Live Alive

I’m not here to live a normal existence. 

We weren’t created to stay within our comfort zone.
We are not meant to live each day doing the minimum work necessary.

We were created by a master designer. A MASTER DESIGNER who purposefully made us!
I don’t want to waste His work, effort or creativity.

I desire to live alive! 
To make His name and love known wherever I go.

I couldn’t tell you the amount of times I’ve ignored God’s promptings.
But I can tell you that the times I listened to God’s promptings… I was never disappointed!
I was always encouraged and thankful.

So, today do not be wasteful with yours and God’s potential.
If you’re not doing His work—who is?

Depraved Indifference

This video has shattered me and reinforced a calling.
I’m grieving and willing and burdened to fight for what is God’s.
We must rescue these little ones. We Must.

“Are you willing to get on that plane and get to him?”

“I rescue the weak and the vulnerable through you. If you’re not doing it, no one is!”

A Social Media Manager’s Prayer

One of the greatest blessings in my life is my job.
Cheesy but true. I love this not-so-normal thing that I do.

Confession: I fail daily.

Whether it’s losing my patience, misquoting someone or forgetting the hashtag.
I’m not perfect and there’s still a lot to learn.
But those imperfections, those mess ups, those cringe-worthy moments…
they allow God to shine, to mold me, to tell me “Hey Ally, I’ve still got more to do! Hold on!”

We social media managers are blessed beyond comprehension.
Yes, we might be on our phones a lot, we might need to vent, we might seem a little crazy.
But it’s all for Him. It’s all about bringing people closer to Jesus and being that connecting point.

I’m a church social media manager and here’s my prayer:

Lord,

I’m honored and thankful to be called your daughter. Your love amazes me.
Today, before I even look at a screen, I ask for grace and wisdom for the various interactions I will have.
Thank you for the gift of serving You through social media. Sometimes I can hardly believe it!

You know my weaknesses and you see where I struggle.
Lord, this is not my stage, it’s Yours.
Your reach stretches far far beyond my own.
Fill me, use me, guide me.

Keep my heart tender as I read through comments, messages and tweets.
I want to see them as You see them.
I ask for Your perspective, a gracious heart, and the words to share.

I understand the gravity and responsibility of this job.
And it’s not a light load that I carry. Sometimes it gets really heavy.
Remind me to rely on you. That I don’t have to bear it alone.

Keep me from getting too consumed with analytics and stats.
I know it’s not about that, but it’s easy to get stuck in the numbers.
Especially when something is doing really well or really poor.

I want my eyes to be fixed on You always.
I want my thirst for You to never dry out.
I want my confidence and assurance to only come from You.

I give today to You.

#Amen

Thankful For Laughter

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)

Today I am so thankful for laughter.
Last night I laughed so hard I was crying.
Full-out ugly, uncontrollable, nostrils flaring laughing.
I wasn’t alone. Adam was ugly laughing, too.
At what? The dog.
Yes, Rudy provided the entertainment to our late night laugh.
Explaining it via this blog wouldn’t do it justice.

But before the ugly laugh we had Bible Study with our friends.
We decided to have a game night as we are in-between studies.
We played Sketch It and Catchphrase and the laughter was endless!
It was so good to just hang out in the middle of a crazy work week.

But the Lord didn’t stop there.
He knew my heart still needed some cheering up.
So, my lunch hour was spent goofing off with some work friends.
I was laughing so hard my mascara was running.

My spirit was running dry and that laughter has filled me up.
Thank you, God, for laughter, dogs and friends.

Writing Quotes I Love

“I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.”
Flannery O’Connor

“Write hard and clear about what hurts.”
Ernest Hemingway

“Go with your instincts. Write about what you love and what rings true to you.”
Mom Inc.

“Sometimes I have to remind myself that I don’t have to do what everyone else is doing.”
Anonymous

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”
William Wordsworth

“If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.”
Anonymous

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
Maya Angelou