what one prayer can do

Devastated.  That is how it feels to put down the last of your "first generation" - to let go of your beloved twenty year old pet.  That is the emotion my family felt a week or so ago when my sweet, little kitty, Max, had reached "the point."  The point where his body started to give up due to suspected cancer in his bladder.  The point where his confusion and disorientation began to win.  The point where we had all agreed that it was time.

So with heavy reservation, we made the appointment at our new veterinarian office here in Houston.  We reserved an official moment for Max to depart from this world.  What a weird thing to do.  At a agreed upon date and time, Max would be no more.  How odd to make such a decision for your beloved baby.  Such a little guy who had taught us all how to love more.  Yes, Max loved with his whole heart... his whole being.  When someone would pet and snuggle with him, he'd pushed in for more with all the force he could muster.  More love.  More affection.  More.  He gave all of himself to the giver.  He leaned in close and deeply loved those willing to visit with him.  Yes, Max lived a long, full life giving and getting love.  How I questioned if we were making the right decision to let him go.  For his sweetness was stronger than his physique.  But our new vet assured us that he was indeed frail and would likely continue to deteriorate.  How horrible.  How heartbreaking.  The point for Max was here.

We kept the appointment.  We stood over Max's little body and watched the last shot administered - finalizing the end of his life.  And then, in the midst of that awful moment, our new vet (whom I had briefly interacted with only once before) looked at me with genuine tears in her own eyes and asked, "Would you like me to say a prayer?"

Oh, what one prayer can do.  What comfort can be offered during the worst of trials.  What compassion and love can be shown when we pause to invite Jesus in.  What a glorious testimony can be shared when we whole-heartedly offer the healing, eternal hope of the King of kings to those in need of love and affection.  "Would you like me to say a prayer?"  Translation: "Would you like me to stand alongside you and remember God's promised love - even through this difficult storm?"

What one prayer can do.

Of course, I accepted the gracious offer of our vet and she prayed over my sweet kitty.  She prayed with and for my family.  She thanked the Savior for our dear Max's life.  She acknowledged my King for His peace and promises.  One prayer.  One prayer that will always be remembered in the hearts of me and my family.  One prayer where the Holy Spirit was invited to visit and love us more... changing death into glory and blessing... presenting memories of thankfulness to overshadow our broken hearts.  Our vet's selfless, holy offering of prayer had welcomed the Creator of all creatures to change a dark and tearful moment with His lighted hope.

One prayer.  It was beautiful.  It was peace.  It was Jesus.

Comforted.  That is the blessing we each can know and share from God's eternal love and promise.  That is the hope we can be assured of and cling to in order to deeply feel Christ's compassion with those our Savior cherishes.  For His sweetness has proven stronger than every earthly appointment.  His hope can surpass the worst trials of these hard days.  So call upon Him, dear believer.  Invite your King to push in and restore.  Lean in close and snuggle in his deep love - sharing the Giver's tenderness alongside those who may need more of Him today.  For there was purpose in His death, and there is glorious life in His life!  One prayer is exactly where He is waiting to change every heartache into blessing.

To this truth, I say, "Thank you, Lord. Thank you for introducing my family to our new vet, Dr. McMaster.  Thank you for blessing our days with the happy life of our precious kitty, Max.  Thank you for the peace made available in your Name through every prayer spoken, in any circumstance we face.  And thank you for always, faithfully, showing up and giving us your whole heart and eternal love.  May we give you our full devotion in return forever-and-evermore!"

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem. (Isaiah 66:13)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Blessed Sunday, everyone!  XOXO!

~Victoria

let us be thankful: the gift of essential oils

Today I wanted to take a moment to point out how thankful I am for the gift of essential oils. Whether enjoying the calming, relaxing, and refreshing scent of Lavender to help me sleep more soundly or experiencing the subtle, sweet, balsamic aroma of Frankincense to fill my home with a pleasant and familiar comfort, I love the essential oils of plants (both aromatic and non-aromatic), herbs and spices, balms, seeds, etc. Furthermore, I love studying about them.  The Lord has shown me that dozens of essential oils and aromatic plants were referenced in Biblical times.  In fact, their use is documented back to the Roman, Green, Egyptian, Arabic, Persian, Babylonian and Sumerian empires.  It is clear that God imbued molecules into plants for our benefit. He placed Adam and Eve in the garden for a very good and specific reason.

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens - and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground - the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:4b-9a, 15)

God knew that both man and woman would be surrounded by all the sights and smells of these plants and He instructed them to tend and care for them in Eden's garden.  Man and woman were not placed in an enclosed shelter in the beginning... no, before sin entered into the world, Adam and Eve were placed in a garden to grow and flourish - with purpose to oversee all plants and animals around them. This is important to understand as God had a deliberate design in mind for the well-being of mankind and how his role on earth was meant to healthily be lived.

