and when you don't see change…

Posted on January 13, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

Free-will means life has choices. Choices mean consequences. And consequences are hard to watch. Especially when those consequences hurt someone you love . “Some folks just seem to do things the hard way,” my mom used to say. The whole process makes me hate free-will.

It’s easier from the outside to see how things could’ve gone differently. Wiser decisions made, a better option. I get so frustrated, grieved, distressed. Yet, when I act foolishly and get hurt or hurt someone else… the lesson is remembered a lot longer!

As I watch… and wait for the foolishness to end… God watches with me. He has the Sovereign position of knowing exactly what needs to be done. Where to push. How to prod. Who to send. Offering perfect help at the perfect time. His everlasting Arms are always waiting… even while moving on their behalf.

And He lets me participate too. I can pray. God allows my prayers to intervene. I’ve seen it happen! They can open a mind to forgiveness. They can cover in protection. Prayer can bring supernatural guidance. Even soften a hard and cold heart. Prayer changes things.

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16 NLT

God stays Ruler through it all. Good and bad decisions. He allows free-will, but He also allows – even asks me to take part with Him through prayer. Never without tools, God’s given me compassion and knees and a voice and tears, that through His Spirit I will call out for help for my loved-one’s life.

“GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from GOD. It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take – go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The ‘worst’ is never the worst.”‭‭ Lamentations‬ ‭3:25-30‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Wise words. It’s not over until He says so!

ForGlorySake! –Anna


Posted in Addiction & Recovery, Children, Devotional, Practical Life, Trust | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on and when you don't see change…

El Shaddai

Posted on January 10, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

When I was 11, Amy Grant had a song, El Shaddai. Being a new Believer, the idea of God having names fascinated me. I searched and studied as many as I could find.

“When Abram was 99 years old Adonai appeared to Him, ‘I AM El Shaddai, walk before Me and be blameless.” Genesis 17:1

El Shaddai was a name he called Himself, and Abraham had to decipher the meaning. The closest translation would be: “The Source, Sovereign King, God Almighty.” It includes aspects of:

  • fertility giver (blesser of womb & breast),
  • Protector of life (having power over life), 
  • Judge (final, ultimate).

And He has been! The source of my strength and peace, in control of all the chaos, and stronger than any enemy that has come against me. He has blessed me with physical and spiritual children and protected my life on a daily basis. He will come again as my Judge and Eternal Ruler. This name really covers it all.

After sharing His name, God told Abram to simply walk before Him. “Hitpael” (in Hebrew) means walk back and forth; live out one’s life. Day in, day out… work, sleep, eat, repeat. Yes, I can do that. I can walk before El Shaddai in awareness that He is God, and I am not. Everything I have came from Him and lays bare before Him.

Giver of life, Sustainer, Protector, Ruler, Judge. 

 “and Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.” ‭‭James‬ ‭2:23‬ ‭

Wow – God’s friend, just for believing. I want that too.

ForGlorySake! –Anna

Posted in Devotional, Spiritual Growth | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on El Shaddai

Freely Constrained

Posted on January 9, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

I am totally free! No condemnation in Jesus! Its all about Grace:

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”‭‭ Galatians‬ ‭5:1‬ 

‭Yet,  if I live freely, doing whatever feels good to me… with no regard for those around me… I ruin my freedom:

“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom.” Galatians 5:13

So, how do I enjoy my free life without rules and yet not create a path of destruction behind me:

“… use your freedom to serve one another in LOVE; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: LOVE others as you LOVE yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.” Galatians 5:14

Therefore, we’re to live freely yet under constraint – the only constraint being LOVE! Ask yourself: is this selfish? Does this bring  joy, peace? Am I showing patience? Is this kind? Is it good? Is it faithful? How about gentle? Am I being self-control? 

“…those who belong to Christ Jesus have killed the sinful, selfish nature along with its passions and appetites.” Galatians 5:24

How different my freedom looks when it’s led by God’s Spirit. It’s not all about me:

“If we claim to live by the Holy Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage] our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit”‭‭ Galatians‬ ‭5:25

What a challenge for any new year! 

ForGlorySake! –Anna

Posted in Devotional, Practical Life, Spiritual Growth | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Freely Constrained

Memory Lane

Posted on January 1, 2018 by For Glory Sake!

New Years Eve is our anniversary! But it’s not my favorite time to get out on the road, so my husband and I usually enjoy a quiet dinner at home and go out another night. ❤️

For our 29th this year, I pulled down our box of letters from years ago. Remember those? We wrote them when we were courting and engaged. I was dancing with a ballet company out of Mississippi and he was in college in New Orleans. Back and forth we sent mail from the first day we met, until 7 days before we married!

