Sons of Adam - Ariel Allison

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 2:15-17

I watched my children play in our back yard - the entire glorious, fenced in, half acre. For two little boys, you couldn't ask for a better yard. We have a huge pecan tree that spreads its heavy laden branches over the house and most of the yard. In the corner is a swing enticing little boys who think they can fly. We have piles of dirt and newly fallen leaves. Wagons. Tractors. Scooters. Little shovels just their size. Piles of pecans to be thrown, stacked, or eaten. Rocks. Bugs. Bushes with little red berries that turn into paint when you squish them on the fence. On most days they spend hours exploring their little world.

And yet, there are a handful of things they must not do while they are outside. They must not play with Daddy's grill. They must not throw rocks over the fence at the neighbor’s car. And they must not climb on the metal pipes connected to the air conditioner.

Today my children abandoned their glorious freedom in exchange for the forbidden. I went outside and found them throwing rocks. I went outside and found Daddy's grill smoking as it singed dry leaves. I found them swinging like monkey's on the metal pipes of our air conditioner. And they experienced the cost of disobedience.

On my third trip outside I was reminded by my Father, that all of His children sin. I was reminded of two people in a garden long ago that chose the only forbidden thing in their paradise. And I was reminded that my children are sons of Adam - just as I am a daughter of Eve.

And in that moment I remembered my responsibility is not just to punish the wrong but to encourage the right. It is to help my boys make good choices from having a Godly mind that desires to do good, to obey because it is the right thing to do.

I must help them find pleasure in their freedom, and protect them from what brings harm. And I must help them understand that God is not the great cosmic kill-joy that many people would have us believe, but the kind Father that longs to see them enjoy the things that bring life.

Ariel Allison is learning to trust God as she wanders through the desert. When not writing, she is surrounded by a gaggle of little boys, one blue-eyed husband, and a neurotic dog. She explores the issue of greed in her new novel, Eye of the God, due out from Abingdon Press in October. To read a visit her online at www.arielallison.com Ariel is also featured in Christian Devotions new book, Spirit and HEART: A Devotional Journey.


ISBN-10: 1426700687
ISBN-13: 978-1426700682

Let God Build Your Platform - Ariel Lawson

“Let another praise you and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”
Proverbs 27:2

Whenever I mention the word platform to my husband, he feels the need to buy lumber and a nail gun. Yet those of us who write for a living know that it simply means having an audience – and a large one. To succeed in this business we are constantly reminded that without a large following we are not marketable. And that knowledge can be debilitating to the fledgling writer.

Yet as I think back to how God has strategically orchestrated my career I am thankful it had little to do with me. I learned early on that my striving produces nothing of value. I wrote for ten years, played by the rules, did everything “right,” and yet was unable to get published. The rejection letters piled up in a desk drawer, eventually growing to a whopping five hundred. Only in God’s timing did the doors begin to open.

In today’s market we are inundated with the message that we must promote ourselves, advance ourselves, and brand ourselves. But the truth for most of us is that all we start with is a message: God has done something in our lives and we want to share that hope with others. Yet somewhere along the way we start striving for success in ways that push God to the sidelines. We forget that the same God who is big enough to move in our lives in the first place is also the same God who is big enough to make our dreams come true.

At the end of the day we can only control so much, and as we move forward with our desire to speak into the lives of others it helps to keep the “FAT” principle in mind. We must be faithful, available, and teachable.

We must remain Faithful with the message God has given us. We must be Available to make the most of each opportunity He places before us. And we must remain Teachable so we continue to grow and develop our talents.

As we move forward in this journey, let us remember that it is equal parts striving and surrender. We must be faithful to do our part, but ultimately leave the results to God, because all of the press releases, marketing campaigns, and advertising in the world won’t do as much to further a career as letting God build our platform.

Ariel Allison is learning to trust God as she wanders through the desert. When not writing, she is surrounded by a gaggle of little boys, one blue-eyed husband, and a neurotic dog. She explores the issue of greed in her new novel, Eye of the God, due out from Abingdon Press in October. To read a visit her online at www.arielallison.com Ariel is also featured in Christian Devotions new book, Spirit and HEART: A Devotional Journey.


ISBN-10: 1426700687
ISBN-13: 978-1426700682

Small Wonder -- Ariel Allison

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 13-14

Ten little fingers and ten little toes. Big blue eyes. Dimples. He’s a miracle, really. One that almost didn’t happen. I had no idea during those final, long days of pregnancy that each heartbeat was a gift. My body was failing him, the placenta slowly dying and robbing him of life giving oxygen and nutrients. Yet God knew. And God continued the work of creating my son – knitting, growing, sustaining.

He lies next to me now, cooing and flashing toothless grins. Each of my sons has reached this stage of alertness and yet I marvel most with him. He is perfect, and healthy – not a remnant of his troubled start. Things could have gone terribly wrong but my God – the giver and taker of life – mercifully chose to deliver him into my arms.