It is important to note that God made essential oils less than 500 atomic mass units (amu) in molecular weight., and because of their infinitesimal size, they can easily pass through all forms of human tissue. This means that essential oils placed on skin are transdermal and can reach every part of someones body within minutes. So, not only are they pleasing to enjoy with our sense of smell, they can also be used to support and balance our endocrine, circulatory, digestive, nervous and reproductive systems in a very direct way. They can aid us in clearing our sinuses and help us to better metabolize our nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Most important, they are able to boost our immune systems so we can fight off disease.  What a gift from our Creator!  Blessed be His Name for offering such care to us.

If you never thought about essential oils, I encourage you to do some research and learn about their specific benefits. I love them and am so thankful to enjoy them in my home and life every day.   God is so good all the time.

XOX!

Victoria

let us be grateful: electricity

Today, as you turn on lights, run your hair dryer, use the microwave, work on your computer... remember that 1.6 million people around the globe live without electricity. These people rely on burning wood and waste for light and heat (most of which adds to air pollution, one of the world's leading causes of premature death.)

So today, let's remember to be thankful for the electricity God has made available for us to use and enjoy.  It is indeed a luxury.

Let's pause to see the blessings around us every day so that we may realize just how much we have to be grateful for.  Praise His Name!  God is good.

XOXOX

~Victoria

let us be thankful: plumbing and clean water

This may seem a bit unrefined to discuss, but did you know that most of the world's population doesn't have access to a toilet? The lack of sanitary plumbing is one of the major causes of early childhood death and disease.

Furthermore, for a quarter of the world's population, a glass of clean water is NEVER an option.

Think about that. Now think about how many faucets you have in your home. (I have seven!) More than two million people die every year from diseases contracted simply by drinking unclean water.

So today, let's remember to be thankful for every plumbing privilege we have been blessed with. Also, let us praise His name with every sip of water we enjoy. There is never cause to grumble or forget where such prosperity comes from. We are indeed given so many blessings. So, let us be thankful! God continues to provide. We often forget that these luxuries are from His generous hand. We often fail to share all that He has given with those who have less.

Friends, let's pause to see the blessings around us and live in realization as to just how much we have to be grateful for.  Thank you, Lord Jesus.

God is good. Let us worship His Name!

XOXOX

~Victoria

ding. ding. ding. ding.

"Ding.  Ding.  Ding.  Ding."

That's the sound my car has been chiming for about a year now.  Off and on, it's a sound I have come to predict... anticipate... expect.  An annoyance I'm well aware of.  An irritant that I have actually had to listen to while driving hundreds of miles between Chicago and Houston as we moved to our new home this past year.... the WHOLE way... the WHOLE time!

"Ding.  Ding.  Ding.  Ding."

Our mechanic in Chicago told me several times that the dinging didn't exist.  Clearly it was a problem he couldn't simulate... a matter he couldn't or wouldn't resolve.  Dude!.... ARGH!

"Ding.  Ding.  Ding.  Ding."

"Oh come on!... My seat belt is fastened, Black Betty!"  (Yeah, I named my car, Black Betty.  What's it to ya?  LOL.)  "Really, I'm locked and loaded!  So why, ohhhhh why, do you still ding at me and flash your dashboard warning lights indicating that I am not secure?  I'm secure!!!  I'm in!  I'm ready to drive without further commentary.  So, whhhhyyyyyy the dinging??? WHY?????"

"Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.  Ding.  Ding."  (And so it goes.)

Last week, Chuck finally asked me, "Honey, why aren't you driving your convertible here in Texas?  It's the perfect place for it!"  (Mind you, my lil' Volkswagen EOS was a very sweet gift he gave me for my 40th birthday....  I sooo married UP!)  I hesitated to answer, but finally freaked out at him, "Babe, that stupid car's dinging is driving me CRAZY!"  (No pun intended.)  "I simply can't listen to it anymore!  I'm not making this up!  It dings and dings and dings!  I won't drive it until it is fixed.  I won't!  I can't!  Nope... it ain't happening!  AINT, I say!!!!"

Understanding that I had reached, shall we say, a delicate moment... a breaking point, it you will... my hubby did what all good hubbies do... he rescued me from the burden.  He calmed me down, reassured me of his advocacy toward all things "Vicki", and scheduled an appointment at our new local VW mechanic here in Houston to discuss our options.  Hurray for hubby!  Soon, my hair would once again be blowing in the wind... without the dinging!  WOOT!

But alas.  Hubby could not get the car to ding for Volkswagen.  Nor could James, the Service Dude, get the car to ding.  Even Mr. New Mechanic Guy, Marshall, could not get the car to ding.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zip.  Zero.  Null.  Did I say, NOTHING!  "What up, Black Betty?  Don't make me look completely insane here!  Start dinging!  I mean stop dinging!  I mean.... oh, argh!!!!"

