Soy Chai Tea Latte w/ 2 pumps of Sugar-free Vanilla

I pray that everything I write today will be pleasing to the Lord's eyes.
It's not about me, It's all about Him.

The "Chai Latte", my friends

If you know me very well, you know that I love Starbucks.

I love starbucks so much so, that I have probably tried everything on the menu as far as beverages, at least twice. Ok, maybe I'm being a little dramatic...maybe once.  Also, if you know me very well, you would know that for a long time...I was addicted to the frappuccinos.  I am ready to announce, I have found a new favorite beverage (which I can't take credit for), it was suggested to me by Michael Razmandi. Are you ready for this?

Soy Chai Tea Latte...with 2 pumps of sugar-free vanilla.  YUM!!!!  I know, it' sounds pretty disgusting, but...it is like Christmas in July...the nutmeg just has this way of putting a smile on my face every time.  Who doesn't love Christmastime? 

Don't worry, I will not just be writing merely about my Starbucks Craze today....this makes for great illustration to describe the latest events of my life.  

Sometimes, we get so hooked on "one thing", whether that be a hobby, a dream, or in my case, a certain beverage at Starbucks...that we never want to try anything new (risk)...we are fearful of unmet expectations.  Fearful of the "unknown".  There were multiple visits to starbucks that I wanted to try something different, but stuck to old faithful...mocha frap..knowing that I would never be unsatisfied, or let down.  We can't hold on to old faithful forever...sometimes we have to let go, and try something new...lean on faith.  Sometimes, God calls us to let go...this often times hurts.    I can relate this to my life and latest events of my life in that...

Forever I have had this passion in my heart for Missions.  I believe with all my heart that this is something the Lord has placed IN the depths of my heart.  In the very existence of Anna.  The problem is, I have been hanging on to "old faithful".  My life here in Houston.  Just like I found a new love at starbucks, the Lord has opened up a huge opportunity in the last week for me to take a "leap" yet again, only this time MUCH BIGGER.  I will be flying out November 7th to Tanzania, AFRICA...and spending weeks there, learning and seeing the ins and outs and everything inbetween of Missions...and the life of Missions in Tanzania.  I'll be flying back to the states on December 20th.  This is something that God is calling me to do, and I am thrilled to be obedient.   I feel beyond blessed and humbled to have this opportunity.  I can't even begin write of all the "happenings" of the last week of my life, because everything else pales in comparison to this.  My soul has joy, excitement, and hope.  God is taking my life in a different direction in these next few months, and I am so thankful that He is.  The Lord is so faithful.  All he asks is for our obedience.  Our God is a jealous God, what a sweet, sweet thing.

Are there things, dreams, people, idols...that you are hanging on to in your own life?  What is your "old faithful"?  Are you fearful of letting go, being disappointed? Do you feel these things are keeping you from living a life of faith, and trust in God ALONE?  I feel like in my own life, for so long...I  have made God so small.  Our God is a big God.  A big God with a BIG love for His Children.  A big God who paid the ULTIMATE sacrifice so that we may find life in Him.  Let us not forget that.

***I'll end with a few verses, and quotes that have stood out over the last week.  I hope you find these encouraging!  I know I did.  To God be the glory.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."    

-Romans 5:1-5

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”

-Oswald Chambers

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark.."

- Charles Spurgeon (My favorite quote..of all that I read in the last week!)

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

-1 John 3:1

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! 

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand. 

When I awake,

I am still with you."

-Psalm 139: 17-18

I saw these rainbows (it was a double rainbow)...while I was a Starbucks a few days ago.

Another crazy story,  just ask me if you'd like to hear it.

God's promises are so precious.

Getting all packed up, Moving TOMORROW! So crazy, so exciting, but still hard! 

The Lord is in control (:

He knows exactly what we need.

This was in my fortune cookie last night...God is sovereign ;)

Blessed.

Blessed.

Well,

Here I go, writing my first blog.  Pretty exciting! Why? Simply put- I love to write.

I pray that everything I write today will be pleasing to the Lord, and encouraging to you!

"God will never put you through anything that you cannot handle."  We've heard this all a million times, right?. .Well, if you haven't heard if before...count on hearing it at some point in time.  Do we truly believe that? The last week of my life has been an absolute "U-TURN". What I mean by that is, God has completely changed my direction in life, at a price.  A big price.  After just coming out of a serious relationship, having my wedding called off, and taking the ring off of my left hand,  I feel as though God is up to something.  I know He is up to something.  40 days out from the day I am suppose to say "I do", to the man I love, and it is pulled out from under me.

What do you do in a situation like this?  It is so easy to get caught up in the emotions, and wanting to react in anger.  God calls us to rejoice in our suffering,  take a look at Paul in the New Testament.  Through all of his suffering, he rejoices, pressing on towards the ultimate goal.  In these last couple of days of sorrow, I have had some of my sweetest moments with the Lord.  I pray that God will give me VISION, motivation, and a love to move forward with my life.  Blessed, I am truly Blessed.  In the last two days, I have had so many encouraging words and verses shared with me.  These have come from family, close friends, people I rarely talk to, and complete strangers.  I know God is in the midst of every one of these encounters that I share.  He is using everyone around me right now as a tool, to encourage me.  God you are so good.

I don't want to write too much on that particular event in my life, but I did want that to be a preface to my future blogs.  In these blogs, I don't plan on pouring my guts out for all to read.  I am filled with love from Christ.  I long only to share this love with those that I know, and hopefully those that I don't know.  I wrote in my journal a couple of days ago, "We have a responsibility as followers of Christ.  We are to take up the cross.  This comes in many forms.  When our lives feel out of control, there is peace and comfort in the God Almighty".  He is the great I AM.  I want this blog to be merely a reflection of the events Christ is using in my life to bring me closer to Him.  For some crazy reason, God chose to love me.  I still can't fully wrap my head around it.  When we are at our lowest, God is up to something big.  I just want to be used by Him.

I currently reside in Houston, Tx....that is, until next weekend.  The next few months of my life are going to be strictly being where God wants me to be, doing exactly what He wants me to do.  I can't wait!  There is nothing like knowing you are in the will of God.  Great peace comes with that.  I hope that encourages you.

Despite this pain in my heart, that I cannot ignore, God is ultimately on His throne....in complete control.  The GOD of the universe is guiding my steps.  I am humbled.

I wanted to end this just by sharing a few verses that have gotten me through these last couple of days of heartache.

‎"This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sit his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. "- 1 John 4:10

‎"As the scripture says, anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame."- Romans 10:11

"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." James 4:8

"In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity.... I will gather you out of where I sent you and will bring you home again...” Jeremiah 29:12-14

The Lord your God is in your midst

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you.

He will quiet you with His love.

He will rejoice over you with His singing.

Zephaniah 3:17------LOVE this!

There are so many more I could share, but I will save those for another day (:
God is good!