The Masses

Posted on October 8, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

I visited Milan, Italy home of the first city to offer “freedom of religion” to Christians in 313 AD. I very likely walked on the same ancient stones as those brothers and sisters in Christ! Did anyone around me realize the history of this place?

So many people from every nation passed and pressed. I thought of standing on a corner and shouting, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!” Since I couldn’t speak their languages, I walked and prayed and wondered about the sea of souls. How on earth, does God keep track?

“And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to Whom we must render an account.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭NET‬‬

God sees everyone… and everything. Nothing is missed. And somehow each one is given a chance to know Him.

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NET‬‬

God’s Word shouted to me from every direction: in pictures, beautiful carvings of every story from scripture, incredible works of art telling mankind’s saga from Eden to the Resurrection! I prayed for those taking photos- that they’d really see.

“ O, that today you would listen as He speaks! Do not harden your hearts.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NET‬‬

It was moving and frustrating all at the same time. I wished I could see a glow above heads of those that call Jesus, Lord. I realized, all at once how very, very big the world is and yet God is not overwhelmed by our masses. He made a Way:

“For there is one God and one Intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, Himself human, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at His appointed time.” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:5-6‬ ‭NET

‬‬“LORD, help me be about Your business wherever I go. Open ears and eyes to see what You are doing. Use Your people all over this great big world so that more can know You!”

ForGlorySake! –Anna


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Letting Go

Posted on October 7, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

Ahhh, why is it so hard to let go and trust that “God’s got it”? Just when I think I’ve made all this progress and gained such strength… a new situation pops up and I’m overwhelmed. Struggling. 😝

This fall it came by way of leaving our 2 youngest girls alone while we traveled to a family wedding out of the country. One of them had just gotten her license 6 days prior! Most of our other kids were also out of town. And both the girls had challenging school loads to juggle. So I worried.

Where was the peace that God would be there? Where was my faith that He loves them more – cares for them more – watches over them far more – than I can?! Through it all, I was gently reassured and repeatedly reminded He was on duty. Scripture passages, sermons, friends and family sent especially encouraging messages.

Finally, opening my hands in my lap, on my knees in my closet, I laid it all down… again… and again. I was never reprimanded or scolded. Just loved because that’s all my Father wanted me to do- until it stuck.

Come to Me when you’re afraid. All is well child 

…and it was.

ForGlorySake! –Anna


-Beth Moore

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Heard, Safe, Saved

Posted on September 30, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

This week, David was given the go-ahead to begin oral antibiotics so that we can travel- Yay! In the midst, I met a woman facing a new cancer for her husband. More advanced and aggressive than last time… such a blow. While we packed for our adventure and planned for the kids staying behind, a dear friend’s fostered little ones had a gut-wrenching turn of events. I ran to God and cried out:

“A hostile world! I call to GOD, I cry to God to help me. From His palace He hears my call; my cry brings me right into His presence— a private audience!” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭18:6‬ ‭MSG‬‬

My need for someone bigger, takes me to God first. I remembered many hospital days during David’s procedures and surgeries, when I turned again and again to Psalm 18. A pledge of God’s faithfulness, it never got old. He was always awake, always aware, and always had a plan.

“I love you, GOD — You make me strong. GOD is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my Rescuing Knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout.”‭‭ Psalm‬ ‭18:1-2‬ ‭MSG‬‬

I can have His ear day or night. Today, just as much as back then. He cares for me and mine as much as these and their concerns! Sometimes the answers have been miraculous. Sometimes really scary, but I can testify He is faithful to listen and hold us throughout it all.

“But me, He caught—reached all the way from sky to sea; He pulled me out of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning.. He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!”‭‭ Psalm‬ ‭18:16,19

God is listening in good times (planning trips) and bad (dealing with illness). He waits to come at our call. We are heard. We are safe in His arms. He are saved through His Son.

‬For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear. Psalm 18:31-32

‬‬ForGlorySake! -Anna


“I sing to GOD, the Praise-Lofty, and find myself safe and saved.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭18:3‬ ‭MSG

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The Clean Out

Posted on September 28, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

There is an interesting Jewish tradition that happens before Passover each year called kashering. A family cleans their home of all yeast and leaven; anything non-kosher, the days leading up to the holiday. It’s a reminder to repent of sinful ways as a preparation.

Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough – you are, in fact, without yeast. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”  1Corinthians 5:7 NET

Rabbis instruct, “Only utensils that can be scrubbed clean should be kashered.” Interesting that Believers are referred to as utensils for God’s purposes in scripture. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross during Passover cleansed us from sin, making us useful to Him.

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21

For years I have been aware of God cleaning up my family. Ridding our vice & evil, and growing sincerity & truth in our hearts. It has not always been a pleasant experience, but the results are freedom and usefulness.

“So then, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of vice and evil, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.”  1Corinthians 5:8 NET

Sanctification is a lifelong process! Our old ways are hard to break. Thankfully God is not daunted by the ginormous task.  I am clean in His eyes, and yet the process continues to make me more like Jesus.

ForGlorySake! –Anna


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Breathe

Posted on September 19, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

When the weight of stresses press down… breathe.
When troubles aren’t answered today… breathe.
When the schedule holds more than humanly possible… breathe.
When it’s just too much for too long… breathe.

“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me Life [which inspires me].” ‭Job‬ ‭33:4‬

‭When you need inspiration …or encouragement …or Hope!

“Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭150:6

‬ ‭There is no better use of my breath than breathing His Name.

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it… He himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need… Acts‬ ‭17:24-25

And when peace comes …praising and thanking the One who’s brought it, becomes second nature.

His purpose was for the nations to seek after Him and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him—though He is not far from any one of us. For in God we live and move and exist.” Acts 17:27-28

ForGlorySake! –Anna


Ahhh!

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Midway…

Posted on September 13, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

The rest of the story on my husband’s health crisis left us with more questions than answers. He was treated in the hospital with the world’s strongest antibiotics, for 1 week. Then moved to daily out-patient IV.  Three hours a day for 45 days (no weekends), he sat in a room with other patients and received live giving drugs to kill the mystery infection.

What exactly was it? We never discovered. Where did it come from? No one could tell us. There were many discussions of: surgery-to-drain (by the infectious disease doctor), removal of the infected lobe (by a pulmonologist), and even corrective surgery of his birth defect: Tracheoesophageal fistula with Esophageal atresia (by a thoracic surgeon who was fascinated by David’s birth story (see here) and survival).

David said, “No thank you” to each option. Since cancer tests came back negative, he was released from the hospital to continue an out-patient plan. We haven’t stopped praying or waiting for an all clear from tests. After 2 months, the mass has shrunk by about half. Yet, are we mid-way? How long is this going to take?

We were supposed to go to Italy for a family wedding. I cancelled our plans as soon as this started. So sad. And now hope is emerging. David would need to swap to all oral medication and remain stable. His doctor is considering a trial-run. In the world of health, there’s no GPS. Yet if God wants us to go, we’ll go. How thankful I am – He’s close by and can see into the darkness.

“even the darkness is not too dark for You, for the night is as bright as day; darkness and light are the same to You.”‭‭ Psalms‬ ‭139:12

Waiting to see…

ForGlorySake! –Anna

(PS. Written Sept 13, 2018. From 1st pain: July 28, 2018 to end of treatment: Nov. 3, 2018… This day was almost exactly Midway)
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The Quest

Posted on September 1, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

I am on a journey. I am ever-changing… hopefully improving! Not the same as yesterday or last year, I’m seeking to be more by tomorrow.

“Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭NET‬‬

What does He want of me? To be: more and more like Him! Close with the Father, walking in His love and grace. Living for His glory. Full of Mercy.

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this (perfection). Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭NET‬‬

It’s a Quest – asking, seeking, knocking daily before God until I find a way through life that is pleasing to Him. Peace doesn’t always come at first, but it does come. I don’t always get it right the first time around. So I keep striving.

“with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭NET‬‬

The goal is maturity. Let go of selfishness. Learn humility. Keep moving forward. And hopefully the person I am tomorrow  will out-shine the one today.

“…our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humility into the likeness of His glorious body by means of that power by which He is able to subject all things to Himself.” Philippians‬ ‭3:20-21‬ ‭NET‬‬

The reward couldn’t be better!

ForGlorySake! –Anna

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2 Months of Keto & Beyond

Posted on August 29, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

Well, 60 days are over for Keto and as a whole, I felt the plan was healthful (with careful attention!). I did reach my goal of losing 10lbs, and just in time as we head to Italy for a wedding and my dress will now fit!

Things I like about Keto:

  • Effective results while maintaining macros.
  • Plenty of calories!
  • Eating fats that guard against dementia/Alzheimer’s.
  • Great recipes with low glucose content.
  • curbed my daily coffee and chocolate intake.

Things I do NOT like about Keto:

  • Feeling weak when I work out, during intermittent fasting. 😝
  •  Bad breathe (!) from eliminating keotones. My family mentioned an “odd smell” during fasting periods, so I chewed gum constantly.
  • Missing out on some seasonal fruits and some vegetables. Peaches!!!
  • Too much meat and dairy. Sometimes I just can’t eat any more meat…

With all this knowledge I’m hoping to move forward into a “less-carb” existence that includes ALL of my beloved veggies, fruit, beans and grains! Recently, I ate 2 large dates (15 carbs!) and ran an effortless -4 miles. I did not feel faint. I then enjoyed an egg with veggies, a lowcarb muffin, fruit and a large cup of black coffee- JOY.

For the record: I would recommend this, for a 30 day stint.

ForGlorySake! –Anna



KETO -ACT: avacado, cream cheese, tomato on Quickcarb bread with a few Whisp cheese crackers 👍🏼👍🏼

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The Esau Symdrome

Posted on August 27, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

God is for our good! Burt He does ask us to wait on His timing. I’ve seen the Easu Syndrome in my children. I’ve seen it in younger self. A quick fix: the easy way -knowing it wasn’t the best. Trying to make things happen instead of waiting on God. This is so deadly.

“Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.”‭‭ Hebrews‬ ‭12:17‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Sometimes the consequences are barely noticeable… sometimes it’s bigger and longer lasting. Repercussions of trading God’s lifelong blessing for a short-term satisfaction always brings death of some sort and the sorry pain of regret.

The good news? God won’t waste even the bad experience. You can count on it. I actually pray for it, and then I wait for it. He’s the God that brings something out of nothing and a testimony of Glory from our mess. I’ve seen it happen more than once.

I may have totally blown a particular opportunity, but God has more waiting when I’m ready to submit and do things His way. Abundant Life is living in full submission to Jesus and receiving so much more than can be imagined! 

If someone you love is acting like an Esau… pray, pray, and pray some more! Over their heart, over their mind, over their strength against temptation. Cover them with God’s Holy Armor, and stand in the gap against evil. Ask God for the Mind of Christ to consume them and remind them of His written Promises. Ask Him to repurpose all the trash.

Then get ready to see another “Esau” come to LIFE ❤️

ForGlorySake! –Anna



“Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these [people] keep silent, the stones will cry out [in praise]!” Luke ‭19:40‬ ‭AMP‬‬

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Living with Your Prodigal

Posted on August 23, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

Not all prodigals run off or move away. Sometimes they stay at home and push back. That’s what happened in our family… we’ve lived through it. In the midst.

“Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:21‬ ‭MSG‬‬

As a mom, I had a choice in my broken-hearted distress: to fall into utter hopelessness or believe that this was war and I’d been given the weapons of warfare!

 “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:4‬ ‭NLT

  1. ‬‬Pray –continually,
  2. speak Life -gently,
  3. stand for Truth firmly
  4. love relentlessly!

Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 NET

Without love we are obnoxious noises with no meaning. With love, we can be guides to those blinded by the god of this world. Loving a prodigal is difficult. Yet so many stand with God waiting for a Return. He knows the pain and longing. He holds us while we watch and pray. He gives us strength when we grow weary.

I tell you there is hardly anything more glorious than Re-Birth! What a moment! What a testimony! Such beauty from ashes! All the struggle and labor pains are forgotten in that moment.

“Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.” Galatians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“…have mercy on those who waver; save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.” ‭‭Jude‬ ‭1:22-23‬ ‭NET‬‬
“Every person the Father gives Me eventually comes running to Me. And once that person is with Me, I hold on and don’t let go.” John‬ ‭6:37 &39

We can’t lose Hope.

ForGlorySake! –Anna


Found this beautiful photo on Facebook ❤️

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