Today I happened to drive past some places where I first starting rasing my children. It made me nostalgic, but mainly thankful that God answered my prayers for my prodigal son. Letters to God is my newest book, which chronicles that heart wrenching, yet amazing journey from my son's addiction to complete freedom and restoration in Christ. If you know someone who is dealing with a prodigal, this book will help them in both practical and spiritual areas.
Letters to God is a poignant true story of coming to grips with a prodigal son. It is the cry of my heart to God and the amazing answer to prayer. It is a journal packed with powerful prayers, practical advice and key spiritual insights.
Order you pre-publishing copy for only ten dollars. You can e-mail me at anitawriter7@yahoo.com or visit my web site www.anitaestes.com
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Ash Wednesday Reflection
Growing up as a good Catholic school girl I observed Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter and the beginning of Lent. I always gave up chocolate or candy as a little girl. I was so determined to make it the 40 days without sweets unitl one day I was crying in school and a nun offered me a treat. I looked up and shook my head, "No!" I told her that I gave up chocolate for Lent. But she persuaded me it was okay. I gave in. That was it. I was hooked on chocolate for the rest of my life. Now I can't give it up for more than a day. Some people still give up chocolate (or other treats) for Lent, but my resolve has weakened over the many years from that incident.
Still Lent and Ash Wednesday are still important to me--a reminder of our frailty that "ashes from ashes and dust to dust". That meant something very different to me as a little girl--to give up, but now I think of it differently. I think of what Jesus endured for us so we can be free and it makes me want to do something for Him. So I will try to make the most of my life: do the most good I can in the time God has allowed me to be on earth. For Lent I'm not going to give up anything, well maybe I'll start a new diet, but not for Lent. No, I'm going to add reflecting more on Jesus and the life He has given us to be poured out for others. I want to wash others feet (but no, I'm not giving our free pedicures!) Instead, I'm going to give away one free book of When God Speaks to the 3rd person who leaves a comment on this blog for this week. You can read part of an entry here on my last post: Resurrection Life (below).
Still Lent and Ash Wednesday are still important to me--a reminder of our frailty that "ashes from ashes and dust to dust". That meant something very different to me as a little girl--to give up, but now I think of it differently. I think of what Jesus endured for us so we can be free and it makes me want to do something for Him. So I will try to make the most of my life: do the most good I can in the time God has allowed me to be on earth. For Lent I'm not going to give up anything, well maybe I'll start a new diet, but not for Lent. No, I'm going to add reflecting more on Jesus and the life He has given us to be poured out for others. I want to wash others feet (but no, I'm not giving our free pedicures!) Instead, I'm going to give away one free book of When God Speaks to the 3rd person who leaves a comment on this blog for this week. You can read part of an entry here on my last post: Resurrection Life (below).
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Resurrection Life
Here is a sample from When God Speaks:
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:11
Here in the Northeast where I live, spring is awaited like a bridegroom for the bride. After a long hard winter of battling freezing cold, snow and ice, the warmth of sunshine defrosts body and soul. Buds form on trees, flowers burst into life, and children are seen playing outside once again. The icy grip of winter is replaced with glorious life.
For the believer, this new life is available every day. The resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead is the same Spirit given to us. Think about that. Jesus suffered terrible physical and emotional pain that led to a torturous death. Yet, evil’s kiss of death could not stop God’s astonishing resurrection power. And we who are children of God have that same life in us!
Lay down your burdens of sorrow and despair and do not look for the Holy One in the tomb. He is no longer there. Christ has conquered death so that you may “have it (life) more abundantly.”John 10:10.
Are there trials and sorrow in life? Surely so, but we do not need to be destroyed by them for Christ has given us the victory. “Yet in all these things (tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and sword), we are more than conquerors though Him who loved us” Romans 8:37.
As a young Christian I liked to think of myself as a conqueror, though I was riddled with envy, self-pity and pride. I didn’t even know I felt this way until I started facing difficulties, which brought all of these feelings to the surface. As I began to endure some fiery trials of loneliness, rejection and near poverty, I learned how to walk, step by step, in victory. During this time I buried myself in the Word of God and prayer. I learned about the true nature of God, not what others said about Him, and what He wants for me.
It is God’s love that brought me through. Like Paul, I became convinced that nothing “shall separate us (me) from the love of God” Romans 8:15. We cannot only endure our furnaces of affliction, but come out on the other side with pure gold. For these challenges are not intended to kill us, but to burn off the waste products or dross in our lives.
If we can have this view of trials, then bitterness, envy, malice, hatred and strife can be put to death, for these are the enemies of resurrection life. It is these among others, our sin nature, which nailed Christ to the cross. Yet God did not allow sin to keep His Son buried, neither does He want that for His other children. The power of God’s love is strong enough to reach down into our tomb where all our secret sins lay hidden and expose them. Sons and daughters put your sins on the cross where they belong, and allow God’s life to quicken your mortal bodies.
Arise and throw off the grave clothes of depression and despair. Spring has dawned upon the land, and new life will burst through the ground. Behold the first signs are already there. The seed has taken root, and it’s pushing through the earth. The first rays of sunshine can be felt.
Gather your strength, aided by the Son of God, and pick up your head, seedling. A new world full of His Son-shine awaits you!
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:11
Here in the Northeast where I live, spring is awaited like a bridegroom for the bride. After a long hard winter of battling freezing cold, snow and ice, the warmth of sunshine defrosts body and soul. Buds form on trees, flowers burst into life, and children are seen playing outside once again. The icy grip of winter is replaced with glorious life.
For the believer, this new life is available every day. The resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead is the same Spirit given to us. Think about that. Jesus suffered terrible physical and emotional pain that led to a torturous death. Yet, evil’s kiss of death could not stop God’s astonishing resurrection power. And we who are children of God have that same life in us!
Lay down your burdens of sorrow and despair and do not look for the Holy One in the tomb. He is no longer there. Christ has conquered death so that you may “have it (life) more abundantly.”John 10:10.
Are there trials and sorrow in life? Surely so, but we do not need to be destroyed by them for Christ has given us the victory. “Yet in all these things (tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and sword), we are more than conquerors though Him who loved us” Romans 8:37.
As a young Christian I liked to think of myself as a conqueror, though I was riddled with envy, self-pity and pride. I didn’t even know I felt this way until I started facing difficulties, which brought all of these feelings to the surface. As I began to endure some fiery trials of loneliness, rejection and near poverty, I learned how to walk, step by step, in victory. During this time I buried myself in the Word of God and prayer. I learned about the true nature of God, not what others said about Him, and what He wants for me.
It is God’s love that brought me through. Like Paul, I became convinced that nothing “shall separate us (me) from the love of God” Romans 8:15. We cannot only endure our furnaces of affliction, but come out on the other side with pure gold. For these challenges are not intended to kill us, but to burn off the waste products or dross in our lives.
If we can have this view of trials, then bitterness, envy, malice, hatred and strife can be put to death, for these are the enemies of resurrection life. It is these among others, our sin nature, which nailed Christ to the cross. Yet God did not allow sin to keep His Son buried, neither does He want that for His other children. The power of God’s love is strong enough to reach down into our tomb where all our secret sins lay hidden and expose them. Sons and daughters put your sins on the cross where they belong, and allow God’s life to quicken your mortal bodies.
Arise and throw off the grave clothes of depression and despair. Spring has dawned upon the land, and new life will burst through the ground. Behold the first signs are already there. The seed has taken root, and it’s pushing through the earth. The first rays of sunshine can be felt.
Gather your strength, aided by the Son of God, and pick up your head, seedling. A new world full of His Son-shine awaits you!
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