Momming Ain’t Easy

     “Momming ain’t easy” – the phrase that launched 1,000 t-shirts (and mugs and lettered signs and totes and instagram posts).  As I sit here with my lukewarm coffee (because I couldn’t get to it this morning) and my recorded shows (because I couldn’t watch them live), I’m reminded in the smallest way that “momming ain’t easy.” 

     It’s waking up impossibly early because when else can you look your husband in the face without a certain small someone demanding all.the.things. It’s hiding your face when your toddler does something so terrible (that’s also hilarious). It’s drawing the line between terrible and hilarious and watching your toddler jump over it, stomp it, walk on it, and laugh. It’s reciting Little Blue Truck from memory 572,156,985 times. It’s the joy in seeing your baby run to you after a long day at work. It’s the heartbreak of knowing that you don’t have it all together and the desperate hope that your failures won’t be what shape his little heart.

          We have these days. We have these moments. We have this time. And it’s fleeting. Is it any wonder we’re so exhausted all the time? We’re doing everything we can to do as much as we can to do the best we can because we don’t get this back. We will always be moms, but we don’t always have this. That’s “momming.” That desperate feeling that’s a sort of mix of joy and fear and happiness and most of all love. Thinking of someone else from the minute your eyes open until they drift closed in the middle of that show you thought you would make it through.

     Motherhood is the best gift and the most challenging role. We know our babies like no one else on this earth, but we have to watch them grow into their own. Sometimes it’s the most rewarding thing I could ever imagine! That beautiful little boy who is so funny and smart and independent is really mine, and I get the joy of teaching him! Other times it’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done. That wild little boy who is so loud and willfull and independent is really mine, and I get the job of disciplining him!

     We don’t get to separate our role into joy and fear. We claim it all and lay it at the feet of Jesus because He is the only One who can take this job and redeem our efforts. We aren’t doing this alone because He has equipped us with a team. We have husbands and sisters and mothers of our own. We have friends and leaders and mentors. We have resources of every kind, but most of all we have the Holy Spirit who empowers us and enables us and upholds us.

     I am so thankful that I don’t have to take on this task alone. My best efforts as a mother are absolute failure apart from Him. I am blessed beyond measure that this walk that is motherhood and life is not mine to do alone. I can “take captive every thought (and day and effort and failure) and make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). That is what He desires from me, that I take my whole life, motherhood included, and lay it at His feet as a sacrifice. A day to honor mothers is a beautiful thing, but how much more beautiful that we honor the Lord with our calling as mothers?

Christmastime is Here

     It is really and truly the most wonderful time of the year!  We’ve been decorated since a few days before Thanksgiving, and it’s all I can do to drag myself away from the decorations to go to the mailbox, or grocery shop, or work.  I’m in favor of a worldwide, month long holiday for all of December so we can settle in and be cozy.  Who’s with me?

     Our tree…oh our tree.  So we bought our tree at Lowe’s Thanksgiving night.  It was dark. It was rainy. I ran a buggy into the sliding glass door on the way out and knocked it off the runner.  Once we got this thing home…y’all, I think it kept growing.  I think it’s still growing!
     It’s kind of bald and skeleton-y, but it has charmed me.  It’s significantly more humongous than our tree last year, and it was not easy to attach ornaments to it…but its personality has spoken to me!

     

     My shelves are probably my favorite part of our entire house. They make everything feel so cozy and inviting, and I love decorating them for Christmas.  The giant nativity on the left is on loan from my mother.  My Nana made it, and it is huge. the camels are probably the size of a kitten.  The mantel is much more full this year, but I stuck with the “woodland Christmas” theme from last year. The shelf on the right has been one of the most fun little nooks in the house! Davis’s Christmas books and toys are on full display, and he has had the best time playing with them.