In a last effort to save face and fix my car, Momba drove me out to the VW dealership yesterday so that I could take Service Dude James out as my passenger to try and simulate the issue.  Surely, Black Betty would ding for me again.  She likes to ding for me.  Of course, before getting in the car, James said as non-threatening as possible to me, "Victoria, I'm not calling you a liar, but I don't think there is anything wrong here."

Sigh.

I responded, "James, I don't even want the car if you can't fix this incessant dinging!  Going. Crazy. Crazy. Crazy. CRAZY!!!...."

While strapping in our seat belts, I whispered a quiet prayer in my mind.  "Lord, help!  Please show everyone here that I'm not completely nuts.  Show the problem.  Fix the problem." No sooner were we pulling out onto the street and my dash started lighting up like Christmas day.  "LOOK!"  I exclaimed.  "See that blinking light?  It's only a matter of time and she'll soon start to...."

"Ding.  Ding.  Ding.  Ding.  Ding.  Ding.  Ding.  Ding."

Exactly.

(Thank you, Lord Jesus.)

In disbelief, James looked at me stunned.  Two minutes of non-stop dinging down the road, he finally moaned, "This is awful!"  (Um, YEAH!)  Then, he instructed me to turn around and drive immediately to Marshall the Mechanic... do not pass go... do not collect $200.00. Just get our patootie's over to Marshall as fast as I could drive so they could hook up my car to the computer and determine what the heck was going on.

"Ding.  Ding.  Ding.  Ding."

The earth continued to rotate around the sun.
Momba comfortably read magazines in the waiting room.
And I... yes I, was about to get my car fixed... and fixed properly!!!  WOO HOO!

In the end, it turned out my seat belt was malfunctioning in it's computerized connection to my seat.  A short in the wiring, if you will.  It obviously wasn't registering that I had secured myself in.  Marshall showed me on his computer that the belt connection was actually flickering on and off.  When I asked him if he could just disconnect the whole connection from the car, he declined and informed me of this very interesting fact.  You see, today's cars are much more advanced than we realize.  Our seat belts are specially programmed to the car to faithfully determine how fast our bodies might be thrust forward (or even to the side) at any given moment, in any given driving emergency.  Black Betty's connection problem could have caused me a much greater danger had I been in an accident.  For if her belt didn't register properly, my air bags might never deploy when, and how, they should in an accident.  Not cool, Betty.  She needed a new part and a little TLC to function as her German engineers originally intended.   So now, Marshall and James were on board to fix the matter... ordering Betty's new part... believing I'm not a crazy-woman... satisfying my husbands hopes to please me... fixing the problem.  (YES, Lord!  Thank you!!!)

In all this, I believe there is a lesson in parallel.  For how often do we think we are secure, yet the Holy Spirit chimes into our hearts, repetitively... blatantly... reminding us there is something wrong in how we are or aren't connecting with our King.  Are we really seeking the potential and fullness He has promised?  Are we solid in our quest to know His holy Word - His holy Way?  Or are we flickering in and out of spiritual intimacy... not really working properly... not actually equipping ourselves with His full set of promises and safety precautions in order to be protected from all possible danger?

"Ding.  Ding.  Ding.  Ding."

Is your King trying to tell you something today?  Are you willing to attend to the matter with Him and make every effort to fix the problem?  Or will you just give up and live another day with the compounding knowledge and maddening disappointment that you are shorting yourself?

O Ladies, don't short yourself!  Don't live like a crazy, defeated woman who can't move forward in full gear.  Rather, assess the "dinging" with your loving Husband.  Ask your Savior to service every unresolved matter.  Entrust your whole life to the Great Mechanic of all Creation so that you can reconnect rather than disconnect yourself from His love and wisdom.

This is the day to get back on track!  This is the hope we can know: joyful functioning in daily obedience with our Beloved King... driving as He originally intended us to... all the way home!

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  (Ephesians 1:17-19a)

Blessings!!!

~Victoria

by faith

While out of town this weekend, I was thinking about the Genesis account, and I kept coming back to the same question that so many have asked: Why believe that in the beginning God created everything? Why not also consider evolutionary theory or other plausible possibilities in how mankind came to be? Why should we just accept this tiny explanation - this small chapter in the first book of scripture for what it is? Can we just leave it at that? Can we just accept God's Word and agree that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth?

I found myself considering these questions most when I was completely surrounded by crowds of people this past Sunday. You see, this weekend Chuck and I traveled with friends to go see the Vikings play the Cowboys at the Mall of America Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. Once we entered the Metro dome, we found ourselves lost in mobs of dedicated fans.

