WHAT KIND OF TREE ARE YOU???

A weed...a fern...a bush....a tall oak? Or are you SEQUOIA?

"BLESSED is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down to gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law he habitually meditates by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper and come to maturity." Psalm 1:1-3 amp version

When I read this scripture verse years ago...I pondered it (after all, didn't it SAY to meditate on it?) You know why? Because I couldn't figure out WHAT kind of tree this scripture meant when it stated: "it's leaf shall not fade or wither". Because, when you seriously think of an oak tree, maple tree, olive tree, or even a mustard tree...their leaves do fade and fall off in winter...

But what tree leaves WILL NOT fade or wither in ANY season, seriously?

So, I thought about it, and while I was thinking, I could not help thinking about the wonderful trip that I took to California many years ago to see one of the most amazing sites I have EVER been to...the giant Sequoia Redwoods. Talk about BREATHTAKING, MAGNIFICENT, and BEAUTIFUL!

How big is our God? Could this scripture possibly mean that He wanted us to think deeper into what KIND of tree He was speaking of?

Could He have maybe, just MAYBE been speaking of a GIANT SEQUOIA???

And...this is JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION—so you uptight religious nuts, please don't get any ideas and think that I am making a "new doctrine" for the bible, lol! :)

Decide for yourselves if you will, please read what I have found out in my little "study". Here is some COOL information and some really AMAZING pics of my favorite tree in the world...and what God showed me how we compare to them as Christians---The GIANT Sequoias!

Note to the easily offended...if you are afraid of TRUTH--and being confronted with it--read no further...BEWARE, because I am getting ready to get my preach on!

1.The leaves of the Squoia tree never fade because they are a form of "evergreen" tree!

WOW...the leaves REMAIN GREEN? In WINTER? That is awesome! It got me to thinking...doesn't God want us to be like an evergreen tree...where our leaves never fade, no matter what SEASON we are in? We can live forever, never loosing our leaves...be it fall or winter...no matter how COLD the season of our life truly is!

For every season there is LOSS and GAIN—it is part of life! "But Annie, I can't take this season—I think I am going to die!" Yes...you may have had a setback, whether it be financially, physically, relationally, or emotionally....but I am here to tell you that it is JUST a season...and it will soon pass!!! And...the good news? YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DIE! I KNOW what it is like to struggle with finances, I KNOW what it's like to have cancer and be told I wasn't going to make it, I know what it's like to lose long time friends because of my beliefs, I know what it's like to feel rejected and alone! But GOD got me through it...and the best part it that it is being used as a testimony to encourage others, AND it has built great FAITH and character in me.

What about you? What season are you currently in in your life? Are you in a season of famine...of a COLD winter? Let me ask you another question, hasn't God got brought you this far? And didn't He say:

"And I am certain that with God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished, on the day that Christ Jesus returns" Philippians 1:6

sequoiaHere is the challenge...you must APPLY your faith! Trust in JESUS in your season of winter...because I have news for you, SPRING, SUMMER and HARVEST is just around the corner! You don't have to let your emotions rule you in this time of testing...YOU can decide to not believe what you feel...and your attitude during this winter season will MAKE YOU or BREAK YOU. Start PRAISING GOD and stop being a victim...take action for God and believe what you KNOW...that Jesus will not only get you through it—but that you WILL inherit better CHARACTER because of it! YOU WILL LIVE—by standing on the promises of His word. The word of GOD DOES NOT LIE! Jesus didn't just die to give you everlasting LIFE...He also died to give your life prosperity and victory HERE on EARTH!

"And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper and come to maturity."

2. The Sequoias only grow successfully in RICH, mineral soils and in FULL sunlight.

This one really got to me. For years I wondered (before I gave my life back to God) what Jesus meant by the story of the sower and the seed...and I knew that it meant that we were to be not only hearers of the word, but doers. But when I radically gave my life back to Him and was reading this story for the second time...something else "popped" out at me. God showed me that it took me a long time to really come back to Him because of the surroundings that I CHOSE to be in at the time...and I was not willing to give up my "comfort" of my old ways, out of fear.

I have a question for you....is FEAR keeping you from a "soil change"? Honestly people, if our SOIL is rotten, HOW do we expect to have the motivation to be a DOER of the word and not just a HEARER???


Are you letting "pop culture" define who you are, and what you do—how you are living your life? Or even better yet--are you so concerned with your reputation at your church that you trying to FIT IN by being "perfect" and "religious" in front of everyone else--so everyone will LIKE you??? (uh-oh--did I strike a painful chord on someone?) What kind of people are you surrounding yourself with?

What kind of music/TV are you listening to? Is it darkening your world, and possibly poisoning your "soil" around you...killing your "soul" slowly? Is it killing the tree that you were meant to be for God, and stunting your growth?

Or—Are you surrounding yourself with other on FIRE Christians, good praise music, and are you listening to good teachings? And, are you even "teachable"--have you become so stuck in your ways you are more like a donkey when it comes to CHANGE than a majestic stallion, running the race to WIN?

Are you TRULY letting His light shine on the dark places of your life, exposing His truth to your heart so that you are convicted to change for the better? Are you letting the LIGHT of Christ shine in you, by not choosing to live like the world OR the religious NUTS around you? (Uh -oh!)

I want to encourage you today...that in order for you to truly "grow" in God and have an intimate relationship, you might need to do some "transplanting" of your roots...and move into some "mineral" Jesus soil...and let His truth of His light GROW YOU UP as TRUE ADULTS in the faith! CHANGE IS GOOD!!! Because the real tradgedy is not what we have become in our sin...it is that we refuse to CHANGE when we KNOW we need to!

"Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13:8

3. The Sequoias are often located by underwater or visible streams, because of the trees requirement for large amounts of water.

Amazing....by the size of these beautiful trees...you know that they need a lot of water! We, as humans also require water...in fact, the human body is made up of mostly water...babies 78% (wow!) men, 60%, and women, 55%. If that is the case in our "physical" bodies...then what would that mean in our spiritual bodies? And if we are to be trees for God...how can we possibly grow spiritually without it?

Tell me, how MUCH water are you drinking, and...are you drinking enough? If you are sad, depressed, and nothing is looking up or changing for the better in your life as a Christian, you could actually be dehydrated spiritually!

Are you dying of thirst, my friend? Have you forgotten that you NEED water to survive? Are you so famished that you are chasing mirages like money, materialism, success, position and acceptance in your church (oh no she didn't!) sex, drugs—things that you THINK will fill up your well of emptiness inside of you?

Remember what happens when you chase mirages, they will ALWAYS turn into SAND!

Many people ask me, "Annie how did you overcome all of your past and not be tempted to go back to your old lifestyle, and how do you handle daily struggles?"

Can I be honest with you? It's really simple—this is NOT a trick question!

I actually READ my bible—everyday, and I cannot live without it! People, YOU decide how deep your walk and relationship will be with God by how much you read your bible! Trust me, this is a GREAT investment...if you really do this, ALL your dry places of your soul will be refreshed—overflowing with streams of living water—and because of this, you can bring others that are thirsty a cup of cold water. WOW!

"But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." John 4:13 quote, Jesus.

There is a "well" that will NEVER run dry! BUT YOU HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO COME TO IT TO DRINK! We have to come to the point in our Christian walk where we are not always "spoon" fed by just GOING TO CHURCH and LISTENING to a sermon! It is OUR RESPONSIBILITY to get FILLLED UP with the truth--not just our Pastors--or the television evangelists! (ouch!)

It's right there....next to your bedside lampstand--DUST IT OFF and read it...open your bible and read about the most incredible man that ever walked the earth...His name is JESUS CHRIST, and if you really want to stop that inner thirst, He will FILL YOU UP with His never ending stream of water, the water of life, in others words, the LIVING WORD OF GOD. Start your day right, pick up your bible early in the morning and get FILLED with the truth---and grow into tree you were meant to be!

4. FIRE, FIRE FIRE! These magnificent trees require periodic "wildfire" to clear competing vegetation and soil humus before successful regeneration will occur....AND, what is so incredible is that they are HIGHLY resistant to it!

Today, these "fires" are regularly scheduled to burn away any opposing vegetation that would compete for root space, water, or sun space...insuring the trees with a longer life!

Also...without this fire, Sequoias will crowd out their OWN seedlings, and their seeds will not germinate. But when the fires come, heat rises to the top of the trees to bring down their "fruit" (the pine cone needles) The cones will fall, and the heat of the fire actually is used to "open" up the cones for the new seedlings to "pop" out. Also...the ground ash from the cleansing fire then acts as a cover to protect the fallen seeds from ultraviolet radiation damage.

"What's that got to do with me, Annie?" Glad you asked!

Our fruit is often produced in many ways...through fiery trials, through perseverance and patience. Fruit isn't just fruit of the spirit, it is also what has been PRODUCED out of pain...and often times a testimony can be shared—and people getting saved from it will be "fruit" of your fire. Every time you share your story of how God got you though...you are planting "seedlings" for a harvest!

How can we as Christians, be MORE refined and produce MORE of these precious seedlings? We must let God burn our "chaff" in our lives. As painful as it is, we must let God burn our selfish "desires" Some people (and even Christians!) will actually think that money, materialism, success, and power will make them happy. But...when our OWN desires are out of balance, wanting only to satisfy SELF—it MUST be given to Jesus as a sacrificial offering...to be burnt away in ASH...and God will honor it...because it is a sweet smelling to Him!

"But Annie, that's too painful to go through--it's not fair....and I need those things make to me happy!"

Can I be real with you? NO YOU DON'T!!! As hard as it is to believe, these "temporary" things will ONLY make you miserable! I tried this...and it DID NOT WORK—it only made me MORE unhappy and MISERABLE!

We are SO much like the Sequoia trees!!! Many times there are "weeds" around us that will literally suck the life out of us—and if we don't get a handle on them soon, (people, bad habits, RELIGIOSITY and LEGALISM, negative emotions, BAGGAGE of the past) they will eventually KILL us! If we decide to truly let the heat of the fire "burn" away our "weeds", this HEAT will build into us TRUE CHARACTER, opening the door for "seedlings" to fall on the ground and be planted...for a harvest on new believers!

I have a question for you, HOW are you living your life as a Christian--and what is it saying to others around you—believers and non believers?

Remember my friends, as Christians, the evidence of how we walk through our personal "fire" will be used as a testimony a "seed" of hope, or a seed of failure. This "seed" will be used to reap a harvest...good or bad. Remember that your good or bad attitude of your current situation will determine how effective you can be used by God...so do not fail God's test by KEEPING your weeds (chaff) around you—because they are only keeping you from the true destiny that God has for you. You become a FIREHAZARD when you have dry weeds around you! You are either going to burn up real fast and have NOTHING left, or end up dying in the smoke. Choose to let Christ walk with you through the fire—because WITH HIM you will make it! And as He burns away your chaff...you will become FIREPROOF, and a true "seedling" witness for Him!