     I bought Davis several Christmas books at TJ Maxx right around Thanksgiving, and when I got home and started opening boxes to decorate, I found all of these that I had totally forgotten about from last year!  He is still really into his nativities, and will even find baby Jesus and tell me that he has a blanket and is in a “manket” (manger)…then he stares at me until I sing Away in a Manger…

     

     That wraps up the living room.  It is so homey and glowy and perfectly us.  We don’t do fancy Christmas at our house.  We do gaudy, overdone, and busy, and we LIKE it!

     The dining room hasn’t changed much since last year.  We still have the carpet.  We still don’t have chairs.  I did add a giant mirror, so there’s that.

 

          I also added a giant green cabinet and the basket tray.  Weirdly enough, our dining room houses some of my favorite things in the whole house, but still hasn’t quite gelled in my mind yet…I think it’s the carpet.

     The kitchen has a few little happies sprinkled around, but it’s mostly the same as last year.  We’ve got the sparkly bow on our front door wreath and the ceramic carolers (also made by Nana) in the back bathroom…because who doesn’t need to be serenaded in there?

     I am so thankful to have this home and this life to do Christmas in.  When Davis gets excited to play with his nativities, my heart could burst!  The fact that he knows baby Jesus is in a “manket” is almost too much for me.  I know it’s just a “trick” right now, but more than that, it’s a foundation.  How marvelous, how wonderful, how incredible that our God wrote His story for all of us. As an adult I experience a new aspect of Christmas every year, but it’s simple enough for our children!  As I get older, I’m more and more aware of the fact that it’s not the “Christmas story.” These were real people who lived a real life in a real place in service of a REAL God. 

     The same God who formed the earth is the same God who sent his only Son to the broken world, and He is the same God who is still writing His story!  I am in awe of His first coming, and filled with hope and joy at what He is still doing and will do when He comes again.  Christmas is the best kind of reset for our spirits.  A time to rest and refocus on the fact that the Jesus in the manger, however lovely, however worthy, however precious will not return as a gentle baby but as a conquering King!  We will turn our eyes on Him in a wholly new kind of reverence and awe!  I can’t wait!  Christmas isn’t the end of our year, and it’s not the end of the story.  It is the most beautiful beginning!

Merry Christmas!

Do Good Moms Feel Frustrated

Your grace abounds in deepest waters

Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You never fail
And You won't start now

And I will call upon Your Name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours
And You are mine

Hillsong United

     Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard this song at church lately.  It's kind of having a moment, and there are about a million blog posts about why we should or shouldn't sing it.  This is not one of those.  This is a post born of a busy morning and a fussy baby.

     Davis is really a very good baby...but he has his moments.  Don't we all?  Yesterday I decided bottles were no more (so this is mostly my fault anyway).  He woke up, got breakfast and a cup, and unleashed his inner Allyson.  He screamed for the cup only to throw it on the floor.  A few times it got hung on the edge of his chair, so he screamed until he could loosen it...and throw it.

This is not a big deal!

     I know full well that this is not a stressful morning.  I should have picked up the cup, put it away, and let Davis finish his banana in peace.  

I didn't.

     I let myself get to thinking that he wasn't ever going to take a cup.  He was going to be underweight at his next appointment.  He was going to feel hungry and yucky and act ugly at school (and then what would people think of me?!).  Furthermore, why wouldn't he eat a better meal and stay full longer?  Why haven't I switched him to whole milk yet?  Do good moms know when the right time to do that is?  Do good moms feel frustrated?  Do good moms leave pacis and lovies and their sunglasses in the house and have to turn the car off and on three times to go back into the house?

I'm asking for a friend...that's never happened to me...

     I love Davis more than I could ever express, but babies can break you.  Let me reiterate that yesterday morning should not have been stressful.  The events really weren't.  The lie was.

A hectic morning means you're a bad mom.

Why didn't you have everything together early?  You're lazy.

You're going to be late.  You'll have a bad day.  Bad day = failure.

You're not really good at this.  You'll never get it together.

     Maybe I'm crazy (scratch that maybe), but the truth is that the enemy knows my weaknesses.  He knew that a hectic morning was the perfect time to whisper lies.  He knew that those lies would hurt.  He knew where to sow fear and anxiety and resentment.  

