Blessings Abundant!

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Luke 6:38

A while back in a posting before I left home, I talked briefly about faith and how I tried to keep my relationship with God to myself, internalized so to speak. I've noticed that while that was the mindset I had when I left, there's been a change occurring within me. I can't help but ooze how in love and in awe I am of my amazing God. I don't let it consume this blog, but I'm also not going to try to hide it for anyone who may not believe the same as me. My friends are my friends regardless of my religious beliefs.

With that being said, I continually have revelations about how incredibly blessed I am. Not just with this experience. Although this whole trip, the last 5 months, has been a dream come true. God has provided for me in ways I never thought possible... big needs, little needs, all needs!

Today's revelation about how blessed I am, wasn't so much about the experience, as much as it was about everyone I love and hold dear at home. I was in the amphitheater at the military museum watching the Ottoman Mehter concert (military band music) and I couldn't contain the tears. The concert wasn't sad, it was just the whole thing. The day before I spent the entire day trying to be resourceful and looking for alternative ways to get home that would be cheaper than all the tickets I'd found so far. I was alone in a big foreign city without a lot of money, trying to figure out how to enjoy my time here without spending any money. I found out at some point yesterday that a missionary in Istanbul was contacted on my behalf. When she got in touch with me she gave me all kinds of information on what I can do for little to no money. One of those things being the military museum with it's concert.

I set out on this crazy adventure and absolutely no one that I care for tried to stop me. Everyone has supported me both in the preparation as well as during the trip. People have been there sharing my high moments as well as my low moments. Friends were there to listen to me cry on the phone at some of the lowest points of my life. And now, despite the situation I've found myself in, that anyone could easily lecture me on or say 'i told you so', everyone continues to support me, love me, pray for me and be there for me.

There have been different points in this adventure that I've probably been to generous for my own good. But I believe part of it was a learning experience in giving to allow God to give back. A very dear friend, who is more like a sister, told me several times that she believes God will bless me abundantly for my generosity. I have to agree with her on that note. I realized today that maybe God hasn't blessed me financially (at least not yet!), but He's blessed me beyond my wildest dreams with the people he's put in my life!

I will never be able to express adequate thanks to everyone in my life who's been there for me. During the last 5 months, the last year as I prepared for this trip, and throughout the prior years in my life.

This one's for all of you who love me, have shared my hurts and joys, have molded me and influenced me, and just been a friend in general!