Benefit Of Grace

Posted on March 21, 2012 by For Glory Sake!

 “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure and we thought we would NEVER live through it. 2 Corinthians 1:8

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are NOT crushed. We are perplexed, but NOT driven to despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8 

What happened between those 2 verses that took them from “crushed” to “not crushed,” and “overwhelmed” to “not driven to despair?”

“In fact we expected to die, But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely ONLY on God Who raises the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:9-10

They did something:

“We have placed our confidence in Him and He will continue to rescue us.”

They took all notions of dependence off themselves and whole-heartedly placed them on God. Isn’t that the choice in crisis? When there is no human way to escape, what should we do? Trust ourselves and despair. Trust God and hope.

Crushing made God more than He ever was before. He became my ONLY hope. As David and I have lived through life on the brink, it’s been rather overwhelming, but God made it bearable with others.

I realized, as I shared my story, and people began to pray with us, God was praised all the more when our prayers were answered! Everyone who participated in the rescue operation was encouraged. How cool is that? 

“And you are helping us by praying for us, then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for blessing of deliverance.” 2 Corinthians 1:11

“… And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more Glory.” 2 Corinthians 4: 15

Yes.

ForGlorySake! – Anna

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Where Are We Going?

Posted on March 14, 2012 by For Glory Sake!

This morning our daughter had an early meeting at school. Driving home in dense fog, it was hard to see more than a few yards in-front of the car. I took the long way home, using all the lights available, just to be safe. As I rounded a corner, the sun shone brightly through the fog.

A brilliant example of my life at this moment. The way before me is so foggy, but I can see light ahead, so I know I’m going in a good direction. In reality, I have no idea where this road is taking me. Even the familiar area looks strange and foreign. Thank heavens for bright lines keeping me on track. I’ll never wonder if I’ve run off the road.

I was talking to God about all this, and told Him it sure would be nice to have this fog lift so I can see clearly. That’s when I felt God say: the fog narrows your path, Anna. It actually makes it easier to follow where I’m leading. Look at it as a grace. There are fewer distractions on this road.

Wow, I was floored. Today, limited sight became a blessing. I’ll look to Him for strength to keep going. I don’t need to know exactly where. That He’s leading is enough. 

“He renews my strength, He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.” Ps 23:3

ForGlorySake! -Anna

a blind landing
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Filthy Rags

Posted on March 12, 2012 by For Glory Sake!

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

One of our children is walking a hard road for his young age, all of his own doing. So very difficult to watch as a parent; gut-wrenching actually. Not anything I would ever want for any of my children to go through, but God has used every moment, every incident for his good and for His Glory.

I am amazed, after 3 years of struggle, to see a new creation emerging. It is a slow process that causes me to ache and yearn for anything faster… And yet, faster might mean we would miss the little miracles along the way.

Each step that my toddlers took built on the one before and was precious in my sight. So it is with God- each step toward Him is precious in His sight. 

Zechariah 4:10 “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…” It’s never too late this side of Heaven; no one is ever too far gone. Our Father is in the cleaning business and what He calls clean stays white as snow.

Filthy rags 

Filthy rags of sin and shame
Different souls but same ol name
Abuse of body, lying thief,
 lust and anger, blasphemy
Idol worship of lowest kind
The idol’s me- my name is Pride.
I don’t need You, I’m ok,
I’ll just do it my own way!
Wretched, naked, dirty, wild,
Lost and lonely, foolish child
God picks up and washes clean
Ugly lost, now beauty seen (Anna 2012)
 
You amaze me. How full of wonder You are. Thank you for making me a parent so that I can see a little of how You love me, feel for me, even hurt for me when I choose my own way. You are the perfect parent. Show me how to love like that. In Jesus’ Name
 
ForGlorySake! -Anna
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Receiving

Posted on March 9, 2012 by For Glory Sake!

How are you at receiving … gifts, compliments, criticism, assistance, forgiveness, blessings, love? Sometimes it so hard for me. I’d much rather give. My mom is having lots of trouble receiving help. I totally get it, I feel like our family has been on the receiving end far too long. It’s a blessing, but it’s humbling.

When it’s coming straight from God, I have an easier time. His gifts are always good, right? But what about things that are hard to fit into the blessing category?…unpleasant things, unwanted things, unhappy things? Are they not gifts also? Does God not use these? And send them too?

