Tag: marriage

Choose To Set Your Mind

Posted on by Allison Bramlett

When you became a Christ lover and believer, everything changed. Even if your feelings and thoughts did not catch up immediately. Paul reminds us in Colossians 3, “Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is.”

That single statement carries the power to reframe your entire life. You are no longer bound by the world’s old patterns, priorities, and thought systems. You have been resurrected into a new way of living and with that comes a new way of thinking.

A Call to Intention

Paul gives two clear commands. We must set our hearts and set our minds on things above. These are not passive statements. The word set implies discipline, direction, and decision. Just as a thermostat does not change the temperature until someone sets it, your thoughts won’t drift toward heaven by accident.

You have to decide what fills your mind. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This is an ongoing process not a one-time event. Every day, we get to reset our focus and renew our thinking through God’s Word.

Setting your heart and mind on things above is an act of worship — it’s saying, “Lord, You have my attention. You direct my thoughts. You lead my desires.”

The Battle for the Mind

Let us be honest it is easy to let our thoughts settle into the dust of earthly thinking: worry, comparison, materialism, fear of man, or self-preservation. The world is loud. Screens, schedules, and headlines constantly shout for our attention.

But our faith will never soar if our thoughts remain tethered to the ground. Scripture calls us upward not into escapism, but into alignment with heaven. Romans 8:6 says, “The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

When we think from a heavenly perspective, we do not ignore our responsibilities, but we simply see them differently. Every obstacle becomes an opportunity to reflect Christ. Every conversation becomes a chance to share His love. Every challenge becomes a place for His peace to rule.

A New Way to Live

Romans 6:4 declares, “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” That new life is not just about behavior, it is about belief.

We start seeing through God’s lens. We remember that our worth is not tied to performance or appearance but is anchored in being “hidden with Christ in God.” You are not your past, your failure, you are in Christ, and He is your life. Check out Galatians 2:20 too!

That phrase changes everything: “Christ, who is your life.” Jesus is not just part of your life, He is your life. The more that truth roots itself in your heart, the more your mind shifts. You will see yourself through His eyes forgiven, chosen, and loved. And you will begin to see others not as interruptions or irritations, but as image-bearers of God’s grace.

Anchored in the Eternal

When you set your heart and mind on things above, peace begins to settle in. You anchor yourself to what is unchanging, holy, and eternal.

Earthly things, both the blessings and the burdens, are temporary. But things above? Those are forever: Love. Grace. Truth. Holiness. God’s promises.

These are the truths that stabilize your mind and direct your heart.

A Daily Reset

So today, before the world has a chance to fill your mind, you must set it yourself.

Before the worries come, before comparison creeps in, before distractions flood your day choose to lift your thoughts higher.

Let your prayer echo Romans 12:1–2:

“Lord, I offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You. I refuse to conform to this world. Transform me by the renewing of my mind.”

Every time you set your heart and mind on Him, you are aligning with your true identity, the one raised, redeemed, and renewed in Christ.

Ask yourself What’s been setting the temperature of my thoughts lately? The world, or the Word?

Heaven is calling. Set your heart and mind there today. 💗

Walk In Truth

Posted on by Allison Bramlett

As a woman, a mother, and a grandmother, my heart aches for the next generation. Culture is pulling at the hearts and minds of our young women, telling them to search for identity in shifting feelings instead of the solid truth of God’s Word. But we were never meant to be defined by culture, but we were created to be defined by our Creator. It is time for women of every age to rise up, remember who we are in Christ, and walk boldly in His truth.

Our culture is confused about identity, redefining womanhood and erasing the beauty of God’s design. Surveys reveal that nearly one-third of Gen Z women now identify as LGBTQ. But God’s Word speaks a better truth. We are made in His image, created male and female, with divine purpose and identity.

Today’s younger women are growing up in a culture that is shaping their choices, their identity, and even their understanding of love and truth. Social media, entertainment, and peer pressure are influencing them more than the voice of God, and as a result, many are building their lives on shifting sand instead of the solid rock of His Word. This is why it is urgent for us to rise up as women of faith and show them a different way. We must model what it looks like to live rooted in Scripture, secure in Christ, and unshaken by cultural trends. If we do not, the world will continue to define them, but if we do, the Word of God will transform them. 

When God created woman, He called her “ezer kenegdo”, not a passive assistant, but a strong help, a warrior counterpart, an allie, a lifesaver. Women are not an afterthought; we are a vital part of God’s design to reflect His image and partner in advancing His Kingdom.

To rise up as women of God means:

• Rejecting culture’s confusion and embracing the unchanging truth of Scripture.

