Gifts from God

Posted on January 16, 2020 by For Glory Sake!

To me, every day is gift from God. Every morning I wake up and every quiet-time I get to spend with Him. Every flower that blooms I count from Him. Every moment with my husband. Each child He has graciously given us or allowed to live in our home.

Roses, sunrises, sunsets, kittens... a sweet girl from Russia who became like a daughter. The fella she brought home became like a son. Now both are married with beautiful families of their own. Kids that lived off and on with us over the years. And my aging parents that moved in for their last days.

All these have been gifts.

Each have come like a surprise. Each brought a different blessing. A few brought a little panic like, “how can we possibly handle this?” But God made a way and opened our hearts. He provided and they became true gifts of joy.

Today’s gift is a BIG, black dog, literally given to us from our neighbors. She’s sweet as can be, other than not realizing how big she is and chasing our cats up a tree! 😱 I’m not sure how this is going to work out, but I know God always sends blessings so… I’m choosing to count this as one more gift… 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Thank You, Jesus (in faith)

ForGlorySake! –Anna

Hmmmm.

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Worth the wait

Posted on January 14, 2020 by For Glory Sake!

Incase we haven’t had coffee together or lunch, you may not know: I’m the 1st to admit, I‘ve had issues. Selfish, pigheaded issues! And so have my kids. They unfortunately inherited my genes- as all humans do- sinful, willful, stubborn genes.

In my eyes, I could not have had cuter children or more precious, but they did not come out obeying, submissive or committed to doing God’s will. Like me, they were bent on their own ideas. It was trial and error that proved them poor Rulers.

When you see us all holding hands, laughing with our grown children, these things came with long suffering and many, many hours of prayer. God in His mercy didn’t make everything easy, but He made it rich and deep.

There are some scars from choices made, and the pain it caused, but oh the joy when love wins out! It’s been worth the wait. Worth the praying, and fasting and humbling. Harder than I’d ever had imagined but so, so worth the wait.

Don’t give up parents… keep praying!

ForGlorySake! -Anna

Our beautiful rebels

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Reaching Out

Posted on January 13, 2020 by For Glory Sake!

As Believers we have been given such a gift! A hope, a joy, an assurance by grace, a peace, an intimate knowledge of the One True God. How can I not reach out and share this amazing love with any who are in darkness?

To live in this world -at such a time in history and not know the Savior and His Spirit of Truth… I can not fully imagine. He is my light and my power to keep going. More than a crutch, it’s full-on Life Support!

Every thought centered on Him, His Words constantly within my reach. This is wealth, this is treasure. I actually have answers …and if questions remain, there’s trust in a Super Highest Power, who loves me and is out for my good.

No floundering around, no aimless, hopeless wandering just to endure. There’s a point. There’s a goal. There’s a destination. But even more, there’s a real live relationship with the Lover of my Soul.

How can I not speak up and reach out and share the Joy? Share the thrill of my best decision, my sanity-keeper? God is my Rock! I will not be ashamed, and Jesus made it all so very possible.

ForGlorySake! –Anna

Psalms 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple;
the LORD’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes watch;
His eyes examine all people.
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Eyes to see

Posted on January 8, 2020 by For Glory Sake!

For eyes to see

beyond this realm

on the horizon

where hope can dwell.

Beyond what’s visible

where spirit soars

where giving leads

and blessings pour.

Trustful belief

In provision prepared

assurance that God

has already been there.

That’s where I live

there to meet you

ready and waiting

I’m faithful and true.

And He is… so very Faithful, so very True.
ForGlorySake! –Anna

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Messy, Surprising, Glorious

Posted on January 4, 2020 by For Glory Sake!

Life is just a mess. “Like herding cats,” my mom would say. She was speaking of children, but that pretty much covers life in general. Unpredictable, shocking, amazing… all in one lifetime.

One gets an idea and sets goals and pretty as a picture they might come about. But chances are… in a re-directional, round-about way. Not as you planned at all. But sorta, eventually. And usually for the better.

Everyday I pray for “eyes to see” – that God would show me His perspective on life instead of my own. He’s so dog-gone patient! Nothing seems to deter Him, and through His gracious timing He gets so much more accomplished.

If it were just me- I’d push on through. Get it done and miss so many blessings! My life’s course has been changed around so often, I’ve lost count. But I would not go back and deviate one iota in how it played out, because those waiting-times and frustrating moments were where God revealed His bigger plan to me.

God has proven time and again that ultimately, He is out for my good and His Glory… if I will just let Him have His way. Oh, the JOY of serving such an awesome, attentive, thoughtful, loving Creator who knows me through & through and loves me anyway.

Have Your way LORD, have Your way.

