christianity – Allie's Way

Jeremiah 29:11

October 26, 2018October 26, 2018alliewayLeave a comment

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11.

This verse has always been one of my favorite verses and now I am leaning on these words from God more than ever as a new season of my life is beginning. I look back over so many years of my life, so many good times, and I know that this will just be another great chapter. As always a new season brings apprehension and uncertainty. As I sit at this juncture and look back at the past chapters and how God has worked then I know that he will walk with me once again through this time. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.

Walking back through God’s plan for my life

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I guess my adult story begins with meeting my husband. God placed a great man in my life. As I continue to walk through life with him, I pray that I am the mate that he always wanted because I am more than thankful and blessed to have him. Our story began in May of 1989. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24. When we reflect on this time in our life now, we wonder how we made it. Sometimes being young makes you more resilient. Although we struggled as a young couple, we endured and entered that next phase of our life in November of 1991 when our first daughter came into our lives, and again in November of 1994 with the birth of our second daughter.

Babies

November 1991 and 1994 our family grew and changed me so that I was no longer just a wife but a mother. God blessed us with two beautiful daughters who to this day we are so proud of. They are now strong independent woman. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 2:6. Learning to be parents as a young married couple is both challenging and rewarding. We learned many years later the reward was they left our home while we were still young enough to enjoy life and each other. Life continued to change as they grew up, entered school, played sports, danced, etc. While they were still young, I took the steps to receive my Masters in Library and Information Studies. Leaving the classroom for the school library was a big step but one that has made my career a special place. I have loved my job.

Next Phase for Everyone

Sometimes their busy lives consumed ours and as they entered high school, my husband and I realized we needed to find each other again. No regrets on our children and our time with them, but we needed to reconnect. This became easier as they were older and heading toward high school graduation. During this time we added Harley to our lives, a new puppy. Our daughters had lived on a farm with dogs and horses, but never experienced a puppy. We all fell in love fast!

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Each transition in losing a child from the home was bittersweet, but we reveled in watching them soar on God’s wings. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31. High school graduation came for them both and off to college they went. Both in different directions to different types of schools.

We began enjoying the life as empty nesters and learning to enjoy each other again. This chapter of our lives was watching our daughters grow into adults and soar while reconnecting with each other and enjoying life to the fullest! College graduations came and went.

Our oldest daughter married and entered graduate school while working full time. Our youngest entered graduate school working full time and Mom and Dad are just not as needed in their lives anymore.

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Next Step

Now, here I stand again at a major life change and a new chapter to write. But as I wrote these few memories and dug out these pictures, I was able to revisit so many memories from horses to motorcycles, Myrtle Beach to the Caribbean trips, and all those special memories from Christmas to soccer tournaments and golf state qualifications. We have had so much fun. Then the memories of my career. Remember above I spoke of entering the school library and becoming a school librarian. This career is deeply planted in my soul. I love the kids, literacy, research, and the learning that happens in a school library, but it is time for me to write another chapter of my life. I am ready to hand over these reigns and enjoy day to day life with my husband.

I am planning retirement….

Yes, I am excited about the future, but torn with the deep love of my job. I didn’t know it would be this hard to let go, so I lean on my verse again. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11. I know that God has plans for my future and has already written these chapters. I trust in him as I walk this new path. I trust in him as I venture into the unknown. I trust in him to show me his glory and that I might have opportunities on this new adventure to share his love and grace with others.

Closing Verse:

Challenge: God knows the plans he has for you. Walk in his Word.

Child of God (repost)

October 19, 2018October 18, 2018alliewayLeave a comment

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This is a post from back in April, 2018 , but after a week full of tons and tons of students running in and out of my life on a daily basis and trying to make sure each child received everything they needed from me with a smile on my face, well I just needed to repost for me. Not only does this remind that I am a Child of God, but the students I love each day are also, and times like this week I need to be reminded that each student is loved and created by God. God Loves his children….

I read this in my devotions written by Lysa TerKeurst from Proverbs 31 ministries. I just added my name. As you read today replace my name with yours. You are a Child of God.

Allie, the forgiven child of God.” and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” Romans 3:24.

Allie, the set-free child of God.“1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2.

Allie, the accepted child of God. “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:2.

Allie, the holy child of God. “ And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,” 1 Corinthians 1:30.

Allie, the made-new child of God.“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Allie, the loved child of God. ” even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love” Ephesians 1:4

Allie, the close child of God. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13.

Allie, the confident child of God.“in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” Ephesians 3:12.

Allie, the victorious child of God.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37

I am Redeemed…

Closing Verse: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” John 1:12.

Challenge: Place your name in the statements above. Place a Child’s name in the statements above. We are all Children of God.

National Anthem

September 28, 2018September 27, 2018alliewayLeave a comment

The Star-Spangled Banner

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

September

This month I remembered 9/11 and as I remembered such a difficult time in our nation’s history, I started thinking about the national anthem. As the national anthem of the United States is making headlines over and over but not in the way, Francis Scott Key ever intended when he penned the words so many years ago on Sept. 13, 1814. As he witnessed the attack at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry and then raising of the US flag to show their victory over British forces in the War of 1812. He penned these words after a night full of fighting and years later our country took these words as our national anthem. These words for me represent pride for my country and respect for the men and women who have fought and died to protect my rights and freedoms. As I ponder the Star-Spangled Banner and its words, I see a connection to Christ.

Connection to Christ

Christ who paid the ultimate price and sacrificed himself for me, so that I might live eternally with my Father in heaven. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” 1 Peter 3:18. This sacrifice reminds me to not just be proud to be a American but proud to be a Christian. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12. As a proud Christian, I must show myself as a humble servant not one who stand and looks down on others. I must live by example so that other may find Christ and have the same sense of pride in their relationship with him. “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21.

