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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.

IMG_3166

(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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Copyright © 2019 Alison Lewis, A Secret Spring.

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by Alison Lewis

God is on the Move

I believe the Lord is gathering His hungry and passionate children to unite and pursue Him like never before. He is becoming our all consuming passion and our relationship with Him is bringing new life to us and to those around us.

I am more consumed with His love and goodness than ever before, and my excitement continues to grow as I watch Him touch the lives of those around me. Joy rises up within me as His love is transforming lives and bringing restoration as only He can.

God is on the move.

Recently my family ended up in a Home Depot one evening because my husband wanted to check on something that was on sale. We went in and all that remained was a floor model with some significant defects. The kids and I stayed with the kind employee, while Ryan went with another employee to see if there were any other Home Depots who had it in stock.

God is on the move.

As we chatted, the Holy Spirit connected us with many similarities that made us feel like old friends instead of having just met. He began to share some painful memories from his childhood that surrounded his birthday. The kids and I empathized with him. We listened and cared.

When my husband returned we shared some of the relevant things with him so he could also share in his grief and we could speak life and encouragement to him. His birthday is coming soon, so we all wished him a very happy birthday. As we headed off to the next Home Depot, our new friend said how happy he was to have met us.

God is on the move.

It was getting late, but we drove 30 minutes (out of our way) to another Home Depot. My husband and kids went in to pick up the item we decided on, but were in there a VERY long time. It turns out it rang up at a much higher price so my husband had to bring the cashier to where the sign indicated the sale price was still in affect. Upon the sales price being confirmed, they headed back towards the front of the store.

God is on the move.

Ryan overheard a conversation between a Home Depot employee and a customer about Jesus helping this man to quit smoking. Without even thinking, my husband joined their conversation and offered to pray with the man and the female employee who was so encouraged that God would send a “man of God” in the store.

The three held hands and Ryan prayed for his healing and freedom from addiction. The Holy Spirit was anointing Ryan’s words and ministering to this man hope that a stranger would stop and pray for his need. After a brief prayer, while many curious customers looked on, the trio shook hands and Ryan told the gentleman that she was going to keep him accountable to quit.

God is on the move.

I’m sure you have stories you could share and we could all marvel at the way God is moving and meeting people and drawing them to Himself.

The song, “This is a Move” by Brandon Lake and Tasha Cobbs Leonard is such a powerful song declaring the power of God moving and transforming lives. It prophesies how exciting it is to be a disciple of Christ right now as He sets our hearts on Him and loves others through us. Let this song ignite your faith and inspire you to join Him moving on this earth.

Click here to watch a video of “This is a Move” by Brandon Lake and Tasha Cobbs Leonard.

Lyrics:

Verse 1

Mountains are still being moved

Strongholds are still being loosed

God we believe it

Yes we can see that

Wonders are still what You do

Chorus

We are here for You

Come and do what You do

We are here for You

Come and do what You do

Set our hearts on You

Come and do what You do

‘Cause we need a move

We need a move

Verse 2

Bodies are still being raised

Giants are still being slayed

God we believe it

And yes we can see that

Wonders are still what You do

Bridge

Miracles happen when You move

Healing is coming in this room

Miracles happen when You move

Heaven is coming

Chorus 2

This is a move

This is a move

We are here for You

Come and do what You do

We are here for You

Come and do what You do

We set our hearts on You

Come and do what You do

This is a move

This is a move

This is a move

This is a move

Written by
Brandon Lake / Nate Moore / Tasha Cobbs Leonard / Tony Brown

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 © 2019 Alison Lewis, A Secret Spring.

All rights reserved.

by Alison Lewis

Delicate Restoration

It is a gift to find a song that provides language to express part of your journey.

The song “Defender” resonated deeply with me when I was at my lowest. I would listen to it and weep and not really know why. The illumination of its significance has been progressive as I continue my healing journey.

It has become my anthem, a testimony to the mighty work the Lord has done in my life. The bridge is especially meaningful to me and still stirs up deep emotion.

“When I thought I lost me, You knew where I left me. You reintroduced me to your love.

You picked up all my pieces, put me back together, You are the defender of my heart.”

I was lost and shattered in so many ways, yet He delicately and lovingly put me back together and anchored me in the foundation of His goodness and love so He could become my strength. 

He is the defender of your heart and He wants you to discover greater depths of His goodness and love.

Let’s pray.

