Undercover Princess

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs with God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, in order that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:16-17

As a little girl I was fascinated by crowns. I remember my mom having a round powder container that had a metal ring around the outside that was about the same size as my head. So when she had used all the powder I worked all afternoon trying to break the plastic and free the metal circle that looked like a crown. I finally succeeded and would play with that make believe crown for hours. I would pin it to my thick hair with Bobbie pins and pretend that I was a princess. I would also play with my mom's old prom dresses. I loved the ones with the crinolines. I just knew that I was going to marry Donny Osmond. (right!)

I am an heiress. A co-heir with Christ. A co-heir with the Prince of Peace. Doesn't that make me a princess? I believe that it does. It is so easy to forget who we really are. We think that the life we have here is reality and that eternity is a distant dream. When really this world is surreal and bizarre and eternity is reality. Who we are in eternity is who we really are....now. I am not really a middle aged squishy women. (really I'm not) I am an eternal woman of God. A Christ follower. A princess and I will spend all eternity in the court of the King of Kings in worship and fellowship and sharing in His glory. The reality is that being a princess in the spiritual sense is not about frilly gowns and magnificent crowns and the pomp and circumstance that we think of here. It is a life that looks like Christ. A life that shares in His sufferings.

We are undercover princesses here. Sufferings................then glory.

Confident of one thing!

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 NASB

Have you ever felt the movement of God so heavily that it almost makes a low hum. Not a audible sound, but a rumbling in your spirit that God is perfecting His good work. I see Him moving in lives all around me. I see Him moving hearts closer to Him. I hear people asking questions about Him that I never thought I would hear. God is on the move. He is pursuing people everywhere. My heart is pounding at the pure adventure of it all. What a privilege it is to be apart of what He is doing. It is also a scary place to be in if you just look at it from the world's view. But with God all things are possible. He fed 5000 in one sitting from just a few fish and loaves. He can provide for us with more besides.

I am confident in my God. He has a plan and He will see it come to pass.

The God of the impossible. The God who uses the ordinary simple people. The God of adventure. The God who is pleased by my faith.

You are a faithful God. I will trust You absolutely......

A weekend to Remember!

We had a blast with you this weekend in Niagara Falls. God proved Himself faithful as usual. We pray that God richly blessed you as you sat at His feet listening to Him speak. The prayer walk on Saturday morning was a blessing as I got the chance to visit with women I hadn't met before and to exercise some out of use muscles. The pajama party on Saturday night was more fun than I could have ever imagined. Way to go with the fashion show. I am looking forward to even more creative outfits next year.

God is calling you by name.....You are not alone and He is the restorer of joy. Staying where you are may cause you to miss what He is about to do. The proper response is to go quickly to where He is calling you from and fall at His feet in total surrender just like Mary of Bethany. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. We have no life apart from Him.

My prayer is that as you go back to the real world this week that the refreshment that you received will remain and deepen. Spend time each day seeking Him. He has something to say to you through His Word and He wants to hear what you have to say as well. The cool thing about God is that He doesn't think that you talk to much. (I take great comfort in this as I usually have lots to say). The key is to be quiet as well and hang on the words He offers you. He is listening intently to what you have to say ....give Him a chance to respond.

I would love to hear what the Lord said to you this past weekend and also what your response was to Him. Please feel free to comment on this blog spot or if you would rather e-mail me at anita@AHFministries.com.

We are praying for you as we meet on Monday nights and look forward to hearing from you all. Thank you for being so very amazing this weekend and we look forward to seeing you at our fall day conference.

There's no place like home!

I don't know anyone who's mind does not immediately go to the Wizard of Oz when you say Kansas. I have been called Dorothy more times than I can remember. While I do not collect Wizard of Oz trinkets I do have a few treasures that remind me of where I came from. I have a pair of ruby red slippers on my fridge. It reminds me that there is no place like home.

Several years ago I went with Kimberley McGibbon to see Martina McBride, a female country artist and fellow Kansan. She is a little bitty thing with a huge voice. She is my favorite singer. At this particular concert she did "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" accapella. The hair on my head was almost standing up on end. It was by far the best thing that I have ever heard. Wow! I still get goose bumps when I think of it.

