Until the Nets are Full

Look into the Past
I hope that this letter finds you doing well, enjoying the spring weather, and getting ready for the craziness of the summer!
It has been a while since you last heard from me so I will give you a little update on what has been happening in my life!
December of 2013 I finished my internship in the Dominican Republic and moved home.
January 2014 I started doing secretarial work at an auto glass shop. I also started classes at a community college studying to get my Administrative Assistance degree.

Look into the Present
January of 2015 I quit my job so that I could go to school full time and finish in May of this year. There was a lot of prayer and thinking about that decision, because I wanted to stay debt free, but without a job I was not sure how that was going to happen. Praise the Lord! He provided odd jobs for me to do; giving me just enough to finish paying for school, and stay debt free.  I am so blessed!

Look into the Future
That leads me to what is happening this summer.
I am going back to the Dominican Republic!
But not just for a visit, this time I am going as a leader for a trip called Student Fusion. The dates are July 5th-25th. While in the DR we will be sharing the Gospel through sports, drama, music, open-air evangelism, helping with camp, visiting orphanages, serving in Haitian villages and local churches, and partnering with Compassion International.
I am so excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to see what the Lord does this summer in each of the student’s lives and also the people that hear the Gospel!  You can be a part of this exciting adventure!
There are a few things that I need:
First, prayer partners; people who are willing to commit to pray for the trip, the students, unity with all the leaders, health and safety, and for those who are going to hear the Gospel. I need a team that is willing to bath this trip in their prayers.
Would you be willing to partner in this way with me?
Secondly, a team of people who are willing to support me financially.
The cost of the trip will be $1,432. This includes: food, lodging, on-the-field transportation and also insurance.
Would you prayerfully consider being a part of my financial team?
I am excited about this next chapter of life and would love for you to be a part of it!

 Until the nets are full,

Anika Anderson 


I love hearing from you!
Also if you would like to be put on my mailing list to receive updates just shoot me an email.

Email: aranderson@wol.org


You can donate online here;

https://give.wol.org/090R0S 

Dear Girl with the Insecurities: I see you

You were hanging out with your best friend; talking, laughing, singing, having a great time.

I joined in on the fun. 

I saw you. 

Slowly but surely as the time ticked away I watched as you became quiet. 

I watched you shut down. 

Until you slowly and silently slipped from the room, thinking that no one saw you leave. 

But you are wrong; I saw you. 

I saw the hurt.

I saw the silent cry to be seen.

I saw the longing to be good enough, smart enough, talented enough. 

I saw these emotions in your eyes and body as you walked out. 

I saw you. 

As you slipped away I wondered why you left, I wondered about what I saw in your eyes. Then it hit me. I stole your friend right out from under you; pushed you aside and instead of adding to the fun I stole it all.

And I want you to know that I am sorry. 

I am sorry that I let you walk away. 

I am sorry that I was selfish.
I am sorry that because of the conversation you felt like you did not belong

I am sorry that I did not take a moment to remind you of the truth.

You see, the truth is you walked away believing a lie, and I did nothing to counter that lie. 

I let you walk away and I am sorry. 

The world that we live in has given you this terrible gift: the gift of insecurity.

Our culture is screaming at us from all sides that you need to act a certain way, and dress in a certain style. but the truth is that you don't need all of the bells and whistles of this world: Facebook, twitter, instagram, snap-chat, texting, or even a phone. You don't need to wear American Eagle jeans or designer tops with all the matching accessories. 

You don't need to be a great singer or play a bunch of instruments.

You don't need any of those things because that is exactly what they are; things. 

But some where along the way you started to believe the lie that if you did not have all of these things you are not good enough, and so started the opening of the terrible gift.
But I want you to stop and listen to me for just a second. 

The world is lying to you. 

The things of this world will pass away.

The truth is you are loved, cherished, and wanted.

You are enough.

You are passionately pursued

You are treasured

You are totally accepted 

And most importantly, as a believer, you are complete in Christ.  

You are a beloved daughter of the King.

You are beautiful. 

I long for you to believe the truth and for the truth to set you free. 

I can't make you believe, but I can show you what it looks like if only I would take the time to, not just see you, but to stop you. Take you aside and love you. In little ways remind you that you are loved, not just by me, but by the Most High God. 

You are His beloved, bought with a price. 

