You gotta have girlfriends....

God created us to be relational. We are not to be alone. We should be 'doing life' with other people; be transparent & let others in.

That's the beauty of having girlfriends!! These are the friends in your life who look out for you. They're the ones you can call when you need to cry, they'll drop whatever is going on & meet you for Starbucks. They listen to what's NOT being said.

Throughout my life, I have been truly blessed by the friends that I've had. Each person has played a pivotal role in my life - some were good & some not so good. But each one holds a special place in my heart. There are friendships that I wish I still had & friendships that I have and know I shouldn't.

So, I got to thinking... where are Kate's girlfriends? How sad that she has gone through this media circus alone. When she started her show 'Jon & Kate plus 8' where was her best friend telling her what a mistake she was about to make? When her marriage started going south, where were her friends to tell her to drop the show & focus on the marriage? Instead, she's surrounded by "handlers" who supposedly have her best interests at heart. But do they really???

Dear friend, I thank God for you & the role that you have played in my life. I am blessed by what we've been through and cannot wait to see what is to come. Thank you for letting me trust in you so that I can be ME... transparent & open. I pray that I have given you that same safe place.

Many blessings,
Allison

It's tough being a woman

I love to read! Give me a book and chances are it will be completely read in 2-3 days. I've been known to read 5 books in one day (not a frequent occurrence though). So, when a friend of mine at church told me she was an author, I had to read her stuff! This began my 'obsession' with Queen Esther.

My friend, Ginger Garrett, wrote a book The Chosen. It is based on the historical account of Queen Esther of Persia, using the Bible and recently found diaries. As you're reading the story, you forget that this is a true story; a story of a young girl who saved a nation.

I became so enamored with Esther, that I decided that I needed to do a Bible study based on the book of Esther. Not many out there - well none that jumped out at me. Then I heard a rumor.... Beth Moore was scheduled to do a study on Esther.

It has arrived - Esther - It's tough being a woman. So, now I am on a quest to find women in my area who are interested in doing this study with me. I don't have to know them (though a friend or two would be nice); just willing to commit to meet once a week to discuss the book.

Anyway, that's my prayer for the week. That God leads me to a women's study.

Many blessings,
Allison