Lord used Joseph to save the land, and the Israelites had become slaves to Egypt.  It was finally time for them to leave and return to the land God had promised them.  God called on Moses to be his messenger, and Aaron was his spokesperson.  God told Moses he would bring the people out of Egypt.  God hardened Pharaoh's heart over and over again and Pharaoh did not want the Israelites to leave, but finally after many plagues and the Passover, Pharaoh wanted them gone. And he let them go until his heart was hardened again and decide to chase after them and bring them back to Egypt as his slaves once again.

"The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations."  Exodus 12:40-42

God  brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. He watched over them then, and He watches over us now.  How comforting is it to know that God is watching over you and I now?  And He protects us!

"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt. But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle." Exodus 13:17-18

God watches us, and He guides us.  He led the people through the wilderness because He was protecting them and their eyes from war.  He wanted them to feel safe, and He knew their hearts to know that seeing war might make them return to Egypt where it was comfortable  even though the people could not freely worship Him.    He wants the best for us and knows the course we need to take if we will allow Him too. He will protect us and guard us.

 The people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. 

  He equips us with His Word for battles.  He equipped His people in the Great Exodus, and He equips us now.  He's given us His Word, and because of Jesus's death, resurrection, and ascension, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us.  I'm so overwhelmed.  I don't have to fight Satan on my own because God will do it for me if I'll allow Him to.  The Israelites were afraid.  But God stayed true to His promise.  He fought the fight for them.   He led the people across the Red Sea and swallowed the Egyptians into the Red Sea.  All so that the people would never have to see them again, and God would receive the glory.

And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.  For the Egyptions whom you see today, you shall never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, and you only need to be silent."   Exodus 14:13-14

Fear Not, Stand Firm, and See the salvation of the Lord.

He will fight for you.  Just be silent.  Don't try and fight it on your own, but wait for Him. Let Him fight the battle for you.  After all, He is God, and He already won the battle for us when He sent Jesus to die on a cross for us.

And right now as I struggle in a battle I'm trying to fight on my own, God is telling me to be silent and stop trying to fight this own my own.  Let HIM take control.  I'm letting Him take control.  He had the power to part the Red Sea, let us pass through, then swallow the enemy by the Red Sea.  So today, I will allow God to lead me across the Red Sea . I will not look back, and I will trust Him to part it, take me across, and swallow the enemy behind me.


Friday, October 26, 2012

The Beauty of Marriage

As many of you know, I am nearly three weeks into my newest season of life-the season of life where two lives become one life.  Until Seth and I were engaged, I had never thought in depth much about marriage.  I knew I desired to be a part of the covenant of marriage, and I knew I loved Seth and that he was the person God had designed for me. I knew that he was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with even through whatever challenges we might face, and I even knew I would have to abandon some of my own dreams..  But until we were engaged- promised to be married to one another- I had not thought much else about the subject of Marriage.   I cannot begin to describe how beautiful marriage is.  A beautiful covenant between a man and a woman symbolic of the covenant between Christ and the Church.

Marriage is no longer just a promise I made to spend the rest of my life with somebody, nor is it the covenant I am to enter  into before I can have sex without sinning against God or myself.   Marriage is the abandoning of my old and selfish ways and walking with Seth creating a new way.  If that is not a beautiful picture of the gospel, then I don't know what is.   I now understand the intimacy God desires to have with me.  The intimacy of me seeking Him with my every thought and move.   Because I am now one with Seth, every decision I make I think of him because my decisions affect him. I now ask him or at least tell him before I go have lunch with a friend. I seek his opinion before I go run with a new group or help in a ministry or spend a few dollars on this new article of clothing.  He isn't just my partner, he is my life. We are ONE in flesh.  I can go to Seth with my thoughts and struggles and not have the fear of him condemning me or judging me, but have the joy knowing he will hurt with me, love me, and pray for me. And that's how our relationship with God should be.  He hurts with us. He loves us. He forgives us.  He wants us to come to Him with our every need because He is the ultimate provider and healer.   And while marriage has shown me the kind of relationship God desires with me, I know Seth will fail me but God never will.   Seth will fail me and I will fail him, but because of God's love for us, we know how to forgive each other.  God has grace and mercy on us over and over again.  And there again, mine and Seth's marriage will constantly consists of us pouring love and grace and mercy on one another when we mess up- when I don't get his shirt washed for church on Sunday or I forget to pick up milk for his cereal or when he hurts my feelings with that comment that's supposed to be joking but I take it seriously.  And Praise God! Oh Praise God because we have both experienced His love and mercy!  And we have the Holy Spirit to guide us in our marriage- to allow us the have love and grace and mercy on one another because we can't have do this alone. We need the Helper.   Without God we wouldn't know how to love-not through the trials that we know we will go through together.