• Walking in our calling as allies and warriors, bringing strength to our families, churches, and communities.

• Living as daughters of the King, secure in our worth, fearless in our faith, and fruitful in our witness.

As Lisa Bevere often says, “God did not save you to tame you. He saved you to unleash you.” This generation does not need women who mirror culture; it needs women who mirror Christ.

Being a Godly woman is not about shrinking back, instead it is about rising up. It is about knowing who we are in Christ and helping others find their true identity in Him. When women live as God designed, marriages are strengthened, families are healed, and future generations are secured in faith.

We must step forward in faith, fearless and fruitful, carrying the light of Jesus into a dark world speaking Truth in Love.  Like Esther, who risked everything to save her people, we too are called to courage in this hour, for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14) God has placed us here, not by accident, but with assignment. We must stand for truth, to intercede for our families, and to be voices of deliverance in our generation.

Like Deborah, who judged with wisdom, led with authority, and mothered Israel in a time of war, we are called to bring both justice and nurture. God is raising up mothers in the Spirit. Women who war for their children, their homes, and their communities, and who call forth victory when others shrink back.

Like Mary, the mother of Jesus, we must be willing to say, “Let it be to me according to Your word” (Luke 1:38). When God speaks, we carry His promises and bring forth His purposes, no matter how impossible they may seem.

Like the woman at the well, who encountered Jesus and then ran to tell her town, sparking the very first revival, we too must boldly testify of the Living Water we have received. Our stories, our transformation, and our testimony of Christ can ignite whole communities.

Like Priscilla, who alongside her husband Aquila taught the Word of God with clarity and authority, women today are called to disciple, to teach, and to train others in the ways of the Lord. God is raising up women teachers, leaders, and equipers who carry His Word with accuracy and fire.

These women remind us that we are not sidelined in God’s plan, but we are central to it. The same Spirit who empowered Esther, Deborah, Mary, the Samaritan woman, and Priscilla is alive in us today. We are called to courage, to mothering, to obedience, to witness, and to teaching. And just as they shaped history, so can we, if we rise up in the power of the Word of God and the truth of who we are in Christ.

Rise up, women of God. You are image bearers, warriors, and helpmates created to stand strong, speak Truth, and shine light in the darkness.

Truth In Love

Posted on by Allison Bramlett

In the day and time we are living in, we cannot afford to water down the Gospel. More than ever, we are called to speak Truth in love. Culture celebrates tolerance, approval, and acceptance at all costs, but the Word of God calls us higher. Real love does not look the other way. Real love does not stay silent. Real love carries the courage to tell the truth, even when it’s unpopular, even when it costs us something. You can have love, or you can have acceptance, but you cannot stand for both.

When you ask someone to really love you, you’re not asking them to simply accept you or approve of everything you do. You’re inviting them into your life. You are inviting them into your story, your victories, and even your struggles. And that means real love will sometimes bring disagreement, correction, and even aggravation.

Love carries responsibility. If I see you walking toward danger, making a destructive choice, or drifting into unhealthy places, then love requires me to step up and speak truth. Speak even if it risks offending you. Silence in those moments is not love at all.

But when we ask for acceptance or approval, what we’re often asking for is an easy, conflict-free relationship. No challenge. No accountability. No pushback. And while that may feel comfortable for a time, it leaves no room for growth. Approval says, “Everything about you is fine. Do not change. Do not question it.” Acceptance says, “I’ll stay quiet no matter what.” Neither is true love.

To demand only acceptance or approval is to ask someone to stop caring. To stop investing. To step back from responsibility in the relationship. And that is not how God designed love to work.

Love, on the other hand, is deeply risky. It is willing to confront. It is willing to endure. It is willing to walk with you through the pain and mess, even when it costs something. That is why 1 Corinthians 13 tells us love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Notice it does not say love “accepts all things” or “approves of all things.” Instead, it calls love to something greater. Love is something that requires sacrifice and truth.

Acceptance leaves you stuck. Approval leaves you unchallenged. But love calls you higher.

Acceptance says, “I won’t bother you.” Approval says, “I’ll cheer you on no matter what.”

Love says, “I care too much to leave you here.”

And the greatest proof of this is Jesus. He did not simply accept or approve of us in our sin. He loved us enough to bear it, to endure it, and to redeem us out of it. That is why He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). That’s why Scripture calls us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Love is always superior to acceptance or approval. And if we want to follow Jesus, we must be willing to choose the harder, riskier, truer path. The path to love enough to tell the truth. At the end of the day, the Word of God is the only truth. Culture shifts, opinions change, feelings come and go, but God’s Word never fails. It is the standard that defines love, the foundation that sustains life, and the light that guides us through every season. If we are going to love well, we must love according to the Word, because real love and real truth can never be separated.

