What's Your Focus?

It's been awhile..a long while!

I don't know about any of you, but I get so caught up in the stresses of life. To a point where God no longer is my focus, but it's that thing that has taken it's spot center stage. In your life there will always be something that is your focus. That something can be anything. So many times we are blind to idolatry in our lives because we don't take the time to reevaluate what really takes precedence in our hearts.
A lot of times the hardships I'm facing take that center stage role. The thing is I don't think I'm dwelling on it when I pray and pray and pray about it...but I am. Don't get me wrong we are supposed to cast all our cares on the Lord. But that's just it we are supposed to cast our cares upon him. Give them to him and  let go. So many times we miss the let go part. Why am I not feeling your peace Lord?  Maybe it's because you aren't trusting God entirely to take care of you. And that's when something gets put before God.

An idol is anybody or anything that has our love and loyalty ahead of God, and as a result decreases our dependence on Him, our desperation for Him and our devotion to Him.

I don't love being stressed out, but when I think about it I am pretty loyal to it. I give my hardships lots of attention. Or sometimes it's other things that I put before God unintentionally. Things that you would think how could that be idolatry? Serving in the church can take precedence over God. Family, friends, music...whatever!

I'm writing this to you to urge you to look at yourself...really look at your heart and ask yourself is there anything I am putting before God? And then do something about it! After all even if you look and see that God is right where he is intended to be in your life, there is always room to grow! 1 Corinthians 10:12 says Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

It feels good to be able to see God working. When your eyes are focused on something other than Him it is so easy to doubt. When you refocus...When you ask God to rekindle that flame in your heart, He is faithful and He will do it. And then it's so clear that he is right here and that he has been here all along! 

I'm praying for you all as this new year approaches. Praying for His guidance in your life and that you would taste and see that the Lord is good!

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~

Passion for your name.

Let me start off by apologizing for any errors in my writing...I'm too tired to catch everything :) okay carry on...

Doesn't it feel amazing to be loved by God? I know most of us "know" he loves us, but I mean when we can feel it. When our heart feels full because of his love.

This love gives me a passion for God! 

But overtime that same love that stirred my heart so much so that it was overflowing, can become a thing of the past...and that passion can fade.

The bible reminds us in 2 Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God. 

A lot of times I describe my passion as a fire in my heart, and you can picture that fire growing dimmer until you're left with the glowing embers. That's when we need to "fan into flame" and that fire will burn bright once again.

So then the question is how?

I believe it's by prayer. It's by trusting God. It's by fellowship. It's by remembering God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 

The song consuming fire, comes to my mind as I write this...it's pretty short so here it is,

There must be more than this,

O breath of God come breathe within,

There must be more than this,

Spirit of God we wait for You.

Fill us anew we pray,

Fill us anew we pray.

Consuming fire fan into flame,

A passion for Your Name,

Spirit of God fall in this place,

Lord have Your way,

Lord have Your way with us,

Come like a rushing wind,

Clothe us with power from on high,

Now set the captives free,

Leave us abandoned to Your praise.

Lord let Your glory fall,

Lord let Your glory fall.

Stir it up in our hearts Lord,

Stir it up in our hearts Lord,

Stir it up in our hearts Lord,

A passion for Your Name.

I don't want to let this passion go. If you've  ever had that fire in your heart you know it makes you desire for more. And we can't have that same passion apart from God. 

Many times I've made the mistake of thinking,

well if I prayed more or read the bible more I would have that passion again

But that's a lie.

We've got to surrender and say Lord I don't feel you. That fire in my heart has died. Stir it up in my heart once again! And He will! 

I think a big part of rekindling the flame is being transparent with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one struggling but I'm not...and there is power in prayer and power in numbers, so share your thoughts and prayers with the brothers and sisters God has put in your life. Being transparent puts accountability in your life, support, correction...it does a lot! So I would encourage you to share your prayers with others. 

Trust me I do not like telling people about my struggles and sometimes I don't even like talking about the awesome stuff happening...I'm just weird! I know shocker cause that's exactly what I do on my blog. I  have no clue who all reads this...I'm not sure if I would even want to know :)

Anyways if you need a prayer partner feel free to leave a comment. I'll be praying for you whether you do or don't :) 

Thank you Lord for putting this passion in my heart! Thank you for encouraging me through your word and music, my family, and friends! I feel so blessed! I pray for each and every person who reads this blog Lord...even if I've only reached 1's of 3's ;) Lord fan into flame the fire that you've put in their hearts! Take our hand and guide us in your steps. May our eyes be focused on you now and forever. 

In your precious name! Amen!

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