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~

Embrace the process

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, Psalm 119:2

Think about it...

We are supposed to love The Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. To seek him with our whole heart.

It's much easier said than done.

I mess up so much. If it wasn't for Gods forgiveness, and grace, I don't know where I'd be. I would feel horrible all the time. And I should feel horrible about sin. But because of what Jesus did on the cross there IS forgiveness and second chances! 

Don't linger in your wrongdoings! LET IT GO! GET RIGHT WITH GOD! 

We will never love The Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength if we're stuck in our past. We've got to give it to God and seek him with all we've got. 

A lot of times Gods will for our life isn't obvious to us. (No wonder with all the distractions.) Knowing Gods will is soooo important. We need to LOOK, and SEARCH. It's our desire...our passion that leads to the "Big Reveal"

In the meantime, as we search, we need to serve people, tell them about the love of Christ, and trust God. Even while we're waiting we need to be running this race with perseverance!

And once we know his will we need to DO it. 

Faithfulness pays off. (Being loyal, constant, and steadfast)

Embrace the struggle, and the process, of finding your personal call. God told us he would be with us. So I'm trusting him. I'm reaching out. I'm super excited to see where he leads!!!

Here I am

I believe today would be day 74 of the WWJD challenge...

That's a long time! I'm already able to look back and see how much I've grown! I can't wait to look back a year from now!

As I get to know God more it's clear to me that it's not an option to go and tell people about God! We are supposed to go and make disciples! Man! It's crazy how it can be so much easier to go to another country and do that, than it is to go to your neighbor. At least that's how it is for me.

I depend on myself way to much! I've said that so many times in this blog. That's my biggest stumbling block. I've seen what totally surrendering and letting God lead can do! That's what I want every day of my life! And that's how it should be!

He tells me to be strong and courageous...to be bold! He says he will use our weaknesses to show his strength! He will put words in my mouth. All I have to say is here I am use me Lord! With God I've already won! I have nothing to worry about! He is reaching out his hand, and all I need to do is take it! It's so simple.

I don't want to let fear control me. Fear of being judged by the people around me for being bold in my faith. A verse a day on Facebook is not "reaching out" enough! So I'll take His hand, I will let Him lead! He has amazing things planned for my life and your life!

"You’re reaching out to me oh I can see you've got something beautiful planned

  So I’ll take hold of you I know you’ll pull me through

No matter what happens, I will follow you"

: :Reaching Out To Me

HERE I AM USE ME LORD!

Into the heart of the darkest places
Into the lost and the lonely spaces
Bringing the hope and the life You've given
I'll move cause You move me

Into the lives of forgotten children
Showing the love they were never given
Open my eyes to the world I don't see
Show me cause I know...

We need, a heart for the hopeless, reaching
The places unspoken, move me Lord
Raise up, a desperate people, leading
The lost and feeble, use me Lord
Use me Lord

Give me a fire that's always burning
Every desire for You is stirring
I am alive now to show Your glory
I'll move cause You move me

Into the light when Your love is shining
Only by faith with Your Spirit guiding
Open my eyes to the world I don't see
Show me cause I know...

We need, a heart for the hopeless, reaching
The places unspoken, move me Lord
Raise up, a desperate people, leading
The broken and feeble, use me Lord
Here I am, use me Lord

We need to wake up
We need to raise up
Cause I will never stand still, Lord keep me moving, moving

We need, a heart for the hopeless, reaching
The places unspoken, move me Lord
Here I am, use me Lord
Raise up, a desperate people, leading
The broken and feeble, use me Lord
Here I am, use me Lord

We need, a heart for the hopeless, reaching
The places unspoken, use me Lord
Use me Lord
Raise up, a desperate people, leading
The broken and feeble, use me Lord
Here I am, use me Lord