So today, I am thanking God for this gift.  I also thank Him for the most beautiful, wise, and Godly counselors in our life.  Seth and I have so many loving couples in our life that have poured out love and prayers on us as we have entered into this season of life.  As a result of "The Blessing",we were able to begin our marriage with truth.  And thank you to my Aunt Sandi and Uncle Weyman for giving us the advice to "abandon our old lives and create one new life together".   And just like as followers of Christ, we are dead to our old lives without Christ and born again to a new life with Christ living inside of us.   It's a beautiful picture.  Absolutely beautiful.  Marriage and the Gospel. :)


"For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."  John 1:16

"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." Psalm 103:8




Monday, October 1, 2012

And As For Me It's Finally Real.

How long have I been dreaming? Who forgot to wake, to wake me up?
I know it sounds crazy but daddy now I think I’m in love
Cause when he steps in the room my heart begins to pound

You said, “Never settle,” you promised there was one out there for me
It’s true, I might have doubted but he’s standing here and now I believe
Yes, I know you’ll be proud of the man that chose me

It’s elementary to the wise, for the fool in full disguise
Beggars bow and poets kneel, and as for me… it’s finally real

I will always love you and I will always be your little girl
None could come between us, you’ll forever be the first man in my world
But when he smiles I can see how much he reminds me of you
A man of faith, a man of strength, who loves me like you do

It’s all the time I’ve spent in tears, worth the heartache, worth the fears
To stand beside him on this day after you give me away

How long have I been sleeping? Who forgot to wake, to wake me up?
Daddy, he’s amazing, he’s everything that I’ve been dreaming of

And now he has become my very best friend

- Kendall Payne, "Daddy" 



I was 19 the first time I listened to the lyrics of the song "Daddy" by Kendall Payne.  My heart had been broken- I'd been rejected, and my best friend and I were riding down the rode. She was encouraging me, and along with Reliant K's "Let It All Out", we listened to Kendall Payne's album "Paperskin." On that day, the song "Daddy" was my encouragement not to settle.  I knew I wanted to be able to sing the words of the song one day and mean them, and the boys I had been dating were not men of faith nor strength.  They didn't love me because if they did they wouldn't hurt me or reject me.  I spent a lot of time in tears and a lot of time in fear doubting I would find "the one"- the one I would call my best friend.  At times I thought I'd be better off just settling.  And I'm so thankful I didn't. I'm so thankful God gave me the desire and strength to wait. To wait for him. To wait for Seth Davis Richardson.

The song above is written to Daddy. As many of you know my parents have only recently began to commit their life to the Lord. What a joy and great challenge it is to know that my life and mine and Seth's relationship have been light of Jesus Christ unto their lives.  So for me my earthly Daddy is the man who will give me away on Sunday. He was the first man in my world, and I will always be his little girl. However, my Heavenly Father above is the one who has told me not to settle- the One who promised a good and perfect plan for my life.  My Heavenly Daddy is the one who told me what my husband should be- a man who seeks after Him, a man who loves and respects his wife, a man of faith trusting in God, living and walking with Him.