Motherhood is deep water, y'all.

      My heart wants to do what is best for Davis every minute.  I have such a hard time separating my actions from his behavior.  It's so easy to think that every time he's fussy it's my fault.  Every unfinished bottle or meal is my fault.  Every time he's not perfect, it's my fault.  The lies and the fear and the anxiety are deep.

But that depth is where His Grace abounds!

He meets us there.

     He is Grace.  He establishes us and affirms us and upholds us through busy mornings and the enemy's lies.  He speaks His Truth in the face of the enemy even when we can't.  He doesn't magnify our failures and our struggles.

     The truth is that is wouldn't matter if I had a perfect house or a perfect baby or a perfect family or a perfect life.  My sufficiency can never come from myself.  2 Corinthians 3:5 (ESV) speaks clearly.

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.

     I had a great morning today.  I was ready and dressed and had the bed made early...but Davis didn't take his cup.  My sufficiency wasn't from the made bed or the fact that my eyeliner matched on both eyes today.  My sufficiency comes from Jesus only.  He quiets the lies.  He quiets my heart.

Because no post is complete without a picture.

I’m Amazed

     One day late – Happy Easter!  We had such a great weekend celebrating at church and with family.  I was reminded over and over again the serve a living God who took on this life and  a very real death to overcome for us.  I’m amazed.  I’m always amazed.  God has been been doing an extra great job of reminding me of Himself lately. 

Sorry for the fuzzy phone picture…I left my camera at home.

     I was so pleased (gigantic understatement) that we actually had nice weather for Easter!  Usually it’s kind of cold and dreary, but Sunday was absolutely perfect.  The kind of springtime you wish would stick around for awhile.  Now that we’ve officially turned the corner as far as the weather goes, I’ve warned Keith that my clothes will be getting progressively brighter as the weeks pass.  What is springtime if not a chance to look like a flower?  I’ve packed away all of my winter clothes and will be frolicking about in seersucker, bright colors, floral prints, and every other Southern springtime cliché.  If they made smocked dresses for grown people I might throw that on too…kidding. 
     I hope to be out, about, and doing a little more now that being outside doesn’t give me the seasonal depression.  I’ve got big plans for the next few months, and if you’re lucky, I might share them with you…or forget and bring you up to speed later.

April Updates

     In the time I’m not blogging, I’m living life…or sitting on the couch.  For instance, today, Keith and I took his favorite new toy out to the lake and went fishing.  Correction: he went fishing, and I went sitting in the sun.

     Keith was a little (a lot) disappointed by the wind and lack of biting fish.  I, on the other hand, was quite thrilled with the sun…as evidenced by my super cute new tan lines.  I’m considering this little trip my “school is almost over, and I’m really tired, but I can make it to the end of the year” trip.
     We needed a little break this weekend after the heavy sort of week we had.  You know I usually keep things pretty light over here on le blog, but we’ve had a rough week.  My sweet Nana passed away this Tuesday, and even though we have incredible peace to know that she is in Heaven, it’s still pretty sad here.  To say she was a character is an incredibly ridiculous understatement, and we are definitely missing her.  I am very thankful that our God answers prayers and that we do not have a “peace allowance” that can be used up.  When we ask, He answers.  Period.  Isn’t that incredible?  My  mind has been on Heaven a lot lately, and I have had such joy thinking of  what God has in store for us.

     In other news…less than 30 days left of the school year.  What?!  I can’t believe it.  Cannot.  Believe. It.  Am I the only one just about to burst ready for some warm weather and relaxation?  I can almost hear summer calling my name.

Wordless-ish

 

via, via

Can I get an amen?

via

Posted it before…posting it again.  Saying it all day like a mantra.

Worship Under the Stars

     Last night my church hosted Worship Under the Stars, a community worship event.  We partnered with several area churches to sing praise and celebrate.

via

     We had the best time.  The choir included about 400 people from different churches, and the crowd had about 2,000!  The whole event was held at a local outdoor amphitheater, and I was so encouraged to see (and hear) everyone come together.

