I am an imperfect person allowing God to use me as a vessel. I will use my blog to express my humble thoughts to any one who would like to hear them.
I am imperfect.
There is no perfect person but I have a perfect Savior. He abides in me and I abide in Him (John 15:4). I want to serve Him. I want to share what I have learned about my perfect Savior with you.
My prayer is, “Lord, use me, an imperfect vessel, to bring to others your perfect message”. Amen
Throughout my many years I have come to learn to be alright with not doing everything perfectly. It has been a process. I still want to do everything to the best of my ability but if I waited to try to be perfect in all I do nothing would get done. My poor children, Erica and Christa, were brought up by two imperfect people who tried too hard to be perfect. Richard and I are both first born over achievers. If I thought too hard before writing down my thoughts or decided I couldn’t do this until my grammar, spelling, or sentence structure were perfect, I would not be sitting here typing this now. There is one thing that I have always done well and that one thing is procrastination.
God has taught me that my availability is more important than my ability. Being obedient to God and having His approval is much more important to me than being approved or criticized by my peers, family, friends, or acquaintances.
I love all of you but my first love is The Lord.
I know how to love because He loved me first (1 John 4:19) and (John 3:16).
So, “Here I am Lord, use me!”
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
January Inventory
We cannot know where we are going until we know where we are!
We must take time to be still and quiet, removing ourselves from the noise of the world, to reflect upon where we find ourselves at present.
Where is the health of our physical bodies?
Is our soul (mind, intellect, and emotions) healthy and in balance?
Do we have a nourished peaceful spirit?
What have we done with God in our lives?
Physically, do I eat a balanced diet? Am I active and do I get enough exercise? Do I take advantage of the medical advice and testing available to me or do I neglect symptoms that should be attended to? Do I abuse my body in any way? Am I indoors too much?
Mentally, am I stagnant or do I keep learning? Are my emotions in balance? Am I sad or angry or lonely too often? What kind of information do I feed my mind and intellect? If I am out of balance, what am I feeding my mind with? Ralph Waldo Emerson said “We are what we think all day long”. Concentrating on positive, edifying thoughts help us to become a more productive positive person. The opposite is also true.
Spiritually, am I peaceful and at peace with who I am on the inside? Do I have a gentle loving spirit or am I ill at ease with who I am? Is my own spirit too willful or stubborn or proud?
What have I done or not done with God’s Spirit in my life?
Am I an atheist? Do I not believe in a Creator?
Am I an agnostic? Am I questioning the existence of a Creator but still seeking and searching for truth?
Am I a believer? Do I believe that the one and only true God created The Universe and me? Do I believe that He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life as scripture tells me?
I choose to believe! God is the I AM. He is the Alpha and the Omega (the beginning and the end). He is The Creator. He is The Messiah. He is The Three in One…. The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
I have made Him The Lord of my Life. He keeps my life in balance.
If you haven’t found Him yet, keep seeking and you will find! This He has promised!
I believe His promises for my life and yours.
Our bodies are His temples on this earth. May He work in and through each of us, growing and teaching us daily. He has a purpose and a path for us. He will help us to know where we are going now that we have assessed where we are.
We must take time to be still and quiet, removing ourselves from the noise of the world, to reflect upon where we find ourselves at present.
Where is the health of our physical bodies?
Is our soul (mind, intellect, and emotions) healthy and in balance?
Do we have a nourished peaceful spirit?
What have we done with God in our lives?
Physically, do I eat a balanced diet? Am I active and do I get enough exercise? Do I take advantage of the medical advice and testing available to me or do I neglect symptoms that should be attended to? Do I abuse my body in any way? Am I indoors too much?
Mentally, am I stagnant or do I keep learning? Are my emotions in balance? Am I sad or angry or lonely too often? What kind of information do I feed my mind and intellect? If I am out of balance, what am I feeding my mind with? Ralph Waldo Emerson said “We are what we think all day long”. Concentrating on positive, edifying thoughts help us to become a more productive positive person. The opposite is also true.
