Month: July 2016

How Far Will God Go To Show You His Love? Guest Post By Daniel Cimino

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God goes great lengths to show you his unfathomable love. He introduced his love to us by shedding the blood of his only begotten son. But he doesn’t stop there-This story shows just how far God will go! Watch Daniel’s heart get wrecked by God’s love. He loves YOU that much too!

Daniel lives in Albany NY and works at Harold Finkle “Your Jeweler” . He’s also coming to visit my family this week, so….total bonus!!

Amongst my Christian siblings, there’s an interesting trend I noticed where when someone wants a Taylor guitar to use for ministering music to the saints, and they ask God for it, God gives it to them. The testimonies to back this trend are all very unique and very awesome, and each worthy of their own story. This one is mine.

In the past few years or so, I’ve had the opportunity to play some music in different spots on the east coast, but I’ve always used someone else’s instrument. I would play if someone asked me to, but otherwise, I avoided the stage. People began to ask me why I didn’t play more, or write more, and that was my convenient excuse: “I don’t have a guitar.” I wanted a good guitar, but the financial means to acquire something that frivolous were beyond me.

Finally, someone suggested I ask God for one. What a novel idea- instead of complaining about how I don’t have the money to get the instrument to play the music to minister to God’s people, why not ask the creator and provider of everything in existence (including every single guitar ever made) to give me one?

I remembered the testimonies of the Taylor trend, and a friend (who has one such testimony) encouraged, “Dude, if you ask God for a Taylor, He’s gonna give you a Taylor.”

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So I decided to do just that. In July of 2014,  I told God I would play music for Him when He got me my guitar. I thanked Him in advance, and then went on my way, believing- or so I thought. As the months passed, people were still asking me if I was playing or writing, and every time, it seemed as though God was saying, “Don’t you want to play for Me?” In my frustration, I snapped, “I would…but YOU haven’t given me my guitar yet!”, to which He responded, “YOU haven’t told me which one you want.”

I was delightfully humbled. I had gone to that same God I described earlier, to ask Him for something, and my expectation was so low that I had never even bothered to pick a guitar. I sat down to pray and apologize, spent a little time online to do some research, and finally made my selection:

A Taylor 814ce, a beautiful guitar with a sound very suitable to my playing style, and with a price tag so ridiculous, it would be impossible without God. ( See price here!)

It couldn’t have been more than a few weeks later that I found myself celebrating the impending new year at a friend’s place, when she non-chalantly mentioned that she had a surprise for me. She excitedly ran from the room, leaving me sitting on the couch in amused anticipation, and then returned a moment later carrying a guitar case. Setting it on my lap, she said,

“This is from God. He told me to get it for you.”

I stared at the case for what I’m sure was an annoyingly extended period of time, taking note of the shining riveted plate on the side that flashed “Taylor Guitar Cases”. I looked up at my friend, and said with a dry throat, “I don’t know if I want to open this.” She smiled a Mona Lisa smile, and said, “You should.” I did.

Lifting the lid, I surprised myself with the shock of seeing exactly what I knew was going to be in that case. I leaned over to smell the sound hole (because that’s just what you do with a new guitar!), and caught sight between the strings of the small sticker inside, which read, “814ce”.

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Then I cried. I sobbed into that beautiful plush velvet-lined guitar case, because God loves me that much. In that guitar, I saw years of deliverance, I saw inexplicable provision, I saw the seamless mending of a broken heart, the shattered chains of spiritual bondage, the more-than-abundant life…I saw the blood of Christ.

It is my token to remember the extent to which God will go to take care of the needs of His children, AND to bless them. I lifted the guitar out of the case, and plucked out the harmonics for Amazing Grace, which seemed appropriate. Remembering the purpose for this instrument, I’m excited to play for Him, and with that same rapt excitement, I look forward to the next impossible thing He does. You should, as well! God bless you!

Loving Those Who Struggle With Faith

/ jrosieallen / 3 Comments

The days I doubt God are days that start out like any other-I wake up to the pitter patter of little feet and little voices demanding food. I toss and turn, and I beg for more silence.

