"No 'MANNA' What!"

Quick poll question: Do you know that one person who ALWAYS complains about every, little thing? (Of course it could NEVER be you or me, but “maybe” someone ELSE you know.) I’m talking about if it’s storming, they want it to be sunny…but when the sun is shining they say “well, I didn’t want the sun to be shining THIS much.” Usually when “those people” complain there’s usually one of two options: change the situation or change their outlook on it. LUCKILY, we’re NEVER “those people” because we’re ALWAYS grateful and NEVER complain … 

“The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” – Num 11:4-6

In the above passage, as Moses was leading the people of Israel through the wilderness they began to complain that all they had to eat was “manna” and how when they were in Egypt (yes, the same Egypt they were enslaved & in bondage in) they had different foods to eat. {SN: Don’t let the temporary false satisfactions of bondage deceive you!} The passage doesn’t say they didn’t have anything to eat but that it wasn’t what they wanted to eat.

Moses, intimidated by the assembly, goes to God with the people’s complaint and God grants their request for meat in Numbers 11:10-15. In verses 16-17 of that chapter, God tells Moses that anointed elders will help him deal with the people of Israel and their burdens…yet, Moses was still worried about HOW God was going to provide meat like He said (v.21-22).  “The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” – Num 11:23 {SN: When God speaks a Word about something, quit trying to figure out HOW He’s going to do it! When you do YOUR part, trust God to do HIS part!}

Let me briefly explain what “manna” is: “The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin.”- Num 11:7. But manna is more than that; it is also the food of the angels. (below is a picture of coriander seeds, as we don't have manna today)

“Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.” – Ps 78:23-25 …Yes, the Lord our God fed His children with the food of angels .…Sadly, this wasn’t good enough for the children of Israel. 

Has God ever blessed you with something that you didn’t think was “good enough?” Maybe you were still grateful for the blessing but you kind of wanted to “upgrade” your blessing?

When we are truly grateful for everything God has blessed and entrusted us with, there is no room for complaining despite the circumstances. We must learn to trust God beyond what we see, what we currently possess and believe that God has given us EVERYTHING that we need for “right NOW!” In Matt 6:11 (part of The Lord’s Prayer), we are reminded that God will give us our DAILY bread and Ps 68:19 also reminds us that God DAILY loads us with benefits.

Let me point out a couple things real quick: In the opening scripture, the word “rabble” was in bold print. “Rabble” usually refers to “an unruly, lawless set ready to join a mob” (according to NetBible) … or “the lowest or coarsest class of people” (according to wordnik) … if you EVER start to complain, Get AWAY from people who feed into that or condone you doing it!!! If you find yourself feeling ungrateful, down, depressed, or whatever you NEED to be around people speaking the Word of God!

In Numbers 11:8, the Bible describes how the people of Israel would cook the manna and that it tasted like something made with olive oil. It was not made WITH olive oil, but it tasted LIKE it was. Throughout the Bible oil is utilized as a typography (or symbol) of the Presence of God and the Holy Spirit …so what am I saying? Even when you may not have what you ultimately want, look for God in what you ALREADY have!

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” – Phil 4:11-13

And while you’re contently waiting for the next thing God has in store for you, be encouraged in this "No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan.” – Joshua 5:12 


… the MANNA they complained about kept them full and satisfied until the harvest came. Everything we have right now is enough to satisfy us now but that is NOT all that God has in store for us!

No “Manna” What you’re going through, experiencing, or have TRUST that God is ENOUGH for YOUR needs!


I love you guys!


Allison

“Check, Please!”

Ever had this experience? You waltz into one of those fancy-schmancy restaurants with 467 courses of dinner with 759 pieces of silverware on the table. The menu can sometimes seem overflowing with appetizing options, but after careful consideration we usually either decide on something we really want, take a friend’s suggestion, or settle for something because we’re tired of looking and can’t make a decision. Once we’ve enjoyed our meal, we signal the server and say something like  

                                        

The bill comes … and it’s pretty high, not that we weren’t expecting it to be high but just that we expected the meal to be MORE satisfying for the price we paid. I would like to submit this question to you: How many times have we chosen a “course” of sin offered by this world based on our own appetite or desire, the recommendation of a friend, or just from settling? And by “courses” I mean choices we are presented with in our everyday life (perfect example: relationships!). How many times have we gone against God, trying to fulfill our own needs & desires, and paid a price not worth the cost?

