God Is Good

Laurali with her Grandma's on Thanksgiving

Getting ready to take Mimi to the airport

Happy Thanksgiving!

Laurali eating her peas and spinach mommy made

We're ready to go to church

Watching the Saints game (sorry about my pants Pittsburgh family)

In the swing Papa and Grandy got her. Check our her two little teeth!

Getting ready to go get Mimi at the airport

Getting ready to board our last plane of the day to Oklahoma

I apologize for not being the best blogger the past five months, or should I say the WORST blogger. But I've felt the nudge and I know the Lord can do great things through my fingers soooo...I'm going to do better ;-)

Since June we've been in a couple of different states, I've gained another year, Laurali has gotten three teeth, and we are five months closer to seeing Braden! We are in Oklahoma right now with the Merritt's enjoying the Holidays and this last hump of deployment. God has been doing some amazing things in our lives. It is really neat to see His purposes unfold for both of us, even though we are many countries away from each other. I think we both see His will more clearly during these times of separation.

The Lord has become my best friend. I've been a walking Christian for seven years and I feel like I have finally grasped what it means to have an intimate relationship with Christ. The Holy Spirit has a grasp on my heart and I am so thankful for that. Today I was reading a devotional my sister, Nikki, sent me. In it there was a line that said "We need to persevere in our desire to love the Lord." That is something I have been praying for. My mind wanted it, but my heart just wasn't there for quite some time. Recently, that prayer has come true. The desire is so strong and I am not living if I am not walking with my Father each day. The devotional then proceeded to say "This faithful lover never gives up on us." I am so grateful for that truth. There have been so many times when I have been lazy, rebellious, and foolish with my life. My God has NEVER left me, He has NEVER forsaken me, He has NEVER said "Alissa, there is no potential left in you and I've given you a thousand chances to grow...I'm done! There is someone better." Instead, He says "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) Praise God for his Grace.

"We need to persevere in our desire to love the Lord."

This is what God revealed to me about Perseverance...here is my journal entry today during my quiet time:

"I feel ashamed because as of late I have let my constant communication with the Lord fall to the way side. In doing so, I have also been quenching the Spirit. I cannot and do not want to live moment to moment without communication and intimacy with my Heavenly Father. Please forgive me, Lord. These moments are for you, Lord, not for myself; I pray for that constant reminder each moment of the day. I pray that I am always "in step" with the Holy Spirit. "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:25

The Spirit and I need to be in sync. The world can distract and cause me to get out of step; this quenches the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 says "Do not quench the Spirit." What a precious gift from God - the Spirit is our Helper and our Comforter. We have God with us ALWAYS. What is there to be anxious about?"

God talks to me and God leads me. I will continually pray for open ears, an open heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith.

These verses about perseverance inspire me.

1 Chronicles 16

"Look to the Lord and His Strength; seek His face always."

Job 17:9

"Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger."

Psalm 37:24

"Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand."

Matthew 10:22

"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day."

John 8:31-32

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Romans 2:7

"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give you eternal life."

Romans 5:1-5

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through out Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

Thanks for letting me share my walk and faith with you. Blessings and peace with you all;-)

God is good...

Here are some updated pictures!