long overdue-

Hey Girls!

Hannah here:) Was just thinking about you all and this blog... can't believe it's been three years since the last post! Not sure how many of you still follow or keep up in the blog world, but I'd love to hear how each of you are doing and where The Lord has taken you these last few years. So leave a comment!

Miss you all,

Love, Hannah

This is my baby girl.:) 

Answered Prayer

Here's an article that I read earlier today on prayer, and thought was really good...

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures" (James 4:3).

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)

"The best motivator for prayer is answered prayer." My mom has said that to me for years.

I'm not what I would call a "prayer warrior." I have a picture in my head of what a prayer warrior is, and I'm not it. But I pray. Sometimes I pray down a list of requests, other times simply as things come to mind. Occasionally I'll pray straight from a passage in the Bible. I pray at church, at work, at home and even on the trail while running. (The latter prompts amazingly efficient prayers.)

The other night at Bible study, we were talking about prayer. One girl mentioned how she has a hard time being consistent in asking God for something because she fears ultimately being disappointed. "If God already knows what's best," she asked, "then why don't I just leave it to Him? Why should I keep bringing up what I want only to have it not happen?"

It got us all thinking and discussing what it means to wait for God. I have many prayers that I've seen answered, but I rarely record answers to prayer, which is a shame. Sometimes God answers in a snap, and I go forward boldly with a decision. Sometimes I have to start moving in a certain direction and wait for guidance in the process. And other times I wait and wait ... and wait. There are several big things I'm still waiting on. And sure, praying for them can get discouraging. It can even seem pointless. Occasionally I want a break from having to think about those needs or desires at all. But I still pray.

Some of my best moments in prayer have happened in desperation. They're the times I've literally cried out to God--those moments when I said, "God, You need to show up, or I may not make it through tomorrow." Usually it's when I'm powerless to change something, or I've experienced loss or rejection, or I'm grieving. I have prayed at those times (and by "prayed," I mean cried/stomped around/read Scripture/argued/blasted various genres of music) and can remember several instances where I experienced what I can only describe as deliverance. Not a quick fix, but a certain lifting of the burden--an understanding that when I woke up the next morning, things would be different. And miraculously (because even though God never changes, my pipsqueak faith is always shocked by His faithfulness), they were.

One of the girls in my Bible study suggested that we all put a handful of prayer requests on a sheet--some big, some small--and begin praying for them together and then tracking their answers as well as our attitudes in the waiting. I'm excited to do it because I think we'll be surprised at how often God speaks. And if we take the time to remember His work in our lives, it'll motivate us to keep dumping our cares into His hands.

Reality hits...Heaven paid the price with Calvary's Blood

Merry Christmas everyone! As I have been thinking about it this year I have been overwhelmed that Jesus, God's only begotten Son, came to die for me.

I was teaching at the elementary school two weeks ago about this and I was able to share the gospel VERY clearly. I was telling them of how Jesus came because He loves me, He loves you. I went on to explain...

Imagine... if you were riding your bike on the street. (In our little town, it isn't uncommon) You were having a fun time and you were trying not to hit the bumps in the road. Unknown to you there was a BIG truck coming, it was coming fast. I just happen to be on a walk and I saw that you were in danger. I ran out and pushed you out of the way. But while I was, I tripped on one of those bumps. I was hit and later you saw me in the hospital. I was DYING, but there you were, ALIVE. "What would you tell me?" I asked. "THANK YOU", "I will do anything you want me to do", "I love you"...

Then I DIED. The kids were horrified.

I told them that Jesus DIED for them. I looked at them in the eye and said "Someone died for YOU." But while I was doing this, I got "tinglies" all over. I knew that it was the same for ME! But praise the Lord that MY Saviour is ALIVE. He has victory over DEATH. Where was my reverence, my thankfulness? Why do I complain? Why?

I told them how we could have our sins FORGIVEN. How we can receive God's GIFT of salvation. How we can know FOR SURE if we are going to heaven.

"So once your saved and then you sin again, can you still go to heaven?" I asked. "No" was the loud reply. But HALLELUJAH, that isn't the truth. God has covered my sin and I am FORGIVEN. I have ETERNAL life.

As I taught in such a simple SIMPLE way so they could understand, I was hit with the GREATNESS of God's love.

And it was all because He came to earth as a baby.

Ellie says please!

I was wondering....

since I like to write better than type, could you be so kind as to email me

your house address?

I have no clever title, the one I had was too long.

It's true. I had a clever title in mind, and then I realized that it was too long. Anyways, kids, I thought I might share some awesome news from the Hester fambily! For an introduction, I shall give you my original "clever" title.

"I thought, 'I think I just met my future husband,' and then I forgot about him the next week."

My sister said that. About her future husband. About three years ago. Yes, friends, my sister's engaged!! It took them long enough....

Rebekah and Ben had been courting for about three years, though their relationship has been called off two or three times (I think it's more two, then three). It's kind of ridonculous, and really, they need to write a book - it'll be a best seller.

I have no smooth transition line...so, I'll just give you the engagement story: They were studying at Ben's house (the go to college together), when he asked if she wanted to go and have dinner, and then asked if she preferred fast food, or a sit down restaurant.

Rebekah said sit down restaurant, so Ben took her to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, a very expensive restaurant in Louisville, all the while teasing her into thinking it was her idea to go to such an expensive place. Afterwards, they went to a park behind our Baptist Hospital East.

Ben's father died years earlier, when Ben was just a kid, and, as they were walking (this stopping and walking about apparently wasn't unusual for them), he told her that this was where he spent a lot of time while his dad was sick. Then, he got down on one knee, and asked.

At this, Rebekah gaped/sneered (it really depends on how you look at it, and it's hard to explain), and Ben told us later that if he didn't know she'd say yes, he would've had a heart attack.

Um. The End.

Hooray for awkward transitions and endings!!

Also, I think about you guys every day. I miss everyone. :)

-Joanna

those shirts!

Has anyone worn their green shirts again yet?

Just because... :)