Category: Uncategorized

The Father’s heart for fathers

“You and I, just as Jesus, have been given Father’s stamp of approval long before we ever accomplished anything in this life. You are His beloved, so, be loved.” ~ Leif Hetland

I think the greatest way to honor fathers on Father’s Day is to remind them to become children again. The role of a father is indispensable, vital and crucial to a child. And if it’s healthy, that role depicts a tiny grain of sand, a glimpse if you will, as to what God’s heart is like towards His children.

A child, on the other hand, gets to freely receive. He gets to romp and play, live loved, explore and make mistakes in the joy of knowing his father’s joy over him. It’s for that reason, my heart yearns to remind every father reading this of the pride and joy his Heavenly Daddy has for him…simply because he is.

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He Fills All in All

“…the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].” Ephesians‬ ‭1:23‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Where do you feel empty today? Lacking? In need of understanding, acceptance and unconditional love? Are you going through something and you feel no one gets it? Do you feel rejected by someone you love or someone at work whom you feel should be respecting you or giving you recognition? Is there a gaping hole in your heart too painful to really share from losing someone dear? Or from a relationship that seems to have died?

Beloved, there is only One who knows your heart, completely and intricately. There is only One who knows every tear you’ve shed, every hurt you’ve hidden, every moment you’ve felt forsaken. And only The One, Jesus (your only source for real life) can fill  those places with redeeming unconditional love, healing and restoration.

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Deep Calls To Deep Devotional

“Deep calls to deep at the [thundering] sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.” ‭‭PSALM‬ ‭42:7‬ ‭AMP‬‬
   The depths of His heart are calling out to the deep places in your soul. He wants you to come to Him without reservation, without being afraid or uncomfortable to tell Him anything. Anything…and everything…every detail.
    Even if you’re feeling like you have no faith. Even if you’re feeling insecure, condemned, confused, wronged or alone. Nothing you’re feeling or going through is a surprise or mystery to the One who holds your heart and Whose breath is your breath.
   The only way to have intimacy with the Lord and to walk in His Perfect Love and Peace is to be real with Him. To know that when you commune with Him in vulnerability and truth, He is accepting you wholly; washing over you with waves of tenderness, surging smiles of pleasure, wide-open arms to embrace you and a flood tide of supernatural supply!
   When you hold onto your worries, pains, and even your desires, you will feel the swells of the storm within you. You will constantly feel like you’re drowning internally. And you will find it hard to receive from the Giver of Life.
   But when you release it all to Jesus, you’ll get drenched in His unconditional love for you. On that cross, His heart literally broke open to wash over you with forever forgiveness and endless grace.
   This is what it means to be the righteousness of God in Christ. Being yourself with Him – no shame, no guilt – knowing in His eyes you are secure in His perfection. He alone is your Steadfast, your Confidence, your Assurance, your Portion. Not man, Not creation. Not methods. Not religious formulas. Jesus Only.
   He’s the only One who can give you whole health, real rest and thriving life. So set your heart on pilgrimage to enjoy a real relationship with your Best Friend. Tell Him you want to know Him like that. Remember child of God, He’s not finding fault with you, He’s gently Fathering you further into Love.
Resting In His Love,
Annalee Reyes

We Know Not How Devotional

(Above is the first sprout of my garden this year.)

“…the seed sprouts and grows and increases–he knows not how.”
Mark 4:27 AMPC

New beginnings. New life. It’s there. He’s there. The seed is hidden in the dark, cold soil of the earth. We see it not. Yet it is growing roots, taking hold of the good ground, opening itself to life, preparing to break through on the other side.

We see it not. We know not how. We don’t dig it up to analyze its progress. We can’t force it to grow faster. We rest. We wait. We anticipate. We praise.

It’s the same with us. Hidden and trusting in Jesus, we know even in our dark places, He is making the miraculous happen. We know not how. Our part is not to try to figure it out. Our part is to trust. To trust in His love that is too big to comprehend. To trust in His goodness that knows no limits. To trust He is making all things new and beautiful.

All because The Seed (Jesus) went to the depths of the earth for you and was raised to give you life abundant with Him through intimacy.

So slow down. Take a step out of the rat race. Be still and know that the absence of your understanding is NOT the absence of His moving Presence. Find your calm in not concerning yourself with the “hows” and “whys,” but in letting yourself be loved as you are and enjoying Him where you are.

It’s spring. Take a moment (or two, or three…) out of your day today and open your heart and eyes to the promises of new life all around you. And then encounter it (Him) within you.

Resting In His Love,

Annalee Reyes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nailed It!

Sin, shame, condemnation, guilt, regrets, fear of punishment, rule-keeping, failures, distress, judgement, strife, sicknesses, diseases, death: NAILED! Every one of those things born on Jesus’ body and nailed to that cross, come from us trying to be like God because of Adam.

They come from trying, striving, doing…in an effort to please Him. Those things come from rule-keeping, law-living. Condemnation is the direct result of trying to live out a list of do’s and dont’s before God; a list we could never, would never and were never meant to try to live out.

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Eagle Vision

Long before the Philadelphia Eagles won this year’s Super Bowl, the Lord had already been speaking to my heart about Eagle vision. And because He loves to speak prophetically, even in sports, it was no surprise this team of believers from “the City of Brotherly Love,” was going to champion a picture of God’s heart for His children and this country in this season.

To have Eagle vision is to see Jesus. To see Jesus is to see Grace; His unearned, unmerited favor, faithfulness, goodness and kindness towards you. To see Him is to know Him. To know Him is to experience eternal life right here, right now. And when you continually see Jesus and yourself in Him, you will rise above the oppression and depression that pulls you earthbound and soar on His wings of victory. But what exactly does it mean to “see” Jesus? And how do you “see” Him?

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A New Year of Rest

“…You can’t force these things. They only come about through My Spirit…” Zechariah 4:6 msg

The best thing you can resolve to do in 2018 is to rest in what Jesus has done. The life of grace and intimacy with your Savior, is the life of trusting more and trying less. His unconditional love invites you into the unforced rhythms of grace by letting go of trying to “fix” yourself and letting Him do for you what you can’t do for yourself.

Did you know He’s actually attracted to your weaknesses and can’t wait for you to brag about them? Why? Because when you realize your need for Him, His grace explodes there. Society shouts “Be more and do more!” But Jesus reminds you, at the cross, He took your place and gave you His so you can be loved as you are and rest in what He’s done…to receive the desires of your heart instead of strive for them.

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Everlasting Father. Everlasting Embrace.

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!

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Enter Into Christmas Devotional

“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