Proud American

So just as I show by living for Christ, I must stand as an American that others can see my pride in this country. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” John 8:32. It is sad to see so many in this country state so firmly their disgust for a country that was founded to protect their rights. Sometimes I even wonder where I am living and long for my eternal home. “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:16. As long as I am here, I will choose love not hate. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.” 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8.

Closing Verse: “Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14.

Challenge: Stand up for Christ in your life! Live as an example for others of his sacrifice.

A Favorite Rendition:

Did you know? The song has 4 verses.

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
’Tis the star-spangled banner – O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Searching For a New Heart

August 10, 2018August 9, 2018alliewayLeave a comment

Recently, I started looking back at some of my post and find this random 4 part series on the heart back in 2013. I was not writing regularly back then so decided to repost this series over the next few weeks with some edits. (First posted on March 13, 2013)

Open My Eyes to My Heart

Sometimes I sit in awe of the Lord and how he leads us and draws us near to him. Recently I have been praying and asking God to help me let go of some things which were causing me to become a person I did not want to be. It is funny sometimes how something you have always known just really comes to light and you have to accept it for what it is. I guess the finality of acceptance is something we as humans try to avoid. I know that I have in many areas of my life. As God recently opened my eyes to this ugly person I did not want to be, he sent me searching through scripture and everywhere I turned he introduced me to my heart. Not this heart that I can be proud of but the real heart inside of me. I will get to that. I feel lead to share where God is leading me on this in-depth discovery of the heart. I long for the new heart the scriptures speak of but to have that heart I must understand the heart as a whole.

Good vs Evil

The heart can be root of both Good and Evil, but more often the heart will lead us down the easiest road and usually that is not where we truly want to go. As I read various scriptures, I decided to turn to Strong’s Commentary for some guidance and here I found a plethora of verses that speak of what is seeded in the heart. I was lead to all this because I was not right and I quietly and silently began really listening to God. He began to show me so many things about myself as I read the scripture. Everything kept leading toward the heart and that caught my attention. Specifically I began a 6 day devotional study on Love & Marriage I found and guess what Day 1 was on – you guess it – the Heart. This first devotion is the initial cause of my digging. I felt God calling me to the scriptures for more. One of the verses shared in the study on day 1 was Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” I felt completely and utterly a failure because following my heart without God would always lead to wickedness because the heart is wicked. Who can know our heart? The simple answer is only God and he knows all our wickedness. So begins this journey to know my heart.

Following Scripture

I have been visiting verses lately that speak of what is rooted in the heart. These verses can sometimes seem good but if you really look at what can come from the heart you see the wickedness. The first verse from Jesus in Matthew 5: 28 “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” So our sin before it is revealed has already been committed in our heart. But what of lust as I noticed a verse was listed that spoke specifically to this word found in Romans 1:24 “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.” So God pulled away and their hearts took over which lead back to Matthew 5:28. What of our desires? Romans 10:1 says “…my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” At first read, this sounds good but looking deeper I see that we have to have control of what our heart desires. Left alone we become the heart in Matthew 5 and Romans 1. As I sit speechless and pray that the Lord will help me find my new heart with him. I am almost afraid to continue on but the draw is powerful to read more. What more words did Jesus have to say about the heart?

Mark 11:23 reads in the words of Jesus, “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” This verse sounds so awesome, but to have this faith. It is so easy to say yes Lord I have this much faith when really my heart doubts. Jesus says in John 14:1 ” Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” I must not let trouble and doubt fill my heart just the Lord so my faith can overcome the wickedness my heart desires. These words are similar to those from Isaiah 35: 4 “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with a vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” With such words from our Lord why do I let me heart be my guide?

Time to meditate on these words from scripture. Putting this puzzle together is encouraging but also brings me to my knees in need of prayer. Before seeking more it is time for prayer. Time to start seeking my new heart.

Closing Verse: “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

Challenge: My prayer is that God will be my guide and work in my heart. May he also be yours.

Security Blankets

August 3, 2018August 3, 2018alliewayLeave a comment

What Is My Security Blanket?

Harley and I flew again this week and as I did my usual preparations for the flight, I watched Harley crawl into the safety of her crate with her blanket. “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:4. Something about watching her at the airport and on the plane in the safety of her “special place” sent me to thinking about my own security blankets. Security blankets can be a great thing to have, but sometimes I feel I can’t let go of my blankets. I am going to bet we all have some. You know those things or “that thing” you just can’t let go of in life. You think it is your safety net and what you need to keep your life complete. But then you sit around and dream all those big dreams, so at moments like this I ask myself why am I not living some of those dreams. Why don’t I trust that if God is putting the dream in my heart that maybe he just might open the doors and pave the path for those dreams. Why am I holding on so tight to my security blankets? Obviously, I am longing to feel secure but finding that security in the wrong places, when the only place I need to look is in His Word and to His Son. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8.

What Should Be My Security Blanket?

I know that my humanness has me holding on so tight to what I know, to what is easy, yet my heart is willing to dream and walk with God. “My humanness” makes things messy while God makes them simple. The only real security blanket I need has already been provided to me. ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16. God gave me His Son. He sacrificed him to protect me from myself. He promises he has me secure, so that I can let go of my security blankets and dream, and live, and service him even more. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45.

Closing Verse: “But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:7.

Challenge: Let go of your security blankets and serve the Lord.

Child of God

April 20, 2018April 19, 2018allieway1 Comment