You are faithful.

The truth is it freaks me out that I'm going to start college in a few days.

While praying the other day The Lord put a piece of scripture in my heart. Lamentations 3:

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord...Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord ! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:... “I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ 

Lamentations 3:21-26, 40, 41, 55-57

God is faithful. I can hold on to the promise that he is with me, and he loves me unconditionally! At the end of the day all that really matters is that I glorified God. 

I was positive I was not going to pass the test to get into running start, and I said

Lord, if this is what you want, you know what to do...so sure enough I passed the test my first try.  

I've been starting to realize that He just wants me to trust him. So I'm gonna trust you Lord. I'm gonna need you to keep me focused because I just know I'm going to be distracted so easily by schoolwork. I want to be bold in my faith. I want to make a difference in the lives of the people around me. I'm taking your hand Lord. I trust you.

God is with us...

You can probably tell that I'm not the kind of person to erase or start over. I just kind of pour out whatever is going on in my life all over this computer screen and hope and pray someone can relate and be encouraged. Today I debated on whether or not I should erase the beginning and just go straight into the good stuff, but I think that would defeat the whole point of wanting to be transparent...sooo here you will find all that has been on my mind over the last couple days of not writing anything...

 I hate stressing out about having to juggle school (which hasn't even started), worship, quality time with the Lord, and family...I don't even have it that hard.

Life can feel so hard though.

I get so caught up in planning and prioritizing that my focus just gets off of God.

Why is it so hard to just trust that God's got it handled? Why does it feel like I can't let go?

I know I've said all this before. This is one of my biggest challenges. 

Oh Lord, I need a breakthrough! One minute I can feel the freedom of totally depending on you, and the next minute I'm looking down and I realize, wow I'm up high, and I start depending on myself. I need you to breakthrough my doubt. I need you to show me once again how to let go. 

So you may be wondering, where is the happy Ally? Which I apologize for any complaining I've done...

She's here. 

Just in writing this I'm able to feel the presence of the Lord. (Which makes me beyond happy)

God is good, isn't he?

Joshua 1:9 says,

"...Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

He is with me wherever I go...

He is with you wherever you go.

Now that's got to bring a smile to your face.

Thank you God!

I want to encourage anyone who is feeling defeated, worn out, or frightened...whatever it is, remember God is with you wherever you go. Be strong. Be courageous. Remember you're not in this alone. 

I thought I would share with you that tomorrow I will be getting baptized. I've struggled with being baptized over the last few years because I didn't want to do it for the wrong reasons. Baptism is not something to be taken lightly. At this moment I finally feel ready to do it. It's not a matter of pleasing people around me anymore. I'm doing this to show the Lord my dedication to Him. I want to be obedient to His call. I want to be faithful. I want to trust HIM with all of my heart, and love him with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength. I want to be changed from the inside out. I want him to use me. Although he already knows that, this is my public declaration of me giving my life over to the one true God! 

Lord, keep my eyes focused on you. You are all I need. Prepare my heart for tomorrow as I take another step out on the water. I'm letting go again. I'm refocusing. Through you I can do this.

I’m letting go again

Don’t want the day to end...like this

No matter how many times a day

I’ll keep giving it away...to you

‘Cause I want you Lord. I need you Jesus.

I can’t let go alone.

So Jesus, come and set me free    

Pour your grace out on me

         

Why does it feel

Like I have to be in control

Am I afraid of knowing, of changing, of growing

Why am I holding back?

Why am I standing still?

Lord you take the lead, oh once again would you take control

‘Cause I want you Lord. I need you Jesus.

I can’t let go alone.

So Jesus, come and set me free    

Pour your grace out on me

come and set me free

I am free

~Letting Go~

Here comes the rain again...

There's a flood watch in effect for Western Washington today!!

I have started writing this and then deleted it a few times now.  I suppose because I am not feeling so profound in thought - but feel like there is something I want to express about the strong feelings that seem to accompany a change of seasons.  Fall is truly my favorite time of year - and yet - conversely - it is tinged with a certain melancholy.  Somehow, the season seems to make me focus more inward and I am not always comfortable with what I find there.

