ALY ALLEN | THE BLOG

this week i haven't spent much time writing, as you can tell. only one post and it was quite un-insightful at that. i've spent lots of time reading, though. following along with the Compassion bloggers as they took their trip to the Philippines and wrote about it every day. and also lots of other stuff. two fridays ago, left you with a few posts that i had loved during the week, and today i'll do the same [maybe this will be a new Friday thing? we'll see...] 1) i highlighted her last week, and she's back again. Serena Woods  "The Mirror Is a Liar" . its about grace, and pride, and our desperate attempt to make ourselves worthy even though we never will be. not without Christ. 2) Katy writes about "Tornadoes and Such" . about God's sovereignty in it all. so good. 3) Emily's  "How Stickers Can Change The World" . you could read all the posts from all the Compassion bloggers in the Philippines right now, sure. and i...

2000 years ago today.... i was bought with a price. my sin was washed away. Christ endured death on a cross because He loved me. He was betrayed by one of His closest friends. sold out to the chief priests. "tried" and found guilty of simply being Who He was. beaten and flogged relentlessly, until almost unrecognizable as the chosen Messiah. on the brink of certain death. torn and bleeding and dying and thinking of me. He dragged His own cross  halfway up to the place He would die. His body frail, weak, barely functioning. people spit on Him, mocked Him. they utterly disgraced Him. the King of kings and Lord of Lords. He did not say a word  in His defense. 2000 years ago today... Jesus Christ, the savior of the world who had done nothing was put to death, nailed to a cross. yet He willingly suffered so that we might be saved. [because some would never believe] He willingly suffered for the gl...

photo credit i'm the type of girl who is usually doing some sort of Beth Moore study [like right now, i'm doing Breaking Free ]. i read the portions of the Bible that she tells me to read, in the context of what she's trying to teach. don't get me wrong, this is totally wonderful and so useful [and let's face it, she's the best. so, who can blame me, right?] but my goodness, when you actually sit down and read the Bible for yourself with no context, just to get the facts... it messes with you. have you ever read through the book of Acts in its entirety? well, i'm about half way through and it has me uncomfortable. it says things like: "all the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods , they gave to anyone as he had need." [2:44-45] "... from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to an...