Stop, wait, be still for just a moment. Do you feel that? Take a second close your eyes.. and feel the cool salty wind across your face. the simple, soft, yet rough feeling of sand between your toes. You hear the waves crash beside you just like music notes, the ocean has a beat, crash, crash, crash. One continual motion and the world is still moving- just as these waves keep crashing. You can almost taste the salt and you realize that this, this is your place where you truly connect with God. There is a serene place- a peaceful place where the sun beats down on you and you know that the still small but mighty voice wants to minister to you. Here is just a sample of my feelings from this weekend:
This weekend I took a beautiful trip to the Ocean.. Ocean City, Maryland to be exact. I was so sick of feeling dry and empty that I just needed to get away after some very stressful days. I knew that God had last talked to me boldly and clearly while I was at the beach and I longed for a place of peace. It got even more interesting when I decided to go alone, yes, alone. Me, myself, I, and Jesus on a road trip that lasted less than 48 hours. I would totally and am totally going alone somewhere, someday, soon!
Sunday Morning was the clincher for me. I got up for the sunrise at about 6 am where I walked the shore line and just prayed. Soon God started revealing big things to me about the Ocean and the way he relates to us through the ocean. It's beautiful and I want to share.
--> our sins our on the BOTTOM of the ocean floor. They are forgotten, God does not remember them! Any of them! It's so freeing to know that the one who created us loves us enough to remove them from us. Psalm 103:12 says: as far as the EAST is from the WEST so far he has REMOVED our transgressions from us.
-->the sand. The gritty stuff. Some days honestly, I love it, somedays I hate it. Gritty is good I have decided. God showed me this morning that the grit, the sand, is an exfoliant. God uses sand- he uses each of us, he exfoliates in and through us. Even though the exfoliating hurts at first because all the DRY, DIRTY, CRACKED, DEAD Cells are leaving your skin, so does Jesus to this to our hearts and Spirits. He allows the dirty, the dead, and the cracked to become soft and gentle, as though you have just gotten your hands exfoliated. I know that the way God has done this in me. This was very apparent to me yesterday while I was sitting across from someone that I know we have had our differences. And as our hearts truly began to connect, I realized that the dead and rough is gone and the gentle encourager has taken reign in my life. See, I want nothing in my life that is left unexfoliated. I want it all exfoliated and cleaned up by my lover, Jesus. Nothing is holding me back anymore from the awesome things he has for me. No more death, dirty, cracked, or dry places can or will reign in my life.
--> Waves- how cool are waves? You get to jump into them- you get to ride them- you get washed by them. They are pretty amazing. God- oh beautiful Jesus crashes waves over us! He crashes waves of LOVE JOY PEACE PATIENCE!! He loves to love us and wave us in these things! When I got back from the beach, some awesome friends of mine were leading worship and as I was reflecting on the notes, God touched my heart by just showing me that the sequence of waves is much like the sequence of notes- the sequence of music. Some go high, some low, but they all come out beautiful. Just as our lives- things wave in and some things crash against us hard, others crash against lightly, but it's always a process. And its a good one. So Papa, right now in Jesus name, I ask for waves of grace, or joy, or anything that these dear friends of mine need. I ask God that you would wave over them mightily so they would know you and feel you. AMEN.
Along with waves, I noticed that when I turned around to look back at my footprints, they were gone. See all those past mistakes I made, after the new wave comes- God has washed those things away. The footprints disappear.. the things are washed away. God washes over these things with his waves.
-->Bubbles, yes bubbles. On Sunday morning, I went for a walk on the shore. I just allowed the waves to crash over me (some sadly even crashed over my jeans- I hate wet jeans, for the record) and my feet. But I observed something-- when some of the waves came onto the sand and the wave departed some of the sand bubbled and cracked and made mini not much bigger than a bebe holes in the sand that bubbled. It was the coolest yet weirdest cracking noise I had ever heard. As soon as I started hearing the bubbles God revealed to me that that is what our Spirits do once God has healed something- after a wave, a big wave of his presence, his joy, his anything- our souls bubble. Our souls bubble through song, but it bubbles in our inner man and we feel it. Our Spirits respond to this wave and its always awesome. I love when things in my life bubble because I can get excited about them. I get excited about the little bubbles and the way God bubbles inside of me. You should hear this sometime!