"These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." 1 Peter 1:7

5. The Sequoia tree is highly resistant to decay because of a natural preservative in it's wood. Did you know that the oldest known Sequoia is 3,600 yrs old?

Oh this is TRULY soooo good! God wants us ALL, I said ALL to have a long life...sickness is NOT of Him...decay is NOT of Him!

Decay in our lives will KILL US! The devil ONLY comes to STEAL, KILL, and DESTROY! What are the main ways that the devil can come and destroy us? By taking our JOY. For example, if you are letting what you did in your past rule you—this will rob your today, and DECAY your future! Forgiveness is a command of Jesus...and if you cannot forgive the people in your past, present, this will eventually make you very sick, and like a type of poison, you will die a slow death! This is called TOXIC emotions people! Negative emotions cause you depression, anxiety, self-pity, addiction to drugs, and suicidal thoughts...and even cancer!

Do not FORGET the very message of Christ, it is GOOD NEWS! He came to FORGIVE us, HEAL us, and give us a NEW, EVERLASTING LIFE in Him! If you truly believe this...take charge and speak the living word of God over your life...ask Jesus for forgiveness...get rid of your "decayed thoughts"...BE SET FREE TODAY! You can live forever—but only if you choose to receive it and believe it!

"The thief only comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I came that you may have life, and live it to the FULL. " John 10:10

sequoia6. The root systems of the Sequoia is quite unique! Their average roots are 6 ft, and if grown alone, will not withstand winds, heavy rains or flooding. BUT....when they are growing in a grove of Sequoias, they roots of each tree INTERTWINES with each other, holding each tree "up" no matter what storm, wind, rain, floods, hail or fire.

Christians, this is SO important!! We NEED each other! Like Sequoias, we cannot be "lone rangers" in our lives...the body of Christ is something that God has given us in order for us to grow, cultivate, and reach full maturity in Him. In order to be used by Him, we MUST work together; this is WHY it is called the body of Christ! We MUST be part of a church, and keep in fellowship with other like minded Christians—people that have STRONG faith that can "hold" you up when a massive storm hits your life—they can pray for you, comfort you, help you, and lift you up when you can't make it on your own. We are ALL connected...ALL churches, ALL denominations, and with this supernatural connection of LOVE with our "roots" of Christ love intertwined, we can make a LARGER impact on the world! We cannot do this by having doctrinal differences, we must remember what Jesus prayed for us! We will be a witness to the rest of the world, and a much STRONGER, more POWERFUL one IF we are unified!

Photobucket"I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."

"I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me." John 17:21-23

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

7. Because of their magnificent height, Sequoias change the skyline of the horizon. It is the worlds largest tree, they grow to an average height 190-300 ft and 12-30 feet in diameter! They have been recorded to be 311 ft in height and 41 ft in diameter. They also grow faster than any other tree in the world! They are GIANTS...literally.

Can I ask you are real question? Do you "stand out" or "blend in" as a believer? Are you satisfied with the status quo of being "saved" and going to heaven? Or are you making a positive difference in others lives....being used to take them to heaven with you? Have you ever asked yourself:

"Gee, I wonder what my call is in my life?"

Whaaaattt!? Are you KIDDING ME? You WONDER what your "call" is? Give me a break!

It is very clear in scripture Christians—and this is NOT a trick question! The FIRST instruction that Jesus gave to the new church was to go out and SPREAD the gospel!

Face it Christians, we can KNOW all the scripture, go to the best churches, give ALL we have for the cause of God---but if we are not applying what we have learned it will stunt our growth—and all our efforts will become dead works!

For example...do you truly LOVE a person that comes into your chruch that doesn't "look" or act like the typcial Christian? Have you become SO RELIGIOUS that you have forgotten that JESUS died for people that were REJECTED by the religious PHARISEES? If you have NO love...it is DEAD WORKS my friend!

Will YOU decide to take that deeper step to really know Jesus better--by studying His word and taking the step of faith to actually apply it to your life—growing, loving, and maturing to heights unknown? Don't we want to see others saved, healed and delivered? Don't we want to be so tall, like a GIANT, so that we can see the problems WAY ahead of time supernaturally...so that we make right choices to stay in the will of God?

HELLO! We are not all here JUST to get saved—if that was the case, God would have taken us to heaven as soon as He saved us! We have the HOLY SPIRIT....and Jesus said that we would do even GREATER things for Him when He went away!

WE ARE HERE TO STAND OUT LIKE THE SEQUOIAS...and make a REAL difference on different horizons! How about you, my friend? Do you want JOY...do you want PEACE...do you want real LOVE in your life? Are you willing to grow and mature in your walk with Christ, so that it changes the "horizon" of your surroundings—to become a history maker—an actual GIANT in the faith?

How big is your God? Do you really love Him...trust in Him...believe in Him? Will you limit God...by only growing into a simple, small tree? Or even worse, letting the devil steal WHO you are suppose to be by growing as a "fern" or "weed" in life...and eventually DYING in the fire?

Will you let Christ truly into your life today...and let him shine His loving light on you, BURN the chaff out of you, drink His living water, dig your roots deeper and wider...intertwine them with others, stand strong, truly believing the promises that He has for you....eventually growing into a true Sequoia GIANT?

Do you want a REAL change in your life? Are you tired of being a stunted tree...and do you want your walk with God to become DEEPER so that it will take you to NEW heights?