There no place like home! I love Kansas. But I love my real home even more. I haven't yet experienced it but it will be spectacular. Sometimes when life gets hard I wish it was as easy as clicking your heels together. Peace settles over me as I ponder the fact that somewhere over the rainbow---the promise of God---is my forever home. This is just a vapor, a blip in eternity. I can't wait for my heavenly home. We must look at this life through the glasses of eternity. Yes, sometimes there are wicked witches and flying monkeys and irritating munchkins but there is also an emerald city with a mighty wizard. An all knowing, all powerful, ever present God who is preparing a place for us. If He went to prepare a place for us then He will come for us. Oh, there is no place like home and I am homesick.


....................He has also set eternity in our heart, ..........Ecc. 3:11

Sunflower Girl

I grew up in Kansas. I am a mid west farmer's daughter. Except my dad was not a farmer. He sold bolts and nuts to farmers for their grain silos. That's as close as I get to being a farm girl. I grew up in the suburbs of Kansas City. I know very little about rural life although I am fascinated by it. I remember when we use to drive to Colorado for vacation and we would drive through western Kansas where you could see for miles and miles. It was flat as a board.You knew it was bad when the occasional herd of cattle was cause for excitement. One of the things that I remember is the endless fields of sunflowers. It was stunningly beautiful. The Sunflower is the state flower of Kansas so this particular flower has a special place in my heart.

The neat thing about sunflowers is that they lift their heads to greet the sun. My prayer is that I will lift my head to greet the Son each morning and that feeling the rays of His love of grace will be enough for me.

I am a sunflower girl..........a Kansas chick!!!!!

Who's in charge here?

If your old sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.
Romans 8:6

When I picture this verse I see an outline of a head of cauliflower representing my mind and I see the contrast of old Anita (this is not referring to my age) in the drivers seat with worry taking up the entire area and the look on my face is twisted with fear. Then I see the same cauliflower outline with the Holy Spirit in the driver's seat and me sitting beside Him in passengers seat, the look on my face is free and easy. Smilin' like a fool. Relaxed and confident in the driver's ability to get me where I need to be.

Oh Lord, help me to see when I have not yielded my mind to the Holy Spirit's control. When I have allowed worry to fill me with fear. I choose to trust You because You have been faithful to me in the past and I know that Your character will never change. I know that apart from the Holy Spirit's work in my mind there will be no peace. Renew my mind and transform my life. Help me to take all thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ. Help me dwell on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and of good repute. I will meditate on your Word Lord.

I have lived long enough to figure out that I do not want to drive this journey. I choose to ride in the passenger seat, along for the ride. I do not want a life where I am in control. I want to ride beside the Master and listen to His stories and look as He points out the points of interest. He knows where we are going and I want to arrive at just the right time...on His arm.

Oh God, You are in charge here!!!!!!

Only One Thing Going for Me!!!!

Yesterday was Easter.
Resurrection Sunday.
The day Jesus Christ the Son of God rose from the dead.
We serve a risen Savior.

I have been thinking today of the Resurrection power of Christ which He exerts over believers, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and have remembered with thankfulness the times in my journey where I have experienced this power afresh. It started when I accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord and my life became new. And I have experienced it numerous times throughout my life in broken relationships that were made new and tragic circumstance that seemed impossible. He is the acclaimed fixer of all things broken, the healer, the lover of our souls. It is amazing to me that He chose process over an instant becoming like Him. He wants to be in relationship with me. He wants me to be dependant on Him. He wants to hear from me and for me to listen as I walk. To experience Him in the good times and to have my faith stretched to the max in the times of trial. He is using all things, good and bad to change me and to make me more like Him. He is an amazing God and an unfailing friend. He loves me and wants the best for me. He understands my heart and my motives when others have questioned them. He has planted things in my heart, things that are pleasing to Him and are part of his overall purpose in this world. There is no one like Him. He's True!!!!!! He has shown me His true colours again and again. His character is matchless and firm. He is totally reliable.

Thank you Jesus for the sacrifice you made on our behalf which allows us to be in right relationship with God the Father, and for the joyous privilege of serving you. You are my best friend and I am thrilled that I get to spend all eternity in your presence.

