Author: anniesnyder

Posted on

Don’t Hold Onto The How…Just Go Skydiving.

recently i got caught up in a whirlwind that is “next steps”. finding myself overwhelmed, the Father whispered “holding onto the ‘how’ is only hurting you. release it to Me.” a few years ago before making the decision to come to Redding, i was in the same place. i remember sitting in a coffee shop when i found myself intimidated by what was ahead. as i wrestled with some of what the Lord was showing me about my future, i let the question of “how?” become bigger and bolder than His beautiful promises and purpose for my life. instead of having confidence in Him, i tried calculating how everything would work. in that moment, the Lord took me back to the first time i went skydiving. i was thinking about the excitement that i had until i realized exactly what i was going to be doing... falling out of the sky intentionally. there were so many doubts and fears coming up. within seconds my mind was clinging to the worst case scenario.

Posted on

A Counseling Session Full of Freedom

i am thankful for the reality of freedom that awaits us on the other side of that simple but wildly courageous act of obedience - choosing to forgive. it's a choice. it might take every ounce of strength in us and finding someone to be by our side in it with us. but the freedom that is on the other side is beautiful. stunning. heavenly. weighty. full of glory. only by the blood can this be our reality. releasing people who have done us wrong and giving them over to the Lord. continuing to find freedom myself as i trace my hands along the golden thread of the Lord's constant goodness in my own story. He has always been good. so i can trust Him in this. i can trust Him with my story, with these people, with my life. i can choose to forgive.

Posted on

I Lost My Dog, Soldier, Forever Ago. I Mean, 48 Days Ago.

i remember sitting on the ground that day with Soldier as the vet told us that there wasn’t good news and that we could take him home for one night. he had cancer and it spread to his lungs. he could barely breathe. we didn’t know. we knew something was wrong but he was hiding it from us so well. if we wanted to take him home for one night we could. i remember sitting with him on the ground. she met us there. the only words out of my mouth as tears streamed down my face in front of a stranger, “there’s nothing we can do?”…”i’m not going to treatment tomorrow”, “i don’t want to take him home. he’s in too much pain” …“call gracie”...who just so happened to be in town for the weekend too. not a coincidence. thank you Jesus. all of it worked out. but man that dog is a butt. and i miss him so.

Posted on

This Is Just Your Reminder That It Doesn’t Have To End ;

this song came on when i was in the car this morning. my mind went to all the times i’ve been in this place … feeling hidden, forgotten, hopeless, broken, the reality of innocence stolen. all the lyrics resonated. feeling so alone simply just wanting the ache and pain to end. feeling completely misunderstood by the world and wanting God to show up. to be seen and safe. to be understood. to not have to defend myself. thank God for the reality of our God being Emmanuel. thank God for Jehovah Rapha. thank God for the God who sees and knows and wants to be close. for the One who fights for me and with me and has never left me. be encouraged tonight. if you’re in that place… as i write from a similar place. knowing hope and knowing pain. let this be your reminder that Emmanuel is close. so very close. hand in hand He wants to be. to rescue. to save. he is Savior after all.

Posted on

Reminders from Main Street in the Pearl of Africa

the day before i came back to the States, i was walking on Main Street in the middle of the Pearl of Africa. we stopped at one of the shops and began talking to the shop owner. after a few minutes of conversation, there was a break and pure silence. all but the hustle of life and boda boda’s buzzing around us. it was as if this stranger and i were no strangers at all in that moment. we made direct eye contact. my heart leaning away with hesitancy but filling up with an abundance of expectancy, i asked if she could give me a Ugandan name.