Sleepy eyed- I prepare breakfast, I pour coffee, I wipe faces and tables. And then I sit. I wait for clearer thoughts while tiny hands and loud voices require attention. Days demand action! Wake up Ro, they need you.

But then the lie comes as a soft question and I entertain it longer than I should:

“What if those tender whispers are really my own?”

Anxiety builds.

The days I pursue this thought without a solid battle plan, I end down a path that leaves me feeling empty and scared: Without actually seeking God, I talk at him….

“Why did this happen to __? Where were you when___? Why haven’t you answered __ ? Are you listening? Are you even there? ”

The questions get worse, but you get the point.

And yes, this happens to me. The girl who has seen and experienced miraculous healings, countless answered prayers, daily victories. The girl who reads her bible and clings to Jesus with all her heart. God is SO good and his word is always true.

But.

It happens.

You see my friend? We all enter into battles of Faith Vs. Circumstance. Faith is confidence in what we hope for, the evidence of things unseen.

But.

Sometimes circumstances still win.

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There are beautiful hearts out there who were fighting for the faith but the loss left deep scars. The heart was not placed in intensive care so beautifully made available by the body of Christ. It was not surrounded by relentless love mixed with timely and pure words of God.

And then what happens? A new reconstructed idea of God forms to cope with the loss.

And we say,

“They should have _____. They didn’t do _____.  If only they______.”

I want to stop placing judgement on those who have lost their faith, and I want to start fiercely loving them instead. I want to chalk up the loss and blame it on the devil. Because that’s where the blame goes.

I want to reach out and watch Jesus lift that person out of their wheelchair.

I want to listen while someone word vomits all over me. And then instead of getting scared or judgmental, I want to hug them.  I want to ask them over for a cup of coffee. I want to live the life of Christ in me, reach out, and with Gods beautiful word, begin to mend wounds.

That’s what someone did for me. They listened. They loved. They cared. They saw me through the eyes of Jesus when I was struggling with faith.

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Jesus never gave up. Ever. He dealt with sin, carnality, and unbelief his entire life. When he was on the cross, he never said, “That’s it, I’VE HAD ENOUGH”

He loved them until the end.

Yes, I agree we shouldn’t yolk with those who deny Christ. We need to yolk with fellow lovers of light.

But I’m not asking for us to yolk, I’m asking for us to love. And too often, we separate ourselves completely… and we appear as self righteous haters. No, this is not our intention. But we live with heads in the ground if we are not willing to admit our own frailty.

Love involves time spent in the trenches with beautiful hearts who have been hurt by the enemy. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not self seeking. And love covers a multitude of sins.

And instead of focusing on the mote in their eye, I want to take out my beam. I want to build my faith, the only way I know how.

By hearing the word of God.

By walking out on the word of God

By spending time with the one who wrote the word of God.

And.

By looking at the glory of Jesus, who is continually transforming me to his image

 

2 Timothy 2:24-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

Trusting God In The Midst Of Job Loss (Part 1)

/ jrosieallen / 6 Comments

I’d like to start out this post with acknowledging my over privileged life! I recognize that because I have change in my pocket, our family financially ranks in the top 8% of the world. Wow.

Jesus, come soon.

Ben and I have been on a financial ride for the six years we’ve been married. At our worst, we scoured craigslist couches to collect change for cigarettes!  It was fun back then because we were young, without kids, and definitely reckless. Our marriage began with mounds of credit card debt, student loans, and an old beat up Pontiac.156637_562328823357_4342794_n

We lived off butterfly love.

My husband began his career with a psychology degree selling cemetery plots. (It was a dying business and yes, I’ve heard that a million times)

Yet in six years, we went from barely making rent to demolishing credit card debt. Ben advanced in his career at a rapid pace and we began purchasing fancy cars, stainless steal appliances, and vacations. We were tackling student debt and were on our way to purchasing a bigger home. We gave out of abundance because we had more than we needed.

(Side note, it’s easy to give when you have ‘enough’! Mark 12:44)

Then on a regular Friday afternoon, my husband came home early.

