New Year. 2013 Style.

I wrote this a few days ago, and have decided to share it with ya'll. Here are my thoughts about the past two years and how God has worked in my life. He's so amazing, and the journey continues...

"2011 was the year I fell in love with opera, fell back in love with God, and fell in love with a new man. I had many ups and downs, and they both were extreme for me. At age 17 I had to grow up quite rapidly. My 18th birthday was spent away from family, this was part of the down of the year. 

2012 has been my year of growth. Where in 2011 I discovered my passions, in 2012 I tested them. I flew around the country trying to find my new home. There were times when I had no idea of the future at all, and I had to completely trust God. I gave Him my everything, all my dreams, and one day I said "God, I need an email from Houston today." Within the hour I was accepted to the University of Houston, and had been given a music scholarship from Moores School of Music. 

The past two years have taught me a lot about faith, passion, love, and hope. 2012 has truly been a year of hope for me. I hoped I would get into college, I hoped for my relationship to strengthen, and I hoped to stay strong on my own. 

2013 is here. Beyond this upcoming school semester, I have no idea what this year will hold. I have 3 and 1/2 years left to finish my double major, so school looks like my focus. But where does God want me? What does He want my focus to be on? Where will He take me? What does 2013 look like? 

Healing.

Wisdom. 

Love. 

Strength. 

I'm gonna shine for His glory. 2013 is now." 

 May YOUR 2013 be blessed! 

I'm gonna start this year with gratitude. What are you thankful for? 

xoxo, 

alexandra anne <3 

Prayer

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." -Romans 8:26 

I have come to the realization that for a while now, I have not been a good witness or even a good Christian. My faith is not where I need or even want it to be. See, I get in this pattern with God, which starts with my stubbornness, then I hide from Him, and He has to drag me out by the ears to get me to listen.

Well, I would like you to hold me accountable! "Alexandra Anne, how's your faith today?" I need to have a better answer than "well....God is good and all." I need to be shouting for joy about my Savior! I need to talk to God! Yeah; simple as that!  Well, not so simple, since I seem to avoid it like a child avoids medicine. But His words are healing, and true, and full of love. Yes, there are sometimes consequences, and yes, sometimes it's not going to be fun.
But He died for us. For me.

This is how I show gratitude?
Nope. I'm spitting in His face. I'm a hypocrite.

Corrie Ten Boom once said "Don't pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord, and keep it."

So, I'm using this blog as a stepping stone. I would like to pray for you. If I have a regular prayer list, that will be a huge important step! You can comment, or send me a private message, whatever works for you; but I want to pray for you. It could be something as simple as "I hope I can run 3 miles today," to something as difficult as "Please pray for my friend who has cancer." No prayer is too big or too small.
Did you know God watches out for even the tiniest sparrow? Then of course He's watching out for you!

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

Please. Let me pray for you. <3

xoxo, alexandra anne

"Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually." -1 Chronicles 16:11
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do and all your plans will succeed." -Proverbs 16:3

PS. My verse for this week is of a prodigal-son nature: "Let us carefully examine our ways, and let us return to the Lord." -Lamentations 3:40