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Hello 2019!

Hello, 2019! Lord, what do you want to say to me this year?

I have been asking God what are some cultural statements for my life that define me, my marriage and my family? I believe it is important to not walk around aimlessly but know your purpose, know what God is calling you to.

The verse that I have been speaking over my family is Psalm 40. “The Anderson’s waited and waited and waited some more, patiently knowing God would come through for them. Then, at last, He bent down and listened to our cry. He stooped down to lift me out of the danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now He lifted us up into a firm, secure place and steadied us while we walk along his ascending path. A new song for a new day rises up in Jamie, rises up in Alisha, rises up in Kelsi and rises up in Jaden every time I think about how he breaks through for me! Ecstatic praise pours out of our mouths until everyone hears how God has set us free. Many will see his miracles, and stand in awe of God and fall in love with him! Blessing after blessing comes to those who love and trust the Lord. They will not fall away, for they refuse to listen to the lies of the proud. O Lord our God no one can compare with you. Such wonderful works and miracles are all found with you. And you think of us all the time with your countless expressions of love – far exceeding our expectations!”

I have been asking God for guidance and direction in this next season of our lives. You feel when a shift is coming and sometimes you have to wait and wait and wait for the Lord to speak with clear direction and strategy. For over 2 years we have been waiting and we would feel God move close and lift us up out of our despair time and time again as we continued to wait before Him. He goes before us to prepare a path of grace and opens up doors no man can shut when He is ready. He brings us into wide open places that are beyond our imagination. That is not a prediction but a promise straight from His word in Psalm 18.

You should believe His word – He is good and He will not go back on what He promises. It doesn’t always look the way in which we expect it but He will not disappoint.

As I have been asking the Lord for strategy and statements for my family, He began to speak these words to me. “Worship and Personal Devotion – Honor – Grace Wins – Purposeful Living – Value Me and Financial Freedom. In a nutshell, this encompasses every part of my heart and areas I need God to be alive and working through me.

Worship and Personal Devotion

If you know me at all you know this is my heart and passion. I could sit for hours worshiping and not worry about anything else but to be at His feet. Like many things we do in life, if we are not careful we can become complacent and miss the heart connection He is wanting with us. At times, in the busyness of life – it has become just that. I love to do it but because it comes so natural it is easy to go into automatic mode and not plug into the Father for that heart connection we were created for.

This is my declaration for 2019: I am a worshipper that creates atmospheres that brings breakthrough and change in my life and in those around me. Worship brings heaven close and changes things. Fear shifts, Peace comes and freedom is released with each note I play and sing. My worship brings new songs straight from the throne room of heaven, it’s worship that reaches the Father’s heart and is raw and authentic. I don’t care what others think – I care about reaching the Father’s heart.

Honor

This is not an easy thing to give but I think if we were to be totally honest it is something we all like to receive. What does it mean to honor? Honor God? Honor Each other? How about yourself? My Prayer has been Lord let me show honor about all else. Let my actions be a reflection of your love and your heart for others and myself.

My declaration for 2019: I will honor the call of God on my life, I will honor people around me. I will honor the process He is taking me through even when it feels painful. I will honor God with my daily life, actions, and thoughts. Your words remind me in Eph 3:20 to never doubt your mighty power to work in me and accomplish all this. You will achieve infinitely more than my greatest request, my most unbelievable dream, and exceed my wildest imagination! You will outdo them all, for your miraculous power constantly energizes me!

Grace Wins!

A friend of mine gave me a little sign that has this on it! I heard the Lord speak to me one day in the midst of a disagreement with my husband – Grace Wins! It stopped me in my tracks and I felt the gentle tug on my heart to choose grace and love over law.

I am a stickler for details and I can hammer you if you don’t remember what was said, or committed to. Sometimes this can cause others more hurt and harm than benefit – it’s easy for me to be a rule follower because I don’t like to step outside the box.