“Honey, I got laid off”

And just like that, my ugliness exposed.

There are a lot of things that can happen in the mind of a stay at home mom when those words come out of a bread winning husband. So for 8 weeks (and counting), I have come face to face with anxiety and confusion. I have battled with fear, anger, and just plain ol’ sadness. I’ve been introduced to greediness that I didn’t even know existed! Hi greediness, my name is Rosie. NOT nice to meet you.

Savings have dwindled and bills have piled.

Trusting God becomes a lot more real…. when your only choice is to trust in him.

Psalm 143:8

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.

And so I have learned that it’s ok to admit you’re failing in front of God. Grace loves the admission of failure because it turns our minds to his unfailing love rather than our hard earning work.

And.

It’s a day by day and moment by moment decision to put away the ugliness of fear and speak the truth of Gods grace into the hearts and minds of my family.

And so today, I choose to trust God. I choose to trust him despite what I see. (2 Cor 5:7)

I choose to see that I have food and shelter today and that God has promised to take care of tomorrow. (Matthew 6:34)

I choose to tell un-thankfulness to leave and I choose to allow praise fill up my heart in its place. (James 1:2-4)

I choose to speak grace into my husbands life and I choose to stay by his side.

And when I fail, I will rejoice because it’s not about how good I am at trusting him, it’s about how good he is in his promise to me. He is teaching me. I don’t have it all right.

I choose to admit that I am weak, but he is strong.

It’s OK to be honest with yourself and say….” wow, I have a lot of ugliness in my heart right now”. Take off the mask! The cross of Christ allows us to be completely open before God. He won’t scorch us and he promises to help us in our time of need. He loves us despite our sin!

Psalm 34:6

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him; he saved him from all his troubles.

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With the mounds of advice the world gives to those in financial trouble (I’ve heard a lot), it is easy to get lost in its wisdom and miss the still small voice of God. Do you want to join me in REST and quietness? This is God’s chance to shine. Like the heart of Jehosephat, let’s cry.

2 Chronicles 20:12b

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Here are some additional links if this hits home more true than you would like:

Promises To Those Struggling with Unemployment

Weathering The Storm Of Job Loss

Unemployed Faith

 

 

 

I Want To Minister, But I Don’t Know How. (3 Minute Read)

/ jrosieallen / 4 Comments

How often have I let someone who needs love and attention pass me by because I’m uncomfortable or unsure of what to say?

Whether a church meeting or a grocery store, I often see people who need help. And yet the uncertainty of how to minister holds me back more often than I care to admit.

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Sadly, many times I have decided that since I didn’t really know how to minister God’s love, it wasn’t for me.  I’d much rather watch the well established and outspoken leaders reach out and take care of others while I sit back and cheer them on quietly, wouldn’t you?

But the more I have been experiencing the genuine love that Jesus has for me regardless of what I do for him, the more I have wanted to serve him.  God’s grace is just SO good,  that it compels and controls us! (2 Cor 5:14)

If you really haven’t felt and experienced his amazing grace, I would ask God for that first! Trust me, it will make you want to partake in the work!! (2 Tim 2:1-6) 

Can I please tell you 4 more amazing and simple truths about how you and grace work together on this thing?

1.) God is already working in you to do and to will of his good pleasure. (Phl 2:13)

2.) It doesn’t matter what “brand” of Christian you are, or even where you are at in your “spiritually”, because it’s in weakness that his name is exalted. (2 Cor 12, 1 Cor 2:3)

3) Your qualification was met when you accepted Jesus as Lord and Christ over your life. (2 Tim 1:9)

4.) You have the equipment and your spiritual nature desires to use it! (Gal 5:17)

Most of the time, we just don’t know how!

Let me share a little more grace into this area of our lives, OK? (Remember…this IS a blog about Grace, not works 😉 )

When we don’t know how to do something, what is usually the best thing we can do?

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Gosh it’s so simple, but it’s true.

Your prayer doesn’t have to be beautiful to be answered. It only needs to be honest. By his grace, God moves mountains because of stumbled and muttered words of prayer.