                                             

Since we all have missed and sinned against God before (Cc:Rom 3:23, 1 John 1:8), we sometimes feel guilty or get down on ourselves for the choices we’ve made but I want to encourage you that GodSTILL loves us and forgives us (just as Rom 3:24 & 1 John 1:9 declare…see how God acknowledged our sin and offered forgiveness in the same passages?!?!)

If you’ll indulge me for a few minutes more, I’d like to encourage you in the work of Christ’s cross which made the forgiveness of our sins possible, the price paid by the Messiah for the redemption of God’s children. I absolutely LOVE how Romans 5:8 declares that “but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” …NOTwhen we “got right” on our own, but WHILE we were being SUPER foolish, sinning against God every chance we got… and left feeling that the price we paid was too high for the sin we committed.Romans 6:21 tells us that the sinful things we once did have now made us ashamed and that the wages of sin are death…aren’t we glad we can rejoice that someone ELSE paid that price?

“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.” – 1 Peter 1:18-19 (SN: Money couldn’t save your soul then, don’t sell your soul trying to get it now!)

Everything we’ve done, God has forgiven us through the work of Jesus’ cross. Yep, even the thing you’re thinking about right now that absolutely no one else knows about…He’s forgiven you for thattoo! Not only did God forgive us, He resurrected Christ from the grave with ALL power in His hands … and provided us FREE access to it, defeating the enemy in EVERY area of our lives (Cc: Luke 10:19, 1 John 4:4).

“You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave all our sins. Because we broke God’s laws, we owed a debt—a debt that listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us of that debt. He took it away and nailed it to the cross. He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see.” – Col 2:13-15

As the world prepares to celebrate “Easter,” we, the bride of Christ, cannot forget to rejoice in theResurrection of Jesus Christ who came to bear the sins of the world, was wounded for our transgressions (violation of the law), bruised for our iniquities (sin), the chastisement (punishment) of our peace was upon Him and by HIS stripes we are healed as Is 54:4-5declares.

I just want to remind you that Jesus loves us SO much, that He LAID down His life for us (John 10:17-18). Despite choosing sin from every “course” available to us, OUR Messiah still loved us and paid the price to redeem us!

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land” – Is 1:18-19 …

God KNEW we were trifling and STILL wanted us.

Enjoy this time of celebration (and however many days you have off from work, lol) and as children of the Most High God we should remember Galatians 2:20 as it states:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 

I love you,

Allison :-)

(originally posted: April 6, 2012)

“Words With Friends”

When is the last time you spoke TO your friends? Whether it be via Twitter, Facebook, Text, GroupMe, G-Chat, Email, Phone, or Smoke Signal…you’ve probably spoke TO them fairly recently. But let me pose THIS question: When is the last time you spoke OVER your friends?

And I when I say spoke “OVER” I mean, when is the last time you declared the blessing of the Lord over their life, victory over any trouble they may face in any area, healing from any type of infirmity or disease, or prayed that they walked in the fullness of God’s purpose for their life? And I’m not even talking about strangers, but the people YOU call YOUR friends?

Sometimes, because of the level of intimacy within the friendship, we tend to overlook our friends when it comes to prayer. We can tend to not see their purpose beyond the context of being our “friend.” This can be a dangerous thing … especially if we fail to encourage their dreams and/or purpose, whether it be knowingly or unknowingly.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”- Eph 4:29

                       

What YOU say about YOUR friends is important because as a child of the Most High God, you (Yes, YOU) have the power of life and death in YOUR tongue (Prov 18:21). One of the BIGGEST dreams that society has sold us is that we don’t need people to survive. Let me dispel that fallacy real quick: that could not be further from the truth … or the Word of God, which are one in the same! The Bible declares that “As iron sharpens iron,so one person sharpens another.” - Prov 27:17

Now that we know that we DO need people, we have to have the RIGHT people around us. “Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.- Prov 11:14 (MSG). Look at that again, it said WISE counsel… not your sister-in-law’s baby cousin Tracy or your home girl/boy who’s just as lost as they wanna be. YouNEED people who are going to tell you what God’s Word says about a situation, NOT how they “feel” or what they would do if they were you or popular opinion.