I am not saying it’s ok to go break the law but sometimes we can abuse with our words and a legalistic spirit. Grace is what our Father shows and grace is what we should be willing to lead with. I know I should always assume the best before I assume the worst. I know I should look for the good instead of criticizing what I see is not working!

My Father-in-Love preaches a life message of grace. He refers to the scripture in Romans 5:15-20 to show how the Grace of God is out of all proportion to the sin of man. He uses the analogy of an ant and an elephant. The ant represents sin, the elephant represents grace but what we often do is walk into a situation and go “Would you look at that ant!” – we don’t even notice the giant elephant in the room. His Grace is out of all proportion to our fall.

Don’t be so sin focused on yourself or others that you completely miss the grace our heavenly Father has to offer!

This is my declaration for 2019: I believe you will help me to function in grace and not the law. To sow generosity and love wherever I go! I will not see the ant in the room but go for the win and choose the best!

Purposeful Living

What does this mean? There are seasons of life where I feel like I am just in survival mode. I feel quite happy to wake up and a major accomplishment is to get through the day having had a shower, got out of my Pj’s, cooked meals, done the laundry, and kept up the housework, etc. Am I the only one to feel this way some days?

But is this purposeful living? No.

Purposeful living is a constant choice we make in our lives. The choice to do whatever the day holds with all our heart, in honor unto our Heavenly Father. In Colossians 3:23 it says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”

If I am doing the dishes then I am going to do them with a glad heart. Sometimes I even put on worship music and dance my way around the kitchen releasing His presence into my home. If it is making a meal I didn’t want to, then I am going to thank Jesus for the ability to have a family to feed.

Find ways to celebrate what you’ve done, instead of constantly putting yourself down what you haven’t. What would your day look like if it was Spirit-led? I start each morning inviting Holy Spirit to partner with me, to make this day His day. I ask Him to guide my steps that I would not get so caught up in doing that I may miss a moment He was asking me to speak a word of encouragement to someone I come into contact with or take a moment to love on my kids or husband.

This is my declaration for 2019: I believe you will guide me, Lord. You will strengthen me and guide my steps. I will be sensitive to listen to the prompting of Holy Spirit, to love, to be and to serve in this life with purpose unto you.

Value Me

I can feel some of you already cringing because you don’t even believe you are valuable. God has made each one of us in His image and we are His best work! YOU are His best work!

I am my own worst critic at times and allow the voice of defeat in my head to speak louder than the truth of who I am. I am constantly learning to walk in the truth of who God created me to be.

You have to learn to be ok with taking care of yourself. “Valuing Me” means taking time to let your heart process life as it happens. I can easily go into function mode which causes my heart to be numb. I’m learning to listen to the promptings to slow down and let my heart feel it’s way through situations. I’ve given myself permission to not live up to my own expectations and permission to make mistakes.

Sometimes “value me” is reading a book, taking a hot bath, or just going to bed early because I need the extra rest. It’s ok to say no to a party or another dinner with friends when what you really might need is some ‘you’ time. Listen to your heart and your body, it will tell you what it needs. If you don’t slow down and listen you will miss the signs and signals it is giving!

This is my declaration for 2019: I thank you, God, that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. You knew each part of me before I even knew myself. You have plans to prosper me, to give me hope and a future and I know You are for me. I will learn to take time for me, to value the beautiful person you have created me to be. I will take time to rest and to just be. Thank you for making me!

Financial Freedom

This looks different for each of us. My husband and I see ourselves as funnels for God’s kingdom and our finances are really His finances. For many years we lived strapped in debt, spending unwisely and many times not allowing God to be our source but instead letting Visa or Mastercard cover our needs. It’s not that way now.

We believe strongly in tithing and following God’s principles – He has NEVER let us down and I promise you that you can’t out give God. His generosity towards us is never-ending.

We have some big God dreams and as He leads we continue to step out, all of which take big finances and faith so we are always asking God for creative ways to create income, start businesses, increase donations, and gifts. He is the best partner in every area of life, including business. God’s principles give you financial freedom no matter what stage of life you are at!