 It’s elementary to the wise, for the fool in full disguise
Beggars bow and poets kneel, and as for me… it’s finally real

On June 17, 2011 I went on my first date with the man I would sing this song about. And on October 7, 2012, only 6 days away, I will walk down the aisle. My daddy will give me away. And I will become one with my best friend.  Oh what overwhelming joy to be able to marry a man that will put the Lord first in his life with me only being second to Christ.  My dream- my dream of the one who will complete me- is real!  Praise the Lord! Praise Him for His beautiful promise.

Praise Him because He is the one that said "It is not good for man to be alone" in Genesis Chapter 2!  Praise Him for sending His Son to earth to become a sacrifice for us and shed his perfect blood to cover up all our sins!   And Praise Him because in 6 days, Seth and I will enter into the Holy Covenant of Marriage!   Marriage- symbolic of what the relationship between the church and Christ is.  Oh how beautiful!  Christ loves the church with unconditional love, and the church submits to Christ with honor and respect because He is Holy!  We, the church, fail Christ and He forgives and loves unconditionally.  Oh how I pray Seth and I will have a marriage that will glorify God- a marriage that will show the world a glimpse of God's love for us, a glimpse of the intimate relationship we should have with Christ.

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come; and his Bride has made herself ready. It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure."  -Revelation 19:6b-8a

In 6 days, I will clothe myself with a dress made of fine linen, bright and pure. I will walk down an aisle, and commit myself to loving Seth Davis Richardson unconditionally until death do we part.  I choose to love him, to encourage him, and to walk with him as one flesh following after the King of All Kings, the Lord of all Lords, a Savior worthy of all our praise.  I will choose to abandon my old self and we will become ONE.   And that is beautiful. That is a dream come true.

Monday, September 3, 2012

...let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit...

Do not let your adorning be external-the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.   -1 Peter 3:3-6

I have a confession:  I struggle. I struggle with the world and material possessions.  As a woman, I feel the need to have the best, new, cutest clothes, shoes, and jewelry especially now that Pinterest has become so popular.   While I've always loved clothes, here lately I think the love has exceeded to a new level because unlike before when I was student, I now have a job where I can actually buy clothes and at FULL prices.  And I've discovered the realm of online shopping which is no good for any girl with a credit card and a budget because with the click of a button, money is spent and a package is on your way without having to drive to Birmingham.    Let me iterate this though before you start thinking I'm a girl with no limits on spending,  I do not believe in keeping a balance on my credit card and I make sure I pay it off every month. However, the additional spending inhibits me from tithing more, paying more on other bills such as student loans and my car, and putting money in savings.

I've been feeling more conviction lately for my new love of spending money to make myself look like the "it" girl, because that's not me or who God has called me to be.    God reminded me of my reasons for wanting these things- approval of the world.  My motives  for having new dresses and jewelry and shoes are to impress people who I barely know and as awful as it sounds and I hate admitting to allow myself to compete with other girls.  I recently started observing some absolutely beautiful women in my life and their dress.  The most beautiful girls I know wear very little make up and dress so simplistic-no glitz and glamor yet so beautiful.  Their beauty comes from the inside which overflows to an outward beauty.    I am reminded that because I am God's creation and God only creates beautiful things, I don't need the glitz and the glamor or all the makeup and hairspray or that new cute dress when I've got about five others in my closet that haven't been worn this season  to be beautiful- All I need is Jesus.  I need Jesus to fill my life completely- I need to love and focus on others rather then my appearance.  I desire for my beauty to come from the inside, and I pray that before others see outward beauty, they get a glimpse of inward beauty.    I pray that I will be like Sarah- a holy women adorned by her submission to Abraham.  I pray my adornment will come from my submission to Seth.

Here in America, dressing is the way many people express themselves, and we as Americans are so blessed to have the option of wearing a different outfit everyday.  Since we are so blessed to live in America (or are we?),  I do believe the way we dress is important- it's important to dress modestly (another subject), it's important for us to be clean, and of course we all have individual tastes and preferences, so it is important for us to let our dress reflect our personality.  I don't believe that buying a new dress or shirt here and there is sin unless there is conviction,  but I do think God is sending a message that our dress and appearance shouldn't be WHO we are.  It shouldn't be our primary focus.  He should be our focus- my focus. I need Him as my focus because nothing else satisfies like Christ does.