--> When the waves departed, many of them left remnants. What are these remnants you ask? SEASHELLS. The ocean produces lovely things. Think for a moment about everything that the ocean possesses and even the things that we can visibly see out of it! Fish, shells, Sand dollars, Lobster, Dolphins.. so much more! It's lovely. God then spoke to me and showed me that whenever the ocean waves come forth in our lives, he always leaves a beautiful "ocean print" in our lives. When I turned around to walk back to my hotel, I saw the line on the sand where the last wave had settled. At this place was a line and it was visible. I know that whenever God works on me, he leaves a "print." These prints are so beautiful! The waves also left sea shells or for my representation- the things that he leaves in us. Some many times in my life instead of fear- he has replaced it with joy and peace. Instead of heaviness- he deposits peace. After waves come through our lives- those trials- those important things- he deposits new and exciting things in us (like seashells and prints). It's cool. Can you make a list of the cool things that God has deposited in you- do you see the print that he has made in you? Honestly, I know and understand that it can be so hard sometimes to see where the print is or where the good things are BUT I PROMISE YOU THAT THEY ARE THERE. Why you ask? Because God promised them!!!! SO COOL! 2 Cor 1:20 says... For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. So cling to those promises, cling to those prints. He is working in and through you, I know because I hope in those things!
God deposits things in some pretty cool ways- He leaves these prints on our hearts- they are lovely! One sign that was on the beach said "please only leave your footprints". I long for this in my life- Jesus, please leave your footprints and whatever else you want to pour into me!
--> At work, I have put a sea shell. I noticed on my Sunday morning walk that I got overwhelmed and in awe of the awesome colors inside of the shell-- then I would flip the shell to the outside. It was not until today that I realized how much our society only looks at the outside, when truly truly the inside of us contain the beautiful jewels- the rich colors. I ended up picking up all the dirty and what I considered not so attractive shells to remind me that God looks at our inside- the beautiful jewels, the treasure <3> SON burn- Jesus- can you burn inside of us and give us a SON burn? One that takes the deepest parts of our hearts, souls, and minds? Please? Thank you.
So here are my beach rantings. I am so blessed to say that this is not the least of what God revealed to me this weekend. Jesus is awesome! I am excited to see how God continues to talk to me inside this context. Below is a song that God had play across my IPOD right before I left.. here is the chorus.. it has been humming in my mind for the past few days:
Your LOVE is like by Rick Pino
Your love is like the rain
Falling on my soul
It's covering every place
Making gardens grow
The sweetness overflows
Pouring from your lips
The kisses from above
Let the heavens drip
Let 'em drip down
Let 'em drip down
Pre-Chorus
Your love is like the ocean
I'm drowning in your presence
Your love is like the ocean
I'm drowning in your presence
Chorus
Getting lost in the gaze of your eyes
Getting lost in the warmth of your smile (2x)
Verse 2
Your love is like a room
Full of precious jewels
It takes my breath away
There's riches beyond words
When it's just me and you
I can't remember storms
All I can do
Is melt into your arms
This song became REAL to me on the beach- the warmth of him and his smile was with me.. IT was WONDERFUL!
All my love,
Allison
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Blessings
What are you thankful for? What are the blessings in your life?
Sometimes I begin to cry when I think of all the blessings I have in my life. When I look at Bella or outside at the sky or even when I have an amazing conversation with someone, I feel blessed. It's so heavy and its so beautiful!
Today is Father's Day. When I think of all of what my Heavenly Father has done for me- I get teary eyed. For the past few days, my IPOD has been on repeat with the song "Oh how he loves us". He is jealous for ME! Love is like a HURRICANE! I am a TREE being blow and whipped around by that love. Bending beneath the weight of his GLORY and MERCY! When I look at myself six months ago, I ache for how lost I was- so far from my Heavenly Father's heart, so far from his will. The chains, the baggage that I carried. The lies the enemy told me that got me down. But ya know what's cool- I no longer have to look back at these things! These things are GONE-FORGIVEN-BOUGHT by the BLOOD and WOUNDS of my Perfect Jesus. He's such a good PAPA! He never lets me fall from His eye, He never lets me be removed from him, He is SMITTEN with love for me! FOR ME! (and for you.) Smitten- do you even know what that really means? It means grievously or disastrously stricken or afflicted, struck as with a hard blow OR very much in LOVE. Personally I think each of these describe the Father's love for us. He is grievously stricken with us, He was afflicted for us, Whenever we sin- he takes it as a hard blow. His heart loves us so much! HE love us so much. He is such a Great dad! He is always there for us, whenever we call, whatever were going through, He loves to bring His Kingdom to us! He loves to bring his TRUTH to us. He wants us, He longs for us. He is stubborn- he will NOT give up on us. This week I was feeling very stubborn. Very stubborn on some issues, but when I realized that God is EVEN more stubborn than I am- I laughed a little. Ya know what's cool about God or I think? Is that he is stubborn- but in His STUBBORNNESS- in his fixed or set in purpose or opinion of us- HE pursues us! He never gives up. If we sit around a circle and tell our stories of how we truly began to fall in love with the Father, how he PURSUED us, how he took everything out of us and away from us- It's all different. He is so stubborn to get us, to make us see His love, he never gives up. He runs passionately towards us, He takes the spear to the enemy, He has won all of the battles. That is the blessing that we each share. Putting onto a blog makes me realize even more the BEST blessing I ever have. And honestly words cannot describe the feelings that I feel when I think and meditate upon this. So I challenge you to meditate upon these truths also. I know it can be hard to believe the truths in the midst of the storms, but the Truth always holds out.. For sure.
