Learning to live for HIS glory

So . . . you may be thinking strange title, strange picture, where in the WORLD is Allison going with this?!  Well, the thing is, Allison isn't going anywhere in the world with this.  She's going to the Maker of the world with this.  Yeah.  As in, life His way in His hand is an adventure, and it's kind of like bubbles in the dark.  (By the way, photo credits go to my awesome sister Abigail.)  Kind of like bubbles in the dark . . . Ok, I'll tell you what I mean by that.  Go back up and look at the picture.  Imagine, that it's completely pitch black except for the light you can see in the bubbles.  I didn't stay up till midnight to blow the bubbles, so you're not getting the perfect effect, but it's close.  Ok, with that picture in your mind lets look at my life right now . . . The inspiration for this post came after a conversati on I just had with my wonderful mother.  I was telling her that I really don't feel like I have a ...

I caught a glimpse of heaven,  And when I did, it made me want to stop and stay. I caught a glimpse of heaven, It brought tears to my eyes just the other day. Tears of mixed joy and sorrow, Tears because of beauty, And tears because of pain. Bittersweet--that's all that I can say--glimpsing heaven is bittersweet for me. Have you ever had a moment like that?  A moment when just briefly you feel at peace and as if all the world around you is at peace?  A moment when you sigh and say, "this, this is what heaven must be like." Well every so often I have a moment like that, a moment where I feel like I just catch a slight glimpse of the joy and peace I'll experience when I one day see my Savior.  Just a tiny taste of what life will be like forever in heaven. I had a moment like that just recently.  I was in New York at a lake in the fall.  It was a beautiful day, the sun was just beginning to set, the water was peaceful, the leaves were all differe...

Lately God has been challenging me with my perspective.  This is the question that He's brought to my mind . . . how many times a day do I say "I", or think "I"?  And how does that compare to how often I talk about or think about God?  Ouch.  It's a convicting question . . . and I want to let that conviction change me, rather than just forgetting about it.  Is my focus on God and His glory, or am I falling into the trap of focusing on myself?  My Discipleship Counseling class is what has been spurring my thoughts on this.  I love this quote from the author of Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands , Paul David Tripp, "We do not suffer well, because suffering interferes with our glory.  We do not find relationships easy, because others compete with us for glory.  We do not serve well, because in our quest for glory, we want to be served.  But the story of Scripture is the story of the Lord's glory.  It calls me to an agenda that is big...

I saw the words to this song while looking at books (don't ask), and fell in love with it . . . it's challenging, but something I want to be living up to.  I want people to be able to tell I'm in love with my Savior . . . "What a beautiful smile A radiant girl Fell in love first time I saw her She stays on my mind I’d give anything To know everything about her There’s light in her eyes And I know it’s all for Him She carries on and on Like He was her best friend She’s in love It’s not hard to see But I would like to believe it was with me Someone got a hold of her heart And He won’t let go And I know She’s in love She looks to the sky When she talks about Him She believes He hung the moon Said He had to go away She waits for His return Says He’s coming for her soon How can this be fair? This Guy can walk on water Don’t guess I’ve got a prayer He’s written love letters - to reach her  She worships the ground He walks on ...

This morning, during devotions with the teams one of our team leaders from this week shared something that really got me thinking. He asked the question, "how big is your God?" Not, "how big is God?" because we all know that God is huge. He holds the entire universe in the palm of His hand. Instead He asked, "how big is YOUR God?" . . . do you limit God in the way you think about Him or in what you believe He can actually do in your life? It got me thinking . . . because I do serve the God who holds the universe in the palm of His hand, the God who knows the name of every single person who lives on this earth--who has ever lived on this earth, but do I act like it? Do I think that way? Do I pray that way? Do I talk that way? How big is my God?

Last night I had a meeting about something I was considering pursuing this fall. I went to watch someone that I was thinking about shadowing in action. I fully expected that I would continue to pursue this area of work by being a shadow. My expectations weren't met. When the evening ended I clearly realized that this was not the area for me. It's not where my gifts and passions best fit. A little frustrating? At first . . . yes, but as I mulled it over I came to the realization that I'm thankful for God's direction in this way. Even though it means I have even less of an idea of what I want to do, it means He is directing. That's so exciting! So . . . that brings me to this verse, the title of my blog. "Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left" (Isaiah 30:21 NASB). No, I didn't hear an audible voice, but I could tell God was leading me--not into the way I ha...

As God continues to guide me in learning this lesson of trust, He's also brought a new lesson along. That of waiting. Not rushing ahead and trying to do things on my own. Not being so busy that I barely have the time to be still. It's so easy you know . . . so easy to fill my life with this and that, going here, organizing this, pursuing that. There's just so much that you can fill life with! But that's not where God wants me--He wants me at the feet of Jesus, studying His word and listening for His still small voice. He wants me to be like Mary and not like Martha. Not so easy for a firstborn . . . But I'm learning, at least I hope I am! I'm starting to really find joy in just spending time with Jesus. Starting to want to spend more time with Him than I do, rather than being bored during the time I do spend with Him. Don't get me wrong . . . it's still a struggle. I still catch myself filling my day with things that just aren't as importa...