Happy Birthday Grandma!12/21/2016 Happy Birthday Grandma 🌲💕
The table will be set but they'll be an empty space. I know you're in heaven now, I bet it's a beautiful place. Christmas will be different, now that you're not here. I hold you in my heart, I know you're always near. Happy Birthday Grandma, I hope you get your chocolate cake. Can you see my grandkids and the memories that we make? You would've loved them, I know you were sad to leave. But one thing I promise you, I'll make sure they Believe....... Believe in second chances. Believe in giving Grace. Believe in loving your neighbor, everyday in every place. Believe in the one that came and gave everything. Believe in the reason he came and washed away our sin. Believe that there is good in the world. Believe in letting go. Believe that God's ways are better. Believe we don't always know. Believe in that person that can make you feel big and not so small. That's how you loved us Grandma, that's how you loved us all. Believe that faith is bigger. Believe we need to forgive. You taught me how important that was, and today I can freely live. The life he always had planned for me, be the person he created me to be. Thank you for being such a big part of that, I wish you were here to see. Happy Birthday Grandma, I hope the angels tickle your feet. I'll hold on to your whispers until that beautiful day we meet. Happy Birthday Grandma, as I write this with a tear. I love you Grandma and I'm missing you down here!! - Andrea
0 Comments
God has the "Already" to our "What if"7/24/2016  For those that know me know that I have NEVER been a morning person. But there comes a time in every girl's life when she looks at her life and says, "Enough!" No more procrastinating, no more beating yourself up, no more excuses! God nudged at my heart this morning at 6:30 am to get up and walk. "Spend some time with me this morning!" After meeting with my trainer yesterday morning and having a deep heart to heart, we came up with a plan for a healthier me. Then my day ended with playing tennis in 90 degree weather with a dear friend. I was off to a good start. And I promised myself I'd do better tomorrow than today. As I was getting dressed I grabbed a light scarf as it was still a bit cold yet debated bringing it because I knew once I started walking I'd be hot and not need it. But for some reason, I took it anyway. So off I went to get a few miles in before church this morning. I put my shoes on and left the house with my eyes half closed. As I started walking I was reflecting on a conversation I had with my husband last night over dinner. I told him that this journey I'm on to get healthy was so that I would be around to live a long life with him and be healthier for my grandsons. But the bigger reason was because of the things God had put on my heart recently. God's been doing some heavy work in my heart about my future and the plans and purpose for my life. It's a vision of the things he wants me to do along with the words, "wait on me, it's not time!" It's truly a test of patience. I keep hearing, "Andrea, I can't use you if you are not healthy and I certainly can't use you if you are not here. So I made a vow to use this body I've been given and to treat it with respect. Everyday. I have learned some valuable lessons these past few weeks. And this morning it all came to understanding. So grab a cup of coffee and please allow me to share. I was at Grace Chapel while I was in Oregon a few weeks ago and the sermon was called - The Good Good Father. The pastor said these words that changed my life. God has the "already" to our "what if." (and as I sit here on this bench writing this......what song comes on in my headphones? Yep.....you got it! The song "Good Good Father." If you haven't heard it before I would encourage you to listen to it. God is so good!) Back to my story....As I got to the track, the sun was out but it had not crested the top of the hills. As I walked around the track and turned the first corner, I looked at the hills and the sun poked his head up and I knew in that very moment I was at the right place at the right time. Tears started flowing and I knew in an instance as I was reminded of his perfect timing. It was the "already" to my "what if." I KNOW the sun will rise every morning, I don't HOPE for the sun to rise. But to watch it happen is something quite beautiful. There is JOY in the morning. It's the same as KNOWING God has the "already" to every circumstance, every what if, every doubt. And that scarf I didn't think I would need.......little did I know I would need it to blow my nose and wipe my face when I lost it as I watched the sun rise over the hills. Again, the already/done to my what if/doubts. Silly but you get the picture. I am learning to give myself grace in the valleys and rejoice when I make it up a mountain, even if it's just a hill. I am reminded this morning of this passage from John 15. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." Life is about our own choices. It's understanding the pruning God does in our lives (even as painful as it can be sometimes), is for our best. New fruit cannot grow unless a tree is pruned and even when it bears fruit it is still pruned so that it will bear more fruit. So when you feel God's pruning going on in your life know this, he loves you too much to leave you where you are. He wants you to flourish and bear much fruit. He has so many beautiful blessings for your life. Allow the pruning and rejoice knowing that it means something beautiful is on the horizon. And sometimes it just all makes sense by simply showing up for an early morning walk.  I have been super blessed to live at the top of the hill with such amazing views of sunrises and sunsets. The past few mornings as I left for work I could see reflections of the sun on the windows across the bay. But from my perspective and from where I was standing, I could not actually see the sun. Rather, I saw clouds and it was a bit overcast.