Spiritually, am I peaceful and at peace with who I am on the inside? Do I have a gentle loving spirit or am I ill at ease with who I am? Is my own spirit too willful or stubborn or proud?
What have I done or not done with God’s Spirit in my life?
Am I an atheist? Do I not believe in a Creator?
Am I an agnostic? Am I questioning the existence of a Creator but still seeking and searching for truth?
Am I a believer? Do I believe that the one and only true God created The Universe and me? Do I believe that He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life as scripture tells me?
I choose to believe! God is the I AM. He is the Alpha and the Omega (the beginning and the end). He is The Creator. He is The Messiah. He is The Three in One…. The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
I have made Him The Lord of my Life. He keeps my life in balance.
If you haven’t found Him yet, keep seeking and you will find! This He has promised!
I believe His promises for my life and yours.
Our bodies are His temples on this earth. May He work in and through each of us, growing and teaching us daily. He has a purpose and a path for us. He will help us to know where we are going now that we have assessed where we are.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
As I Travel My Road
I have and am learning so many things as I travel my road through life. Through the years I have jotted down piles of thoughts, words of wisdom, messages, and sermons. God has used countless people in my life to teach, show, and bring me to where I am in my faith journey.
LOVE is contagious
(Smile with love at someone instead of grumbling and see what their response is. They usually smile back.)
God’s unconditional love flows into us and He wants it to flow through us touching the lives of others.
He wants us to pass love on.
FAITH is contagious
(The faith stories of others have been instrumental in my faith growth.)
He wants me to pass on my faith story.
I know that God wants to pass His message on through me, His vessel. I pray constantly for obedience and boldness to be able and willing to share my story. It is easier for me to be complacent and silent to protect myself from being criticized and personally judged.
I need to be bold and unashamed of Him and the gospel within me. I need to be still and listen to what God wants to say through me.
Thank you Lord for your gift of LOVE.
Thank you Lord for the gift of FAITH.
Thank you Lord for my LIFE.
Thank you Lord for all of the people who have touched and are touching my life (family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and people I don’t even remember).
Thank you Lord for giving me this blog vehicle to pass on your lessons and love.
I love you and I love everyone you have placed in my life.
Thank you, Anna
LOVE is contagious
(Smile with love at someone instead of grumbling and see what their response is. They usually smile back.)
God’s unconditional love flows into us and He wants it to flow through us touching the lives of others.
He wants us to pass love on.
FAITH is contagious
(The faith stories of others have been instrumental in my faith growth.)
He wants me to pass on my faith story.
I know that God wants to pass His message on through me, His vessel. I pray constantly for obedience and boldness to be able and willing to share my story. It is easier for me to be complacent and silent to protect myself from being criticized and personally judged.
I need to be bold and unashamed of Him and the gospel within me. I need to be still and listen to what God wants to say through me.
Thank you Lord for your gift of LOVE.
Thank you Lord for the gift of FAITH.
Thank you Lord for my LIFE.
Thank you Lord for all of the people who have touched and are touching my life (family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and people I don’t even remember).
Thank you Lord for giving me this blog vehicle to pass on your lessons and love.
I love you and I love everyone you have placed in my life.
Thank you, Anna
Thursday, January 21, 2010
NOW
TODAY
Not yesterday
Not tomorrow
NOW
Not then
Not when
PRESENT
Not past
Not future
AT THIS MOMENT
Not- if
Not- if not
God wants us at the present, at this moment, currently, immediately, right away, and without hesitation to
make the decision to follow Him. He wants us to RECEIVE the gift of faith that He has given and offered to each of us. When we decide to take that first step of faith He will start working in us, manifesting Himself in us, and changing us and our lives in a real and noticeable way. We will be open to His peace and rest as HE gives us a hunger for more of Him showing us through His Word how to grow in our newly received faith.
We must not say “at some future time”, “when I am more ready”, “if my situation or conditions change”, or “not until this or that has happened”.
God is waiting patiently and continues to love us unconditionally.
Try it. Make that decision NOW. You will not regret that you did.
