A New Name

Today concludes day four of our Israel tour. ( I’m not sure what day it is!?) I was walking along the beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean Sea today looking for shells. I noticed some smooth flat rocks by a pile of shells on the shore. A big white smooth rock caught my eye. I was immediately reminded of the verse in the Bible that talks about those in Christ receiving a new name on a white stone. I wondered what my new name would be? I guess not Cameron Diaz or Farrah Fawcett.
Just imagine how awesome that will be when we see the name our Father in heaven has uniquely picked for each of His children. All of the pressures of life that washed over us through our lifetime making our rocky life surfaces flat and smooth. Would our name be Ollie Overcomer, Betty B. Blessed, Carol O. Conqueror or My Beloved Daughter? God looks at what we are becoming now and our future self not what our previous Stone Age resembled. Thank goodness for that!

Light On,
Kelley Allison
John 1:4-5

Blessed

All I can adequately say to describe how I am feeling is Blessed!
Yesterday in Israel we toured the Beatitudes site. I love the Beatitudes. I have very fond childhood memories of my Great Grandmother Rosie, aka Mimi. She read the Beatitudes every night before bed. So yesterday was not just another amazing day in Israel, it was a day of reflection, memories, tears, and abundant blessings.

THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

Be Blessed Today my friends!

Note To My Israel Traveling Self

Shabbat Shalom

I am reflecting back on my Newark airport scene. Note to future self: as a women do NOT say, “God Bless You” to a by standing sneezing Orthodox Jewish man. Not cool!
Michelle, my traveling partner in crime had to keep her giggle in a box as she watched him shoot me a ‘scowlish’ look of horror. I was just trying to be polite and help him through his oncoming sneeze!
I wondered what would have caused such a popsicle ice cold stare at my innocent gesture of verbal kindness.

I admired his brand new black Tom’s shoes. They coordinated nicely with his jet black suit, starched white shirt topped off with his round circular hat.
He was a by far a sharp dressed young man of conviction.
It reminded me diversity is to be respected and not lightly sneezed upon.

Matthew 5:16

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Light On,
Kelley Allison
John1:4-5

Shalom! We have arrived!

Kelley & I have arrived in Israel. After 4 hours to Newark and 10.5 to Tel Aviv; we are relaxing on the tour bus resting our swollen feet. We are making the 2 hour trek North to Tiberias where we will stay by the Sea of Galilee for a few days. So far Israel looks like any other big city but with funny street signs and lots of numbers on their license plates. One of our new friends on this trip is playing his guitar softly. We are soaking in the scenery and free WiFi; shooting some awkward bus pictures. The atmosphere seems so far from what the News media’s reports on missiles going off all over. It is hot,dry, summertime weather. It is hard to explain but it feels like coming home! We look forward to sharing what God downloads, as well as, some of the wonderful sites we will be seeing the next 10 days. ~ XXOO Shalom! Michelle Bollom

The Father’s Approval

Enjoy today’s blog by Flourish! Also go follow her for more great encouraging messages. XXOO~ Michelle Bollom

Flourish

In life we can seek approval from society and people. If we did not receive enough approval when we were young we can become approval addicts who are willing to compromise what we believe or try to become something we are not.

When Jesus walked the earth there were two times God the Father publicly announced His approval of Him: once at the Jordan River when Jesus was being baptized and the other at Mount Hermon where Jesus had gone to the mountain top to pray. The Father said audibly both times that this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

Even though during Jesus’s three year ministry He often removed Himself to spend time in prayer. At Mount Hermon there were witnesses, Peter, James and John who heard the Father’s voice of approval and saw the glory that transfigured Jesus so that His face shone like…

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One Direction Wonder

Who can you be seen hooting and hollering for like a crazy fan?
A football game with your favorite player making a touchdown? A sold out concert where you get caught up in the music and feel as if you personally know each band member. Only because you follow their every teeny tiny move on Instagram and Twitter. You know they are looking right at you when the camera shows a close up of their nostrils!! What rises up in us to devote such extreme passion and excitement that we scream and holler. Sometimes even shake, rattle and roll because we are so overwhelmed with emotions that we can’t even control ourselves. We don’t care who sees or hears us!! We have all seen a football dude all colored in paint with their team colors running up and down the field cheering. It’s possible a cheese planted on his head!!
There is something in all of us that moves us to follow and cheer for a team, group, cause, or rock n roll band. I guess it depends on where you put your time, energy and focus.
What would it take for thousands of people to rise up and cheer for a cause that really makes a difference?

