Alyssa A.

Today, Alyssa shares with us thoughts on how the Word of God is our only absolute, learning to have grace and a reminder that we are heirs of Heaven.

[Photo credit: Drealinaphotography.com /IG: @drealinaphotography]

Alyssa A.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment:  “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your Commandments from me!” (Psalm 119: 18-19)

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: Learning to be okay with being alone. (I know God is always with me, I am not talking about that. I am talking about without a best friend, or family or significant other.) To do things by myself and have confidence that there is a reason God wants me to do this.

Profession: Registered Nurse.

A one sentence bio of yourself: “To be an heir of Heaven is to be an heir of suffering.”

A few days after my mom died, [I] found that written in one of her Bibles. It hit me, that in my moment of grief, I was and am an heir of Heaven. Life is never fair, prefect or explainable, but we are heirs of Heaven; Heaven bound by the grace of God.

“To be an heir of Heaven is to be an heir of suffering.”

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? This is a long one; I first encountered God when I was 6 years old on the way home from church. I can so vividly remember that moment, I was with my dad in this old red Mercedes, and we were driving through the neighborhood. The moon roof and the windows were open, and I asked Him about Jesus, that day I asked God to come into my heart for the first time.

Back story, my family has always been in leadership my entire life. Growing up the church was my second home. So by the time I hit my teenage years, I knew all the Bible verses, and how to be the prefect church child. I [was] honestly very judgement[al] to[ward] other non-believers and did not know an ounce of God’s grace.

Fast forward, I moved to college, and I went wild. I became the party girl that I played in every Easter drama. I compromised what I knew was right and has no standard. It did not just happen in one night. It was months and months of wrong choices, and suppressing the Holy Spirit inside of me.

Three and half years later, at a party, a few of my friends said “You are who we made you!”  That literally felt like a ton of bricks hit me across my face. I woke up the next morning feeling so lost. I had completely lost my way, and God. I didn’t lose God because He never stopped chasing me. I finally experienced the grace that God always talked about and left my old life and ran towards Him.

“Three and half years later, at a party, a few of my friends said ‘You are who we made you!’ That literally felt like a ton of bricks hit me across my face.”

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Truly depending on God, trusting Him, and giving Him all the moments and things I felt entitled too.

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): I just finished reading it: I Don’t Wait Anymore by Grace Thorton.

So GOOD, it talks a lot about not waiting for what the world or in some cases the church has says your entitled to. We are only here to bring God glory, we go by His plan because He’s the only one who matter. It is really encouraging for older single people who feel like they will never get married.

Top three essentials:

1.       My BIBLE, I feel like it’s really my sword and I need it where ever I go.

2.       COFFEE, I never leave my house without coffee or plan to get coffee, morning or night.

3.       Lipstick/ Chapstick, if you know me, you know I love lipsticks.

How did God speak to you recently? He recently used my little brother, who is not so little; he is 21. He said something, and I cannot remember what it was, but it hit me. I thought about it for the next 12-24 hour. It really made me feel unsure. So, the next day I went for a long bike ride with worship music in my ears all by myself, and I asked God what did you mean by this and He told me. So, I did what He asked me to do an felt 100x better since.

Hobby: Kayaking, Cooking, baking, knitting, craft projects, and biking.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong:

1.       Talk to God, just like any other relationship, boyfriend/ friend whom you want to tell everything too, God wants that. Talk to Him about the smallest and the biggest things, laugh with Him, Fear Him, and Love him Like He is real. He is living God. Set aside time during each day where you can just read, study His Word, and talk to Him about what is going on. Or turn off the radio in the car and just talk to Him. Enjoy His presence

2.       Never stop singing to God! Worship is a form of showing our love to God.

3.       Know HIS Word! Satan will constantly attack you. The word of the Lord is our sword. God tells us to hide it in our hearts. So when we are tempted or faced with a hard choice remember Gods Word. Repeat it constantly. Write it on cards and post it around your room.

Favorite person in scripture? Job, He experienced such loss and never gave up. He never doubt that God was good, but trusted He had a plan.

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? I hope people see His joy in me. That life is never prefect or ideal or Fair but with God all things are GOOD.

Favorite season? FALL, even though it doesn’t happen much in Florida! I love all things pumpkin!

Favorite holiday? CHRISTMAS, I love family time, and all the pretty lights. It’s not even about the food or the gifts, I just love being with family.

A dream you have?  How much time do you have? I have so many. What’s cool to think is that Gods dreams are so so much better than mine.  In short, I hope to one day marry an amazing Godly man, move to the mission field and never look back. I would love to work and or open a medical clinic in Honduras one day. I plan to not only have my own children but also adopt. My main goal and dream in life is to use my life to bring God all the glory. I am nothing without Him. He is the reason I breath every minute of every day.

“I am nothing without Him. He is the reason I breath every minute of every day.”

[Photo credit: Drealinaphotography.com /IG: @drealinaphotography]

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: CAMPING! Every year since I was 2 years old; my family has always gone camping to the same place year after year. It’s my dream to one day bring my kids.

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? “Abba Father, Can you just hug me?”  I know that seems silly, but honestly, I love hugs. I can NOT wait to feel my Father’s embrace. I long for that moment so much, ’cause as comforting as it can feel in the natural. I cant imagine how a hug from God, the King of Kings feels!

Thing you want to raise awareness about: Personally I would like to bring awareness back to the Word of God, so many times we get stuck in our programs or what the world is saying or what the next big shot preacher is saying. We forget that the Word of God is our only absolute.

“We forget that the Word of God is our only absolute.”

What do you usually do before 9 a.m.? If it is Monday- Friday, usually I am up at 4:30, get ready for the day make breakfast, coffee, grab my gym bag, back up my lunch, and I am out the door till 6 pm. I clock in at 6 am and start getting everything ready for surgery that day, the pt comes as 6:30, an then I will more than likely be running around or standing still in a surgical case all day.

What is on your nightstand?

1.       My Apple watch and charger;

2.       A pile of books I’m in the middle of reading;

3.       Two different journals (One is my personal journal and the other is ideas I get for new blog post!);

4.       My diffuser with water bottle;

5.       All my oils to choose from mostly lavender;

6.       A vase of dried out flowers which are all from my mom’s casket arrangement.

Define Christianity in a sentence: Christianity to me means a relationship with the Lord Almighty, who loved me so much He sent Jesus to die for me, so I could spend eternity with Him.

 

For more Alyssa:

IG: @joyinthejourney26

Website: Joy-in-thejourney.com

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XOXO