My dad, Pastor Gregory Pope showed me this image and I hope none of us have dust on our Bibles!

Obedience Wins Battles

Posted on by Allison Bramlett

Obedience is one of those words that makes us all a little uncomfortable. It means surrender, it means trust, and it often means walking forward when the outcome doesn’t make sense. Judges 20 tells a story that is both difficult and powerful. It is one that shows us obedience isn’t always about quick victories, but about faithfulness to God no matter what.

The story in Judges 20 begins with a shocking and tragic event. A woman is abused and killed, and her body is sent in pieces to the twelve tribes of Israel. The people are outraged and unite to confront the sin within the tribe of Benjamin. Israel goes to battle, but here’s the twist: even though God told them to go, they suffer heavy losses. There were 22,000 the first day, and 18,000 the second in losses.
It wasn’t because of hidden sin this time (like Achan at Ai in Joshua 7). We must be obedient regardless of the outcomes. Obedience is about trust. There are times that obedience does not look like an immediate victory. 

It’s easy to obey when you expect things to turn out well. It’s harder when obedience looks like defeat. That’s where faith grows. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood this when they stood before the fiery furnace and declared, “Our God is able to deliver us, but even if He doesn’t, we will not bow” (Daniel 3:17-18). Obedience is not tied to results. It’s tied to love. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Our obedience is the proof of our love.

Disobedience clutters our souls. It hides things away, leaving us restless and weak. But obedience clears the conscience, brings peace of mind, and strengthens our hearts. That’s why Samuel told Saul, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). Saul tried to excuse his partial obedience, but God doesn’t bless our compromises. Partial obedience is disobedience. Saul may not have lost his position but he did lose the anointing. A Clear Conscience and a Strong Heart come from walking in Obedience to God’s Word. True obedience guards our hearts and minds. It keeps us aligned with God’s Word even when circumstances scream otherwise.

Obedience is never just about us. Abraham’s obedience to offer Isaac released blessings for generations (Genesis 22:18). Jonathan’s obedience to step out with his armor-bearer inspired a whole army to rise up (1 Samuel 14). (Go listen to my full sermon on this from Wednesday, August 20th at Covenant Church it dives into Jonathan’s story and how your story helps others)

Psalm 25 promises that if we fear the Lord, our soul will prosper and our descendants will inherit the land. Your “yes” to God influences your children, your grandchildren, and even the atmosphere around you. Your obedience today becomes the inheritance of tomorrow. 

So here is the question: Will you keep obeying when the results aren’t what you wanted? Will you get back up after a loss and ask God, “Do I go again?”

That’s what Israel did after two devastating defeats. On the third day, God gave them the victory. Obedience always pays off! If it does not pay off immediately, it will eternally! 

Rebellion says, “I want control.” Faith says, “Jesus, You are Lord.” We obey not because of what God can do for us, but because of who He is. Jesus is our Lord, our King, our Savior.

Don’t withdraw from the battle until the outcome is good. God’s Word is true. His promises are sure. And He is always worth our obedience. Your “yes” is a shout that echoes through eternity.

Fight for each other and not with each other!

Developing forgiveness

Posted on by Allison Bramlett

My greatest dream is to have children that have children that will serve Jesus whole heartedly! And that dream is becoming a reality. I believe forgiveness is a key to that!

The enemy doesn’t care about your convictions as long as you leave the character of Christ to defend it. Your opinion will tell you that you have a right to your wrong beliefs. (If it ain’t what the Word says it is a lie) Father God doesn’t have opinions or suggestions- He is right and has commandments. 🔥 Ephesians 4:28-32!

“So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees, [Isa. 35:3.] And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured. Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it–”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Bitterness is undeveloped murder… it is murder in diapers. Bitterness defiles me and everyone under my influence. I don’t think there would be a bitter resentful judgmental person in the universe if we saw how undeserving we are.

I believe God hates whatever interferes with unconditional love. If you eat the meal of judgement, offense, criticism and accusation you will become defiled because of the bitterness. There is no liberty for us outside of forgiving! Philippians 4:8- when I struggle with bad thoughts or accusations or offense I have to proactively attack that by replacing every one of those thoughts with Christ thoughts. I can’t afford of thinking about things that can set up roots inside of me. Bitter thoughts are never okay- they imprison you. Let’s walk in forgiveness! Let’s carry restoration! We cannot afford to be influenced by offense. We are a redemptive army- overcomers. Believing for us to be people that know how to forgive and love unconditionally! If we truly took the time to wash someone’s feet and understand why they walk like they do then we would not be offended but would be moved with compassion. Washing someone else’s feet washes the offense off of you. I am praying for grace that helps us be ministers of restoration- serving and loving others well. Holy Spirit help us in every environment and situation to be an instrument of forgiveness in Jesus name.

