Kaleb and Annalysa Elledge just got back from our Grace Fellowship mission trip to Haiti and have great stories to tell.  They both committed their lives to Christ at Grace Fellowship in 2012 and were baptized together here in September 2012.  They’ve both engaged with people and God’s Word in a Life Group, learned how to have a Quiet Time, and actively serve at Grace Fellowship.  Some amazing things have happened in their lives & I’m so encouraged by their growth as they champion the cause of Christ.  The following words were written this month by Annalysa and are used with her permission.

Making quiet time a priority has been pivotal in my growth. It started out as me stepping out in obedience. I read, I prayed, and I went on about my day trying to apply what I had read. It wasn’t easy to make it happen with my busy life, job, and young kids.

Over time, I started to grow. God started showing me scriptures in a new light. New ways he wanted me to grow. Speaking to me and growing me like never before. Sometimes through scripture, sometimes through people around me, sometimes through circumstances.

I feel like we’ve finally found “our groove” as I’m learning g to Listen to the unique way he communicates with me. I had a very hard time understanding unconditional love. Now, I finally believe that he loves me. I crave my quiet time. It helps energize, encourage and prepare me for each day. When I don’t get it, I feel it. It has radically changed who I am as a person and the way I interact with my family and others. It has also opened my heart and allowed me a platform to share with others.

I was never someone who would want to “share their testimony”. And now, I share with anyone I can the things God is teaching me, because I have learned that sometimes God will use me and other people to fulfill his purposes.

I am growing more and more comfortable with being vulnerable and sharing the dark things I’ve been through and how God uses those experiences in my life. I’m not perfect, and I never will be. I’ve come to a point where I am comfortable with humbling myself and coming to God with my sin during my quiet time, rather than skipping it like I used to.

My kids see me mess up often, and I love that they are able to see me get back up and come back even when I get off track. I try to be transparent and show them the reality of living as a Christian in a fallen world. It’s not easy.

My Quiet time is the most important part of my day. Without it, I would be slipping back to who I used to be rather than climbing closer to who God has designed me to be.  Annalysa Elledge