Author: Anastasia Irene

My name is Anastasia, and I long to bring praise and glory to Jesus Who redeemed my soul. I live in California with my parents and younger siblings. My mission in life is to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others wholeheartedly. My hobbies are spending time in God’s Word, listening to and making music for Jesus, God's creation--particularly birdwatching--spending time with family and friends, reading and writing, ministry, and more.

Desert Bloom

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Praise and Worship, Prayer, Scripture, The Christian Walk, Theology

Isaiah 35:1-2

1The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,
And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
2It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,
Even with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
The excellence of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
The excellency of our God.

A few months ago, I had the not-so-pleasant experience of being on the road in the midst of a terrible dust storm in the desert. At times, clouds of dust were so thick that the visibility dropped nearly to zero. Tumbleweeds darted in front of the car. It took hours for the storm to finally let up.

Just a few days prior, however, I had seen the same desert in its full beauty. Sagebrush dotted the landscape. Joshua trees rose up majestically, stretching their branches toward heaven. Pronghorn antelope, wild horses, and other wildlife roamed the flat plains. What a stark contrast!

Isaiah 35 is always an encouragement to me. It speaks of the desert blooming and blossoming as a rose. What beautiful imagery! The Lord takes the horrible dust storm-filled deserts in our lives and transforms them into life-filled oasis. He causes stunning beauty to spring forth from the barren deserts in our hearts. He turns the ugly, dry dust and sand into the most gorgeous roses we could ever imagine.

I am reminded of the many desert-like areas in California that spring forth with the most stunning displays of wildflowers after the winter rains. What lavish beauty lay hidden beneath the dry, dead grasses of summer! However, even those lovely spring wildflowers die quickly, in contrast to the fragrant, lovely roses the Lord cultivates in our hearts.

Are you walking through a lifeless desert right now? If you love the Lord, He will use it for your good and will transform your barren plains into vibrant, life-filled, stunningly glorious rose gardens that testify to His grace!

Psalm 16 (part three: The Right Hand)

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Praise and Worship, Prayer, Scripture, The Christian Walk, Theology

Psalm 16:8-11

I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:8 discusses how we should prioritize the Lord and set Him first in our lives. We ought to set the Lord always before us. He should be in the front of our lives at all times, and we must follow His lead. May it always be so!

The psalmist then mentions how the Lord is at his right hand. The right hand was thought of in ancient times as a place of prominence, blessing, honor, favor, and power. May the Lord forever occupy that position in our lives!

In verse 11, the psalmist speaks of how the Lord shows him the path of life and grants fullness of joy in His presence. However, I was particularly struck by the last line: “at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” This indicates that not only is God at the right hand of our lives, but also so are we at His right hand! To think that we occupy a place of prominence, blessing, honor, and favor in God’s heart! And what an intimate relationship develops when we walk with God–He is at our right hand, Christ is at His, and we are at Christ’s! We prioritize Him, honor Him, and bless Him, and He in turn does the same for us.

No wonder the psalmist declares in verse 9, “Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.” May we rejoice in knowing that God loves us with an incomprehensible love and He longs to have an intimate relationship with us! Praise the Lord!!

Psalm 16 (part two: Pleasant Places)

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Art, Scripture, The Christian Walk, Theology

Psalm 16:5-7

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

In Psalm 16:5b, 6a, we find a description of how the Lord intervenes in our lives. We are told that the Lord maintains/holds our lots. In Biblical times, people would cast lots to try to determine the Lord’s will. What an encouragement to know that instead of our lives wildly spinning and randomly falling into place, the Lord holds our lots, and He directs each and every step of the way.

But the truth that comforts us even more deeply is found in verse 6a: “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places”. The Lord graciously directs our lots in pleasant places. He leads us beside still waters and brings us to green pastures. And even when He allows us to walk through the valley of the shadow, He still tenderly leads us, and His ultimate plan is always for our benefit. He has good plans for us!

Verse 7 states that as the Lord directs our steps, He generously leads us in the right paths. He gives us counsel through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And although we cannot rely on our feelings, He graciously directs the desires of our hearts.

The Lord is our Shepherd. He determines the course of our lives, and He kindly makes wonderful plans for us. He then gently guides us in the right direction. The lines have truly fallen to us in pleasant places!

