Thankful November 2013

Looking back at what I wrote a year ago... I am still thankful for these things, and more!!




Day 1: Ever since people started putting up thankful statuses in November I've been thinking about what I would write. So with all these thoughts floating in my head, I've decided I might as well do this too. ... First and foremost, I am thankful that Jesus is always by my side. That He loves me like it says in a song I like to dance to on the Wii, "Never gonna give you up. Never gonna let you down. Never gonna run around and desert you. Never gonna make you cry. Never gonna say goodbye. Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you..." Nope. Instead His love is always here. So in need of that.


Day 2: I am thankful for all the kids in my life. Leaving work is always one of the best parts of my day, not because I want to leave but because all of the kids run at me, give me big hugs, and will not let go. With kids I am constantly learning about God. A little bit by teaching or reading to them but way more-so by what they say and do. With kids love is real, without fear, free, and abundant. I think they show me how God intended us to live and to love each other.


Day 3: I am thankful that God's grace covers all of me. No matter what I do, think, or say... and all of what I've done, I know His grace covers it. I know that when I come to Him with a sorry heart, He forgives. I would be a guilt-filled, hopeless wreck, but instead I have undeserved peace and life. Freedom in grace.


Day 4: I am thankful for my family. That I have a long list of grandparents, parents, sisters, aunts, and cousins who I can call or text at any moment knowing that they will want to talk, listen, or pray. I keep in contact with a lot of family members every day, and I am so blessed by it!! I am thankful for all the fun times with my sisters and cousins as kids, and I absolutely love still being a kid with my younger cousins! Everyone in my entire extended family is amazing. Examples of love.


Day 5: I'm thankful I know this is not my Home. That all the sillyness and heartache of this world will pass away. I look so forward to the beauty, release, no more fear, and the amazing joy and bliss coming when we are finally with our God of love.


Day 6: I am thankful for music. Songs about God bring me through life.


Day 7: I am thankful I can trust God knows what He's doing. That His plans are better than mine. No matter how great or how awful, distressed, or sad I feel, there is peace in knowing I can trust Him with my future and my present.


Day 8: I am thankful for the ability to read the Bible. It tells me about the love of my Father and all His love moves Him to do for us. It tells me of the hope, promises, freedom, new life, and grace I have in Him. It's words are more beautiful than anything I've ever read. And it's what lifts me up like nothing else can. The best part is: it's the truth. Amazing Truth.


Day 9: I am thankful for friendships. God has blessed me with so many amazing people and friendships in my life. I will never forget you or the awesome memories!! My life would not be as good without you.


Day 10: I am thankful for color. From trees, leaves, flowers, sunrises, sunsets, animals, people, fruits and vegetables, the clothes we wear, and the things we are surrounded by... their colors make me happy! God creates a beautiful world.


Day 11: I am thankful I grew up on our (hobby) farm. Lying in the grass reading with my cat, never worrying that neighbors can see me, having lots of beautiful space to explore, all the fun times with family and cousins... and the garden!! Sun-ripened fruits and vegetables, nature, laughter, and family... it can not get better than that!


Day 12: I am thankful for the way God loves me. With love that endures forever; never fails; sees all my weaknesses, sins, and flaws but forgives them all; is so great that He gives up His life for mine. He delights in me, asks me to cast all my cares on Him because He cares for me, and as crazy as it is, nothing can separate me from His love.


Day 13: I'm thankful God has given me a heart that finds joy in doing photography jobs. I get to tell the world about people, connect with and get to know people, and try to capture the beauty I see in people and life. I laugh thinking about the crazy things I've done with camera in hand, and I am continuously suprised the ways God blesses me through all of this. Thanks God. :)


Day 14: I'm thankful that each day's struggles remind me of my need for God.


Day 15: I am thankful for this journey of life God has brought me through so far, and I am very interested to see what is to come.


Day 16: I'm thankful God hears and answers every prayer. I know His answers are better than mine.


Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! I am thankful for you.

mission work

God is placing serving as a missionary on my heart.


My dreams are

• to help unreached nations learn about Jesus
• to share God's love with children and those living in Africa at some point
• to serve God internationally
• to grow and learn to serve Him more fearlessly, there and here

• to learn from and gain friendships with Christians and missionaries serving worldwide
•  to learn from every new experience and person I meet
• to help others grow and learn to serve Him
• to share everything I learn, see, and experience with my friends and family 
• to surrender to God's lead

-------

I don't feel like this point in my life would be a good time to leave long-term or for a two year period of time. I have grandparents, family, kids, and friends who are too precious and who need me here. I am so attached to the kids at Hope and their families!!! I also want to be with my sisters, grandparents, family, friends, and everyone. For this reason, I have been encouraged by Christians from various organizations to start serving with "Youth With a Mission" or YWAM. Working with them people can serve whenever and for however long works best for them.