After this Easter I have the come to the understanding that really I have one thing going for me.
The priceless blood of Christ that covers me and because I am covered with His blood God sees His Son when he sees me. That's it. That's all........That's enough. I am loved. I am accepted. It is to much for my mind to comprehend. Thankfully I have all eternity to contemplate it and the cool thing is that in heaven I will be able to contemplate it with Him sitting across from me hopefully over a ice cold diet coke. Oh ya forget the diet part.

Ears First?

This caused me a little chuckle. It concerns me that someone would bite the bum of the bunny first. Whatever!

My children are getting older and I think that this is the last year that I am buying chocolate bunnies. First of all, this is not what Easter is about. I will address that in tomorrow's blog. Secondly, I can't believe how much we actually get suckered into spending on this chocolate stupidity. It is not just chocolate bunnies now you can buy chocolate anything. It's ridiculous. Chocolate Spiderman? Thirdly, who needs this much chocolate. It goes straight to the body parts that do not need any enhancing. And no teenager needs more sugar. At least not my children.

So good-bye chocolate bunnies. Good-bye Easter baskets. No more Easter egg hunts................What am I saying? I will be a grandmother someday however, until that glorious day. I am boycotting chocolate Easter confectioneries. That includes those addicting jelly beans and malted milk eggs too. Bah humbug!!!!!!

Quiet Please!!!!!

I love reading the bible from the Message, a contemporary language version. It is real, sometimes it is so honest that it approaches raw. It is fresh and thought provoking. This morning I was reading and I came upon these verses.

When besieged,
I'm calm like a baby.
When all hell breaks loose,
I'm collected and cool.

I'm asking God for one thing,
only one thing,
To live with Him in His house
my whole life long.
I'll contemplate His beauty;
I'll study at His feet.

That's the only quiet, secure place
in a noisy world.
The perfect getaway,
far from the buzz of traffic.

Psalms 27: 3-5


I can't say that I am as calm as a baby when I am besieged. But boy, would like to. Speaking as a witness to a recent outburst from hell, I have to admit that I wanted to just curl up and disappear. I was paralyzed, in the grip of intense fear. Wondering where God was in all of this.

After the first paralyzing shock wave passed I began looking at His word. Most of the time through tears and slowly I began to hear whispers of hope. Words of love and encouragement. Promises of the good life to come. His face became the source of beauty that was missing. The healing has been slow but each step complete before moving to the next.

How do we as Christ followers stay calm and cool when the forces of hell come against us. I think that the above verses answer that question.

By living a lifestyle of worship, by gazing (mediating) upon the beauty of his face and seeking what He is saying to us in His Word. A quiet time with God. It is the only secure place away from the chaos of the enemy's attacks.

We will all face mishaps in life, after all "life happens", and sometimes there are deliberate frontal attacks by the enemy. From whichever source it comes we can be equipped to stand tall and victorious by taking these words to heart and modeling our life after them.

I don't want to live in ear shot of the buzz of traffic. I want to live in the presence of God.

Light, space, zest-
that's God!
So, with Him by my side I'm fearless,
afraid of no one and nothing.

Psalms 27:1 (The Message)

Do you know Micki like I know Micki?

It all started four years ago. Micki (name changed to protect the guilty) is the pet of one of my clients. He is a Chiquaqua. He thinks he is human. The first time I met Micki and his master it was to look at houses. I picked up my client at the hotel and much to my chagrin she had her tiny Chiquaua under her arm. "I couldn't possibly leave him alone in the hotel," she said. I was speechless. When we arrived at the first home we got out, Micki included. "Ah, I don't think that it a good idea. He'll have to stay in the car", I said. Micki was not pleased. I was not pleased either. What would I find when I came out? "Lord, please protect my car from dog doodoo," I prayed. I spent many evenings looking at homes with a possessed dog glaring at me and bearing his teeth from under the arm of my client. Thankfully he never left me a present.

On the day of her house closing my husband and I dropped by with pizza and pop for her family. Garry met Micki for the first time. Micki promptly attached himself to Garry's pant leg with his teeth when Garry reached out to shake my client's hand. You see Micki is in love with my client and will attempt to kill you if you even acknowledged her presence. I will never forget the look on Garry's face. I seriously feared that Micki might have to die.