Not yesterday
Not tomorrow
NOW
Not then
Not when
PRESENT
Not past
Not future
AT THIS MOMENT
Not- if
Not- if not
God wants us at the present, at this moment, currently, immediately, right away, and without hesitation to
make the decision to follow Him. He wants us to RECEIVE the gift of faith that He has given and offered to each of us. When we decide to take that first step of faith He will start working in us, manifesting Himself in us, and changing us and our lives in a real and noticeable way. We will be open to His peace and rest as HE gives us a hunger for more of Him showing us through His Word how to grow in our newly received faith.
We must not say “at some future time”, “when I am more ready”, “if my situation or conditions change”, or “not until this or that has happened”.
God is waiting patiently and continues to love us unconditionally.
Try it. Make that decision NOW. You will not regret that you did.
Monday, January 18, 2010
BE WHOLE (Body, Soul, Spirit)
Each of us is made in the Spiritual image of God, our creator.
Each of us is the sum total of 3 distinct parts making up the whole of who we are.
a) BODY
b) SOUL
c) SPIRIT
The Body is our physical being. (muscles, bones, organs etc.)
Our Soul is our mind, intellect, emotions, and will.
Our Spirit is who we are on the inside (made in the image of God).
The Spirit within influences our Soul (mind and emotions).
The Soul motivates the Body.
The Body moves out into the world.
Try to visualize three circles, descending in diameter, inside each other.
a) The large outer circle is the Body
b) The next medium sized circle within the larger one is the Soul
c) The third and smaller sized circle is our Spirit. (who we are, the essence within our being)
Each of us is given a mustard seed size of God Faith within Our human Spirit circle.
Our own spirit is carnal (worldly) at birth.
Picture the mustard seed of God’s Spirit as a triangle within the smaller inner Spirit circle of each of our beings.
Draw the three descending size circles with a small triangle in the center to help yourself visualize the picture which I am trying to make with words.
When we seek more of God, when we search for Him or even begin questioning His existence, we will find Him. God’s Spirit, The triangle within our human Spirit will begin to grow.
God gives each of us the gift of Faith but we, individually, have the choice to receive it, grow it, nourish it, and nurture it. This triangle is His free gift within us.
The New Birth is when God’s Spirit within us is believed and received. Now God’s Spirit triangle, within our Spirit inner circle, can increase.
Visualize God’s triangle filling up a greater area of our Spirit circle. Our own spirit circle decreases in size as He fills up more of this space with His Spirit.
God wants us to be whole. When I feed my body, mind, and spirit daily, my life stays in balance. When one of the three parts is not fed or is lacking my whole system suffers.
I pray, “Lord ,Thank you for giving my body food, my mind teaching and wisdom, and my spirit your word and the gift of faith.” “ I do love you with all of my mind, body, and spirit. Thank you for your faithfulness.”
Each of us is the sum total of 3 distinct parts making up the whole of who we are.
a) BODY
b) SOUL
c) SPIRIT
The Body is our physical being. (muscles, bones, organs etc.)
Our Soul is our mind, intellect, emotions, and will.
Our Spirit is who we are on the inside (made in the image of God).
The Spirit within influences our Soul (mind and emotions).
The Soul motivates the Body.
The Body moves out into the world.
Try to visualize three circles, descending in diameter, inside each other.
a) The large outer circle is the Body
b) The next medium sized circle within the larger one is the Soul
c) The third and smaller sized circle is our Spirit. (who we are, the essence within our being)
Each of us is given a mustard seed size of God Faith within Our human Spirit circle.
Our own spirit is carnal (worldly) at birth.
Picture the mustard seed of God’s Spirit as a triangle within the smaller inner Spirit circle of each of our beings.
Draw the three descending size circles with a small triangle in the center to help yourself visualize the picture which I am trying to make with words.
When we seek more of God, when we search for Him or even begin questioning His existence, we will find Him. God’s Spirit, The triangle within our human Spirit will begin to grow.
God gives each of us the gift of Faith but we, individually, have the choice to receive it, grow it, nourish it, and nurture it. This triangle is His free gift within us.