From top left: (1) the crowd picnicking before the concert, (2) just before we started, (3) the choir…the part I could see anyway, (4) the amphitheater, (5 & 6) the final song, “Let the Light Shine,” everyone had glowsticks!

     I wish all of you could have been there!  Before the concert there was a picnic, jumpers for the kids, and a petting zoo.  I know it seems redundant, but I was so excited to watch as the Lord worked everything out for us.  We were blessed with no rain and temperatures that were not quite as hot as they could have been (but still pretty warm). 
     Even though I had been going nonstop all day long, I was so glad to spend the last few hours of my night here.  My heart is so full right now!

     One final thought for today that I have really been mulling over (and loving)…

via

Encouragement All Around

     With only forty days until the wedding, I am definitely starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I have been doing my best to enjoy my last carefree days before all the responsibility of being a real grown up gets here, but I’m just too excited!  This Saturday I had my first shower, and we had such a great time.  Keith’s aunts were kind enough to host a shower for his side of the family, and it could not have been sweeter.  I loved getting to meet so much of the family while they loved on us.

I am not lying when I say this is the best picture of me from the whole day…

     I’m not going to bore you with billions of pictures of stuff, but I am so excited to start really building my home!  My kitchen is really starting to look like a real kitchen…I’ll have to get pictures soon.

     As per usual, I’m going to totally switch gears here.  Church this morning was incredible.  We sang “Down in the River to Pray,” which I absolutely love, and even though the sermon was more for mothers, it was so filled with resonant Biblical truth.  The sermon came out of James (one of my favorite books), but to illustrate a point, our pastor referenced a Lamentations 3:22 – 23.

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

     I know I’ve heard this before, but today “we are not consumed” went straight to my heart.  I spend a lot way too much time saying that I feel overwhelmed, but the truth is that I cannot be consumed or overwhelmed or overtaken.  How’s that for encouragement?  I’m going to spend some time really meditating on that.  We are not consumed.

This one is totally unrelated to the post, but too cute not to share.  I love this girl.

Here I Go

Great I Am

I want to be close, close to Your side
So Heaven is real and death is a lie
I want to hear voices of angels above
Singing as one

Hallelujah, holy, holy
God Almighty, the great I AM
Who is worthy, none beside Thee
God Almighty, the great I AM

I want to be near, near to Your heart
Loving the world and hating the dark
I want to see dry bones living again
Singing as one

Hallelujah, holy, holy
God Almighty, the great I AM
Who is worthy, none beside Thee
God Almighty, the great I AM

The mountains shake before You the demons run in fear
At the mention of the name King of Majesty
There is no power in hell
Or any who can stand
Before the power and the presence of the great I AM

Hallelujah, holy, holy
God Almighty, the great I AM
Who is worthy, none beside Thee
God Almighty, the great I AM
.
Phillips, Craig, & Dean

     We sang this in church this morning.  Sometimes I wish I could put all of you in my pocket (because my dress has pockets) and take you with me.  Just think about those lyrics for a second.  “Heaven is real, and death is a lie.”  I love that.
     “I want to see dry bones living again.”  I want to be dry bones living again.  I had never read that passage (in Ezekiel) until a year or so ago, and I found it so convicting.  Our God can breathe life into dry bones and hard hearts and all of us.
     This really encouraged me this morning.  I have been kind of discouraged the past few days with the whole job situation and just feeling kind of stuck.  I really struggle with feeling so called to be a teacher and just a little more settled in life and not being able to get there right now, but our service this morning spoke to God’s call to His followers.  Sometimes He calls us with no explanations…and we just have to follow.  I don’t understand this stage I’m in, but I’m called to remain faithful.  It is not easy…and I really don’t like it, but I’m called to remain faithful. 

He promised that His plans are for to prosper us.  I know it’s true.  It’s time to start believing it.  Here I go.