Lord, help us to know You as our defender and our safe place. You can be trusted with our healing journey. You know exactly what each one of us needs and when. Please teach us how to rest in You as You tenderly reintroduce us to Your love and restore our faith and hope as only You can for the honor and glory of Jesus. May it be so.

Click here to view the official lyric video of “Defender”

Lyrics:

Verse 1

You go before I know

That You’ve gone to win my war

You come back with the head of my enemy

You come back and You call it my victory

Verse 2

You go before I know

That You’ve gone to win my war

Your love becomes my greatest defense

It leads me from the dry wilderness

Pre-Chorus

All I did was praise

All I did was worship

All I did was bow down

All I did was stay still

Chorus

Hallelujah, you have saved me

So much better Your way

Hallelujah, great Defender

So much better Your way

Verse 3

You know before I do

Where my heart can seek to find your truth

Your mercy is the shade I’m living in

You restore my faith and hope again

Bridge

When I thought I lost me

You knew where I left me

You reintroduced me to your love

You picked up all my pieces

Put me back together

You are the defender of my heart

 

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

 

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Follow A Secret Spring on Facebook for daily inspiration

and encouragement or on Instagram.

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Copyright © 2019 A Secret Spring. All rights reserved.

by Alison Lewis

New Vision for Thanksgiving

The holidays are often complicated times for many people. Time with family can bring back heartwarming memories as well as very unpleasant or downright hurtful ones.

There is often a mixed bag of emotions. Sometimes loved ones are missing, other times they are with us, but suffering. It’s hard. Our hearts hurt for ourselves and for those we love.

Thankfully, we are not called to carry this burden alone. Jesus is the great burden bearer and wants us to bring these complicated emotions to Him.

What a glorious God! He gives us salvation over and over, then daily he carries our burdens!

~Psalm 68:19 The Passion Translation

He wants to acknowledge your hurt and pain and grieve with you. He wants to comfort you as you grieve so that He can bring healing. But that’s not all, He wants to then work through you to bring healing to others.

Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!

~Romans 15:13 The Passion Translation

I feel very strongly that He wants to impart a grace for us to see ourselves and our family members with fresh vision from His perspective.

Its time to repent for the labels we have accepted for ourselves or have assigned to others. We must confess them and leave them at His feet and turn from these unhealthy habits of relating to one another.

The Lord is restoring and healing families and He wants to partner with His children who will have faith that this year will be different in Jesus’ name.

He wants children who will pray for their extended family and all of the interactions over the holidays and be an agent of love and grace.

The Holy Spirit wants to flow through you to everyone at your table, whether they have been scoffers and mockers or “far too intelligent” to believe in God before.

The season has changed.

The Holy Spirit is drawing our lost family and friends to Himself like never before to bring salvation, transformation and reformation to family lines.

Let’s pray.

Lord, forgive us for the ways that we brought disunity to our family. The Kingdom is family and I want to partner with You to see Your Kingdom come to my family in very real ways. Please give us a heart for the lost and misunderstood in our families and fill us with Your love for them. Help them to see You in us and feel Your Presence when we hug, smile or laugh. We want to see You move in our families and will play whatever part You want us to. We will pray quietly, love lavishly and speak life as You lead for the honor and glory of King Jesus. Thank you in advance for all You are going to do in our hearts and through Your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Follow A Secret Spring on Facebook for daily inspiration

and encouragement or on Instagram.

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Copyright © 2019 A Secret Spring.

by Alison Lewis

A Miraculous Way Out

He [Peter] signaled for them to be quiet as he shared with them the miraculous way the Lord brought him out of prison.

Acts 12:17 (TPT)

Peter was securely bound with two chains between two sleeping guards and awakened in the middle of the night by an angel of the Lord who escorted him out of jail.

Peter decided to go to the home of Mary and her son John Mark where the house was filled with people praying.

Needless to say, the people were very surprised to see Peter appear at their door in the middle of the night in such a dramatic answer to their prayers.

As I read this account yesterday, I was immediately drawn to the “way the Lord brought him out of prison.” While letting those words percolate in my heart a question arose.

In what ways has He brought you out of prison?

It was a powerful question.

This blog originated as an opportunity for me to share how the Lord is leading me out of the prison of depression, insecurity, and people pleasing to name a few.

He repaired some cracks in my foundation and fortified my relationship with Him in a very deep and real way. I now KNOW, experientially, in the deepest places of my heart the security only found in being His beloved.

I’m still very much on a journey to experience greater freedom and healing and I hope to continue to share some of what I am learning along the way in case it may be helpful or encouraging.

So now I ask you, friend, in what ways has He brought you out?