The New Birth is when God’s Spirit within us is believed and received. Now God’s Spirit triangle, within our Spirit inner circle, can increase.
Visualize God’s triangle filling up a greater area of our Spirit circle. Our own spirit circle decreases in size as He fills up more of this space with His Spirit.
God wants us to be whole. When I feed my body, mind, and spirit daily, my life stays in balance. When one of the three parts is not fed or is lacking my whole system suffers.
I pray, “Lord ,Thank you for giving my body food, my mind teaching and wisdom, and my spirit your word and the gift of faith.” “ I do love you with all of my mind, body, and spirit. Thank you for your faithfulness.”
Friday, January 15, 2010
Money in our lives
Money----Faith----Provision----Joy----Thanksgiving----God is glorified in our lives
The love of MONEY, not money, is the root of all evil. (1Timothy 6:10)
When we make money our god, our idol, our priorities are wrong. (Matthew 19:16-30
Do not seek money first. Seek God first. Seek to receive God’s promised gift of FAITH.
Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33
When we come to God first, asking in faith for His guidance and direction in our financial decisions and situations, He will supply all of our needs. He is The Provider.
God will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). He owns everything and His riches are eternal (not just for the moment). We will experience His PROVISION
God speaks to us through His word telling us that His joy will be in us and that our joy will be full. (John 15:11)
Ask and you will receive, and your JOY will be complete (John 16:24)
Our THANKSGIVING is God’s will for us and of great benefit to us in all we do.
Be joyful always; pray continuously: give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1Thessalonians 5:16-22)
When we are obedient to God He manifests himself in us and is able to Bless us with the gifts of the Spirit and His favor (physical, emotional, and financial). As He provides us with His gifts, others will see those gifts in our lives and He will be GLORIFIED as His light shines through us. Others will question these manifestations and will seek answers for their own lives. Our lives become a testimony of God’s proven principles in this present world.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY in all I say, do, and am in Him.
The love of MONEY, not money, is the root of all evil. (1Timothy 6:10)
When we make money our god, our idol, our priorities are wrong. (Matthew 19:16-30
Do not seek money first. Seek God first. Seek to receive God’s promised gift of FAITH.
Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33
When we come to God first, asking in faith for His guidance and direction in our financial decisions and situations, He will supply all of our needs. He is The Provider.
God will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). He owns everything and His riches are eternal (not just for the moment). We will experience His PROVISION
God speaks to us through His word telling us that His joy will be in us and that our joy will be full. (John 15:11)
Ask and you will receive, and your JOY will be complete (John 16:24)
Our THANKSGIVING is God’s will for us and of great benefit to us in all we do.
Be joyful always; pray continuously: give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1Thessalonians 5:16-22)
When we are obedient to God He manifests himself in us and is able to Bless us with the gifts of the Spirit and His favor (physical, emotional, and financial). As He provides us with His gifts, others will see those gifts in our lives and He will be GLORIFIED as His light shines through us. Others will question these manifestations and will seek answers for their own lives. Our lives become a testimony of God’s proven principles in this present world.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY in all I say, do, and am in Him.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
What do I do With God?
No Questions in my life are more important than knowing the answer to “What do I do with God? And what can He do through me?”
Do I ignore his existence?
Do I call on Him in rote prayer or only when I need something?
Or
Do I make Him The Lord of my life?
Do I live just for myself?
Are “I will pray for you” just words or do you bring the needs of others to the Father?
Or
Do I make Him part of all my decisions so that He can work through me in the lives of others?
The Creator exists!
To believe or not believe this fact is a choice we make. Our choice will effect every aspect of our lives….who we are….how we act….how we treat others.
God gives us all a mustard seed size gift of faith. Faith is a gift. God gives us free choice. We make a choice whether to receive that gift….or not.
Do I ignore his existence?
Do I call on Him in rote prayer or only when I need something?
Or
Do I make Him The Lord of my life?
Do I live just for myself?
Are “I will pray for you” just words or do you bring the needs of others to the Father?