My soul is full tonight as I gaze at a living miracle. I know the works of God are wonderful. I look at this child, so fearfully and wonderfully made, and I can not restrain the praise. Thank You God for knitting this child together in my womb and thank You for the privilege of being his mommy.

I am a fearful woman by nature – often doubting the goodness of God. I’ve seen enough in this life to cause me to question, to wonder, whether He will come through for me. And yet I look at the face of my tiny son and I see the faithfulness of God. He knew I needed a tangible sign. And yet I remember that He knows what it feels like to lose a son. And I know that had He chosen to take mine, He would still be good. He would still be God. But thank you Lord for your mercy. Thank you for life.


Ariel Allison writes, reads, and lives in a small Texas town with her husband and four young sons. She is the co-author of Daddy Do You Love Me: a Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2006). Her days are filled with toothless grins, muddy hands, and a never ending stream of words that try to find their way to her laptop. She ponders life as a mother of all boys at www.themoabclub.blogspot.com and her thoughts as a redeemed dreamer at www.arielallison.blogspot.com. She will release her first novel, Eye of the God, in October, 2009.

Publisher: New Leaf Press
ISBN-10: 0892216581

Faith vs Fear -- Ariel Allison

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the presence of faith.”

They weren’t the words I wanted to remember in that moment, but they came to me as I sat, jaw clenched and blinking back tears, as our Pediatrician told me that my baby had a collapsed lung. The baby I’d given birth to just three hours earlier.

The trauma started the previous evening when my doctor declared that I needed to get to the hospital immediately. A series of sonograms and tests revealed that my son was in distress and dangerously underweight. We had to deliver as soon as possible.

I would have preferred that courage meant I wouldn’t fear the path that lay before me. Instead, I was like the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, “C-c-c-c-courage.”

But no, my path would involve hours, and then days, learning the ins and outs of oxygen tubes, IV’s, and heart rate monitors. I would learn terms like spontaneous pnuemothorax and then the dreaded pneumonia. My path contained a great deal of fear.

It is no wonder that God had to remind Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:6 not to be afraid. Fear, it seems, is a natural reaction when we face a challenge, whether it be leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, or being rushed to the hospital for an emergency delivery. But the only antidote to fear is faith. And courage is not something we find within ourselves. It is the result of faith, and even our faith is a gift from God.

Be strong, God said, and courageous. We can do this because He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He stands with those in battle, and He sits with those who hold the tiny hand of a newborn baby in the Intensive Care Unit. He never leaves the side of those who need Him. Never.

Ariel Allison writes, reads, and lives in a small Texas town with her husband and four young sons. She is the co-author of Daddy Do You Love Me: a Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2006). Her days are filled with toothless grins, muddy hands, and a never ending stream of words that try to find their way to her laptop. She ponders life as a mother of all boys at www.themoabclub.blogspot.com and her thoughts as a redeemed dreamer at www.arielallison.blogspot.com. She will release her first novel, Eye of the God, in October, 2009.

Publisher: New Leaf Press
ISBN-10: 0892216581

The View From Here - Ariel Allison

“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.” Psalm 16:5

I look in the rear-view mirror and see four little faces peering back at me. Peels of laughter are interspersed with angry shrieks. Crumbs litter the floor of my van and dirty smudges cover the windows. And I have yet to discover where that smell is coming from. My heart fills at once with equal parts pride (they are a good looking bunch of boys after all) and panic. It seems like just yesterday that I was trying on wedding gowns and now I find myself a mother of four. A simple trip to the grocery store requires an act of God and Congress – attempted only when we are down to powdered milk and Ramen noodles. Our household often teeters on the edge of chaos, and in those moments when I succumb to fear I wonder if I can do this.

The job of motherhood feels so vast, and frightening, and unending. I am called to raise these children in the fear and admonition of the Lord and yet there are days that I can’t seem to get out of my pajamas much less lead them in a time of prayer. In those moments I force myself to take a deep breath and thank God for my portion. This season of life. These children. The privilege of wiping noses and bottoms. I remind myself that the days are long but the years are short. And one day I will look in the rear-view mirror and see empty seats. You see, the portion changes through the years. This cup that is overflowing right now will slowly drain. The stretch marks will fade. And will I find that a new season has overtaken me – one that has a different set of struggles.

Your portion is different, but just like mine, it is God ordained. It is exactly what you need to live dependent on His grace instead of your own strength. The One who knows us best, who knit us together in our mother’s womb, has allotted these portions that are equal parts trial and triumph. And He knows that we will view Him most clearly from this very spot. May we lift our eyes today and seek His face. May the view from here be filled with faith, not fear.

Ariel Allison writes, reads, and lives in a small Texas town with her husband and four young sons. She is the co-author of Daddy Do You Love Me: a Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2006). Her days are filled with toothless grins, muddy hands, and a never ending stream of words that try to find their way to her laptop. She ponders life as a mother of all boys at www.themoabclub.blogspot.com and her thoughts as a redeemed dreamer at www.arielallison.blogspot.com. She will release her first novel, Eye of the God, in October, 2009.


