God is so Good.

So yet again I am playing catch-up on my posts. I always seems that on the days that are the most full with interesting things to write about, are also the days I don't end up having time to write about them.

Thursday- 

The teaching on Thursday was good, but that's not what I found most life changing about the day.

Last night, we had a special prayer time set up.

The classroom was emptied and then set up with rugs and pillow everywhere, and "prayer stations". These stations each had a purpose, and we were free to move from one station to another in our time however we felt led to do so.

One station had a bowl of water so we could "wash our hands" of anything we felt guilty about, and ask God for forgiveness. At another station there was pens and paper to write a letter to God about what was n our hearts. Another had some small stones and a bowl of water, and the object of that station was to take a stone, and focus on our burdens, pray abut them, and then place the stone in the water as a way of "releasing" our burdens. The couch we have in the classroom was the "Father's Chair" station - just a place to enjoy God's presence. Then there was a station to take communion, and some cushions in front of a wooden cross to sit and meditate on everything Christ did for us.

I had an amazing experience in the presence of God last night, and I truly heard him speak to me, and speak to my heart. There were two specific things I heard him tell me, one encouraging, and one healing.

The first thing was that as his daughter, the daughter of a King, I truly am a princess. I had heard this concept countless times over the years, but I had always dismissed it or not fully understood the concept.

Being his daughter, a princess, means I can ask things from Him in faith! Just as a daughter tugs on her daddy's sleeve and asks things of him, so I can do with God. Beyond that, a princess, I am an ambassador for him, and I must be confident in the actions I take. I don't need to be shy and apologetic about it. Through my Father in Heaven I have authority over my life and my actions. It may not truly make sense, but this changed my self-image, to see how God sees me. 

The other thing he spoke to me concerned my mom. My mom died from cancer when I was 13. I have gone through the grief process, gone through counseling, and been prayed for many times. For the most part I am healed, but last night God found a tidbit I didn't even realize was still hurting. The words he spoke to me were so unexpected that I broke down crying. The words were, "She didn't want to leave you; she loved you. You were her princess and her special little girl. She would not have ever left you by choice."

These words touched my heart and soul deeply. Through those words, another piece of my heart has begun to heal.
Last night was amazing.

Friday (today) -

 So time and time again, I have discovered God has a sense of humor when it comes to his timing, especially when it comes to revealing major things in my life.

Today, during the middle of class, God told me a major part of his plan for my life.

We were talking about spiritual adoption in class, and my brain decided to go off on a rabbit trail with that thought (like usual... I find it so hard to concentrate sometimes! I always have too many thoughts going on at the same time..)

I started thinking about adoption. 'Rambo' and I plan on adopting sometime down the road, and I always liked the idea of adopting a baby that would have otherwise been aborted. (Recently I have realized this train of thought may have come from watching the movie "Juno"..) This led to thinking about all the single mothers out there who struggle making ends meet, and all the girls who have been thrown out of their houses with nowhere to go because they got pregnant, and all the girls who have chosen abortion in favor of getting thrown out because they don't want to end up alone.

Through this rabbit trail, God revealed to me that this is what he wants me to do with my life. He wants me to open a house for women such as these. A place where women can come and find refuge, acceptance, help, love. A place to show God's love to them by providing a place to have their child, a place to live, a place to get on their feet. A place were they can get counseling and if need be, a shoulder to cry on. A place of healing and hope for women with nowhere else to turn.

This dream God has planted in my heart will take years to come true, I know, but now I have something to work towards - a purpose.
I want to get my degree in counseling so I can be fully educated in how to help these women to the fullest ability. I want to continue my writings and music ministry as well. Music can be such a healing thing. My love of cooking for big groups will also be very useful in this, as well as my passion for kids. Photography as well will always be useful.
I am getting more and more exited about how all my interests converge in this dream God is planting in me. <3

God is so Good.