Or
Do I make Him part of all my decisions so that He can work through me in the lives of others?
The Creator exists!
To believe or not believe this fact is a choice we make. Our choice will effect every aspect of our lives….who we are….how we act….how we treat others.
God gives us all a mustard seed size gift of faith. Faith is a gift. God gives us free choice. We make a choice whether to receive that gift….or not.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Don't Limit God
Many Christians don’t reject Christ. They just neglect Him! They stay baby Christians, never growing in their faith. They never experience the growth of their faith which would have brought them understanding, peace, joy, and the power of their faith.
Isaiah 54:2 says “Enlarge the place where your tent stands”. Grow in your faith and live in anticipation of what God is going to do in your life. Do not limit God. Lengthen the cords of your tent. Strengthen the stakes. Learn, Listen, Obey, and Grow. Do not think small and do not establish limits on your potential or on God’s plans. A saying which I have heard as an example of this principle is “The shoe must not tell the foot how big to grow”.
Isaiah 54:2 says “Enlarge the place where your tent stands”. Grow in your faith and live in anticipation of what God is going to do in your life. Do not limit God. Lengthen the cords of your tent. Strengthen the stakes. Learn, Listen, Obey, and Grow. Do not think small and do not establish limits on your potential or on God’s plans. A saying which I have heard as an example of this principle is “The shoe must not tell the foot how big to grow”.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Jesus and Heidi
As I lay in my bed unable to sleep, a thought about my friend Heidi made me smile and I thanked her for her friendship. I knew that she heard me. In my thoughts I compared the things which she did to help me with so many tasks in my life to the account of Jesus washing Peter’s feet. Jesus said to Peter, “If I don’t wash your feet you will have no part of me”. He wanted Peter to have a deeper relationship with Him. As we serve, as Christ did, as Heidi did, we develop a deeper relationship with God. Heidi was always searching for that deeper relationship and a greater understanding of how God was working in her life. Heidi was the most giving, generous person I have ever known. Jesus came to earth to show and tell us how we are to live. Heidi was always so humble that she didn’t realize what an example she was to others. She expressed her unworthiness, and yes the bible does says that none are righteous, no not one. But when we believe in Christ, as Heidi did, Jesus becomes a filter between us and God. God looks at us through the filter of His son and we take on Christ’s righteousness. Heidi loved the Lord and served others. I miss her and thank her for washing my feet (not literally). She is waiting, on the other side of eternity, for me and those she loved. We will not disappoint you Heidi. We will keep seeking the way, and the truth, and the life. We will follow Christ’s example and yours by serving others.
Thank you Heidi with love. Anna
Thank you Heidi with love. Anna
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Believe, Seek, Listen
As the Lord (The Mainframe Computer in the world and in my life) teaches, directs, guides, and imparts wisdom and understanding to me (a personal computer connected to the one and only God and Creator) downloads information to me may He use me to share these downloads of understanding with others. God is omnipotent (all knowing) and omnipresent (always with us and in us). He is always a part of our lives. We are the ones who turn off the power switch. He waits with unconditional love for us to connect our little computers back to the on position.
Faith is a gift. He will wait for as long as it takes for us to receive that free gift. A present, a gift, cannot be our own until we receive it, open it up, and say we accept it and will use it.
God promises us that if we seek (look for) Him, He will make himself known to us. He will bring us into a personal relationship with Himself. I am talking about a personal intimacy with our creator, not religion or a denomination with man made rules, liturgy, and dogma.
