New Year, New Freedom

Yes, a new year is here! I'm glad to welcome 2016!

Looking back over 2015, of course I'd like to redo some things, but isn't that the way it is? Don't we spend a lot of time reliving what we now see more clearly and have a better perspective on?

It seems to me that those moments we'd like to redo are usually the ones that have taught us the most. If I have any advice for you (and me) this year, it's that we pray more that our choices and decisions will be made according to His will. Regret, after all, only zaps our energy and creativity. Who needs that?!?

I'm believing for a 2016 that would allow us to be cautious and trusting yet also live in confidence that His grace still looks on us with love and conviction that will always help us... help us live in His freedom.

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From here to there

A lot of you are familiar with or at least know of my only niece, Scarlett (or Sweet Scarlett, as I often refer to her). A brilliant gal in the prime of her life and career was involved in a horrible car accident at the age of 36, leaving her with a severe brain injury. God has brought her so far….so many accomplishments that she wasn’t “supposed” to ever achieve. A couple of years ago while she was going through a particularly hard struggle, she said to me, “Aunt Ann, I know I’m gonna make it, but right now I’m in that in between place”. I knew exactly what she was saying…and I’d imagine you do, too, right? We believe that God’s gonna walk with us and get us to the other side…however, sometimes it just seems like a longggggg way from here to there, doesn’t it? We’re gonna make it..but there are times we sure do need a hand to hold or place to rest on the journey….’cause we aren’t “there” yet…and we need to hear from somebody, who actually cares where we are struggling, that w...

Faith Giving

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No Matter What

Several years ago a friend shared with me that his route to work every day took him through a toll booth....and he tried to always choose a certain booth. This is because the gentleman manning that booth was an elderly man who always had something "bright and sunny" to say to him. Every morning my friend would hear "Have a good day, no matter what!" Now, there were days my friend drove up to that toll booth with zillions of questions in his head of how he was gonna make it through a challenging day that was always before him when he arrived at his workplace. But he just kept those words in his head...and heart..."Have a good day, no matter what". Now, that's a choice, isn't it? "No matter what"???? I don't know about you, but I honestly don't find that coming naturally to me...it's a struggle to find sunshine on those cloudy, dreary mornings...'cause it just doesn't show up in my eyesight. But, that's w...

Reality Check with Ann Downing...

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