49th State of the United States

Did you know that Alaska was named as the 49th state of the United States in 1959?  That it was purchased for a mere $7.2 million dollars?  That equals to about $.02 an acre.
Alaska has roughly 586,412 square miles - including water and land. If you were to place Alaska into the contiguous United States, Alaska would cover from North to South and spread from Florida to California.  Check out this picture:

This is pretty impressive.

The United States has roughly 312 million people.  Of those 312 million, only a small fraction live in the state of Alaska.  How small of a fraction, you ask?  If I have done my math correctly, less than 1%.  Alaska has roughly 710,000 residents.  Interesting how the largest state is so close to being the state with the fewest people.  (The other 3 states that have less people are North Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming {2010 census}).

Alaska is broken up into five (5) different Regions.

1. Inside Passage - the capital, Juneau, is located in this region and although it is the capital it is not the largest city.
2. South Central - the largest city of the state is in this region, Anchorage.  With close to 300,000 residents, this city is busting out with a lot of different things to do.  Please note: This is the area in which I will be flying into to catch a bus to go the remaining way to the village for the  mission trip.
3. South West - this region is probably most popular to all because of the show, "Deadliest Catch."  This region houses the Alaskan Peninsula and Aleutian Islands as well as famous Dutch Harbor you see on the show.  Probably a great place to do some whale watching.
4. Interior - The second largest city, Fairbanks, is located in this region, which is approximately 167,644 square miles in size.  There are approximately 100,000 residents in this region with only 32,000 of them living in Fairbanks.  That means, close to 70,000 residents are dispersed throughout this region living in small towns or villages.  Please note: This is the region I will be going to on my mission trip.
5. Far North - last but not least, inside of the Arctic Circle is where you will find most all of this region.  If you have followed any of the news  regarding the Russian vessel trying to deliver oil to Nome, then you will be familiar with the Far North.  If you are looking to be cold, chilled, frozen, or any other adjective that describes below 0 temperature, this is a great place to go.  The landscape and beauty of this region is I am sure, breathtaking and stunning.

This is just a brief synopsis of the state.  Cultural aspects will come soon.  So... Stay Tuned!

Disclaimer:
I hope that this brief information is helpful to those who are unfamiliar with some of the statistics of the state.  I am not a scholar, however I know a lot due to the research I continually do.  I have added several of the websites I have gathered some of this information and hope that in no way have slandered, falsified, or duplicated without consent any information.  Anyone who has produced this material before I deserves the recognition for the statistics at hand.  I am just trying to educate my viewers regarding a place I love, a people I love and a home I hope to know soon.

Sites:
http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/ak_intro.htm
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/rankings.html
http://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/cb11-cn83.html

Surrender

Surrender (verb) to yield (something) to the possession or power of another.  

I first want to say, I am not a theologian by any means, this is just my own opinion.

What does it mean to surrender to the Lord? 
For my own self, surrendering to the Lord means giving my life COMPLETELY to Him.  To allow Him to make the decisions that are perfect and wonderful in His sight.  Not my own.  To allow Him to use me for His glory rather than for me to use myself for my own personal gain - as far as needs and wants go.  My needs and wants are mere flesh desires.  In order for me and for others to follow Jesus, we must surrender to Him.  Knowing that He has a perfect path for us.
Luke 9:23 - Then He said to them all, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

Deny ourselves - to deny the desires of the flesh - to deny the ideas and ideologies of the world - to deny anything that is not of God.  We find God in the pages of His word, in the Holy Spirit that comes and dwells within us when we ask Jesus to come and live in our hearts. 

Man and world will always fail you, but the Lord Jesus Christ will not ever.  He is always with us.  He has given us His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to be with us.
I love the song, I Surrender All - it was written by Judson W. Van DeVenter.  Here are the words:

1. All to Jesus I surrender;
   All to Him I freely give;
   I will ever love and trust Him,
   In His presence daily live.
   • Refrain:
     I surrender all,
     I surrender all;
     All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
     I surrender all.
2. All to Jesus I surrender;
   Humbly at His feet I bow,
   Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
   Take me, Jesus, take me now.
3. All to Jesus I surrender;
   Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
   Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
   Truly know that Thou art mine.
4. All to Jesus I surrender;
   Lord, I give myself to Thee;
   Fill me with Thy love and power;
   Let Thy blessing fall on me.
5. All to Jesus I surrender;
   Now I feel the sacred flame.
   Oh, the joy of full salvation!
   Glory, glory, to His Name!