100% My Heart

     So excited for this Girl Behind the Blog day!  First things first, I love Ashley from 5OhWifey and Kerrie from The Williams Post.  If you don’t read their blogs…go now. 
     Back now?  Good.  On to today’s post.  Today’s prompt is about our favorite holiday traditions, and oh boy is that right up my alley!  I. Love. Christmas.  Naturally I have to share my faves with y’all.  Full disclosure: my video is a little too long (not too much).  Also full disclosure: I’m not apologizing for the length, because what I shared is 100% my heart at Christmastime.

Let’s have a little introduction for all you cuties who are new here!

     I’m Allyson.  You can read the condensed version of me here.  The longer version is shared in drips and drops all along the way.  I love getting to link up and meet new bloggers.  I hope you’ll stick around for a little bit!

Without further ado…

Thanks for hanging out with me today!  I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas.

    

Also...you must go check out this adorable DIY teacher gift from my sweet sponsor Kristin!  Loving it!

Prayers for Connecticut

     I was fully prepared to spend the next few weeks posting about Christmas and all of the fun things going on, but before we can get there, I feel so led to post about the tragedy in Connecticut.  To put it lightly, like all of you, I am overwhelmed with sadness at this senseless act.  I am in the middle of applying for teaching jobs; I just finished student teaching, and I cannot even begin to fathom losing my sweet kiddies to this kind of event.  My heart is just broken over the loss of such innocent lives.
     I just graduated, but I will always remember that one of the first things I learned in my education classes is that children should feel safe at school.  We are not always sure of their home lives, but we should strive to make school a safe place.  How devastating that the safety of the school building has been shattered for so many children.  For the past few days, I have been in almost constant prayer for the victims, their families, and the community of Newtown.  Overwhelming is truly the only word that comes to mind.
     My heart hurts for the families and for the community. I don’t yet have my own children, but I have been in so many classrooms. I may not know the love a mother has for her child, but I know the love a teacher has for her students.

Heavenly Father,
I pray that You will give the families of the victims
and the community of Newtown
that peace that only You can give…
the one that passes all understanding.
I pray that out of this tragedy,
You will create something so beautiful.
Heal those who are broken.
Shower them in Your love.
Fill them with peace and hope.
Fill our nation with hope.
Do Your will.
Comfort the parents and the families;
let them know beyond a shadow of a doubt
that those sweet babies are in Heaven.
They are being held by Your Father
and will never hurt again.

     Regardless of where you fall politically, this is a tragedy.  Lives are shattered,and their hope does not come from legislation.  Their hope can come only from the Lord.  These families need an outpouring of love.  I am committed to lifting them up in prayer.  Please pray; that is the most far-reaching, powerful thing we can do for them right now.  Pray, pray, pray.

Dear Jesus,

It's a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.

These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.

The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?

Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.

Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.

Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.

This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.

Hopefully,
Your Children
via

Project Thanksgiving

     Yesterday I started my little thanksgiving experiment.  I made it a point to stop several times during the day just to thank God for His timing…even when I don’t like it.  Results?

It worked.

     The more time I spent just thanking Him (as opposed to asking Him to fit His plans to mine), the more thankful I became.  To be honest, the first few times I stopped to pray were pretty hard.  I found my mind drifting to the questions instead of the thanks.  The more I did it though…the more I liked it.
     For day two…

Tuesday
God’s Provision

    
via

     Whatever God provides…is enough.  That is the truth.  In whatever situation, I must be content…because it’s His will.  I know these sentences are sounding choppy, but there is so much truth in this kind of simplicity. 
     I can be thankful because His provision is always enough.  I am called to be thankful.  I’m spending today being thankful for God’s provision simply because it is enough.  Always.

