What Is Allie Doing In Heaven?

Eternity has always amazed me.  “Forever” with no ending in sight, is hard to get my mind around.

Now that my 13 year old daughter Allie is in Heaven, I am more intrigued with eternity than ever before.  I wonder, “what is Allie doing today in Heaven?” 

I cannot answer that question specifically, but I can share some of what I do know she is experiencing in Heaven...

-  A new body.  She has an actual form with features that resemble her features here on this earth, except with no flaw whatsoever and in the original way God created her (1 Corinthians 15:40).

-  The ability to still see what is happening on earth.  The Bible speaks about people that have gone to Heaven as a “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1).  And there are instances of those that have died, re-appearing and being aware of the present day reality (see Matthew 17:1-3).  In some way, Allie is still aware of what is happening here.

-  Being with past family members and friends, some of whom she never met on earth.  Heaven is a great “reunion” of sorts with joy, happiness, excitement, and perfection.  I believe that Allie is with her little brother that was never born, her great-grandfather she never met, and many others.

Are you ready for Heaven?  If you are unsure, please visit www.alliepowellmissions.com and read the AMP up section.

Loving and Leading,

Jeff Powell

What Time Is It?

The Bible says “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).  Lately, I have been asking myself: “what time is it?”

For me, it is a time to grieve over the physical death of my 13 year old daughter, Allie.  And, it is a time to AMP up what I do with my life.  The grieving needs no explanation and continues.  Let me explain what I mean by AMP up.

Allie’s full name is Allie Marie Powell.  Her initials are AMP.  AMP is short for “amplify” which means to make something louder and larger.  In this case, our lives.  Life is short, so we must AMP up our lives.  What we do today matters.

Some would say Allie’s departure to Heaven was “untimely” or “unfair” because she had not yet had a chance to fully live life.  I differ.  My 13 year old daughter lived more life in her 13 years on this earth than some who live to be 80.  Her values were fixed, she had a Biblical worldview, her priorities were solid, and she loved others deeply in the U.S. and around the world.  Yes, her 13 years on this earth were, “short” and I would do almost anything to have her back, but short as they were, they certainly were “amplified!”

No one is promised tomorrow.  Not me.  Not you.  No one.  Life’s short, AMP up!  That is what time it is in my life.  To learn more about this, go to www.alliepowellmissions.com.

May I be so bold as to ask, “what time is it in your life?”

Loving and Leading,

Jeff Powell

How My Heart Yearns!

The heart can be filled with life and joy and pain and torment.  It can be a source of hope and healing and depression and death.  The heart is many things.  It “yearns” and “longs.”  I know mine does, especially now.

A scripture that relates to what I’m saying is Job 19:25-27...

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another.  How my heart yearns within me!”

In the midst of a painful and unrelenting time, Job looks into his heart.  What does he find in there?  The knowledge that he has a Redeemer that he will see when he dies.  And this knowledge causes his heart to “yearn” with longing.

I can relate to Job.  My heart yearns for Heaven.  And to be honest, it is not just to see God and be Redeemed from this fallen world, it is also to see my 13 year old daughter Allie again.  That may sound fleshly and selfish, but it is the truth.

What is in MY heart?  A lot of things...some good and some not so good, but above all else in my heart is the reality of Jesus as my Savior and Lord and as a result, the promise of Heaven when I die where I will be freed from all pain and sorrow and where I will see my 13 year old daughter Allie again!  My heart yearns for this!

What is in your heart today?

Loving and Leading,

Jeff Powell

You have an Advocate!

Life can be hard. In my deep physical loss over Allie going home to Heaven, I am so thankful that I do not have to make this journey alone. I have our church family, friends, and most importantly God and His word, the Bible. I can’t imagine making this journey alone...without an advocate to walk beside me...and at times to carry me!

Recently, Jane and I have been reading through the book of Job. Today I came to a passage that amazed me and greatly encouraged me. In Job 16:19-21, Job says,

“Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend.”

Wow! How incredible this really is. Here in the Old Testament, Job somehow knew that he had an advocate in Heaven pleading his case before God. This speaks of none other than the work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our advocate!

Here is what I took away after reading this passage:
1. God knows what we are going through.
2. Our advocate Jesus is a friend and so much more.
3. It is okay to cry our eyes out over what we face.
4. Our advocate intercedes (actually prays) for us.

No matter what you face, as a follower of Jesus, you do not face it alone. Jesus is there with you, beside you, and even pleading for you in God’s presence...even when, and especially when, you don’t feel Him!

Loving and Leading,

Jeff Powell

The ABC's of Leaderhsip

I was recently thinking about leadership and God led me to create this list of leadership principles to share with you...

The ABC’s of leadership:

Accept your limitations
Believe that God can work through you
Confess daily your belief that God can and will work through you
Do what God has put on your heart to do
Expect God to do mighty things
Forget the past, you can’t change it
Give generously
Help those in need
Invest in family
Joyfully accept trials and tribulations
Keep the word of God before you and a part of you
Learn all that you can about your assignment
Move those disloyal and negative to you out of influence over you
Never give in to moral compromise
Open up to others, be vulnerable and transparent
Pray daily
Quit comparing yourself to others
Release hurt and bitterness
Stay the course God has set for you, don’t waiver
Trust in what can’t yet be seen, remember God sees all
Unite with those of similar vision
Verify what others say
Worship Jesus
Xclaim Jesus through the platform He has given you
Yearly evaluate God’s call and plan for your life
Zip your lips when tempted to talk negatively