Life Out of Death

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Christian holidays, Holidays, Praise and Worship, Scripture, The Christian Walk

One crisp morning, as I was out for a walk, a barren tree caught my eye. Its branches looked dead, and it appeared lifeless, buried under winter’s gloom.

As I examined it more closely, however, I spotted three distinct species of colorful birds playing in it, one of which was a rare kind I had never seen before. Even as I glanced below, a bonus surprise awaited me: an adorable rabbit fed on the grass underneath.

The sight of this tree and the life hidden among its branches reminded me of Christ’s resurrection. He brings new life to the things that are dead in our lives. We might look at a painful or disastrous situation and only see dead, dry, barren sticks. But what encouragement to remember that God will cause new life to spring forth, and one day soon, we will see all the marvelous ways in which He will resurrect the things that have died.

Christ is risen! The grave could not keep our Savior. He arose in glory and power, and because He lives, we have hope in Him. Without His resurrection, our faith would be very empty indeed, as Paul asserts in 1 Corinthians 15.

As we celebrate Christ’s bodily resurrection, let us rejoice in the fact that He also brings resurrection to our everyday lives.

HE IS RISEN!!!

Psalm 16 (part one: The Lord our Inheritance)

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Prayer, Scripture, The Christian Walk, Theology

Psalm 16:1-5

Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips. O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.

Recently, I was meditating on Psalm 16. It is such a beautiful Psalm! I discovered numerous insights.

The psalmist begins by begging the Lord to preserve him, for the Lord is his refuge. He talks about how we are nothing, and we have no goodness in ourselves, apart from the Lord. Then, he contrasts his delight in the saints with his aversion for idolaters. May we also determine to keep ourselves pure from idolatry!

In verses 5a and 6a, we find several beautiful truths. First, the Lord is our inheritance. We as believers have such a glorious inheritance–Christ Himself! 1 Peter 1:4 tells us that this inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled, unfading, and reserved in heaven for us. What more could we ask for if Christ Himself is our inheritance? One of the most amazing things is that this inheritance begins now, and we don’t have to wait until heaven to enjoy the inheritance of our precious Savior. Of course, it will be so much more glorious when we see Him face-to-face, but until then, He lives in our hearts, and we can revel in His presence and power in our hearts and lives!

The second insight is that the Lord is our cup. Scripturally, the cup is a symbol of our portion. A cup of water symbolizes life, and a cup of wine symbolizes joy. Christ is our portion–He is our cup! And this precious cup overflows (Psalm 23:5) with all the love, goodness, and fullness of God! This is the cup that will never run dry!

May we rejoice today in the fact that Christ is our inheritance and our portion!

The Shadow of His Wings

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Poetry, Prayer, Scripture, The Christian Walk, Theology

Psalm 91:14-16

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

Psalm 91 is such a beautiful psalm. It is filled with promises for protection and security. It is richly rewarding to take this psalm and sit with it, praying God’s promises over our lives.

So many beautiful word pictures are used in Psalm 91, especially in the original Hebrew. For example, the word “wings” can be used to refer to a garment or a bed skirt. I think that this is such lovely imagery. Next time you get into bed and pull up the covers, rest for a moment and picture yourself hidden in the shelter of God’s wings. Let all your cares and fears melt away in His presence.

I wrote this poem based on Psalm 91 in 2020, when the pandemic shattered our hopes for the year, and we battled fear in our hearts.

All around the world falls apart; calamity destruction brings.

But I fear not, for I am hidden in the shadow of Your wings.

They panic in fright, they have no rest,

But God is my refuge and my strong fortress.

Pestilence flies, consumes in the night,

But why should I fear? My God is greater in might!

For He promised to defend me, protect me from harm;

And forever I am saved by His outstretched arm.

He is my shield and my dwelling place–

With Him I am able all trials to face!

So keep me, dear Lord, and protect me too.

Under the shadow of Your wings, I am safe with You.

God’s Judgment: Isaiah 47

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Scripture, Theology

Isaiah 47 is a prophecy about God’s impending judgment on Babylon. His people had been taken captive by Babylon, according to His will, but Babylon had overstepped its boundaries and was unnecessarily cruel and evil. Babylon was known for its sorceries and enchantments.