Dear Jesus...

I love you. I thank You that you gave your very life for me, and died for my sins. I ask that You take what I have learned in this lesson today, and show me how to apply it to my new life in You. Let the words of Your promises for a better life take deep root inside my heart. Where I am thirsty, fill me up! Give me the strength I need when I am weak, and when I feel like giving up, intertwine Your roots with mine to keep me standing. I give You permission to burn all the chaff in my life...all my problems, my selfishness, my addictions, my bad behaviors, my regrets, and let my old self "die". Create in me new leaves of life, and like the evergreen, stay alive in the winter seasons of my life. Let me be a SEQUOIA for You, so my witness will bring others into Your Kingdom! Amen!

WHAT IS YOUR SECRET FANTASY?

Do any of you remember the show "Fantasy Island?" Watch this video to refresh your memory!!!

"Welcome, to FANTASY ISLAND!"

This was a series done for tv in the 1970's that I was in love with! (oh come on...some of you were too!!!) And if I could watch all the episodes over again, I would...it was that good!

So what was Fantasy Island really all about?

Was it about this cute little midget, Tatoo??? ha ha!

"Da plane...Da plane!!!" lol

Well...I like to describe it like this....Fantasy Island was kind of like the Twilight Zone on crack!!!

You could fly to this beautiful tropical island...and request ANY fantasy to be fulfilled by Mr. Roarke, the islands owner and concierge.

At first Mr. Roarke seemed to JUST be a wealthy man who owned the island and wanted to make people's fantasies come true, but as time went on...he grew more mysterious and magical as each series was aired.

How mysterious???

Well, for one, he was friends with a mermaid who had a fantasy to have legs instead of fins.(don't blame her for this one!) He also fought the devil on occasion. (interesting!)

Each guest would be flown in by plane that landed on water...and as they got off the plane, Mr. Roarke told Tattoo who they were, their "fantasy", and why they came to the tropical island.

So what kind of "fantastic" or "hidden" fantasy would these people request?

Usually the fantasy would deal with romance, success, fame or money—or a combination of all four.

For example:

A woman who was overweight all her life would want to be thin and glamorous. (poor girl!) A man who was considered a geek in school would want to become a sex symbol to women. (could you blame him?) A man would want to live like a gangster in the days of Al Capone. (probably a straight laced guy who was bored with his life!) A salesman who was about to lose his job would want to score the sales of his career. (could success possibly bring him true happiness?)

One that stuck out for me personally was the request of a fantasy of a prostitute...she wanted to quit working and tell her love interest what she did for a living, in hopes that he would not reject her--but love her in spite of her past. ( I liked this one the best—I could SO relate!)

Mr. Roarke would counsel them during their fantasy, and sometimes even have to "rescue" them from themselves and the trouble their fantasy would cause. And...after all was said and done...Mr. Roarke would always ask them the same type of question,

"Was your fantasy all that you expected it to be?"

The answer was usually: "No Mr. Roarke...but I did learn a great deal about myself and why I wanted to do it!"

Usually at the end of the fantasy, they would be back to normal and realize that real life was much better then the fantasy!!! And instead of finding the "happiness" they thought would make them complete--they would find a romantic interest along the way, forget all about their "fantasy", board the plane with their new "love interest" and fly off to live "happily ever after" with each other.

(NOT!)

So....does this happen in real life more than we all like to admit?

Question: Have you ever asked and prayed to God for something that you thought for sure would make you happy? You begged and begged for it...and FINALLY, when God gave it to you...you soon discovered that you really didn't need what you asked for after all...and that it actually destroyed your life instead of enhancing your life?

Come one...be honest with yourselves!

Say for instance...do all lottery winners achieve true happiness? Probably not. I have read that many of them have became flat broke at the end of five years...addicted...depressed...or even that they have even taken their own life. Do you want this? I certainly don't!

How about the famous—the rock stars, movie stars, etc. Does their fame equal true happiness? Example: Does Brittany Spears really have it all? No...in fact she is not doing too good right now!

What about the strippers...the call girls...the porn stars? Do they ever truly attain the happiness that they search for in the sex, the glamor, attention and money that they receive working to "sell" their bodies? A big NO for me on this one! Lol

To tell you the truth...I believe we have a little "Fantasy Island" inside of all us. We have a secret fantasy...that we have asked God to make come true...and we believe that somehow if He would just give it to us...we would finally be happy.

But to be honest with you...like Mr Roarke on Fantasy Island...God knows what is best for us...

Many times what we think will make us "happy" will only have us craving more things...more money...more sex...to extremes that it would eventually destroy us! And God, like an eagle in the sky...can see what we cannot see....

Trust me...I asked God for things I had NO business asking Him for. When I didn't get the answer that I wanted...I begged Him for it. AND...when I didn't get the answer that I wanted AGAIN...I went out and MADE it happen with my own strength!

Sound familiar, anyone?

Oh...don't get me wrong...I got what I wanted alright. But with the things that I wanted, I also got SO many things I did not want! Example: physical abuse, psychological pain, cancer, heartache, addiction... bankruptcy. You name it...it happened to me. All because I wanted MY fantasy to come true...and God was never truly in it.

Why???

Can I be real honest and transparent with you?

