Hello Friends! Welcome to this week's Testimony Tuesday. Do you have your entry ticket to Heaven? Without it, you won't make it past the Pearly Gates. Remember a few weeks ago, I lamented about the "Christian Ruler" and how we will never measure up to others' expectations of what a Christian should be? Well, this week, I would like to talk about our entry ticket to Heaven.

Recently, we were having lunch at work. We were all talking about the upcoming Easter services some churches were having and my boss asked me "Ally, have you ever been to a sunrise service? I think you would really like that?" And my response was "no...I haven't..." I don't really go out of my house that much and I had never been. She was talking about how beautiful it is, when the pastor is reading scripture and the sun rises at the beach over the horizon. It does sound absolutely lovely... and maybe one day I will check it out!

The owner of our company was also in the lunch room and made a comment how its going to be hard for me to enter the pearly gates. I told him in jest "Didnt you know I'm highly favored?" and he said "No way... you are going to have a hard time getting in" I'm sure he was making a joke... and I just left the breakroom as it was time for me to return to my shift.

What I found touching was when I left, my coworkers were defending my faith, and how I always speak of the Lord's goodness and love. I am proud that when I leave a room, others will come to my defense about my faith. You can call me whatever you want... just don't deny my faith in Jesus Christ (also don't call me a pagan or a Luciferian Satanist! LOL) I'm proud that others know my allegiance to the Lord, Jesus Christ. They were going back and forth with him about how we don't gain access by our works...its by our faith alone and acceptance of God's gift in Jesus Christ.

I'm sure he identifies as Catholic or Christian...but it's a shame to hear how some people really think you must be a certain way, and do certain things to be accepted by God when it's quite the opposite. God welcomes you in your brokenness, so his Glory can shine through you when you are repaired! God uses the least of us so that our pride does not overshadow his glory! Please know that by accepting the cross, that Jesus was God in the flesh and he DIED for you, you are already saved, and the work is already complete; Tetelestai! ("It is finished" is the English translation of the Greek word Tetelestai,) He just wants to grow your faith while you are down here and build a relationship with you! How comforting is it to know that when we go to Heaven we are not meeting a stranger, a king on a throne, but a loving Father that you have known all along?

I hope you know that you are on the right track. God tailors these "lessons" for just the right person to hear. I hope you know that when you stand in who you are supposed to be, that life really does become easier. I love you all and I hope we can witness to all corners of Earth so that no man has to burn in hell for eternity! Be blessed this week! <3 Ally.  

Hello, my friends! Welcome to today's episode of Testimony Tuesday. As you are coming along with me on my journey, I would like to talk about God working on our hearts. There is NOTHING we can do alone, but with God all things are possible! Matthew 19:26. ²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

I know most of you can empathize with my words and are working on your own personal journeys with Christ. Maybe I share too much, maybe I don't share enough...but for those of you who need encouragement to keep on going... I write this for you! I used to be a sad girl, I guess I kind of always will be that way, its comfortable to be in our own pain and anger. But Behold! I am a new creation in Christ! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.

I sent my mom a little care package of some face care items that were given to me with a little note. I wrote her that I was thinking of her and I hope when this is over we can forget our past and look forward to our future. I dont know if this is the right thing to do, but I felt God was pressing it on my heart. Im not angry anymore and Im not sure if im ready to talk to her yet... i feel like its going to be a venting argument of who is wrong or right and Im not looking for that. I am just looking to be respected as an adult making my own choices and if you want to be in my life in a non-transactional way, I kind of opened the door for that.

Veronica helps remind me all the time how I am not alone, and that God is here fighting for me. She was the one who reminded me that I am a new creation in Chris, Jesus and I want to continue to be that person. The one who listens to God, The one who goes out of her way to help others, The one others can look to when they feel lost and apart from God. I want to be all the things that my inner child was too afraid to become. 

My youngest son asked me why Im so aggressive.. I told him "I am the spicy ingredient in God's soup"... but God made me like that and my temper can be a strength at times. Even Peter had a temper and cut a soldier's ear off! John 18:10 ¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.). 

God's not done with me yet, and as I continue to bloom in his garden I want to plant you all right next to me so we can share in God's love and all the beautiful butterflies he sends our way. Take some time to appreciate who you are, and be joyful at the person that God is creating you to be! I love you all and am praying for joy in our lives this week! 

Hello Friends! Welcome back to Testimony Tuesday. Quick update, the s*it hit the fan with my family after the last article...but I woke up the next day with Thanksgiving in my heart so I know the Lord is working hard to provide me with a way THROUGH it. Never once did the Bible say he will take all your problems away, but he will make a way THROUGH it. So, onwards and upwards!

Today, I would like to talk about Trusting God in the storms. When I think about Daniel in the Lion's Den Daniel 6: 16-21 (¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” ¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! ²² My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”)

Or, when I think about the 3 men cast into the fires I think how small my problems really are. Daniel 3: 19-25 (¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. ²⁰ And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. ²¹ Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. ²² Therefore, because the king’s command was ^[c]urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. ²³ And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his ^[d]counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”²⁵ “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the^[e] Son of God.”)

Maybe God doesn't work in wonders and signs in your life, but he is ALWAYS working hard for you. He loves us so much and I will continue to sing to him, to worship him, to love him, and to walk with him. God gave me so much support from friends near and far when this family situation happened and truly, he said to me "You are not alone, I love you and have some of my strength to get you through this storm." When I am ready, I will reconcile, but I could not do so in my anger.

I'm not angry anymore, I am focused and determined. You all have been praying for me and you know what? I like who I am... I am proud of who I am becoming and I will never deny our Lord Jesus Christ! My children speak of Jesus and God all the time.. so I know God is close to us. I know God loves us, and even if my world was brought all the way down to rubble, I will continue to praise him in the storm. 

I hope this brings you cheer and a renewed vigor to continue to fight the good battle. In Jesus' name, we pray for broken hearts, we pray over our broken lives, and we pray for the deliverance of evil. We pray for a joy that surpasses our own understanding. Philippians 4:7 (⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.)

We pray to be who God created us to be, In Jesus' name. I love you all and thank you for being a part of my story! <3 Ally.