Hope for Heaven

So so much has happened since I last wrote a blog! Let me start by saying that these past five months have flown by in a whirlwind full of ups and downs! Last July I lost my sweet, precious little cousin K in a tragic biking accident. Her accident was the definition of life changing in an instant! One minute I had gotten a message that she was being airlifted to a hospital and not even kidding you, like one minute later I had gotten another message that she had passed away. I didn't even have time to pray for this little girl who I hold so dear to my heart. She was only eight years old and going to her funeral was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. You expect older people to die but to be at a child's funeral is a totally different feeling. I was lost in my grief for a little while and found myself asking God "why did this have to happen to her and her sweet family?" Eventually I came to the realization that even though she was taken at a young age, she is up in Heaven safe in Jesus's presence and she never had really to experience the bad things of this earthly world. I am thankful that I have the peace of mind knowing where she is and that I have Hope for Heaven.

(Mother dearest, K, and I a few years ago)

Fast forward to this past January and I find myself driving in the middle of the night, with nowhere to go, just talking to God. I have been wanting to do some sort of missionary work for a while now, and surprise surprise. Guess what He laid on my heart? You got it! Blessing others without receiving anything in return.

My first act was to share my testimony with someone so very dear to my heart. Now I don't just share my testimony with anyone because at times it can still be kind of scary to talk about but I knew that I had to with this certain person because God had given me such peace about it. And let me tell you not only was that person blessed by my story but I was so completely blown away and blessed by sharing my story in return! The very next day I read this in my devotional (Jesus Calling. If you're looking for a devotional I seriously recommend this one!) "Your weakness and woundedness are the openings through which the Light of the knowledge of My Glory shines forth." This statement is so powerful to me, especially paired with the verse from 2 Corinthians 12:9~But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." In the study notes of my Bible it says our weakness not only helps develop Christian character; it also deepens our worship, because in admitting our weakness, we affirm God's strength. I believe that the most powerful teachings that I have ever heard about God's word have come through someone else's testimony.

My second act was to write one of my old high school teachers and tell her thank you for everything she had ever done and how blessed I was to have someone like her in my life!

My third act was to adopt my second soldier and send him letters and care gifts.

I am currently working on my fourth act which is taking a young lady's senior pictures who probably won't have the opportunity to have anyone else take them.

I have a big pay-it-forward act planned for the end of this year and I am so excited about it! This one is going to take some time and money to put together so that is why I am waiting until the end of this year to do it!

My pay-it-forward campaign has been so much fun so far and a total blessing to my heart! Seriously, try doing something for someone and not expecting anything in return. Guaranteed you'll be blessed in some way! The reason why I started doing this was to show people God's love and hopefully give them the same Hope for Heaven that I have and the peace of knowing that there is so much more beyond this life we currently live.