The Word of God says that “Open criticism is better than unexpressed love.” - Prov 27:5 (GWT) …this means that it is better to have someone who will tell you (to your FACE) when you’re wrong than having friends that silently agree with you (because their refusal to correct you means they agree with your decision!).

…WE have to be willing to listen to OUR friends when they tell us things in love that will only help us because we know in their hearts that they only want to see us succeed. (SN: I’m convinced that this is what allows me to be able to have ALL types of “hard” conversations with my friends and vice versa, because we can all trust the root of where the correction arises. “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!” - Prov 15:23 …Your “friends” shouldn’t gloat or get some type of weird satisfaction out of offering you correction, but their heart should be glad that God used them to help you.) 

 And if you think you DON’T think YOUR friends should be able to tell you anything, check these two scriptures out:

 “Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.” -Prov 15:22 MSG

 “It’s better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day. Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel.- Prov 24:5-6

 I urge us all to show the love that we have for OUR friends in deed and in SPEECH, speak over them! You NEVER know what your words of encouragement will do for someone … and I can testify to this OVER and OVER, constantly being on BOTH ends of the conversation!

 “A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” - Prov 25:11 (AMP) 

I love you and remember, it’s YOUR move.. 

                              

 Allison

 (originally posted March 29, 2012)

“Rainy Days”

 “ ⁴¹ And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” ⁴² So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. ⁴³ “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.  “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”  ⁴⁴ The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

 ⁴⁵ Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. ⁴⁶ The power of the LORD came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.” – 1 Kings 18:41-46

The opening text describes the coming of rain in Israel … not such a big deal, eh? Generally, people tend to hate “rainy days” and see them as an inconvenience…but what if I told you there had been NO rain for THREE & A HALF YEARS? Well, my friend, that’s EXACTLY what I’m telling you. Because of Israel’s wickedness and disobedience the prophet Elijah declared that it would not rain in the next few years until he said so (1 Kings 17:1, and was confirmed to be 3.5 years in James 5:17).

                     

The PRESENCE of rain doesn’t seem to matter as much until you read about the ABSENCE of rain… now read that again. How many things do we take for granted because we’re used to them being there?

Through searching the scriptures and revelation from the Holy Spirit, we are able to understand the symbolism of rain, how God provides and withholds it for His purposes and how it is tied to obedience. It is important to note that when God originally created the earth there was NO rain and that the ground was watered by streams (Gen 2:4-6) and that rain was NOT mentioned again until God decided to release the rain of The Great Flood (Gen 7:4)…which was after man committed sin.

In both the opening text and the reference to Genesis, rain was withheld by God to atone for the sins of His people because we have to remember that rain is/was essential to life in an agricultural society. No rain, No harvest. No harvest, No Food. No Food, You Die. So basically, No Rain = Death….Pretty Simple. (This is where we’re going to pause for a moment and Thank God for Jesus, who paid the debt of our sins for EACH and EVERY ONE of us!)

On the flip side, God uses rain to provide a harvest for His people in accordance with our obedience…

³ “‘If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, ⁴ I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit. ⁵ Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.

⁹ “‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. ¹⁰ You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new.¹¹ I will put my dwelling place^[a] among you, and I will not abhor you. ¹² I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. ¹³I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.” – Lev 26:3-5; 9-13

What all of the above says is that God is going to bless yo’ socks OFF by sending you rain….rain to nurture every seed that you’ve planted to ensure a PLENTIFUL harvest. In verse 10 God declares you’re going to have to MAKE room for the NEW blessing because you won’t be through with the OLD blessing yet!  And about those “seeds”….the seeds of faithfulness, love, patience, compassion, giving, encouragement, intercession, finances…they are ALL due for a harvest!

How do I know?!?!  Let me let you in on a little “secret”….Yesterday was….

                                               

… What does this have to do with anything huh? Let me share with you: 

“Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.” – Zech 10:1

In THIS season, one that is traditionally known for natural rain, ask God to send you SPIRITUAL RAIN! Ask for the rain while the rain is falling!!!! Begin to declare a bountiful harvest/return on EVERY seed you’ve sown because we’re standing in agreement (Mt 18:20) that we SHALL have what we say we will have (Mark 11:24) and we know that by faith we can declare and decree a thing and it WILL be established in the earth (Job 22:28). Life and death lie in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21) and it’s time to start confessing the blessing of the Lord over our lives, our families, homes, workplaces, churches, communities and EVERYTHING that we put our hands to!