It really made me think about the struggles in our lives and how easily we can get caught up in the doom and gloom of a situation and lose sight of the lesson. The lesson to me is the "light." There is always one in there somewhere! On one side of the bay I saw one thing but at the same time, I also saw the opposite. Have you ever been driving in a downpour and look off to the left or the right and see cloudless, sunny skies? This happened to me just last week. It was a sunny and beautiful day as I left work but as I got closer to home, I could see dark grey clouds and the sun was no where to be found. As I got closer the sprinkles fell and then it turned into a terrencial downpour. It lasted about 3 miles. Then suddenly, the skies opened up again to baby blue clear sunny skies. I stopped to reflect on my current trials and struggles and how they are only temporary. Temporary for a time here on earth as this is not our forever home. I was convicted to stop dwelling on the negative things in my life and to be thankful for the blessings God has given me. As with my views across the bay this morning, I was reminded again that even in the midst of my frustration or unforeseen circumstances I am currently dealing with, God has STILL got this. And as in Exodus 14:14, "The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” I need to continually remind myself of this! With my own life (just speaking the truth here)......Why do I feel it's my job to correct and condemn my husband when he hurt my feelings or did something I felt was unfair? Why do I feel the need to play judge and jury? I know better. God's job is to judge. The Holy Spirit's job is to convict. My job is simply to love! My role as a wife is to speak the truth in LOVE. To be honest about the way I feel while at the same time, not make him feel bad for what he did! This was the message I saw in the "light across the bay." We KNOW God is working in us, We see it, we feel it, we KNOW it! But the same God that loves me, also deeply loves my husband too and he is always fighting on my behalf to reconcile and make things right between us. What conflict have you faced lately? Is it with your spouse, your children or maybe with a co-worker? Remember, God is ALWAYS fighting for you. This week I was reminded that God does a much better job at working on my husbands heart than I ever could. Demanded apologies are never heartfelt. They should come honestly, freely and out deep empathy for the other person. When things don't play out in my head like I think they should, I need to be reminded that he is ALWAYS fighting for me. I need to be silent, say what I am feeling and allow God the time to work and fight for me! I will thank God each and every morning for the reflections of sunlight across the bay. For they will remind me that he is always here. He's here ready to fight! Even when I have moments when I am surrounded by dark clouds and see no sun from where I am standing. He will fight for you too! Just ask Him....... A Hopeless Day.....but Sunday is Coming!3/26/2016  The day in between Good Friday and Easter has always been a really weird day for me. It's the only day since Jesus was born, that he wasn't alive.
When I think about Jesus not being alive it leaves me feeling empty, alone, just sort of out of sync with everything. It makes me stop and think.......what if tomorrow never happened? What if I never knew Jesus? What if I never asked him into my heart? What if Jesus never rose again on the third day? I would feel like this every day. Hopeless! God knew which one of us would choose him and make the decision to follow him long before we were ever born. He knew those who would except the free gift of salvation, and those who would turn their backs on him. But the mind blowing fact is that he made us ALL anyway.......yet he STILL sacrificed his ONE and only son. Tomorrow is a day for new beginnings. Second chances. Do overs. Praise God he doesn't love us based on our actions or performance. No mistake or failure will ever change his love for us. We have the chance to make a fresh start each and every morning because of the sacrifice he made for all of us. My prayer for you is that you know how incredibly loved and important you are. For you were created in Gods image. You are forgiven.........washed clean, white as snow! May we ALL see ourselves like he does! Happy Easter, Andi Spring Cleaning2/23/2016 I always wonder why we wake up so early on Saturday mornings. It was 5:30 am for me this morning. A Safety Meeting at work, took my car to get washed, now I’m enjoying my coffee inside a Starbucks while watching a toddler interact with his father. This particular Starbucks has a drive-thru so I don’t know why I went inside this time. To start this writing journey God has placed on my heart over a year ago, I have come to realize!