Note, I have some serious physical limitations. I have very bad knees that buckle and give out frequently. So, this weekend I came prepared and brought my cane to lean on for support as I knew I would be challenging my legs a lot. However, once we entered the football stadium, it became quite apparent that I would also need to depend on Chuck to get me through the flow of pushy people trying to get to their designated seating sections before the game began.

With all that was going on around me, I was fearful that I would physically be unable to make it up several flights of stairs, much less maneuver to our narrow bleacher-style seats. So, Chuck and I decided to just take it slow and steady and progress at our own pace. Chuck walked in front of me (shielding me from the crowd), while I took my time moving from point A to point B to point C. When finally settled, I couldn't believe I made it. Praise God.

As I sat in my chair, beaming with accomplishment and excited about the game, I surveyed the field and watched the remaining crowd members struggle to get to their seats. In particular, I noticed a father carrying his son in his arms. I don't know why this man would bring a very small child to a football game, but nonetheless, there they were with painted faces and matching jerseys. Dad securely held his son as he made way to their seats - protecting his boy from overzealous fans who would bump him while cheering at the top of their lungs. And just like Chuck had done for me, this pappa took great care to get from point A to point B to point C, all the while explaining things to his son and assuring the little sweetheart that soon they would be safe and settled to enjoy the football game together.

While watching this father, I started thinking about how much MORE God is than man. How God's way is the standard for man to follow and trust - and not the other way around. As such, God's way of communicating must be the best way. He is the greatest communicator... after all, He is God, right? Then I remembered Hebrews 11:3 which says, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Hebrews 11:3)

And that about sums it up, doesn't it. By faith, we either accept God's Word, or we don't. If God says that in the beginning He created everything, then we either believe Him, or we don't. Scientific evidence is secondary to this decision, because science can only formulate accurate conclusions through evidence witnessed. The rest of science is merely speculation and theory. However, here at the very beginning of Genesis 1:1, we are faced with one truth: without faith in God, we cannot be saved. We'll either trust that the Greatest Communicator has given us enough to see and accept Him and then move forward in His plan... or we won't. No man can attest to what happened at the beginning of time because no man was there when the world was made. We can debate and hypothesize and scheme all we want, but in the end, our acceptance or denial of God's absolute Word and authority on this matter is key in determining what course we will follow. Either God is GOD, or He isn't. Either His Word is absolute and believable on all accounts, or it isn't. By faith, you will choose to believe God's Word... or you will not.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Faith is not something we can conjure up on our own, It is not something we are born with, nor is it a result of diligence in study or pursuit of the spiritual. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that faith is a gift from God, not because we deserve it, have earned it, or are worthy to have it. It is not from ourselves; it is from God. It is not obtained by our power or our free will. It is simply given to us by God, along with His grace and mercy, according to His holy plan and purpose, and because of that, He gets all the glory.

If you choose to believe God's Word on this, then I encourage you to allow Him to embrace you fully in His secure arms. Allow your Father to walk you through the stormy trials of this sin-infested planet and get you safely from point A to point B to point C. Trust that His plan will bring you exactly to where you are supposed to be. Trust that His Word is enough to guide your steps and shield you from the enemy. Trust that without Him, you can accomplish nothing. But with Him, you are destined for greatness through His grace! Praise God!

God's gift to save and restore your life can only be accepted by faith, ladies. Hebrews 11:1 says that faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” No other component of the Christian life is more important than our faith. We cannot purchase it, sell it or give it to our friends. Faith is individual. It is a belief in... a devotion to... and a trust in somebody or something of which we cannot secure logical human proof. As such, faith is the cornerstone of Christianity and foundational to our accepting the truth of Genesis 1. Without demonstrating faith and trust in God we have no place with Him. For we can only believe in God’s existence and our true intended purpose by faith.

Will you accept God's gift and follow His Word? Will you believe Him and trust His perfect Way of communicating His purpose and plan? Will you allow your Holy Father to carry you safely in His arms as He leads you back home? Oh, I hope so! He has so much to show us. Let's give Him all our time to explain things to us in His Word and believe Him when He assures us of His headship. Today, His kingdom comes... His will is being done!

Blessings!
Blog Posting Written By Victoria Anderson

no man apologizes for doing right...

graduation day

Yesterday I was privileged to attend my cousin's graduation ceremony from DePaul's College of Law. To be honest, initially I was not looking forward to attending this event. Not because I wasn't proud of my cousin's magnificent accomplishment, mind you; but because of my own physical aches and pains, and the hassle life becomes when you are trying to negotiate a limited physique around the likes of several hundred "pumped-up" family members and celebrating college graduates posing under the roof of one large public venue. But I went... and, of course, I'm so glad I did. For not only did God work out every detail, but He further blessed me with the entire experience. You see, early in the event the Holy Spirit impressed upon me that I was sharing a room with over 4200 people - all who were there to experience the same moment of joy, pride, and love with their own fellow family members and friends. It didn't matter if we came from Nigeria or a nearby suburb. In this moment, in this place, we were all connected. For we each had a graduate to acknowledge... and acknowledge we did! With every name read... with every diploma handed... with every hood dressed, we all cheered! Throughout the room, pockets of groups whistled loudly and applauded with delight as their own graduate completed the final stage of their law school education. Yes, for each of us, someone we adored was being recognized for something wonderful - and we were all thrilled to enjoy the moment together.