Stay thankful!

My granddaughter and me
My son, daughter in love, and granddaughter
My hubby, son in love, daughter, grandsons, and soul sister
My big love with the little grand loves!

Love Encounters

Posted on by Allison Bramlett

God pursues us with His unconditional love! No matter how messed up and lost we are He still chases us! He is love, so that means love is always pursuing you! Not only does He pursue us, He wants us to pursue others with His Love too. He just wants us to be love with Him. It sounds simple, but it’s not easy.

It is the Gospel message. It is why Jesus came. It is our purpose. We were made for relationship and we were created for community. When we encounter His love, it allows us to see who we really are. It allows us to tell others who they really are! We are Loved!

Did you know that Love has a language? It speaks faith! It talks about Jesus! It shares Grace and Hope.

You see, Jesus left heaven just to be with us! We have a Father that loves to be with us. We have Holy Spirit who just wants to interact, and fellowship with us!

Father God is so kind to me and I just want others to encounter His kindness. When I realized that I may be the only Jesus someone ever meets- it shook me! For many years I over complicated loving people like Jesus and stopped trying to figure it out and just started living it out. Being Love In Action!

My Grandma- Lila!
The most amazing woman I know!
She is Love In Action!

One thing about love is it is not afraid of a mess. Miracles are messy. It isn’t fake but it is faith. Father God’s love allows us to be real, be honest, be transparent and be vulnerable.

This love cheers you on when you fall down. It is time to live love in action and truly be faith family.

Here is the most astonishing truth- there is nothing you can do good enough or bad enough to change His love for you! Everyone strikes out just don’t stop swinging. You were created to love and be loved!

And when you see others that have made huge mistakes don’t run from them run to them with Love. You are then being: Just like Father God! Just like Jesus. Just like Holy Spirit. This is really easy to talk about- write about- sing about- read about but takes courage to act out! When you just give someone a kind word, a hug, a smile- you are being love in action- grace on the ground- heaven on earth!

If we only do what is comfortable to us then we never need help from Holy Spirit, our comforter. When you decide to live the God Adventure you can’t play it safe. We should constantly be transforming. Going from faith to faith and glory to glory! Father God designed us for growth!

I am challenging myself to love bigger! Love anyway! Look for opportunities to love!

Pops (my guy) and his Grand loves!

Shout out to Christina for the amazing pics always and JV for being an awesome grammar coach! Love y’all

Let’s Go!

Posted on by Allison Bramlett

Race time! You have to be willing to drop off some things to move forward into God’s plan! Lighten the load so you can run faster and go further. Hebrews 12 says throw off those things. Lay aside every weight and sin. It is not always easy and it is impossible without help from Holy Spirit.

Run your race. You have witnesses cheering you on. Remember this race is not a sprint but a marathon. It will have lots of endurance training. And while running don’t worry about the voice of the spectators. (Spectators have fickle feelings and critical opinions- the should’ve, could’ve and would’ve). There are always tens of thousands of spectators and very few racers. Care about the voice of those that have run before you, witnesses and those running with you now. They are all screaming “let’s go”!

It is in these moments that you may want to give up. I am reminded of Hebrews 6- it is through faith and patience we inherit the promises of God. This word patience also means endurance. Don’t quit! And if you get knocked down- get up again. (Singing now lol) Proverbs 24:16 says a righteous man may fall seven times but he still gets up.

Faith and endurance turn obstacles into opportunities. There is only one way to finish and that is to keep your eyes on Jesus! (Please read Hebrews 12:1-3)

Take a faith and endurance check. Choose to live a life of faith! Choose to endure all things! Choose to press on and not quit! Daddy God is always taking us from faith to faith.

God is trustworthy. He is faithful. He is Love. He has a purpose and plan for just you. The key is don’t give up. You were built for endurance, able to withstand extreme adversity. If you bail out you won’t get the breakthrough. Let’s Go!