If you desire to minister and need help with asking, get into the quietness of your heart and pray with me. God loves you so much and he is so excited that you are even desiring to show others his great love! I have prayed this in the honesty of my heart and already God has been working miraculous things inside of me to want to live my faith out loud!

Father,

Right now, in this moment, my heart yearns to feel en-captured by your arms, and I invite it to be completely open before you. I pray for you to search inside of me and move into the deepest waters of my thoughts. Pull out anything other than a desire to bring glory to your name….because I have experienced and I have known what it means to be intimately loved by you, regardless of my sin.

Jesus, you have washed my feet, you have held me, and you have shown me the father. You have wrapped me in your love and you have taken away the ugliness of my sin. I can dance before you without shame because you have cleansed me in your blood. You have took off my mask and called me beautiful. Can you continue to reach out your hand and meddle with my heart to be fashioned like yours?

Father, my heart wants nothing more than to exalt you and lift up your mighty name. God, you have sparked a desire inside of me to reach out to others and sometimes, actually…most of the time, I don’t know how. But I want those who need your love to feel your love, just like I have. And through me, I want you to reach them in their brokenness and hold them up to see your glorious face, your splendor, your majesty. Your name brings healing.

So Father, show me. Use me. Give me boldness. Give me clarity. Give me wisdom. Show me grace. What can I do for you? I am so little before you, and yet you call  me worthy. Take my hand and lead me in baby steps. (Or big steps, whatever you think is best, really) But today father, do this… today. Father, teach me how because I desire you. And when I don’t desire you, will you help me and cover me with your limitless mercy?  You are doing your work inside of me, thank you.

In Jesus- In the Power of The Cross-

Get ready, you are about to experience his grace AGAIN!

Brittnee’s Testimony- Loved And Accepted.

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When I read Britnee’s Testimony, I was amazed by how much the Lord had been chasing after her in love for her entire life.

Do you know you have been loved for your entire life? God wants you in his arms, and he is working in your life right now.

-Rosie

 

Guest post by Britnee Heron

Growing up I had a pretty normal childhood from what I remember, until I was 8 years old. I was sexually molested for several months. Thankfully I have blocked out the actual attacks, but it affected me for years. I was defiant, trusted no one, and I stayed depressed constantly. One day when I was 18 years old, something stirred in my heart.

Until this day I had not spoken to the person who had molested me. I called him and I told him that I forgave him for what he did. He didn’t say much, but what could he have said? I told him to have a good day, and that I loved him, then I hung up.

I was a different person after that phone call but I never stopped to think about what stirred in me and changed me.

britnee and chris

I had several failed relationships because I had zero trust for men until the fall of 2009. I met my husband Chris, and things just felt right. We met and got married 3 months later. Been side by side for nearly 7 years. We have a beautiful 4 year old boy who is our world. My husband was an Army soldier until he became medically retired in 2014.

 

We then found Christian Life Church, and it changed our lives.

We felt at home instantly and hearing our Pastor speak was so comforting, and it still is today. He brings the book to life. I got involved with their Journey Discipleship Experience and wow… I thought life had meaning before. The girls in the group, and the many lessons we covered, have made a huge impact in my life.

I was determined to turn my life from one full of disobedience and sin, to one dedicated to please God. As a step of devotion, my husband and I got baptized on August 16, 2015.

 

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We went to a Christian retreat held by my church on August 21, 2015.  I was a tad skeptical that I would gain anything from the weekend but oh boy I WAS SO WRONG! The second day, we were in the middle of our lessons and at that time we were talking about forgiveness.

I zoned out and I heard the Lord speak for the first time in my life.

He said ” My child, don’t you see what I have done in your heart? I softened your heart and gave you the ability to move on with your life. Tell your story and be proud.”

So I listened even though I was TERRIFIED, because I had never spoken in front of a crowd! My heart was racing and I felt like I had a fire in my chest. I interrupted a woman who was speaking and apologized, but I had something I needed to share. First I grabbed a handful of tissues and the waterworks started!

