Acceptance

The word "acceptance" has been in the front of my brain recently. I think it is what every person tries to obtain. There are so many stages of life where we work towards being accepted by people and people are trying to win our acceptance. Once we do obtain it, we look...search...to be accepted by somebody else or another community.

To name a few places where acceptance has been a goal in my life

-every soccer team i've been on

-every track team

 -every worplace by employees and customers(oh boy i've worked alot of places)

-by every church i've attended

-every camp

-every school

Bottom line it is something we all are very familiar with.

Everyday I work for people to accept me..and most of the time go above and beyond and work for them to love me.

This is a tiring act when your ultimate goal is for them to like YOU. You will compromise yourself and fit to what that person likes or desires of you. (that may be saved for another blog post topic)

But isn't it just the worst when your not accepted? You take a beating on yourself.

When it comes to Gods acceptance with us Jesus fulfilled it.God has standard that we could never meet without Jesus' perfect life, and perfect sacrifice. No matter how hard we could try, no matter how much effort we put into being in a close nit relationship with God there would always have a gap if Christ had not come and did what we cannot do.We can live free in Christ because He is our salvation and foundation. While although coninuing to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit we do not have to put pressure on ourselves to work for Gods acceptance. We dont have to fight in this area, just rest.

I think if we remind ourselves that God accepts us, the sinful people that we are then to show who God is to others and to show that He is love we should accept everyone. We should accept the people that we dont want to.

Grace is where we start.

The only answer is NOW

I have been reading two books recently. One called "Don't Waster Your Life" by John Piper, and the other is from class, "The Will of God as a Way of Life". My eyes have read through a good chunk of both of these books and the words have been preaching at me, "NOW, is the time for you to understand God's love" NOW, is the time to recognize that you and everyone else was made to know their purpose and live their purpose" NOW, is the time for you to tell the people that don't know their purpose" and "NOW is the time for you to take joy in getting equipped, build relationships, and dig deep in the Word"

It's ironic that I am reading Don't Waste Your Life because I was a part of a bible study that used this book when I was in high school that took me through this book step by step. The irony is is that I wasted that part of my life because I didn't know my purpose. I wish my ears were open to hear the gospel back then. However, I am now reading this book, and feeling conviction that I have never felt. It is because of the time I wasted that I know what wasted time feels like.
I waste A LOT of time on the regularrr. I take a whole lotta naps, i'm an avid procrastinator, and very laid back. If there is anyone who knows what wasting time is like it's me. However, this is not what I want my life to resemble. After all, our life is "a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes." This is not all the areas that I waste my life with, this could hardly scratch the surface. You know your areas of wasted time, and I know mine.
The Lord is saying, "don't wait to get to know me when your old, grey, and bored. Come, and experience my love where you are and for the rest of eternity."
Like I said before, " because of the time I wasted (not being in a relationship with my Savior/not believing the truth) I know what wasted time feels like." I look back at times where I could've really made a difference for the kingdom.


His Will is screaming NOW! His Will is that you glorify him through your life, and this is also key to the unwasted life.

Your life belongs to Him. John Piper says that your life actually belongs to him twice. Yes, The Lord created you, you turned away and then He bought you with the dear sacrifice of His son, Jesus. That's two times! woo! Can't break that bond!

Unashamed of my weakness to boast of who is my strength.

I have been reflecting on a verse as of late and have begun to see a new perspective in areas of my life and hope for a transformation in my near future. This verse, I found for a pick-me-up one day and have yet to get it out of my head. 

   Before getting to the verse let me introduce by saying Paul is writing to the Corinthians and saying to them                 such things as this (paraphrased):

• "I will boast as a fool"
• "To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that"
• "...three times I was shipwrecked"
• "...I had sleepless nights.."
• "I went hungry and thirsty"
• "..I was in danger from my own people.."

The Corinthians probably received this letter and while reading it were murmuring to each other, "what a guy...can't even sail a boat, can't even get along with his own people.."

But Paul is comforted from the Lord, and boasts of such things because the Lord spoke to him saying, 

---(2 Corinthians 12:9), "My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Where Paul goes on to write to the Corinthians saying,  "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses so that Christs power may rest on me."---

So how has this verse effected me daily?

It has shown me that grace smothers my sin and my mind. When I reach low points I have a promise that screams "grace!" at me.

But also, it has taught me to be honest with people. I have made a mental note to share my brokenness with people because that is when the greatness of my perfect Savior is revealed. My pretending to not have gone through temptations, hardships, and calamities is only hindering me from sharing the gospel with people.