He first caught my attention as daddy opened the snack platter and the toddler yelled, “Basketball”. He was referring to the hard boiled egg his daddy was holding. I had to laugh inside, but I’m quite sure the smile on my face told the story of the joy I was feeling on the inside. It brought me back to a time and place when my kids were that age. It seems so long ago. But as I sat and listened to the two of them go back and forth……..” what does a dog say”, and “what does a chicken say”……..listening to the little boys cute sounds of each animal he was imitating, it suddenly didn’t seem so long ago anymore, it was yesterday for me. It reminded me of the term “Spring Cleaning”. Let me explain: For this little boy, everything is a new experience. For him, experiences are fresh and new as he experiences things for the first time. As we get older, we get so caught up in the same old, same old that we seldom make the time for new experiences anymore. We don’t get so excited to see hard boiled eggs like the little boy did. Maybe we’re afraid to make changes or decisions we KNOW we should, like starting an exercise routine, having a garage sale, or cleaning out our closets, things like that. We’re comfortable the way we are, even if it means we are miserable or unhappy. Why do we CHOOSE to stay in this rut, instead of making changes that we KNOW are good for us? It seems so easy to understand, it’s actually pretty simple. Ladies, be honest, we wouldn’t hesitate to give our girlfriends this advice. And these days, we don’t even need to talk to do it. One cell phone and a few fingers and your text advice is on its way. So why is it so hard for us to implement this for ourselves? If it had something to do with our career or our kids, we’d be all over it. Making changes at the snap of a finger, making things ‘happen’ like we always do. That’s what made me think of Spring Cleaning. It signifies a time to get our households in order, to get that fresh and new feeling again. We get those baseboards white again, add a fresh coat of paint to an office, open up the windows and let the fresh air in, and maybe get around to that garage sale we’ve been procrastinating about for over a year now? But what about ‘Spiritual’ Spring Cleaning? What if once a year we took a step back to look at our own ‘inner’ closet? Is there something in your ‘inner’ closet that needs some cleaning this Spring Season? Is there someone that needs forgiveness? Could you be holding a grudge? Spring time is a season of birth……..cherry blossoms appear, flowers come alive and the bears wake up from a long winters nap. Why not start your Spring time fresh and new? Make a CHOICE to experience something fresh and new today. Start your own tradition and implement your own ‘Spiritual’ Spring cleaning campaign this year. I found a verse I thought fit perfectly with ‘Spiritual’ Spring cleaning. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7) Start your ‘Spiritual’ Spring cleaning this weekend. Don’t wait! Good Luck and Happy Cleaning! Written by: Andrea J. Tomassi - April 9, 2011 Don't Just Pray It Away!2/23/2016  So many times we just want to "pray it away" don't we? We put our prayer requests out to our tribe with hopes that God will change our situation without first doing the work ourselves. Did you know we have a responsibility to "do the work" FIRST and do what we KNOW we should? We shouldn't ask God to bail us out every time we ask while we sit back and think, "God will fix this." Sometimes, we are faced with the uncomfortable consequences of our actions and choices for a reason. Maybe God is trying to show us our character defects? Do the work people! Be responsible and accountable at work, at home and with your circle of friends or family, then watch God do what you can't! In Colossians 3:23 it says, "Whatever you do, work at it heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." Are there prayers that have gone unanswered? Has God been silent lately? Maybe he's waiting for you to make the first move? How would you behave if Jesus followed you around today? How would you clean your house if you knew he would be dining with you tonight? How productive would you be at work if he was the one who actually signed your paycheck? This has been a real struggle for me lately........to stay "on task." Sometimes I need to stop and take a moment to renew my mind and allow my actions to evolve from making the choice to serve the Lord FIRST and foremost! That means before my husband, before my children and before the things that I want to do. When I do this, it truly changes my attitude and gives me a sense of peace, while removing the frustration and stress from my day! My prayer for you my friends, is that you will strive to work for Lord in all you do........today and always! Remember he IS observing! Blessings, Andi 💖  LEARN TO FIGHT ALONE2/8/2016  When I am struggling in a situation or a relationship with others, I call on "My Tribe", my Princess Sisters, my go-to girls to fight alongside me. Please don't get me wrong, my Prayer Warrior Girls mean the world to me, and they are so crucial to have in my life, but I've realized they have become my "go to" girls first and God wants to be the first one I go to.
