Tag: staff

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!

Work Daze!

Posted on by Allison Bramlett
Don’t pull your hair out! Just go ahead and laugh out loud!

Don’t pull your hair out! Work days are looking very different and may have you walking around in a daze. Little ones are being dragged into the office environment and stirring up lots of exciting opportunities. Maybe it is your own kids, your coworkers’ kids, your boss’s kids, your grandkids… the list goes on. I know personally that this new season has changed my work atmosphere. Virtual school is happening in the office down the hall, the accounting office is a part time daycare and my office is Gigi’s playground! And while listening to all the pitty patter of little feet I can’t help but smile big. I know that that season will pass much faster than it feels. My mom has always said “days are long but years are short”. I know this to be true as now my children are all grown and I have three beautiful grandchildren and lots of bonus ones on the church hallway too.

So here are a few keys that I have found that make this new God adventure more successful! Making the work daze more of a work dream with kids!

My grandson and one of my coworkers amazing boys!

1. Crayons and paper are still miracle workers🙏🏼. Yes, there are more ways to entertain than the internet. And enjoy a creative moment with them. Laugh at yourself! And it is okay if you get outside the lines.

2. Cell phone breaks. Yes, you can lay your cell phone down and walk away from it. Set a timer and take some technology breaks throughout your day and give others your untechnology undivided attention. Don’t worry it will still be there after the break.

3. Put everyone to work. Let your new smaller office friends become helpers. It is a great way to connect and teach at the same time. Who knew that a 3 year old answering the phone makes people smile on the other end.

You can see who is really running the office!

4. Recess was always one of my favorite classes. That means go outside every few hours and just run around the building. If you can’t run jumping jacks together in public is great for the office moral. 😆

5. Gifts are awesome. Have your crew make gifts for your coworkers/boss/each other. Heartfelt gifts are irresistible. And your kid being quiet and busy is just a bonus.

My grandson, Robert is making sure I get my work done. He is literally staying on top of it!
My granddaughter, Riley reminding us recess is necessary to help us reset. And if it is cold outside we walk the office hallways.
My grandson, Hudson making sure we take our laugh breaks!

6. Laughter is a medicine. Just stop and laugh out loud at least once an hour. Your body doesn’t know the difference between a fake or real laugh. Also, laughter is contagious and it makes for a much more productive work environment. The joy of the Lord is your strength. That means laughter makes you stronger. It is an endurance booster! And your kids will have more fun with you too.

Working parents, grandparents and guardians don’t always have it easy. It can be really hard balancing our work life and family- so I say don’t balance just blend! It is tough achieving work goals and being a super parent but you can do all things through Christ- Philippians 4:13. Let me say I see you- I salute you- I am cheering for you! I hope these few keys help you be more productive and help take some pressure off. Just remember you are not alone and we are better together. And we now keep popsicles in the office freezer at all times!