Publisher: New Leaf Press
ISBN-10: 0892216581
ISBN-13: 978-0892216581

Giving Thanks -- Ariel Allison

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I sat next to a dying man on Thanksgiving evening five years ago. He was present mentally, his mind sharp. But his body was barely alive – his heart struggling to beat against an over-sized tumor. In that moment the fringe between Heaven and Earth was transparent. It was a holy moment as I watched a man hover on the edge of eternity. That man was my father.

Such moments in life are rare. It is the only time I’ve ever spoken with one so close to the presence of God. It is no coincidence that it all happened on a day that we are called to give thanks. And I feared it at first. I knew his time had come and I did not want this day to be marked by such sad memories forever. But I learned in those hours, huddled near his shrunken form, that the hardest moments in life are often the ones that call us into worship.

He made a request in the midst of his final goodbyes that forever changed the way I view Thanksgiving. He asked us to sing his favorite worship song. With quivering voices we lifted the words heavenward, eyes closed, smiling at the image of my father in his younger days stomping and clapping his hands to music:

Some bright morning when this life is over
I'll fly away
To that home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away
I'll fly away oh glory I'll fly away (in the morning)
When I die hallelujah by and by I'll fly away

By dawn the next morning my father had flown away. And now, each year I stop and give thanks to the God who gives and takes away. I give thanks to the God who calls me to walk through heartbreaking moments. I give thanks every year on Thanksgiving that God gave me a father who I often struggled to love. And I give thanks that one day I will see him again and we will pick up right where we left off, in worship to the God who is worthy of thanking – for all the good and the bad we endure.



Ariel Allison writes, reads, and lives in a small Texas town with her husband and three young sons. She is the co-author of Daddy Do You Love Me: a Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2006). Her days are filled with toothless grins, muddy hands, and a never ending stream of words that try to find their way to her laptop. She ponders life as a mother of all boys at www.themoabclub.blogspot.com and her thoughts as a redeemed dreamer at www.arielallison.blogspot.com. She and her husband are expecting their fourth son in December.

The Morning After -- Ariel Allison

The Morning After

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving, be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Red states. Blue states. Exit polls. Electoral votes. My mind spins as election results scroll across my television screen. And fear rises in my heart.

What if my preferred candidate doesn’t win? What if my values are not shared by the next president? What if…

One thing I know for sure: half of this country will wake tomorrow overwhelmed with disappointment, possibly even anger. Uncertainty will reign. Fear will be rampant. This nation will be divided, and Christians will find themselves right in the middle. How then do we live in the tension that surrounds us? Where do we find common ground when our worldviews are so divergent? And how can we be at peace with the results – especially when we passionately disagree?

As I pondered this election I was encouraged by these reminders from an online friend named Rona:

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CHARGE!

I take comfort in the knowledge that “all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God” (Romans 13:1). And I find reassurance in the mandate to pray for those that He has placed in authority over us (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Too often we consider prayer a last resort when it should be our first course of action. Will you join me in committing to pray for our new President and the others who will lead us over the next four years?

Ariel Allison writes, reads, and lives in a small Texas town with her husband and three young sons. She is the co-author of Daddy Do You Love Me: a Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2006). Her days are filled with toothless grins, muddy hands, and a never ending stream of words that try to find their way to her laptop. She ponders life as a mother of all boys at www.themoabclub.blogspot.com and her thoughts as a redeemed dreamer at www.arielallison.blogspot.com. She and her husband are expecting their fourth son in December.

My Portion -- Ariel Allison

Listen to My Portion




“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

What do we do when life doesn’t work? When we can’t pay that bill or when our marriage slowly unravels? How do we handle the disappointment that slowly creeps into our heart?

The Psalmist addressed this question in Psalm 73 when he said, “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold” (Psalm 73:1-2, italics mine).

But as for me. Isn’t that how we often feel? That God is good to everyone except us? I am all too familiar with that self pity. I know what it feels like to watch God come through for others and wonder if He will do the same for me. Yet the question I often ask myself is why? Why do I have such profound doubts as to His goodness? When I take the time to look I realize that God has a perfect track record in my life. He has never failed me.

I am challenged by the words of Asaph at the end of this psalm when he says, “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (vs. 23-26).

The truth is that my flesh and my heart often fail. I forget. I struggle. And yes, I pout. But God remains true to His character regardless of my anemic faith. Not only is He good, He is good to me.


Ariel Allison writes, reads, and lives in a small Texas town with her husband and three young sons. She is the co-author of Daddy Do You Love Me: a Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2006). Her days are filled with toothless grins, muddy hands, and a never ending stream of words that try to find their way to her laptop. She ponders life as a mother of all boys at www.themoabclub.blogspot.com and her thoughts as a redeemed dreamer at www.arielallison.blogspot.com. She and her husband are expecting their fourth son in December.