Here's my Heart Lord song

I just learned how to embed movies!!

This is the way, walk in it

I"m going to share something that got me excited just now.

Moments like this do not happen all the time, but when they do, I get super excited and feel like I have to share it with SOMEONE!  Before I had a blog; that someone, was my journal.  I'm going to try this out on the blog, and see how it goes.

Tonight alone time began with reading verses from Ephesians 6; I had written down the passage about the full armor of God in my journal while in Bolivia and wanted to read it again in the Bible.  "Phew" - I thought - "I really need that armor, I have definitely felt beat up lately by some thoughts and have definitely felt tempted this past week."  The verse that stuck out the most pertained to faith: "Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."  Keep that verse in mind.  Read on.

I continued to surf the bible in a nonchalant manner and landed in Luke 14:33 - the section label was enticing - "the cost of being a disciple".  The verse reads: "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

 I read it over and over, underlined it, and for the first time circled it.  Ok.  Plain and simple, that is what you need to do.  DUH Alison.  I began to get discouraged.  I really want to be disciple worthy, but it takes so much and I know that I can not do it on my own and have a ways to go.  I also know that just a few weeks earlier I had blogged that I was surrendering everything to God; my hopes, dreams, and future, but it doesn't take long to find that it is a daily struggle.  How is that for a hypocrite? (sometimes self talk is pretty brutal)

The discouragement turned into a couple minutes of writing.  I ended my cries of help to God with: I love you. and sat there in silence when a phrase from a seemingly unrelated verse popped into my head, "This is the way; walk in it."  HM. I began to debate whether or not that verse was in the bible,  and than proceeded to assure myself that I did not make it up.  "Wow, what a great thing and how encouraging" - I thought - "I must find out where it is."  Google helped, the verse is found in Isaiah 30:21 -Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Wow, how great - how exciting!  So I began to read from the beginning of the chapter.  "O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more.  How gracious he will be when you cry for help!  As soon as he hears, he will answer you..."  I read that part over and over - and over.  I was just crying to God for help, could it be that he heard me?  Could it be that he would guide me?

Well, I thought, I will definitely want to ponder this some more... later.  (I told you I procrastinate a lot)  I than turned my bible to Joshua, I had resolved to read the book of Joshua earlier tonight and didn't want to put it off any longer (how is that for irony?).  Tonight I was reading from the bible I used while in Bolivia, and noticed an entire paragraph underlined in Joshua.  From Joshua 1:6 to Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.  Be strong and courageous.  Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you, do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth: meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Three times God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous.  That means it is really important, and that Joshua needs that reminder.  God also tells him to not be terrified or discouraged, because God is with him.  God is with me too - where is my strength and courage?  "Ok...this is getting kind of cool" -  I thought - " I think all these passages that I'm reading - I think they are beginning to connect."

ONE final verse raced through my mind.  Proverbs 20:5 "The purpose of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draw them out."  This verse hits home.  Here is the conclusion to all these random verses and their connection:

I know what I have to do in different areas of my life, and it will be hard, but from what I read tonight in the Bible I know that God is right here with me, he listens to me, guides me, and wants me to be strong and courageous.  While I do not know EVERYTHING and I definitely have many question marks - I need to hold onto that shield of faith and use it!  So.  These seemingly random passages all converged together to give me peace and reassurance that God is there saying, "this is the way, walk in it."

I was so excited, and writing this all out has helped make these jumbled thoughts organized - even if they still seem jumbled to you as you read them - don't worry - they're organized.  :)  At least enough for me to sleep soundly tonight!

I hope you have a great week!!

courage
— n
1.	the power or quality of dealing with or facing danger, fear, pain,etc
2.	the courage of one's convictions  the confidence to act in accordance with one's beliefs
3.	take one's courage in both hands  to nerve oneself to perform an action

A recent goal: Drink more water = not so tired

So, I took a break while writing this Blog to go drop off movies at Family Video...thought I should take pictures to add to the entry.

This is the steering wheel with keys in ignition

This is my corner, notice the ice frozen on the windshield.

This is an ice truck in front of me with salt.  It just started snowing tonight, it was raining earlier  = possible ice

This is my new old job!!! Family video....

This is me trying to catch the reflection of the tree in the melting snow puddle earlier today.  Did not work.

AND: A song :)  been on repeat all night for me - Thousand Years Cover on Piano and Cello

He who forms the hearts of all

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.

For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth.

He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

But the eyes of the Lord on are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 

to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

- Psalm 33:4-22

All Around me - David Crowder Band

Sleeper Anonymous

God’s been answering some prayers lately – but it involves interrupting my sleep patterns.

What were my sleep patterns? – sleeping whenever given a chance – at night, through the morning, mid day nap, evening nap, in the car, at the mall, in public places, on the computer, etc.

I have never slept so much in my entire life.  It got to the point that I avoided reading proverbs because of the overwhelming conviction from reading the verses connecting sleep with poverty.

So. This is my sleep anonymous entry.

My name is Alison Garza and I am a sleepaholic.  When I first arrived home it was ok.  Someone told me that I was just catching up on all the sleep missed in Bolivia and my body is overloaded with sensory stuff.   Ok ok I’d say, and use it to justifyingly hop into bed again.  But way too much time has passed to justify it now.  So I am confessing my ways and saying my prayers.  

The first answer to prayer in this arena occurred two days ago. “Oh God, please help me,” is all I said as I pulled my sheets up over my shoulders at 2:30 p.m.  I prayed this because I really wanted a nap but knew it wasn't the best thing.  IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, I received a text.

 “So I was reading my bible today and guess what verse came up?"

"Which one?" I said 

"In proverbs 6. a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands, the one we joked about yesterday."  It continues - and poverty will come on you like a thief...

No sleep prompt # 1 had hit.  I said thanks to God and decided to read in bed instead - unfortunately I fell asleep while reading.  Fail.  Good thing God is full of grace which leads to...

No Sleep prompt #2

Recently it has come to my attention that the OH SO DESIRED woman of proverbs 31 barely sleeps, she’s a hard worker and really busy, and I am kind of single, and some day will need to be someone’s wife.  Maybe. But in the small chance that it happens, I’m going to want to be the best wife I can be, naturally.  Who doesn't want to be a virtuous and capable wife and better than all the other woman?  So I also have been praying to be that woman.

This morning Jesus woke me up at 6 a.m. -  even though I have nothing to go to or do (kind of) and could sleep in (for as long as I want). However, I knew from the moment I opened my eyes that God woke me up to start my work as a proverbs 31 woman

What is a modern day proverbs 31 woman to do, my heart asked my mind?  I scratched my head and begrudgingly put on warm clothes, glasses, hat, and boots and walked outside to shovel snow.  I figured that is something that a modern day proverbs 31 woman would do because it involves hard work.  Small steps my anonymous friends, small steps.  

So, for all you doubters out there. God answers prayers, even those tiny ones that we think can be pretty ridiculous.  It happens, little by little, you'll see.

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.  Reward her for all she has done.  Let her deeds publicly declare her praise."  Proverbs 31:30-31

This man inspired me.  He struggled to get on that treadmill with his cane - look closely and you an see it on his right.

Grandma and Grandpa with their Manos De Libertad items :)

The snow this morning

Out bright n early in my pajama pants to shovel that snow

Attempting to finish those essays.  Almost done.

This continues to be a daily routine with Mom.  She has now increased her number of sit ups.  PROUD