When I saw this quote this morning (above) on a friends Facebook page (Thanks D.M.), it reminded me that I should go to God and ask him to search my own heart FIRST! I need to ask him, "Is there something I need to change in me?" So I went before God this morning with these: 1) God, do I need to change the way I am viewing this situation or this person? Please give me wisdom and discernment to see this situation through your eyes. Please help me be patient and wait! (James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom; let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.") 2) God, do I need to change my behavior and the way I act towards other people? I know others will always be watching to see how I behave, while some will be waiting for me to react out of character to quickly point the finger and cast blame for their behavior. Please help me not react to their negative behavior. Remind me that the truth needs no defense. (Romans 12:19 - Don't take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God's anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, "I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord.") 3) God, do I need to change my heart and the compassion I have for others? I may not know what others are going through and only you know their true heart Lord. Please give me a heart like yours. ( 1 Peter 3:8 - "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.") 4) God, help me to change my expectations of the outcome. I get in my head the way I think things should be, the way I think it should all play out. I have the manuscript already written and everybody should play their part, as I see it. Please help me to understand that things happen according to your purpose and your will and not my own. When relationships and situations don't turn out the way I want them to, help me to see the lesson I am supposed to be learning. Give me the hope to believe you have something better for me when things turn out differently than expected. (Isaiah 55:8-9 - "My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways," declares the Lord. "Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways; and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.") So before we think we need to bring in our prayer warriors, include our friends and tell them all of our problems. Before we rally in the troops and think we need an army circled around us to help us fight the battle.......May we FIRST be reminded to fight alone by looking at ourselves. QUESTION OF THE DAY: What positive changes can I bring to a current situation or relationship by changing myself first? If you have a "Tribe of Friends" like I do, you know they will always be there for you. You can always call for back up later if you need it..........But we must FIRST learn how to "Fight Alone!" Blessings, Andi Punch Out So He Can Punch In8/6/2014 This really touched me this morning. I wish I realized how important this was a long time ago.
Move out of the way and let God do it! « Daughters of the King Daily Devotionals http://mobile.dot-k.com/move-out-of-the-way-and-let-god-do-it/ I hope it blesses you too. Just another reminder we can do NOTHING without ^^^^^^^^ Him! We wear so many hats as women. Wives, sisters as mothers, employers as employees, friends, aunts you name it. We are made in the image of Christ to show compassion, sincerity and a nurturing spirit. Sometimes it's so hard for us to step out of the way when we were made with the tools to do the very thing that is meant to help somebody. Distinguishing between codependency, the giving of my heart and being a true woman in Christ will always be a constant battle for me but I know now more clearer than anything is the voice of my God when He tells me to move out of the way! His hat is not one I am capable of wearing. And those are some big shoes I will never be able to fill. I hope this devotion this morning blesses you and causes you to reflect. .....are you actually moving out of the way & letting God do what he needs to do? I look at it like a time clock at your job..... He can't punch in, if we don't punch out! Enjoy this beautiful day......but remember to MOVE OUT OF THE WAY! ~ Andi ^j^ I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED........6/29/2014 I spent the weekend in Monterrey with a friend and we enjoyed some great "girl time." Sadly, she had to leave early this morning for work, so I stayed and thought I'd do a little reading and writing. As I sat and watched families walk along the beach and kids play in the ocean, it took me back to a time when my children were small. It sure doesn't seem like it's been 25 years since I became a mother myself.
