Wedding

As is stated in my profile, I am engaged. Well, my fiance and I picked a date in May...AUGUST 6TH, 2011!! I am SUPER excited! It has been a long wait, and I still cannot grasp the idea of becoming his wife!

What we have accomplished so far:

Booked ceremony venue

Booked reception venue
Booked photographer
Booked caterer
Bought/Received wedding gown & accessories


We have many things to finish! As of right now, we have to pick an invitation design, finish the guest list, buy decorations, order bridesmaid dresses, order groomsmen vests, order materials to make invitations, and other items necessary for the details of the wedding.

The wedding ceremony and reception are both going to be held in a barn right outside of town. :) Chris and I are both ecstatic about the location! I visited the first time, then brought him the second time and he loved it! The venue is a very cozy environment. It is a ten a.m. wedding, so it will be fairly nice weather. I can't say enough about the venue! I love love love it!

Our youth pastor from our senior year in high school is going to be our officiant. We are SO blessed to have such a wonderful man marry us! He has been a HUGE part in our growth as children of God. God used this man to make us soldiers that KNOW where we stand. God used this man to teach us to be warriors for Christ. Therefore, his position as our officiant is a MAJOR blessing and excitement!

Chris and I are growing every day...duh! :) We have our ups and downs but that is a result of being together for so long. We are learning more and more that we don't understand each other like we thought we did. ...haha! Some of you may understand that! We are still crazy about each other! We cannot wait to get married! We are excited about the journey God has for us once we are married! He has many many plans for us and he is constantly giving us more confidence in Him, praise Jesus!!

Anywho...I certainly hope that each of you are doing well! May the grace of God fill your days!!

In Christ.

Esther

So, some really exciting things...I don't know where to start.

You're the Living God, You're my Saving Grace, You will reign forever, You are Ancient of Days, You are Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End, You're my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer and Friend!...So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned in awe of the One who gave it all, I'll stand my soul, Lord, to you surrendered all, all I am is Yours!! so come and take Your place in the center of our hearts! Come and take Your place, I need You God, to come and take Your place in the center of my heart!

So I haven't read much lately, but what I have read has been so encouraging. Jeremiah 23:16-17 talks about false prophets. "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they will fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord." They tell us lies that we tend to believe as humans. I'm pretty sure I didn't read in context, but what God showed me through this is how easily it can be for me to believe the lies that I hear everyday. I have prayed a lot lately that God would help me to see HIS TRUTH and not the lies that I hear about more often. He has blessed me so much in answering my prayer! I don't know how (and I don't need to) but God has helped me to see only HIS TRUTH! Praise Jesus!!

Just a few minutes ago I was reading some old Bible notes and I was reminded of the Scripture, Hosea 2:14-23. God reminded me of His love and passion for me. :) :) :) :) Which makes me happy!! Super happy! He reminded me of His promise to restore me, revive me! :) :) :) :) !!!!!! ...He is restoring me right now! This week has been so beautiful, and only because Christ has taken every step with me...holding my hand. I have been reading in Jeremiah this week and chapter 24 verse 7 has been encouraging as well. "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." :D :D :D :D I can't explain how exciting that is to hear!! ...but hopefully you who are reading this...understand my excitement!

Haha... I have been spending more time with my Father this week and when I got sick, I had to laugh. For those of you who don't know, every Thursday during the week I get to sing at Harvest, I get sick...some way, some how...whether it's emotions, anger, a cold...I get sick. I laughed when I realized that I am singing this week at Harvest and I'M SICK! My throat hurts and my nose is stuffed. ...but all thanks be to Christ for He heals me EVERY time, JUST IN TIME!!! My mom and I came to the realization my freshman year in college that I get physically ill on days I get involved in ministry. It used to be Mondays, now it's Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Praise be to Jesus!!! What a mighty God we have! He has made me a threat to the devil! Rejoice in trials and temptations, for it is a chance to grow. James 1:2-4 "consider it pure joy, brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds..." THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!! YOU ARE MY LOVE!!!!!!!

I can't wait for the summer to start and we can have worship at my house on the weekends :) parrrrtaaayyyy...wit Jesus!!! :) I can't wait to worship with my brothers and sisters again...singing at the top of our lungs to our King!!!! The love of my life!!! So if any of my siblings through Christ read this...know that I will be planning some Saturday nights as a time of worship!...and hopefully I can help with music...I'll keep working on the keys. I want to grow closer to God with you guys even MORE! :) :) :)

I love and miss my friends from home, terribly. I remember youth in high school...I am so grateful for their friendship and love. I am so grateful for the respect that is shown! I am so grateful for their encouragement! Thank you guys! ...and thank you Jesus for sending me so much love!!!!

Forbidden Fruit

So, this is personal.

I really wish that I would start making the wise choice instead of picking the wrong ones. It's like, I see the wise choice, the choice that could change my whole life for the better,...but then I choose the forbidden fruit. I don't know what is in me to choose the wrong choice,...I know what I am supposed to do and I know what can happen if I choose what's right, but I still pick the wrong choice.

Since February, I have felt a heart for God but then my actions show none of it. Goodness!...this year is all about self-discipline! I need to strive towards that lesson...self-discipline...just DO what's right.

Hmm...This blog is no where near prepared. All of this is just what's popping out of my head.

I am longing for God and the glory of the Lord...I know that there is so much more!! ...but it's like Paul said...I want to do what's right but then I don't. I don't want to do what's wrong...but I do it anyways. ...sometimes I hate being human.

My fiance told me today about a dream he had last night...A woman and her husband had a daughter who was later kidnapped. The mother freaked and replaced her daughter with an inanimate object, in which she took care of just like she would her daughter. She bathed it, talked to it and everything! What do YOU think this means? I think of joy taken from me and how I panicked without it...so I replaced it with a fake love. This fake love was definitely not the same. ....

Hmm...let's see...what else is on my mind....

I am learning piano right now and the other day I was practicing a song...and the Holy Spirit was just like... POW!!! ...yayness! It excites me to see God's glory!...why don't I pursue it more? ...I don't know.

God is FAITHFUL

Jesus is so POWERFUL!! I cannot begin to describe to you how joyful He has made me!

As of right now, my family is undergoing some major house renovation and I have had to stay at my best friend's house because of it. All thanks be to Jesus, we have dove into the Word every night together and Christ has increased our love for Him immensely!

I have no words to give to you except for pure Scripture, so I will simply give you some references that really stuck out to me today and in this past week! (and there's a long list!)

If anything,...copying these references and keep them in your Bible, in your notebook or somewhere you will see them eventually. There are always those days where you have NO IDEA what you want to read, this list will come in HANDY. :) God's Word never returns void! Praise the Lord!!

Hosea 2:14-23
2 Timothy 2:1
2 Timothy 1:7
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Hebrews 2:1
2 Timothy 4:5
Hebrews 2:18
2 Corinthians 6:2
2 Corinthians 5:13-21
JOHN 4:14
John 1:46
1 Timothy 4:13-16
John 12:26
Romans 10:13
Galations 5:22-25
Galations 5:14
Galations 6:10
Romans 8:38-39
1 Peter2:11-12
1 Peter 3:15
1 Peter 3:8-9
1 Peter 3:12
Psalm 119:45
Psalm 119:65-66
1 Peter 5:7
Psalm 119:73
Psalm 119:75-77
Psalm 119:105
Psalm 119:110-113
Psalm 119:162
Psalm 119:168
Luke 11:28
Psalm 119:18
Psalm 119:36-38, 40
Psalm 119:29

May God's Word excite you in the name of Jesus Christ!

In Him.