Maria Allison

In January, I wrote a blog on picking a word of the year. Comfort was my word of the year that I chose. I am finding it ironic right now that this is my word, because you could say I am feeling more uncomfortable than comfortable these days. Am I comfortable wearing my pajamas everyday? For sure. Who doesn't love wearing "comfy" pants everyday?  I have reached the point where I wear my pajamas all day, and pose the question, must I change my pajamas before going back to bed? Probably suggested, but no one will know. I accept it. Even though I might be comfortable physically in my pajamas, I am uncomfortable inwardly. We are in a weird place historically. Something as simple as going to the grocery store has now become uncomfortable. Normal daily interactions and activities now make me feel uncomfortable. Having the thoughts, is going to Kroger safe? Am I doing enough to stay safe and healthy? What if things never go back to normal? Even asking these questions make me fe...

God isn't finished with you yet.  This is a phrase I have heard a lot while growing up in a Christian home and I have always heard it but never fully paid close attention to it until today. "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6) God is doing a good work in you! In our walk with God we are never going to be completely perfect, or completely on fire with God without temptation. As Christians we feel as if we have to be perfect all the time and we are never allowed to make mistakes. If we make a mistake and people are informed of it, we can be considered a hypocrite. What Jesus wants is our heart and our full devotion to him. He doesn't expect us to be perfect or to never make a mistake, he expects us to give all of our struggles and temptation to him. We know that all of our sins are forgiven because Jesus died on the cross for us and paid our ultimate pun...

Approaching the new year allows for reflection of the past year and hope for the new year. Each year comes with blessings and challenges. For some, 2019 might have been an amazing year with new and fun experiences. While for others, the past year might have been filled with pain, suffering, and sorrow. A new year brings a new beginning, and a refreshing restart. Making a New Years resolution has never been something I have enjoyed doing. Making goals, and setting goals can be a good thing when you accomplish them. But sometimes, making goals can be discouraging when you fall short on those goals year after year. Typically, most people shoot high and make goals like doing 100 push ups for 100 days (tried that and failed miserably). Or working out daily, eating healthier, cutting out sugar, and the list can go on and on for days. Instead of focusing on a goal, I focus on a word. For the past two years, I have chosen a word of the year to focus on, read more about, pray on, and apply it...