Thursday, December 31, 2009 - Rehabilitating the Heart, Part Three

Savior, Please, Keep Saving Me(C) Josh Wilson

Savior, please take my hand

I work so hard, I live so fast

This life begins, and then it ends

And I do the best that I can,

but I don't know how long I'll last

I try to be so tough But

I'm just not strong enough

I can't do this alone,

God I need You to hold on to me

I try to be good enough

But I'm nothing without Your love

Savior, please keep saving me

Savior, please help me stand

I fall so hard, I fade so fast

Will You begin right where I end

And be the God of all I am

because You're all that I have

I try to be so tough But
I'm just not strong enough
I can't do this alone,
God I need You to hold on to me
I try to be good enough
But I'm nothing without Your love
Savior, please keep saving me

Hallelujah

Everything You are to me

Is everything I'll ever need

And I am learning to believe

That I don't have to prove a thing

'Cause You're the one who's saving me

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 - Rehabilitation of the Heart - Part Two

When I was a child in church I learned the "Hymns of the Faith." I sang them, not fully understanding or comprehending their meaning. Now, as those precious words come to mind, I realize that God in all His infinite wisdom has given me a love for His music, a love for singing His praises with the Words of HIS word and that those words have sustained and continue to sustain me on this journey of rehabilitating my heart. Hymns like "Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus;" "I Surrender All" and, of course, "Amazing Grace" among others. Several years back Brendan bought me a book entitled "Then Sings My Soul" which chronicles some of the great hymns of faith and how they came to be and I realize that a number of those sacred hymns were penned at a very dark time in the life of the writer. I am so thankful that even if I cannot write the words to my own Hymn of Faith, I can and will sing the songs that the pain of others have brought forth. It is indeed, "Well with My Soul" and I will sing the "Wondrous Love of Jesus" forever as I continue on this Journey, for my good, For His Glory. Yours, In Him - AA

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - Rehabilitation of the Heart - Part One

It has been a long and painful five and 1/2 years with some good stuff interspersed but, for the most part, we, as a family, have been pummeled and are weary of the valley we can't seem to rise out of. I know God does not waste our pain and along the way I have been privileged to meet and minister to a lot of people and for that I am eternally thankful. 2009 has been, I believe, especially hard and as I have prayed for wisdom, I am compelled to share with you journey as I ask the Almighty to rehabilitate my broken heart. This past May, as most of you know, I fell and broke my leg. To repair it required surgery and I am just now beginning to be intentional in the rehabilitation of my leg - albeit possibly a little late as I fear I may have reinjured it. Time and an MRI will tell but for now I am pressing on. What I have recently learned is that when I broke my leg and was unable to go to the gym or hike or walk or bike (or play softball), the good endorphins my body had come to depend on were no longer there and I could never have anticipated the exquisite depression I was headed for. Couple that with the notification that my job of eight years was ending, that the job I found has been so exquistely stressful that I am in pain; our precious Joey has battled to end his use of recreational drugs and regain control of his own emotions and friends, I'm on empty. This is the first Christmas in years that my heart just wasn't in it. We were privileged to enjoy time with good friends and precious family and I am ever mindful that Jesus is the Reason for the Season but the pain in my heart has left me feeling like the captain of a shipwrecked vessel that needs to see Jesus walking on the water coming toward me.

I hereby give notice that I am resigning from most everything that is "urgent" in order to focus on the important: My relationship with Jesus Christ, the repair of my very broken body; the tending of my marriage, my children and my sweet parents; the building of a nutrition business that I love and restoring financial wellbeing to my existence. My heart, my body, my relationship with Jesus, friends and family are in need of rehabilitation and, like the addict who must first admit "I am an addict" my first step to allowing The King of Kings to heal me is to come boldly before the Throne of Grace and to many friends and famil members and say "I am broken. Heal me as only you can." Follow me as I ask the Almighty - who does not waste our pain or our brokenness - to heal me and use me and what He has brought me through these past almost six years For Our Good, For His Glory. Yours, In Him - AA

To Live and Die for Honor, Friday, December 18, 2009

Hearts are heavy in our fair city as we learn of the death of yet another law enforcement officer. DPS Officer Chris Marano died in the line of duty last evening. As the wife of a law enforcement officer, each time one of "our own" dies in the line of duty, there is a chill that takes over my heart. My sweet Bear is the Benevolence Officer for our Officer's Association and is asked to go where the bereaved family and fellow officers are congregating - usually at the hospital - to offer whatever aid our Association can. This is a family and it is not a blue line but a wonderful blue ribbon that binds our hearts together - especially when one has been called Home. Dear ones, I cannot tell you that I am always brave in these circumstances but I find myself breathing in quite deeply, tears filling my eyes as I know that my children and I could be called to walk this valley. To that end, allow me please to take a moment and pay tribute to my husband and to other law enforcement officers everywhere:

To Live and Die For Honor

It is not the uniform, the badge or the weapon

that compels you to daily put on the armor

of courage but it is a call within you to

live or die for honor.

To you, your profession is your calling, your mission

your ministry and each and every day you step out

you know that you live or die for honor.

You are courageous, you are brave, you have an

authority and a presence that is Divinely appointed

and you walk with a confident gait that tells others

you live or die . . . for honor.

If asked to choose a life without love or a life

without honor, it is abundantly clear that you

live and you would die . . . for honor.

Others don't understand and are quick to

criticize when a mistake is made but are the

first to call you because they know that you

would give your life to protect them. They

know without saying that you live or die

for honor.

Law enforcement officers are people - imperfect and breakable. They love to do what they do and loving what they do sometimes costs them their lives. In memory of Officer Marano, to his precious wife and children, his DPS family, to my husband and law enforcement officers everywhere - my sincere condolences and eternal appreciation for your bravery, courage, commitment and unending dedication To Protect and To Serve . . . For Honor. Yours, In Him - AA

Such a Strange Way To Save the World, Monday, December 14, 2009 - For His Glory

I cannot imagine what Mary and Joseph had racing through their minds when they became ABUNDANTLY aware of the amazing plan they had been asked to be part of. Me? I'm INCREDIBLY human and I think my response would have been something like "ARE YOU KIDDING??" I do that now! I hear the Holy Spirit speaking to me and although I know that God just asks me to be obedient, there are million things running through my head other than simply "Yes, Lord." but that's what Mary and Joseph did. In spite of what I'm sure were a million things running through their minds - including the thoughts shared with us in the Gospels - they said "Yes, Lord." There's a precious Christmas song that the group "For Him" put on an album years agao and part of the chorus says:

"Now I'm not one to second guess

What angels have to say . . .

But this is such a strange way

to Save the World."