Let’s pray.

Father, I thank You for the freedom You have already brought us through the power of the blood of Jesus. Holy Spirit, please continue to work with my brothers and sisters to break the chains that keep them stuck in the past or in unhealthy patterns. Release an anointing for them to experience Your love like never before so that they will KNOW, experientially, in the deepest places of their hearts the security only found in receiving Your love and letting it heal and transform them for the honor and glory of King Jesus. May it be so.

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

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Copyright © 2019 A Secret Spring. All rights reserved.

by Alison Lewis

The Power of Presence

All relationships experience ebbs and flows.

There are times of exciting discoveries about one another. The process of learning someone’s likes, dislikes, what makes them unique, laugh and feel loved.

There are fun times where time flies.

There are hard times and heartbreaks.

I have found that my deepest relationships are those that have stood the test of time and weathered life’s storms.

I feel known and accepted for who I am: no need for performing or pretending. Silence is comfortable and communication that transcends words is natural through the glance of an eye or the connecting of hearts.

This has been true of my relationship with God.

It has taken time to truly discover each member of the Trinity for who they really are and not my perception of them. I needed to move beyond theological knowledge, to knowing the actual Persons of the Trinity, all of whom are equally God.

It is a mystery and a marvel that it is even possible.

I once spent a lot of time anxiously pouring out my needs and struggles. Eventually, I also learned to really listen and just enjoy His presence. Our relationship is growing deeper.

He is enough.

His presence makes me come alive.

There is nothing like His love and acceptance.

The song, “Be With Me” by Bryan and Katie Torwalt has been a blessing to me. It puts words to my experience.

It helps me to slow down and focus on the presence of God and bask in His love. I hope you are blessed by it as well.

 Click to listen to “Be With Me”

th-3

LYRICS:

The world falls away

When I see Your face

Jesus, it’s always been You

And I hear Your voice

Above all the noise

Jesus, it’s always been You

Jesus, it’s always been You

Be with me

I just want You to be with me

I don’t need You to do a thing

Your love is enough

There’s nothing to hide

I’m Yours and You’re mine

Jesus, it’s always been You

I am complete

What more could I need

Jesus, it’s always been You

Jesus, it’s always been You

In Your presence

I know where I stand

I know who I am in Your love

In Your presence

What more could I need

I know I’m a child of God

—————————–

Let’s pray.

Thank You for meeting us where we are and taking us deeper with You. Please help me discover even greater depths of Your goodness and love. Take me deeper into Your heart so we can connect beyond words and I can become all You created me to be for Your honor and glory. May it be so.

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

 

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

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by Alison Lewis

The Fragrance of a Heart Poured Out

I’m still learning to bring all of my disappointment and discouragement to the Lord and honestly pour out my emotions to Him.

After I feel like I have “gotten it all out” I choose to worship Him for who He is. I pour out my love for Him and my gratitude for all He has done in the past, is doing in the present, and will do in the future.

The song “Alabaster Heart” is one of my new go-to songs as I offer myself fully to Him and declare His worth.

Alabaster-Heart-by-Kalley-Heiligenthal-Bethel-Music-Live-Video-Lyrics

Watch and listen “Alabaster Heart”

Lyrics:

| Verse 1 |

So here it is, my alabaster heart

I’m keeping nothing back from who You are

No hidden treasure veiled by key or lock

You’re a lifetime worth of worship

And that’s only just the start

| Verse 2 |

Here it is, my every waking day

The minutes, hours, the years of endless praise

For You’re worthy far beyond all I could say

There’s a lifetime worth of worship

In the nuance of Your names

| Chorus |

Let it rise like incense

My whole life, a fragrance

Every ounce, here broken at Your feet

Every breath, an offering

My heart cries, these lungs sing

Over You, my worthy King of Kings

| Verse 3 |

There it is, Your alabaster cross

Giving all You are for all I’m not

I can’t believe that’s the kind of King You are

How could I not bring a lifetime worth of worship to You God

| Bridge |

All my love

All my love

All my love

You can have it all

All my heart

All my soul

All I own

You can have it all

| Alt Chorus |

Let it rise, like incense

My whole life, a fragrance

Every ounce, here spilled out at Your feet

Every breath is my offering

My heart cries these lungs sing

Over You, my worthy King of Kings

| Tag |

You’re worthy of it all

Written by:

Kalley Heiligenthal | Benjamin Hastings

 

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

 

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Follow A Secret Spring on Facebook @asecretspring for daily inspiration and encouragement.

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