Questions needed!

Okay everyone - so I'm currently working on a big project focusing around Christian living.

However, there is a minor detail that I can't get passed unless I have your help - don't worry it's simple ;)

Soo here is what I'd like for you to do .....

I would love it if y'all were to send in real life questions for me to answer - told you it was simple :)

The questions can be on anything pertaining to Christian living - I'll even create a new page on here and call it "Ask Alisha" .....

Don't worry - ya'll will know about this project .... e v e n t u a l l y ;) :P

Thank you for your help!!!

In  H I S  grace, Alisha

We have a choice to make

As I stated in my post Predestination vs. Free will, I have been trying to study out the why I believe the way I do.  I don't want to have the faith my parents or my pastor or friends have, I want to have the faith that God wants me to have.

Through this study of mine, I have asked God to give me opportunities to talk about my faith with a friend .., and like always, He faithfully answered :)

As a dear friend of mine was sharing with me a theological discussion (predestination vs. free will) she was having with a friend, through this whole discussion and study, I asked myself this question

"If God hasn't already chosen who He wants to follow Him, then why did the disciples follow Christ after He said 'follow me'?"

So, I got to thinking + praying ... and as I was ironing for Daddy the other night ... God gave me a revelation!!

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

{Matthew 4:19}

This verse clearly shows us that we all  have a choice when it comes to Salvation!  Jesus is constantly holding out His hand to a lost soul saying "follow Me" ... it is our choice to either reach out for that hand or to reject it.

Peter and Andrew didn't have to leave their nets behind and follow Jesus.  They could have stayed in the boat and continued living for themselves.  Because they followed Him, they had the opportunity of a life time.  They were able to be under the teaching of the Lord ... they were able to physically sit at His feet.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, didn't have to believe the angel.  She could have laughed and told him "yeeeah ... you see ... I'm not willing to do this!  I'm betrothed!!!!"  But because she didn't ... through her, we have the hope of a Savior!!

The woman at the well didn't have to believe that the Man speaking to her was indeed the Messiah .. none the less run and tell the townspeople about Him.  She could have laughed at Him and turned her back.  Because she believed, they had the opportunity to tell others about Him.  And because of her belief, the people said to her “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” {John 4:42}

It all boils down to this .... we have a choice to make!!

We can either choose Heaven or we can choose Hell.

Which will you choose???

In HIS grace, Alisha

Awk + Awe :: take two ::

:: Awkward ::

When a dear friend texts you and asks for your views on predestination vs. free will and eternal security - and you don't exactly know how to respond nor do you want to.  But because you are such an awesome friend, you respond anyway ... praying the whole time that you and your friend agree wholeheartedly!!

When you're told that the ministry name is already taken, and you have to explain to them your silly mistake of using the wrong name, when actually ... you thought you were using the right one!

Putting together a mission project - and someone starts teasing/questioning your motives behind it!!  C'mon people ..... really lol????  What's wrong with sending flip flops to the area in which our supported missionary lives?!?!?!?!?  LOL :P

Going to your favorite Chinese restaurant and getting the Hershey's chocolate ice cream (place happy face here) .... and then suddenly ........ a little boy steals your chocolate ice cream (place very disappointed + startled face here).  I wanted to cry hahaha :P

Having a young girl who looks up to you, come up from behind you and almost strangle you by giving you a hug because she's soo tall lol.

Finally sending out two very belated birthday packages (they should have been sent out before Christmas 2014) ... and you wanna escape the face of the earth cuz sending late packages makes you a bad friend lol :P

On your way out of the chicken yard, your foot catches the edge of the fence and you fall make sure gravity still works lol.

:: Awesome ::

Having two best friends who agree with you in every aspect of your Christian walk :)

Having two understanding best friends and who love you ... even when you send them their birthday package in mid May and not December.

Getting to talk to one of your two missionary friends on the phone + catching up with her

Feeling so overjoyed to be able to support Moriah in her trip to Uganda through the fundraiser ... .love that girl dearly!