Again, I am no expert, but I want to mention that there are people in this world who may preach and walk in ways that are convincing, but are not Godly.
Matthew 7:15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
I was fooled too.  However, when I truly allowed the Holy Spirit to guide me, I was guided to the truth.  Find a church that is God and Word centered.  A church that preaches from the Word and not from ideas of man.
I am praying for all who are reading this and ask that you not be afraid to email me or to respond to any of my posts.
Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

I love you and pray that you find Abounding Joy in our Father, Jesus Christ.

My Walk - Jesus Saves

I feel the need to share a little something about myself that some may or may not know. I came to Alabama, primarily Samford University on faith.  I felt the Lord calling me out of Atlanta to pursue His calling in my life. 
For months prior to this calling, I had been talking with my father quite frequently about some of the things that I felt God was doing in my life.  In many ways, it felt like a deep anointing, one that I knew was going to be life changing.  As I continued to seek God's will and pray and study God's word, I felt in September 2010 that I was to go to Samford.  So, I contacted the school and made a trip.  I was accepted and started in January of 2011. 
Prior to my moving, the Holy Spirit was really active in my life, letting me know that despite the huge changes I was making, it was all for the Lord.  That was what I wanted.  I wanted nothing more (and I still want this) than for the Lord to be glorified in my life.  The life I was leading, the church I was at did not exemplify the true word of God, rather man-made beliefs. 
As I moved to Birmingham and began to settle into the routine of University life, I began to drown in self-doubt.  I was totally alone, or so it felt.  I had no family and was fairly friendless.  I began to suffer from serious anxiety and one day, on a whim, I went and purchased a sketch book.  Now, I am no artist, but I really wanted to draw and color.  So, I began to fill the pages of this sketch book.  I noticed that all I ever drew were crosses, and gifts for the Lord.  I found comfort and peace drawing for Him.  The drawing then manifested into painting and for Christmas, I was able to paint each one of my family members a painting depicting a Bible verse, I felt the Holy Spirit lead me to.
Since being in Birmingham, God has made the calling in my life really known - Missions - full-time.  I remember being about 12 and feeling that was what God wanted me to do, but never did pursue that due to fleshy desires.
I am thankful that God has truly changed me.  I wanted the change and was willing to find His truth rather than to be filled with lies. 
I am now preparing for my first trip to Alaska to spread the Word of God, the Love of God and my testimony to a small godless village.  I have felt Alaska for a long time, and believe that is where I will be moving to when I graduate.  I have a heart for these people.  There are approximately 710,000 people that live in Alaska and roughly 100,000 of them live in the Interior Region (Fairbanks is located there).  The Interior Region is where I feel called.  The little village I will be visiting in March is in this region and is truly in need of the Holy Spirit.  I pray that the group I go with can see the harvest of sown seeds in the lives of these people.  I pray and ask the Lord to open even more doors for me as I go so that I may find a mission organization or group to join for when I do go up there.  He is already led me to a Missionary that lives and works in Alaska, and maybe his ministry is where I will be.  I don't know.  I just thank God for changing me, for loving me, for redeeming me, for dying for me. 
If you are reading this and do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, all you have to do is pray to Him.  Tell Him you believe He is the Son of God, that He came and died for you and me, and is now sitting at the right side of God.  Ask Him to forgive you for your sins.  The Holy Spirit will come and dwell inside of your heart.  I am here.  I will pray with you and encourage you as you walk with the Lord.  He will always be with you. 
The Bible says in Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. 
I will be that other person for you. 
I love you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.  For all things are possible through Christ (Philippians 4:13). 
In Christ's Name,
Anna

Alaska!

I have not been great at blogging because I do most of my writing in a journal.  However, it has come time for a mission trip, and want to ensure that all who are interested in following me on God's plan will have a way of keeping in touch.
In October, I was introduced to a Missionary in Anchorage, Alaska.  As some of you know, I have for the longest time (maybe 5 years) have felt called to Alaska.  People have asked me, "why Alaska?" and I can honestly say, "It is all God."
God has changed my life drastically, in a way, I would call it an about face.  I use to live a life that was sinful to the Lord that many tried to make me believe was ok.  I am thankful that I sought after the truth, and once I was open to receiving the truth, AMEN - the TRUTH HAS SET ME FREE!!!  Thank you Lord!!!!  God is so good!!!

Anyway, Alaska.  I am excited to announce, that I will be going on my first mission trip to Alaska this March.  As I continue to get better at blogging, I will keep you abreast of what is to come.  I am to be arriving in Anchorage on March 17th and will be taking a 8 hour van ride to the Interior Region to a small village (at this time, the village will remain nameless.)
I pray that God can use me and the group I am going with to share God's love, to minister to them about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the freedom we find in His salvation.
Pray with me for the hearts of these wonderful people that He loves.  Love them with me.

God Bless you my sweet brothers and sisters in Christ.  To God be the GLORY!