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