I traveled all over the US. And he drove to see me when I came back home. The distance nearly killed us, but writing about our days helped… interspersed with the occasional phone call. Long distance cost money! These were our life-lines. We cards and postcards every few days, waiting for a response as soon as it was off in the mail. Long before any cell phone – texting, snapchat, instagram, facebook. A photo had to be sent by mail! There wasn’t even an answering machine or voicemail.

That must be hard to comprehend.

Yet, our letters today are precious, funny snatches of that special time. Saved forever in envelopes with postage and date-stamp. Our actual handwriting (misspellings and all… only in mine) express longing to see each other and excitement about our future. We even made our own “emojies” in the margins 😉

How fun to retrace our story and visit the getting to know one another days before marriage ❤️ Life seemed a bit more simple; a lot less public back then. How I hope our kids will follow this example and write love letters to their sweethearts. Then someday they too can snuggle up on an anniversary and take a little trip down Memory Lane.

ForGlorySake!– Anna

Posted in Devotional, Marriage | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Memory Lane

Life Appreciation 

Posted on December 30, 2017 by For Glory Sake!

Thursday night I thought I was dying. Unrealistic? Possibly. But I felt strongly about it! 2 words: food poisoning. To say it was sudden and horrific and momentarily life-altering is an understatement. One of those times when no one can help you and all you can pray is “Jesus.”

A wonderful day and dinner out with family, then 3 hours later- WHAM. The only one in the crowd. Being so sick made me vividly remembered labor… out of control…  baby coming… ready or not. Deliriously I related these two events. As my life ebbed away (feel the drama) I tried to think through everything I was thankful for – so many blessings.

I kept recalling what my husband endured in the hospital years ago and wondered if he’d felt like this – so weak, helpless? Difficult hours went by in the dark, yet snatches of rest grew longer. I finally dozed off. I woke up barely able to move, but I was free, it was over! I thought of all the healing stories in the Bible. I shared in their moment of worship… sun dawned, birds sang and the whole world seemed a little sweeter.

Appreciation for good health and slowly returning strength were peace after the storm. I hadn’t specifically felt God in the night, but I knew He was there somewhere. Staying up with me, protecting and allowing my body to fight for its life. Silly? I think not. I will grab hold of any lesson He uses to teach me trust… while praying I never have to repeat it.

I hope you all stay well in the New Year 😉

ForGlorySake!– Anna

❤️ Homemade Electrolyte Drink:

1/2 squeezed lemon, 1 & 1/2 cups water, 2 tsp raw honey, 1/8 tsp sea salt. Shake well in a mason jar with a lid.

Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Posted in Devotional, Illness | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Life Appreciation 

7 years ago…

Posted on December 20, 2017 by For Glory Sake!

Christmas is a happy time of memories for me. I love to look at photos of holidays past. This one from my in-law’s house is especially wonderful. David, just out of the hospital after a long and near-death experience. He was so thin and weak, but finally on the road to recovery. All of our family was gathering together after more than a  month apart. ❤️ ❤️

Unbelievably, we were just in-time for Christmas, complete with snow and many other small miracles. An extra fragile, extra special Holy-day. That’s one I never want to forget. God was so faithful! He proved Himself to me time and again that year… and the next… and the next…. 

I thought I would never make it through that trial, I thought I’d break. But you know, I didn’t. Only because it was Someone else’s strength I relied on. God came through big & strong… usually at the 11th hour, but He came through.

Had He always been doing that and I just didn’t notice? Had we simply been too busy to see how intimately involved He was in our details? Either way, to desperately cling has become a way of life for me. Trust first, ask questions later.  And after all these things, it actually comes more easily. I know He is after my good…and the good of our family. That alone has been worth it.

ForGlorySake! –Anna

2010, He’s alive!
Posted in Devotional, Illness, Trust | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 7 years ago…

2 years…

Posted on December 11, 2017 by For Glory Sake!

Facebook just reminded me that 2 years ago (12/2015), we were moving our daughter to Athens. A transfer to her dream school UGA, a great job with a bank, nice boyfriend, and a cute little apartment.  She had been working so hard at college and it was really starting to pay off.

Soon after, mild repeat illnesses turned into dizzy spells, fainting and blurred vision. Still she continued with school, stopping work. After too many trips to Urgent Care for antibiotics and losing her sight by summer semester, there was no choice was left but to seek a specialist. Multiple appointments with doctors running tests took over normal life. Reluctantly, she took a medical leave of absence from school.  

4 months later (12/2016) our fiery redhead had had-it! She declared a “cease” to any further doctors, testing and experimenting. No one had figured out the cause of illness, and every treatment had failed. Still dizzy, nauseated, allergic and constantly sick she survived 3 more months.