My dear friend, I love you and want to see you blossom into a woman that is confident and sure. One who finds her security in Christ alone.
My prayer for you is that when you look in the mirror you see a one-or-a-kind master piece. One who is chosen and beloved.
This is my promise to you: I will stop you. I will take the time to remind you that you are unique and there is on one like you. You are loved.

Sincerely,

The girl who sees you

I am single and I know it.

Over the years my thoughts about being single have under gone some change.

A lot of change.

When I was really little I thought that I would be a single missionary in Africa; running an orphanage and being an all-around super woman that people would write books about.

That dream has changed.

Later I wanted to be a single woman who worked for the FBI saving lives and again being super woman.

That dream too has changed.

As I got into high school and on, my thoughts and dreams changed from being a single super woman to obsessing about being married, having a bunch of kids, the perfect home, a great husband, a dog, and being a super sports mom. Having the life that people envied.

As I traveled the world I became convinced that I would meet the man of my dreams: tall, dark, and handsome, and a lover of Jesus.

Yet with each passing year, with each trip that I take, my conviction about meeting the man of my dreams has died.

You see, I had been looking for a man that could complete me. Someone that I could share life with, someone that would take away past hurts (or at least fill the void that the hurt brought) I wanted a man that could take my imperfect life and somehow change it to perfect. It sounds so foolish even as I write this.

I had become so obsessed with finding the 'perfect man' that it consumed me; though most people would not know that because I hide behind the mask that said I was fine.

In the middle of my second year of bible school, still no perfect man had come along, I decided that I was not going to sit around mending socks waiting. I was going to do something with my life other than wait for a man to come and complete me.

So I continued to do the thing that I love. I traveled doing missions. I moved to the Dominican Republic for two years. Saw great things. Saw God work in big ways. Moved back home and went back to school.

Still no perfect man.

I am not sure when it happened.

Maybe it was a conversation that I had, maybe it was in observing some married people, and maybe it was seeing more of the world.

In any case the Lord opened my eyes to see that I am not going to find a perfect man.

Why would I need a perfect man, when by definition there is no such thing, when I have a perfect savior?

I don’t mean that in a cynical way at all. Just as a fact. There are no perfect men. But there is a perfect God.

I wasted so much time looking for ‘the perfect man’, ‘mr. right’ ‘the man of my dreams’ or whatever you want to call him. When I could have spent that time getting to know the Lord.

I know that sounds so cheesy. But sometimes the cheesy is true.

If there is one regret that I have it is that I wasted so much time focused on the wrong thing.

But regardless of how I spent the last few years, I refuse to spend my future like I did my past.

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made- I’m a disciple of his. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in his presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions are few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till he stops me. And, when he comes for his own, he will have no problem recognizing me. . . my banner will be clear!” (Zimbabwe Pastors Prayer)

This is my prayer.

My focused is Christ, and my mission is seeing the lost get saved, and if along the way the way the Lord decides that a husband would be good for me, then praise the Lord, we can do ministry together!

I am not saying that I can’t do these things with a husband, in fact ministry could be so sweet with a husband, but that is not what God has for me right now.

God has me in a role of singleness and that may or may not change.

My goal is to live each day to the fullest, getting to know my savior, having my focus on heaven.

So for those of you who have pointed out the sign above my head, that I

affectionately call "The Single Sign",

I want you to know this: I know I am single.

In the last few weeks it seems as though a day has not go by without some comment about me being single. Comments that are most common are as follows:

“Why are you still single?” You would make such a great wife!” “You are so good with kids, do you have any?”

To the first; I have no idea.

To the second; thank you!  Thank you for seeing qualities in me that I don’t see in myself. And thank you for telling me.

To the third; again, thank you. I love children and if the Lord ever does bless me with a family I pray that I can live up to that complement.

I don’t hate that people are always pointing out my obvious state of singleness, in fact most of the time I laugh and joke with them. They only want what they themselves have experienced and love. I get that.

The only thing that bothers me is that sometimes in the talking about my singleness it is implied or outright said that I have not lived until I get married. That I am not whole without having experienced marriage.

Not only is that wrong, but it demeans what I do and who I am.

I am single. I am in the place that God has for me, so to insinuate that I am missing out on something better by not being married means that God is withholding something good from me.

And that is just not true.

I serve a God that says right now the best thing for me is to be single. If that was not the case then I would be married and God would be a liar.

God’s best is different for each person. For you it may be that you are married; praise the Lord, how sweet that must be!  For me it is being single and reaching those that, if I were married, I would not be able to reach. God has a plan for each and every one of His children, and it is different for each of us.

