Staying Connected

John 15:5(NCV) 5 “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing.  

All photos  are  taken and edited by  Lesli Allyn Blogs unless otherwise stated.

In our day to day  life   we are  faced  with so many  things that  are  competing  for our   attention.  We can be distracted  by   so  many things like     relationships ,   work , or  our social  lives.  It's  easy to become consumed with those things and  as  a  result we begin to neglect  carving out  time to spend with the  Lord.  This is no  coincidence.  The  enemies  mission is to keep  you  distracted.  He  knows when we put off time with   the  Lord  we  miss out  on  valuable  moments where God   pours into us granting us   wisdom  and the discernment that we need to navigate through life.

Staying connected  to  the Lord  and  His  word is the  only thing that  will sustain us  throughout life's up's and downs.   When we partner  with God's will and rely  on  Him as  our  main  source  it  doesn't  leave  much room for the  enemies  plans.   We are  better  equipped  to  stand firm on  our  faith  and we  won't  be  easily   shaken when the unexpected happens.  Spending  time with the   Lord   gives us  endless access to  His  resources.With Him there is nothing that  life  can  throw our way that  we  cannot   power  through because of the  foundation that the Lord has  created in our heart  through  quality   time spent with Him.

Without  God  pointing us in the right  direction  we  have nothing  and we  are  basically  a  walking  target for failure , when we  trust the  Lord  with our  time and  really  tune  in to  His  leading there  is nothing that  God cannot  do  in   us  and through  us.    God  has  a wealth of  knowledge and  wisdom that He  wants  us to  take advantage of  so I  you encourage to  be  deliberate  about   spending time at the  feet  of the  Lord. 

  Find  a time  that   you can  tuck away to  a quiet  place  to  talk to  the  Lord and study.  I know  we   all have  a lot on our plates  especially with the holiday  season and you may be  thinking  that you  don't  know where you'll find the time.   The truth is if you  find that you don't have time  to  spend with the  Lord   you are  simply too busy  and you need to change your priorities.  When you feel that  tugging  at your heart  don't   ignore it,  the  Lord  has  something  far more  important  for you than  anyone  else  has to offer.  Whether  it's first thing in the morning,  on your  lunch  break or  at night before  bed.  Today  make a  plan  to  spend time with Christ.  It will be  the  best  decision  you've  every made.

Love,

The Gift of Grace

 8 I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it. 10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.  Ephesians 2:8-10 (NCV)

All photos  are taken and edited by Lesli Allyn Blogs unless otherwise stated. 

The  Gift  of  salvation is  something that   we  sometimes take  for  granted , the  depth  of  Christ love  for us is  truly  amazing.   It is   easy  to  be  disconnected from the  word  and gloss over key points that we  really need to digest but    I want to  encourage you to take the time to   really  think about   what  it  looked  like for  Christ  to put His  life  on the line  in order  to  save ours.

Wisdom is  recognizing  our  dependence on  God  for  everything in our lives; From our  next  meal to the  our next  breath, we  cannot  take  credit  for  anything that we  have. it's  because of   Lord  that we have  the privilege  to  walk out  our purpose.  Nothing  just happens   chance  the  Lord is always  actively  working   in our  lives and     pouring out  His  grace  to us  each and everyday.  I don't know about you but I need  His  grace each and every  day.

10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.  -Eph 2:10

Because of the  grace that  God  extended to us it   is  important for  us to mirror that  same  grace towards other that  haven't  quite  matured in their  walk with Christ.  I know that I have  been guilty  at  one point or another  of not  being understanding  of those  who were  struggling in areas  that  I  wasn't.  This is  why it  is  important to  surround yourself with other  believer  who   you can draw wisdom from  and  who will also hold you  accountable.  We  need  one another , we all need  a support system in  our lives to keep us  motivated. 

God  has  a plan and  a  purpose  for  each of our lives,  how  awesome is it to know that we are important enough to  the Lord  that  He  has  placed  a calling  on our lives.   There is assignment  that  only  we  can  walk out because  He has   chosen us .  You may  not understand   the purpose  for  every  twist and turn on the road  to your purpose but  what you can be sure of is  that God  will   complete the work that He  began in you .  Keep pushing forward , remain  humble  and  continue to trust His timing.

Love,

Don't go Chasing Perfection

23 A person’s steps are made secure by the Lord when they delight in his way.24 Though they trip up, they won’t be thrown down, because the Lord holds their hand.  Psalm 37:23-24 (CEB)

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 Perfection isn't what we  should strive  for,  after all  we are  imperfect  beings.   We will make mistakes and  God  has already given  accounts   and  the instances where we  trip up.  Our focus  should be  on  cultivating our   relationship with  Christ and  our desire to  walk out  His plan for our lives. 

We sometimes get distracted by  the appearance  of  perfection....

We  begin  to   compare ourselves, our lives and  our  relationships to  others, putting  them on  this   pedestal not knowing their  story.  The truth is  we have no clue how    they arrived  at  point the  that they are now   or  the  hard decisions  they had  to make or  even the sacrifices they may have  made.  Remember    victory  includes  our  faith being  tested and   obstacles  we have to  overcome.  No one arrives to their destination without  a story to tell.