It was indeed nice to experience the joy of achievement and pride of every family member as they cheered on their related graduate yesterday. And it got me thinking: I wonder how graduation day will be in Heaven when we share it with our eternal family? How will we enjoy celebrating the happiness of every believer's race well won - Christians who lived in devotion, obedience, and deliberate purpose toward magnifying the glory of our God's kingdom? Won't it be incredible to see each child of the King receive their diploma and eternal crown of holiness, hooded personally from the nail driven hands of Jesus our Savior? Yesterday, some of the most touching moments occurred when faculty members were able to perform a "legacy" hooding with their graduate - - meaning a parent (who was a faculty member to the college) could hood their own child. How beautiful to be part of such an inheritance! To be formally escorted, acknowledged, and decorated by your own proud mama or papa. Words escape me to describe the immense pride accompanying this honor, and my heart yearns for that glorious day when I can experience the same delight with my Heavenly Father. For His decoration and acknowledgement is all I seek. His legacy is eternal. How I long to be kissed and hugged by Him. Believer, how cool will it be to have Him proudly present each of us before our eternal love-one's, claiming, "That's my girl!" or "That's my boy!"

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:21)

Yes, yesterday I was blessed with the realization that I too would graduate one day from law school. I would advance on into eternal holiness, with sin overruled, to enjoy a new day decorated by the One who is the greatest Honor of all life. Such joy cannot be contained, for real justice, and freedom, and community, and peace is available in Him alone... by His grace... because of His eternal love! How much I look forward to seeing His tears of pride, relief, and happiness. How elated I will be to hear Him acknowledge me with, "Well done, my good and faithful!" As such, today I will honor Him by making every effort to live obediently like my Jesus... for my graduation day is coming!

The DePaul president concluded yesterday's ceremony with this important point. He said that as a university, DePaul would be happy for every graduate that finds the things they have always hoped for in this life... a nice family, job, house, car. Sure, they would be happy to see such blessings happen for every single graduate. However, and more importantly, they would be proud of every graduate that actually went out and made a difference with their life - - to love others, to help others, and to represent the image of their prestigious college accurately and with thoughtfulness - no matter what trial or opposition must be faced. Yes, such a life would make them proud of their law school graduate. Such a life would make our Father proud of His graduate too. So, let us live such a life! Let us live today representing His rich image to those lost and less fortunate. Let us care and share for His Name's sake - always standing for what is good and right! Let us run this race to the end and graduate with full honors, Believers! This is the day to rejoice, for we are assured as His children to one day celebrate together in ceremony. There, we will all be personally hooded by Jesus and given His eternal legacy of grace and holiness. We will congratulate and cheer for one another as we are honored by Our Honor, The Almighty King of kings! Hallelujah! Our graduation day is coming! So, let us make every effort to learn from our Teacher and love like He loves!

Blessings!
Blog Posting Written By Victoria Anderson

feast in His bounty

Let us feast with our eyes the bounty of which our gracious Lord gives to us. Let us enjoy every color, every landscape, and glorify Him with our gratitude! This is the day to rejoice in the splendor of our King and the beauty His hand has created for our benefit! Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

By Victoria Anderson

before

Isn't it wonderful when the oldest and dearest of friends are able to reunite?

Isn't it heartwarming when childhood loyalties from simpler moments pick up exactly where they left off... as if no time has passed by? As if no difficult circumstance or trial has ever occurred within the layers of years lived apart?

Last night, I was honored to dine, and giggle, and hug, and love with two beloved girlfriends from my youth.

Two people who knew me "back when".

Two who remember my naiveté.

Two who shared some of my most happiest moments of play.

Before the pain.

Before the abuse.

Before.

Childhood is so fragile, isn't it?

Those moments when you obliviously live as your truest, free-est self.

Special times without boundaries - void of emotional barrier.

This is when we are most clueless to what would soon jade and change everything.

These were times when being defenseless was easy... normal.

When every friend was considered family.

When acceptance, and love, and things, and places all meshed together - and everyone shared and enjoyed in their bounty.

Then, sadly... life takes us away, doesn't it?

We become casualties of distance.

Or perhaps we are recruited by those already jaded and more experienced.

We become victims of this world - losing touch with ourselves and each other.

For somewhere along the way, we accept the skepticism, the isolation, the complications.

Somehow, love becomes shadowed with cynicism and selfishness.