Let's face it...I was living for me. I was purely selfish. I call it the Darth Vader Syndrome. Because of the pain from my childhood...I wanted things to change and was willing to risk it all to get rid of it all together! BUT...I was in trouble more than I knew, for by MAKING things change by chasing my "fantasy", the dark side took over....and like Darth Vader (remember, he was once a good guy!) I could not get enough! I wanted MORE MORE MORE...and when I got more...IT STILL WASN'T ENOUGH!

I was so concerned about ME ME ME that I forgot the entire reason why I was living on this earth...I just wanted to "quench" my thirst...to finally find my own personal "Fantasy Island!!"

AND....I was willing to risk my very soul to get it!

It's kind of like a mirage in the desert...you see the water from far away...you are thirsty, so you RUN RUN RUN towards it. You dive in! Only to find out that you are drinking SAND...and you are more thirsty then you were before!

Why are we living on this earth? Are we here for a reason? Be honest, have you ever asked yourself this question, truly?

WHY OH WHY AM I HERE OH GOD???

Well...many of you that know me...know of what happened in my life that changed my perspective completely...thank God! When I realized that the choices I had made as a stripper and prostitute in my life only HURT people and myself, it was almost TOO LATE!!! Only when I was faced with DEATH (heart attack) did I finally WAKE up to real TRUTH....and asked Jesus to take over!

And that He did...I gave up control and gave it to Him....and as He pushed through my cold stony heart...He softened it...and changed me into a brand new person.

No longer could I live life as this "selfish" woman anymore with her own hidden agenda. And SUDDENLY...I wanted to do good...because Jesus SAVED ME FROM MYSELF!!! This "goodness" consumed me day and night...and like a "Jedi Knight", I wanted to become "selfless" and risk my life to save others from becoming the same person I once was.

Oh how AWESOME His love is for me...that He could love someone that was self-destructing, someone that had such a torrid past as I!!! With all of the terrible mistakes that I made...He still chose to rescue me...forgive me...take my hand...and call me "beautiful".

Jesus is the original Jedi Knight!!! Like Jesus...the Jedi serve...protect...rescue...restore. Their only concern is "The Force" and keeping the "Dark Side" at bay.

And now...as I run the ministry of Hookers For Jesus, as I reach out to the women that are looking for that same happiness I once was, as I help them discover their true selves...as I show them their perfect destiny and God's perfect plan...I picture myself in my "Jedi" outfit...with the light saber of truth on my belt.

And as I take out my laser...my sword of truth...I smile...because I have finally had my fantasy come true. My fantasy of happiness? It was truly found....but this time because I reached for God, first.

I wish someone would have told me this long ago...because I wouldn't have had to go through all the heartache!

Friends...I tell you the truth, true happiness will only be found if you seek the Kingdom of God.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well". Matthew 6:33

These words of Jesus echo and stay in my mind when I lose perspective, and get discouraged. I recite them to myself out loud with my light saber! Oh, the word of God is SOOO GOOD!

So...I ask you again...

Are you tired of chasing the "fantasies" and desert "mirages" in your life?

That "perfect" car?

That "perfect" house?

That "perfect" job?

That "perfect" relationship?

Do you want true happiness? Because if you do...remember this...it will NOT be found in material things, fame, success, sex, or money...because these things will only fill your mouth with "sand" from your mirage!

So...now I ask you another question...after reading this....

If you had a fantasy and could go to Fantasy Island, what would it be? Would it be something for yourself personally...or would it be to better the world and help others?

Please posts your thoughts...comments...questions!

I love you and thank you for all the wonderful emails of support and encouragement! You guys and gals ROCK!

Annie Lobert

Hooker for Jesus

(copyright 2008 all rights reserved)

YOU WANT IT RAW?

RAW as in SUSHI RAW??? <")))><

THEN I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU RAW!

I have a great interview for you to watch!!! Julie Mac contacted me a about two months ago from RAW VEGAS TV and asked me if Hookers For Jesus would like to do an interview. Well, I finally connected with Julie Mac via church believe it or not...we both didn't know that we are going to the SAME church!  Funny how God works, isn't it?

So, if you look up rawvegas.tv, some Christians might think that I should not do a show that is not Christian. I disagree... this is so far from the truth!  Say what you want, but I believe the only true way we are going to reach people is if we are reaching people OUTSIDE of the little "church" bubble and "soft" pews.

So, what a better way to get the good news out there...by secular television!

The first interview is a short story of what I went through as a call girl in Vegas...and how my childhood abuse along with "religion" of the church was a catalyst to my future choices of rebellion downfall. Also in this clip you will see pictures from my past lifestyle as a prostitute that have never been shown before. (yikes!!!!!!) Please watch below:

RAW VEGAS TV AND HOOKERS FOR JESUS PART 1



This second interview is about our Saving Sex City project!!! Heather Veitch and I are on a mission from God to let the people in Las Vegas know that He loves them too! Yes, I talk about the critics, the supporters, and what the future holds for Hookers For Jesus! (oh no she didn't...oh but YES I did!) Please watch below:

RAW VEGAS TV AND HOOKERS FOR JESUS PART 2

To the people that support what we are doing...we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts, and we are so appreciative of all the wonderful emails, prayers, and help you have given. We love you so much! :)

To the critics....hey, aren't you bored already? Don't you think your energy and time would be much better spent on trying to get someone saved, instead of bashing someone who is loving people like Jesus commands us to? We love you too....but we need to tell you something:

TURN OR BURN is not working critics!!! HELLO?!?!?!