Oh I pray for this nation-  we are being so brainwashed.  Satan is attacking us with our American culture, and I am seeing how easy it is to get so caught up in ourselves and the things we "need".    I pray our hearts will be so broken by the real needs of this world that we ignore what the American culture screams at us and we begin running after God and begin making disciples of all nations- loving the orphans and feeding the hungry and sacrificing ourselves for the sake of Christ.



Thursday, July 26, 2012

The Crash

Around two years ago,  I was asked to pray about  moving to Eugene, Oregon once I finished school to join a team in planting a church and sharing the gospel to a lost and dark city.  This team would be called The Crash, and would carry the vision to spread the gospel to lost, broken, and dark cities as lay people.   At the time, my answer to this was "Why not?".   I had no plans after graduation.  Not a thing to keep me in Alabama.    In January 2011, the Crash Mission Team moved to Eugene, Oregon while I finished my last semester of college at UAB.  In a matter of one final semester of college, my heart changed. I went through a couple of months of rebellion against the Lord's calling on my life, I was offered a job in Atlanta with plans to move me around the country, and with some pressure from peers and family, I accepted the job and the plan to move to Oregon was done. 

I'm not sure what God's perfect plan for my life was or is, but I do know God is sovereign, and His forgiveness and grace is unending.  I believe every step and decision I've made has led me to where I am now, and all I can say is "Praise God!", because He is writing a beautiful story for my life that I know I couldn't have written better.   

Tonight I had the opportunity to spend some time at Lifepoint-a church full of people who are so dear to me and have played a huge role in discipling me- hearing and learning what my dear friends are doing in Eugene, Oregon.  I am so blessed to say I am friends with The Crash mission team, and I am extremely encouraged and challenged to spread God's love to the lost and broken after hearing testimony's from the people of Eugene.  God may not have called me to Eugene, but He has placed me here in Gadsden, Alabama for this time and season.  

Recently I've been asking God to open my eyes to the brokenness of Gadsden.  Being Assistant Engineer for the City of Gadsden, I have the opportunity to go to parts of the city I would stay away from otherwise, and my heart is broken.  My heart is broken for those who use drugs and alcohol because they are trying to fill a void only Christ can fill.  My heart is broken for those girls who are giving themselves to men as objects because they feel the need of affirmation.   My heart is breaking for these people, and yet I don't know how or where to begin to show them love.

I may not be on the other side of the country or across the ocean, but I can be missionary here in Gadsden, Alabama.  I can be a part of the Crash Mission Team wherever I am as long as my heart is to show the broken God's love.  I challenge you to pray with me asking God to create opportunity to minister to the lost and broken. Pray that when opportunities are given,  faith will exceed all fear, and God's name be glorified.     I also challenge you to pray for my friends in Eugene and The Beautiful Mess church as they build relationships with the people of Eugene.

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."   -2 Timothy 1:7

"But you will receive the power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."  -Acts 1:8

"No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."  -1 John 4:12



Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Count It All Joy



I had the privilege to move to Denver, Colorado for about 4 months last September. While I was in Denver, I had the opportunity to spend time with the beautiful, God-fearing women of Colorado Ridge church-I know God placed me at that church for a reason, because without the Bible studies and small groups and girl's nights I'm not sure how I would have made it through that season of life.    While I was in Denver,  Colorado Ridge went through a series on the book of James- talk about conviction in about every area of life.  And even more, I was part of a women's Bible study on the book of James.  There is no doubt God had me at that church studying that book for a reason because while the trial of being in Colorado alone and working on an oil refinery with about 350 construction workers may seem like a small trial in comparison to so many others that people face, it was huge to me.  

