As I continue to seek God's direction in my life through this time of transition, another verse that provides great comfort is John 10:10.
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Sometimes we confuse the meaning of this verse. We start to believe that it means God will give us everything we want and bless us beyond our imagination. While this is possible, it isn't a guarantee. God doesn't say he will give us a happy life, but a full life. I have found that we have a greater appreciation for all of the good in our life when we have also experienced the bad. When we trust God and follow His lead, He will use us in ways that we couldn't have imagined possible. Through that faithfulness to His lead, we can find fulfillment we never imagined possible.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Today's Musings...
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11
As we walk through rough times or times of uncertainty, it is important to always remember that there is a plan. We may not be privy to that plan as of yet, but God has a plan for us that is often so much bigger than we can even imagine. If we trust that plan, take a step out in faith, God can use us to do amazing things. But... it all comes down to that step of faith. Do we really take to heart that God has a plan? Or, as I so often do, do we try to make it work on our own and end up completely off track?
I am working on writing a letter to my daughter for her upcoming dedication. I have to trust this for her as well. God has an amazing plan for her life. I am committed to doing everything I can to help her know and trust him. I want to raise a daughter that is a Christ-follower, not a fan of Christ. The best way I can do this is to be an example of living by faith.
As we walk through rough times or times of uncertainty, it is important to always remember that there is a plan. We may not be privy to that plan as of yet, but God has a plan for us that is often so much bigger than we can even imagine. If we trust that plan, take a step out in faith, God can use us to do amazing things. But... it all comes down to that step of faith. Do we really take to heart that God has a plan? Or, as I so often do, do we try to make it work on our own and end up completely off track?
I am working on writing a letter to my daughter for her upcoming dedication. I have to trust this for her as well. God has an amazing plan for her life. I am committed to doing everything I can to help her know and trust him. I want to raise a daughter that is a Christ-follower, not a fan of Christ. The best way I can do this is to be an example of living by faith.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Called to Write?
Some of you may wonder why I decided to start a blog. ME TOO!!
If you know me, you also know that I have never seen myself as a writer. As a teen I would often try to start journaling only to forget about it within two weeks. I procrastinated on every paper I ever wrote. I caused my mom so much stress before those final due dates because I would be working until the wee hours of the morning. I also dreaded being compared to my best friend, the gold standard according to our English teachers. So, I thought I would start by explaining how God worked to get me started in this wonderful world of blogs…
First, I have been reading the book "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns as part of a church-wide challenge. One of the daily challenges we were issued in our study of this book was to take a spiritual gifts survey. I have taken many in the past, and one gift seems to always stick out for me... teaching. Considering the fact that my chosen career is in teaching, this is a great thing. I have always enjoyed teaching and have found it to be very fulfilling. However, this most recent survey I took indicated that I also have gifts as a pastor/shepherd and showing mercy. As a result I started praying about new ways to implement those gifts.
Second, while reading this book, one of the verses Stearn quotes stood out to me. 1 Corinthians 20:27-28 reads:
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are. (NIV)
God put this verse in front of me over and over again in the two weeks leading up to the creation of this blog. From Facebook posts by old friends, to devotional studies and then again in this book; it became abundantly clear that while I always felt I had nothing to offer in the world or writing, God has a plan for me. He has orchestrated my life to give me this opportunity if I was willing to step out in faith and follow his lead.
So this, my friends, is my leap of faith…
If you know me, you also know that I have never seen myself as a writer. As a teen I would often try to start journaling only to forget about it within two weeks. I procrastinated on every paper I ever wrote. I caused my mom so much stress before those final due dates because I would be working until the wee hours of the morning. I also dreaded being compared to my best friend, the gold standard according to our English teachers. So, I thought I would start by explaining how God worked to get me started in this wonderful world of blogs…
First, I have been reading the book "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns as part of a church-wide challenge. One of the daily challenges we were issued in our study of this book was to take a spiritual gifts survey. I have taken many in the past, and one gift seems to always stick out for me... teaching. Considering the fact that my chosen career is in teaching, this is a great thing. I have always enjoyed teaching and have found it to be very fulfilling. However, this most recent survey I took indicated that I also have gifts as a pastor/shepherd and showing mercy. As a result I started praying about new ways to implement those gifts.
Second, while reading this book, one of the verses Stearn quotes stood out to me. 1 Corinthians 20:27-28 reads:
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are. (NIV)
God put this verse in front of me over and over again in the two weeks leading up to the creation of this blog. From Facebook posts by old friends, to devotional studies and then again in this book; it became abundantly clear that while I always felt I had nothing to offer in the world or writing, God has a plan for me. He has orchestrated my life to give me this opportunity if I was willing to step out in faith and follow his lead.
So this, my friends, is my leap of faith…
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