Category / Uncategorized

by Alison Lewis

Before and After Tag

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I would like to thank jesusluvsall for the tag.

Rules:

Use the image at the top of the post;

Answer the 10 questions;

And tag the people you’d like to answer the questions.

  1. Who was family for you growing up? I grew up with my mother, father and younger sister and close by almost all extended family. My grandparents watched my sister and me 2 days a week. I was on a traveling soccer team and I would consider the girls and their families a part of my extended family during my formative years.
  2. Who is family for you now? My family is primarily my husband and two children (along with 1 cat and 3 kittens!). We thankfully still live near both sides of our families so our kids can grow up with their cousins and grandparents near by in addition to our church family.
  3. Where did you grow up? I grew up in a suburban town in the Northeast.
  4. Where do you live now? I live 15 minutes from where I grew up, but it is more urban.
  5. What did you want to be when you were younger? I wanted to be a lawyer for the longest time (to help people) and then in sports medicine to help injured athletes like myself.
  6. What do you do now? I am a wife and mother and I homeschool my two children (this is our 3rd year). I also read a lot and write my blog to share what God is teaching me.
  7. What’s your earliest memory? I remember hiding under my parent’s bed because I was scared of the fuzzy blue slippers my aunt wore when she visited, because I thought they were cookie monster. I was around 2 or 3.
  8. What’s one of your most recent memories? When I felt seen and loved by God in such a personal way by His provision for me and my family. (I blogged about it Provision: One Day at a Time.)
  9. What do you consider your greatest achievement? It is not my achievement really, but I would say my restoration and healing from the my “crash, burnout, breakdown, depression” of February 2018 that I am still recovering from by the grace of God.
  10. What is your biggest hope in this life? To know Jesus and to share His love (because those are eternal) and to see all my friends and family walking closely with Jesus as much beloved sons and daughters in freedom and their authentic self.

If they want to participate, I am tagging:

Kate Duff

Crystal

Julie

Amy

Pastor Jenn

Heather Dawn

Sara

Worship at sunset
by Alison Lewis

Worship Your Way into the Weekend…..

I really sense this is a season the Holy Spirit is encouraging many of us to dig deep into the Word of God and discover His Presence like never before.

There is power in our praise because He “inhabits the praise of His people” (Psalm 22:3). It is the Presence of God that distinguishes us from other people and where we find rest (Exodus 33:13-18).

However, I have had seasons of life where I was too weak to worship and could only let worship music wash over me and strengthen my spirit until I had received enough to actively participate. (You can read more about that season in Receiving When You’re Not Okay.) If that’s you, I invite you to listen to this song, or any other worship song that declares the truth about the power of Jesus and the victory He has won for you.

The first video is a message from Natalie Grant about her new song “My Weapon” and the power of the song to become a battle cry in whatever we (or our loved ones) are facing.

This next video is the official music video for the sacred version that is performed with a live orchestra. Personally, I find the orchestra to add a new dimension to the song, like the instruments are singing their own lyrics that can only be discerned by our spirits. When you have the time, it really can be an empowering experience.

I hope this song can be a weapon in your arsenal to fight against the schemes and lies of the enemy. When we focus on the goodness and power of God, we are encouraged and strengthened to persevere until He brings the victory. Let’s declare the power of Jesus’ name over every circumstance!

Have a blessed weekend and receive all He has for you!

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Follow A Secret Spring on Facebook or Instagram

for daily inspiration and encouragement. 

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Copyright © 2020 Alison Lewis, A Secret Spring.

All rights reserved.

 

by Alison Lewis

Provision: One Day at a Time

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My grandmother

This past weekend we celebrated my grandmother’s 100th birthday! What a milestone! She is the mother of 4, grandmother of 9 and great-grandmother of 4. She has modeled a life of prayer and service and is deeply loved by all who know her.

Already in a reflection mode, I retrieved some scrapbooks from the attic that I had recently rediscovered.  The other night we decided to look through them as a family. It was fun sharing our baby pictures and upbringing with our kids.

In addition to the scrapbooks, I also rediscovered letters I had handwritten to my kids during their first few years of life. They were labeled by name and age and included the date they were written.

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I read out loud the first letter I had written to each of my children. It detailed my love and joy of my firstborn at 3 months old. It shared what she was able to do, what she was learning and what she was discovering. It also shared my hopes for her relationship with Jesus and the future.

After not seeing them for over 13 years, it was so amazing to go back in time and be reminded of some things we had forgotten. We laughed at the similarities that were evident at such a young age and still very true today.

We did the same for my son, although his letters started at 6 months, and were just as amazed.  Again, we laughed and marveled at the time capsule gift from what feels like ages ago. The reminders stirred up more memories and stories. Of course the kids wanted me to keep reading letters, but we decided we would only read one letter a night.