I thought I could share my story and be strong through it all. (Oh my that was so far from what happened.)  I managed to tell my story but I did it through the tears.

They were happy tears because until I heard the Lord speak to me, I had never realized he is what changed me all those years ago.

He loved me when I had no desire to know him. He has been there for me every step of the way, I just never gave him the praise and devotion he deserved in return.

I was in shock that I managed to mutter any words that you could understand because I was overwhelmed with emotions.

The Lord and his constant love and acceptance has made me a new person. I am now a proud follower of the Lord and I spread his glorious word as often as the opportunity arises. His word can change your mood so quickly with his understanding and unshakable love!

He has changed my entire life, and I will follow him until I am called home.

Letting Go Of Shame- When Dark Secrets Come Out

/ jrosieallen / 7 Comments

I would like to start this post out by saying I do not have all the answers on the subject of secrecy and shame. There is more to be said and considered. I encourage you to seek counsel from a grace filled Christian if you need help in this area of your life.

There was this sin I committed as a teenager that was very, very terrible. I didn’t have the courage to confess it to even the closest of friends and instead, I kept it hidden inside the darkest corners of my heart… where it would never become exposed. When friends would jokingly bring up ‘dark secrets’, I would laugh it off and say I didn’t have any. But inside of me, the memory of my action would always creep its way back into my heart and into the forefront of my mind.

Along with the memory came shame. I “knew” God had forgiven me. I really did. I had apologized to him in secret a million times over…. and yet the memory would still show it’s painful face weekly, sometimes daily, and I  would shudder at the mere thought of my mistake and shove it as far back as I possibly could.

This was a burden of mine for 10 years. 10 YEARS people. That’s a long time. What’s even  worse? I got married and KEPT THE SECRET from my husband. Wanna talk about shame? I know the feeling well.

Once I got married, I would justify this “un”confession because I believed God had already considered it gone.(He did by the way, I just didn’t really know it)  I would close my eyes, visualize the sin upon the cross of my savior, and feel temporary relief. I would yell at the accuser and remind him that I was clean in Christ. But no matter what I tried, I still felt the pang of secrecy, and shame had become a regular part of my life.

I also believed the lie that if I ever DID tell my husband, he would no longer love me or see me the way he once did. What would I do if he looked at me in disgust? This scene would replay over and over in my head, and I would recoil with a new found determination to never let that happen.

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And then…

Grace. Can I show you another corner of grace?

I was in a women’s bible study and the topic was on shame. This bible verse was read:

James 5:16a

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

I had confessed my sin in front of God, but I still covered the nakedness of my sin in front of others. In doing so, I wasn’t allowing grace filled Christians to re-iterate the truth of the cross.

That night something clicked. I knew that if I walked out on this scripture, the accuser was no longer going to have this area of my life. Why? Because what happens after confession before grace filled Christians isn’t disgust.  It’s grace that brakes down walls of shame in mere seconds.

I was afraid, but I was ready. I was ready to watch my savior kick the devil in his face while I held his hand.

So that night, I confessed to my grace filled husband.

That same night, the chains of shame fell off.

My husband so gracefully took me in his arms and reminded me of my savior.

He was proud of me, not disgusted. He cuddled me that night a little harder as I cried tears of relief. It was out. The dark secret was out. And as SOON as it was out, it evaporated into thin air.

Thin. Air. It was like the devil had lost his firm grip in an instant. That shame went right where it’s supposed to go, the cross of our savior.

Gone. 10 years of shame, gone.

The devil has since TRIED AND MISERABLY FAILED at bringing up my past sin that it’s almost laughable.

There is freedom in walking out the uncomfortable verses of God’s word. There is grace that shows up when you’re ready to jump off the cliff. There is mercy and love and forgiveness and help when you decide it is finally time to not let the devil have an area of your life anymore.

If you have shame and you have never shared your ‘dark secret’ with the family of God (who understands grace,) I would encourage you to consider that verse in James 5. Read it’s context, pray, and seek counsel. God is ready to show you that your shame doesn’t belong on you, you beautiful child. God is ready to use the cross of Christ as a permanent eraser on whatever dark secret you hold**

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The week after I confessed to my husband, we went on a vacation together! Added bonus.

