HELLO 2014!

2013 was an interesting year. I got to go to Johannesburg, Africa and work with these amazing wonderful kids and meet some of the most amazing,  on fire, and in love with Jesus people I've ever met. I have been very blessed this past year. I've also learned patience. While my desire is to get back to Africa, I've been in this waiting process. So, while 2013 brought me the greatest joy, it also brought me the most important lessons in resting, waiting, patience, and trusting. I've had to learn to really steward and pray over the dreams that God has given me. I am also learning to love people better, no matter how I feel. It's easy to love people when they are nice. It's easy to love those who agree with you. It's not as easy when people are different from you. When they disagree with you or even worse when it seems like they've hurt you or betrayed trust. One of the books I've really liked is Keeping Your Love On by Danny Silk. He talks about how to keep loving people even in the most difficult situations. Ya know,  I love California, but it's definitely not Minnesota. Minnesotans are very unique and I have come to realize just how unique we are. There are many unsaid social graces that we have that many other people don't know or understand. I've had to relearn how to communicate out here because Californians have their own little unique things they do too. It's been very interesting and definitely preparing me to go back into missions. I would love to get more involved with ministries out here and am praying about what God is wanting me to do. I currently participate in and setting up Life Church's dance and prophetic worship. That has been a lot fun because I love to dance and worship! I have also been helping with youth ministry there as well. I am hoping to get out of the four walls though and am praying about hanging out with people who don't have permanent housing. I really love to hear people's stories and just be a listening, caring ear. I hope to be able to do something like this, but I've been learning to not do things that Jesus isn't wanting me to do and to do the things he's wanting me to do. Some of that includes not going on trips I've been invited on and really want to go on. It includes working and saving money, now that I have a job. It includes lots of prayer and one on one time with Jesus, Holy Spirit,  and Daddy/Father God. I am so thankful for 2013 and all happened. I am also so thankful for it to be over and to be in 2014. I've felt so much anticipation about this year. I've felt it will be God's time of bringing justice to his people (HIS justice, not ours) and restoration of dreams and desires that God has given. I can't wait to see what happens corporate wide for the Body of Christ. I pray for more unity and to understand how to love each other well verses fighting over the things we don't agree and don't understand about each other. Let's dream big, love well, and usher God's kingdom into existence right where we are at. Welcome 2014. Heaven, you're reign is welcome over this year and over our lives.
Amen!
Much love, blessings, joy, and prayers from me to you,
Alicia Turnock