As I continue on this path of singleness that God has me on, my prayer is that I will continue to fix my eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of my faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despised the shame, and is sitting at the right hand of the Father.

My prayer for you is that you will live each day that God has given you to its fullest, enjoying the place that God has you in; married or single. 

I Volunteered and I don't Regret it

We all, meaning all the siblings and their spouses, wanted to go see the Hobbit. All of us going out together. O the fun we would have!
But what about the children?
Well since the last time we went to the theater to watch the other Hobbit movie I played Candy Crush...I did watch the movie a little bit, what can I say!?!? I don't really get into those movies.
So I volunteered to watch all the children.
I am not sure what I was thinking. Maybe I was thinking that watching five children, ages 6, 3, 1 1/2, 10 months, and 8 months, was going to be a walk in the park. Maybe I was thinking about all of their sweet faces. Maybe I was thinking about how much fun it would be to have them all on my lap as I read them stories. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe I was not thinking. 

Either way I was not prepared for what happened that night.
Now don't get me wrong: I LOVE my nieces and nephews to the moon and back. They are the sweetest things ever, and they have me wrapped around their little fingers. I love children. 

I arrived at my sisters home and was greeted by two little boys that immediately wanted me to play trains and read books; hunkering down to their level so I could look into their sweet, clear, innocent eyes and explain to them that I would play with them in a minuet, but first I needed to talk to their mommy. Moments later my brother and his wife arrived with their two children. 
Kisses and hugs, 'I love you's', 'be good for Auntie Anika' (yeah thanks for that last one!), and a few instruction were given. And the parents were off to a night out on the town! 

What is that saying? While the cat is away the mice will play? 
Well I had five little mice.
The next hour was full of little boys playing trains, wrestling, wanting snacks, me pretending to be a dinosaur, baby's eating paper, crawling under the Christmas tree and unwrapping Christmas presents, O and mixed in there was the occasional "Auntie Anika he hit me!" "Auntie Anika see what I can do!?" (he was on top of the piano ready to jump off)  "He keeps taking my trains!" "Peter is biting Laura!" "I think Peter is eating the Christmas tree" "Can we watch a movie and have popcorn?" 

YES!!! Watching a movie is a GREAT idea! 

Off they scamper to watch a movie while I make the popcorn. 
Just so you know,  I was sweating, my hair was all crazy, and we wont talk about the evidence on my face of the marker escapade. Ha! 
While the three oldest start watching the movie, I start making the popcorn. 
Laura and Peter are playing in the living room. Just for some reference they are 10 months and 8 months old, very mobile.
The popcorn is staring to pop a little bit, when I hear the boys watching the movie, start to cry; someone was stealing the pillow, there was not enough room on the queen bed for three little boys, and they could not hear. With a quick glance at the popcorn I figure I have about a two minuets to settle them down and be back in time to finish the popcorn. Perfect. 
I am so thankful in moments like these for my parents and siblings, who have children, for the great examples they are to me about taking every moment and using it as a teaching moment. 
Taking two minuets to remind those little boys what it means to be kind and gentle, and to share with each other because that is what is pleasing to Jesus. 
You can't change the actions without a change of heart; and this is the goal: a changed heart that leads to changed actions. 

Back to the popcorn. Still have about a minuet before it is done. 
Peeking in on Peter and Laura, who are way to quiet. Um...where is Peter? 
Turning around to see the popcorn has exploded out of the maker. And there is Peter sitting in the middle of the popcorn. Cheeks that look like a chipmunk and chubby little hands full of popcorn.  A look of pure joy on his face that said: could life get better than this!?
I hear the patter of little feet. They must have smelt the popcorn. 
Turning off the popcorn maker, putting the salvaged corn in a bowl, and then it happens; it starts out small, deep inside my being, and as this little chuckle grows, it turns into a full-all-out-belly-laugh.
Three little boys giggling with glee, what could be better then the popcorn exploding all over and then racing to eat it all up!? It was almost like a game. And I smile because these are the moments that they are going to remember. 
And so the night continues. 
Time for bed. Now how would you go about getting five little humans to bed at the same time? 
Ya I don't know either! 
PJ's, teeth brushing, going potty, finding the right blankets for the right kids, tucking them in bed and finishing with the Bible story and prayer time. Easy right? Ha!  
Hungry babies, crying babies, fighting toddlers, in bed, out of bed, this CD, NOOOO! that CD, lights on, lights off, he is talking, I want mom, I am hungry and need a snack, I can't sleep! 
An hour and a half later the house is quiet, dishes done, and toys picked up. 
I sit down to enjoy the quiet and maybe read a little in my book.
The sound of little feet creeping down the stairs, across the kitchen, I see a little head peeping around the corner. Those eyes, O those eyes! So big and trusting yet a little timid wondering what I am going to do about the fact that he is out of bed. 
The moment stood still as I looked at him and he at me. 
Putting down the book, beckoning him to come, the timid look vanished from his eyes as he scurried across the floor and threw his arms around me.
"Hey my little handsome man, what do you need?" 
"Nufing"
"Ok how about I carry you back to bed?" 
"Otay"
Up the stairs we go, little arms wrapped around my neck. He whispers.
"I lub you Auntie Anika"
"I love you too buddy"