 

 

 

 

**Friends, if you don’t confess, you aren’t going to hell. When you confessed Christ as Lord and believed God raised him from the dead, he paid for your sins….. past, present and future. (Eph 1:7, Rom 4:25, Rom 5:6, Rom 10:9, Heb 10:12, 1 Jhn 2:2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Boy With Crutches HEALED- Wait Till You See His Mom’s Face! How To See Miracles Every Day.

/ jrosieallen / 5 Comments

    Guest Post By Nick Robinson, co-owner of Praise Photography with his beautiful wife, Kayla. They live in Indianapolis with an expectation to see miracles, every day.

 

HOW TO SEE MIRACLES, EVERY DAY

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My wife and I were driving through Venice Beach looking for a place to park. As I pulled into a parking lot, I looked over and saw a boy with crutches. He had one leg elevated and he wasn’t using it at all so as not to put pressure on it. Two adults were walking with him, who I later learned to be his parents.

The parking lot attendant came over to our car and told us there wasn’t any available parking. We were preparing to pull back out of the parking lot, but the thought popped in my head, “Jesus, you can heal this boy!” I felt such a strong impression in my heart to pray for him that in one pinnacle moment, I threw the car in park and jumped out as I said to my wife, “I need to pray for this boy!”

As I approached him, I said, “Hi! My name is Nick! What’s your name!?”

He said, “Timmy.” Very timidly…lol. I began to ask him about his ankle and what had happened. He began to tell me how he had hurt his ankle real bad. It was completely black and blue. I could see part of a large wound with stitches on it coming from the dressing wrap. I asked how bad it hurt on a scale of 1-10 and he said an 8 or a 9!

I began to tell him about a man named Jesus who loves him and a God who heals. His parents were very open and engaged to what I was sharing. I asked him and his parents if I could pray for Jesus to heal his ankle. They said yes.

I put my hand on his leg and said, “God, I thank you Father for your great love for Timmy. Right now, in the name of Jesus, I command all the pain to leave His ankle! Right now! In Jesus name!”

Then I asked him to move his ankle to see how it felt.

A look of shock and amazement came to his face! He was amazed! He said the pain was completely gone! I told him how he could do the same thing for other people who were hurting and needing Gods loving touch!

HE WALKED AWAY CARRYING HIS CRUTCHES IN HIS HANDS!!!

In Matthew 10:7-8, Jesus gave a blueprint for the attitude his disciples were to have in their daily lives. He said these three amazing powerful words… Jesus said, “AS YOU GO, proclaim this message. The Kingdom of Heaven has come near to you.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have diseases, and drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

So here’s the thing, I was on my way to go walk Venice Beach for the first time ever. I was NOT intentionally on my way to pray for healing for a little boy with a bad ankle. But AS I WAS GOING, God highlighted a need.

My desire daily is to stay in worship and friendship with God. I want to be aware of The Holy Spirit EVERYWHERE I GO! Because Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is with us everywhere we go!

If this is true, then how can WE GO about our daily lives and NOT see miracles? How can WE GO into the grocery store and NOT love the broken-hearted. How can we see the sick, the lost, and the hurting on the streets and NOT do something about it!? All of us are GOING places EVERY DAY!

BUT

Are we OPEN to being used by God? Jesus lives inside us and He’s just dying to get out. Will we let him out? Will we co-operate with Him? Will we co-labor with Him? I want to challenge all of you to pray this prayer every morning for the rest of your life.

 

“God, AS I GO about my day today, will you interrupt me as often as you want to use me for your glory. I want to feel your heart for the people I see today. I want YOUR hand and YOUR Kingdom to be at work in my life today! Father, AS I GO about my day today, I give you permission to use me to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with diseases, and to cast out demons. I know that the same power that raised you from the dead is living inside me. Jesus, your inside me. Give me a revelation of what “AS I GO” can look like with you working in it. Let me carry your presence in such a way that people’s lives will be changed forever AS I GO! In Jesus name!”