Yeah, it was but thankfully, dear ones - if there had been no Christmas there could be no Cross. And I am so thankful that more than 2000 years ago our amazing God delivered His one and only so that WHOEVER believes in Him shall be saved. I'm not always confident in my ability to do what God has for me to do but I am asking Him to give me the courage to be obedient and, like Mary and Joseph, to simply say "Yes, Lord." No Christmas, no cross. No Cross, no crown. Praying Christmas blessings on you now and the whole year through! AA

"My Grown Up Christmas List" (C) - For His Glory, Friday, December 11, 2009

Do you remember me

I sat upon your knee

I wrote to you

With childhood fantasies

Well, I'm all grown up now

And still need help somehow

I'm not a child

But my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish

My grown up Christmas list

Not for myself

But for a world in need

No more lives torn apart

That wars would never start

And time would heal all hearts

And everyone would have a friend

And right would always win

And love would never end

This is my grown up Christmas list

As children we believed

The grandest sight to see

Was something lovely

Wrapped beneath our tree

Well heaven only knows

That packages and bows

Can never heal

A hurting human soul

No more lives torn apart

That wars would never start

And time would heal all hearts

And everyone would have a friend

And right would always win

And love would never end

This is my grown up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?

Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth

(there'd be)No more lives torn apart

That wars would never start

And time would heal all hearts

And everyone would have a friend

And right would always win

And love would never end,

oh This is my grown up Christmas list

This is my grown up Christmas list (C)

What a Precious Promise - For His Glory, Thursday, December 10, 2009

In the Gospel of Luke we receive what some believe to be the most accurate telling of the coming of Christ. Mary, the young woman chosen to give birth to the Messiah, was engaged to Joseph but she was not married. Upon being visited by the angel she was astonished that God would choose her. Not only that - she wasn't married and to be unmarried and "in the family way" 2000 years ago was scandalous to say the least. Yet, we learn that Mary magnified and glorified the Lord

And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

Exactly 21 years ago I too learned that I would give birth to a child. My marital state was precarious at best and a short six weeks after learning that I was pregnant, I was widowed. Driving home one day, weeping in my car - in the days before cell phones - I was forced to pull off the road and remember vividly crying out to God - "I trust you. I don't know why this has happened but I trust you. Use this for your glory!" Many have been the times in the life of the son I gave birth to, have I cried out to God - "Holy are you, Oh, God and your mercy extends to me. You HAVE performed mighty deeds and you have not forgotten me." Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost - you and me. And the God of the Universe knows full well always what He is doing and what He is allowing and ordaining in our lives. He simply asks that we trust Him and praise Him anyway - even when we don't understand. The precious promise that Mary received was that God had chosen her and what He brought her to, His grace would bring her through. And it did. I can assure you, dear ones, that what God brought me to 21 years ago, His grace is still sustaining me through and that is His precious promise to you and me too! Trust Him with your heart and life and soul and strength and claim HIS precious promises! Loving you, with His Love and praying that ALL I do is For His Glory! AA

Black Friday

Today in the retail world is Black Friday - a day that retailers hope will bring their spreadsheets from the "red" - an indebted state of affairs - to the "black" - where they are actually showing a profit. Today is black Friday in our house for a different reason. The blackness of sin has permeated the peace of our home and it is strangling the occupants within. Our oldes has, for some time, been involved with drug use and abuse. The company he has been choosing to keep furthers this lifestyle. We do not. When he came to us four months ago, he had been away from home for two years and while we knew of the choices he was making, we did not know the depths to which those choices had taken him. Now, four months later -we're learning. I was awakened from sleep hearing my son loudly screaming death threats at a drug dealer and I could not believe my ears. Oh, Father God - what have we done wrong that our son would be so low in his estate. Oh Father God - wasn't it this same sin of each of us that brought you to the cross that Black Friday more than 2,000 years ago? While the "Black Friday" that we have come to know and understand in earthly economy gives retailers hope for their businesses to end on a good note, the Black Friday that Jesus knew gives us a future . . . and a hope. For God so loved THE WORLD that He gave HIS only begotten Son that WHOEVER believes in Him shall not perish but SHALL have everlasting life. As the holy season of Christ-mas is on us, let us not lose sight of the Hope that was born, lived among us, knew our pain and bore our sins on His Black Friday so that we ALL - regardless of our sin - could have an eternity with him.

Trusting God

I am learning, dear ones, that what Satan intends for evil, God WILL use for our good and for His Glory. We see this play out time and time again in the Word. With Jonah, Nehemiah, Esther . . . Job. Mind you, I am not typically fit to stand in the company of these saints but I claim the promise of God's Word that if ANY man (or woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a NEW creation.
I can honestly say that I have loved Jesus all my life. As far back as I can remember, the cinema depiction of the sweet face of the Master touched me to my very core. Even before I truly understood what Jesus had done for me on the cross, seeing Him hang there hurt my heart. If you know me, you know I have been singing since I could practically open my mouth. Not that it was always a good sound but my precious parents, at the urging of a friend, enrolled me in classical voice lessons when I was 14 and I took them for four years. By the time I was 18 I had been learning to sing - either through school, church or private lessons for 12 years. I have to tell you that it was not until I truly entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ on January 1, 1998 was the anointing of the Holy Spirit on my voice. Someone I was talking with recently asked me if I was a singer. I told her I was and she told me she could hear the song in my voice. Friends - I trust God and the song in my voice is from Him! With all my heart, soul, mind and strength and I KNOW that I KNOW that I KNOW that nothing Satan ordains - NO weapon he forms against us shall prosper and with my voice and in my heart I will sing the praise of Jesus and I will trust the Almighty God to be my voice, to use my voice to minister HIS love and mercy and HIS truth. Things get tough some times and things happen we don't understand. There's a song by Kari Jobe that I just love - it's (appropriately) titled "I'm Singing." The chorus to the song says

"And I'm Singing to the God who brings redemption to the nations

Kings and oceans bow to Him in praise

And I'm Singing to the God who wrote the book on our salvation

To the One who covers me in grace

I'm Singing"

© Gateway Create Publishing; Sixsteps Music; Vamos Publishing; Worshiptogether.com Songs

Come what may, any day, I am trusting God and I'm singing, For His Glory.