Joy and peace are replaced with busyness and fear.

Awkward, messy moments of "growing up" turn our days into decades.

And our "before" becomes a longing - a reminder of youthfulness lost.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”. (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

Last night, I drove home thinking about how neither of my beautiful friends had attended my wedding - nor I theirs. I thought about how quickly, easily, and inadvertently we lost touch simply because of life distractions; and how much time had passed since we had last dined, and giggled, and hugged, and loved one another. I thought about all the "in-betweens" that we missed together as great friends. All the good and bad moments that now define us in our adulthood. As I sat in my car, I remembered the us of "before" and was grateful for an evening to finally catch up. Then, I immediately thought of my Creator - my truest, dearest friend, Jesus.

Remembering the One who made me "before"...

The God who knew me "before"...

Before trouble came.

Before separation occurred.

Before the curse of sin dominated all my "in-betweens".

This is my King - the One who has always known my truest self even better than I could fathom.

The One who wishes for me to live fully in His company... freely in His grace.

Isn't it wonderful when the oldest and dearest of friends are able to reunite?

Isn't it heartwarming when the straightforwardness of childlike faith returns us back to the family of our Almighty?

What a pleasure to know that the love of the Most High is always nearby... that He is always available and waiting to return us to His limitless bounty.

What an honor to be given this new day to pick up with Him and rejoice as if no time has passed away.

What a wonder to know that He has promised to restore our "before" once again through the precious blood of Jesus Christ?

In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men. For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. I have become like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.” Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me. May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm men be covered with scorn and disgrace. But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you? Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you - I, whom you have redeemed. My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion. (Psalm 71)

Blessings!

Blog Posting Written By Victoria Anderson

devoted to Jesus

You are not insecure when you are secured in God's kingdom! 
You are not weak when you stand strong with God's word! 
You are not anxious when you abide close to God's presence! 
You are not defeated when you fight bravely for God's righteousness! 
You are not without a future when you remain devoted to God's only begotten Son! 

(Victoria Anderson)

detoxing your life from the familiar taste of sin

I have been eating well since October 2009 and detoxing since the beginning of January. The purpose for my detox was to give glory to God while giving my pancreas and liver a break so that I could flush out the build up of preservatives, caffeine, lactose, etc. in my system. I skeptically began by cutting out all coffee, soda, dairy and processed foods for a month... maybe more (maybe forever). Then I sought to eat only fresh, wholesome, nourishing foods that would best honor my body as a temple for the Holy Spirit to reside.

You see, early last year I was convicted by the Holy Spirit to submit over my physical stronghold of weight to God. Sure, up until then I knew what I was eating was not in keeping with my desire to worship and honor His Name in all I said and did. It was obvious by how out of control my health had become. Instead, I can honestly assess my previous eating habits as selfish choices saturated in gluttony. It was sin, pure and simple.

So, in obedience, I decided to hand over my heavy frame, and even heavier appetite, to my Shepherd to manage His way. Thankfully, He has proven faithful and has introduced me to all sorts of information about health, nutrition, exercise, etc. As the new year kicked into full swing, I was a little nervous because a full-on detox seemed the appropriate course - but I had never detoxed before. I had never done anything healthy or nutritionally sound before. But God kept prodding me, and I obeyed. Now, I'm so grateful for His grace! Because He gave me the strength to change, I was willing to let go of what has weighed me down for years... literally! He is changing me! For as hard as it was for me to turn away from the sinful, familiar food "crutches" that promised a false sense of comfort and fulfillment to my belly, the lesson to make Jesus my only focus... my only portion... has changed me spiritually while also blessing my body with a smaller waistline. Praise His Name!

Now, I am even more sensitive to listen for God's healthy prodding. And He has not held back. He has brought up many more questions, many more convictions to consider as I allow Him to separate out the sin I have selfishly grown accustom to keeping around. Isn't that just like Jesus? He loves us too much to only focus on one or two key areas of our lives. No, He wants ALL that we are so that we may become new creatures - holy like He is. And why waste time? Daily He calls us... encourages us to dive deeper into His redeeming grace.

For me, today was no exception to this truth. Today I called in sick. I was laying in bed trying to recover from a small flu I had caught from a co-worker. I had stopped life so that my body could gain the sleep it needed to attack the yucky bug. Yet, even in my worn down state... as I slept, God showed up. I awoke with these questions in my mind...

"Victoria, what has this detox taught you so far? Do you still desire the familiar taste of sin? Has not My way, though difficult to swallow at times, proven better... purer... healthier... eternal? What else haven't you surrendered to Me? What else has distracted you away from My love? What habits... what sin are you still comfortable savoring that is leading you away from our relationship?... Do you really want to become closer and more intimate with Me, your Savior? I love you. I came to redeem you. I want more than anything to save you not only from death, but from the sin of this world. What sin are you still hanging onto, Victoria? How deep are you willing to take your detox? This is no longer about food... in fact, it was never about food. This is about your laying down your whole life and giving it to Me so that I can give you MORE! A new life... a new creation is what I promised to you. When will you completely surrender everything from this old, dying world and follow me to the abundant life I have especially planned for you?"

