Word of __________________________

The book of John was on our schedule to begin reading today. I have always loved the first chapter of John because it reminds me why we LOVE the Word of God so much-- why we find power, strength, peace, and mercy in it.

Reading John 1:1 caused me to weep this morning- I love His Word. It has always been a rescue.. an escape for me for as long as I can remember (I just forgot for a period of time....) And this verse is a constant reminder that the Word IS HIM. Reading it, studying it, embracing it, living it-- it's all time spent with Him.

John 1:1- In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. (GW)

John 1:1- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (NIV)

John 1:1- In the beginning [before all time] was the Word ([a]Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. (AMP)

My parents bought me a study Bible Christmas 2005 and it breaks down the scriptures beautifully. After this verse, it states, "Just as a person's words reveal his or her mind, Christ as 'the Word' reveals the heart and mind of God."

Jesus' words - the kindness and wisdom that oozed out of Him - reflected God and thus He was described as portraying 'the Word of God.'

If our words (what we say in our daily lives- with our friends, our families, by ourselves, to our children...) defined us as a person, what would we be called??

Jesus= Word of God
Alyssa= Word of _________

What energy am I bringing forth with my words?? What would I be described as?  

Inappropriate? Malicious? Miserable? Uncompassionate? Selfish? Egotistic? Disgusting?

or

Faithful? Loving? Peaceful? Wise? Caring? Compassionate? Forgiving? Humble? 

The words that go from my mouth...

What would I be nicknamed if they chose the nickname?

Word of Conceitedness?
Word of Lies?
Word of Gossip?
Word of Hate?
Word of Bitterness?

or

Word of Truth?
Word of Love?
Word of Hope?
Word of Quiet?
Word of Forgiveness?

God, let me be the latter.

Let Your voice flow through me so that if anyone were to speak ill of me, no one would believe it. Let my words make me a better person FOR YOU. Let me be a light. A positive voice.

I have been horrible with my words over the past few years.  So undeserving of a second chance. But seeking a change- let me emit good with every thing that flows from my lips!

Consider the Birds.

For as long as I can remember, my life has been destroyed and bound by the chains of anxiety and depression. Gripped. Broken. Imprisoned.

I honestly don't even know how it started. One day, I felt like I was doing to pass out at the store and the next thing I know, I didn't leave my house for months.I was chained to this fear. I couldn't break free from it no matter how many times I tried.

Even now as an adult, I've struggled with it. I seemed alright to those looking in, but I couldn't even go in to the store alone with my children. I might have seemed 'okay', but anxiety still had me as it's prisoner. There have been days in the past year that I couldn't even get out of bed-- depression was choking the very life from me. Constant worry, dread, sickness. I was terrified of something bad happening. Afraid that I was going to die from some awful disease. I would be so sick to my stomach even thinking about going to pick my daughter up from school, trying not to hyperventilate the entire way there.

The night of Saturday, April 9th- God changed my entire countenance.

I've begged for freedom from my sinful ways for a long time.

BUT

I've never been desperate for it,

And you know what He did??

He took that desperation and started healing from the inside out.

I  was reading in Luke chapter 12 and I came across a verse that states:

Luke 12:24- Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! (NLT)

Luke 12:24-Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? (KJV)

Luke 12:24-  Consider the crows. They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even have a storeroom or a barn. Yet, God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds. (GW)

WHY do we worry-- 
WHY do I worry?

The birds don't plant or harvest.
They trust in God to provide.

Why can't I trust Him..

trust Him to provide:
- peace
- healing if I do have a sickness
- a way through a tough time
- protection if something does happen I can't control

He cares for the birds, but we are worth SO much more to Him!!!

We are worth LOVE, PEACE, HEALING, PROTECTION, COMPASSION, PROVISION... we are worth all that to Him, but the key is trusting Him enough to give it... 

quit trying to control every circumstance.. no wonder we are so unhappy! so sad! so miserable!! We aren't meant to the master of our lives. He is!

Consider the birds today.
Then consider your beautiful worth!!!

I MUST.

I was reading Luke chapter 4 this morning, and now, this is a chapter-- a book-- I have read a million times over the course of my life, but God hit me like a ton of bricks with a phrase in this chapter this morning.

I'm going to share a few translations of Luke 4:43 and I hope you can feel the power behind this scripture.

Luke 4:43-44  (The Message) He left the next day for open country. But the crowds went looking and, when they found him, clung to him so he couldn’t go on. He told them, “Don’t you realize that there are yet other villageswhere I have to tell the Message of God’s kingdom, that this is the work God sent me to do?” Meanwhile he continued preaching in the meeting places of Galilee.