A Heart of Flesh

It doesn't take many years of living to realize that the insults and assaults of life can leave us with a very wounded heart and pain that only God can heal. If we're not careful we become jaded and cynical, bitter and walled off. It is this reaction to hurt, pain . . . life, that turns a soft, reachable, touchable heart into a heart of stone that only the love of God can reach. While Ezekiel was in exile with more than 3,000 Jews, he received his call from the Almighty to become a prophet. Ezekiel's job was to urge the exiles to renew their commitment to the one true God. It is really amazing to me that God is ALL His glory spoke directly to men then . . . and He still speaks directly to us today. One of the messages that God gave to Ezekiel was found in Chapter 11, verse 19 when God said to Ezekiel "I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit. I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people and I will be their God." Oh, dear ones, I encourage you, according to the unending Grace of God that you allow Him to soften your hearts and whatever pain and hurt and injury is making you cynical, leaving you jaded or bitter, you will turn over to Him and allow Him to restore you. You are not alone. We are all living the same lives, suffering the same hurts but God is STILL God and the same God who spoke then, is still speaking today and the message of His love and healing is still the same. Let's listen, be still and know that He, indeed, is God. He loves you . . . I do too. In His Glorious Love - AA

An Epiphany - For His Glory, October 8, 2009

Okay - so woke up REALLY late this morning and by the time I was getting cleaned up and "ready" for the day - it hit me: "MY LIFE S _ _ _ S!" No, really, it does! Not in the "traditional" sense, mind you because the list of the ways that God has blessed me is WAY, WAY, WAY long but in the standard "okay, not doing what I was created to do" sense! I gotta tell ya kids, I woke up today. That was ALL the affirmation I needed to remind me that I AM HERE FOR A PURPOSE!! Workin' at a job, cleaning house, laundering, cooking. Yeah, those are ALL divine "appointments" and well in keeping with the directives of Proverbs 31 so don't get me wrong. Those are all very necessary parts of life. The greater question, the one we MUST ask ourselves every day is this: Am I doing what God has put me here today or am I allowing "the urgent" to get in the way of what is TRULY important??? Tough question and one that, today, got answered by "MY LIFE S _ _ _ S!" Every day that I lose track of what God has put me here for, while not a day totally wasted, is one more day I missed it. Okay, I know, I know - this is MY opinion and well, yeah, it is my opinion because it's my blog but folks - think on this will you? This is what Dr. Randy Carlson calls "Living the Intentional Life!" (Thank you Dr. Randy!) Life is not to be lived by accident but ON PURPOSE! Are we seein' the theme here?? IF we're are created FOR a purpose then our lives are to be LIVED ON PURPOSE??? Friends, I desire to be intentional - in my walk with Christ, in pursuing HIS purpose for me, in DAILY living out HIS purpose for me! Yeah, we all have to work and pay the bills and clean the house and do the laundry and walk the dog (and yeah, the "stuff" that comes with that one too) but we cannot lose sight of the call to do what GOD has CALLED us to do, what HE has created us to do! I ask you to join me in 1. Living an intentional life EVERY day; 2. Intentionally pursuing God DAILY; 3. Not allowing the "urgent" to displace the eternal. Will you hold me accountable? You know my heart. Will you pray for me? You know my desire. Will you join me? I'd LOVE your company on the journey. Yours, In Him- Andrea

The Pursuit of Happiness - For His Glory, Monday, August 31, 2009

I watched one of the more amazing offerings put out by Hollywood this weekend. It's a movie entitled "The Pursuit of Happyness" with actor Will Smith and his son. It chronicles the struggle of a man to keep good on his word that his children would know him. It also chronicles the struggle to overcome choices - his and those of others - and to be courageous in climbing what can seem like insurmountable obstacles. If you know me you know that I don't put much stock in "happiness." As I've explained to my children, happy is an emotion. I have encouraged them to instead, seek to have God's peace and His joy and contentment take priority in your lives.

This summer has not been a "happy" time in my life. I have been humbled and broken and in that humbling there has been a lot of pain - physical and otherwise. My pursuits have not all been fruitful and I have on many days been exquisitely discouraged. One verse of scripture that comes back to me time and time and time again is Psalm 27:14 that says

Wait on the Lord

and be of good courage

and HE will strengthen your heart.

Friends, the Almighty does not act in our time but, I believe, He instead gives us the courage to trust Him and to wait on Him. Seeking our own, we will "settle" for happiness. Seeking Him, we GET contentment and joy and courage and discipline and so much more that we're going to need to get us down the road. There are going to be obstacles in our lives but we can choose joy and we can choose to be of good courage in the climb. Happiness is a temporary emotion dear ones. Trust me when I say, how many times I have waited on the Lord and when I allow His spirit to fill my heart, He gives me what I need for the pursuit. Loving you, FHG, AA

Jesus Loves Me - Friday, August 28, 2009

Jesus loves me - this I KNOW

For the Bible tells me so!

Isn't it really that simple friends? Isn't that enough to give us comfort that no matter what, we ARE loved? I wrestle with this and, sometimes, like Jacob, I wrestle with God. I want to believe, I "believe" that I believe but then when life happens, I flounder. I fret. I worry. I stress. My yoke gets really heavy and unmanageable and I forget - Jesus loves me. Sometimes the lies of Satan permeate my head and I can't shake the feelings that follow those lies. I forget that I can wait on the Lord and be of good courage because JESUS LOVES ME! He loved me enough to die for me and I have to trust that if He would do something SO big, that He indeed will do the stuff so small - like watch out for me, send His angels to keep guard over me, care for me, listen to me, hear my prayers. You know, the "small stuff."

Little ones to Him belong

They are weak but He is strong!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so!

And He Loves YOU too! Happy Friday! FHG! AA

My Job is to Love . . .

I'm learning - daily and as I do I am realizing so many ways that I have failed to do as I was created to do. First and foremost, dear ones, my job - our job - is to love. The Word directs us to do two things which I am coming to understand are true priorities in my life. The first is to Love God. The second is to love others. As I grow in my relationship with the Savior, I am learning that the more I seek God, the more I desire Him and the deeper that desire grows, the richer also is my love for Him and His holiness. God does not direct me to be the arbiter of all things earthly. Au contraire mon ami :) I am only to love as Jesus first loved me - wholeheartedly, without reservation, jumping in with both feet, regardless of whether I am loving the Creator or the created. Oh, that I would have understood this long ago. My life would have been so much different. I would have been so much different. I cannot and will not attempt to undo the past - there's a LOT of good that comes from there. I can know, however, going forward, that each day I choose to love is each day I am living out the very first reason for which I was created. It is my ardent prayer that I get MANY MANY days to get good at this!
Yours, In Him! AA

Rescue Me - For His Glory, Tuesday, August 18, 2009

As parents, sometimes we have to fight the urge to rescue our adult children from their choices. Typically by the time our kids get to be "adults" they're used to us "rescuing" them because we've taught them, naturally, that we are their parents and they can and should come to us when they're in a "tight spot." There is, however, a line between rescuing a child who has become physically injured or is in a situation not of their making and rescuing a child who has continued to make choices they know are not right. Our older son found himself in this situation after several years of making really poor choices, one of which was to use illegal substances. He called me a couple of weeks ago and indicated that he no longer wanted his life to be headed the direction it was headed - that he wanted to change. Our son wanted rescue. A week ago, Joe and Brendan were out camping, allowing Joe some time to clear his head and get focused on where his life was headed. He had decided to go for a walk with the dog and soon found himself turned around and unable to find his way back. After several hours of being "lost" Brendan had to enlist the help of the Sheriff's Department. Once again, our child needed to be rescued. Thankfully, he was and I cannot tell you the relief I felt at knowing he had been rescued and what I learned from that, what I was reminded of, is that we all, by God's grace, can be rescued. We all NEED to be rescued from our bad choices, our sin, our humanity, our imperfection. I am no different in that need than my sweet boy. Friends, take heart - scripture is rife with cries to the King of "rescue me." King David knew firsthand of his need for rescue and depending on the version of the Word you're reading, there are no fewer than 11 cries for rescue in the Psalms alone. You know me. A lot of what touches my heart comes from the scriptures that are put to music and, in this instance, the group "Selah" has a song called "Rescue Me" which says

"Deep is the river that I have to cross

Heavy the weight on my shoulder

I have discovered how great is the cost

Of trying alone to cross over

I try and I try but the current’s too strong

It’s pulling me under and my strength is gone

Don’t leave me stranded!