Wow, God. I'm speechless.

While I laid in my bed contemplating these questions today, I knew there was still so much sinful poison to rid out of my life. So many fleshly addictions and earthly dependencies that I desperately needed Jesus to chisel away. So much junk to cut out. So many emotions to change in my heart - all so that I could freely, openly, honor my Lord. Oh God, there have been so many bad choices. So many foolish decisions. So many selfish paths that I still struggle with and/or follow. So many after effects and unhealthy outcomes that were caused by my own will to rule. But you must rule in order for me to be healthy. I know this. I know that you will give me MORE!

With You guiding my way, I can detox my whole life and replace this sin with holiness. I can detox my entertainment (television, movies, Internet) with You, Jesus! I can detox my finances for You, Master! I can detox how I relate with those in my life and filter my emotions and words through You, Father! With You, I can accept every circumstance, every test, every trial and detox my wishes, my insecurities, my need to control things my way - all so that You are the only One remaining... the only One evident... the only One seen in my life! When my name is called... when my heart is exposed... when my life is dissected, will others see me... or You, Jesus? Oh, how I want my time to clearly glorify You, my perfect Creator. How I look forward to welcoming Your eternal kingdom each and every day! Detox me, Jesus! Detox my taste for sin and give me an appetite for You alone!

Ladies, have you thought about the sin in your life that you still choose to savor? The attractive fleshly desires that you have grown accustom to? Do you not know that they are worthless and will one day pass away as rubble? Please know that Jesus will not change our lives if we do not submit completely to His rule. He will not detox out what is unholy in us if we continue to feed our fleshly desires with the familiar taste of sin. That's not how He works. We must choose in His Name to avoid all evil. We must give up the desires of this world. We must turn and walk away from all that fails to redeem and glorify His Worthy Name.

I challenge you to consider and pray over what sin you are still hanging onto. What needs to be given over to God and left on His altar? What continues to distract you away from His perfect grace? I know - there is so much, isn't there? And it is a daily struggle. A daily choice to lay down our lives so that He is the only One evident. If we are to know Him deeply, intimately, fully... we must stop clinging to our sin. We must be willing to surrender it all. He is the only Way, the only Truth, and (let me emphasize this strongly)... THE ONLY LIFE we should ever seek after. The rest of it... the old... will indeed pass away one day soon. So, give it up. Give up everything else... every idol, every fleshly desire, every selfish thought, every corrupt path. Give up your love of this world and it's fake promises to fulfill. Give it all to Jesus. He will make you full. He is the only portion you'll ever need. He will give you MORE!

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:16-31)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:37-39)

Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel - let the reader understand - then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:4-35)

Please think about WHO you are really living for, ladies. Think about what choices and activities you allow to fill and consume your days. Is it to appease your flesh for a period of time... or to glorify God forever? Are you ready for His return? Are you whole heartedly giving it ALL to Him? If not, it is time to detox in Jesus Holy Name!

All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all! Thank you, sweet Jesus, for leading me closer and closer to your Throne. Amen... I surrender ALL!

Blessings!

Blog Post Written By Victoria Anderson

are you active?

Are you Active?

Active in your faith???

Active in your walk with Christ???

Active in your life????

Active in your love toward others???

Active to serve and please your God???

Actively seeking, searching, praying, learning from Him???

Are you ACTIVE?

Get there, girls! He expects no less.

He is too cool to be stagnant. To awesome to be boring. Too terrific to be ordinary. Too wonderful to be depressed.

He is all that matters. He is LOVE!

He is LIFE!

Blessings!

~Victoria

fact...

Over two billion people in the world live on less than $2 per day; and 1.1 billion of them live on less than $1 per day.

Today, let's thank God for his grace as he provides for our needs.

a prayer...

This is written on the first page of my Bible, and I have prayed it many times...

Give me the grace to care without neglecting my needs;
The humility to assist without rescuing;
The kindness to be clear without being cold;
The mercy to be angry without rejecting;
The prudence to disclose without disrespecting my privacy;
The humor to admit human failings without experiencing shame; and
The compassion to give freely without giving myself away.
(Author Unknown)

XOXO

~Victoria

prayer... what a blessing!

Prayer... what a blessing!
To know that I have access to the Throne Room of the Most High.
To know that He hears me and is inclined to listen to me always.
Our God is so generous in that He gives us the honor and ability to pray to Him directly.
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

Blessed be His Name!!!

XOXO!

~Victoria

the Lord will repay the years the locusts have eaten!