But Job replied to his wife, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. Job 2:10

Sometimes my perception is off, as surely as God says, My ways are not your ways. It is for Him to decide what crosses my path and for me, to accept it from His hand… trusting that nothing is going to touch me that has not first been carefully sifted through His fingers.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 

Think of the layers circumstances go through before getting to us. God is never unjust or cruel in allowing difficult circumstances near. I am hidden even as He uses the unusual in my life. His creativity knows no bounds!

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” Romans 8:28

So I gladly will receive the good… and wade through the seeming bad, expectantly hoping to see just what He will bring. Curiously waiting for what He will do. Remembering what He has already done.

ForGlorySake! -Anna

bit by bit
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Counting The Cost

Posted on March 4, 2012 by For Glory Sake!

“Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it?

“Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other?

33“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.” Luke 14:28-33

Jesus didn’t sugar coat it, He made it clear that following Him was like carrying a big heavy cross! It’s also clear that Jesus counted the cost of His own sacrifice, before He carried it out.

He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

And God, knowing all of the trouble Adam and Eve would cause, choosing their own will, counted the cost and made man in His Own Image anyway. If our Father was so careful to count… and warn us to count… can we not rest assure that in every circumstance, He has also counted the cost of it’s affect on us?

He knew long before this day, what was in store (Psalm 139:16). His unfailing love will carry us through. No matter what.

Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous, opposition and bitter hostility -reckon up and consider it ALL in comparison with your trials, so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. Hebrews 12:3

Thank You, Father, for evaluating and considering what each circumstances cost me. You know, You see, You understand and best of all, You never leave my side. How I love You.

ForGlorySake! -Anna

 
Hard game. Prize won.
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“Your Hands” by JJ Heller

Posted on February 27, 2012 by For Glory Sake!
“I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
–
I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
–
When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands
–
When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
–
Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still” – JJ Heller

“O God, thank you for these beautiful words this morning and how You reach and touch me a 1000 ways each day. Show each of us what it means to seek Your Kingdom above all else, to live righteously in Jesus and trust that You will give to us everything we need for the work You’ve called us to do today. You are sovereign; You are LORD.” 
ForGlorySake! – Anna
the soccer practice field has best sunsets!
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Deer, fever and ER

Posted on February 20, 2012 by For Glory Sake!

My last few days have been crazy. Just one crisis coming after another. Thursday brought a visit to Urgent Care for our son who’s cough has continued to get worse. An all day visit to Urgent Care with x-rays, breathing treatment, shot and a prescription for antibiotics. 

While I missed the visit with my parents, my 76 year old mom with Hydrocephalus fell again. This time on the tile floor of their bathroom. My dad could not get in because she was blocking the door. Finally able to move herself, they assured me she was fine, just sore. I had committed to drive a carpool that evening, so I waited until morning to go and see her.

Friday morning I was needed at the office. My mom actually admitted, over the phone to being sore and a bit uncomfortable, but fine. She promised she was resting and eating. Later that afternoon, I did not have a car to take into Atlanta to see her. Again they promised all was well.

Saturday, early when I drove to Buckhead, I found she could hardly move from bed to bath! However she was adamant about NOT going to see a doctor. I told my sister in Florida and ran errands for them, staying until late. Receiving a call from my kids that David was very sick with a fever, I hurried home.

That night around 11:30pm, our newest driver of 16 days was hit in our suburban by a large deer on a dark rainy highway. Sarah and I got up and went to the rescue. Driver was shaken, but fine. Car, not so much. One less car – really??

Sunday after hiring a tow truck, my sister in Florida phoned to inform me, Mom was finally ready for the ER. I left Sarah watching her dad, who’s fever read 101. It took about 4 hours to get x-rays and a CT.  2 breaks in her upper back! While she was being scanned, I was getting frantic texts from my children that their Dad’s fever was really high now and he was talking crazy.

Twice the kids had helped put him in cool water to lower his temp from 106! Nothing was working, but I could not leave my Mom! She was released at 7pm with a neck brace and pain meds. I tucked her in bed at her home, set Dad as a sentry and headed back north. My husband’s fever was 103 by the time I got home and steadily came down as the night wore on. Praise the Lord, no ER for him.