My declaration for 2019: Thank you God that you are so good. I thank you that we are worth investing in, that you value us more than the sparrows. Thank you for seed to sow into your kingdom. Thank you for abundant provision, that we can be a blessing. We will continue to give faithfully to you. You see every need and see to it! You are working all things together for your good.

SCRIPTURES TO STUDY

Psalm 85:13
Psalm 104:28
Psalm 18:19
Eph 3:20
Proverbs 16:9
Isaiah 58:11
Psalm 139:13-15
2 Corinthians 9:8
Luke 12:7

January 15, 2019 0 comment

Alisha Business Faith Featured Health Hope Jamie Life Skincare Stories

The Big Dream

written by Alisha Anderson

Last night my husband and I attended a very special dinner honoring and thanking people we do life with.

You may love to dress up and go out to dinner with friends and strangers. I’m good with the friends but I don’t love a room full of people I don’t know. Learning to take the moment in is a personal challenge I am working on – anyone else with me on this one?

I find myself looking around at each person God uniquely made and seeing what brings them to life, what makes them tick, what ignites passion within their heart. A rally to all ambiverts out there – if you are like me you know what I mean by this. I really am introverted in a large crowd of people but put me with friends or family and I am extroverted when I am comfortable with my surroundings. I was pushing myself out there to be extrovert but every part of my introvert wanted to run home and hide out in my pj’s on the couch.

Our friends who invited us asked that we go around the room and share what we would like to see a year from now in our lives. What would we want to be different? What would we be doing or not doing? I am a thinker so things like this take some time to really come out.

As we went around the room slowly a couple of things happened that amazed me. The whole atmosphere of the room shifted and you could feel excitement and anticipation building. The best way I could describe it is that hope was literally being birthed in the room.

Our friends and new friends alike were pouring out their hearts and sharing what God had been doing in their lives. Some had dreams for their family, some for their churches, for salvation of lost souls, and some literally head a heart to change entire nations and I’m telling you the determination in the room was so tangible and unstoppable you could practically feel it! When you surround ourselves with dreamers and doers in the kingdom it is contagious.

Now there is a common denominator that has brought us all together – a business we all have partnered in – as I looked around the room realizing God had a secret mission I couldn’t help but smile. We are all a part of the same skincare company – the #1 Skincare brand in North America, selling an amazing line of products BUT not one person in that room said that selling skincare was their main focus.

Again and again, I heard how they are using the wealth of the world to bring about Kingdom purposes. Everyone in that room loved Jesus and knew they were on a mission from Him. Some of the top earners in the company were sitting at the tables next to us and very candidly and openly shared how they have leveraged success in their business to bring real change to forgotten parts of the world.

By using the money they have earned; charities have been birthed, countries such as Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone are being impacted. Over 7 or 8 children have been adopted and their lives radically changed. Books have been written and musicals that preach the gospel and bring people to Christ. Mentorship is happening in communities where youth, who are desperate for a Godly role model, are being shown they are valued and worth something in this life. I could go on and on.

Many of them never publicly share what they are doing because their reward is in heaven not in front of all men, but I believe they are pleasing the heart of their Father with their obedience to be world changers with their wealth.

All these things are happening because these people took a risk to say yes to something bigger than themselves, to step out of their comfort zone, to sell a credible and effective product that deliver amazing results! All I heard was how grateful they were for a stream of income that allowed them to impact the Kingdom of God in a way that was beyond their wildest dreams, in a way that made a huge impact.