Luke 4:43 (KJV) And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

Luke 4:43 (THE VOICE) No, I cannot stay. I need to preach the kingdom of God to other cities too. This is the purpose I was sent to fulfill.

I MUST PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

The Kingdom of God according to Romans is God's approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives (Darby Translation)

When I read this verse, I instantly got cold chills.

There is a huge difference between WANTING to speak about God's love, peace, and joy.... and NEEDING to speak about it. That MUST factor.

I MUST tell the world about His peace. His joy.

I MUST!

He knew how much brokenness was in this world. He knew the desperation. He knew the lost were out there struggling, fighting to keep their heads above water.

When I read that, it hit me how I need that MUST factor.

I MUST tell you about the peace I have found in Him. A peace where I can finally take my children to the store alone without anxiety choking me. A peace where I can finally sit at home and relax without feeling like I need alcohol.

I MUST tell you about the joy that fills my heart-- a joy I haven't felt in such a long time. A joy that I want to protect from the craziness and sin of this world. 

I MUST tell you about the forgiveness you can find in Him--even when the devil  tells you that you aren't deserving of it or that the change in your life hasn't been 'long enough' to really be a change.

I MUST tell  you about His healing power that can restore broken hearts,broken relationships, broken pasts, broken souls. A healing power that can take anxiety from your life. A healing power that can strip all the bad away one tear at a time.

I MUST tell you that you aren't too far gone. I thought i was, but He reminds me every day that you aren't. He's standing at the end of that dusty road waiting for you. Longing for you. Working on you.

I MUST tell you that oh, how He loves us. Cherishes us. Wants us. Can forgive us. Can put us back together. Can heal  those broken pieces of your life. Can give peace and life! A life that doesn't have to be filled with temporary satisfaction.

I'm nowhere near perfect. But I am trying...

I HAD to tell you that.

I HAD to share that.

I must.

An Alabaster Box

In Mark chapter 14, we read about a woman in the city Bethany who brings an alabaster box to the feet of Jesus. This box was filled with a very special oil-- an oil that could have been sold for a great deal of money. She brought it with her to anoint the feet of Jesus and pour her love out on Him. The men and women gathered there called this act a waste, but she knew the reasoning behind it. She knew the cost of that oil- of her action- and it didn't matter what profit she could gain from selling the oil.. she needed it for her soul.

In other chapters, we read that this woman is called Mary of Bethany. Luke chapter 7 talks about this woman being a sinner. She bowed at his feet, weeping. She wash his feet with all of those heartbroken tears and then wiped it up with her hair. A symbol of humbleness. The people standing around talked about how this woman shouldn't have even been touching Jesus because she was a known sinner. If only they truly knew of His grace and mercy and how undeserving most of us are.

Jesus turned and looked at these people and told them He had a story for them. In this story, Jesus talked about a creditor that had two people which owed him debt. One owed 500 pence. The other owed him 50 pence. Neither one had money to pay the debt back, so the creditor forgave the debt of both men, The question then is: which man in debt did the creditor love the most? The men said, "I would think the man to which he forgave the most amount of money." Jesus said, "You are correct."

The cold chills overwhelmed me when I read this.

He loves me so much.

The person that has probably done more wrong than good in this world-- He loves me. He loves me because I'm trying. I'm leaving the past behind and moving forward with a repentant heart.

I've tried to change my ways for so long, but His strength has made it possible for me this time.

In that moment of shame. In that moment of desperation. In that moment of feeling so lost that all she could do was cry at the feet of Jesus..

He forgave her.

He said, "Thy faith has saved you. Your sins are forgiven. GO LIVE IN PEACE."

It's no wonder I couldn't find peace in my life when it was so burdened down with sin and trying to fit in to society.

Another interesting part of this story is the fact that a few verses later, we read about Judas Iscariot and how he betrayed Jesus for money. The lady seeking forgiveness didn't care about the monetary value of the money. She just wanted the attention of Jesus Christ. She just wanted His peace. His forgiveness.

Then you have Judas who was fueled to betray Jesus Christ by the almighty dollar.

Who are we choosing to be,

I Am..

I'm exhausted from depending on the world to define me.
I've relied on my identity based off of what others thought about me... for far too long.
And it's time I take that back.

It's time I sit down and focus on who I am IN HIM.... not in everyone else.

His Word reveals it over and over...

If only I would stop trying to fit in and listen.



1. I am fearless.
Psalms 27:1 says "So with Him on my side, I'm fearless. Afraid of no one and nothing."

2. I am at peace.

Psalms 27:3 says, "When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool."