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  James 1:2-4

James 1:2-4 was the first sermon preached on in the book of James, and my women's bible study spent several weeks alone doing a word study on James Chapter 1.    It was instilled in me, yet I admit I had a hard time counting it all joy in this trial-the trial of being 1,700 miles from home working a job that gave me constant instability not knowing where I'd be sent after the project finished in February only six months after I got there.  The trial consisted of me working with nonbelievers-those who loved money and the things of this world.  I got the opportunity to talk about the joy of the Lord, but I'm not sure if I was living it well or not.  I hope and pray that I was a light to them and that my Faith in God was evident. I hope that while I walked up to my apartment to cry after being embarrassed by my drunk coworkers comments, that God's strength could still be seen through me.  For when I am weak, He makes me strong. (2 Corinthian 12:9-10)    While I was there, I had a difficult time finding joy in the trial I was facing, and I spent a lot of hours crying out to God.     But I look back and I do consider it all joy, because I do believe God used that season of my life to test my faith, and I do believe I am stronger in faith because of it.   

A week or so ago, my Bible plan took me through the book of James once again, and I was reminded of my time in Colorado. While I was in the midst of trial last fall, I had a hard time believing in the truth of James 1:2-4 that was instilled in me. I recited it and read it and prayed over it, but had the most difficult time living it.  Now, as I am going through a much smaller trial- one that might seem petty to many, I am reminded of God's grace and that His plan is perfect and pleasing. I am counting it all joy while I face this trial, because I know God will use it for His good- He is testing of my faith which produces steadfastness molding me to become perfect and complete.  Some days when I want to be bitter over the present trial (which is more often than I'd like to admit), I simply remind myself of James 1:2-4 along with Philippians 4:8  and every scripture that tells me to love because that covers a multitude of sins.     If it weren't for trials, then how would I grow in my Faith in God??    I ask for prayer while I continue to face this trial.  I'm a proud person, and my flesh often wins. Pray that I will humble myself, and love. Pray that I will be confident in who I am- a woman of God, and that I will not let the things of this world bring insecurity upon me.  I have security in God but wow Satan does want me to believe otherwise.

Thank you, and I love you all. 

Let Us Run With Endurance


August 4, 2011, I wrote a note to be posted on  Facebook.  And as it is part of my journey, part of the changing seasons of my life, I thought I would post it as it is so encouraging for me to read again, and know that as long as I fix my eyes on God, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

"Therefore since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with en.durance the race God has se before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.  Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.  Think of the hostility he endured from sinful people, then you won't become weary and give up.  After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin."

I have recently decided to train for another marathon. Now whether I actually run that marathon or not is a different story.  Anyway,  I decided to do my ten mile long run for the week tonight (Thursday)  because I knew if I waited till the weekend I'd more than likely end up not doing.  I had ran ten miles Friday night and while it was tough, it was tolerable. But tonight- only six days later, ten miles became very difficult.  And around mile seven, all I wanted to do was stop.  But in my head all I could think was "push through it Allison push through it, you'll become stronger for it- you'll never grow if you don't push through the hard times"  and like that I made it through that long ten miles.   Once I got past the point I wanted to quit, I started thinking how life is the exact same way.  We are human, and we struggle. We struggle with sin, we struggle with faith, and we struggle with patience.  It is these struggles that makes us stronger; but to become stronger, we have to push through them and remain faithful.  It's so easy to give up and become weary and let sin wear us down, but fixing our eyes on God and the pain he endured brings us promise, hope, and peace. He is our strength.  

I know for me at this place I am in life, I'm confused and I feel so unstable because my job has brought me to a city temporarily with my futrue residence unknown that keeps me from being around the ones I love so much.  But just like Hebrews 12 says, the same with 1 Corinthians 9 and 2 Corinthians 4, and all throughout the Bible;  I'm not going to give up- God places us in situations and circumstances to challege us and able us to grow stronger in Him.  I may want to quit and just pity myself and do whatever I can to have what I want, but God requires me as a follower and disciple of Him to push forward-to trust in Him and His promises, to be patient and faithful. And that's exactly what I'm going to strive to do.

I'm not a writer, never have been- but God laid this on my heart so clearly, I thought I should share it.  Love you all so much,  and of course I miss you all too :)

Friday, May 25, 2012

Patience For Love.

