Rest In His Love

Beloved, God does not have a naughty list. Unlike the religious image of Santa (man’s erroneous image of God), who seems to always be analyzing behavior, Abba (Father Christmas Himself) is not finding fault with you. He is never withholding gifts from you and He is never keeping a record of wrongs. 

Because on that cross, Jesus, the law giver became the law fulfiller thus becoming your naughty list (and mine) so He could give you an endless and eternal supply of His unearned, unmerited, undeserved favor. 

Yes, on that cross, He took your entire lifetime of sin upon His body so that you, who believe, could take His everlasting gift of righteousness and scandalous grace.

Religion which comes from the law, points man to man and reveals what man is not. God, who took on man’s condition to redeem him from it, points to Jesus and reveals to you who you are in Him; His beloved, accepted, spotless child and heir of His Kingdom. 

And this for one reason only: relationship. A real relationship with your Rescuer; the One who is not policing your life but is pursuing it, saving it, fathering it, loving it, caring for it.

“God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it!”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Do my children believe in Santa Clause? You bet. But have we ever told them he is checking their behavior to determine whether or not they would receive gifts? Never.

Do we have an Elf-On-The-Shelf? Of course! But both Santa and elves, just like Jesus, are enjoying our children and delighting in them daily simply because they are God’s masterpiece.

So instead of trying to motivate your children unto better behavior using fear, remember your Papa is pleased with you and is telling you, “Fear not!” 

Your Lord is never lording over you with control. And He is not after behavior modification. He is always after heart transformation…which is always a result of believing that He loves you radically and unconditionally as you are and not as you think you should be!

We as parents love to encourage our children to “Believe” for Christmas. But let’s make sure we are believing ourselves that, “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

Because it’s with the precious blood of Jesus, you’ve been penned in permanently on the everlasting “nice” list!

Merry Christmas Be-Loved!

Resting In His Love,

Annalee Reyes

Everything about His birth points to His death. Like the manna, tiny as a coriander seed (Numbers 11:7), fell from Heaven, so the Bread of Life, left His throne in Heaven, to enter the womb, a tiny seed; God becoming man to redeem humanity.   

Continue reading “Baby Bread”

The very first question asked by The Lord in the Old Testament was answered by the very first question in the New Testament.

Continue reading “Christmas Calls”

This is how your Faithful Father reasons with you…

He wants you to settle it in your heart and mind once and for all that you have been washed whiter than snow in His Son’s blood! He wants you to conclude, decide and believe without doubt that you are spotless in His eyes!

In Isaiah 1:18 He says, “Come now, let’s settle this…though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”

And He did! At the cross, your sin-tainted blood was cleansed with the perfect, sinless blood of The Lamb. Now Jesus is your glistening, snow-glittering, without blemish Reality; your true identity!

Chosen one, God is not looking at you to judge you. He is looking at Jesus and adjudging you the righteousness of God in Christ! And the One who paid the highest price with the deepest love for you, wants you to reckon yourself righteous in Him too!

Only then will you be free to boldly call on your Abba, Daddy God, and draw near as His beloved child; no longer a slave to fear but a son of Grace (Galatians 4:4-7)!

Resting In His Love,

Annalee Reyes

“The splendor light of heaven’s glorious sunrise is about to break upon us in holy visitation, all because the merciful heart of our God is so very tender. The word from heaven will come to us with dazzling light to shine upon those who live in darkness, near death’s dark shadow. And He will illuminate the path that leads to the way of peace.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:78-79‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Because you can never have too many lights for The Light of World. His Love-Light breaks through the tomb of your hurts, your brokenness, your darkness; your right-where-you-are messes. Like a tiny baby Who broke through the womb of the night, into the world He loves with His cry of “Come! Come to Me as you are!”

His warm Son-rays illumine the deepest recesses of your wounded and wearied heart with the Truth of His unconditional love. It shines His finished-work forgiveness on your soul and wraps you in His glory to set you free from guilt, fear and pain.