The Thief of Joy

     Hold on everybody…this week I’m going to get really honest.  Yesterday our sermon was about thankfulness…not a surprise.  What did surprise me was how thankless I’ve been feeling.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving, but the last few weeks have really been a struggle for me.  Given the season (and because I need this), I’m going to focus on thanksgiving (the act, not the holiday) for the next week.  I’m choosing one blessing each day, and I am going to meditate on that and pray on it and thank God for it with my whole heart.  Let’s get started…

Monday
God’s Timing

     I’m jumping in with both feet.   I’m also anticipating that this won’t be the easiest ever post to write…so I’m going to start with a list.
     1.  Salvation
     2.  Keith
     3.  College
     4.  Job
     5.  Marriage
    
     These are gifts, blessings that I’ve been given, and I really am thankful for them.  What I don’t have is an attitude of thankfulness about God’s timing in blessing me.  I’m a planner…I like to know what’s going on all the time, so to not know everything is a struggle for me.  I am really having to work on trusting in His timing.
     I believe that God is going to provide, but I also have to believe that He is providing in the right timing.  The hang up?  Comparison.  Hence the title.

via

     God’s timing for everyone else is not God’s timing for me.  I may tattoo that on my forehead.  What He is doing in my life is right because it is His plan.  Is it hard to look at my life and realize that I’m not exactly where I thought I would be?  Yes.  Is it hard to look at my life and see that it isn’t following the same timeline as most people in my family?  Yes.  Is it God’s will that I compare what He is doing in my life to what He’s done for others?  No.  I’m spending today thanking God for His timing…even when it isn’t my timing…and even when it doesn’t match other people’s timing.

Lessons About Peace

via

     Women Living Well shared this on Facebook yesterday morning, and it was the perfect start to my day.  As you may remember my post yesterday was not quite as upbeat as things usually are around here.  I definitely expected to have a sort of bleh few days.  One, this is a terrible mindset.  Two, God thumped me right in the head heart to tell me not to be so ridiculous.
     Vain, tooth/beauty related overtones aside, this was the perfect reminder for me to not focus so much on what I expect to happen and more on what He’s promised.  Nowhere in the Bible does the Lord say that He isn’t paying attention or that our sourpuss attitudes and expectations are going to be fulfilled.  On the contrary, He promises to take care of us and fulfill His work in our lives.  What business do I have waking up expecting the day to go badly? (Answer: none) 
     Sometimes I think God allows not-so-great things to happen to show us His goodness and to strengthen us.  Other times, I think he teaches the exact same lesson by showering us with His love.  That day that I expected nothing good out of?  It was one of the most peaceful and relaxing days I’ve had all summer.  I don’t believe in coincidence.  I’m carrying this peace with me through the weekend, and I hope you do too.  I’ve definitely been learning about His peace for awhile now; days like this are so good.  What is the Lord teaching you right now?

Conviction

     Have you ever sat down to listen to the sermon and known immediately that the Lord directed the pastor to speak it just for you?  Let me just be honest for a minute…that happens to me almost every single Sunday.  The past few weeks we have been in an incredible series on prayer, and it has been really convicting. 

     I’ve always been a pray-er, so the concept itself has not convicted me, but the in-depth look into how we should be praying and where our hearts should be has just struck a real chord with me.  This week our pastor spoke on “Praying With Confidence and Compassion” (1 John 5:14 – 16).  I have always been amazed at how pastors are able to take such a seemingly small number of verses and extract such incredible wisdom and practicality. 

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.  16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.
1 John 5:14 – 16 NIV

     I left the sanctuary so refreshed and really committed to Biblically-driven prayer.  Because this has really been on my heart lately (as has sharing my faith on my blog), I felt compelled to share this sermon with y’all. 

     1.  God hears you every time you pray.
               There have been so many times I have struggled with sadness or anxiety or even anger because I felt that God was ignoring my prayers – to put it simply, this is pure foolishness with a Biblical counterpoint.

¹² Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
Daniel 10:12

               Whether there is an immediate answer or not, the Lord promises us that He is listening and working do His will.  We can always have confidence in the Lord, provided that we are asking within His will.

     2.  Be open to the fact that what you want may not be within His will.
               We should be asking for His will to be our will, not for our will to happen to be His will for us.  The reason He’s “not” answering could be that our prayers are outside His will or far smaller than what He really desires for us. 

