Author: Annalee Reyes

If we’re all honest, there are times during the Christmas season when we end up feeling overwhelmed or obligated, weary or worn-out, hurried or hurting, lonely or lost.

If that’s you, don’t feel ashamed. Rejoice. Because Christmas came for you. Christmas came to embrace you where you are. And Christmas came to heal you there, raise you up there and fill you with a Living Hope and Resurrection Life there. Christmas came to restore your true identity; to remind you Whose you are.

Christmas is Jesus. And Jesus came to reveal the Father’s love for you and renew you once again in the Spirit of sonship (daughtership)! The wonder of this Christmas is the joy of your Salvation found in the embrace of your Father’s arms!

Continue reading “Everlasting Father. Everlasting Embrace.”

“to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

There’s no part of your humanity that Jesus isn’t in touch with. He took on human flesh to truly feel you. It’s safe to let your guard down with Him and let Him in. He wants you to know Him by knowing He knows you fully & seeks you out there.

Our hearts become hardened when we believe there is some part of us that isn’t accepted; when we feel our secret hurts, insecurities and failed attempts are a disappointment to our Father.

On the contrary, it’s when we receive His unconditional Love, tenderness and grace in the midst of our suffering-knowing that we are wholly embraced and accepted IN the Beloved Son-our hearts become softened and vulnerable.

Vulnerable like a tender baby. Like a helpless infant (sinless) Savior who chose to leave His throne and be embraced by sinful flesh, wholly dependent on an imperfect young girl, full of fear and insecurities.

And all so He could take her condition, and yours, upon His body, on a cross, and give you His perfect condition without conditions. Undeserved favor, unearned compassion and unmerited kindness.

All wrapped up in His righteousness alone that wraps you in His glory and honor. All wrapped up in a newborn’s cry; the cry that calls for you to come as you are. The cry that silences your heart’s cry to be loved as you are.

So go ahead, let your guard down and hear Him whisper, “Come My beloved. Let it go. Let your dependence be wholly on Me and enter into Christmas!”

Resting In His Love,

Annalee Reyes

When was the last time you woke up in the morning and thanked your Daddy God for…you? When you open your eyes, do you realize He kissed you awake? As you exhale and yawn, do you discern you’re inhaling His breath? Do you thank Him because He made you His marvelous masterpiece and has marvelous plans for you?

Maybe this Thanksgiving you need reminding that “thanks-giving” is actually “thanks-receiving,” and all that you have gratitude for is in direct relation to how you see God, how loved and accepted you believe you are and how much you believe He freely gives.

Continue reading “Thanksgiving For The Hungry Heart”

I don’t know about you, but I have heard and read so many well-meaning messages and devotionals about why, when and how God is “silent.” And every one was tainted in some way with a religious tone. Some would point to God being silent during certain seasons of your life while others would suggest He is waiting for you to arrive at some point. Regardless, there is only one truth to His silence. And in this love letter, I hope the sound of that verity resonates freedom in your soul. It’s the reason I can’t keep quiet!

In this gospel, there is only good news. And the more intimate I become with God and the more He reveals to me His heart, His finished work and His ways, the more undone I become in His love and grace. Now don’t get me wrong…there has been many a “season” in my relationship with Jesus when it has felt or seemed as though God were silent. Actually, it felt more like He was completely ignoring me! But as He has gently unraveled the chains of lies that religion loves to keep us bound in, I have come to see just how He relates to and communes with us. And it’s always in Perfect Love.

Continue reading “When God Is Silent”

What if you didn’t “try” to do anything to please God in any way…but instead chose to TRUST Him moment by moment (casting each care on Him, expecting His goodness), REST in Him (inwardly be at peace) and actually ENJOY a real relationship with Him?

Right now, if you are feeling completely burned-out as a Christian, consider yourself blessed; He’s calling you to the high life of real freedom. If you are at the end of your rope, get happy; He’s calling you into a life of real rest.

Continue reading “Are You Trying or Trusting?”

You. Are. Not. Alone.

Immanuel = God with us. Jesus with you. No matter what you are going through or how lonely you feel, your Savior Himself has promised you:
“…I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!].”
‭‭(Hebrews‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭AMPC)‬‬.

Continue reading “Immanuel”

Just for the record, I do not have it all together all the time. Ha! Would you believe there are many days when I feel like I’m a hot mess (hey, it’s a real term just added to the Oxford Dictionary!)? Oh yea…But that’s okay. And that’s the point. The point is to not have to have it all together. And when I am reminded of that, it’s just the place I find myself being overtaken by a flood-tide of Grace and Unconditional Love.

The truth is, we’ve never once had it all together, we were never meant to have it all together and we don’t ever need to try and have it all together. All we were ever meant to do, is to fall into the arms of the Altogether Lovely One (Song of Songs 5:16) and trust Him and all He’s accomplished on our behalf.

Continue reading “Gold in the Mud”

I had the thought of writing a blog in honor of Mother’s Day this week. But this blessed mama has found herself in the midst of the choice to be present in other moments; moments of laying my hands on the backs of my sons to pray for and comfort them while they puke in a bucket…while I wipe up diarrhea and start baths to clean the mess. Moments to simply lay quiet next to each one as they lay still before the next bout (because it was my turn the week before and I know exactly how they feel). Moments to disinfect and wash sheets and clothes contaminated with the viral germs that could so easily lead me into chaos but instead remind me of what love is. Moments to live in the present moment as a mother; the most fulfilling experience of my life.

Continue reading “Mother’s Day: Miracles in the Midst of the Mess”

Good Friday is a Good Father. This is how much your Papa loves you beloved. It was His very will to crush His Son and cause Him to suffer so you could come home to His heart and be healed and blessed (Isaiah 53:10). Daddy God Who was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself to get His kids back, spared nothing to free you from curse and death to release the flood tide of Grace over your life.

And This Son; This Suffering Servant and Innocent Savior said “yes” before the Earth was made. He chose you before you were you. He’d rather die than to be without you. And now that He’s with you, He does not make light of your pain, hurt and hardships. He knows your suffering and empathizes with you in every detail of your dark and anxious moments and in all your brokenness. For it is Christ Himself Who took on your very condition. He did it for you.

Continue reading “Good Friday Is A Good Father”

“Shout and cheer…raise the roof…Your King is coming! A good King who makes all things right, a humble King riding a donkey, a mere colt of a donkey…He will offer peace to the nations, a peaceful rule worldwide, from the four winds to the seven seas.”

‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭9:9-10‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Continue reading “The Passion In Palm Sunday”