Several years passed and my client called me and asked me to list her house. I arrived at her home dressed to the nines in suit and pumps. I was sitting at the kitchen table while my client was signing the paperwork when I began to feel pain in my foot. The pain-o-meter went from 0 to 1000 in about 2 seconds. I glanced under the table to find Micki attached to my foot. As our eyes met he clamped down and I screamed. Much to my terror he bit down harder in response to my fear. By this time my client is beginning to clue in to the situation and starts screaming at Micki. At last the stupid dog let go and ran off. I gathered my paperwork saying, "oh, don't worry I'm fine". She apologized profusely and assured me that he had his shots (nice). As I put on my shoes at the front door I saw blood running down my foot and into my shoe. GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!

Last Sunday I went to do an open house at Micki's place. I was standing in the entry way waiting for the family to leave when I had a strange sense that I was being watched. At the top of the stairs was my nemesis Micki. Our eyes met. He showed me his teeth. I showed him mine. He ran down the steps and latched onto my shoe. It was a leather boot (thank you Jesus for your protection). It became apparent that he had no intention of releasing and no one was around so.............I sent him flying across the entry way. The dog was actually airborne. It was a sight of absolute beauty. He landed with a thud and slid across the ceramic tile. When he recovered he came at me with intent to kill. Thankfully my client came around the corner and chased the dog into the laundry room. With heart pounding I said goodbye to the family as they left for the two hour open house.

I went into the kitchen to put out my cards and other marketing materials when I heard some distant barking and looked up. I was instantly filled with complete joy as I saw Micki on the deck outside looking at me through the glass door. There was no way I was letting him in. He was so mad. He was charging the door and giving me the what for. I just smiled at him. No that's not true.................................I mocked him. For two hours he stalked me through the door with murder in his eyes.

How can a tiny little dog be so evil? Why does he like my feet? How bad is the next confrontation going to be? Maybe I'll just grab the little stink and bite his foot right off.

That reminds me of a joke.

Did you here about the three legged dog who walked into the bar to find out who shot his pa (paw)? Hey, maybe the dogs name was Micki.

I don't know how this story with Micki will end but thankfully it will. And I will be left with a teeny tiny scar to remember him by.

So Why am I writing this you may ask? Well confession is good for the soul. (Just so you know I have two dogs of my own who I love very much. I am not a dog hater at heart.) Sometimes you just have to get things off your chest.

It's A Keeper!!!!!!

I have a hiding place for all my special things; my favorite pair of earrings, a hand written note from a friend, pictures drawn by my children when they were much younger or a ticket stub from a memorable night. When I receive something special I will say, “This is a keeper”! And it goes right in my………..underwear drawer. OK, now it is not a secret but I still feel relatively confident that my treasures are safe. Oh, I could have some fun with this but I won’t. Any hoo……..

While I was having my quiet time this morning I read Psalms 119:11 “Your Word I have laid up in my heart that I might not sin against you”. I thought of my secret hiding place where I store my earthly treasures. Then my mind went to my heart where I store my spiritual treasures. God’s Word is a keeper and I should hide it in my heart. Why? So that I might not sin against God. It is hard to sin when your heart is full of God’s Word.

I can memorize a song after hearing it only two or three times. I can remember a recipe without a problem. I can remember the title and author of a book I want to read. I can remember where I saw that great pair of shoes I want to buy. But somehow when I try to remember scripture I become memory impaired. Memorizing scripture takes effort (for me, lots of effort). But I can’t think of any more valuable way to spend my time. I am convicted to make this a priority. Two verses a week = 104 verses per year. 104 verses x 10 years= 1040 verses. WOW!!!! Now that would be an accomplishment. How do you “sin proof” your life? Make regular deposits of God’s Word in your heart.

God’s Word is a keeper! Don’t get confused and store your Bible in your underwear drawer, please store it in your heart.

On Guard!!!!

I love to sword fight. My weapon of choice is a cardboard tube leftover from the Christmas wrapping paper. I don't know what happens to me but when I see one I have to play with it. I just have to bonk someone on the head or poke someone in the belly. It is really fun when there are two of us play sword fighting (yes, this is weird).