It is important to  be  content  with your portion  and grateful for where you are  right now.  I realize every  circumstance isn't  favorable  but  everyone has to walk out their   own story and  everything  that we  go through is connected to arriving  to  our  own  individual  purpose,  stronger and   more equipped. 

You don't have to have everything together  right  now, we are  all works in progress.  But  the  wonderful thing is  that  Gods   hand is  on our lives  and   He will never  bring you to  a point where He can't  see you through.  Trust   the  Lord with  your  season, keep  pressing forward and be patient in the meantime. 

Love,

  

You'll Get Through It

 27 “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. (John 14:27 GNT) 

 

All pictures are taken and edited by  Lesli Allyn Blogs unless otherwise stated. 

The  peace that we have in Christ  Jesus  is unlike anything  you'll ever  experience .  There  is something so amazing  in the fact that  there is  no overwhelming  circumstance  where God is unable  to  calm us  and give us clear thinking.  In the midst of  dark situations God has the  ability to make things  better; With  a still  soft  voice  He assures us that He is present in this moment with us and we  don't have to have it all figured out.

Sometimes we have to step outside of ourselves to really  recognize that God is in control.   When  we  acknowledge our need for Christ we  create a  atmosphere for  the Lord to come in and pour in to us all that  we've lost and  as well as  the things we weren't aware that we  were missing. He can enable us to  stand   firm and get through whatever comes our way.

3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,My glory and the One who lifts up my head.4 I cried to the Lord with my voice,And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah (Psalm 3:3-4 NKJV)

 It's important to keep the line of  communication open with the Lord.  We  need   Gods  presence on a  daily basis, not just  when  things are falling apart.  Sitting  at the  foot of  the  Lord   is what will sustain us in our everyday lives so we don't fall to pieces when we  are faced with  trials.  Even when we  do fall apart we  won't  stay there because  of the foundation we're cultivating by  talking to God on a regular basis  and  meditating on His word. 

Whatever you're facing today  I encourage you to  tuck away some time to bring  all that is  on your mind and in your  heart to  God and ask that  He would relieve you and reassure you that His hand is on your life.  He will get you through  it!

Love, 

Beauty for Ashes

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3 (KJ21)

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We have  all at some point  experienced  an significant  point in our lives where  life has dealt you some  significant  blows; From  a loss of a  loved one,  financial issues or  the ending  of a  relationship. In these instances  it can feel like you're  just  standing there with your pieces wondering if you'll ever be whole again.

While you are  still hurting it can be hard to imagine  that things will get better  BUT they do  in fact get  better.  But there  is something you must do  to get this  point,  you must  trust  God with your  pain.  Often times  we  are carrying around the pain of our situations  that we can't see past it.  What we  need to understand is  that  God is ready and willing to   take on  all that is consuming us.  You don't have to solve every problem on your own , you don't have  live with that pain day in and  day out. 

Know that  for everything that you've  loss, every  tear you've  cried  , for  all the sleepless nights  you've experienced  God is  there to restore  all that  was  broken in  you and renew you  again.  Think  of    how much  of  a  relief it is  to turn  over all you're pain to  God and  in exchange  He gives  you His  peace  and healing.

Psalm 16:11 (ESV)You make known to me (A)the path of life in your presence there is (B)fullness of joy at your right hand are (C)pleasures forevermore.

What  a  wonderful gift  we have in Christ Jesus!  He  carries  us from our pain into his presence  and in His presence  is the FULLNESS of  joy!  Not  circumstantial   happiness that is   dependent on a person or thing but a  joy that is  everlasting.    God wants  you to have  joy but you must  surrender  all that  you've been carrying to Him.   Trust  Him . He will give you beauty for ashes. 

Love, 

Desensitized Culture

2 Do not conform(A) to the pattern of this world,(B) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.(C) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is(D)—his good, pleasing(E) and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)

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Desensitized -  to make emotionally insensitive or callous; specifically :  to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli that formerly induced it

I think it is  safe to say that  our  generation is one that has become increasingly desensitized.   The pause   button  just does not exist  any longer for some.  From the way  we project ourselves  on social media, what we  say,  what we  watch on TV  to  the music  we listen  to.

 Tell if this sounds  familiar: Have to ever been  scrolling  through your social feeds and see videos of people fighting or overly sexual  music videos  where women are being  objectified and instead of  ignoring it we either laugh or rationalize and indulge in it? Probably. If we aren't careful we  begin to accept  things that    wouldn't have previously and  comprise ourselves and what we know that God expects out of us.

Gods  Romans 12  says  don't conform  to the  patterns of this  world,  that  means we  must set ourselves apart from the culture . We are  meant to be   a light  and   Christ  led  within a  culture that is self led. 

14 “You are the light of the world.(A) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.(B) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,(C)that they may see your good deeds(D) and glorify(E) your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16(NIV)

Don't dull down your convictions in order  to make others feel more comfortable. Stand firm  and set yourself  apart.  You could very well be  someones  first glimpse into  Christ.Think  about it this way perhaps by your example you could  totally  change someone's  perspective through your  convictions, you  could potentially  push  someone closer to Christ.  So moving  forward  practice  thinking before you post,  what  like and  promote  and  ask  God to  make you more sensitive  about what you digest daily. 

Love,