He is here. He has come. And He has overcome.

He appeared in the still of the night and was raised as the Dawning Light to silence the voice of your accuser. His radiant splendor publicly proclaiming His redeeming grace to the lonely and despised ones of the fields (Luke 2:8-11) to the make a public spectacle of the tyrants that oppress you in your valleys (Colossians 2:15); taking them prisoners to set you free.

He is here. He is with you now.

The Love-Light of your heart is closer than your breath. He is your ever present Rescuer. His ever present Presence beaming His arms of favor around you, beaming His arms of tenderness to hold you, beaming His arms of Salvation to carry your every burden…carrying you home into His rest.

Beloved, today, take a moment to be still with Jesus. Let Him remind you of His passion and joy for you; His unstoppable love for you that is The Light that leads you back into the pathWay of His Peace (Psalm 119:105).

Resting In His Love,

Annalee Reyes

 

 

 

“The Father said, ‘My child, you are always with Me by My side. Everything I have is yours to enjoy.’”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:31‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Ahhhh. You don’t have to strive or pretend or try to put your best foot forward with the Lord in order to receive from Him. Actually, all that strife (dead works) hinders your heart from receiving all that He’s continually pouring out.

Your Father delights in giving to you as you are. He’s not interested in you trying to impress Him. He’s already well pleased with the imperfect you, His beloved. He is pleased with His Son’s impressive sacrifice that made you righteous in His sight, qualifing you for His intimacy, healing, provision, protection and more.

It doesn’t matter how small or seemingly insignificant your concern, need or desire. If it concerns you, it concerns Jesus. If it matters to you, it matters to Him.

His giving has nothing to do with your doing or lack of it. His giving is based on what Jesus has done, complete and perfect. Now In Him, you are found complete, lacking nothing. You may not feel complete, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s true (Col. 2:10).

And because, in Him, you live and function and have your identity (Acts 17:28 TPT), your Abba sees you covered in His favor, honor and glory. That’s why even when you feel you are at your worst, you can believe what you are asking Him for is already a finished work…then you will see it.

Just talk to Him about all that’s on your heart. Speak out what you want to see; what’s already yours. You will hear your words and they will become faith for you to believe while in the wait; while He is moving, healing and preparing… working every detail of your life out for good because of your trust in Him.

He is not just able, He is willing. So willing, that He suffered your afflictions, giving up His life for you so He could give you Heaven’s quality of life overflowing in your soul, relationships, family, work…and most importantly, in your unhindered union with Him.

In and of ourselves, we deserve nothing. But in Christ and because HE deserves it all, we as His children, are heirs of His limitless blessings! He wants you to come to Him as you are; a negative charge (your weaknesses and failures) coming to a positive charge (His strength and faithfulness)… And then bam! 💥…  You will see His explosive love manifest beyond what you can imagine!

Relax, child of God, and trust in His passion for you. Let go of all you think is being demanded of you and simply and freely receive and enjoy the supply that’s already yours by the blood of Jesus that shouts nothing but “Grace! Grace!” (Zech. 4:7).

“This is the reason I urge you to boldly believe for whatever you ask for in prayer—be convinced that you have received it and it will be yours.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭11:24‬ ‭TPT‬‬

 

Resting In His Love,

Annalee Reyes

I recently had the privilege of hosting and leading an intimate women’s group using Tullian Tchividjian’s masterpiece “One Way Love.” Each week these beautiful women and I grew in being vulnerable and real with each other and with Jesus.

Each week we fed and feasted on the truth of the gospel; the truth that our identity is found in Jesus alone and in all He did for us. That we are free to ditch pretending and performing for God and others. That living by rules and “shoulds” is demanding and exhausting. That it’s all about our Father’s inexhaustible one way love for us (especially when we think are least lovable).

That it’s all about knowing Jesus and receiving His grace as we are because He became our curse at the cross so we would become the recipient of His righteousness and resurrection life.