     3.  Pray with compassion.
               When we pray for other people, it is because we have been called to intercede on their behalf.  This is a call from God and should be treated carefully and respectfully.  Talking (even with other believers) or gossip about another’s struggle does not help.  Prayer does.

               Furthermore, we should be seeking the Heart Changer’s (I love this name for the Lord) will and work and not our own.
               When Paul instructed us to pray that “God will give them life,” he was telling us to go to battle in prayer for these people.  When we see our brothers and sisters pulling away from God and making dangerous decisions, we are supposed to pray the back from the ledge.

     Wow…I love experiencing a sermon that really touches my heart.  I have such a renewed commitment to my prayer life, and I’m so glad that I’m learning how to pray in accordance with the will of God.  I hope that there is some part of this that connects with each of you.  If you would like to hear more of this series, you can find it here.  If you have any questions or just want to know a little more about what all of this means, please feel free to shoot me an email.  I am definitely not a theologian, but I will do the best I can (even if it’s just pointing you to someone smarter than I am). 
      I am so excited about what God is doing in my life and in the life of my church, and I love sharing my heart with all of you this way.  I am praying that God touches each of your lives in a powerful way and that your prayer lives will be renewed.  

Cade's Cove

Distracted

Both via

     This is all I can think about today…and I still have to wait until August!  I can’t stand to wish my summer away, but I just want to hop in my car and drive have someone drive me until I see the beach.  I love where I live, and I think Tennessee is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, but the beach takes my breath away every single time I see it.

    
     They, too, observed the LORD's power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas.  Psalm 107:24 (New Living Translation)

Happy Easter

     I cannot believe that the first week of April is gone!  This year is flying by much too fast – I’m still writing 2011 on papers.  I hope that you’re all having a wonderful weekend, and that you have something fabulous planned for Easter.  Around here it’s been a lot of cooking and cleaning so far, but I am so looking forward to tomorrow. 
     In the past few days I have seen some really incredible posts about Good Friday, Easter, and faith in general.  Let me just say – this is one of the main reasons I love you sweet bloggers.  Not only are you willing to share your recipes and ideas, but you share your hearts and your faith, and it is really incredible.  I know I posted a few days ago about faith and living the life you have, but I have really grown to feel a sense of camaraderie with those of you who read my blog and whose blogs I read, and I have been so inspired by your willingness to share.  I am by no means posting this because I think I’m some sort of blog-evangelist, but I wanted you all to know that y’all keep me accountable. 
     I visit blogs because they look nice or have a great tutorial that I want to see, but nine times out of ten, I stay because there is a sense of fellowship with the author.  I know that my own blog bounces around from lifestyle to food to crafts, but I am working hard in my own life (which includes this little slice of blogosphere) to be not just a hearer of the Word, but a doer also (James 1:22).  I cannot wait for church tomorrow morning.  Our pastor is speaking on forgiveness, and even now I am feeling convicted about it.  I am anticipating an incredible time of worship tomorrow, and I hope that each of you will have that as well. 
     I am sure that next week will be full of wonderful Easter recipes and dress photos, but I also know that many of you will be sharing what the Lord is doing in your lives, and I cannot wait to read about it.  