Rescue me, my God and my King,

Water is rising and I cannot breathe,

Wrap your arms all around me

and Carry me over

(rescue me)

Carry me over RESCUE ME!" (C) Selah

Dear ones, regardless of the current washing over us that threatens to take the very breath from our bodies, I am learning that indeed, God is my strength and my rescuer and in HIM I can trust. Be encouraged . . . you can trust in Him too and He WILL rescue you! Loving you, With His Love - AA

Come Unto Me . . .

I have the undeserved privilege of putting my thoughts to (electronic) paper, hitting "send" and hundreds of people "get" to share my thoughts about what is happening in the world, in my life, in my heart. I commit to you dear ones that even in my life, there are many a day when I am just weary and burdened and my labors, well, they seem pretty heavy. I feel like I am pulling a cart uphill that is just too big. Many years ago I was diagnosed, like a great number of people are, with "clinical" depression and, if my understanding is correct, that means chemically, there's some stuff missing that keeps me some days from being "centered." I did take medication for awhile and while I believe that if it is a need then, by all means, take it. I found for me, however, that there were many things I could do daily that served to keep the big gray blanket of sadness from smothering me and most days, I seem to do fine. If you know me or read my thoughts here then you know on May 25 I broke my leg. June 3 I had surgery and on June 8 I learned that the job I held and loved for eight years was coming to an end. Durnig the past three years we have watched our oldest sink deeper into a lifestyle that we knew could destroy him and yet prayer and Godly counsel instructed us to "do nothing" and don't rescue. Talk about firewood in the cart! I am a do-er by nature and yet so many things have been happening that it is beyond me to fix. Matthew 11:28 from the New King James says:

"Come unto me all you who labor and are

heavy laden, and I WILL give you rest."

Sometimes, dear ones, we just can't pull the cart any more and we get really, really tired. As I have gone before the King, weeping in frustration, His kind and gentle words to me are "child, let go." He promises not to let "my cart" - my life, come crashing down. Yeah, the wheels are broken but we're limping along - literally! He has sent some AMAZING friends and family members to care for us, help us, feed us, love us and pray for us when we couldn't even pray for ourselves and He WILL do that for you, too. I have learned that the crazier life gets, the more I need to go to the Savior. He asks me daily to take up my cross - His cross and in carrying only that, we find rest and peace. I know that He will lead me beside still waters and He WILL restore my soul. I encourage you to let Him. I am. I will. I'll keep you posted. Send me a note to home or from Facebook and let me know how you're doing, k? I commit to you all to to write more and thank you that HIs love - your love beckons me to come. Loving you, with His love! AA

For His Glory - Monday, August 3, 2009 - "Press On"

The grandmother of one of my very best friends passed away this past Thursday and my sweet friend and her family are, understandably, broken hearted. When we were deciding on the special music she and I would sing, it became abundantly clear we should sing a song by the trio group Selah which is entitled "Press On." Philippians 3:14 in the New American Standard version says "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." This same verse in the Good News Translation says "So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the live above." As I shared with those in attendance, my friend's grandmother wins! She has the prize which is eternal life with Jesus Christ and, oh, my what a PRIZE! Those of us left behind are called to press on. Life is tough but our goal is clear and we cannot lose sight of that which are called to do. I know the difficulty and trials I am experiencing in my own life right now - facing possible unemployment, another surgery to correct an eye issue, continued physical healing. Right now, the list of struggles seems pretty long but I am not destroyed (2 Cor. 4:7). Life, dear ones is TOUGH but God indeed, is faithful and He has been SO faithful to me. Be encouraged and, in Jesus' name, press on.

"When the valley is deep,

When the mountain is steep,

When the body is weary,

When we stumble and fall.

When the choices are hard,

When we're battered and scarred,

When we've spent our resources,

When we've given our all.

In Jesus' name, we press on,

In Jesus name, we press on,

Dear Lord, with the prize,

Clear before our eyes,

We find the strength to press on. (C) Selah

Long time, no write . . .

Lots going on these days . . . working to find replacement job, getting through physical therapy, walking with others through their struggles, still having many, many blessings to count amidst the tears.

I've learned that when things are not terribly stressful, it is easy to write and journal and blog. When the stresses mount, we tend to retreat and it is at those times when we need to reach out to friends and family and Jesus.

Life is tough, God is faithful. If we're still here, drawing breath, we have something to be thankful for. I don't know what the future holds but I know who holds the future and as long as I place my trust in Him, things will be okay.

A dear friend shared with me something going on her life that was really painful and it made me weep. What she is going through now, I have been through in my own life and I can empathize with her. I shared with her how, one day, many, many years ago (20 to be exact) not long after Joe's father died, I had pulled my car off to the side of the road. I was crying so hard I couldn't see to drive and this was certainly the days before cell phones. I was alone with God and I asked that He not let any of the pain in my life be wasted. I told Him that if even one life was touched by what I was going through then it would all be worth it. I meant it and He has not wasted the pain and the heartache and I know beyond a doubt that He has and continues to allow my experiences to bring a message of His grace and mercy to the lives of other women. For this, I am thankful and when I can't think of any other blessing at the moment, I know I have that one.

Just wanted to share some thoughts. Lots going on, lots to sort through and organize but know this: You are loved!