In just about five weeks, my beautiful blue-eyed, curly blonde haired baby boy who mimicked MC Hammer's signature moves in his "Can't Touch This" video, will be married just a few miles up the road. It truly doesn't seem possible. We spend so much time "getting things done" we forget we should be "living in the moment." If I could go back in time, I don't think I would change anything about my life as it has made me who I am today; However, I would read my kids their WHOLE bedtime story, instead of skipping pages because I had to finish up the dishes and put the last load of clothes in the dryer. I would let them eat that bowl of ice cream they would beg me for at breakfast on a Saturday morning while watching Scooby-Doo. I would join my kids in a bathtub full of bubbles with my clothes on and all, just to make them laugh when they wanted me to join them. As I gazed off into the ocean admiring its beauty, a blonde pony-tailed girl in a flowing white sundress caught my eye. She was writing words in the sand with a small stick and then outlined them in shapes of hearts. I couldn't make out what she was writing, but she quickly snapped a picture with her phone before the tide came in and washed her masterpiece away. This continued for some time and she seemed as if she was in a race against time. Could she finish before the next set of waves hit the shore and washed them away? As I sat and watched her, I wondered what her story was. Was she in love or was she trying to get over a heartbreak? Did she lose someone close to her and she was honoring their memory in the sand? It got me thinking about my life and how I want so deeply to leave something in this world that can't be washed away by the pounding ocean surf, when I am no longer here on earth admiring its beauty. I want to make a difference. I want to make a better world for my children and grandchildren one day. I want to be remembered as a woman who made a lot of mistakes, who was broken and not perfect. A woman who used her brokenness to gain a deeper understanding of herself. I want to be remembered as a wife of noble character who strived to bring her husband good, not harm, all the days of her life. I want to be remembered as a woman that was clothed with strength and dignity and laughed without fear of the future. I want be the example of what happens to hardened hearts of those you love when you change your own heart first. I want to be remembered as a woman who took a stand for what was right no matter what the consequences were, even when she knew she could lose everything. I want my kids to look back and remember me as a mother who loved them more than she loved herself. Sadly, over the past few weeks I've had personal possessions taken from me. My Coach bag stolen from the carousel at the airport before I was able to retrieve it and just last night here at the hotel, someone walked away with my Nikon camera. It got me thinking.......the most important 'things" in life are not "things." Worldly possessions can be gone as quickly as we buy them. Just look at families that try and recover from devastated tornadoes or floods. These families lose everything they have. Sure, everyone likes to have nice things and when they are taken from you, you feel violated. But what I have come to realize these last few weeks is that my heart, my joy and my identity should never be in something I can lose. My husband, my children, my job, my home or my fun car! The only thing that my identity should be in is CHRIST. His unfailing love for us is the ONLY thing we will never lose. Even at times when we think we don't want it and we choose to run away from Him.......He still waits patiently for us and continues to pursue us. It brings me such peace knowing that He will NEVER give up on those who love Him and will always search for us until he brings us home. ~ Andi The "Comfort Zone" Hotel6/17/2014 Our “Comfort Zone" is very cozy place, isn’t it? The walls are filled with wooden picture frames with the words no worries, be happy. Better known as ‘Hakuna Matata,’ the Swahili saying in popular culture made famous by the song from the movie, The Lion King.
Your comfort zone can be a very cozy place, but it can also be a safe place. So safe that you get comfortable and over time it feels like home. Your bags have been unpacked, clothes folded nicely in the cedar dresser drawers provided. You’ve taken all your toiletries out of your make up bag and your favorite heels are lined up along the dusty closet floor. You have in fact, “checked in” to the Comfort Zone Hotel. We’ve all checked in to this hotel at one point or another. How often and how long we stay is solely up to the individual. For me, the longer I stayed ordering room service each morning instead of walking down to the lobby to eat breakfast, the more I felt stuck. Stuck in a rut, a pit, a funk, you know the words. I’m sure as you read this your own word comes to mind confirming you that you yourself have “checked in.” One day, as sure as the sun will rise you will wake up and realize your quick weekend getaway has turned into an extended stay. Instead of hearing ‘Hakuna Matata’ in your head and singing the Lion King song you’re rockin’ out and screaming the words to ‘Sweet Home Alabama.’ If I could share one thing with you, I would share with you this: YOUR LIFE BEGINS WHEN YOU LIVE OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE. Once you step outside that hotel room and do the unthinkable, the unimaginable, the unenviable…..the things you never thought were possible become a reality. It is there when your life will begin. I will share with you some wise words from my father. We heard it over and over growing up, just ask my siblings. We heard the words so much that we’d mimic him behind his back with, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.” Then we’d start laughing. As I write this, I clearly remember the teenage eye-rolling and sarcasm in our snide remarks. Under our breath of course (we wouldn’t dare mimic him to his face). As I entered adulthood, it was my fathers words I held onto when I was faced with the decision to stay in a specific chapter of my life or move on. It was as if his words were the checks and balances and they soon became the determining factor. His words empowered me with the wisdom to know that I, Andrea Tomassi get to decide the outcome of my story and no one else. Looking back on my childhood, I am forever grateful for my fathers wise words and the lessons that followed when I applied those words to my life. To this day, I don’t think he realizes how much I have used them over the years. I think I will forward this blog to him tonight when I get home just to make sure he knows. If you ask me, everyday you stay at the Comfort Zone Hotel, you lose one more day of your precious life! My sisters and brothers, I encourage you to step outside your “comfort zone.” Now I’m not encouraging you to jump out of an airplane or swim with sharks. Just start with this; make a bucket list! What do you want to do in your lifetime? Is there a fear you hope to overcome? Is there a grudge you’ve been carrying for far to long? Is there a heart that needs to be forgiven? Are you in a relationship that needs to be mended? Do you want to start a new healthy lifestyle? Check out of that hotel today! Start writing your own bucket list. All you need for now is some quiet time, a pen and a piece of paper. You can always add to your list, but let me warn you…..NEVER allow yourself to delete things you’ve previously listed. They were written down for a reason. If you catch yourself doing this…..you’ve checked back in! What’s stopping you from taking that “leap of faith?” What are you waiting for? What do you have to lose? Rise up and do something today that your future self will thank you for. Blessings, Andi Happy Father's Day!6/16/2014 Happy Father's Day to all you Dad's out there. Today is the day we take the time to reflect on the men in our lives. The dad's we celebrate today are our fathers, husbands, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, sons, nephews, cousins and friends. With all the BBQ cebrations today, I have to wonder how many of us stopped to thank our Heavenly Father for being such an AMAZING Dad.
So many times I think HE gets left out of the true meaning of Holidays here on earth......At Christmas time, we get so caught up in rushing around finding the best sales around, even if it means we get NO sleep because we're standing outside at 3 o'clock in the morning, in the freezing cold to get right in the door when the store opens with hopes to get the best possible deals. We make sure we play Santa and fill all the stockings before our kids wake up in the morning. We stress about getting the turkey in the oven at the perfect time on Thanksgiving morning to make sure that it's done in time, then spend hours cleaning the house to make sure it's just perfect for the dinner guests. At Easter you worry about rushing to the store at the last minute to grab the candy to fill the Easter eggs because you committed to purchasing and making them for school this year. Yet, we still find time to get that first picture with the Easter Bunny before the baby gets to cranky. I think we just forget the true meaning of these precious Holidays. Father's Day is another one we forget. Our Heavenly Father is such an amazing Dad to me. He is my protector, my best friend, my deliver, my redeemer, my prince of peace. My God is so much more then somebody I pray to when I need him. He has been so incredibly patient and has NEVER given up on me. He has always believed in me, even through poor decision making when I didn't believe in myself anymore. My Heavenly Father has taken me in his arms and loved me no matter what. He has filled my heart with so much love and has used me right in the middle of my deepest brokenness. It is truly nothing short of a miracle for someone to tell you that you have touched their lives in the middle of your own depression. I thank you today God for being such an amazing Dad and for giving me the hardships in my life. Because through those Lord, I have grown closer to you. I want everyday to be Fathers Day with you Lord. Everyday I should be thanking you and praising you....even through the storms. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of waking up each morning and breathing in air. Because of your power......you have allowed me to live another day! We all should treat God like it's Father's Day.......EVERYDAY! What did you get your Heavenly Father for Father's Day today? Give him the BEST gift ever......YOUR HEART! ♡♡ STRONG PEOPLE6/13/2014 Strong people go on, even when they think they can’t. Strong people know that God sees their sadness, but allows them to still suffer. Strong people know that through the hardest of times God says, “Hand everything over to me,” and they do it! Strong people understand what faith really means; that faith isn’t faith, until it’s all you have left. Strong people know there’s always a lesson to be learned in every tragedy and sorrow. Strong people know that God is always good. Strong people know they can’t succeed alone. Strong people pray. Strong people sacrifice themselves for others. Strong people know how to let others’ shine when they are in their