Tonight I am looking at one of YWAM's many ministries called Frontier Missions that is focused on reaching unreached people groups!

YWAM works in more than 1,100 locations in over 180 countries, with a staff of over 18,000. There are so many opportunities. I feel drawn to Africa at some point, but also everywhere. There is so much to learn, so many ways to grow, and endless ways to serve.

I am excited to see what God has in store.



"Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
    proclaim His salvation day after day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
    His marvelous deeds among all peoples."
- 1 Chronicles 16:23-24



The journey and the support raising begins...  

I'm at an interesting point in my life. Crazy to think of where I was last year to where I am now.

I want change. I'm ready for change. But yet I'd be scared for the change to happen before a year from now.


I'm anxious to see what God wants from my life.


All I know is that right now I need Him. I need His help to make what I do and think more about Him and less about me and my comfort.

I'm excited for the work He's going to do in me in this next year. For what I'm going to learn. For the time with friends, family, and kids. Ultimately for the time I need with Him to grow in love for Him and for people. For more growing up. ...



A year seems so far away, and these current days are challenging. Thank God for being here with me this winter.

He knows what He's got in store and why I'm here.

quotes of the day

R: "Guess what?!!"
H: "...Chicken butt??!"

A: "Heyyy, you know that's not a good thing to say. Please don't say that."

R: "Hey, Abby! Guess what??!"
A: "Whaat??!"
R: "Chicken face!!!.."



...


"Mmmm.... My place smells like burnt popcorn and strawberry creamsicle!!"



^^Me entering my place at 11:20 tonight after letting my car run in the -45 degree wind-chill.
 I have been using a really good smelling raspberry air freshener, but today I bought a strawberries n cream one. :)


...




R: "Hey, Abby!! Guess what??!!"
A: "Whaat??!"
R: "Chicken mouth!!"

R: "Hey, Abby!! Guess what??!"
A: "What??!!"
R: "Chicken ear!!"

R: "Hey, Abby!!! Guess what??!"
A: "What??!"
R: "Chicken popcorn!!.."

when I go to bed

I have a new dream that's on my mind constantly lately. Something I wasn't completely expecting. I was telling some friends how I'm excited to go on mission trips in my life. That I go to bed dreaming about doing mission trips and how I want to go to Africa.


Someone said some things that I feel like maybe God placed her there to say to me. Number one, "If you're dreaming about it every night, you should do it!!"
Which my reply was, "Don't worry, I for sure will!!" Because my plan is to go on a mission trip next year and to Africa as soon as possible!

She also said to check out Unseen Ministries. I called them today. And I called some other places.



I have a new dream: to do mission work with kids.


From January to May, I would really love to be around the world doing mission work overseas with kids.
From June to December, I would love to be here. Loving on kids in other jobs (like Hope, babysitting, and who knows what... plus there are tons of other jobs out there that would be awesome...God only knows what He has coming for me).  And I would love to be with my family from June to December. To help with the garden, to enjoy time with them and friends and the kids who are here, to be here for Christmas and summer. I love our very hot weather in the summer!!! I really would like to be elsewhere in the winter. I am sick of the mundane every day life. And I don't like the weather. Also from June to November is when I am busiest with photos...

So, these are just some of my dreams/thoughts. I'm guessing God has given some of them to me. But I know no matter what: He only knows what's in store, what will go down, and what will be best. I can't wait to see.

It could really be anything. It could be the complete opposite of this. ... Only God knows. :)

Christmas

December

December wasn't like October and November in the sense of how I was treated. December was a month of good moods! May through December though was good. I'm thankful for the times I'm treated as less, even if it's hard for me because I don't like letting people down and it seems that that's why I'm treated like that. I feel in those times though that all I can do is use God's strength to keep being me! I know God can use me best that way.

I love my job.
I love making stuff for people.
I love the challenge of every day.

I love kids!!!
And I love my family.
I'm thankful for the kids, family, and friends God has placed in my life.


I enjoy trusting God and living with Him always there.


I'm going to start posting stuff in this blog that makes me smile. So many things do... I need a place to share them.