I know! I know!!✋✋

An ice bucket challenge that goes viral and raises millions of dollars for a cause that heightens awareness for a devastating disease.
A movement that started with one move. One person who got an inspired brilliant idea!!
An ALS victim is understood and heard.

Evidently One Direction Band is saving peoples life’s according to the sign behind me.

There’s got to be more than this? Is it all smoke and mirrors!!
What’s really being reflected?

God help us to step into the cause and destiny that You have planned for each and everyone of us!!
One Direction pointing up that involves saving people’s lives breaking off one chain at time.

BTW, I can multitask. I can write even when surrounded by screams, shakes, and loud music.
And thanks to the 1D boys I know that I am beautiful!!
Thanks guys!!

Light On,
Kelley Allison
John1:4-5

The Emptiest of Places

Do you feel sometimes that you are at the emptiest of places? That you aren’t quite sure if you possibly can keep going? Hold on! Grab this amazing Promise right here:

A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places

9-12 “If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people’s sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.
~ Isaiah 58:9-12 MSG

#LiveRestored
#RestoredMinistries

XXOO~Michelle Bollom

I Won’t Worry My Life Away

As I slept last night I would suddenly become awakened and start singing “I won’t, I won’t, worry my life away…” Strangely, I don’t remember hearing this song lately.  I don’t listen to Jason Mraz normally, so I was surprised that google revealed the song stuck in my head as Remedy, I Won’t Worry by Jason Mraz.

Some of the lyrics are: I say the tragedy is how you’re gonna spend the rest of your nights with the light on So shine the light on all of your friends  When it all amounts to nothing in the end I, I won’t worry my life away I, I won’t worry my life away I, I won’t worry my life away

As I read that line in the song, “So shine the light on all of your friends”, I knew God wanted me to shed some light on “Worry”.

I used to be a big time worry wart.  I even had a worry stone that I used to love to rub. When Christ’s Spirit took up residence in me back in 2006, He started to move out some junk.  My Worry got so bad that it was not until after my dad was hospitalized for 2 years on the brink of death and during that time I also suffered a stroke at just 38 years old, that I was desperate for worry to take a hike.  I can’t tell you the exact moment all my worry went away, but I do know that I was filled with Peace, that I had never known before.

 As John 14:27 says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

The world can offer us worry stones, but only Christ offers and delivers True Lasting Peace!

Here are some more Promises to cling to when you feel like worry is taking over:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV

They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.  Psalm 112:7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

And one of my all-time favorites that helped me through my stroke and some really dark times.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.  In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.   1 Peter 5:7-10 NLT

So what about Worry and what is the big reference or revelation I got from this song stuck in my head? 

 2 words-SOCIAL MEDIA.   

First let me say, I love Social Media, I think it is such a brilliant creation.  I love the whole concept of connecting and encouraging each other.  I love to be able to see pictures and hear about my friends and family near and far.  I love to connect with people that I have only met online and never in person.  I finally get the whole # hashtag thing and twitter after I got to rap with Grammy winning Gospel Singer Mandisa in front of almost thirty thousand peeps, and learned that just tweeting an Instagram picture of Johnny Depp fishing in your hometown will set off a reporter frenzy and you can become quite “Uber Famous” as my son likes to say.   I am all self- taught at social media and am no guru or expert by any means.