IN ONE WORD: BELIEVE
Sunday January 3, 2010
The Bible is not a mystery book. It is the book which explains to us who God is. It is His love letter to us. It is a guide book for our lives. It is comprised of 66 separate books. It is written that all scripture is inspired by God. God breathed his word to us through the Holy Spirit into the lives and understanding of 66 chosen writers. He speaks to me through verses, chapters, and books, as I search His word for myself in times of need, pain, trials, joy, thanksgiving, happiness, and blessing. The Book of Proverbs tells me how God wants me to live. The Psalms comfort me as it did when David cried out to God and was comforted. The book of Job taught me that Job never gave up on God even though he lost everything in this present life. The book of Isaiah, especially Isaiah 53, in the Old Testament confirmed the Messiah in The New Testament. God used 2Corinthians 1:3 to tell me that through the trials that I was going through I would be able to help others who would be going through even greater sufferings than I was experiencing. Personal encounters of faith change who we are and how we live life. As we seek meaning to life God will use His word to speak to our hearts. He will give us direction and illuminate our life’s purpose one step at a time. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (the scriptures)
IN ONE WORD: SEEK
Sunday January 3, 2010
Are you too proud to hear from God?
Are you too rebellious or comfortable in some disobedience or sin?
Are you too hurried or busy to spend time with The Creator?
Are you going to live forever?
When you meet The Father at the end of this present life will you know Him or
Will He be a stranger? Did you develop an intimacy with Him?
I believe that we are spiritual beings on a physical journey. Meet your Creator now.
IN ONE WORD: LISTEN
Give God TIME
LISTEN to God through His word. Be STILL so you can HEAR God speak to your spirit.
As you become more aware of his presence and hear and know his guidance you will EXPERIENCE his POWER in you life.
Prayer is CONVERSATION with God, Talk and Listen.
As you see him working in your life you will experience
EXCITEMENT and ANTICIPATION.
As you anticipate what God will do in your life you will want to give Him more TIME which brings you back again to LISTENING to THE WORD.
Result: Increased Faith
Bible Passage: Romans 10:17
Faith is a gift. He will wait for as long as it takes for us to receive that free gift. A present, a gift, cannot be our own until we receive it, open it up, and say we accept it and will use it.
God promises us that if we seek (look for) Him, He will make himself known to us. He will bring us into a personal relationship with Himself. I am talking about a personal intimacy with our creator, not religion or a denomination with man made rules, liturgy, and dogma.
IN ONE WORD: BELIEVE
Sunday January 3, 2010
The Bible is not a mystery book. It is the book which explains to us who God is. It is His love letter to us. It is a guide book for our lives. It is comprised of 66 separate books. It is written that all scripture is inspired by God. God breathed his word to us through the Holy Spirit into the lives and understanding of 66 chosen writers. He speaks to me through verses, chapters, and books, as I search His word for myself in times of need, pain, trials, joy, thanksgiving, happiness, and blessing. The Book of Proverbs tells me how God wants me to live. The Psalms comfort me as it did when David cried out to God and was comforted. The book of Job taught me that Job never gave up on God even though he lost everything in this present life. The book of Isaiah, especially Isaiah 53, in the Old Testament confirmed the Messiah in The New Testament. God used 2Corinthians 1:3 to tell me that through the trials that I was going through I would be able to help others who would be going through even greater sufferings than I was experiencing. Personal encounters of faith change who we are and how we live life. As we seek meaning to life God will use His word to speak to our hearts. He will give us direction and illuminate our life’s purpose one step at a time. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (the scriptures)
IN ONE WORD: SEEK
Sunday January 3, 2010
Are you too proud to hear from God?
Are you too rebellious or comfortable in some disobedience or sin?
Are you too hurried or busy to spend time with The Creator?
Are you going to live forever?
When you meet The Father at the end of this present life will you know Him or
Will He be a stranger? Did you develop an intimacy with Him?
I believe that we are spiritual beings on a physical journey. Meet your Creator now.
IN ONE WORD: LISTEN
Give God TIME
LISTEN to God through His word. Be STILL so you can HEAR God speak to your spirit.
As you become more aware of his presence and hear and know his guidance you will EXPERIENCE his POWER in you life.
Prayer is CONVERSATION with God, Talk and Listen.
As you see him working in your life you will experience
EXCITEMENT and ANTICIPATION.
As you anticipate what God will do in your life you will want to give Him more TIME which brings you back again to LISTENING to THE WORD.
Result: Increased Faith
Bible Passage: Romans 10:17
Friday, January 1, 2010
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