Thankful

Yes I know Thanksgiving was yesterday, but we should be thankful everyday. So I decided to do this to remind myself to always be thankful.

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving,

and His courts with praise!

Give thanks to Him; bless His name!

For the Lord is good;

His steadfast love endures forever,

and His faithfulness to all generations."

- Psalm 100:4-5 

I have so much to be thankful for!

For all my friends near and far. I'm so blessed to know friends all over the world doing things with God. I treasure their love and encouragement. No matter how long we go without talking, we always seem to pick up right where we left off.

My wonderful family. We don't always get along, but I know no matter what we do we always love each other. When I feel no one believes in me, I know they do.

For God providing all that I need. It hasn't been easy and most of the time I get overwhelmed, but God has been with me every step of the way and He wont stop now.

Jesus taking the punishment for all our sins. But also rising from death, so that we can live!

"Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" 

-Ephesians 5:20

Esther

For years I've heard the question asked "If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?"
I never knew quite who to say. But now without a doubt I would say:

"Esther."

I want to ask her what it was like to stand before the king, asking him to save her people knowing he could kill her.
Was she ever aware of God's plan for her life?
Did she ever loose faith?

She seems like such an amazing woman of God! She won favor in the eyes of anyone who met her. Changed the heart of the king with kindness. She Obeyed, but stood up for what was right. She was kind, and she loved and cared for so many! But most of all I admire her courage. If I ever have the chance, I hope I can speak the words she said:

"Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish."

 -Esther 4:16 

She was an orphan, raised by her aunt and uncle. She was not rich, she didn't have an extraordinary upbringing. Esther was just a young woman with faith, courage, and a powerful God.

"And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

-Esther 4:16

Yes Esther, you were born for such a time as this.

What God's been doing.

I thought I should probably make an update since I haven't wrote anything in a long time :)

After I got back from YWAM (see previous posts), it took me a long time to adjust back to life. I missed my friends, the teachings, the experiences and adventures, everything (I still do)! But after some long, constant, crying out talks with God I now know I am where I'm supposed to be... for now.

I know God has something amazing for me, I don't know when and where, but when He says "Go." I'll go.

In the meantime, I'm looking for a full time job. I've had a couple of temporary jobs, and I'm still doing [and LOVING] photography. I'm also involved at my church, helping with the 5th and 6th grades on Wednesday nights, I dance occasionally, and I sing on the worship team. I'm also a mentor to a Jr. High girl.

A few weekends ago I got to help on a teen girls weekend, I also gave a talk on Christian growth through study. It was so amazing!!! It made me realize even more the passion that I have for working with youth.

God keeps showing me that I can do so much more than I ever thought I could. If you would've asked me 5 years ago if I would believe that my first time flying would be over seas, and I would travel to three countries and one is a closed nation, and that I would give a 20ish minuet talk to about 25 people. I would have said "no."

All I can say is that when God says to do something, you can do it! He will never let you fall.