Breakdowns or Breakthroughs

Posted on by Allison Bramlett

My husband, Jeff and I have a marriage that is full of come backs. We just celebrated 25 years of love, mercy, and grace. We knew how to fall in love, but staying in love was something we had to be committed to. We were clueless when we got started. We definitely had a few hard years, but we chose to fight for each other and not with each other. It is amazing that through our brokenness something beautiful was made. We made a decision to celebrate the the small victories, even though there were times of disconnection and miscommunication. Times when we said and did things that would cause defeat in our lives. We decided to be committed to God’s Love and not to our feelings and failures. In all relationships, but especially those that are closest to us, we have to decide to put away resentment, anger, bitterness, revenge, and blame. You must choose to put on the 1 Corinthians 13 kind of Love.

There is a point in everyone’s life where pressure comes, and you either shatter internally or externally. This is the breaking point that you can stay in or have an amazing come back. You can’t have any relationship that lasts twenty, thirty, forty years, if it has never hit a breaking point. Everyone experiences breaking points in their lives. What makes us successful is how we handle this breaking point. Every time life runs you to a breaking point, you will either give up and quit, you will back up and run, or you will say this is too hard, too emotional, too stressful and you will back away. One thing that the enemy is trying to do when you are at a breaking point is to isolate you and make you stop. We have to remember that we are better together.

Relationships are the greatest resource and has the equity that we need in this world today.
If you are not relational then you are losing resources. Ask the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20-22. “Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.”

If you don’t learn how to touch people, you can’t stop the issues that exist internally or externally in your life, in your family, in your church, and in your business.
Not only do we operate in the earth through partnerships, everything in the Kingdom operates on partnerships. No one, no fish, no plant, no whale, no bird, no giant can be fruitful by themselves. The more you isolate yourself from relationships, the less chance you have to be fruitful. 

The greater the pressure, the more we isolate ourselves. When we isolate ourselves we terminate our dreams without even knowing it. It is a choice to be a good friend, partner, spouse, parent, child, etc… The dream that God put in your heart can’t give birth by itself. We were made for relationships, for community, joint heirs with Christ, Jesus with a purpose for partners.

The only thing wrong with your dream is you are trying to do it by yourself.

Partnerships are best when they form intersections rather than running parallel, they need a common denominator and that is people. So, in order to move things along more quickly and productively, understand that you don’t have to see eye to eye with someone, or a situation. You just need to cross paths at the intersection of purpose. The more you cross paths at the intersection of purpose, the more profitable you become. Purpose and profitability are tied together, and until you understand purpose you will never be profitable. Once you understand purpose, your mind can see the ability to partner.

The reason why most of us can’t partner is because we are after profit without purpose. It is about the goal. It doesn’t matter who carries the ball, it is about the touchdown. We can’t be afraid to pass the ball to someone else as long as it serves the purpose. You have to keep goals, visions, and dreams to fuel the passion for your purpose.

So if you are reading this right now, you may be asking what your next step is. You may be asking “How can I get from where I am at to where God has called me to be?” You are at a new breaking point. Everything that you have gone through in the past has prepared you for what your future has in store to benefit you. You have to stop cheating on your future by being consumed with your past. You also have to decide that quitting is not an option.

This happened for us in our marriage a few years ago. We hit a major breaking point, but decided we had to much invested and we wanted a come-back and not a set-back. When we hit this breaking point, we began to be intentional with our relationship. We had amazing Christian counselors. We talked to our parents and Pastors. We read books. We consulted with Spirit led leaders. We surrounded ourselves with faith friends. We chose to communicate and have hard conversations. We talked heart to heart instead of hurt to hurt. We made a point to dream together. We decided to forgive quickly. We decided to look through the lens of Love.

When we took our wedding vows for better or worse, sickness and in health, death till you part, we meant them. We had to realize our wedding day looked different from our breaking point moments, but we were covenant partners. You don’t stay together because you are happy every day and romantic all the time. You don’t stay in a business partnership because you agree all the time. You stay in partnership through all the tough times because you have so much emotional, financial and spiritual equity in the relationship. That equity has to mean that you are not willing to bankrupt the relationship for a temporary gratification. You have invested in it, and you are waiting for the harvest to come in your life. Don’t let the enemy take your territory. We are not leaving the partnership. We are going to choose Love- choose Covenant, choose Unity, choose Purpose.

God orders your relationships. He brings you into relationships with people, places, things and corporations that may even leave you in shock. Because God has ordered your steps, He brings you in strategic alignment for a divine purpose, and how you manage that relationship will determine your destiny. Don’t let your breaking points be breakdowns. Let them be breakthroughs.

If you would like to continue on this journey with Allison, check out her podcast at any of your favorite locations below!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-allison-bramlett-podcast/id1516370534?uo=4

https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zb3VuZGNsb3VkLmNvbS91c2Vycy9zb3VuZGNsb3VkOnVzZXJzOjgzMTk3NDkxNC9zb3VuZHMucnNz