No matter how crazy that night was or how tired I got it was all worth it when he said that. 

Moments. Life is made up of moments. Teaching moments. Loving moments. Patient moments. Frustrated moments. Joy fulled moments. Peaceful moments. Chaotic moments. 
That night was all of those moments. 
And I treasure them all. 

I hope as we enter into the new year that you will stop and evaluate how you are using the moments that God has given to you. That you don't waste a single moment. For they are precious. 

Flawed but Cherished,

Anika 

Just like his daddy; eyes sparking with mischief! 

I promise, she did not eat all the paper! 

     

"I lub you Auntie Anika"

Just a Little cup of Perfection

Snuggled up in the corner of the living room with a cup of hot Dominican coffee and my computer.
Thoughts of the last few weeks whirling around in my brain; what do I write about?
I could write about something serious and challenging that goes along with the Christmas season, or something that I have learned in my quiet time from the last week, and believe me there has been a lot of things that I have learned in quiet time in the last few days!
These past few weeks for some people have been filled with family and friends, lots of laughter and cheer. However, there are also people who have not had family and friends, laughter and cheer. So I think that I am going to write about some of my not so perfect moments. Moments of shear hilarity, though in the moment they were not that funny!

The sun was streaming in my window, a fresh sheet of snow on the ground, the house was quiet, not a soul was string...not even a mouse (I am so glad for that part!), my sister was in deep sleep next to me, I was cold because she had stolen all the blankets. I blinked. something was not right. fighting the fog that hovered over me, rubbing my eyes trying to get them into focus, I searched for my phone, turning on the screen I look at the time;  is that right? I look again. 7:51am. SHOOT! I have nine minuets to be dressed, and at work. unfortunately it takes 20 minuets to get to work. I will just let you imagine me literally jumping out of bed and throwing some clothes on. It was a no make-up, crazy hair kind of day.
The day did not get better from there. But it did get funnier.
I had to run some errands for the shop. So off to the store I go.
Once in Wal-Mart I was able to get everything that we needed, so with hands over loaded with bags I head out of the store. Out the doors and to the car...but wait...Where did I park? No this is not happening to me! How could I NOT know where I parked!?!? Well this is embarrassing! 
There I am walking through the parking lot literally having NO IDEA where I parked the car.
It is then that I walk over a pair of car keys (no they were not mine, through that would have been really funny!) I am ashamed to say that I thought about leaving them on the ground for someone else to find. Thank the Lord that I did not leave them there!  So back into Wal-Mart with my bags and the lost keys. Walking back out of the store the craziest thing happened...I realized where I had parked!
I really think that it was the Lord being good to me. After, I am sure, He got a good chuckle out of my scatter brained moment.
Well after that embarrassment I needed a coffee.
Stopping at my favorite coffee shop, where the coffee is sweet but the friendships are sweeter, I get my addiction, salted caramel latte extra hot with just a little whipped cream; it is like perfection in a cup, and a dance party in my mouth.
My day is now better.
Back at the office I try to to be a ninja with all the bags, but lets be honest...I can't be a ninja with coffee AND bags. So the easiest solution? Why put my my cup of perfection on the top of the car of course! No sooner had I let go of my little cup of perfection and reached for the car door, do I watch in dismay as my coffee slipped off the car and emptied itself on the snow covered ground.
NOOO!!! WHY!?!?! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME!?!? 
And then it hits me.
It starts out little. But continues to grow until it is a full all out belly laugh.
Best. day. ever.
Why?
Because of Gods grace.
Because perfection is not in a cup, it is in Christ.
Because God is good.
Because me getting up late, loosing the car, spilling my coffee, and making mistakes at work do not change the fact that God is still God, and He still loves me, He still pursues me. I am still His daughter.
And that my friends is why I can laugh at the things that go wrong.
There are so many more stories to share, but that will have to be it for now.
I hope and pray that you all had a merry Christmas, and that you stop to laugh at the little things.