In the summer days of my life - oh I am really getting profound and metaphoric now - I need to focus all the more on knowing my Savior and serving him.  It is easy in those days to instead just be immersed in the sunshine and pleasure of life outside of my walk with the Lord.  Instead I should be cultivating and growing spiritually to prepare for a harvest that will leave my storehouses full when the rain and storms set in. My joy cannot be ultimately founded in summer sunshine, the crisp mornings and colors of Fall or any other external factors.  These seasons and times come and go.  A heart that is focused on the Lord will know joy and stability throughout any season of the year or of life.

Lord, I look to you for all of my needs as I know you alone are sufficient.  I pray you will fill my heart with your joy and sustain me through this day.  I want to be able to give myself away to others instead of getting caught up in my own head and focusing on me.  Thank you for the sun.  Thank you for the rain. Help me to not be constantly up and down and blown by the wind - but set my feet solidly on the rock and give me the strength to stand.
-mike






...metaphoric??

You are good.

Sorry for missing a few days. My cousin started a blog on a different site and I fell in love with it soooooo I talked my family into doing a "family blog" based on our journey as we follow in His steps! I'm still going to post on here but if you want to check the other one out the web address is asformeandmyhouse8.wordpress.com

We're still working on getting it going FYI

The past two weeks I have been attending another youth group on Tuesday nights. It's been great being able to have two nights of fellowship and bible study! 

God never seizes to amaze me! I guess that shouldn't surprise me. His word says, 

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

I'm not going to try and stretch this out. All I want to do is encourage you, that whatever struggle you're going through God promises he will work everything together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose! What an awesome promise! What an awesome hope we can have in Him!

Thank you Lord for your love and mercy and faithfulness! Thank you for everything you've shown me even just in this week. I'm so in love with you, and I pray that love would grow deeper and stronger every minute of everyday! I pray for the people reading this that are struggling. I pray that you would remind them of that verse in Romans. I pray for those of us that seem to have blessings constantly being given to us. Remind us that it's all because of you! We give you thanks and praise! Thank you for accepting my short and sweet prayers and posts. You are good God! 

In Jesus' name AMEN

God is faithful

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9

Only God is completely faithful.  Everything else will either fail or fade away.  But God remains. It is so important that we do not take this for granted but instead respond daily to it through seeking him and spending time with Him. This faithful God called ME into fellowship with Jesus Christ. There is no greater honor.

Lord, I call on you today to draw me close to you and to help me know fellowship with Jesus. In 15 minutes the cares of the world will begin to bombard me.  Please show me how to remain in you every moment of the day and not to set you aside or compartmentalize you in my day.  Thank you Lord for loving me without condition.   - Amen

I need you.

*sigh*

Well today has been interesting. 

Ended up playing guitar for the all worship Service we had! Helped pack up Alana's stuff. Brought her to her moms. Tried not to cry. Then I started thinking about school. Oh man! I sure need Gods help to change my attitude. 

I'm so thankful for my family and friends, and the never ending love and support I get from them.

As I lay here and just breath, I'm able to remember I sure do need The Lord.

I'm learning to not always ask God to take heartache away or whatever hardships are coming my way...instead I've been able to realize that He uses those times to make me stronger. To show me through him I can overcome. 

My heart is heavy right now. There seems to always be things that are just bleh going on. Especially when I'm digging into the Word, and spending more and more time with The Lord. There is definitely a spiritual war going on. Thank you Lord that I can call on your name and be saved. 

I need you more Lord. Thank you for always being there. You know all the things on my heart tonight...would you please strengthen my heart. Teach me to be more like you I pray. Lord I pray for anyone and everyone reading this blog. For everything going on in their lives right now. Comfort them Lord. Bring healing to any brokenness inside of them. May they remember you love them, and they CAN overcome any obstacles in their  life through you! Thank you for the many blessings you've poured out on us. You give and you take away. We will bless your name no matter what. We love you Lord and pray all this in Jesus' name amen.