Blessed, blessed, blessed. Favored, anointed. Another blessing that I have is to have amazing parents who love Jesus. Always, always praying for me and wanting God's best for my life. I think today about the ones who a) never had these influences-either a mother or a father- in their lives OR b) the ones who have lost these individuals. I am so blessed to say that these are not circumstances, but I feel for these losses. I have friends who face these every day and I see their pain. My mouth is so quick sometimes to complain about my circumstances or about the annoying parts of this part of life, however, in all honestly- Why do I complain? Okay back on subject: My parents are awesome! They are wonderful! They support me, they challenge me, but most importantly they pray for me. I forget how awesome it is that they NEVER walked away from me, they never turned there back on me, they were always there to hug me, to love me, to forgive me. It's beautiful. Mom and Dad, thank you so much for your support and for the most, your prayers that got me through the dark days, I appreciate it more than anything you will ever know. I LOVE YOU!
Another blessing I am so thankful for is my crazy friends! I am beginning to realize the depth of our friendships and even the uniqueness that God put inside of each of us! I love the ways that we all interact with each other differently and that no TWO are the same in friendship or even in communication. We each compliment each other and the support that comes from these individuals is beyond amazing. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I realized that we go to different individuals for different things and that we each are good at those things and that others are good at their own things. Whether its DS that totally takes us into heavenly places with his worship through guitar and who speaks words of life. What a testimony I have with this individual. Everytime I am around him, I realize that God has truly restored what the enemy intended for evil. This friendship has definitely seen it's bad days, but praise God for this AMAZING man of God that is anointed and destined to do great things. Or whether its Mr. ZP an amazing brother who prays for people, encourages them, connects them, and just loves on them. Or TH who can FIX anything! Or CM who totally rocks the world's socks off with her art and her love for others is amazing! OR SM who just is a momma at heart and whose joy just challenges you. Or JC who has grown and continues to grow.. or DD who loves ketchup and lots of it.. who I am beginning to learn more about- her independence intrigues me. Or AR who sends me random packages :) Or AC and SS who stuck by me in college and made me laugh in crazy ways. or DG who wow the wisdom and revelation Papa places on him is BEAUTIFUL! or AH who she just has such a heart for people and the world. I love seeing her organize things at church and her love humbles me! These are just a few of the amazing blessings in my life. They surprise me in new ways every single day and I thank God for them every day.
Bella- what a joy! Whether she is eating my flip flop or running with the dogs or waking me up at 5:30 in the morning- I love her and I love being a dog owner. She has taught me that mere things are replaceable but that the things in the Kingdom are not.. that these are the things that I should run after and long for.
It's interesting because these are just a few of the overwhelming blessings in my life. I love the way that God will continue to grow, change and work in each of these things. I look forward to the new revelation that God will give me in this area. The sweet newness that is coming. But thank you Papa for you! Thank you that you pursue me, that you love me, that none of us were a mistake. Thank you Papa for these incredible blessings you have placed in my life! I thank you that I am never satisfied with the luke warm, but that I just want your heart, your joy, and every aspect that you will and do pour into me. I love you! I love you and I thank you with every single bit of me! Teach us, pour into us, and bring fresh revelation to us.
Sometimes I begin to cry when I think of all the blessings I have in my life. When I look at Bella or outside at the sky or even when I have an amazing conversation with someone, I feel blessed. It's so heavy and its so beautiful!
