Tag: Jesus Christ

The Death of Mandisa

As many of you know, the Gospel singer, Mandisa, was found passed away on April 18th, 2024. No foul play was suspected in her death.

While I didn’t listen to much of her music, I was still shocked by her sudden death– as I am sure so many others were.

It’s got me thinking… the Lord can take us at any time. I have held on to grudges, cried over “small” things, and gotten afraid of things way too easily.

Jesus wants to know our ups and downs. He cares about the big things and the small things. Yet, I wonder, what will matter when I see Him face to face?

Will that tiff I had with a friend matter?
Will my new car or house matter?
Will the fact that a waiter got my food order wrong, matter?

Today, in light of Mandisa’s death, I choose to fix my gaze toward heaven. I could go at any time, and I want to get to know the God I serve more.

I am sure Mandisa would want her fans to do nothing else.

With Love,

Annalee

Thoughts on Resurrection Weekend

This early Friday morning, my father told me, “Happy Death Day.”

The day that my Savior was betrayed, beaten, bruised beyond recognition, and…

Died.

I want the heaviness of this amazing act to settle in. To get into my head, my heart, my bones.

Jesus, let me never take Your Gospel for granted. Let me never lose sight of the fact that You died for my sins on this day, You rose again, and death could not hold You.

I have become the righteousness of God through what You have done, Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). But it took Your death, Your pain, Your heartache, to accomplish such a task.

All I can say is thank You. Thank You for dying for our sins, for defeating the grave, and for Your gift of eternal life, to all who will receive it.

I love You, Jesus.

-Annalee

Sinks and Salt

Father is fixing the sink

and I don’t have a new car yet

I am in a blessed place, I say,

Yet I don’t see any of it

There’s the pressures of moving out. Of getting a reliable vehicle. Of showing up and glowing up. (And I am still a bit afraid of plane rides.)

Is life running ahead of me? Am I really where I am supposed to be?

This fills me with anxiety. With desperation. With doubt.

One incredibly important question comes to mind: Am I showing Jesus to the people around me? Am I being the salt and light? Are people moving towards Jesus because of me, or away?

I am centered.

As long as I pursue this end, I will be okay.

(c) Annalee Hoover, 2024

Understand

Jesus,

You understand. No other man could ever be as Loving, as Kind, as Gracious and Faithful as You. When others don’t understand, you softly say that it ultimately doesn’t matter.

That I am in Your Hands. That You have good for me, not evil. That You are the Good for me. and as I sit here typing this, I am filled with Your Peace.

Heal our hearts, Lord. You understand.

Love, Your Daughter,

Annalee

Hope for the Future in a Heartbroken World

Do you ever just find yourself, wiping tears away, shattered at the brokenness of life?

How sometimes it is so sweet, and other times so foul.

I have not read it yet, but Lysa TerKeurst has a book called, “It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way.”

And for some reason, I got teary-eyed just reading that notion.

That life is not supposed to be this way. Lysa has a heartbreaking past with a cheating husband, whom she finally just had to say goodbye to after he refused to come back.

She, of all people, knows that life is just not supposed to be this way...

My cousin D should not have died by her own hand in 2020.

My mother should not have had to suffer through surgeries to remove deadly cancer.

My grandmother should not have died before I was old enough to remember her.

But yet, here we are. 2023, on a Friday afternoon, moving along.

With the strength God gives, and the Joy and Comfort He gives as well, we keep moving along.

And while there is heartbreak, for the Christian, there is great hope, too…

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21:4, NIV

Our future is bright, friends. Brighter than whatever life you may be suffering through now.

Jesus hears you. He is for you. He Loves you. And when you give your life to Him, you will be with Him forever.

Allow Him to be your strength today, as you live, day by day. Let that bring you the strength and hope to keep going.

With Love, in Christ Jesus,

Annalee

Lies

Today I have been fighting the notion that I will never be married, and that every relationship out there ends in sadness.

This is not true. My parents, and many others, have proven it… that when Jesus is truly the center, there is a fighting chance at a happy and healthy marriage.

Please pray for me… that I would not believe this lie, that I would have hope for the future, and that I would be willing to trust Jesus and wait.

-Annalee

Restore

Jesus, my God,
please set them free.

Jesus, restore
these women
like you did for me.

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” (Matthew 19:26, NIV)

“No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah,and your land Beulah ; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married.” Isaiah 62:4

Do you know Jesus?

With Jesus, nothing is impossible. He is able to mend what is broken, and save those who are lost. Learn more about Him here.

Pastor Charles Stanley Passes Away at 90

I type with great emotion, both sad and joyous, as I tell you this news.

On April 18th, 2023, Beloved Pastor Charles Stanley died in his home at the age of 90. He was a faithful pastor of North Point Community Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

I am emotional because this man was integral in my growth as a Christian. Our family daily listened to his devotionals and watched him on TV. I am so glad he is at his true home, yet brought low knowing that another important person in my life has passed over.

I think I am even more emotional because my sweet, Godly grandpa David, passsed away January 6th, 2023. My pastor from my church and his wife also passed away last July 4th (July 4th 2022). Hearing that Pastor Stanley is now gone fills me with convoluted emotions.

Jesus, tell him and so many others how much I love them, how much they mean to me. Help me to keep my eyes on You, until my time comes as well.

Do you know Jesus?

Pastor Stanely and so many others have spent their entire lives living for Jesus. Learn more about Him here.

Prayer for Pastor Kevin Edwards

It pains me to report that a pastor, Kevin Edwards, lost his wife, Lisa Edwards, on December 17th, 2022, to heart failure. You can read more about what happened here.

Would you all just please lift him and his family up in prayer? This is no doubt one of the worst things that a person could experience. Let us pray over him, his family, and Lisa’s loved ones.

May we mourn with those who mourn, and cover our brothers and sisters in prayer.

In Christ,

Annalee