ForGlorySake! –Anna

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Clarity

Posted on December 31, 2019 by For Glory Sake!

All year I’ve been feeling a push… push to pray, to fast and prepare. I’m not exactly sure what for, but I feel something is coming. Maybe it’s only for growth in myself and my family, but it’s growing with each day and becoming more intense.

I had been fasting at-random earlier this year. By April I wanted something regular and scheduled. Thursday @ 4pm to Friday @ 4pm seemed to fit the bill. My friend joined in by May and we called this time, Freedom Fridays as a lightness of soul took place by Friday.

The reward was Clarity: noticing more clearly what God is up to. And a new trust and knowing that He saw our prayer list and cared far more about everyone on it than we did. Nearly 40 weeks later, I can truly say I look forward to that part of my week. I love the immediate connection and purpose it brings.

A new year is staring me in the face and I’m not sure what is ahead, but I feel prepared. I am excited to see what all this preparation was for. 40 weeks of Vision. Insight. Awareness. What is God up to? More clarity?... I pray so. I’m ready, I’m awake, I want to receive all He has waiting!

Here comes 2020!

ForGlorySake! -Anna

I love my time with you, Jesus

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    2019 tee shirt quilts

    Posted on December 26, 2019 by For Glory Sake!

    I feel so blessed to be trusted with my clients’ memories and keepsakes. You folks are THE BEST! Friends, family and former clients send me the absolute sweetest people… along with their shirts 😉 Love you all, Anna

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    What I got wrong.

    Posted on December 26, 2019 by For Glory Sake!

    That we needed to be perfect parents 🙏🏼

    That if we did all the prescribed things, the kids would just fall in line 😂

    That prayer was just for me🙏🏼

    That Christmas was all about presents🎁

    That coffee was just for the taste😳

    That a beach trip was optional 🌊

    That growing old came at a certain age👵🏻

    That you shouldn’t wear tennis shoes in Europe👟

    That you need new clothes every year👚

    That “recycling” doesn’t include clothing!🧥

    That company wants everything perfect🌟

    That loving, keeping, caring for children isn’t a ministry🤱

    That moving is horrible🏡

    That kids someday won’t come home❤️

    That everyone knows their career path early on✍🏼

    That the advice we got, “Everything gets better” … wouldn’t really happen

    IT DID!👍🏼👍🏼

    ForGlorySake! -Anna



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    Today!

    Posted on December 21, 2019 by For Glory Sake!

    “Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but in your book all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed.” Tehillim (Psalm) 139:16 Complete Jewish Bible

    Every day shaped? Even today? My awake time- asleep hours? You planned for, You knew, You allotted… breath, life, abilities of all sorts, all my needs? So many details! You knew.

    So if my day is disrupted or disturbed or distressed in some way – You knew that was coming too. I can just stop and look and know You’re in it all with me. 

    I’m never alone, never left to solve the issue by myself, never left to crumble and feel hopeless. You are my Hope. You are my Life-line. You will carry me through, help me adjust, hold me up. 

    Thank You that today holds no fear. No disaster awaits that You are unaware of or that blocks my way to You! Your love in Jesus is bigger and stronger. You are my Complete Victory❤️

    “Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, He was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.  Romans 8:34

     No, in all these things we have complete victory through Him who loved us! For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 8:37-39

    To all my friends suffering – you are not hopeless, He has your Today. 

    ForGlorySake! –Anna

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    Coming home

    Posted on December 13, 2019 by For Glory Sake!

    After nearly a year and a half in California, I moved home. The Atlanta Ballet had offered me a job and so, I flew back to my old bedroom and my purple VW. At 19 my father had lovingly stated, “you have 5 years to find a life-support system.” 😂 He did not hold much hope for making money in ballet… especially in San Francisco.

    Driving into downtown Atlanta, felt familiar and comfortable. Living at home took adjustment. This was the city I’d grown up in and the ballet company I started with at 5. It was a right of passage… just the next thing I needed to do.

    However, something was missing; I wanted more. Was this all there would ever be for me? 32 performances of The Nutcracker each December, with Cinderella, la femme garde’e and some other pieces thrown in? I had offered ALL this to God before leaving California. Somehow I wanted to dance for Jesus.

    I started reading “A Way Through the Wilderness” by Jamie, Buckingham. Even on tour, that and my Bible were my constant companions. Reading on the bus, or in the break room, I took a lot of teasing. Just as at SFB, I discovered being a Christian in the ballet world was odd and made some people uncomfortable. After a year, I heard of a Christian ballet company in Jackson, Mississippi. I could not wait to see them perform and hear more…

    Had God heard my cry?

    ForGlorySake! –Anna

    The Atlanta Ballet 12/86 (I’m far left both photos)
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