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And the Blame Goes To…….

/ jrosieallen / 3 Comments

The past few weeks many of us have been hit with adversity…..and whether it’s been personal or twice removed, you have been affected.

Let me tell you friends, it’s ok to be affected. It really is. Situations get real and times get hard, but I want us to place the blame where the blame is RIGHTFULLY due.

There is only ONE to blame. ONE. Let me say that again, THERE IS ONLY ONE TO BLAME.

Let’s expose him for who he is.  He’s called the accuser, the thief, the enemy, the father of lies, the tempter, the ruler of this world,  the roaring lion and the prince of the power of the air. A murderer, a serpent, and a spirit that continually works in the sons of disobedience.

And the blame goes to……typorama (5).jpg

That’s right folks, the devil.

Not people. NOT people. People are loved. they are wanted. They are desired above all treasure. Can we be used as a tactic? Absolutely. But the war is spiritual friends, not carnal.

Fear is not to blame. Fear is something to be exposed and than smashed and trodden upon….and than extinguished. Can fear be a tool? Absolutely. But fear relates back to people, and people are not to blame.

Let me tell you something that you might not know. We are in a war against SPIRITUAL forces. And the devil LOVES it when he sees people running around trying to place the blame on everything else EXCEPT HIM. What a tiny, disgusting, little thief. He will meet his end. But until that day comes,

Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

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13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

 

So let’s be affected by what’s going on. Let’s not pretend it’s not happening. But let’s put on our armor. Let’s weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Let’s stand against the real enemy TOGETHER and stop blaming people, emotions, things, or ANYTHING else but the devil.

We may have lost a few battles, but Jesus has won this thing- and we can carry it out as the brotherhood is fully equipped.

Colossians 2:15

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I “forgot” to put the last part of John 10:10 on here, so let’s end with a powerful statement.

JOHN 10:10b

But I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

 

 

 

How I Battled Fear As I Watched My Son Struggle To Breathe

/ jrosieallen / 8 Comments

It was an exciting Saturday in the Allen household as my family and I were preparing for friends from Georgia to come and stay the evening with us. That morning, we were doing all of the usual ‘nonchalant’ things that hosts do to help guests feel comfortable….

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The kids were running around half naked fending for themselves but happy as clams. The music was on. The weather was beautiful. The race was on to get everything ready.

My son Luke, was 100% healthy and as rambunctious as ever. Climbing on things, pushing his sister, stealing chocolates from the treat drawer, you name it. He’s an extremely obedient boy….but a boy nonetheless.

Our guests come and we had an awesome time drinking beer and reconnecting and laughing. Our kids were bonding and playing with each other so happily. It was just one of those days where you think nothing possibly could go wrong on a day like today.

Our guests clock out for the night, children are all safely tucked in, and Ben and I begin our usual clean up after the days mess.

My mind was supercharged while I praised God as I swept the kitchen floor. On top of the awesome day, Ben and I had been getting excited as we felt we were on the verge of experiencing the miracles and healings that Christians can have on a daily basis. I’ve been ready to stretch out and to minister, share Christ’s love in a radical way, and just grace the shit out of everybody.

And than my son woke up.

At first, I didn’t think much of it. My husband whisked him away to not wake the guests and took him into the bathroom. I figured he was just doing the “normal” calm him down routine that usually works like clockwork.

Until all of the sudden I hear,

“Ro, Come check Luke out. Come listen to his breathing”

You know that sudden burst of panic you feel when you sense someone you love is in danger?

In .2 seconds I was by his side checking out the situation and immediately  I felt that something was terribly, terribly, wrong.

He could barely breathe. My son, my healthy 3 year old, could barely breathe. It sounded like he was breathing through a coffee stirrer and every time he inhaled or exhaled, he wheezed. He looked terrified. My heart sank and fear shot into every ounce of my bones.

In that moment, I managed to remember what I had been getting so excited about (the healing thing, remember?) and immediately and firmly declared.