Today is Father's Day. When I think of all of what my Heavenly Father has done for me- I get teary eyed. For the past few days, my IPOD has been on repeat with the song "Oh how he loves us". He is jealous for ME! Love is like a HURRICANE! I am a TREE being blow and whipped around by that love. Bending beneath the weight of his GLORY and MERCY! When I look at myself six months ago, I ache for how lost I was- so far from my Heavenly Father's heart, so far from his will. The chains, the baggage that I carried. The lies the enemy told me that got me down. But ya know what's cool- I no longer have to look back at these things! These things are GONE-FORGIVEN-BOUGHT by the BLOOD and WOUNDS of my Perfect Jesus. He's such a good PAPA! He never lets me fall from His eye, He never lets me be removed from him, He is SMITTEN with love for me! FOR ME! (and for you.) Smitten- do you even know what that really means? It means grievously or disastrously stricken or afflicted, struck as with a hard blow OR very much in LOVE. Personally I think each of these describe the Father's love for us. He is grievously stricken with us, He was afflicted for us, Whenever we sin- he takes it as a hard blow. His heart loves us so much! HE love us so much. He is such a Great dad! He is always there for us, whenever we call, whatever were going through, He loves to bring His Kingdom to us! He loves to bring his TRUTH to us. He wants us, He longs for us. He is stubborn- he will NOT give up on us. This week I was feeling very stubborn. Very stubborn on some issues, but when I realized that God is EVEN more stubborn than I am- I laughed a little. Ya know what's cool about God or I think? Is that he is stubborn- but in His STUBBORNNESS- in his fixed or set in purpose or opinion of us- HE pursues us! He never gives up. If we sit around a circle and tell our stories of how we truly began to fall in love with the Father, how he PURSUED us, how he took everything out of us and away from us- It's all different. He is so stubborn to get us, to make us see His love, he never gives up. He runs passionately towards us, He takes the spear to the enemy, He has won all of the battles. That is the blessing that we each share. Putting onto a blog makes me realize even more the BEST blessing I ever have. And honestly words cannot describe the feelings that I feel when I think and meditate upon this. So I challenge you to meditate upon these truths also. I know it can be hard to believe the truths in the midst of the storms, but the Truth always holds out.. For sure.
Blessed, blessed, blessed. Favored, anointed. Another blessing that I have is to have amazing parents who love Jesus. Always, always praying for me and wanting God's best for my life. I think today about the ones who a) never had these influences-either a mother or a father- in their lives OR b) the ones who have lost these individuals. I am so blessed to say that these are not circumstances, but I feel for these losses. I have friends who face these every day and I see their pain. My mouth is so quick sometimes to complain about my circumstances or about the annoying parts of this part of life, however, in all honestly- Why do I complain? Okay back on subject: My parents are awesome! They are wonderful! They support me, they challenge me, but most importantly they pray for me. I forget how awesome it is that they NEVER walked away from me, they never turned there back on me, they were always there to hug me, to love me, to forgive me. It's beautiful. Mom and Dad, thank you so much for your support and for the most, your prayers that got me through the dark days, I appreciate it more than anything you will ever know. I LOVE YOU!
Another blessing I am so thankful for is my crazy friends! I am beginning to realize the depth of our friendships and even the uniqueness that God put inside of each of us! I love the ways that we all interact with each other differently and that no TWO are the same in friendship or even in communication. We each compliment each other and the support that comes from these individuals is beyond amazing. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I realized that we go to different individuals for different things and that we each are good at those things and that others are good at their own things. Whether its DS that totally takes us into heavenly places with his worship through guitar and who speaks words of life. What a testimony I have with this individual. Everytime I am around him, I realize that God has truly restored what the enemy intended for evil. This friendship has definitely seen it's bad days, but praise God for this AMAZING man of God that is anointed and destined to do great things. Or whether its Mr. ZP an amazing brother who prays for people, encourages them, connects them, and just loves on them. Or TH who can FIX anything! Or CM who totally rocks the world's socks off with her art and her love for others is amazing! OR SM who just is a momma at heart and whose joy just challenges you. Or JC who has grown and continues to grow.. or DD who loves ketchup and lots of it.. who I am beginning to learn more about- her independence intrigues me. Or AR who sends me random packages :) Or AC and SS who stuck by me in college and made me laugh in crazy ways. or DG who wow the wisdom and revelation Papa places on him is BEAUTIFUL! or AH who she just has such a heart for people and the world. I love seeing her organize things at church and her love humbles me! These are just a few of the amazing blessings in my life. They surprise me in new ways every single day and I thank God for them every day.
Bella- what a joy! Whether she is eating my flip flop or running with the dogs or waking me up at 5:30 in the morning- I love her and I love being a dog owner. She has taught me that mere things are replaceable but that the things in the Kingdom are not.. that these are the things that I should run after and long for.
It's interesting because these are just a few of the overwhelming blessings in my life. I love the way that God will continue to grow, change and work in each of these things. I look forward to the new revelation that God will give me in this area. The sweet newness that is coming. But thank you Papa for you! Thank you that you pursue me, that you love me, that none of us were a mistake. Thank you Papa for these incredible blessings you have placed in my life! I thank you that I am never satisfied with the luke warm, but that I just want your heart, your joy, and every aspect that you will and do pour into me. I love you! I love you and I thank you with every single bit of me! Teach us, pour into us, and bring fresh revelation to us.
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