His new, better life

If you don't, you won't.

If you do, you might.

But through Christ you can do all things!
So why not then fight the good fight?

Do all things in Jesus' Name.

Do all things for His glory and might.
Yes, be strong to do everything God's holy Way.

And achieve eternal success through His new, better life!

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)

Blessings!

Blog Posting Written By Victoria Anderson

truth, provision and all glory and honor

Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
(Proverbs 30:7-9)

Yes, Lord. In agreement with your holy Word... Make my life clear. My heart transparent. My words truthful. My focus only on YOU. Give me specifically what I need today to successfully glorify your Name. Feed me. Protect me. Sustain me. Shelter me from sin and storm so that You alone may be exalted. So that Jesus can be seen when others look in my direction. Keep evil from me and give me my daily bread. Today. Yes, today is yours. Today is only about you. All praise and glory and honor... Today! Jesus, I will rejoice and be glad... for today is YOUR day, precious Savior!

Blessings!
Blog Posting Written By Victoria Anderson

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

smile

"Frown and you frown alone, but smile and the whole world smiles with you."

Don't you love a true, genuine smile? It is a simple way to display kindness and one's enjoyment of life. Best of all, a smile can be communicated without saying one single word. Even if someone has woken up on the wrong side of the bed, a smile can help change their outlook. Who can deny the power and joy behind a smile? For it is wonderfully contagious!

When someone is smiling they are able to impact and change the moods of others as well as alter the attitudes of people in general... making them happier. In short, a smiling person brings a positive attitude with them, and, in turn, causes others to smile back. It is certain, those who smile a lot are more desirable to keep company with because their outlook projects an encouraging and motivating approach to living.

Smiling can help prevent stress, looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. In fact, smiling has been shown to actually help our immune system to function better. It reduces blood pressure, releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. A smile provides a natural reaction that makes us feel better as well as aids us in warding off depression.

Yes, a smile can truly affect our lives. So, let's show that wonderful facial grace that God has blessed us with. Let's smile!!!

XOX!

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

be in time

Life at best is very brief,

Like the falling of a leaf,

Like the binding of a sheaf,

Be in time.

Fleeting days are telling fast,

That the die will soon be cast,

And the fatal line be passed,

Be in time.

Fairest flowers soon decay,

Youth and beauty pass away,

Oh, you have not long to stay,

Be in time.

While God's spirit bids you come,

Sinner, do not longer roam,

Lest you seal your hopeless doom,

Be in time.

~Anon

His fullness

"Life is not about our ability to achieve anything on our own time, but rather about praising God's willingness to complete us in His fullness. In fact, it is impossible to become better without being made new in Jesus Christ." (Victoria Anderson)

faith

Now faith is being sure of what we hoped for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Your faith gives you peace.

Your faith gives you promise.
Your faith gives you access to God.
Your faith gives you His grace.
Your faith gives you hope for the future.

Now, imagine life without faith... no thank you!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

WOO HOO! Our hope, our faith, is in JESUS CHRIST alone!

Let His joy and peace overflow!!!

XOX!

my King has come!

Today, I am deliciously savoring the reality that my King reigns eternal.
My King is Most High, most powerful, all-knowing, and in control.
And what news is the sweetest of all?
It is this: My King loves me.
He is my beloved Shepherd and Redeemer.
He is my Faithful Friend and Guiding Light.
My King... My Jesus... has come... and He has come to save!
I am free because He has freed me!
I am new because He has restored and is changing me!
I am loved because He loves me!
I am blessed because He is mine forever!

Glory to God in the Highest! Glory to the King of kings... MY KING!

Merry Merry Merry Christmas to all who have come to know THE KING of kings!

XOXO! ~Victoria

the priceless gift of Christmas...

Now Christmas is a season
For joy and merrymaking,
A time for gifts and presents,
For giving and for taking;
A festive, friendly, happy time
When everyone is gay ...
But have we ever really felt
The greatness of the Day?
For through the centuries the world
Has wandered far away
From the beauty and the meaning
Of the Holy Christmas Day.
For Christmas is a heavenly gift
That only God can give,
It's ours just for the asking,
For as long as we shall live.
It can't be bought or bartered,
It can't be won or sold,
It doesn't cost a penny,
And it's worth far more than gold.
It isn't bright and gleaming
For eager eyes to see,
It can't be wrapped in tinsel
Or placed beneath a tree.
It isn't soft and shimmering
For reaching hands to touch,
Or some expensive luxury
You've wanted very much.
For the priceless gift of Christmas
Is meant just for the heart,
And we receive it only
When we become a part
Of the kingdom and the glory
Which is ours to freely take,
For God sent the Holy Christ Child
At Christmas for our sake,
So man might come to know Him
And feel His Presence near
And see the many miracles
Performed while He was here.
And this Priceless Gift of Christmas
Is within the reach of all,
The rich, the poor, the young and old
The greatest and the small.
So take His Priceless Gift of Love,
Reach out and you receive,
And the only payment that God asks,
Is just that you believe.

