God's Preparation For This Canvas!

Spent some time today looking back, it is the time of year where my mom starts asking me to have my part of the family Christmas letter ready! She likes it before Thanksgiving mostly because last year she didn't get them all until mid January and that makes it a post-new year family update letter… not Christmas update letter! So I figured I would share with you what I wrote.
A new year brought a New Beginning! At the turning of 2008... As I sat in my apartment alone watching the ball drop in NY on my TV… I bowed my head and asked the Lord what He had for me this year... New Beginnings was his response. I thanked Him for another year and took communion as our family does every New Year! Now looking back... It is almost funny how true those words are... My past year has truly been one change after another. I have a new home, vision, family, friends and outlook on life!
Last year I was at the 6 month mark of working on staff at CFNI... my Alma Madder. God grew me so much in that experience! I love CFNI and miss it greatly. But God brought me where I am for a reason... am back in NC with my Family! By now you have read of my father’s battle with cancer. In Feb My mom called me from the hospital and told me of the pending diagnosis. When she told me it might be cancer... My heart broke… But God! He gave me a peace about it from the beginning... But I still knew change was on the horizon. If the diagnosis was cancer... I would be joining Paul for the journey home in May! On March Forth we got our Orders! After a quick spring break home! I knew for sure, I was homeward bound! We moved home in May! Then on my golden birthday, I started at Family Dollar! A new job, one of those jobs with a 6 months learning curve. I am a Merchandise Assistant in the Paper dept and sometimes the Stationary Dept. So if you need to know anything about Toilet paper or tissues, disposables cups or plates, or occasionally Greeting Cards or Poster board at Family Dollar, I am you girl, for now! True to my understanding it has taken a good amount of time to learn what exactly it is they wanted me to do. But I am finally getting it after 6 months! I am so glad to be home! My family is never the same. God is so good! As I was leaving CFNI I found myself telling people… I've never thought of cancer as a good thing. But in our lives as a family God has used cancer to bring out the best in each of us! The Zinn family is the best it has ever been!
I will close with one last thing... the future... A new Vision! God is good at choosing some of the craziest times in our lives, to speak into us... My life was not an exception... Near the end of March the Lord started stirring in my heart many of my passions and gifts... For me this is no small thing in... My passions and gifts are as different and abundant as the many colors of the rainbow; writing, singing, administration, art, computers, photography, leadership and mostly the Ministry. God being God, He began to give me a glimpse of the picture He is beginning to paint with the gifts He had placed in my life. For all those who are praying for a picture of what the Lord’s plan for your life is... Wait don’t try to figure it out or start it for Him. We can never truly understand or imagine His plan for us. The many ideas and plans I have come on my own… well they would have gotten in the way of the plan God has for my life. Let the canvas of your life remain open, so your life can be His masterpiece.
All that to stay there is a new step in my journey to come… But before I get to it I have to apologize for something I said in last year’s letter and I quote… “Although the state is somewhat large, rater flat but mostly ugly... It's home for now!”... This was in reference to Texas… I am now retracting this statement it was made in my ignorance. I have since been hiking in the Hill country of TX and seen the Desert Mountains of west Texas near Fort Davis! I would have to say Texas is very large and uniquely beautiful… It is a one of the kind state that I happen to love and actually miss greatly. Most of my distaste for Texas started and ended with Dallas (a city most Texans don't even claim)! Now that that is all cleared up! I can in fact move on… My best Friend Audrie and her Husband Steven are now currently in west Texas with their family in the process of starting a Ministry called Wild Fire… A ministry for Individuals to come unplug from the noise and tyranny of the urgent, to hear the quietness of God’s Word to us… Okay so I borrowed the last statement from the brochure… but there is a point! Sometime in the next or so year I am planning to join them in this ministry! Upon meeting these families over the last few years the Lord made it clear that he had a purpose for this connection… this was impressed even deeper in my heart during Steven and Audrie's visit to here in Oct. They visited NC for an extended weekend… during which my family also saw the importance of this friendship. God is truly amazing and I can't wait to look back again next year and see what new he has added to the picture! God Bless!

I love y'all! ~ Alicia