It’s like there was a room full of secret heavenly agents using the wealth of the world to literally bring heaven to earth. My heart was about to explode at this revelation. I started to realize I don’t have to be afraid of success or doing well because I have some big dreams in my heart that God wants to make a reality. There are peoples destiny hanging in the balance of my obedience to follow Him as He directs me regardless of what people say or think. This whole night brought me to remember a passage in scripture

Deuteronomy 8 Remember the Lord “You must obey all the commands that I give you today, because then you will live and grow to become a great nation. You will get the land that the Lord promised to your ancestors. 2 And you must remember the entire trip that the Lord your God has led you through these 40 years in the desert. He was testing you. He wanted to make you humble. He wanted to know what is in your heart. He wanted to know if you would obey his commands. 3 He humbled you and let you be hungry. Then he fed you with manna—something you did not know about before. It was something your ancestors had never seen. Why did the Lord do this? Because he wanted you to know that it is not just bread that keeps people alive. People’s lives depend on what the Lord says. 4 These past 40 years, your clothes did not wear out, and your feet did not swell. 5 You must remember that the Lord your God teaches and corrects you as a father teaches and corrects his son. 6 “You must obey the commands of the Lord your God. Follow him and respect him. 7 The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with rivers and pools of water. Water flows out of the ground in the valleys and hills. 8 It is a land with wheat and barley, grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates. It is a land with olive oil and honey. 9 There you will have plenty of food and everything you need. It is a land where the rocks are iron. You can dig copper out of the hills. 10 You will have all you want to eat. Then you will praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.
Don’t Forget What the Lord Did 11 “Be careful. Don’t forget the Lord your God! Be careful to obey the commands, laws, and rules that I give you today. 12 Then you will have plenty to eat, and you will build good houses and live in them. 13 Your cattle, sheep, and goats will grow large. You will get plenty of gold and silver. You will have plenty of everything. 14 When that happens, you must be careful not to become proud. You must not forget the Lord your God. You were slaves in Egypt, but he made you free and brought you out of that land. 15 He led you through that great and terrible desert where there were poisonous snakes and scorpions. The ground was dry, and there was no water anywhere. But he gave you water out of a solid rock. 16 In the desert he fed you manna—something your ancestors had never seen. He tested you to make you humble so that everything would go well for you in the end. 17 Don’t ever say to yourself, ‘I got all this wealth by my own power and ability.’ 18 Remember the Lord your God is the one who gives you power to do these things. He does this because he wants to keep the agreement that he made with your ancestors, as he is doing today! 19 “Don’t ever forget the Lord your God. Don’t ever follow other gods or worship and serve them. If you do that, I warn you today: You will surely be destroyed! 20 The Lord is destroying other nations for you. But if you stop listening to the Lord your God, you will be destroyed just like them!

Do you get this? He uses us to bring about His purposes and plan. We can’t be afraid of success or money – again NOT for our gain but for HIS! I think some have done a disservice to the Lord at times by always putting money and wealth in the category of evil. The word doesn’t say money is evil – it says the love of money….but money is needed to bring change and God uses it to bring glory to His name.

What dreams in your heart that are bigger than yourself? What are you doing to follow what God is speaking to you?

This is not a sales pitch but it is a challenge to step out of your comfort zone! God spoke to Jamie and me early on in our marriage that we would need multiple streams of income to accomplish all that He desired for us to do. We could care less about a nice house, fancy car etc but God has blessed us along the way, even to the point we have been given 3 cars in our lives as gifts from people who were being obedient with the wealth they possessed. When you are obedient to step out He will meet you there.

Is it always easy? Uhhh absolutely not. Do you have to work hard for it? Some times way more than you really want to! The reward of seeking first His Kingdom and all His righteousness is the best thing in the world! We are meant to be funnels for His purposes, His love and His wealth!

I love the benefit of great looking skin – especially as I look younger than I really am, but the bigger benefit to being in Rodan+Fields is the time & financial ability to have a real impact on the needs of those around us, while doing the things God has called me to.

Don’t be afraid to live BIG for God! His son came as an example of living a life much bigger than himself.

God instructs us to leave a legacy for those coming after us. I want to do that in spiritual, natural, financial and practical ways. The generations behind us are struggling with destiny and purpose and I believe we have the opportunity to bring change in a real way by achieving the big dreams in our hearts and showing others it can be done!

SCRIPTURES TO STUDY

Deuteronomy 8
Proverbs 8:12-21
Psalm 62:9-12
Revelation 5:11

September 22, 2018 0 comment