The modern Christian tends to picture God only as a God of love. And while our God is certainly the God of love, we often forget that although He is Love, He is also the God of judgment and justice. It doesn’t make sense to our minds. But it doesn’t have to, since God is God, and He is too great and wonderful for us to comprehend.

God’s judgment will one day be poured out on all those who do not believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. Like the judgment meted out on Babylon in this chapter, this judgment will be terrifying, unescapable, unquenchable, and intensely degrading. Everyone who does not believe in Jesus will be condemned to eternal punishment in hell.

But praise the Lord, there is a way of escape! Verse 4 is a comforting clause. “As for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name, The Holy One of Israel.” Our Redeemer’s arms are still open. Those who come to Him, He will by no means cast out. He will save them with an everlasting salvation. Jesus died so that we who trust in Him may never experience God’s judgment. He took it for us! Alleluia to our Savior!

Breath of Heaven: Mary’s Song

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Art, Christian holidays, Holidays, Music, Scripture, The Christian Walk, Theology, Womanhood

When I was younger, I thought that God’s plan for Mary was the very best calling for any woman who has ever lived and that nothing else could ever be as special as being Jesus’ mother. At the root of these thoughts lay the deep desire to do great things for God.

Last year, as I was listening to the Christmas song “Breath of Heaven”, which speaks of the Nativity from Mary’s imagined perspective, I gained fresh insight. As Mark 3:35 says, “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” Only one woman was called to be Christ’s literal mother, but each and every believer, in a very special way, carries Christ within them. He dwells in their heart.

Just like Mary, we wonder what we’ve done that the Father has chosen us to bear the image of His Son. We wonder if wiser people could have taken our place, and yet we offer all we are to His plan.

As Mary did, may each of us strive to surrender entirely to the Lord and say “Behold, the …servant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to Your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Luke 1:45 NKJV

“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

God’s sovereignty: Isaiah 45 & 46

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Scripture, The Christian Walk, Theology

God’s omniscient sovereignty is clearly on display in Isaiah 45 and 46. These chapters are mainly addressed to King Cyrus, whom God named and destined to free His people hundreds of years before his birth.

Our God is sovereign. He knows the past, the present, and the future through and through, and He doesn’t just know them–He is in perfect control! Nothing in heaven or on earth can thwart His will or intercept His plans. This should be greatly encouraging to us as we face great uncertainty all over the world.

Isaiah 45 reads, “I form the Light and create darkness; I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things.” God is sovereign, not only over light and peace, but also over darkness and calamity. His ways are higher than ours, and His perfect plan rules behind every step of our journeys.

Isaiah 46:11 says, “…Indeed, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” This is one of the clearest verses in Scripture about God’s sovereignty. It teaches us that God is God, that He does as He pleases, and that He keeps His promises.

When we face fear and uncertainty, we can be assured that God is still on His throne, and He is sovereign!!

Isaiah 44: God’s Forgiveness and Power

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Praise and Worship, Scripture, The Christian Walk, Theology

Isaiah 44 is a beautiful chapter that displays numerous attributes of our God. In verses 1-4, we find the Lord promising to pour His Spirit on His children. In verses 6-20, God reminds us that He is God and that idolatry is useless.

One of the key aspects of God’s character that is shown in Isaiah 44 is His great forgiveness. In verses 21-23, God tells Israel that He has formed them, that they are His servant, and that they will not be forgotten by Him. Then the Lord says that He has blotted out, like a thick cloud, their transgressions! He has obliterated their sins! He begs His people to return to Him, for He has redeemed them! This is such amazing news that all of creation is told to sing and shout for praise and joy! The Lord’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ is so marvelous and glorious that all of creation is in awe! May we accept the gift of His incomprehensible grace and forgiveness and spend all our days in humble service to Him.

God’s power is also spoken of in verses 24-28. It is seen in creation, for He has stretched out the heavens and spread abroad the earth by Himself. It is shown when He frustrates the wicked and confirms the word of His messengers. It is evident in His care for His people and His city Jerusalem. It is displayed in His sovereignty over all. Our God is all powerful!