Whisper

God gave me this wisdom a few months ago while reading a devotion from My Utmost for His Highest. Today, I remembered this piece of wisdom and decided to share it with you. "When God draws us into the shadow of his palm, don’t beg for the light; instead, listen for the cool whisper of His voice." -AllisonGail

The Truth Shall Set You Free

This morning I am so proud to be a child of God! God has instilled in me my life mission and vision and he continues to give me avenues for living my mission and glorifying him. Last night God's glory shined brightly!

Anxious to see if I had any comments posted on my blogs, I visited my site. I had a comment! It was posted last night. The comment began with a beautiful compliment, "I've never known anyone so deep and so couragous to put such "Memories in the Making" out there for anyone to read. " Wow, look at God get the glory for courage he has placed in my heart!

As I read on, the commentator attempted to insult me and then pegged my words as "Lies and fantasies," and then asked me to "Spare everyone who has come across your website."

Well, in fact, Christ through me has actually spared at least one soul through my blogging and I believe will continue to do the same for more! You see, by reading my blogs people are exposed to the truth. The truth that God is living and active and that he truly works in the hearts of his people. John 8:32 says, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

This commentator now has the opportunity to choose between the truth and the lies. He/she has been spared of his/her ignorance! The truth, if accepted, will provide an abundant and eternal life!

One can distinguish a lie only once it has been exposed by the truth.

"Romans 5:13, -for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. "

Sin has always been; but, where there is no law the sin is not exposed. The same is true with lies (which are sin). A lie can only be labeled a lie if it is exposed to its opposite...Truth. So, this commentator has recognized the two opposites and now has the knowledge to make an informed decision. This is awesome!

The Bible is The Truth! Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Obedience

My close friend, and Mary Kay Sales Director, from Florida was in town this weekend. I love her. I can always count on her to speak the truth, boldly, in love to me. She told me this past weekend that when she comes to visit me that she prays for God to use her to speak to me and that she never knows exactly what that will entail. God's message through her this time was about obedience. "Allison, ask God what he wants you to do, listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and then DO what God says to do." This is applicable to my personal spiritual life and to my Mary Kay business. So, that night after I left her, I asked God what he wanted me to do (fully expecting him to give me an answer within the context of my Mary Kay business).

Brock is a fictitious name that I have chosen since I do not currently (or ever recall knowing) know a Brock and because I do not have permission to use the name of the real person.

Allison: "I am going to be obedient. God, what do you want me to do?"

God: "Go and tell Brock, in person, that you lied to him."

Allison: "What, that has nothing to do with Mary Kay?!"

God: "I know. Didn't you tell me that you wanted to be obedient?"

Allison: "Yes."

God: "Then be obedient. Go and tell Brock, in person, that you lied to him."

Allison: "But God, I asked you to forgive me for that 4 months ago and I know you did."

God: "Yes, Allison, I did forgive you. Go."

Allison: "But I don't want to mess up the relationship that Brock and I have rebuilt. I like our relationship. This may ruin it! I love our relationship."

God: "Do you love me? Do you love our relationship?"

For the first time ever I distinctly heard God ask me to choose between him and something else. I chose to obey God and show my love for him and his place in my life.

I wanted to ask God to ensure that Brock would forgive me so that this would be smooth and easy; but, I resisted the temptation to insult God in such a way. I only asked God to prepare Brock's heart so his answer would be yes to meeting me right then. I called Brock and he agreed to meet me in person right then. I cried half of the way to Brock's house that night. I was scared of Brock's reaction; but, had ultimately made my decision out of love for my Heavenly Father. I knew this was the right thing to do and part of me was proud. The other part of me continued to tell God how much I really didn't want to do this.

I obeyed God that evening and Brock forgave me with a compassion I had never seen in him before. He also assured me that our relationship would continue to grow. I thanked God for this because in the end it made the lesson easily learned. However, I am not too naive to know that this will not always be the case with lessons I am to learn.