Going to your favorite Chinese restaurant with your family

Seeing Mom's face when she opened her Mother's Day gift this past Sunday :)

In HIS grace, Alisha

Predestination vs. Free will

For about month or so, my dear friend text me and asked, “what do you believe in regards to predestination and free will?”  To be honest with you, I cringed when I read this question … seriously!  So many times, I'm asked this question and when I answer, the person tells me that free will is not in the Bible.  So I despise answering any questions based on predestination vs. free will ... or eternal security.  After I answered her question, I felt as if I needed to study out why I believe what I do.  I had to know that I know that I know that I know that my conviction is Biblically based.

So ….

“What do I believe in regards to predestination and free will?” 

The definition of predestination is:

the action of God in foreordaining from eternity whatever comes to pass.

After searching Scripture, I undoubtedly believe that since the beginning God has known who will accept and who will deny the gift of His Son.  Why do I believe that?  Scripture is clear ….

“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” {Ephesians 1:4}

“But what does it say?  'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart on believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame'.  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.  For 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'” {Romans 10:8-13}

“For this good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” {1 Timothy 2:3-4}

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew and for the Greek.” {Romans 1:16}

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” {John 3:16}

After really studying this topic out, I am pleased to say that I know that I know that I know that my conviction is Biblically based.  I have also come to the realization that instead of cringing at this topic … I need to answer boldly!

My purpose in this post wasn't to cause a theological discussion, but to share with you what I have studied and learned.

In HIS grace, Alisha

Getting to know you

Okay - so I was reading The Whispering Cottage and saw that she was doing a tag post + wanted others to participate.  Soooo here we go ;)

1. What are three of your favorite hobbies?
If you know me , you know that my hobbies are: photography, playing the piano, and image design.

2. What is your favorite season?
Autumn, most definitely! I love everything: the colors, crisp air, holidays, scents of baked goods, leaves falling, lattes from Starbucks, and I could go on, but I'll stop myself here. 

3. Heels or sneakers?
Due to the fact that I am absolutely 100% a klutz, I'd have to say sneakers ... buuut wedges + tiny heels are awesome too!

4. Casual of fancy?
I'm kinda an in between person haha.  Casual is pretty much all I wear, but I loove getting dressed up for church on Sunday mornin'

5. Which do you prefer: a birthday party, or a girls sleepover party?
I loove birthday parties!!

6. What kinds of blog posts do you enjoy posting that may be out of the ordinary for you or out of your comfort zone?
Ummmm .... hahaha .... I don't really know.  Probably posts on my different convictions (mainly cuz I don't wanna offend anyone). 

7. How old are you?
20!  When I really think about that, it makes me feel very weird thinking I'm 20 (good grief I'm old) lol!

8. When is your birthday?
April 5 ... I love being a spring baby lol :)

9. Do you like the thrill of a roller coaster?
OH YEAH!!!!!  The adrenaline rush + negative/positive G's + wind in my hair ... oh great, now I want to ride a roller coaster again lol!

10. Do you like watching movies in a theater?
Sometimes ... depends on how much I really wanna see the movie.  If it's Disney or DreamWorks - count me in!!

11. What would be your ideal job in the future?
Well - I wanna be whatever God wants me to be!  But I've always wanted to be a wife, mother, and homemaker. But aside from that I would love to be a missionary one day.  I would also love to run a home business like an Etsy shop - we'll see about that though :)

12. Are you into sports? If so, which ones?
Sorta ... I really like football.  Buuut - we don't have TV + I don't follow up on the team I like =/

13. In a football party, which are you: the one that jumps while shouting if your team almost scores? or the one who isn't interested in the game and prefers to eat the snacks while talking to friends?
I'm probably the one cheering my team on while eating snacks with my friends (we'll talk every commercial lol)

14. What are your biggest pet peeves?
Well ... I have a different name for pet peeves (cuz nobody is perfect lol) - buut my "flabbergast moments" are: dogs wearing clothes (God gave them fur for a reason!!). When people appear fake and not genuine. When people ask me if I wanna go to college and I tell them "no I don't" and they respond "well you need to go to college!!"  I wanna say "no really I don't - people in the Bible times got along just fine before college was invented!!"

