Breakfast and a Blog- Christmas Edition

Merry Christmas dear friends.  As the chaos of the week leading up to Christmas finally calms and the presents have been opened I love spending time relaxing with family and focusing on the amazing plan of our Savior. 

One of my favorite songs that highlights God’s love and provision is by Reliant K and it shares the Sovereignty of our God and His plan. God gave Jesus in the form of an infant who would become our King and salvation.  “And the first time that You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior and the first breath that left Your lips did You know that it would change this world forever…and I, celebrate the day, that you were born to die, so I could one day pray for you to save my life.”

I am a planner by nature, but this year has taught me that there is so much that I cannot control.  It helps my perspective to realize that God is in control and that thousands of years ago He made a way to protect me and save me…. talk about a reason to feel peace. 

“Sing for joy, all the Earth.  Messiah’s come to set you free.  Join the angels in their song, Glory Be.”   Praying peace for you today and the knowledge that God has “got this”.  He is in control.  Praise the Lord! 

Breakfast and a Blog Week 3

Relationship:

A wise graduate school professor once told me that people are hurt through relationship and therefore must be healed by relationship.  I have based a lot of my understanding of people, counseling and caring for others through this thought.  We are relational creatures who need care and support from those around us…healing through relationship.  Imagine a world where we mean it when we ask how one another are doing and spend time to listen to the answer. 

Last weekend I went and saw The Silver Linings Playbook starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.  I chose it initially because they are two of my faves (hello Bradley’s blue eyes!) but it turned out to be much different that I expected.  It told the story of two characters who suffered from symptoms of mental illness that other people did not understand.  Both characters had been hurt through relationship… feeling broken and in need of healing.  Those around them didn’t know how to help, although they tried but it was once they started helping each other that they started to become more whole.  The cracks in their hearts began to come back together and I teared up watching hope return to their lives.  A life without hope has no where to go, but once hope returns so much more is possible. 

I know that I read too much into this story, but sometimes that is what makes movies great.  We can watch a story line but allow it to speak to us and remind us of something from our past.  I loved being reminded of the relational aspect of human beings.  The need to be cared for but also the need to care for others….that is what I reflect on over my oatmeal this Monday morning.  I hope that each of you feel cared for this morning and that you have at least one go-to person when you need to feel more whole… whether that be someone to dance with in the living room to music that is too loud, eating an entire pint of ice cream or finding something to laugh out loud about… find what helps heal your heart and be brave enough to ask for it.  You are worth it. 

Breakfast and a Blog Week 2

Last week’s post initially started as one of thankfulness following Thanksgiving but in true Allison form I got on a tangent and feel as though I didn’t fully write on thankfulness.  As the Advent season has started, it is as important as ever to remind myself to put on my attitude of gratitude (yes, ladies and gents… I am corny) and focus on the grace and sovereignty of this God that I call Father.  I emphasize sovereign lately when I think about God because I realize that I am not in control.  I have all of these wild ideas about what my life should look like and how things should be when in all reality I am called to follow God’s word, trust in Him and know that He has this under control. 

Nichole Nordeman is a Christian singer that I have loved for years and she came out with a song several years ago about gratitude but it also is a reminder to look for what we can be learning when we think God didn’t hear our prayers.  Here is a link to her video for Gratitude so that you can listen along. She says that “we give thanks to you, with gratitude, for lessons learned” and then will go on to explain the initial request and then what can be learned.  What a perspective changer to think of what I can be learning rather than what I didn’t get or what God missed.  God doesn’t miss.  I misunderstand. 

This time of year can be filled with so many different things ranging from gratitude and love to fear and greed.  It is important for me, and maybe also for you, to take time to remain grateful and joyful for what this season truly stands for.  I love the hymns that come out this time of year…Joyful, Joyful.  Go Tell it on the Mountain, Joy to the World are just a few that remind us of the sacrificial plan that started by our savior being born in a manger.  God has unending, unbelievable and incredibly merciful plans for us.  They started in Bethlehem and they continue today.  Now isn’t that something to be grateful for!?!  As I sit at my computer this morning, a bit too tired for a Monday, I want to remind myself that yes I hope to see gifts under the tree this Christmas but what I am most grateful for is the love of God and the plan that saves me.  Happy Advent Season y’all.  Praying for you this Monday morning.