Then God, in His profound mercy made her willing (3/2017) to follow one last lead via a friend. A brilliant country physician just north of us was said to be great with medical conundrums.  A walk-in emergency clinic, he guessed her diagnosis in 15 minutes! Blood-work confirmed: Advanced Lyme Disease and acute Mononucleosis. Shocking that not one other MD in 6 months had tested for that.

Yet God didn’t waste ANYTHING. During the detour so much heart-change happened in her. So much yielding took place. So much willingness to submit to His plan. It’s never according to -our way, or -our thoughts. His are always higher, so much greater and usually a lot more complicated. Whew.

Today, 9 months of treatment has passed and she was declared “Lyme -inactive” (10/2017). This wily bacteria has not completely left her body, but hopefully her immune system will fight the rest off. She has good days and bad days now. Still it’s amazing to see her up and about.

 There’s much hope on the horizon as she learns to cope -living with this. She works more than one job and lots of plans are being made again. ❤️ More than anything God is at the center of her heart, so I am thankful for the journey.

LORD, the road has been so hard. Yet all that You have done and are doing is beyond our imagination. You are working right before our eyes yet again. Faithful and True,  I am amazed at what lengths You will go to, to call us.

ForGlorySake! –Anna

Pre-illness 2015
Posted in Children, Devotional, Trust | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 2 years…

Scraps

Posted on December 1, 2017 by For Glory Sake!

I had a really cool opportunity this winter, to make quilts for 2nd generation clients! Meaning, for kids who received one from their parents and now were ordering one for a friend. They loved their blanket so much, they wanted to give one for Christmas❤️ What a compliment.

Scraps of clothing and tee shirt designs made into a treasure forever. It’s like an art project for me. So rewarding to hand over a snuggly blanket of someone’s memories and accomplishments they can keep forever. 

I love seeing a new trash bag or box of shirts left at my door 🙂 A project to create, different every time. Clean out, recycle, make something from what seems old and unusable.

 There’s a lesson in there somewhere. 

God the ultimate Artist, takes our scraps, when offered: trims them up, lays them in order, uses them perfectly, beautifully… never wasting ANYTHING given to Him. For His Glory, for our good, to comfort others – proving He was there through it all, guiding, watching, loving, longing, waiting for the amazing reveal.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1: 24,25

ForGlorySake! –Anna

Posted in Devotional, Spiritual Growth, Trust | Tagged , | Comments Off on Scraps

A Poem

Posted on November 16, 2017 by For Glory Sake!

Are these trials so important?

Will the pieces all make sense?

Frayed and broken, mixed up messes,

Thoughts distressing, soul- suspense.

Falling, swirling, where to settle,

Take a step and try to stand.

God, Your never-ceasing patience,

Leads me onward by the hand.

Why not bring a straight deliverance?

Why not force a different course?

Yet, You uphold bestowed free-will,

And wait to be our only Source.

Every moment makes a difference,

Will I trust You, will I run?

Will I seek You, God for answers,

All the Truth found in Your Son?

There is mercy, there is treasure,

Free for gleaning if I take.

Never fear the road will lead me,

To You LORD, For Glory Sake!

Anna 11/17

keep climbing
Posted in Poetry | Tagged , | Comments Off on A Poem

Pride

Posted on November 14, 2017 by For Glory Sake!

It lurks around the corner, sneaking up and tripping me when I least expect it. Pride the base of all sin, is usually easier to see in someone else, even while it’s staring me in the mirror.

The other day I was praying for one of our kids. Feeling distressed, I decided to start a fast. I needed God to move! I was begging for some healing, protection, direction, and wisdom – all great stuff. My fasting finished up but there was no revelation or change… of any kind. I was so bummed. 

The next morning I woke to the thought that maybe God wanted to deal with me more than my child! Could my pride be the problem? It dawned on me that realized I wanted change to come as much for me as for them… maybe even more. This was interfering with what God wanted to do in shaking up a life for His glory. 

I thought back 5 years, remembering the struggle with our son’s addiction and recovery. I wanted God to fix him fast. I just wanted things to be normal. It took time for me to understand the necessity of the long road to emotional and spiritual healing. 

Now, God was encouraging me once again to let it go -into His hands, for His timing and in His way. I thought I’d dealt with my way over His, years back! Yet, here I was in a new situation learning again, “HE IS GOD AND THERE IS NO OTHER.” In other words, “Get off the throne!” -Yes, this is the only way.  

Thank You, LORD for dealing with me while You deal with my kids. You never waste anything. Keep shaking and building us in Your great wisdom. I’m trusting You.

ForGlorySake!- Anna

Be still and know
Posted in Addiction & Recovery, Children, Devotional, Spiritual Growth | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Pride