Tonight I am reminded of a song I mentioned a while ago. The chorus goes,

Don't stop the madness 

Don't stop the chaos

Don't stop the pain surrounding me

Don't be afraid, Lord, to break my heart

Just bring me down to my knees

These words are such a good reminder of my need for God.  

It's funny how you can approach things from all kinds of different angles. Before, I approached this song with such enthusiasm because before I heard it I was literally on my knees seeking God. After hearing the songs I remember just thanking him for everything. 
We gladly take the blessing but most of the time we don't want the hardships. I think Job sets a fine example of how we should be in times of trouble. Man! I can't imagine going through everything he went through! But despite it all he blessed the Lord. He went to his knees before God. 

the Lord gives and the lord takes away...blessed be the name of the Lord.

I want to recognize the goodness of the Lord all the time. I hate to say it, but sometimes I need those hard times. Sometimes that is what it takes to get me on my knees seeking God rather than depending on myself. So this time I am not on my knees because of feeling defeated by the madness and chaos...actually it is almost the opposite. I am on my knees seeking the Lord and humbling myself before Him. I need more humility.  I need him all day everyday. I am so very glad his grace never runs out on me!
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

Trust... with all your heart

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
This verse has come up numerous times in the past year. It came on Christmas presents, birthday gifts, and notes from loved ones. I didn't really think about it until I had run across it several times. Was it just a coincidence? Hmmm... maybe not. There really is a great meaning behind this verse and maybe it was time to take a look at it again.
Trust in the Lord, your Master, with your all. No self-reliance. Seek the right way, God's way, in everything you do (when you do school or your makeup, when you go shopping or you're bored, when you talk to your friends or post on Facebook, in EVERYTHING), and you'll be on the right track. This isn't just a good saying, it's a life-style. Don't take this verse for granted, but live it out. I've decided to really act on this verse, and when I hear it or see it somewhere to really think on it not just let it pass through my mind.
-Jocelyn

I'm blown away by the grace and love God lavishes upon me! He is good!

Oh to be like you give all I have just to know you… Jesus there’s no one bedside you forever the hope in my heart!

God is good no matter what! If there is anything you would like me to pray for please comment or send me an email at asformeandmyhouse8@gmail.com.

Grace and peace! 

-Ally

Today is a special day...I officially have over 1000 views on this blog.

Okay so maybe it isn't a huge deal, but it is kind of cool to know that people are seeing this!

I'd like to thank my parents for always believing in me, my cat...  just kidding ;)

Time to get serious :)


Man! God is good. I am so unworthy of His love, patience and all the other things he is constantly lavishing upon me! It's hard to grasp the fact that he loves me so much that he gave his life for me!

I want to share that good news with everyone!

Well of course I do have some resolutions for the new year.
1. Not to let a day go by without spending quality time with my Heavenly Father in the Word and through prayer. Let me clarify...not just reading the Bible, but really digging in and acting upon what I've read and what the Lord speaks to me.

2. To remember that every single person around me is facing, literally, a life or death situation...an ETERNAL life or death situation. I don't want to be okay with that. I don't want to let fear of having inadequate words or whatever hold me back from reaching out. I NEED to reach out!

A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something.
So not only do I want to make a resolution, but I want to make an impact.

I submit myself over to God again this year...Here I am, use me God. I don't have much to give, but what I have is yours. I am not my own. I have been bought with a price and I want to serve you every day of my life!

My prayer for me and for you is that we would truly take the words of the Bible to heart and to act upon them. I pray that if you don't yet know the Lord, that you would because it is THE BEST thing that could ever happen to you! I pray that the Lord would strengthen you and strengthen me. That he would give us the confidence to share his love with everyone around us and that we would be faithful to his calling! We serve an amazing, just and loving God. He will never fail us. He is the greatest! And I desire to bring glory to him in everything I do!

No those views do not count my views I made it so it wouldn't count my views :) 

So don't try and burst my bubble! ;)

The Greatest

It's a little late, but HAPPY NEW YEARS!

This past year has been crazy! I'm struck with how immensely blessed I am!

Highlights of 2013
Paedon joined the family on February 2nd

 Paedon has brought so much joy to our family. I think I speak for all of us when I say that having him in our family has taught us to be patient, slow to anger, extra loving, and extra kind! He drives me crazy, but I can't imagine life without his smiling face and loud giggles. I hope that I never take the time I have with him and the rest of my family for granted because I never know how long we will all be together! He has grown so much and I am so excited to watch him grow and my prayer is that He will love God with all his heart, mind, soul and strength and become a godly, loving, and kind man!

• My sixteenth birthday
  

Club Awesome LIVE

• Starting this blog :)

• Volunteering at the State fair
  
• Warden Mission Trip
  
• JoJo started walking!!!
  
• Yeshi officially became a Vaughan!
  
• Dani and I were baptized by Grandpa
  
• Fun with my AMAZING cousin 
  
• Pae turned 3, David turned 4 and JoJo turned 1!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

I'm excited to see what 2014 has in store!

May your new year be filled with blessing and happiness!!!

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12

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!

It is not okay for me to be singing and proclaiming truth in Jesus' name and not bringing those words to life.

I think about this topic a lot.

About the fact that I am inadequate to be the one to lead people in worship.

I haven't totally become okay with it. I don't feel like I'm the one for the job.

Sometimes I feel like Moses when he said to the Lord "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”.

Who am I that I should be the worship leader.

Later Moses says,“Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

But God I'm a background type person. I don't do well speaking.---

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

It is my honor to be leading people in worship to the one true God! The moment I take my eyes off of him though is when I start sinking. He told me in my weakness he would be strong so I have absolutely nothing to worry about. My job is to obey.

Matt Redman recently posted, Unstoppable worshippers are bold evangelists, lifting up the name of Jesus everywhere they get a chance. Their offerings of worship are just as vibrant outside the walls of the church as they are inside. —from the book, The Unquenchable Worshipper

I can honestly say with sadness that I'm not living out my faith boldly. I keep to myself when I should be reaching out. We are the body of Christ. Jesus gives us a clear picture of the life we should be living. Lord help me not to hold back, but fully and completely live for you! I don't want worship to become mundane. I want it to be true.