We need the true gospel every moment, every day like we need oxygen. We need to hear over and over again that it IS finished. And that now you have an endless supply of new beginnings. That you are free to find rest in HIS perfect sacrifice; to find rest in being known and sought after as you are. That you can give up trying to force anything to happen but by His Spirit He does it all.

This is the good news for a tired church and a tired world. The good news of a good good Father Who gave up His Beloved Son to take our place so we could take His as the beloved…to have a real relationship with a real God who really really really pursues you every second of your life! In your hurt, in your pain, in your confusion and in your weariness, He meets you there to be with you there.

And there, He becomes your hope, healing, peace and abundance. This is the gospel. Grace upon Grace. Trust and take it.

Resting In His Love,

Annalee Reyes

“And by His one perfect sacrifice He made us perfectly holy and complete for all time!…And then He says, “I will not ever again remember their sins and lawless deeds!” So if our sins have been forgiven and forgotten, why would we ever need to offer another sacrifice for sin?”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:14, 17-18‬ ‭TPT‬‬

No matter how much you think this can’t be true…it is! Beloved, you are FORGIVEN. FORGIVEN. FORGIVEN. The mistakes and failures you can’t forget, your Father can’t remember! And won’t! EVER! Your entire lifetime of sin has already been dealt with at the cross!

The blood of Jesus-His liquid love-is far greater than your biggest offense! In His sight you are perfected forever! This is your confidence! You can run straight to Him no matter what you’ve done or what you’re going through…and be met by Perfect Love!

No more offering sacrifices of performance to please Him. No more wallowing in guilt. No more confession speeches. Just a ‘thank you’ will do. Especially in the midst of your messing up – ‘Thank you Daddy God for making me a new creation in Christ; beautiful and righteous in your sight!”

This is grace! This is the gospel! This is your freedom, believer! Got an addiction? A problem? Confess your righteousness, not your wrong-doing. And watch how Jesus takes care of it for you, through you.

So today, when you feel like you haven’t done enough or the accuser whispers in your ear, ‘look what you just did,’ …

Fuh-get-about-it! And go to your Father to receive the the favor you don’t deserve but get anyway because of Jesus! And live!

What though the vile accuser roar, Of sins that I have done; I know them well, and thousands more; My God, He knoweth none…My sin is cast into the sea. Of God’s forgotten memory. No more to haunt accusingly. For Christ has lived and died for me.”(His Be The Victor’s Name, hymn)

Resting In His Love,

Annalee Reyes

“Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 1 Kings 18:41

Have you been hard-pressed on all sides during what seems like a never-ending season of drought? Perhaps you’ve been weathering a desert storm that seems it will never let up. Have you been wondering when you’ll see the winds of change? I believe the Lord wants to bring a Word of encouragement to you (His beloved) as He prepares you for His downpour of blessings.

God wants you to see more of His Son. When you see Jesus, you see the Father; His heart, His nature, His grace…His love for you. At the beginning of this year (2018), just after the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl, I wrote an article about having Eagle Vision; an enlightening of your heart, flooded with the revelation of the Person Jesus and what He did for you in His death, burial and resurrection.

Continue reading “I Hear The Sound”

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

The Prince of Peace reminds you, you don’t have to bow to the thoughts waging war in your mind, to the fear pursuing to paralyze you, to the symptoms working diligently to debilitate you.

For HE, The Prince of Peace, the Victor of the violent cross, the Resurrected One who is living in you is far greater than the one who is in the world.

HE has bequeathed to you His very Shalom (His rest, tranquility, wholeness, health, prosperity and exemption from internal havoc) so that in the midst of life’s chaos, your trust in His Presence on the inside can actually transform the atmosphere on the outside.

Remember, your Papa knows what you need. So choose to place it all in the hands of His Perfect Love; the hands that paid for your provision. And see how those hands fill you with His plenty in His perfect time.

“The only hope for enduring peace is Jesus Christ…In the midst of ALL circumstances, God’s grace, PEACE and joy are there.” ~ Billy Graham

Resting In His Love,

Annalee Reyes