Fulton Alliance Church – Senior Servant’s Luncheon

Over the past few months, I have prayed and prepared for this afternoon’s speaking engagement. Today’s message was titled, “Tragedy to Triumph” and with the help of wooden blocks, I shared my story. My one and only sister, Heidi M. Allen, was kidnapped on April 3, 1994 and life as I knew it changed in an instant. I spent a decade searching and running…a search for Heidi while I ran from God.

I want to thank everyone at the Fulton Alliance for your willing, open, and honest participation today. We all learned, we are not alone in our struggles.  As you each raised your hand to share a personal loss, you took power away from the enemy. I pray you will continue to “seek His face” as you reflect on some of the areas we touched on today.

Each time I schedule a speaking engagement I start to pray for God’s message to be the one I share. I don’t want this to be about me, but about Him. I pray you left this afternoon reflecting on the ways God has been there for you, especially during some of your most difficult days. Do you remember how the blocks representing our trials and tribulations fell when I tried to balance them on my own? We need Him, our Solid Foundation. In His strength, we will get “through” the valley, just as Psalm 23 tells us.

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With each Scripture I looked up, my heart was renewed. Someone this afternoon told me, “The journey isn’t ever really over, is it?” with a hint of sadness in her voice. I shook my head in agreement but as we drove home, I thought of one of the verses I shared with you this afternoon.

“Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” 1 Peter 4:12-13

Like I said earlier, I am in no means trying to compare my suffering to that of Christ but it is the idea of this “journey” being a “refining process” that gives me hope and keeps me striving to me the best woman of God I can be…for Him. I wouldn’t be who I am today without a little heat, and neither would you. So instead of sadness on our journeys, we need to strive to see the “…glory just around the corner.”

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Thank you so much for having me today. The food was delicious, to say the least. The fellowship was just as wonderful. Your love for the Lord and hospitality were a blessing and gift to my family today. Mags was thrilled to be able to introduce me and said she’ll have something prepared for the next time, but I thought she did a great job.

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I pray your heart was touched, inspired, and you were blessed with our time together today. I look forward to seeing you again in the future. Ladies, see you in a couple weeks when we get “Refreshed”!

Feel free to post below. I would love to hear how today’s message touched your heart, a thought you had, a reflection, or any comment you would like to share. Your feedback is appreciated and helps to make me the best speaker I can be. Thanks again! Lisa

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV