Plausible Outcomes

Posted on May 15, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

The newest Avenger’s movie has one of my favorite scenes: Dr. Strange uses his ability to time-warp, viewing every possible future outcome to an impossible situation. He finally states to those waiting …”In only one we survive.”

It makes me laugh because I try to do something very similar. I run through potential scenarios, as if I could possibly see the future. Then pray: “God, this must happen… or all will be lost! Disaster is sure.” 

How funny (and probably annoying) this must be to Him, since He really can see the future. Better yet, He sees all the possibilities within each one. Possibilities, through His intervention for His Glory! And if I will submit to His plan we will get the most bang for the buck. 

God is not at the mercy of human circumstances or situations.He always has a bigger plan and a way through the mess. Yes, He allows me to choice freely, but His overarching Will – is going to get done. I don’t need to freak out because I can’t imagine how He will do it. Nothing throws Him for a loop or takes Him by surprise. There’s no panic with Him.

And in that understanding lies total peace. I can trust that God has seen the future in every aspect and will show me the way to walk. He’s got this! He’s got me! He’s got you!

Your will be done. Today. That’s the prayer that never fails.

ForGlorySake! –Anna
 

Let Go
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Becoming the mom I want to be…

Posted on May 13, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

Believe it or not, after 24 years of being a mother I still haven’t arrived! Motherhood is far more of an on-going, ever-changing job, than I could’ve imagined. Mostly because these children keep changing.

I loved the baby & early years when it was all about watching, feeding and chasing. My husband and I just tried our best to keep them alive. We thought EVERYTHING they did was amazing and funny. Definitely a physically exhausting season, but so rewarding.

Then came unbelievable growth – complete with hormones and attitudes! Parenting the adolescent years was emotionally taxing. We aimed daily to guide, pray with and discipline our crew as necessary… and it always seemed necessary. The stakes were high and we took the challenge seriously.

Now we’ve entered their young adult years -which is proving to be a joy and a spiritual rollercoaster. We listen and advise as asked, always praying for them. They are such fun-loving people… who bring in more people, that fill up our house. They each have their own ideas, hopes, and dreams. Sometimes listening can be scary, even heartbreaking when they severely evaluate our beliefs. But oh the thrill when they chose God for themselves!

This parenting journey through all its peeks and deep valleys has been THE BEST JOB EVER! I wouldn’t trade one moment (although, Im thankful I don’t have to relive some of them). I love being a mom. I’ve loved the personal growth, the many opportunities to fall on my knees and how the whole thing has brought my husband and I closer. We both love that there’s more ahead- as we transition into their friends and mentors.

Thank You God for making me a mom. Thank you for my husband to do all this with! Thank you for these precious kids – gifts from You. And thank You for continuing to make me into the mom You want me to be.


ForGlorySake! –Anna



The Crew 💜
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Big Picture

Posted on May 10, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

Sometimes the road we’re on is so messy and inconvenient and seemingly senseless. “It’s just taking too long to get anywhere to produce anything!” When suddenly after months (or years) of praying and doing the next thing  – a tiny crack appears. Something comes into focus. Shapes, colors, and order start to form and before you know it the puzzle takes shape. 

For me it’s like painting. I see what I want to create. I sketch and begin. But it takes time and it’s not until the last hour of the last day that I feel like I can finally see what I originally imagined. Along the way, I question the idea, doubt why I started this to begin with and sometimes even hate the process. 

Is it any wonder God moves so slowly? It’s as if He’s after more that easy circumstances and answers to prayer. Moving, shifting, aligning circumstances in order to mold heart for His purpose. He has a plan that I can’t see it until it’s finished.

Ahhh His Grace. His mercy. His loving- kindness. Never wasteful, never useless! If I will only yield and let Him create. He has blessings, glory, and sanctification for me when I do. Beauty for ashes, true joy after weeping.

We are His masterpiece❤️

ForGlorySake! –Anna

Circles 2018
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Audacious Asking

Posted on April 17, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

Ask, Seek, Knock. My basic formula for life. God calls, I answer, we meet… then I have lots and lots of questions! The amazing thing is, He keeps calling me. I have learned it’s ok to ask. It’s even commended in a story Jesus’ told.

“Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow -bread. You say… (help) I have nothing to feed my unexpected guest… Their door is locked for the night, the  family – in bed… But I tell you —though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.” Luke 11:8-9

Persistence – anaideira in Greek, means with boldness, audacity, shamelessness

“And so I (Jesus) tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.“ Luke 11:10

Can you believe that? Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who seeks will find, everyone who knocks will have the door opened! So I plan to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking – boldly, audaciously, shamelessly. God is the only One with all my answers.

When I talk to Him, I also bring collected promises I’ve found from all over His Word. I assume they’re mine to gather and keep, like exquisite flowers from an unearthly garden – unless He says otherwise. One thing I can count on, He will always make His Word: alive, active, and sharper than a surgeons scalpel in my life. 

The more I discover, the more I want to know. I just L-O-V-E  that! God’s bottomless-ness is absolutely irresistible. I can’t seem to get enough of who He is and what He has to say. Some days there aren’t adequate hours to drink in all I want.

Thank goodness for tomorrow!!

ForGlorySake!-Anna

promises
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Learning To Listen

Posted on April 15, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

“2 ears, 1 mouth.” – How many times was I told that? Chatty by nature, I remember a detention or two because of talking. I also remember my family and friends thinking it was so funny I chose ballet- the silent art.

Keeping my mouth shut on stage was pretty easy, the art of listening was harder to learn. To really hear someone else and not formulate prematurely what I’m going to say – takes practice! Especially when sharing my faith. Arguing will not win souls.

Keys that unlock:
Conversing with someone who believes differently from me, requires trying to see things from their perspective. Patiently observing, listening to understand their position, maybe even looking for a back-story. Sometimes body language offers a clue.

This kind of conversation goes a long way toward – “Loving others, as you Love yourself.”

Opposition should never threaten my own faith or shake my belief in God. It should give me insight into to how much God loves me, personally. Wasn’t I once in that very same spot needing someone to meet me right where I was… and lead me to the love and grace of God? 

So “… dear friends: Lead with your ears,  follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1:19‬ ‭MSG‬‬

ForGlorySake! –Anna

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All You Do

Posted on April 6, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

 After a busy dancing-career traveling, I taught countless ballet classes and worked for my husband’s law firm. Then I homeschooled our children for 10 years or so! As they grew older and went off, I entered the taxi driver phase of life. Soon I began to work for my husband’s law office again and care for aging parents.

But today, those jobs passed – I took a walk and wondered if what I do now (mostly sew) really matters. Suddenly a friend called to ask if I could ride with her to another state and pick up a granddaughter for a family friend. I couldn’t imagine why not…

My quick reply turned into 30 minutes of trying to rearrange and juggle my next day’s obligations. I then got another call that the granddaughter had been offered a different way home. Wow what a whirlwind!

I started laughing in the street. God had used those few moments to set me straight! Yes, I made a difference. Yes, it was hard to replace me. But I could’ve see it, until this situation popped up. God knew I needed that encouragement right at that moment to recognize where I was serving -instead of where I was not. 

“I don’t have to do anything other that what God has given me to do today.” I remember Elizabeth Elliot’s lessons to young mothers years ago: be faithful, do the next thing, give all of your time and energy to God, for His Glory, with a good attitude, ready and willing. How could I have forgotten? 

“Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track… Honor GOD with everything, give Him the first and the best.” Proverbs 3:5-9  MSG

ForGlorySake! –Anna

Middle of the street
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Watching the Struggle

Posted on April 2, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

Nothing has been more difficult as a parent than watching my children struggle. Whether with a relationship, school or work load, physical pain or consequences they’ve brought on themselves – I hurt too.

My mom used to quote a poem to me, “If I could, I surely would try- to keep a rainbow in your sky…” I now understand what she was feeling. She hurt when I hurt and wanted to relieve us both. But, thank God she couldn’t always. Some of my best lessons came through struggle.

Driving an old car, failing a ballet audition, changing schools & making friends, camp home-sickness. Moving 3000 miles away… overdrawing on a checking account far from home. Roommates, bus travel, train travel, plane travel, taxi travel, car travel (-all alone). Finding my own church, finding my own way, finding my own faith!

I may hurt with my children and wish to smooth life out for them, yet they too are growing like I did. Even through the pain. Treasures gained in darkness. Pearls of great price.

God allows them, uses them, and understands my longing to relieve them. And I can trust Him with the end result because I know He loves them best.

He after all, He’s our Father. ❤️

ForGlorySake! –Anna
My pearls…

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The Best Deal Ever

Posted on March 30, 2018 by For Glory Sake!



Good Friday! Good News! God sent His Son and brought every person Life and forgiveness and relationship with Him!  It’s also the anniversary of my son’s sobriety – Woohoo 🙌🏽

But for you who welcome the Spirit of Christ, in Whom God dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God’s terms. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:10 ‭MSG‬‬

This night, years ago our precious teen surrendered his addiction and his life to the only One who could truly help. Hope for a fresh start, that’s what most of us long for. Me included. To think, it’s actually possible!

And yet… there is the fact that I experience all the limitations of sin on a daily basis. Yuck. Even so I am more than a conquerer through Christ my Victorious Lord. And so the struggle continues, like an emerging from old into new. I am forgiven, I have abundant Life!

It’s in the remembering of what happened on Good Friday, of all that was accomplished through Jesus’ death and Resurrection, that I stand amazed, renewed and reminded of who I am today in Christ.

A beautiful day. A beautiful marker. I welcome You, Spirit of Christ. Thank You for new Hope! Your terms of abundant Life in exchange my sins are the best deal ever!

 ForGlorySake! -Anna 

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Psalm 139

Posted on March 18, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

7th grade was my life-changing year. 13, braces off, Jesus in! And a new school ahead. Bless my mother’s heart she found a small Baptist one across town –Dekalb Christian Academy.

I was a public-school-kid out of water! And the lone Episcopalian to boot.
I had never heard of “sword drills,” “honor systems,” or “memory work.” My teachers fascinated me because they knew our names and our parents. They watched us at lunch and cared if I was fitting in. Needless to say my previous middle school had been impersonal and chaotic.

This K-12 included Bible class and from day one I was hooked. We memorized Psalm 139 slowly over that whole year. The 1st verses I’d ever learned. I still remember them today – in KJV, completely beautiful and poetic. I remember reading those verses over and over wondering if they were really meant for me.

To know and be known… by God no less. Personally, intimately, down to my every word and thought before they ever happened? It overwhelmed me and drew me in. These teachers really believed it and told us we could too. Could they have imagined the hope I put in their faith?

I wanted so much to have what they had… what all the kids there seemed to have. I knew it had something to do with the Bible, so I began my quest and haven’t been disappointed yet! Secrets and treasures from 38 years of digging only spur me toward more.

God is the God of Psalm 139, He knows me!

ForGlorySake! –Anna
PD_0067.jpg
1979

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Lyme Disease & weight gain :/

Posted on March 15, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

Recently, through loads of research https://wellnessmama.com/5356/fix-your-leptin/ … I read that the bacteria like Borrelia in Lyme Disease can damage a body’s Leptin Receptors. Weight Loss requires “Leptin Sensitive” to use stored fat.

Leptin a hormone produced in the body’s fat cells, tells the brain how much fat to store. Overweight – Leptin signals the hypothalamus for hunger to cease and the metabolism to rev up. Underweight, Leptin signals a hunger increase and the metabolism slow down.

When a person is overweight and still suffering a large appetite – especially craving carbs at night, a “Leptin Resistant” is needed. 

How to reset: changing eating patterns and portions will reset leptin receptors. *Stick to a simple food list, space out meals and count grams not calories. 👍🏼👍🏼 A food App can help with this.

  • *Eat as soon as you wake up in the morning. Within 30 minutes is best.
  • *Breakfast should be 25 grams or less: veggies, fruit and any complex carb!
  • *50-75 grams of protein daily is the next challenge!
  • *Eat good fats: avocado, raw nuts, and especially coconut oil.
  • *Avoid all sugars (Stevia is ok) and *dyes/chemicals.
  • Leave 4 hours between 3-4 meals daily. Play with amounts to see what holds you. 
  • *after the last meal of the day, Drink lots of water, tea, green tea, plain coffee (no creamer). 
  • *Workout daily after 5pm– *weight lifting or *yoga. Avoid cardio!

23 foods to increase Leptin Sensitivity: (https://medlicker.com/1038-foods-that-increase-leptin-sensitivity) …eggs, lean beef, pork, turkey, fish, oatmeal, whole grains, grapefruit, apples, broccoli, almonds, green tea, purple sweet potatoes, beans, olive oil, turmeric, elder berries, blue berries, blackberries, spirulina algae and sesame seeds, unsweet almond milk and plain yogurt.

ForGlorySake! –Anna

 

Baby sitting
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