God, You are Everything to me!

Paint-by-numbers

I had a conversation with God last night. He did most of the talking. It went like this...

God: "So, yesterday in your blog you wrote about the plans of hope and a future that I have for you."

Allison: "Yes."

God: "And you really believe that, right?"

Allison: "Of course!"

God: "Hmmm..."

God: "Do you also believe that I am the creator of all things; that I am the potter and you are the clay?"

Allison: "Yes."

God: "So, you are convinced that I am going to create a unique master piece of art that is your life?"

Allison: "Yeah (with a slight attitude of frustration)!"

God: "Then when are you going to stop trying to live a paint-by-numbers faith life?"

Hope

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

After reading my blog yesterday, my sister asked me if she should be worried about me, to which I replied, "No; I am great!" So for those of you who gathered that I am in deep despair and hopelessness, I am writing to tell you that my life is quite the contrary!

When we are walking in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ there is no justified hopelessness. God tells us that he has plans that include giving us hope. So as believers, if we feel hopelessness it is our perceived reality. The truth is that there is always hope. (Did you gather the emphasis on the words feel and truth?)

The article I wrote yesterday was in fact an expression of past emotional pain. I wanted to share this so that I may empathize with those of you who have, are, or will experience this type of pain. The enemy persuades us to buy into the lie that we go through trials on our own. The truth is, first and foremost, that Jesus tells us that he will never leave us or forsake us (Dueteronomy 31:6). Moreover, the church was created so that a body of people could "Do life together."

So try this. The next time you begin to feel hopelessness and begin slipping into despair, speak. Verbalize your emotions. Make them be known and someone will hear. You never know; the story of the person standing beside you might bring you peace to replace you despair.

Heartbeat of a Broken Heart

Perhaps you remember...
Your world being turned upside-down.
Those sleepless nights and slumber-filled days.
The sting of the salt on your skin as the tears roll down your cheek.
Sleeping with a cloth to dry your tears because the pile of tissues is unbearable.
The groan of your empty stomach and no desire to eat.
Your swollen eyes that hurt to the touch.
The ache in your back from lying in bed for days.
Wanting to drive off a bridge just to see who cares.
When the only thing that provides relief is something that hurts you more.
The feeling that you can't even take a breath without the help of God.
Perhaps you remember the heartbeat of a broken heart?

© 3-21-06 Allison G Ferguson

I'm Movin' On

This is one of my all time favorite songs by Rascal Flats. I thought today would be a great day to post it as if follows Stuart Hall's 722 "Retro" series. Stuart speaks of how many of us live our lives facing backwards erecting trophies to past mistakes and sorrows. It's time to move on!

I'm Moving On

I've dealt with my ghosts and I've faced all my demons
Finally content with a past I regret
I've found you find strength in your moments of weakness
For once I'm at peace with myself
I've been burdened with blame, trapped in the past for too long
I'm movin' on

I've lived in this place and I know all the faces
Each one is different but they're always the same
They mean me no harm but it's time that I face it
They'll never allow me to change
But I never dreamed home would end up where I don't belong
I'm movin' on

I'm movin' on
At last I can see life has been patiently waiting for me
And I know there's no guarantees, but I'm not alone
There comes a time in everyone's life
When all you can see are the years passing by
And I have made up my mind that those days are gone

I sold what I could and packed what I couldn't
Stopped to fill up on my way out of town
I've loved like I should but lived like I shouldn't
I had to lose everything to find out
Maybe forgiveness will find me somewhere down this road
I'm movin' on

I'm movin' on
I'm movin' on

Liberated from Fear

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people
won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.”

Quoted in Nelson Mandela’s 1994 Inaugural Address

So, here we go!

Hey y'all! I have decided to give blogging a try.
I always have so many thoughts to share and here I can share them.
This also provides me with a venue to help me live my life mission.

So, here we go!

Every moment is a memory in the making!