space. Strong people know that forgiveness means giving up their right to hurt someone for hurting them. Strong people cry. Strong people know that change is always coming. Strong people know that the Bible is a roadmap. Strong people know that family is the strongest bond they will ever have and should always be the most important relationship. Strong people know, although they endlessly love their children; they should love their spouse more. Strong people know, although they endlessly love their spouse; they should love God more. Strong people understand that life is a gift and should be treated as such. Strong people go to church. Strong people know that when they wake up in the morning and their feet hit the floor, the devil says, “oh crap they’re up.” Strong people know when to say, no. Strong people know that courage isn’t the absence of fear, instead it’s believing there’s something more important in the end than the fear itself. Strong people are happy with other people’s successes. Strong people are unselfish people. Strong people don’t stand by and do nothing, they act. Strong people know they have a voice and know when to use it. Strong people know they have a voice and know when not to use it. Strong people love. Strong people are caring people. Strong people know it takes courage to speak in front of people but it takes even more courage to sit and listen. Strong people know they were created with the intent to have a relationship with God. Strong people are happy people. Strong people know the difference between “Will you forgive me” and “I’m sorry.” Strong people tackle the unthinkable, then give God the glory for getting there. Strong people do their very best in everything they do because they know God is always watching. Strong people have empathy. Strong people suffer. Strong people know that you have to have darkness to see the stars. Strong people fight for the future God has intended. Strong people know they need God in their life. Strong people know wisdom and knowledge mean nothing if it’s kept a secret.
Strong people share with others how to be strong. The Little Pencil6/13/2014 Do you ever wonder why bad things happen? Even to the best of people? It is a very difficult question, especially when God asks you to walk through some very dark places. Our minds are just not capable of understanding His reasoning. I often think, He blesses us with the gift of discernment because He wants us to understand. Quite possibly, because He knows we will share our story to help someone else. There will be other times which we will never understand. It is during those times that I recall Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
I believe God has a “Life Book” with each of our names in it. It’s filled with the best gifts and blessings any loving father would want for His children. Daily, God grabs his pencil, opens these books and starts to write. Yes, a pencil. A short little pencil with no eraser. Just like the ones you use when you keep score playing miniature golf, or the ones you see upright filling the holes in the church pews on Sunday mornings? God’s gracious loving hands have filled in every page from the day we were born until the day we leave this earth. He has carefully chosen each gift and blessing we are to receive in this lifetime with perfection. Take a minute and just imagine what He has written on the pages in your “life book.” Could they be filled with all of your dreams and aspirations? Sadly, we will never know everything that He has written on those pages. I believe the reason God writes with a pencil is because the words are not meant to be changed. Our Father has written His own version of our lives, the way He sees it. How could anything be more perfect? Unfortunately, a pencil is not the only writing tool He uses. He also uses a black permanent marker. When God picks up the marker, a sense of sadness flashes across His loving face. It is very simple. Each time we make decisions in our lives and think we know what’s best for us, God has to use a black marker to cover up all the plans He originally intended for our lives and replace them with our own story. The soft brown hue of the lead is now covered with a dark ink that now bleeds through the other pages. We will never know the depth of those gifts and blessings. Although, I do believe God uses every choice we make right or wrong as a lesson to be learned; I often wonder how many really wonder what’s on those pages. Would you think more about it if you knew you’d receive more blessings than lessons? Sadly, I know I will never know everything God has written in my “life book.” I know it has many pages covered with black ink. Although I am far from perfect, I can ask Him for His wisdom and voice to lead me towards the blessing He has set out for my life so many years earlier. The next time you see a pencil with no eraser, just remember….it’s meant to be that way! Just because others don't see your worth doesn't mean a thing. We need to remember WHO we are and WHOSE we are. I have defined myself and my worth for the past 26 years in other people when I should have been more concerned with who GOD says I am instead of who others say I am. Sometimes in our own brokenness (and we ALL are broken), we believe the situations we are in or the circumstances surrounding our lives, some beyond our control are somehow our fault. This can be from being a codependent or from our own shame. When others deflect their brokenness onto us, we sometimes "take one for the team" so to speak, to keep the peace. But sadly over time we start to define ourselves and our value in what others think of us.