Lastly, in verses 43-44 of the opening text after Elijah declared the rain, the servant didn’t see anything until a tiny cloud on the 7^th time…Don’t judge the magnitude of the rain based on the size (Zech 4:10, do not despise small beginnings!) Sometimes people WON’T see what you’ve professed right away … DON’T let what you (or they) SEE deter your declaration!!!!  

I love you and am praying for MANY “rainy days” ahead in your future!

Allison

(originally posted March 21, 2012)

“re-LENT-less”

Hi there all my brothers & sisters in Christ! Usually I have (or try to have) some sort of witty or thought provoking intro to whatever the blog is about…. but for the sake of this issue’s sensitivity, I’ll jump right into it! :-)  SN: It may be a little lengthier, but I love you, your purpose, your future, and God’s call on YOUR life so much that I couldn’t chance leaving something out!

Beginning in Mark 9:14 is the story of Jesus healing a demon-possessed boy … I mean that’s what Jesus did right, heal people…correct? So what makes this particular incident stand out? In this passage of scripture the disciples had tried unsuccessfully to cast the demon out (although they had been performing signs and wonders prior to this) and could not figure out why they couldn’t cast thisdemon out. Jesus proceeds to cast the demon out of the boy and go on about His way until He was questioned by His disciples:

“And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” ²⁹ So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” – Mark 9:28-29

                                     

You see my friend, there are some things that we will only have victory over when we fast and pray! Another thing about the above passage: the boy’s father took him to the disciples to be healed but only Jesus was able to heal his son. What I’m saying is that: sometimes people will do everything in theirpower to help you and to no fault of their own, they may fail; but there will be some things that will only be broken when you commune with God along with fasting and prayer.

Fasting is simply the sacrificing of something that your flesh (body) craves that is NOT sin to focus on spiritual growth. Biblically fasts are centered on food and/or liquids and have been constant in today’s society with the additions of other habits one may crave such as: social media, sodas, TV, etc. Whatcannot be sacrificed to God is sin…for example: If you’re having premarital sex (which is fornication) it cannot be sacrificed to God because we (the unmarried like me) should not be doing it anyway. Aside from food, a good thing to fast from may be the one thing that popped in your head that you think you CAN’T give up :-)

……how do we fast properly?

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.” Isaiah 58:3-4

In this passage God is answering the questions of the Israelites who have been “fasting” without receiving the things they were seeking God for. God explains in verses 6-14 of this chapter that He wants pure hearts of love and service to each other so that he may answer their prayers not just a routine, going through the motions type of ritual but a true change in the condition of their heart as they grow closer to Him. David echoes this in Psalms 51:16-17:

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”

…and in verses 18-19

“Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased withsacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.” …. God will accept our sacrifice once our hearts are right and it will please Him to do so.

Once we’ve gotten the condition of our hearts right, how do we go about fasting in our daily lives?

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:16-18

Unless you are taking part in a corporate fast (which are called by spiritual leaders and by the government in biblical times, Cc: Joel 2), your time of fasting should be between you, God and/or your spiritual accountability partner(s) who will help encourage you along the way.

So if you are planning to fast or are currently in the process of a fast, I encourage you to reevaluate your heart and make sure the motives are pleasing to God so that your fasting is not in vain. If you feel you may have started because of an impure motive, that’s okay for God says:

 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.” – Joel 2:12-14

I pray this has shed some light on such a vital part of our Christian walk for you and if you have any questions about fasting, hit me up on here, twitter (@LouBay225), Facebook (Lou Bay), or emailasmi248@lsu.edu. Yes, I am THAT serious about this, lol.

I leave you with these words:

“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.” – Ephesians 6:10-12

I absolutely love you!

Allison

(originally posted February 22, 2012)

“Quit Running”

First I would like to start off by saying… Happy New Year! Now that all of the “formalities” are out of the way (lol), I’d like to talk about something that NONE of us EVER experience …  

                                

That’s right, FEAR…. because we’re NEVER fearful, we’re always certain about our next move, and we never get anxiety about what lies ahead….right? …. Nah, I didn’t think so…we all deal with fear from time to time (notice I didn’t say we live in fear constantly). According to dictionary.com, “Fear” is defined as “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real OR imagined.” Even without a definition we can all categorize “fear” as an unpleasant, uncertain state of being that holds us back from people, places, or things….things like RUNNING from God’s call on our lives.