We need to love people FIRST where they are at...after all, what did Jesus do first for the woman who was caught in adultery? Did He take the bible, quote scripture, and BASH it on her head??? Do you think He did this?:

"Well, it looks like you are in sin of the Law, according to Deuteronomy 22:21 and you need to be punished—after all, you have been a very naughty girl!"

NO!!! He SAVED her first...because of His love for her. He stopped her "religious" attackers in their tracks, because NONE of them were without sin, and they KNEW it!

After all, where was the man that committed the sin with her.??? Most likely he was with the others, throwing the stones! HA!

Yes, Jesus told her to repent afterwards....but FIRST, His actions are what really showed her true LOVE. After she was saved and realized that she would have died without Jesus, is finally when she could truly understand repentance.

So this is what we will do. We will show kindness, compassion, and LOVE above all things...and this will draw them to Christ! A real RELATIONSHIP will be established...and as a result, they will most likely come to church, get saved, and follow Him too.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness." Jeremiah 31:3

Please feel free to leave your comments:)

God bless you all and we want to wish you a wonderful Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Annie Lobert

Hookers For Jesus

PS: for those of you that have emailed me on my MySpace profile and I have not responded, please be patient with me, I will try to get caught up over the holidays. If you have is an emergency, please email me at info@hookersforjesus.net.

COLLEGE GIRL OR CALL GIRL--
WHO HAS MORE VALUE?

I am so excited to share this latest video with you! This television project was filmed on location in Las Vegas. It is a French documentary called "Le Droit De Savoir" about the Las Vegas sex industry pros and cons. I was asked to to talk about the "con" side of being an escort in Las Vegas. This was such a fun project, because this was not your "Christian" television type of show! Plus...it is in French, but if you listen real close, you can hear what is being said. Check it out! 



I love doing these type of projects, because if you think about it...we should not be just preaching to the choir all the time, should we? Shouldn't we be lights and tell the world what God has done for us??? I don't know about you...but I LOVE sharing what God has done for me!!!

The two French gentlemen that did this story were so GOOD to me...besides following me around Vegas, participating with me in our outreaches, EVER SINGLE NIGHT they took me out to eat at my FAVORITE place to eat...SUSHI BARS!!! So, as you can imagine...they won a big part of my heart with their act of kindness!

Hey beside Jesus, SUSHI is the way to my heart sometimes....YUM YUM!!! lol

The gentleman that was interviewing me, Herve, was sick of religion, and didn't even know if he even believed in God. He had had some bad experiences with other people that were claiming to be "Christian". Hurt was an understatement! The camera man, Jon Luc, was a Catholic and believed in Jesus in his own way.

But something very special happened as I hung how with these two gentlemen! When I told my entire story, inside the Palm Casino hotel...both of them teared up as I shared with them the truth about my life...and I could see that God actually broke through their hearts, especially my interviewer....he had TEARS in his eyes. Remember, this is the man that was not a believer! Hmmm....maybe this actually did something to him???

In this video you will see one night that Keri and I did outreach together. We actually got to speak, pray for, and encourage a girl that was working as a prostitute at a casino bar on the Las Vegas strip. We talked to her for over an hour! She told us that she was actually praying for a sign from God that SOMEONE (ANYONE!) would come up to her and tell her that she needed to quit working as a prostitute. She had been working for three months, and hated it so much, that when she would work, she would literally SHAKE as she did her job.

We felt so very sorry for her! We told her Jesus loved her so very much...and she started tearing up ever so slightly....and pretty soon 15 minutes later, the tears could no longer hide themselves...suddenly they came a flood, as we started to pray openly together right in the middle of the casino.

It was POWERFUL to say the least!!! JESUS showed up! And I am sure the devil was MAD!

The best part??? She called me and told me a few days later that Keri and I coming up to her and talking to her about Jesus was the BEST thing that happened to her...that we were her "nail in the coffin" for her to leave the sex industry in Las Vegas! She quit...threw both her phones away and was getting on a plane to fly halfway across the country to go home! She left her pimp...and that next day arrived home to call me again and tell me that she was going to church to get her healing—with her two little boys!

Isn't God so good? WOW.

The other very best part? The two French gentlemen that were filming this, could not believe that it was so easy to talk to a prostitute, and tell her that God loved her...that she would quit simply by the love of Jesus. It was incredible, the reaction of them both...they were impressed to say the least!!! They both left Las Vegas changed, and very INSPIRED at the very power of God they had witnessed from the outreaches!

It is then that I fully realized the power of me telling my testimony, and seeing "fruit" had somehow changed their view on God...

This is just a little "peek" into what I do. Miracles happen often...people are being saved...rescued...redeemed and delivered from the prison that they were in, through the living power of God. And you know what? It only took us girls to step out of the church...and actually reach out to women/men that everyone else considers trash to throw away.

Are these women really trash? Was I really trash?

When I was little and living in Chicago...my family would go and cruise the "rich" neighborhoods in the suburbs. On trash day, we would go through the ally ways and find perfectly good TVs, radios, furniture (even antiques!) that the rich would throw away. My dad had such a knack for spotting rare furniture...and he would often stumble upon pieces that people threw away that were worth SO MUCH MONEY!!!

I never forgot those times...because my dad was like a little kid when we would load it up in the back of our truck! We would take it home, and have a perfect working TV, radio...and beautiful furniture to sit on—and even some to sell to antique stores! If these people took the time, instead of throwing these things away, they could have had a little small fortune on their hands, truly! Not only that, something that someone was throwing away as "trash" helped us in our time of need as a new family struggling in Chicago! It made us excited and joyful to know we could find something that someone else thought was worthless—because it had such VALUE and WORTH to us!