For His Glory - Friday, July 17, 2009 - "Change"

Admittedly, I am not good with change. I am an exquisite creature of habit. I can look back now and comfortably say that graduating from high school sent me in to a 17-year tail spin that I'm certain my folks thought I may never recover from. I can also see that during most of that time, I had no "routine" and my body and my emotions suffered. Despite the difficulties at times of raising two teen boys, our little family has, for a number of years, had a fairly comfortable "routine" and any change to that "routine" has been well-discussed and gradual. As you know, the ebb and flow of my life was significantly impacted on Memorial Day of this year when I fell and broke my leg. I could no longer tend routine housekeeping, keep my "regular" appointments at the gym or, for that matter, even get to church (ouch)! Getting to work was even a challenge. Along the way, some routine has been added back in because of a physical therapy schedule but, early in the adventure (approximately five days after surgery to repair my leg), I learned that my job of eight years was coming to an end . . . and I am grieving the change. While I try not to be rigid, I have learned that in my life, if there is order and routine, my husband and children have security and peace and while they can't tell you why, they know in Momma's house, there is order and security and peace. I'm not good, initially, at responding to the upsets which are a part of normal life but I am learning through this, the One that does not and will never change is Jesus. I can place my trust in Him and if it is real trust, I will have the security my routine alone cannot give me. New stuff - "change" is just part and parcel of living and if we allow Him to, God can and will grow us through those changes and we can accept the change that God brings. Our sweet Tanner returned from Christ in Youth Camp on Wednesday morning, restored in the Lord and recommitted to a life in Christ. I had left work last evening sobbing over the change I hadn't asked for and hurting because of it. Seeing Tanner diligently reading and studying the Word, I was compelled to pick up my own Bible and the Lord mercifully sent me to Lamentations, Chapter 3, beginning with Verse 21 which says:

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have HOPE:

22 Because of the Lord's great love we are NOT CONSUMED,

for his compassions (MERCIES) never fail.

23 They are new every morning; great is YOUR faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him."

25 The Lord is good to those whose HOPE IS IN HIM,

to the one who seeks him. (Words His, emphasis mine).

Dear friends, Jeremiah 29 tells us that God KNOWS the plans He has for us, plans that will not harm us but His Plans give to us a HOPE and a future . . . if we will completely, fully, put our trust in Him. It is my prayer for each of us today that regardless of the changes coming to pass in our lives, we will allow the Lord to work His Will and His plan and that He will continue, through the changes to mold us, shape us and refine us into vessels that reflect His Glory and live out, through Him, His purpose and His Plan. Loving you all this Friday! AA

Letting Go - For His Glory - Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Wow - what a month. June, 2009 will, for me, go down in the history of my recent life as one filled with a LOT of sadness and, well, letting go. Two of our neighbors have had to let go (hopefully, temporarily) of the possibility of a lifetime marriage. A dear friend has had to let go of his wife to full time nursing care as she is stricken with advanced Alzheimer's and he has had to let his cancer-ridden daugther go Home to be with Jesus. One of my lifelong friends and her family has had to let go of her older sister who died suddenly of a massive heart attack this past Saturday. Me, well, I have had to let go - at least for now - of our Joey to allow him to find his way back to us and to Jesus - in God's time and I am having to let go of the grip I had on what I thought was the certainty of employment as our Firm is closing and, unless another door opens, I will be unemployed for the first time in many years. Since hearing the news of our Firm's closing and learning that I would not "go" with either partner to his new "adventure" as a full-time employee I have been exquisitely sad - grieving the loss, scared of the unknown future. My sweet brother and his wife endured such a loss when the construction industry came to an abrupt end two years ago and he sold a 16-year lucrative business. They had to sell their "dream" home and for the most part, he has been unemployed for nigh on a year - ever hopeful, ever diligent but remaining faithful to be obedient to God's direction. As my older sister and I were chatting last evening about "stuff" and the upcoming celebration for my parents' 50th Anniversary I finally told her "you know, Rob, if I lose everything it's gonna be okay and God is still gonna be God." In that moment, I knew I had let go of what I thought was my security -- my job, my home, my "stuff" and was reminded by the Holy Spirit that my security - OUR security my dear friends, is in our relationship with the Almighty God. Life IS temporary and marriages can be too. Jobs - well, we know what has happened and will continue to happen. Children and parents die and we grieve and we grieve the loss of where we are believing that if we are not "here" then where will we be? Job - confronted with the loss of his entire family and everything he owned said this

(Chapter 1, beginning at Verse 21)

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,

and naked I will depart.

The Lord gave

and the Lord has taken away;

may the name of the Lord be praised."

22 IN ALL THIS, Job DID NOT SIN

by charging God with wrongdoing.

In a later chapter of Job's story Job asked if we should only take the good and not the bad? His wife told him he should curse God and die but Job told her "I KNOW that MY redeemer lives and HE at LAST on earth WILL stand!" HALLELUJAH my friends!! I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES and He desires for me - for us - to let go of everything and cling to the one certainty - an eternal life with Him when He is our Savior and King and we abide in the Shelter of the most high God!!! Do I want to "let go" of my home? No, but it's brick and mortar and while I believe it is a gift from God and we live there at His ordination if He has a different plan for us - so be it! No, I'm not gonna lay down and say "whatever" when it comes to generating an income - that would be irresponsible and I would not be a good steward of the talents God has given me as a paralegal and health educator. But, friends, God has numbered EVEN the hairs of our heads and "look at the lillies of the field" - Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these!!! TAKE HEART dear ones - regardless of what is going on around us - GOD IS STILL GOD and He at last on earth SHALL STAND!! Let go - Let God. Pray for us because life is tough and we need all the intercession you'll do for us. Trust as you come to me with your requests, I am lifting you to the throne of Grace and carrying you to the feet of Jesus. Loving you, with HIS love and For His Glory - Andrea and Brendan

We've Already Got a Hero - For His Glory, Wednesday, June 24, 2009

This past Sunday was Father's Day and one of our pastors spoke of how much he loved and admired his father. He told of how his father was his "hero." It moved me to tears to hear Pastor Dan say how proud he was of his father and that he was named after his father and that there were many, many stories he could tell of his dad. One of the thoughts that came to mind, hearing Pastor Don Wilson give the statistics of the fatherless, was "who is THEIR hero?" Well, my friends - every one of us has a hero. His name is Jesus. Webster's Online Dictionary defines "hero" as

1 a: a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b: an illustrious warrior c: a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d: one that shows great courage . . .an "object" of extreme admiration and devotion, i.e. "an idol."

For those of us who believe, by Faith, in the one true and living God and His son Jesus, we know that Jesus is of divine descent and He was endowed by His Father God with the "great courage" to lay down His life for us on the cross so that we could have a restoration of the fellowship with the Almighty God that our sin nature has taken from us. Jesus told us that we were His "friends" and John 15:13 says "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." Jesus set the standard for what it is to be a "hero" and in the struggles I have encountered raising the children God blessed me with, I know that daily, I have to humble myself before the Throne of Grace to learn how best to parent them and how best to be the wife that God has for me to be. More importantly, my friends, I am learning that I don't need an earthly "hero" because Jesus is already our hero. My dad, my brother, my husband and other men like them are wonderful men who are the textbook definition of "courageous" but there are many, like my older son, who never got to meet their father and could never engage in the schoolyard exchange of "my dad can beat your dad" and they are left to ask "will someone be my hero?" Someone already is! While my heart breaks for those who don't appear to have someone to mentor them, the prayer of my heart is that each of us will take seriously the call to be the one who points the fatherless and wounded to the Savior. I am only a Mom and I am human and imperfect and while I would CERTAINLY take a bullet for my children, I cannot say for certain I would "lay down my life" for just anyone - even my best girlfriends but Jesus did JUST THAT. It is the earnest prayer of my heart that one Godly follower of Christ would come along side those who feel alone, and point them to the true hero - Jesus. And with that prayer I am asking the Almighty to anoint me with the aroma of Christ - that I be filled with the fruits of the spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness - cuz I am no one's "hero" at this point and not sure that I will ever be called to be. But I know The Hero - I know who laid down HIS life for me - do you? If you don't - e-me or give me a call. I'll meet you where you are and share with you how you, too, can have a relationship with a real Hero. If you already know the salvation of Jesus, will you join me in pointing the world to Him? Keep me accountable as it is the desire of my heart that ALL I do be For His Glory! Loving you, with His Love - AA