15. What are your favorite clothing stores you prefer to shop?
Easy ... Goodwill lol :)

16. Are you a bookworm?
When I wanna be haha :P

17. Which do you spend more time on- a book or the internet?
The Internet :P

18. When did you decide to start blogging?
Almost three years ago (blogoversary party is coming up soooon!!)

19. On your honeymoon, which would you rather go to- a rustic lodge in the mountains or a sunny beach house in Florida?
Ummm ... well ... I'm not the type to stay in the mountains ... nor am I the "beachy" type of person.  So my dream honeymoon would be Disney World or Disney Land.  But since those weren't my choices ... probably a beach house in FL.

20. What are five of your favorite TV shows?
1. I Love Lucy
2. The Dick Van Dyke Show
3. The Andy Griffith Show
4. 19 Kids and Counting
5. Bringing Up Bates

21. Where were you born?
In the same hospital as Dad + Rhey ... which was in El Paso, TX

22. If you could meet any ONE fictional character, whether from a book, TV show or movie, who would it be?
Easy ... Nat from "Witch of Blackbird Pond"

23. Do you prefer coffee or hot tea?
Coffee definitely!!

24. What is your hidden talent?
Hahahaha ... I can ... ummm ... well ... *gulp* ... when I was little I could burp my ABC's 

25. If you could travel to any time period (Medieval era, Western 1800s, 1950s, etc.) where would you go?
The 1920's - 1950's

26. Would you rather travel cross country in a plane or a car?
In a plane - although ... rode trips are awesome too haha

27. Do you prefer to play a musical instrument or simply listen?
I prefer to play the piano - but it's extremely nice to be able to listen to others play as well!!!!

28. Who is your best friend?
In my family - Rhey.  Outside my family - Toria, Megan, Rachel, Roxanne (I know, I know, that's more than one - buut there isn't a rule that says you can't have more than one best friend lol).

29. What is your favorite movie?
Father of the Bride 1 and 2; Home; Annie (2015); Betrothed; October Baby

30. Do you believe in God? 

Yes

31. Are you saved, If not what stops you? 
I am a blood bought born again child of God

32. If you could travel some where (other then your own country) where would it be?

Definitely El Salvador, Haiti, the Philippines, and Africa

33. What are you most afraid of..? 
Heights, spiders, snakes, moths, wasps, bumble bees, honey bees ...... this could be a long list.

34. What do you love to do with your time (besides work/school)? 

Read my Bible, blog, experiment in the department of image design, play the piano, pretend I can play as beautifully as Anthony Burger, attempt sewing something, listen to music, email/text my friends

35. What is your favorite color/colors? 

My two top favorites right now are navy blue and coral pink.  My favorite color combination is aqua + red.

36. What are you wanting in you future spouse..?
A man after God's own heart, has a sense of humor, shares the same values and goals, and wants to reach out to others (whether that's thru missions or foster care, etc.) 

37. What is you favorite Bible verse? 
Psalm 27:14 which says, "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

38. Do you have any pets? 
Yes - a dog, 2 cats, 3 birds, and fish

39. Where is your favorite place to be?

Home

40. Do you like rain or shine?

Shine - everything is so bright and cheery!!

In HIS grace, Alisha

**I hope that you'll take the time to participate in this post. I can't wait to read your answers. Don't forget to let me know if you're participating!!**

"An Ordinary Girl with an Extraordinary Dream" << Every Heart fundraiser for Moriah >>

Never in my life have I had such an enriching experience than while serving the Lord in Uganda last spring. My dad and I joined Sixty Feet for a short term mission trip to help them, "Bring Hope and Restoration to the Imprisoned Children of Africa in Jesus' Name." The ministry reaches countless orphaned and abandoned children as they provide both immediate relief: Food, Water, Bedding, Clothing, Medical Care & long term restoration: The Gospel, Counseling, Education, Justice, Resettlement
This lush country overflowing with warmth and sunshine is in stark contrast to the dark circumstances where children are imprisoned. Visiting those places broke my heart under the weight of the dreadful realities. In my lifetime I have always known love. Most of them have not. Their lives are shattered. They need Jesus.