You know what they say,

"One man's trash is another man's treasure."

So isn't this true with people, as well???

I cannot help but think about the women that have been abused...most people would think because they have been sold out, jaded, abused, used, spit on, stepped on, kicked down, raped, that now they are worthless to society! Come on, you must admit this! How do I know? Because when I tried to be accepted and get a job after I was out of the industry, you would not believe that reactions that I would get when people found out what I used to do....like I was "trash".

Can you really honestly imagine how this makes a person feel?

Do you ever notice that when a prostitute is missing, no one seems to care as much as a "college coed"??? Hey I am being REAL here! I challenge you to check the news to see if I am lying!

Jessie Foster is an example. She is a prostitute that is from Canada that has been missing for over 1 ½ years from Las Vegas!!! Please read her story—it is so important!

www.findjessiefoster.com

Jessie came down to Vegas on vacation, but met a guy here that she became engaged to. He became her pimp! She was working the casinos and escort agencies of Las Vegas. She went MISSING WITHOUT A TRACE!!! No one knows where she is, her entire family have put together and reward and search campaign to find her, and they are completely heartbroken because they have not received a lot of support from the media.

All the while, certain "college coeds" have received so much support that EVERYONE knows their names....but when it comes to Jessie...no one really has a clue!

IS THIS TRULY FAIR?

When you think about it... they are not much different, really.

What do these two women have in common? They were BOTH women that are missing...and possibly both women forced into violent situations with intended harm. AND---they are BOTH a sister, and a daughter... someone's cousin, and very beautiful girls!

So why do people think the "college" girl has SO MUCH MORE value?

I am sorry...but it seems that not a lot of people really care about a girl like Jessie, and society as a whole seems to think that these types of women chose everything that happens to them—when this is far from the truth!

It makes me so upset...because Jessie actually does have VALUE—BUT she is considered "expendable" to society only because she was selling her body and living the lifestyle of prostitution!!!

They justify there decision on the thought, "Well...she was JUST a prostitute...so she "deserves" her punishment and circumstances!!!"

Come on, are you serious??? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

I am sure if you could find Jessie...and talk to her...you would KNOW that this was not true!

How do we know if Jessie was REALLY wanting a college education, and because of her life circumstances...she wasn't able to pursue it because of no MONEY???

(Hey...don't hate me! This was one of the reasons that I got into prostitution!)

How do we know that Jessie was not "forced" into it?

How do we know that she is not somewhere frightened out of her mind, being beaten and kept a prisoner for sex everyday?

How do we know that she is not somewhere DEAD...with her killer running free???

Hello! I was once that girl—and it is NOT a pretty place to be!!! In fact, I wouldn't wish it on my WORST enemey! Many times I thought that I would DIE. And, many situations I was in almost led to death! I was a prisoner--literally!

I felt so ALONE and REJECTED...but mostly UNLOVED and thrown AWAY.

If someone had said to me when I was at my lowest point, "Annie, you matter." Maybe I would have came back to God sooner—but this was not the case.

Who are we to judge another's lifestyle, in all reality...when we do not know the real circumstances of just why they are in it?

Because when it comes down to it--the truth of it is...ALL of us deserve punishment for the lives we have lived...because we are human and we are sinners! NO ONE IS GREATER THAN ANOTHER—ALL HAVE SIN AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. Therefore...really there is no difference between that college girl and the prostitute...for they are both children of God—and they are BOTH sinners.

Jesus wouldn't have chosen between the two, would He have? Absolutely not!

Do you think we could be like Jesus and not choose between the two...and help the prostitute, too?

And isn't this why Jesus received so much rejection...because the "church" didn't agree with Him hanging out with "unclean" people???

But you know what? This is what made Jesus DIFFERENT--He took a mighty STAND and did not care what the "church" was thinking!

Could we possibly be DIFFERENT from society/church as Christians, and rise up and start to show the prostitutes REAL love--and not care what they think???

How can we as Christians stand up for these women? How can we support them as they transition out of the lifestyle?

How can we love them like Jesus, truly???

We can be there for them! Give them jobs! Give them grace and unconditional love! Don't judge right away—take the time to have a relationship and try to understand where they are coming from.

Sometimes the best you can do is just be available to sit by their side and listen!

Also, could more people show they care, by simply donating to causes that help women out of these situations? Many people cannot do some of the things listed, but they can give!

Do you realize anyone that would give...that it would be a major seed sown in heaven---and on earth? Your gift would also give women real HOPE.

HOPE!!!

Sometimes this is all that they need to get them out of their lifestyle!

For Jesus said when you help the least of these, you have done it to Me.

I am so happy that Jesus doesn't think that I am "trash"!!! I am so thankful that I am now His perfect TREASURE!!! If we all could just get this...we ALL have value no matter what we have done or what we have been through!

Jesus died for us ALL to have value!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish and have eternal life" John 3:16

You have VALUE and you are LOVED!

I want to sincerely take this time to thank ALL the people that have helped my organization and the women that I have been working with...you have made it possible for me to continue to reach, rescue and teach VALUE to these beautiful women!

God bless you and I love you all so much!

Annie Lobert
Hooker For Jesus

PS. If you feel led to give to support Hookers For Jesus, contributions can be made through paypal at www.hookersforjesus.net, or by check or money order payable to Hookers For Jesus. All checks or money orders can be mailed to our post office box located at:

Annie Lobert
9435 W Tropicana Ave #102-106
Las Vegas, Nv 89147

ATTENTION:
PSST!!!!

