Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace -St Francis Assisi

Wow, these past days I've breathed harder than this past year. My thoughts are accelerating my love toward all. I have thought about my life and how much I have held back from God. But he has not forgotten me and I am so in love with my God, my savior, my best friend who keeps drawing me back to goodness and truth. He is my compass! And today I feel my compass leading me to greater directions than I had for myself.

Check this out: I wanted to get married, serve the regular missionary life of a married couple, maybe do church planting and bible studies. Then I thought about all the struggles that married couples go through. And finally! I think I can breathe again! I have been praying for four years to be released from my desire to be in a relationship, just to be liked or noticed by some guy, but now I am beginning to see that there are greater things than romance. There is love for humankind, for the hopeless and the needy, those that don't even have the chance to pursue college degrees, marriage, or the arts. Now I see new direction.

My new direction: I don't know where God is calling me but these are my dreams. I want to fight world justice. I want my hands and my money to help others. And so I am praying for a compassionate heart!

This is my prayer: God, fill me with compassion for the lost and hopeless. "Here I am, send me!"

So here are my plans, God do what you want with them.

Immediate plans:

1. Be honest with the people around me and share what God has done in my life with my family and friends who don't know how good the LORD is!

2. Paint and create music. Look into taking a pottery class so I can make mugs (I love coffee!). And create jewelry and cards to sell and give the proceeds to missions!

3. Start managing my money with focus of giving.

Future plans:

1. Some day...create a gift shop/coffee shop with 50% of proceeds going to missions. I like to create and so many others do too! So people could give of what they create to be sold. Then it would be a coffee shop to be a place for teens to come hang out instead of doing drugs. (meaning coffee shop open late).

2. Grad school at University of Illinois with the Peace Corps. I can get a masters in Political Science or Sociology/Anthropogy. Maybe I can begin to make a difference for world justice.