2017

        Another year has come. With it the hopes and dreams just like every year. But something feels different about this year. I'm sure I've said that every year since I knew what a new year was. But something really does feel different about this year. When I turned 23 I believed that something big was going to happen in that year. So far, nothing huge has happened, except a big decision. If I'm able to actually execute that decision before April, something huge will have happened in my 23rd year of life. I think this year feels different because I have made decisions that I hope to execute throughout the whole year. Big changes are in store for me. But that's not what I want 2017 to be about. It's not going to be a year about Aleyna Palmer. It's going to be a year about God and how He uses me to further His kingdom. I have no idea what that will look like, but it will be a beautiful thing and I super excited to see what happens. My prayer for this year is to pursue Him fully. I want every part of me pursuing His kingdom and His name.

        How do I do this? Umm...I don't actually know. But I have plans to lessen my desire to walk away. I'm starting the year out by going back to Africa. God let part of my heart be left behind in Africa and my love of Africa and it's people will never go away. I don't know what God wants me to do in Africa, but there's something because He keeps taking me back. When I finally think I'm "over it", something brings back a memory and I'm right back there again where I feel most useful. Some Sundays we sing a song that I sang while I was in Kenya, and if I close my eyes, I can still see and hear the people singing the same song. God has a way of bringing back those memories right when I really don't want them. But the truth of the matter is, I always want those memories. I never want to forget them, I never want them to fade. God showed me what real poverty is. He showed me what it's like to be rich, because I am not rich. Materialistically, yes, but I am not rich in my faith. I've been reading the book When Helping Hurts for my trip to Sierra Leone. In this book the authors put into words what I've known and just didn't know how to put into words. As Americans, we are materialistically rich, however, we are spiritually poor. I'm not saying all of us are this way, but the great majority of us are. I can't deny that I am. I have everything compared to a lot of people, but compared to the spiritually rich, I am very poor. That is something I'm going to be working on this year and hopefully every year after it. 2017 is going to be a year of spiritual richness. 2017 is going to be a year of pursuing God whole heartily.

       My prayer for 2017 is that God will teach you and I how to make His name known. That He will teach us how to further His kingdom, whether that be right where you are now, or if it's a big move to somewhere else. His kingdom is worth knowing, we are commanded to make His kingdom known through actions and words. Make His name known to all those around you. This is a challenge for myself being the introvert that I am, but I desire to obey God's command. We love because He first loved us. Let us all make 2017 a year of pursuing Him and His will. "His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven" (Matt 6:10).

        Another year has come. With it the hopes and dreams just like every year. But something feels different about this year. I'm sure I've said that every year since I knew what a new year was. But something really does feel different about this year. When I turned 23 I believed that something big was going to happen in that year. So far, nothing huge has happened, except a big decision. If I'm able to actually execute that decision before April, something huge will have happened in my 23rd year of life. I think this year feels different because I have made decisions that I hope to execute throughout the whole year. Big changes are in store for me. But that's not what I want 2017 to be about. It's not going to be a year about Aleyna Palmer. It's going to be a year about God and how He uses me to further His kingdom. I have no idea what that will look like, but it will be a beautiful thing and I super excited to see what happens. My prayer for this year is to pursue Him fully. I want every part of me pursuing His kingdom and His name.

        How do I do this? Umm...I don't actually know. But I have plans to lessen my desire to walk away. I'm starting the year out by going back to Africa. God let part of my heart be left behind in Africa and my love of Africa and it's people will never go away. I don't know what God wants me to do in Africa, but there's something because He keeps taking me back. When I finally think I'm "over it", something brings back a memory and I'm right back there again where I feel most useful. Some Sundays we sing a song that I sang while I was in Kenya, and if I close my eyes, I can still see and hear the people singing the same song. God has a way of bringing back those memories right when I really don't want them. But the truth of the matter is, I always want those memories. I never want to forget them, I never want them to fade. God showed me what real poverty is. He showed me what it's like to be rich, because I am not rich. Materialistically, yes, but I am not rich in my faith. I've been reading the book When Helping Hurts for my trip to Sierra Leone. In this book the authors put into words what I've known and just didn't know how to put into words. As Americans, we are materialistically rich, however, we are spiritually poor. I'm not saying all of us are this way, but the great majority of us are. I can't deny that I am. I have everything compared to a lot of people, but compared to the spiritually rich, I am very poor. That is something I'm going to be working on this year and hopefully every year after it. 2017 is going to be a year of spiritual richness. 2017 is going to be a year of pursuing God whole heartily.

       My prayer for 2017 is that God will teach you and I how to make His name known. That He will teach us how to further His kingdom, whether that be right where you are now, or if it's a big move to somewhere else. His kingdom is worth knowing, we are commanded to make His kingdom known through actions and words. Make His name known to all those around you. This is a challenge for myself being the introvert that I am, but I desire to obey God's command. We love because He first loved us. Let us all make 2017 a year of pursuing Him and His will. "His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven" (Matt 6:10).