                                                   

 Let me take a moment to reacquaint you with Jonah. Most of us remember the story of “Jonah and the whale” we were taught in Sunday school classes across the nation, but I can’t ever remember anyone telling me how Jonah ended up IN the “whale.” Well if you aren’t sure as to how ended up there either, you’re in luck my friend!

The very first two verses in the book of Jonah begins with the Lord giving Jonah a task to do: Go announce judgment against the city of Nineveh because of their wickedness. Jonah 1:3 reveals how not only did Jonah get up and RUN the OPPOSITE way of where God told him to go….he bought a boat ticket out of town. {Surely, we’ve never heard the voice of God calling us to do something and have run the other way…..that’s the awesome thing about God, even when we did He gave us grace.}

As Jonah Chapter 1 continues, the ship Jonah boarded was caught in the middle of a terrible storm and sent the crew into a frenzy, throwing cargo overboard to lighten the ship. When the crew realized Jonah was sleeping, they woke him up, asked him how could he sleep through all of the chaos and to get up and pray to his God. {Amazing how when we’re not following God’s call on our lives the number of lives we affect of those around us…even when we seem to “escape” sometimes.}

Moving through Jonah Chapters 1 & 2, Jonah is revealed as the one who is the cause for the ship’s trouble and asks that he be tossed overboard to stop the storm (which happens and after the storm calms, the crew thanks & vows to serve the Lord). This is where Jonah ends up in the belly of the great fish, repents to God and prays for three days. Chapter 2 sees Jonah asking God forgiveness and in Chapter 3 Jonah heads to Nineveh to pronounce the Word of the Lord. When the people of Nineveh heard Jonah’s message the officials called for a corporate fast (a period of repentance, mourning and sacrifice) and when God saw this He held back the destruction planned for Nineveh…. a great city of 120,000 people was saved.

My question to you: How many people’s lives will be impacted by YOUR obedience to the things God has called YOU to do? How many of YOUR friends & family will want to live for God after they see how God’s transformed YOUR life?

You can answer that question better than anyone and I want to encourage you NOT to be afraid of it!!! The Bible declares that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7), and we have to TRUST God’s plan for our lives. You don’t think Abraham was scared to wander off into the wilderness or Moses was afraid of leading a whole nation to the Promised Land??? But one thing they had in common was the ability to trust God’s Word over their emotions.

I just want to encourage & remind you of a few things: 

1. God KNOWS the plans He has for you, plans to prosper you & not harm you, to give you a hope AND a future! (Jer. 29:11) … God knows EXACTLY what He’s called YOU to do…and KNOWS you CAN handle it!

2. When God starts a great work in you, He’s PROMISED to see it through to completion (Phil 1:6) … He’s not gonna quit on you!

3. And oh yeah… God’s call on your life AIN’T going NOWHERE! (Lol! But I’m serious though, Cc: Rom. 11:29) … He believes in you! Even when we’re in our worst state, God sees our potential through His grace.

So, QUIT RUNNING! :-)

                                      

I pray you begin to embrace God’s presence as you walk in the fullness of God’s call on your life! I love you!!! 

Allison :-)

(originally posted January 26, 2012)

“Hang Nails”

There are very few things that really grind my gears in life and one of them is…

Yep, HANG NAILS.

Growing up I had a habit of biting my nails, even as I tried to let them grow out or after making bets that I could let them grow out for a certain period of time. I failed every single time. As I got older, I really made up in my mind that I would grow my nails without biting them …mainly because they looked horrible, lol. So when I get a “hang nail” after I’ve been working SO HARD on growing them out, I feel kind of down when I finally muster up the strength to clip it off.  It’s important that I clip it off because nothing else will grow on that finger until I do…and if something DOES manage to grow, it will be weak and will certainly break. As a few days go by, I hate looking at that nail….until it eventually grows back and catches up with the other nails and I’m all happy again, ready to show off the progress.