I'm Slipping . . . no, wait . . . I FELL! For His Glory, Monday, June 22, 2009

Yeah - it's been four weeks ago today that I crash landed. While I would LOVE to be telling you that "the rest is history" it's not. Today, I started physical therapy. For most of it, I cried - great rivers of painful tears. While I kinda "knew" in the back of my head that this was gonna hurt, I really had NO IDEA how badly. Muscles have stiffened and were in spasm, crutches were too short, brace wasn't adjusted correctly, hip was out of alignment - in short, I'm a wreck. BUT once I got done with the therapy, I actually began to feel some relief. Am I uncomfortable - yeah. Is it actually better than before the therapy? Absolutely? I had to laugh when I finally made it back to work as the scripture from Saturday's devotional was Psalm 94:18 which says "I cried out, 'I'm slipping!' and your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me." While God didn't keep me from falling, His love has continued to support me and I feel it. While I was waiting for therapy to start, I was flipping through a scripture card index I have made and am taking greating comfort in the Word from Psalm 17:6 which says "I am praying to YOU because I know YOU will answer, oh God. Bend down and listen as I pray." (both NLT). Friends, it's tough and for some, it may get tougher before it gets better. God may not keep us from falling (physically or spiritually) but He WILL help us when we do and when we're on our backsides after the fall, I KNOW that we can pray and that He will bend down to listen as we do. Be encouraged today that no matter how low you're feeling, how far you've fallen or if you're down and can't get up, His love is supporting you and will continue to do so and He WILL hear you when you pray. Loving you with His love! AA

The Miracle of His Grace - For His Glory, Wednesday, June 17, 2009

1 Peter Chapter 1, beginning with verse 3 and continuing through verse 9, says:

All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

for it is by HIS boundless mercy

that God has given us the PRIVILEGE of being born again.

Now we live with a wonderful expectation

because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead.

For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children.

It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled,

beyond the reach of change and decay.

And God, in HIS MIGHTY POWER,

WILL PROTECT YOU until you receive this salvation,

because you are trusting him.

It will be revealed on the last day for all to see.
SO BE TRULY GLAD!

THERE IS WONDERFUL JOY AHEAD,

even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.

These trials are only to test your faith,

to show that it is strong and pure.

It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold –

and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.

So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials,

it will bring you much praise and glory and honor

on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

[WE] love him even though you have never seen him.

Though [WE] do not see him, you trust him;

and even now [WE] are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

OUR reward for trusting HIM will be the salvation of our souls.

[Words - God - 1 Peter, Chapter 1; Emphasis - Mine]

Brothers and sisters, friends - these past three weeks have been difficult - culminating at the end of last week with yet another fiery trial - one involving yet another battle with our drug abusing, angry and wounded son and his girlfriend. I'm afraid, my friends, I did not rise above the fray and at first was mildly irritated at being called on the carpet about how I had and had not raised our son and then became angry and wounded. I said somethings I wouldn't want splashed across the headlines. I reacted out of anger and I need forgiveness and mercy. Oh, my dear friends, I KNOW life is tough. Yet I know that we can thank God for HIS indescribable gift. None of us, my friends, is born with the character of God. We are to "add" to our lives all that character means and that character MUST be developed. Nor are we born with habits — we have to form Godly habits on the basis of the new life God has placed within us. NONE OF US are not meant to be seen as God’s perfect, bright-shining examples, but to be seen as the everyday essence of ordinary life exhibiting the miracle of HIS grace. Oh, my friends, I know my true, un-Christ-like nature will rear its ugly head and let me tell you, Satan has beat me up for my humanity. If any man (or woman) be in Christ, he or she is a new creation and I know and will testify with my last breath how the grace and mercy of God have changed my life! It is my earnest prayer that, through my tears, my failures, my shortcomings, my mistakes, my mis-steps and stumbles, that all who know me will see the Miracle of God's genuine grace displayed to me and that I can continue to learn how to demonstrate, without words, the miracle of that Grace to ALL I encounter! Loving you, praying for you and soliciting your prayers for me as we continue to make this journey, by His Grace, For His Glory! Much love - AA

For His Glory, Thursday, June 11, 2009 - My Redeemer is Faithful and True

What a week!! What a three weeks. As most of you know by now, I fell on Memorial Day and fractured the tibia (really ouch), ruptured the cartilage and tore the meniscus in my knee. Surgery was done on June 3rd and left me with some small punctures and some slightly bigger wounds where they put in THE SCREWS (known to those ortho guys as 'orthopedic hardware.') Does this mean ya'll can now call me Ace? Hah! In the midst of all, life goes on and sometimes we want the merry go round to stop spinning so we can get off of it - if only for a moment or two - and catch our breath. Having been in a head-on car accident almost 27 years ago I thought had "forgotten" how painful bone injuries can be. Uh, yeah - NOT! For most of Thursday and part of Friday, I wept out of the sheer physical pain I was in. Now, I'm not "tough" but I'm not a total pain weenie but this one kids hurt me. Is still hurting me. God, however, in HIS infinite, wonderful wisdom and timing, has brought us to a new place in our journey. I received word on Monday - while at home still trying to get my bearings - that the Firm by whom I am employed will cease to exist as of September 30, 2009. The men who own the Firm have been partners for 19 years and friends for closer to 30 both of them having been former Directors of the Arizona Department of Insurance. I was at home with my Tanner when I got the news and when I hung up the phone, I cried as if I had just been told my dearest friend had died. I have been in the employ of these two amazing people for almost eight years and it certainly wasn't part of MY grand plan to change that - at least not in the immediate. My sweet Tanner tried so hard to be calming and despite my tears, I looked at him and said "baby, we KNOW that ALL things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to HIS purpose!" I reminded Him that God, indeed, knows the plans HE has for us - plans to prosper us and NOT harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future. While I am sad at the end of this era of my life, I am excited as the Lord is already beginning to fill me with HIS confidence and His assurance as HE is NOT a God of chaos. He is a God of Order and if we will allow Him to, He will order the very steps we take for our good and For HIS glory. Oh, dear ones, my leg is broken but healing, my future is unclear but CERTAIN because I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES and the tears I shed are, in part, out of pain and in part, healing cleansing tears that clear the cobwebs and remind me that nothing that happens in our lives is without God's permission. I don't know what each of you is experiencing today but trust me on this - OUR REDEEMER IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE and regardless of the physical or emotional pain that you're in, regardless of the financial worries, regardless of the future you can't see - GOD IS STILL GOD and if we will trust Him, I promise, It's gonna be okay.