Several years ago I was preparing my message for the spring retreat on the armor of God. I decided that I needed some props. So I made girl armor, mainly because I am a girl. I used lots of jewels on the Breastplate of Righteousness and the Shield of Faith. The Shoes of Peace were the ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz (I am from Kansas you know). The Helmet of salvation was my famous wedding hat (the one mentioned in a previous blog). The Belt of Truth was a flowing piece of gold lame. The handle of the Sword of the Spirit was dazzling with jewels and you guessed it, there in the privacy of my living room I had to play sword fight. I was jumping around and thrusting it in the air and giggling and shouting "On Guard" when the seriousness of this piece of armor sunk in. This is no joke! I have a real enemy and my ability to stand victorious over him depends on how well I know and handle the Word of God.

As Christ followers we are often guilty of neglecting the Word. Knowing His Word is fundamental to the success of our walk. James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." How do we resist the devil? By following the example of Christ when He was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Satan would spew temptation and Jesus would answer him with scripture. When Satan saw He couldn't get to Him he left Him until a more opportune time to try his tricks. Likewise when we quote scripture to the enemy it is like smacking him with a holy muzzle. He has nothing to say in response to the Word of God. Satan will flee as fast and far as He can.

We must know the Word of God and so stand on it that when the enemy makes a move we can deflect his every shot. I can almost hear the sound of metal clashing and see the sparks flying as we raise the Word of God in response to the lies of the enemy. The Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) is the only offensive weapon we have. When you hear the roar of our lying enemy, respond boldly with the truth of scripture. We do not have to cower at his advances. He is a loser, we are the winners. Christ has already won the victory for us when He shamed Satan at the cross when He paid for our sins and when He rose again on the third day defeating the wages of sin, which is death. We have much to celebrate as believers. Satan is nothing more than a powerless showoff whose days are numbered. Stand up! Raise the Sword. Walk in Victory!

A Tiny Little Finger

Today in church I sat beside the cutest three year old you ever saw. He had big eyes, a mop of brown hair and a smile that could stop traffic. It was during the message that I noticed the little guy looking at my extremely large bible sitting on my lap. He looked up and smiled at me and I gently picked up my bible and sat it on his lap. He was quite the sight, this little disciple with the large study bible covering his lower body in its entirety. I watched him as he gently began turning the pages. Then I saw him stretch out his precious little pointer finger and begin running it along the lines of text. The look on his face showed that he was pretending to understand what he was seeing. He did this on several pages and then folded his hands to pray.

I was moved and inspired by the little boy's reverence for the Word of God. I was compelled to pray for him and his equally precious brother, that they would always be in awe of God's Word. That is my prayer for us all , that we would be in absolute awe of His Word and that we would have an insatiable hunger for it. That we would get out our pointer fingers everyday and touch the pages of our Bibles. Treating the truths there as valuable as a treasure chest of rare gems. Meditating on them until they move the twelve inches from our heads to our hearts where God plants them and uses them to change our lives. To conform us into the image of His Son Jesus.

So my friends....................Get out your pointer fingers and run them long the lines of text written to you from the God who loves you and has so much to say to you.

Follow the example of a child.... read in awe and bow for prayer.

What am I made for?

I received a card this week that had this quote on the front, "A ship is safe in the harbor...but that's not what ships were made for". The word RISK is over the quote. The picture on this card is a beautiful sailboat sailing on the open water.

It caused me to do some deep thinking. What am I made for? Man, would I like to play it safe in life. I would like to park on some deserted island and hide. But, I am not made for that. I know that I am made for the open water which may at times get rough. I don't say that because I am complaining or having a pity party. I WANT adventure. That is what I signed on for. Life with Christ is not supposed to be boring so why I am surprised when it becomes a heart stopping ride?

The great thing about this ride called life is that although we may feel like we are in danger we really aren't in danger at all if we are in Christ. We are completely secure. It is like being on a huge roller coaster. Sometimes you are just positive that you are gonna die but in reality you are being held in place by the shoulder harnesses. Sometimes when you do the loop to loop you even feel your backside come off the seat. I want to get to the point in my spiritual walk that when I see the big hills coming I raise my hands as I zoom through the scary parts because I know who hold me securely in the seat.

As a kid I loved watching the roller coaster and seeing passengers raising their hands squealing with excitement over the absolute thrill of the ride. It terrified me actually. Oh Jesus, may that be me as I ride this life with you. I praise you that it is never boring and that you have already won the victory. When life gets scary help me to raise my hands above my head and lift my voice in a shout of praise even if I find my backside coming off the seat being assured that when this ride comes to and end I will have arrived safe.