It is not easy to share with each other your weaknesses because we feel like it might break us down, but its freeing and it gives you a platform to share of the One who is not weak, and has either brought you out of that brokenness or who is currently at your side sanctifying you.

I am excited to continue my journey of being unashamed for Christ, but I desire to simultaneously be unashamed of my weakness to boast of who is my strength.

*And one last secret, your not alone. I guarantee you someone will relate.*

Quiet Time

Have you ever wondered why we call our time in the word "quiet time"? or maybe, when your at a worship service the beginning of a song starts and you know the first verse is supposed to start but the band plays for a littttle bit longer..and everyone is quiet in the church...

...well I have. I mean, I understand the fact that I am quiet basically the whole time during my devotions and during the beginning of a song, but where did this saying come from exactly?

I ran into an old friend at Target today. I asked how her summer was going, and she said "it's been good, it's been quiet".After we chatted for a bit, I walked away and thought to myself ...quiet?, that was a weird choice in words...but it makes sense..it's summertime, i'm currently unemployed, and a majority of my friends are very very far from me...needless to say ALOT of my time has been quiet as well. I try my hardest to fill this stillness with activities(for some reason I think when nothing is going on I am being a lame-o.) But I need to use this time for the reasons God gave me. To grow closer to him.

while trying to take advantage of quietness, I also invested in what it means and what the Lord says about this quality time spent with Him.

Here's what I found:
"This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..."
Take advantage of the moments that can seem like boredom, and use it to be strengthened!!


and maybe you don't know where to start or want to mix up your quiet time. Here's some different ways to spend your quiet time:


-start reading the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
-desiringgod.org - is John Piper's website of his different sermons. It's a great website and you can search just about any topic! 
-make flash cards with bible verses you want to learn

jigger bugs

This post is very dear to my heart because it has a lot to do with this sweet child that I met:

I have never known about this infestation called jiggerbugs until one night in kenya at our worship service. Every night was special in Kenya because we worshiped for two hours straight. One night we were blessed to hear many of the orphans testimonies during our worship service. We heard how the Lord led them to Pastor Kefa, who brought them to the orphanage. We heard how many fathers were killed, and how mothers couldn't properly take care of their children all on their own. One story that stood out in particular to me was from this boy named John. John is an all star. He kills it on the soccer field, he is on his school team, loves volleyball. You can tell he's an athlete. Sometimes I like to watch how people worship differently, and John captured me in the way that he never stopped looking up when he worshiped. So when John got up to tell his testimony, I was so intrigued. He said that he was found on the street, and that his father died and mother couldn't take care of him. Pastor Kefa then expanded on his story and told us that he was found around the age of 3 eating things he shouldn't be, and that he was so unclean. This kind of uncleanliness leads to this infestation of the jiggerbug. This bug typically is found on toes and fingers. It literally eats out you nails, and eats into your fingers. Can you believe this actually happens?!?!I had no idea there was such a thing! This story ended with everyone in the room clapping because John glows now, I mean he is healthy, clean, happy, extremely athletic. PRAISE GOD.

But those pictures at the top of the page aren't of John. This little child I met the day after I heard John's story. He was standing up against a wall with no one around. He wasn't apart of the orphanage but I guess he comes by sometimes to play. I'm so thankful he came by this day. This little boy was such a blessing. He was so lovable. He couldn't speak, but he reached to be held, he loved hugs, and he had the most precious smile. After playing with him for a little bit, we sat down. I looked down at his toes, and was afraid to find that one toe was infested with a jiggerbug. There was no nail left, and half of his toe was missing. This broke my heart. I already heard his stomach growling, and then I find that his toe is constantly being eaten at by these bugs?!? I know this didn't solve the problem, but at the time I didn't know what to do, I washed his feet and put a band aid on his toe. He felt so uncomfortable when I put his foot under the water(especially the foot with the jiggerbug). I know this wasn't enough to make any long term hygiene difference, but I pray so badly that he ends up like John. I hope he glows just like that.

I really just wanted to write this post to make people aware of the living conditions there. Here in America, we can wash our feet with clean water, and buy a new pair of shoes every couple of months. Please please don't take this for granted, count that as a blessing.

I found this website on the bugs, and what people are doing to help this problem. I want to share it with you, but I want to warn you that it is gross, and if your sensitive to cuts I wouldn't look at it. But this is something I never knew about. I hope this problem will become more public, and that we can find a way to help.
http://www.jigger-ahadi.org/Ahadi_Presentation.pdf

Thanks for reading, and hopefully sharing to others about this problem. It means so much!
In Christ alone,
Brianne Anderson

James 1:17

Day 2 was special!
It was special in that it was another day in Kenya, and I was anxious to see what the day would bring. It was special because we got to experience our first ever Kenyan church service. But most of all because we had our whole team together! Finally!