I know that Social media can be used for good and bad and sometimes just the good ole ridiculous.  I admit I am a Nash Grier fan.   I prefer to keep my social media pages less ridiculous and more positive.   Some days it seems that fear and worry are plaguing the news feeds and death and doom and gloom keep filling our view, and all the negativity is drowning out any of the great good stories.  The new thing is these fake news stories, made to look like real news and people just keep getting worked up and re sharing them.  Or they take the real news stories and keep posting them and talking about them and opinions get heated and people will be fighting and cursing each other.  It just stirs up worry and fear and more hate.  People are voicing opinions and complaining on all sorts of crazy stuff and spending precious time and energy on this junk.  I scroll through the feed some days and I am just saddened at how many people are buying into all this mess of media fear, worry, fake news stories, real news stories, and horrific images that people love to just keep re sharing and re sharing over and over.

I miss the old Facebook, where you could just see what people were doing. Check out some pictures of their adventures or families.  Share in their excitement or pray for them in their time of sorrows. I like when the recipes and decorating or DIY ideas stayed on Pinterest.  The play by play actions of what people were doing were kept on Twitter, (or Facebook had a daily limit on how many times you can post).  All the cute and funny baby and animal pics were kept on Instagram, the ice bucket Videos kept on YouTube, and the big rants, revelations, or opinions were kept to WordPress on their blogs.  Don’t get me wrong, I love that you can connect all your different social media accounts, but sometimes Facebook does get just a little too much.

So what do I do to not let all that junk offend me or get me worried or worked up?  I cling to the Promises above, and when it gets too much and  people rant and rant or get too political or judgmental  I just keep scrolling by and singing  “Great Peace have they that love Your laws and nothing shall offend them! “  Psalm 119:165

I don’t get upset that friends had lunch or got together without me, I don’t get offended that someone doesn’t have the same religious beliefs I have.  I don’t think anyone has a bigger house or better car or better husband or children or ministry than me. I am content and secure. I don’t love my gay friends any less than my Christian friends.  I don’t hate Obama, even though I did not vote for him. I don’t count likes for my pictures or posts,  ( I do count them on my Facebook Restored Ministries Page so be sure to check us out on Facebook and Like Restored Ministries ) Seriously, in all honesty and joking aside, I really am unmoved by it all. Why?  I serve the God of Peace.  I serve the King Of Kings.  I have kicked worry to the curb. The Spirit of Peace resides inside of me now. Whoever is president does not affect me.  Jesus is still King regardless of who is in the White House.

I love love Love  that I have a choice not to buy into all that worry and fear or hate and complaining so I choose to just keep on scrolling and praying for all the hurting, scared, and worried people.   

 I try to live my life on this great Promise.   Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable. ~  Philippians 4:8 GWT

Won’t you let Christ fill you with real lasting Peace and stop letting the world and all its News Feeds keep you worked up and worried.  Life is too short to “Worry” it away.  ~  XXOO Michelle Bollom

Here is proof of my Uber Famous Social Media Moments below.

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2013/aug/27/cc_johnnydepprockport_082713_218156/?print

Prayer

I will be traveling to Israel in just a few days. I thank you for your support & prayers and look forward to sharing this journey with you. Please continue to keep me and the team with Joan Hunter Ministries in your prayers.

Enjoy some of these great quotes on prayer and share your favorites with us in the comments too.

xxoo~ Michelle Bollom

The Perfect Weight

Are you tipping the scales?

What would your heart weigh if the Lord weighed your heart?

Is it heavy with Selfishness? Pride? Anger? Unforgiveness? Envy? Greed? Lust?….

When our hearts are filled full with Christ it leaves no room for the junk that is weighing us down and tipping the scales.

God loves balance. God loves pure hearts. God loves you!

Heavenly Father, empty our hearts of anything that is not from You so that we can be filled with more of Your Spirit and what You want for us so we are at our ideal and perfect “Heart” weight. Not my way or will but Your way and Will Lord.

XXOO~ Michelle Bollom