I have learned a very important lesson over the past few months: "YOUR OPINION OF ME IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS." Only God sees my motives, my intentions and my true heart. Other people only see the outwardly behavior. There will be times when others may try and manipulate you into thinking your motives are anything but pure, but don't you get off track. They are looking at you through a pair of brokenness glasses and they cannot see the truth. More often than not, they are reacting out of fear of the unknown and their past experiences. Do you know someone like this in your life? May I share a few WORDS OF CAUTION: You can't change them! Not with a Bible verse, not with a heart to heart talk, not with a CD or book, not by loving them. YOU CAN'T and WILL NOT change them. True change is a personal act of repentance that is something very personal between them and GOD. Sticking your nose in where is doesn't belong will leave you nothing but frustrated and angry. You are not fighting the flesh but you are fighting satan and the darkness that surrounds him. So put on your armor and suit up, then get on your knees. Because that is the ONLY way you will win this battle. It's unfortunate that our minds can be so easily manipulated by satan. Starting with just a simple thought then leading to an action or behavior. Sometimes that action or behavior once full-grown can turn into sin creating a negative lifestyle and we end up walking away from GOD. It can destroy relationships, families and marriages. But more importantly, it cuts off our precious relationship with our Father in Heaven. We run, we hide, we blame others for the sin in our lives, we won't admit our own faults, we take no accountability or responsibility for our own actions. Eventually, it tears us up internally which results in feelings of guilt and shame. When we choose not to deal with the REAL issues, we take the "easy way" out and place the blame on someone else. And sadly, once this becomes your lifestyle, you actually start to believe the lie. Do you know who the most dangerous liars are in this world? They are the one's that TRULY believe they ARE telling the truth. Here's the good news: You CAN turn my friends. You can change direction at any time. It is a conscious choice to WANT change in your life and when you KNOW better you're expected to DO better. Don't let one single thought satan has put in your head (that was a lie to begin with), birth into full fledged sin. Listen to the VOICE OF TRUTH! I will leave you with this.......we want to change the people we love because we want BETTER for them. We see their struggles, hang-ups and pain and we just want to make it ALL go away. We want to run in and "save the day." But once we realize we cannot and our efforts are NOT working we surrender them fully to GOD. They need to WANT true change for themselves. We need to firmly plant our feet on the shore and wave goodbye as our loved ones sail off on the Titanic. If you are one of these people I want you to remember your job. God's job is to = JUDGE Holy Spirit's job is to = CONVICT Our job is to = LOVE Your blessings will be magnificent if you can show love to others especially to the ones that have hurt you. Leave the judging and convicting alone. It's NOT your job! May you be richly BLESSED today and may you carry with you the fact that you ARE so incredibly WORTHY of everything good the LORD has waiting for you. Blessings, Andi ^j^ Welcome to Transcended Ministries6/8/2014 Welcome Friends.......
Transcended Ministries has been a work in progress for the past three years. I am so excited for you to walk with me as I share my heart with you. This has been about God's timing and perfect plan and not my own. I know He has been molding and refining me for a time such as this so He can say, "OK Andi, now is the time." I hope you enjoy the posts, my blog, articles and my book and devotional to be released hopefully next year. These past few years have been both amazing and heart-breaking at the same time. Although I am still a "work in progress," I am starting to rise out of my brokenness and I am starting to understand exactly why I have been on this amazing journey. There are many reasons that come to mind behind this idea, but sharing my personal journey of faith and obedience while walking through the wilderness is on the top of the list! May you be richly blessed by my story. ~ Andi ^j^ Author:Andrea (Andi), is an Author, musician, speaker and Founder of Transcended Ministries. She encourages women to rise above their circumstances and to trust in God's timing. She is involved in Celebrate Recovery and sings on the worship team at her church. Andi believes no hurt is ever wasted and she longs to bring a message of hope and healing as she shares her story of bold faith. Her story includes her struggle with control issues and co-dependency followed by a separation from her husband of twenty-five years. After a year of isolation and being on her own, she watched God bring transformation, healing, and reconciliation. Archives
August 2019
Categories |
RSS Feed