It just breaks my heart to see people who claim to be decent act... well, indecent... without integrity, or ethics, or moral principle. What's even worse is when Christians fall into this same trap and act un-Christlike because of selfish pride or jealousy or anger or greed. Sure, as humans we are all privy to sin, but it is especially heartbreaking to be betrayed and belittled by those who claim to know and follow Jesus as Lord merely so they can gain an edge up in position or profit. How sad.

For Jesus never betrays or belittles.
Jesus is not proud or selfish or greedy.
Jesus has never been filled with jealously stemming out of hatred or anger.
No, sweet Jesus has always promoted love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

Let me say that again...

JESUS ALWAYS PROMOTES LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF CONTROL!

Praying today over these things.

Lifting up those who have intentionally schemed against and deeply hurt my family this past week, and hoping in the Mighty Name of Jesus that He will do whatever it takes to draw those astray back toward His throne.

So, despite what men have done... today I will bless those who curse me.
I will trust that the Lord will protect and fight for my family.

I will rest in my one Refuge and Strength, an ever-present help in trouble... my Wonderful Savior!

Today... yes, this is the day that I will continue to rejoice and seek the peace and promise of God's Word. I will be still and trust... knowing that my faithful Father is always in control and protecting me and my family from the snares of the enemy... and those who callously pursue his evil path.

"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten - the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm - my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed." (Joel 2:25-27)

Blessings!
Blog Posting Written By Victoria Anderson

pause with the heavens

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19, KJV)

Right now, my house is in chaos. Right now, every room in which I currently live is scattered with fifteen years of belongings - all out of place... all waiting for relocation. Everywhere I look, half-filled moving boxes are precariously stacked, and life seems to be in disarray. You see, right now my family and I are in the process of packing up to move to Houston. It is a move that will bring us into a new chapter of life... a move that will offer us the opportunity to love and serve in a new place.

Yes, right now, as I write this, it is a little after 1:00 a.m. on Monday morning. My husband is grumpy from a long day of physical labor. My Momba is tired from a day of organizing and consolidating. Yet we are all retiring for the night completely satisfied... for we all know that the Lord's hand is directing our steps. We are united in trusting that our King will see us through every crazy, busy moment that awaits us ahead.

Right now, I'm sitting in my living room surveying the eclectic items that make up the majority of things we've accumulated from all over the world. And I wonder, do we really need all these things? This is when Psalm 19 runs through my mind. "The heaven's declare the glory of God." Yes indeed, let's forget about these earthly things for a moment and pause with the heavens to declare the glory of God, shall we? This is the Creator who has thoughtfully organized and placed every particle in it's proper space. This is the Lord - the One in complete control of all things. Right now, He is overseeing the moons surrounding Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, the volcanoes of Venus. He has given us a full and amazing universe to seek Him... to discover His greatness... to admire His unmatched authority. All we must do is faithfully go where He leads. All we must seek is His Word!

Yes, no matter what surrounds us, whether chaos or clarity, God has ordained and approved it for our good so that we might pursue knowing Him more intimately... so that we might love Him first. The rest of it all is just gravy, isn't it? For nothing... NOTHING... can outshine or out dazzle His blessed, perfect, beautiful presence. Thank you, Father, for it all... for all you provide... for all you display. But above it all, we first desire You. It is always You we wish to be near and know better!

I don't know about you, but the heaven's declaring God's glory is of great comfort to me. For no matter how nutty this world can become, I can always relax in the secure promise that my God's kingdom is always, always in order. In fact, right now He is in full control and ready to escort me into the next chapter of my eternal life and the honor of serving His majesty.

How wonderful is our Maker! How great is the God of the universe! I encourage you to consider Him... putting aside the things that distract and overwhelm you, and pausing in the place He has put you - - pausing with the heavens to declare His glory! Blessed be His Holy Name!

Blessings!

Blog Posting Written By Victoria Anderson

LOVE with all your heart

"Mortify the deeds of the flesh.
Get up and fight the good fight in Jesus' Name.
Substitute all earthly idols with God's holiness.
And always, always LOVE with all your heart.
To live is Christ!"

(Victoria Anderson)

a heavenly home

Praise the Lord, Chuck and I found a home to rent for a few years as we make our transitional move to Texas. It is clearly suited for me too since "A Heavenly Home" is engraved under the address numbers!

"A Heavenly Home"... really, I love this statement. I love the idea that my whole household lives their day-to-day fixating their eyes on Jesus first - especially in the place we are most comfortable together: home. For ultimately this earth is not our final home. As children of the King, we long to be with God 24/7. He is our #1 priority. And, without His love, we are nothing.

God is good ALL the time.

May every home be "A Heavenly Home" focused on His Heavenly Throne!!!

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18:2)

Blessings!

Blog Posting Written By Victoria Anderson