I had the bittersweet joy of spending time with a little boy about two years old. I noticed him standing there taking in the scene around him wide-eyed, dazed. I tried to imagine how terrifying it must be to live in such a harsh place. Large concrete buildings. Crowded. Not much food. Lack of love. He was from an outcast tribe which made him the outcast of the outcast in the prison. Truly, he was the "least of these." {see Matthew 25:34-40} I sensed the Holy Spirit wanting me to reach out to him. I picked the little boy up and carried him around until my arm was too tired to hold him anymore.

Later on, I saw him again, nose running and traces of posho on his cheeks. I felt God urging me, Wipe his nose. Pulling a bottle of water out of my backpack, I began pouring some on a tissue. Gently, I wiped his face clean and carried him some more.

At the end of our time there, I noticed he was sitting beside me as I passed out crayons and coloring pages to the other children. His little feet were caked with red Ugandan soil. Then came the tug on my heart from the Lord again, Wash his feet. Taking the water, I rinsed his feet, rubbing the dirt away with my fingers.

Throughout the time spent with him, I knew he seemed very tired and acted like he felt bad. When we were about to leave, I discovered from the Sixty Feet interns that he had been sick with pneumonia the month before and was currently on malaria treatment. That made the time spent and love shown all the more precious to my heart. He needed that. I hope this little boy never forgets that day. I know I never will. 

>>The beauty of being able to give assurance that someone loves them is what keeps me passionate about advocating on these orphans' behalf. That is why I am willing to go and serve.

 Uganda has never been far from my thoughts. There are times when I miss the children so much that I cry. While waiting to go back on a return trip, I found ways to bless the orphans from right here in the United States. In May 2014, I had another Cupcake Kids Sale in the front yard.  At Christmas time, I hosted a giveaway on my blog to raise awareness about Sixty Feet as well as benefit the orphans. This January, I launched a Valentine card challenge where people made cards to spread God's love to the kids in prison with the message of the Gospel. Before I knew what was happening, it became an international effort! People sent cards from South Africa, Spain, and Hong Kong, not to mention all over the U.S. By the end of the challenge, there were 3,500 cards! I had a deep heartfelt desire to deliver some of the cards to the kids in prison myself, but was never sure how or when.
Now, the door of opportunity has been thrown wide open!! Our hope is to join a Sixty Feet team scheduled for a short 7 day trip in the middle of June. Because of this brief time on the ground, we will be extending our stay with one of the team members for additional ministry time. The trip will consist of a total of two weeks including travel. My dad will be able to come with me this time as well.

 The plan is to spend time visiting the facilities/prisons as well as the Hope International School. This school is in connection with the church that Sixty Feet partners with in the Bwerenga village. It was founded by Pastor Boaz's wife, Faith. The pastors and their wives are on the Sixty Feet staff of Uganda. Pastor Ernest and his wife Mama Catherine care for 30 children in their home (most of which they have adopted). The majority of these children have been released from prison or rescued from the street and need a loving home with someone to care for them.

Hope International School is where the orphans attend once released from prison. They work to educate the children as well as share the Gospel. In Uganda, most children are sent away to boarding school at the age of 4 or 5 years old and grow up away from home. The school enables them to stay with their family in the village. We will bring much needed supplies for the school as well as some cards from the Valentine card challenge to give to the orphans. My dad, Michael, may have the opportunity to distribute Bibles. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

[1] GIVE Be assured that your support is invaluable! The response to my letter that came pouring in last time was incredible to behold. We had all the financial support we needed in less than one month's time! I look forward to watching God move again. We thank you in advance for your faithfulness that will reap eternal rewards. 

>>If you would like to donate to our trip, you can do so on the "Donation" page.

[2] Pray. Please pray that God will work through us to share the message of the Gospel and to be a blessing to the children of Uganda. We want to be a vessel of His hope and love. Pray for safe travels and good health.


　
[3] Follow. You can sign up for email updates to follow my mission blog: www.heartbeatforuganda.blogspot.com. I try to post as much as I can while on a trip. Keep looking for photos and stories!! It would be such an encouragement to receive comments from you while we are there!