Romans 12:1-3 says:

And so, dear brothers and sisters,

I plead with you to give your bodies to God.

Let them be a living and holy sacrifice –

the kind he will accept.

When you think of what he has done for you,

is this too much to ask?

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world,

but let God transform you into a new person

by changing the way you think.

Then you will know what God wants you to do,

and you will know how good and pleasing

and PERFECT his will really is!!

Max Lucado said on Twitter today that his prayer for all who reads [these] words "May God root you in the soil of His love. May He bask you in the warmth of His hope." Oh, my friends - here's Hope!! Join me on the journey and trust that I will make it with you, loving you with His love and desiring that ALL I do is For His Glory! Andrea

The Story of My Life

Okay- so broken leg notwithstanding - I am getting by. Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow and we're "bopping" along as well as we can "bop." Yesterday, my "page a day" scripture was from Jeremiah 17:14, which says "heal me, O Lord and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved; for THOU art my praise." When this happened - after I got over the initial shock of "Now what?" I began to ask the Lord to be glorified in this circumstance and vowed that I would, as I attempt to do with everything in my life, trust Him implicitly to know what He's doing through this situation. One thing that has become abundantly clear is that the Hand of God has written the pages of my Life. I know and trust that God, indeed, is the story of my life whether it be in how He has blessed me with my children, blessed me to be Brendan's wife, blessed me to be working where I work, ministering where I minister and serving where I serve. God is written on every page and God WILL be written on this page too. I shared with my sweetie this morning that I believe I have never felt so loved and attended to by him as I have this past week or so. He has tended my every need - even letting me cry on his shoulder in pain and frustration. I know that the Lord will heal this broken leg and I trust the surgeon's skilled hands to do his part to get me knitting back together but through it all, Romans 8:28 reminds me that we KNOW that all things work together for good even those things that to our earthly, seeing eyes, don't seem to have much good about them. Am I thankful for this broken leg? I'm learning to be. Am I rejoicing that God is using even this to write the story of my life. The song by Shannon Wexelberg says it all:

You are the story of my Life

I need you in my Life

Both now and ever

You are the Lover of my soul

no matter where I go

I know it's true

the story of my life

is You.

(C) The Story of My Life by Shannon Wexelberg

Dear ones - it is my prayer that you will allow the Almighty to be the story of YOUR life and I promise, while it will have twists and turns and all the "exciting" things (like broken bones) that life brings, if you allow Him, He'll write a perfect, ETERNAL ending. Yours, In Him! AA

For His Glory, Wednesday, May 20, 2009, "Cry Out to Jesus"

My dear friends - all around us people are hurting. They are in real pain and our hearts need to be breaking for those who are dealing with unemployment, financial crisis, marital crisis, a housing crisis, children in crisis. Do we see the theme here??? But I know that I know that I know - the only One who can deliver us from the immediate is Jesus. I weep when I hear the song by Third Day entitled "Cry Out to Jesus" (C). The song speaks

To everyone who's lost someone they love;

To all of the people with burdens and pain;

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on

when they've lost all of their faith and love;

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains;

To the widow who suffers from being alone;

For the children around the world without a home;

and then the words of the song remind us that

There is hope for the helpless

Rest for the weary

Love for the broken heart

There is grace and forgiveness

Mercy and healing

He'll meet you wherever you are

Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

My friends, I have been there, time and time again, when through my tears and my pain all I could do was speak the name of Jesus. I have had horrible nightmares where one of my children was being harmed that woke me screaming and crying but I could speak the name of Jesus and return to sleep with no memory of what had awoken me. You are not alone -we are not alone.
The Psalmist tells us at Psalm 107:28 "Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses." I know that when we cry out, He hears our cries and He responds. I do not know all that troubles us, but I do know the One who can heal our pain. Cry out to Jesus - He WILL meet you, wherever you are. Call me or e-mail me - I'll be there too and we'll cry out to Him - together. Loving you with His Love - AA

For His Glory - Wednesday, May 13, 2009 - "ME MONSTERS"

Tanner and one of his best buds love to listen to this comedian (whose name, unfortunately, I cannot remember cuz' he really deserves the credit for this) but he talks about "Me Monsters." You know, we've all met them and I dare say, at times, we've all been one! A "Me Monster" is that person who, no matter what the conversation, can always "go you one better." If your child got a 30 on the ACT (perfect score 36) ALL FOUR OF THEIR KIDS got a 40 (yeah, uhm, right!) If you labored for 30 hours, they labored for 30 days! You know, you're gettin' the gist of this. One of the things one of my girlfriends and I have noticed, as we desire to become truly Godly wives, is that 1 Corinthians 13 says that "love does not seek it's own; love does not envy and love does not parade itself." In short, LOVE is NOT a "Me Monster." Love is willing to take second place. OUCH! We all KNOW that second place is first loser but NOT in God's economy and NOT when we say we love. I cannot tell you I love you if at the same time I have to have my way, or I have to protect my "rights." This is a tough one for me, kids. I was the youngest in my family for a time and ended up the middle child. I missed that "youngest child" attention I got from my folks and did some pretty crummy things to get noticed. As the Holy Spirit is leading me and teaching me how to be a woman God can use for His Glory, I am compelled first and foremost, to truly love. That the things that break the heart of God would break my heart too. "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Silly Rabbit, "Me Monsters" are for kids.
Loving you, with His Love! AA

For His Glory - Wednesday, May 6, 2009, "Lip Service"

I recently have undertaken a study to truly learn what it is to Love. Trust me, it is not easy to get to be almost 47 years old only to find out I have been missing the mark. Admittedly, as my children grow and go through the difficulties of growing, I am learning that I do love them unconditionally because of who they are (my children) not because of what they do or don't do - or how long their hair is! I can honestly say that, unfortunately, I don't have that kind of unconditional, sacrificial love for EVERYONE in my circle and while it pains me, it also makes me angry enough to want to do something about it. We think of the number "13" as an "unlucky" number but I don't believe in luck and 1st Corinthians 13 speaks, for 13 verses about what love is . . . and isn't and love, according to my buddy, isn't "lip service." Don't say you love if you're not willing to put it into action. The text of the scripture follows:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy,

and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,

and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,

but have not love, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,

and though I give my body to be burned,

but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind;

love does not envy;

love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely,

does not seek its own,

is not provoked,

thinks no evil;

6 [LOVE] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 [LOVE] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;

whether there are tongues, they will cease;

whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect has come,

then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child,

I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.

Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

I don't profess to have all the answers but I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I do not want to be someone who casually, glibly says "I love you" but doesn't have the marbles to back it up with my actions. God demonstrated HIS love for us by sending HIS Son, Jesus to die for us WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS. God's love and gift was not conditioned on me being good enough and if I dare to speak the words I love you, my friends, it had better be more than lip service, whether I am professing my love for God and my Savior, for my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my neighbors. It doesn't matter what you've read here that touched your heart, if I cannot demonstrate love to you, unconditonally, I am nothing and my words are noise at best! My youngest shared a quote from Mr. Ghandi which says "Be the change you want to see in the world." If I want others to love FIRST because God has first loved us, the change must start with me! I would ask that first and foremost, you lift me to the throne of Grace as I desire to be one who loves and asking, second, that you make the journey with me. Yours, In Him - AA

For His Glory - For Our Good - Friday, May 1, 2009 - The Handbook for 2009

HANDBOOK 2009

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time for prayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for at least 7 hours each night.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day and while you walk, smile.
11. Don't compare your life to the lives of others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time - we already have all we need.
18. Forget issues of the past and don't remind your partner with his/her past mistakes. That will ruin your present joy.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your joy except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn - problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Laugh more - lots more. You can't cry if you're laughing!
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to another.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.
32. Do the right thing (ALWAYS - even if it's not the popular thing to do)!
33. Get rid of any possession that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. NOTE: This does not apply to people!
34. GOD can heal anything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come - plan on it!
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD and resolve to use the day for good and For His Glory! :)
To quote my buddy (she knows who she is) Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude! Happy Friday! AA

For His Glory - Friday, April 24, 2009 - An "Aha" Moment

You know, every once in a while, I "get it." I have an "aha" moment and last night I was blessed with not ONE but TWO of these gems!
Since becoming a Juice Plus+ customer and distributor, I have endeavored to learn about nutrition and I have struggled to sort through the quantities of information about how to nourish the body, lose weight, contend nutritionally with the natural changes that come with "growing up" and still feed my family well.
I picked up a ladies' magazine at the newsstand touting a diet based on "phytonutrient-rich" foods. The things on the list were not foreign to me but I thought I had seen the list before.
Yesterday, a friend at lunch shared with me that she was dropping pregnancy weight with a diet based on the "Super Foods" and as I read the list of foods, again I thought "I've seen these somewhere before." I got home last night and printed the "Super Food" list and compared it to the list of "phytonutrient-rich" foods in the magazine and I was excited to see that they are the same! What was even more exciting was that I practically RAN to my cabinet to get my Juice Plus and LO and BEHOLD - a number of the "Super Foods" are in my Juice Plus+! Why am I NOT suprised??? It was then that I had that first "aha" moment - one I had prayed for as I asked the Lord to give me discernment and wisdom navigating these "nutritonal" waters and it was this: Nutrient dense food is more satisfying and we don't have to eat as much of it to be satisfied and have our nutritional needs moment. Eating less leads to weight loss. Eating better food that is truly nutritious leads to a healthier body. YESSSSS! It's only taken me 46 years but I GET IT! Almost immediately, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that our relationship with our Father is the same way! While daily devotionals, Christian music and reading books that are edifying and uplifting are the "snacks and appetizers" of our Christian lives, the real nutrition is in the daily prayer and reading of the Word. When we takethe time to meet with God and not just recite our lists of "please do" and "thank you's" and we take in the nourishment of His word we are filled. It is not enough to know the salvation of Jesus but it is in nourishing our spirits daily in the Word of God and in time in prayer that we are truly "Fit for Kingdom Duty." I am so thankful that when we desire to be fit for duty that God will reveals to us what we need, for our good, For His Glory! Yours, In Him! AA

For His Glory - Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - Absolute Obedience

I have the privilege of singing with the Kids' Worship Experience one weekend every month. This weekend, we sang a song by the David Crowder Band entitled "Undignified" and we sang (and danced around) about how we were willing to undignified for the cause of Christ. In Deuteronomy Chapter 8, the Israelites were reminded of how God had been faithful to them but they were admonished to obey the commands of God and walk in HIS ways that they would continue to know God's blessing on their lives. Verse 20 of that chapter says "As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God." My devotional this morning was, in part, from Joshua, chapter 23 where Joshua is letting God's people know that although he was old and was soon to leave for "Home" the command to obey God was still the same and he admonished them to continue to be obedient to God and HIS ways and that they continue to heed Him and LOVE him. I love what Charles Stanley says about how we are to live as Children of the King: "Be obedient and leave the details to God!" My friends, this is straight from scripture and whether it is taking a stand for what is right in God's eyes, being publicly vocal about our values and beliefs or being "undignified" for the cause of Christ our call is simply that we be absolutely obedient to what God has directed and continues to direct us to do. Ours is not to do what is popular, but ours is to do what is right. "No, O people, the Lord has already told you waht is good and this is what He requires: to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) for "whoever pursues Godliness and unfailing love will find life, Godliness and honor." (Proverbs 21:21) Do what is right - in absolute obedience - and leave the details to God. The blessings are ours to claim! Loving you, with His love - AA

For His Glory - Wednesday - April 15, 2009 - Free Indeed

I was e-mailing with a dear friend recently about the many years (16) that I spent emotionally separated from my parents and sibling and spiritually separated from God and how God was merciful in bringing me to a point of reconciliation - to Him and my family, because of His grace. During those 16 years, a LOT happened in my life and a LOT of it was not very good. My life was filled with those kinds of things that build a testimony of God's grace but also can imprison us to a life of shame and guilt. As I shared with my friend - not details necessarily - but the general tone of how my life had been, before God's grace redeemed me, I did not weep any more but was able to rejoice at the reconciliation and healing that God has brought to pass in my life. I am finally free from the chains of my past that had for so long brought me humiliation and tears. I look back and wonder how I could have made some of the choices and done some of the things that I did and know it was out of personal pain and ignorance to God's love and will that I made the choices I did. Now, mind you, God has not spared me all of the natural consequences of those choices and those consequences, because I am hard headed and willful at times, have been painful but have allowed me to learn differently and do differently. Sprinkled liberally throughout the consequences of MY choices, is the evidence of God's love, grace and mercy and I have been spared a lot of the pain that could have been. I am now no longer a slave to my past and the pain it brought to me, my parents, my sibling and, unfortunately my children when they were very young, but I am free to be enslaved to the yoke of Christ. A yoke that brings TRUE FREEDOM. There a number of verses in the Word of God with the word "Free" in them but one, I believe, sums it up for me here:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty

by which Christ has made us free,

and do not be entangled again

with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

Through Christ, we have liberty and we are truly free because the Son has set us free. It is my prayer, my friends, that whatever choices you made in your past, that you will make a choice and take a stand for the one True God - regardless of the personal cost. It is my prayer that we will all stand fast in the LIBERTY we have because of our Freedom in Christ and take on HIS yoke which would tell the world we are FINALLY FREE for our Good and to be used For His Glory. Loving you with His Love! AA