3. I live and breathe God.

Psalms 34:2 says, "I live and breathe God; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy."

4. I am not anxious.

Psalms 34:4 says, "God met me more than halfway, he freed me from anxious fears."

5. I am protected.

Psalms 34:7 says, "God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray."

6. I restrain anger and I do not let it get the best of me.

Psalms 37:8 says, "Bridle your anger, trash your wrath. Cool your pipes, it will only make things worse."

7. I am a giver.

Psalms 37:22 says, "The righteous gives and gives. Generous gets it all in the end. The stingy are cut off at the pass."

8. I am patient with God.

Psalms 37:34 says, "Wait passionately on God, don't leave the path. He'll give you your place in the sun while you watch the wicked lose it."

9. I gave myself over to God.

Psalms 40:4 says, "Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing", ignore what the world worships."

10. I am put back together again.

Psalms 4:8 says, "At day's end I am ready for sound sleep For You God have put my life back together."

11. I am shielded.

Psalms 3:3 says, "But You God shield me on all sides. You ground my feet, lift my head high."

12. I am made right- my circumstances are made right.

Psalms 7:17 says, "I'm thanking God who makes things right."

13. I am happy.

Psalms 16:9 says, "I'm happy from the inside out and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed."

14. I am on the right path.

Psalms 16:10 says, "Now you've got my feet on the right path, all radiant from the shining of Your face. Ever since You took my hand, I'm on the right way."

15. I am strong.

Psalms 18:1 says, "I love You God, You make me strong."

16. I am complete.

Psalms 18:20 says, "God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him."

17. I am a praiser. I live a praise life.

Psalms 22:25 says, "Here in this great gathering for worship, I have discovered the praise life.."

18. I am not abandoned.

Psalms 124:6 says, "Oh blessed be God! He didn't go off and leave us. He didn't abandon us defenseless...."

19. I am clean.

Psalms 51:7 says, "Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean. Scrub me and I'll have a snow white life."

20. I am forgiven.

Psalms 51:1-3 says, "Generous in love- God, give grace! Huge in mercy- wipe away my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in the laundry. I know how bad I've been, my sins are staring down at me.."

A New Year, New Life

I know people say it all of the time. New year, new me. Heck, I've said it more times than I could possibly count... but I don't think there's ever been desperation for a year to mean more than any before. We always start out with these great intentions and then life gets in the way-- and we forget that spirit we had at the end of the year before.

Have you ever just sat and thought about your soul? How it truly feels inside? When you aren't 'faking' it... when you aren't with other people? When you lay in bed and night and just think of your soul... how does it feel? Does it feel heavy? Does it feel overwhelmed? Does it feel angered? Does it feel bitter? Does it feel on edge?

Because this is exactly what God doesn't want from us.

When our souls feel 'heavy'.. when we feel overwhelmed... when we feel angered.. when we feel bitter.. when we feel on edge.. chances are we affect the world around us. We make other souls feel heavy.. we make them feel overwhelmed.. we make them feel angered.. we make them feel bitter... we put them on edge. And in a world where most only care about themselves-- this simple fact should drive us to care more about the condition of our spirits.

2018 is going to be the year for me- the year of being exactly who I was called to be. I may need an accountability partner. I may need a push from time to time... but my soul deserves it. and those souls I'm around deserve it as well.

The kids and I have been reading Psalms (the Message version) at home lately and while reading it, I feel like God was revealing things to us... so we started making a list of things we are going to hang up in the bathrooms.. in the kitchen... by the closets.. a constant reminder of what we are pushing towards in 2018.

1. Chew on scripture day and night (Psalms 1:2)
2. Complain if you must but don't lash out (Psalms 4:4)
3. Keep your mouth shut- let your heart do the talking (Psalms 4:5)
4. When I need Him, He will be there (Psalms 9:4)
5. Scrub away guilt and accept forgiveness for my own sins (Psalms 51:2-3)
6. Forgive others and let go of grudges (Psalms 103:9)
7. Heal the ache in the heart of the unhappy and unfortunate (Psalms 12:5)
8. Ask God to pull us out of the ocean of hate (Psalms 18:16)
9. Pray to clean the slate every morning (Psalms 19:13)
10. Bridle your anger. Cool your pipes- it only makes things worse, (Psalms 37:8)
11. Be giving- righteous gives and gives. Generous gets it all in the end. (Psalms 37:21-22)
12. Be patient- wait passionately for God. (Psalms 37:34)
13. Use kind words. Guard your mouth. (Proverbs 15:4)
14. Develop a praise-life. (Proverbs 22:25)
15. Bless God every chance you get (Psalms 34:1)

God, I give you what I can today. I lay it all at Your feet.