The Falling of Grace

Gentle and steady, settling like a blanket, white and pure, it covers and it is beauty: this grace that is falling like snow, covering a world undeserving. Air fresh and crisp, sun shining, beckoning for me to bath in its beauty. Calling me to come out from the warmth of the blanket, the security of the known to explore the unknown, to embark on an adventure with Him that is far beyond what I could ever imagine, to taste and see that He is good, in the falling of grace; He is good. 
This grace that is so freely given, is for me; for my freedom, for my joy, for me to know the grace giver. This grace calls for me to open my hand to the fullness of the Father, calls for me to surrender what I think is best to what He knows is better.
This world that you and I live in has so many things that call for our attention, if we are not guarding out hearts from all of the things that bring dissension, we will soon, without even a thought or a mention, have sold our hearts to the one who brings destruction. The lion, the deceiver, the one who desires only for my destruction, is actively seeking for the perfect moment to remind me of all the times that I have screwed up; though the accusations may be true, the grace that is there for me and you, has covered me from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This grace that I speak of has covered me from now and into all of eternity. This grace is more than just something that gets me through today, it is hope, it is joy, it is peace, it is fullness in the One who saves me.
I am  saved  by grace and loved by Christ. Not a person place or thing can take that promise away from me. 
The freedom to open my hand and receive what the Giver of grace has, comes from embracing the promise that I am deeply loved by Him, cherished, wanted, passionately pursued, and a delight to Him, knowing that, as the Psalmist says, "His way is perfect" It is this grace, that calls me to live fully in Him, to take every moment as a gift that is made to enrich my life far beyond the here and now.
As the days go by I pray that I will embrace the gentle falling of of the snow, the crisp air, the shining sun and the upcoming math test, because this too is grace.

"I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name O Most High." ~Psalm 9:1-2

Flawed but Cherished,

Anika 

It is an Adventure

Welcome.

Welcome to this adventure I like to call "life".
Sometimes this adventure that we are all on is so busy, sometimes it becomes mundane, it stops being an adventure. Over the last few weeks this life has stopped being an adventure for me. It has become dull, overwhelming, stressful, joyless, and most importantly it has lacked the one ingredient that makes this life a real adventure: my Father.
It happened in little ways, crept up on me.
I got up late one morning; so I did not have time to stop and say 'hi' or hear what He had to say to me.
I was in a rush eating lunch one day so I did not say 'thank you'.
I was too tired to talk with Him.
The dead line for school work was more important then hearing what He had to say.
The music had a great beat, the harmony blew my mind, He was not mentioned.
The movie was a good story and I laughed, He was not glorified.
Much to my chagrin the list could go on.
Even in my wanderings He did not forget me, He whispered in the stillness of the night and it happened slowly.
It was in the sunrise. The fog coming off the lake. The song I happened upon.  It was in my nephews seeing Him work. It was in the face of my student.  It was in the little bird. The reminder that my Father, the creator of the universe wanted me, longed for me to not just go through life "doing" but "being"; being a daughter of HIS, a child of the KING.
He wants me to not just survive through the next math test, or my job, or through today and the rest of this week, no, He wants me to thrive. To thrive on HIM, Psalm 16:11 says that "In HIS presence is fullness of JOY"!
The truth that my Father wants me, that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, made in His image, loved, desired, and that I am fully pleasing to Him just because I am His daughter; well let's be honest: it blows my mind!
I don't want life to be dull, stressful, or joyless; I want to have fullness of JOY!
Living life in His presence, having faith unshakable, joy unspeakable, and love unstoppable does not happen overnight. Having those things are a reflection of being in His Word, talking with Him and listening to what He has for me on a daily bases.
My prayer is that I will not loose sight of this truth in the days ahead, that I will live fully in His presence, and not forget again that I am HIS daughter fully pleasing and greatly desired.

My prayer is that as I embark on this journey  of remembering who I am in Him, you would be encouraged and challenged to also live fully in His presence.

Flawed but Cherished,

Anika