                                       Christ is Risen–Matt Maher

via

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.  Mark 11:25

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  Luke 24:46-47

Allyson 

The Life You Have

     The idea of this has been on my heart for awhile now, and I really hope I’m able to express it the way I mean.  I really love blogging, but if I’m being totally honest, it is really hard for me sometimes.  I don’t mean the posting or the followers because that’s not why I’m doing any of this (although I do love all of you!); I just mean the underlying comparison factor.
     Before you read the rest of this, don’t imagine it being read in a weepy voice…I’m using an honest, thoughtful one.  I have always struggled with comparing myself to others…and get this – it’s not even out of self-consciousness!  I’m just too analytical.  Half the time, I am too concerned with what other people are doing that I can’t even enjoy what I have going on.  Most of the time I disguise these comparisons with advice or help…or micromanaging, but it comes right down to comparing myself and my work or my life to others…or even to myself.  (I hope that paragraph makes sense.)
     Where I’m going with all of this is I work really hard at what I do, and it is so silly for me to analyze it to death or compare it to everything else.  “If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.” – Max Ehrmann, Desiderata.  I have seen both ends of that spectrum, and neither one is a good look for me (or anyone for that matter).
     Here’s my plan, and I hope that this resonates with someone – otherwise I don’t think it would have been on my heart – live the life you have now, and pray for the direction it goes.  That probably sounds so simple to some of you, but I know how hard it can be to look at others (in person or through a blog) and compare your life to theirs.  It’s hard for me, and I’m really a very happy, content person.  No part of me believes that it’s sinful to make plans or to want for your life, but to let what you want or what someone else has eat at you to the point that your walk with God is compromised is sinful, and that is a daily struggle for me.  I am constantly reminding myself not to be vain or bitter, and it is hard. 
          I am so excited about this season in my life.  I have been blessed beyond anything I could have imagined, and I just feel like it flies in the face of what I believe to let these silly comparisons diminish that.  I should be in a constant state of praise and thanksgiving, so why am I spending so much time analyzing and comparing every little thing that happens?
     In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9.
      Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else. Galatians 6:4.
     I included these verses because I am going to make a commitment right now to really meditate on them.  I’m writing all of this because y’all are such great accountability; even reading your sweet comments reaffirms why it is I do this.  I know I don’t often post so much about what I believe, but it is so important me, and as with all friendships, I want ours to have a really honest foundation.  Thank you for being so sweet to my little corner of the blogosphere.  I love all of you!

Allyson

This Morning

1 Corinthians 15
The Resurrection of Christ

¹ Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. ¹¹ Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. 

 

     This was the basis of our service this morning – “The God Who Dies – And Lives Again.”  I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of the congregation this morning.  Some days are just overwhelming like that.  Once the audio of the sermon is online, I am going to link to it.  Here is the audio for the rest of the series.  I hope your day was just as wonderful as mine was.

Did I Ever Tell You

    I'm not sure if I ever told you exactly why my blog is called Cupcakes and Candy Canes.  I know there are probably some of you out there thinking how incredibly juvenile it sounds for a practically grown lady to be detailing her life under such a fluffy moniker.  I'll be the first to admit, I am not a "grown up" grown-up.  I'm probably a little more mature than I was when I started this little Internet adventure a year ago, but I've decided that I'll never be grown up enough to change my blog's name. 
    The reasoning is super simple:
        1.  I love cupcakes.  I like to make them, eat them, "decorate" them...eat them.  I also love that they're these tiny little morsels of goodness and sweetness and cuteness.  I think any little thing or event that can give me those kinds of warm fuzzies deserves to be called a cupcake (whether it's made of batter and baked, or not).  Who can help but be happy when they see a cute little cupcake?  Surely not me.
        2.  I have to admit, candy canes are not my absolute favorite Christmas treat (although I do like them).  Aside from the fact that it made an alliterative title, I love any and everything having to do with Christmas.  We have at least five trees, we have a veritable mountain of sweet, little goodies, and is there anything better than a Christmas church service?
        3.  Those two things were probably self-explanatory, but here's the real explanation.  I never want to get to a place in my life where I am so busy, sad, overwhelmed, distracted, etc. that I can't 1. look at a cupcake (either real or some other sort of tiny metaphorical goodness) and be happy, or 2. not stop and be in awe of Christmastime or otherwise.

    Those may not sound like big (or important) goals to you, but while I'm trying to do my best to be the person I was made be, these two things are close to the top of the list.  Joy and awe.  I've chosen to define joy and awe by roping them in with cupcakes and Christmas.  They're definitely going to be my words of the year - the ones I think on and pray on and strive for.

     There you have it, one part self-promotion and two parts self-improvement.  This sweet blog community is all about caring for each other and helping one another onward and upward, and I would love to be inspired by each of you and to pray for you this year.  Do you have words for this year?  What are you striving for? 

Allyson