I wish I could explain the greatness of our team! Alana and I were talking one day after our trip and we thought about everyone, and what they brought to the mission table(just made that phrase up, i think). We had 19 people on our mission team and everyone brought something unique, to make us, as a whole, the perfect team.
I want to name a few:
-Daniel brought humor, constant humor that kept people laughing all the time.
-Trevor brought a great spirit. He went through so many things that would bring me down(stomach flew, broken expensive camera, knee problems) and stayed just as bright as anyone else on the trip.
-Ronna is a humble diabetic that came and left a spare diabetic kit in Kenya for someone in need. She also made everyone so comfortable with her genuine personality!
-Sherri knew every childs name and every part of their life it seemed like. She was extremely intentional and lovable.
-Vanessa brought strength to the team. Strength through her testimony, and a lot of fun might I add!

There were no gaps, no missing pieces in our team. It was absolutely perfect. I want you to know that I'm not boasting about our team and how great we were. But how great God is for bringing all of us together! If there was one verse that I learned on my trip it was James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
There is no doubt, this team was a perfect gift and I am so thankful for his graciousness. 


My send off statement and reminder to ask ourselves is:
The Lord gives us gifts all the time. Take time to see them. The simple, simple perfect gifts.

A Kenyan adventure

We landed in Nairobi, Kenya (to a beautiful sunrise) with 45 minutes to make our next flight! Our "To-Do List" was very lengthy before we could board our next flight! Feeling completely exhausted the three of us had to find our way around the airport, get our Visa stamps, and go through security! This is the first time I realized the smaller blessings in America, such as organization! The airport was a zoo and there was no authority or security...we breezed through everything in record time with many hold-ups, however, we were joyful when we saw some of our team waiting to board the same flight to Kissumu! We walked out to our next plane, I have never done that before so it was a big deal! feelin' a little celeb status in that moment!

When we landed in Kissumu, I was pretty confused on if I really landed at an airport. There were shacks everywhere but no main building with a baggage claim, or cafe, everything was outside. From there we met up with a few members, and our leaders. We found out that alot of our team wouldn't be joining us until later that evening. While sitting in a circle chatting, waiting for two team members, our leader told us that we were going on a 3 hour hike that day. First thing that went through my mind:......he has to be kidding...


He wasn't! Hiking in Kenya is different than hiking in Florida(not that I've ever done that). However, Everything is uphill, and there's boulders everywhere!We walked and walked to this hill. It was a great time of fellowship, getting to know our team, and some people from Shangilia orphanage that joined us! We came to recognize what the culture was like on this hike because we walked by so many people, and so many homes. Check this out: We walked by a home and this lady came running out to us with a white baby in her hands!! she kept saying "gift" "gift""beautiful""beautiful"with some Swahili mixed in there, we agreed that it was a beautiful baby, but all of us were so confused. We later found out from our translator that the baby was albino! How crazy?!?...one of my first Kenya experiences was of an albino baby! hah! anyways, that made our team giggle on mile 3 of our hike! So we encounter this hill..it has boulders on it that we have to climb up to reach the peak! We get to the top, and are able to overlook the beauty of the entire city!...then all of us noticed that the city had an African rain storm hovering! It didn't take long for it to hit! The climb down was slow..very..very slow. The rocks got really slippery, the mud wasn't promising, and pellets of rain hit my face. I was getting frustrated with myself, and kinda scared. One of the boys at the orphanage was so kind to lead me down the hill! Him and all the other people from Kenya that came along could fly down this hill, because it is normal ground to them, so it meant so much when he slowed down to help this nervous American girl! When I got down, I heard Alana yell from inside a house, "bri, we're in here!" yep, some lady that lived at the bottom of this hill opened up her home to 20 wet strangers to sit and wait in for the storm to pass...gotta love good ol' Kenyan hospitality!=)can't beat it! Once the rain slowed down, the cold weather came, and we still had 3 miles left to walk back. I was so cold, that a sweet woman from the road wrapped her wrap around me and called me friend. We sang songs with her before deciding to run back to the orphanage! Alana and I ran back with Colbi , and Naheme right behind us! We were running down Kenyan roads and people just started to join in with us...so everybody out there who joked about running with Kenyans...IT HAPPENED!! Upon arriving back to the orphanage I took a very cold shower, got ready for dinner which was (beefy and delicious) and worshiped with the orphanage! After that I went to sleep in a bed hadn't seen one of those in awhile!

Let's play a game...Guess who gets cankles from traveling???

Bri does!...gross

Bye for now!=)