As I am confident anybody who actually reads my blog already knows that the most amazing, precious, handsome, loving man asked me to marry him last Saturday night (May 19)!! My response was "Of course!":)

I really do believe every girl dreams of the day she finds love. Real, genuine love.  As far back as I can remember, I have longed for love.  As a teenager I watched and read all the romances that always ended so "perfectly"  and dreamed of my day to have my perfectly ending romance.

Dreams are good.  I believe it is important to have dreams and ambitions for life to chase after.  But sometimes the dreams we chase after don't always line up with God's will and His timing.  I, unfortunately, am certain I haven't always sought for God's direction when it came to dating and relationships- I dreamed of love, and I was in a hurry to find love. I'm pretty positive I made it clear through my actions that I did not need God to have control of that area of my life because, in all honesty, He wasn't in line with my schedule and my own plans.  I look back now and can see God saying "Wait for me," and my response through my actions was "God, I don't want to wait. I want love now."

Beginning in 7th grade with my very first crush and my first boyfriend in 8th grade, it became my quest to find that boy. While I never had a serious boyfriend until college, I went on a date with one boy after another searching for love never finding anyone seemingly "enough" for my wants and needs, yet, I kept searching and searching.  I continued this  search through my first two and a half years of college when that search finally came to  a halt when I had my heart broken in a severity that gave me epiphany.  I realized I needed God to rescue me and heal my broken heart.  After all, He did send His son to earth to bind up the brokenhearted(Isaiah 61:1).  My dependence was not in God, because if it had been, I would not have been searching for an earthly love- I would have been completely in love with God. I committed myself to falling in love with the One who would never fail-the One who offers forgiveness, and grace, and mercy, and True Love.  I finally found contentment in singleness.  For nearly two and a half years, I devoted myself to singleness and while there were periods where I struggled and even began to seek after my own plan for love again, I knew where my True Love was and where my dependence lied.  I was called to be patient and wait and trust God and His plan.

In May/June 2011,  I was very unexpectedly introduced to a boy named Seth Richardson in a way that only God could have made happen.  From our very first conversation,he challenged me to seek God more without even knowing or trying, and I knew there was something different this time.  He was genuine and real with me from day one. And as I began to spend time with him and know him better, I knew God had a plan for us.  As I moved from the South (working in Atlanta but living in Alabama on the weekends) to Colorado,  I trusted that only God alone could make the relationship work out, and in His timing He would bring me home.  Of course I didn't want to wait on Him, but God, as always, proved himself faithful.  I came home in January to work for the City of Gadsden, and now I am engaged to the man who has become my very best friend, the love of my life, and soul mate.  We are better together. And I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life seeking God with him. 
 
"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."  Galatians 5:22-25 (ESV)

Patience.  Patience comes from complete total trust and dependence in God alone.  Through my impatience, my heart was broken, but through dependence on God and walking with Him, by His grace and love my heart was healed. And He once again proved himself Faithful to his promise.

"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8

I pray for  the youth of today.  I pray they have dependence on God and wait on Him.  He has a beautiful story for your life. A beautiful and perfect plan. Allow Him to satisfy your longings and desires for love. Because He is the only example of True, Perfect, Love.  Be patient for love. 

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Every Ending's a New Beginning

This past year has definitely been a year of endings and new beginnings.    It's crazy to think in one year, I   graduated from school, started a new job, moved to Atlanta to live in a hotel, met a precious man, moved to Colorado, experienced three season's while living there, moved home, moved back to Atlanta to live in a hotel, quit my first job to move back home and start a new job.   Yes indeed, it's been a lot of change for me and more learning about myself and this world than I could ever imagine.  I've shed a lot of tears (and worked a lot of muscles with all that moving).  A lot of endings and new beginnings.

I hope to share my experiences through the past year and the many lessons God has taught me.  It's a wonderful feeling to know every step I took and every move and mistake I made  were all part of God's sovereign plan for my life.   As Jeremiah 29:11 says, God knows the plans He has for me, and while at times I may think I'm going through "the worst", His plan isn't to harm me but to protect me.  He gives me hope for the future.