Some days are like that aren’t they? We don’t always walk an easy path, but one thing we are promised is that God ALWAYS walks with us. He promises:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you. For I AM the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;…” Isaiah 43:2

ForGlorySake! -Anna

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Shh Be Silent

Posted on February 16, 2012 by For Glory Sake!

“Be silent before the LORD, all humanity, for He is springing into action from His holy dwelling.” Zechariah 2:13


When you’ve come to God, laid it all out before Him and don’t have anymore words to say, the prophet Zechariah says, that’s ok. Be silent before the LORD and wait.

We can be assured He has heard our request before we ever opened our mouth, “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.” Psalm 139:4. Not only that, but God has been stirred into action for us according to Zech. 2:13, “He’s springing into action,” another version says, “He’s on the move!”

Sometimes it’s enough to ponder how God’s quietly working behind the scenes, and sometimes I want to see some immediate action taking place. That’s when, I find this verse an incredibly encouraging example of His love and mercy.

The LORD is moving! He will show up in just the right way at just the right moment. Today I can go about my work with peace of heart and mind, knowing He is taking care of all my knots and loose ends; weaving a masterpiece of Glory for His name.

ForGlorySake! -Anna

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A Living Trust

Posted on February 6, 2012 by For Glory Sake!

The message I seem to get from God over and over is “Trust, wait …and see.” As an 11 year old, I trusted Jesus as my Lord and Savior only to discover that I needed to trust Him daily to help me do the right thing. I also needed to trust Him with my future and  sticky situations, like when I was the only one in the crowd concerned what He thought!

It’s trust to get through this situation then trust to get through the next. It seems to come up like hurdles for a hurdler. Each one a little higher than the next. The business of trusting is active, growing and personally tailored. Like a living trust, custom designed by a personal God. It’s fed by my belief in Jesus and Who He says He is, and what He says He will do.

33 plus years of walking with the Lord have given me a pretty good perspective. I have a lot of personal evidence that He is faithful. He will see me through whatever is happening today. Because, He has before. This is my testimony. I’ve read others in the Bible as well. I call them “God stories.”

I usually have an idea of how things should go. But that’s usually not what God does. So I look back into hard times I’ve came through and remember. My journals help where my memory fails. I see God’s will wasn’t thwarted, His glorious plans did’t fail. Then I can rest with Him in control.

Lord, help me graciously die to my idea of how this should go. I remember Your love, I’ll wait on Your plan, I’ll rest in Your timing for this family. Your ways are not my ways… they’re always better!

ForGlorySake! -Anna

feeding ducks

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Milestones

Posted on February 3, 2012 by For Glory Sake!
 

September 2008, brought us a yard FULL of boys. As usual our 12 year, Ben (a collector of persons) gathered kids to play. He was always bringing people together, then bringing them home to eat. Among this group were 2 boys that caught my eye. Hard to miss, there was 500lbs between them! One in particular had quite a story and the more we heard the more my heart tugged. I want that child, I told God.

Over a 9 month period we got to know this gentle giant. Slowly, slowly he came closer: into the house, sitting at the table and sleeping on our couch. By June, it was obvious he should just move in. One day I asked him to think about it and he struggled at the kitchen counter for 2 days. It was a lot for him to trust anyone. We asked if he would like to become part of our family, to be one of our kids. He said yes.

That summer of 2009, Joseph “Keith” Knight moved into the guest room with a small box of personal things and a lot of insecurities. The transition from teenager to man started and it was miraculous to watch. He got his diver’s license, graduated from high school and received a promotion at work. His diligence in working out and eating healthier paid off in a 100 pound weight loss!!

He continues to get noticed, because of good work ethics, moving up in his job. He bought a motorcycle, then a car, upgrading again and again. He set goals and achieved them. Keith inspires us and challenges us to try harder. He not only has expanded our family, He has grown our hearts by bringing us closer together. Because of where he’s been, he doesn’t take anything for granted. He has this wonderful, simple way of looking at life.

“Thank You, Lord for bringing blessings when we least expect them. You are the giver of good gifts. “And she called his name Joseph [God will add] and said, May the Lord add to me another son.” Genesis 30:24

ForGlorySake! -Anna

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