This brings me to a question: How many of us have Spiritual “Hang Nails?” You know: things that we’ve grown accustomed to being there/the way they are or habits we’re used to having that need to be cut away so that growth can take place.

                           

The Word of God declares, “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.  You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” John 15:1-4

Funny thing with pruning is that: From the outside whatever is being pruned LOOKS like it is producing…

                          

There are some things we keep around in our lives that are either serving no purpose or harming us that we keep around because we’re comfortable with the idea of that thing. Those things are taking up time, space, energy, and resources from things that will benefit us. The Bible tells us that God will prune the branches that do NOT bear fruit so they will bear even more ….my friend, God wants to take everything that isn’t fruitful or for your good away from you to make room for the things that He has for you.  “The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” – Prov. 10:22 (Side Note: Let these stressful SELECTIVE relationships…especially friendships go! Granted every type of relationship has “ups & down” but relationships should not be stressful. If it’s unfruitful, let it go!)

The only way to have this spiritual pruning or purging process is to remain in Christ, and not that it’s a “give-and-take exchange”, there are benefits in allowing God to prune, shape, and mold youas John 15:7 states: “But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”

I urge you to let go of anything or anyone that is preventing you from spiritual growth, let go of what’s familiar and sometimes comfortable. You cannot grow without a solid foundation ….and sometimes, like with a hang nail, you have to….

                            

Just as John urged the church at Ephesus (Rev 2:4-5), return to your first love of Christ… when you were “on fire for God” and possessed the sheer excitement of a kid on Christmas Eve.

 Yes, it’s painful sometimes but I assure you the reward of watching your OWN progress & growth in God will be well worth it. That way you can “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” – Matt 5:16

I pray that you have a wonderful Merry Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior while using this season as a time to kick the Love of Christ we show daily up to another level! It is my prayer that you, your home, family, everything you put your hands to be blessed and that anything that concerns you is looked upon favorably by the Lord our God.

Allison 

(originally posted December 21,2011)

“Follow Your Heart?”

Ever had to make a difficult decision? I’m talking about the kind of decision where “flipping a coin” just won’t suffice. Usually we rack our brains for hours, days, weeks, months and sometimes years about critical decisions. At some point most people (myself included) have consulted the help of those around me to give some insight/ different perspective on the situation. This is the advice that we’re usually given by close friends, family and other folks who (or whom we assume) tend to care about our best interest…….

                                       

     BUT my question to you is: What do you do when your heart ISN’T right?

                        

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” - Jeremiah 17:9-10

For forty years the prophet Jeremiah preached to the people of Judah that they may repent, turn from their sin and obey God, but the nation (as a whole) never repented. There were some people throughout the land of Judah who listened to Jeremiah’s teachings and began to serve the Lord. In this chapter the Lord spoke to Jeremiah telling him that He would examine the hearts of men and reward them accordingly. This means that someone could LOOK like they were playing the part, but their heart could still be wicked. God declared he would not judge by one’s outer appearance (what we portray to other men) but by the SECRET thoughts that are hidden in our heart.

         I guess the next issue is: How do we KNOW when our heart is “right?”

                                               

Well a simple answer is “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart” - Luke 6:45 

In all, what many believe to be a “cliché” that “what’s in you will come out of you” is actually scriptural! This teaching of having a pure heart to determine motives also is written in Matthew 12:33-35: “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. ”

    So how do we get our hearts back right when we’ve slipped up? “Heart Checks!”

                 

God wants us to repent from our sin and follow Him (as 2 Chronicles 7:14 declares, “if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.)….BUT He wants us to serve Him with our WHOLE heart. Lest we end up like King Amaziah, who did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight but not wholeheartedly (2 Chron 2:25-5;27)

We simply need to allow God to search our hearts and cleanse us of sin & iniquity that is present when we’ve missed the mark and ESPECIALLY when WE “feel” like there is nothing deceitful in them.“People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines the heart”- Prov 21:2. Then we can ask God to “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” - Psalm 51:9-10

…And after God has determined our hearts and motives to be pure/true/good, we can continue in our purpose for God’s glory by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. “For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.”- 1 Thes 2:4

                             So follow your heart….straight to the things of God….

                                             

Ooooooh because when you DO … ““What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him”- 1 Cor. 2:9

Allison! :-)


(originally posted: August 15, 2011)