A Poem by Helen Steiner Rice

Come and let's dance with joy in the assurance and hope of Isaiah 35!

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts,“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return.

They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isaiah 35)

Blessings! ~Victoria

we need so little... He gives so much!

Sustenance: Nourishment, Warmth, Rest.
What do we need?
What do we REALLY need to survive on this planet?

Blessings: Advantages, Favors, Mercies, Benefits.
How many gifts?
How many gifts does God supply to enrich our lives each day?

Thankfulness: Responsiveness, Knowledge, Realization, Appreciation.
How grateful are we?
How grateful do we express ourselves to the Creator every morning, every evening?

Devotion: Allegiance, Esteem, Adoration, Cherished.
How passionate are we?
How passionately do we love God and love others in Jesus Name?

Believer, TODAY WE ARE ALIVE AND LIVING FULLY IN JESUS NAME!

Yes, He is our treasure.
He deserves all our glory.
He was, and is, and is to come.
His kingdom comes.
His will is done.
So, here on Earth (this side of Heaven), start your day off right!

Praise the Lover of Your Soul, for He gives so much!
Worship Him today!
Honor Him today!
Pay tribute to Him today!
Believe Him today!
Get to know Him more intimately today!
And tell others about Him TODAY!
For He has given you your daily bread.
He has forgiven your sins and has provided you hope and a new future.
Rejoice! For He is God.
He is faithful.
And most importantly and evidently... HE LOVES YOU!!!

So, look around to everything true, everything noble, everything right, everything pure, everything lovely, everything admirable, everything excellent, everything praiseworthy.
Notice all the blessings, the extras, the gifts that He continues to give so that we might live in Him FULLY!
Think about these things.
Think about how great our God on High really, REALLY is!
How glorious are His Ways!

Enjoy your King, dear Believer!
Enjoy your new, healthy life in Jesus TODAY!
For this is the day to rejoice and be glad in Him!
This is the day to praise and submit to our Kinsman-Redeemer - the One who freely gives and gives and gives to His beloved bride.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1a)

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

Lover I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink your fill, O lovers. (Song of Solomon 5:1)

The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8)

Blessings!
Blog Posting Written By Victoria Anderson

31 days...

It has begun. As of today, there are 31 days until Christmas. The catalogs in my mailbox have increased in number because the holiday season is officially upon us. I remember when I was a kid... we wouldn't even think about Christmas until Thanksgiving had come and gone. But now... not so much. Once Halloween is over, every retailer from here to Mars starts advertising for the holidays. They do this with the hope to condition society into thinking proactively about shopping. They do this, so that people will think about their holiday gift-giving sooner rather than later. Really, it is impressive and overwhelming to think of how much time and money is invested into the marketing and distribution efforts of holiday retail catalogs, displays, commercials... all for the sake of generating additional sales income during "the most wonderful time of the year".

And this got me thinking...

What if Christians actually adopted the same proactive attitude to promote the gospel message to all the world? What would happen if we looked at the calendar and thought, "Hmm, 31 days to share Jesus with as many people as possible! Let's give it all we got!" What if we invested our money, our time, our efforts where our hearts should already be focused and stepped outside of our comfortable lives to proactively showcase the Savior's redeeming love? What if we decided to bring Jesus to every demographic that both salt and light physically reach? What would that do, dear Believers? How would that look?

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?... You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)

I'm sure that in the weeks to come, many Christians will purchase gifts for family, friends, acquaintances... But, how many of us will actually make it a point to share the gospel for the sake of advancing God's Kingdom? Isn't that a tad bit more important to give away? Isn't it?

Yes, there are 31 days until Christmas - the day we celebrate our precious Savior's birth. As we begin to prepare for another joyous holiday season, let's first consider that Jesus came to this earth thinking of us proactively. He came so that we too could enjoy His perfect gift of redemption and live to see His grace. Why, because we are special to Him. Because He loves us more.

With this in mind, will you love God more? Will you love others more in Jesus' Name? Will you approach this time of celebration proactively and obediently commit to share the Glory that this holiday season is intended to reveal? Will you invest so that others can receive the greatest gift of all? Jesus! Can you think of a better gift to share with others? Can you think of a wiser way to spend your money, time, efforts? I can't.

31 days... a lot can happen in 31 days.

XOX! ~Victoria