While I enjoyed the letters for all the same reasons my family did, I was even more struck by the content and how each letter highlighted areas that each child is currently struggling with. The letters repeated key themes for each child that they needed to hear and be reminded of regularly.

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Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR on Pexels.com

I was amazed at the provision of the Lord to inspire me to write and address areas long before there were actual traumas to heal and challenges to overcome. I praised God for His care for my family! He knew we would NEED those letters on multiple levels. What I thought was just a neat idea (from somewhere) was actually His leading and showing His personal care for me and my family. While He didn’t prevent the heartaches and bad things from happening, He has walked closely with us through them and promises to continuing to do so: one day at a time.

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.  Romans 8:28 TPT

May we all have the gift to see the ways the Lord has been present and made preparations ahead of time for the hard times we have walked through or may be walking through now. He truly IS in control, and has ALWAYS been in control, working ALL things for our good.

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Follow A Secret Spring on Facebook or Instagram for daily inspiration and encouragement. 

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Copyright © 2020 Alison Lewis, A Secret Spring.

All rights reserved.

by Alison Lewis

When the Waters are Rough

I don’t know where the first half of January has gone, but time continues to fly!

I haven’t been able to write until now, because of a turbulent beginning to this new decade that required I focus on my family. I have spent a lot of time praying, journaling, and processing the challenges, and I have come to believe that they are a result of God moving to bring greater healing to our family.

When God moves, things change and the shaking and transformation are not often pleasant, but necessary to become more like Christ. We are being conformed into His image and likeness and that requires some pruning.

We get stretched and pressed in such a way that buried, unprocessed emotions are driven up to be experienced, processed, and released so more of the Holy Spirit can dwell and reign in us to produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23 (The Passion Translation)

“But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: 

joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit.

Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.” 

I need more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in my life, especially when life feels out of control and like I am getting hit, wave after wave, threatening to knock me off my feet.

I have clung to Proverbs 3:26.

“God is your confidence in times of crisis, keeping your heart at rest in every situation.”

Did you catch that? Not in some situations, but in every situation my heart can be kept at rest if my confidence is in God!

I am so thankful that I am regaining my peace much quicker. It used to take me weeks or months to regain it. Now my heart often needs only a few days to regain my footing in Christ and be at rest and peace to hear what He is saying about my situation.

The quicker I get His perspective, the deeper my rest and often the quicker I can get on the prayer offensive, if that is how He is leading me. Otherwise, I am learning to wait on Him and enjoy His Presence with me, loving those around me until I have been given another way to respond. I repeat this process as many times as necessary to overcome the challenge.

I don’t know how your start to 2020 has been, but I am praying we will all remain at rest, knowing He really is in control and working for our good in every situation, no matter what the facts may say. The truth is: nothing is impossible with God!

Love and blessings to you (and your family) to know, like never before, that His goodness and love are pursuing you!

 

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Follow A Secret Spring on Facebook or Instagram

for daily inspiration and encouragement. 

*****************************************

 

Copyright © 2020 Alison Lewis, A Secret Spring.

All rights reserved.

by Alison Lewis

Advent: A Glorious Awakening

Sometimes there are moments where you know something has shifted and you are experiencing something significant, even if you don’t know exactly what it is.

It happened this past week as I joined intercession with Christians around the world at the request of parents who dared to take God at His Word.

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10:8

As Andrew and Kalley prayed for the resurrection of their two-year-old daughter, Olive Alayne Heiligenthal, the song “Come Alive” by Hillsong was a frequent weapon of war. This song is based out of Ezekiel 37 and the valley of dry bones that come to life as a mighty army.

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(The above picture from Instagram is of a painting done by artist Jacob Daniels of Olive.)

What many of us soon discovered was that we were actually prophesying over ourselves and that we were coming alive. Olive may not have woken up to live out more days here on earth, but her name meaning “Victorious Awakening” has been used by the Lord to awaken many in His church.

I don’t have words for all I am feeling and sensing, but I know I am “waking up”. There’s no other way to describe it. The trials and heartbreaks from the last decade had dulled me in ways I was not even aware. I feel that is breaking off and as I continue to pray and worship, I am awakening to step into the long awaited new season the Lord had promised. 

I hope you and your family are experiencing blessings in the midst of any transitions or trials that you may be facing. I pray that you would be awakened to His love and goodness like never before and we would all arise as a mighty army of radical lovers. I believe a glorious awakening has begun. Come alive!

Let this song prophesy over you.

 

Click here to view “Come Alive” from Hillsong Worship

 

Have a blessed Christmas and receive all He has for you!

 

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Follow A Secret Spring on Facebook or Instagram

for daily inspiration and encouragement. 

*****************************************

Copyright © 2019 Alison Lewis, A Secret Spring.

All rights reserved.