2018- I'm coming for you.

January 2018 Activities

I hope everyone had fun doing our December activities!! Only a few days left-- and then it's time for JANUARY! I seriously cannot believe 2018 is right around the corner-- and what better way to ring in the New Year than lots of excitement-filled activities for that first month of the year!

We are going to celebrate New Years, Martin Luther King Day, Winter, and the Superbowl! I can't wait to share this with all of you!

January Activities-

January 1st- Write out 2018 goals together as a family. (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Isaiah 40:30-31 (Trusting God in the New Year)

January 2nd- Write out our New Year Resolution together. (LINK HERE) 
*Bible verse of the day- Deuteronomy 7:13 (blessings for the New Year)

January 3rd- Go all day without complaining-- start the year with a new attitude.
*Bible verse of the day- Phillipians 2:14-16 (having a better attitude)

January 4th- Develop a reading list of books you (and your family) would like to read this year.
*Bible verse of the day- Ephesians 4:29 (becoming a better person)

January 5th- Take some time to start a new activity (reading, yoga, getting up earlier, running, walking, etc.)
*Bible verse of the day- 1 Corinthians 10:10 (being content with what we have)

January 6th- Declutter in area in your home or your life today.
*Bible verse of the day- Numbers 11:1-2 (Learning to not complain)

January 7th- Make a soup for dinner and enjoy a winter movie!
*Bible verse of the day- Phillipians 4:11-12 (being content)

January 8th- Make name snowman (LINK HERE) 
*Bible verse of the day- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (Encouraging one another)

January 9th- Lets take the Bible verse we talked about yesterday and do something encouraging for someone else.
*Bible verse of the day- Joshua 1:9 (Being brave/courageous)

January 10th- Martin Luther King Jr craft with quote/trace hand (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Galatians 6:2 (loving others)

January 11th-  'I have a Dream craft' (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Hebrews 13:16 (loving others)

January 12th- Complete the timeline of Martin Luther King Jrs. Life (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- John 15:12 (loving each other)

January 13th- Read 'The Crayon Box that Talked' poem (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- John 15:13 (loving each other)

January 14th- Read 'Martin Luther King' song together (LINK HERE) 
*Bible verse of the day- Romans 12:13 (giving to each other)

January 15th- Martin Luther King jr Flower/Hand craft (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- 1 John 4:19-20 (loving others/God's love)

January 16th- Make paper polar bears (LINK HERE) 
*Bible verse of the day- Isaiah 43:2 (God is with us)

January 17th- Make more paper snowflakes and decorate a few.
*Bible verse of the day- Romans 8:18 (Stay strong)

January 18th- Have an indoor picnic and watch a winter movie.
*Bible verse of the day- Joshua 1:9 (be strong and brave this coming year)

January 19th- Decorate paper mittens.
*Bible verse of the day- Isaiah 41:10 (do not be afraid)

January 20th- Bake cookies for a friend, neighbor, or family member.
*Bible verse of the day- Isaiah 66:9 (you can do this!)

January 21st- Read a book about Winter together.
*Bible verse of the day- Psalms 91:4 (Protection)

January 22nd- Write our own short story together about Winter.
*Bible verse of the day- Psalms 62:1-2 (Finding rest in God)

January 23rd- Have a movie marathon day at home complete with hot cocoa and popcorn.
*Bible verse of the day- Philippians 4:13 (Strength in God)

January 24th- Play a card game together as a family.
*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 17:20 (faith in God)

January 25th- Do something kind for someone else.
*Bible verse of the day- 1 John 5:5 (strength in God)

January 26th- Visit your grandparents today.
*Bible verse of the day- Mark 11:24 (God hears your prayers)

January 27th- Have a dance party!
*Bible verse of the day- Romans 15:13 (hope in God)

January 28th- Go on a scavenger hunt inside the house!
*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 21:21 (faith in God)

January 29th- Have a tea party!
*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 15:28 (the benefits of true faith)

January 30th- Decorate a football helmet. (LINK HERE) 
*Bible verse of the day- Colossian 3:23 (Jesus wants us to work hard.)

January 31st- Make a football out of construction paper and hands from our hand prints. (LINK HERE) 
*Bible verse of the day- Proverbs 13:4 (God wants us to work hard)

Lets kick 2018 off the right way-- spending lots of time with our family! Can't wait to see everything you do! We love pictures, so please share share away!

-The Bays