SAVING SEX CITY episode 3 is being edited and will be up very soon...a lot of you have emailed me about the "showgirl" costume....

Don't have a tizzy fit already!!! If you took me off your top friends because you think I have lost it...you are right...I have LOST it--for Jesus!

I refuse to stay in a "box" for witnessing! Will YOU stay in that "box" out of fear of what others think...or step out of it truly and risk it all for Jesus???

Trust me...:):):) there is a method to the madness! LOL

HOOKERS AND THE 700 CLUB?

You have got to be kidding me Annie!

Ha! Gotcha! :)

Hookers for Jesus...that is!

I assure you, it is true! A few months ago I spent some real quality time with my awesome new friends from the 700 club....running around the Las Vegas Vally and beyond!

The 700 club in Las Vegas??? Come on Annie...NO WAY. Isn't Las Vegas Sin City??? And why would a Christian organization...such as the 700 Club even WANT to come all the way to Las Vegas?

I am sure that they had these thoughts and questions in the back of their minds too...I mean...come on!!! This is the city where sin never sleeps....TRULY.

Despite the fact that most of the crew had never been to Vegas...and did not hear very great things about it...they had a great attitude, and a GREAT time! We hung out and kicked it as they followed me around for a few days with the cameras...to see what Hookers For Jesus was all about...and how I came to the realization that I needed to reach out to the women that I used to work with!

We went to the famous Las Vegas Strip as I did some outreach...we even went to the beautiful mountain community of Mount Charleston...a place that I frequent to get away from the bustle of the city to reflect and get re-filled!

One good part was...they came to my church (The Church At South Las Vegas) and had the awesome chance to witness my pastor get his preach on (Pastor Benny Perez) and hang out and worship with all of us...

But...the VERY best part??? They noticed that Jesus IS indeed in Las Vegas! Yes my friends...believe it or not...and as hard as it is to swallow this...JESUS IS HERE TOO!!!

Because...where sin abounds...

GRACE ABOUNDS MUCH MORE!

V I V A   L A S   V E G A S ! ! !

So, if you would like to watch my apprearance and story in fabulous LAS VEGAS, I will be on the 700 Club on Friday October 26, 2007.

It was so fun taping the whole story....so you don't want to miss it!

And....I would like to ask you a favor...please pray for a mighty flood of SALVLATIONS to happen when it is aired...because I have a feeling that Jesus is going to really ROCK IT!

I truly believe in the power of prayer...

It is my passion to reach the lost generation of teens, 20's and 30's kids that have been lured into selling their bodies online, in the telephone out call services, in the strip clubs, in the "secret" escort services of Craig's list...and girls and boys that are "thinking" about going into this lifestyle.

I truly believe that if they see just one experience and the power of God...they will get out of this lifestyle (if they are currently in it)...or if they are thinking about making this as a career choice...they will think twice and will not do it!

Revelation 12:11 !!!! "They overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink back from death."

Let it be so!

We need: P R A Y E R  W A R R I O R S ! ! !

Are you up to the challenge? Please, if you feel led, commit to a different block of time throughout the day when it is aired, because the more people that are praying...the more SALVATIONS will occur...AND it will take a big load off of the prayer teams back:)

I thank you JESUS for making this happen...and everyone else that was involved...the 700 Club crew (we had a blast, didn't we?) Pastor Benny and Wendy, Frank, the entire Church At South Las Vegas. But most importantly I thank you my good friends on MYSPACE...you have continually believed in me even when the chips were down...I love you ALL...you ROCK my boat!!!



God bless you! I love you all!

Thank you for believing in me!

Annie Lobert

Hooker For Jesus

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ARE YOU A WORKAHOLIC???

OR do you know someone who is???

Now I want you to be completely honest with yourself...because many people would never even admit to having this problem in their lives!!! Please read these questions and seriously ask yourself, "Do I have any of these symptoms"? If you have at least one...you might be a workaholic.

1.  Are you obsessed about your "job"...it is always on your mind, when you leave for lunch, when you drive to run errands....when you lay down your head at night to sleep??? Is it on your mind, 24/7?

2.  Do you take your work HOME with you, on vacations, weekends...and nothing separates you from it? When you wake up early, it is work? Before you go to bed it is work? Is there is no real "wind down" time with a tv show or a book...only the thought of what you need to accomplish the next day?

3.  Is the only real happiness that you find is in your work..in other words, does taking leisure time out for yourself only make you feel guilty or depressed?

4.  Do you tend to over commit yourself? After all, you are "superman/woman" and can get EVERYTHING done, right???

5.  Do you define yourself by how much you can get done? Do you make lists of things that you need to do, and if you do not get them all "checked off" you become disappointed or angry with yourself?

6.  Has your social life taken a toll? Have you been turning down friends/family that are inviting you to events to just "hang out" and "be"? Will you only go to events that are "work " related? Do you make plans to socialize, having good intentions...but then later canceling because of "work"?

7.  Do you work or read during meals? (uh-oh) Do you try to eat fast (fast food) so that you can get more things done that day?

8.  Do you have a "type A" personality?

9.  Do you think that you will lose everything or become a failure if you don't continually work at 40+ hours a week to accomplish your goals you have set before YOURself?

10.  Are you over serious about your work, and you have LOST the laughter in your life? In other words, you think the only way you can laugh or enjoy life, is if you get the work done FIRST?


If you or someone you kno