“You will NOT die and you WILL breathe again in the powerful name of Jesus Christ”

Than I looked up at Ben and said,

“We need to get to the hospital, now”

I ran into the guests room, woke them up and told them they were now in charge of taking care of Josephine (My 2 year old). They didn’t have time to think or to even know what time it was.

We blasted out of there with no shoes or a wallet or anything important really, and sped to the nearest hospital about 10 minutes away.

During this time, I was in the back of our van with Luke. He seemed to be getting worse and I layed my hands on him while singing a popular worship song softly to calm him down (and to build my faith)

“There is power in the name of Jesus”

In those 10 minutes I had a constant, ongoing choice. I had a choice to let that fear and panic overwhelm and consume me. I had every right. He was my child, and the thought of losing something so precious would give anybody a right to become absolute jello.

So in each second, I chose to remain calm, to firmly declare Gods protection over my sons life, and determine that the day was going to end with my son smiling and healthy again, as though nothing ever happened.

It was a battle. We are in a battle, friends. The devil wants to win in those situations and decide the victory is his. He doesn’t. have. the. right. typorama (1)

 

2 hours later, Lukey was completely back to normal. I have the doctor, the nurses, the cops, and the rest of the hospital team to thank. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I wish I could remember his “diagnosis”, I really do, but it was a sudden onset of something terrifying. Medicine and love helped my son breathe again. God had his hand on him the entire time,  and I still firmly believe in the power of Jesus to miraculously heal. Gosh, if I could have my readers for another ten minutes, this is where I would ‘preach’. Another day, another time.

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The next day, Luke was PERFECT. Like nothing ever happened. Did I mention the doctor said he would have cold like symptoms? Yeah, NOPE. He was my healthy happy rambunctious 3 year old, once again.

So in the moment friends, you have a choice. God is right there, ready to extend his hand. He is SO ready. Fear has no place when perfect love is known. Darkness has no right when light comes to take its’ rightful stand.

Forget about the lost battles….let’s move on. Let’s build our relationship on the one who has already SLAMMED DUNKED the victory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Open Letter Of Forgiveness.

/ jrosieallen / Leave a comment

Dear _________,

When you _________ me,

Your actions spoke loud and clear. They told me I was worth nothing to you.

I have thought of what you did often. I have replayed the scenes in my head and I have allowed the knife to reopen wounds, over and over again.

This made me feel….unloved. My worth was shattered (because it wasn’t on the ROCK). I built walls to close off my heart. The devil used this to his advantage. He loved to accuse me and proclaim that people now wouldn’t want to be near me. I was no good to them. I was no good to God. I was a wasted case.

I began to question God and his love for me, his constant goodness, his abiding presence.

I can not change what happened. What happened is there. At the time I felt alone, scared, and helpless.

I have been healed.

I understand now that I wasn’t alone. He was with me in that time, fighting for me.

I understand now that although I was scared, his perfect love was calling me back to him.

I understand now that I wasn’t helpless, that I had him to call on, right there in that moment. And that he was already there, living inside of me.

God can not change what happened, but he showed me my Lord was right there the entire time, holding my hand and pleading to take my wounds away.

Jesus took my wounds upon himself. I am healed, and you didn’t even have to say sorry.

I used to have a war inside when it came to forgiving you, but now I have peace.

You are a person, just like me. You have a fallen body, just. like. me.

BUT

You are loved, worth more than rubies, highly sought after and treasured to the God in heaven, just like me.

I am sorry I thought evil of you and became bitter against you. I love you and I forgive you. And now if this scene comes back to mind, Jesus comes back too….And he is fighting for both of us.

Will you ever understand what you did? Maybe not. But that’s OK. I will love you the same, as though it never happened. It was sin, and sin is washed away. Jesus washed mine away too.

Thank you Lord, thank you for telling me I am worth more than rubies. That I am highly favored, priced above treasure, worth dying for. Thank you for loving me despite of my actions. Thank you for cleansing me and putting a crown upon my head. Thank you for chasing after me as I ran away from you. You caught me, and I am forever yours.

Love,

__________________