The Long Way Around

'For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'.  Jeremiah 29:11

I know exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up by the time I was thirteen (and probably sooner). And from that point I mapped out my course and set the wheels in motion to make it happen.  Of course at that age I didn't know much about God's will and how to seek His face for direction.  I knew that I wasn't planning anything bad so God should be okay with my choices.  What I didn't realize was that even as a child God had a clear purpose and plan for my life and was just waiting on me to ask Him for direction in order to fulfill His purpose for my life.  (If I only knew then what I know now maybe I wouldn't have had to long way around to where I am now).  Of course you're probably wondering what I mean by that. 

Let's fast forward a few years to 2012.  I bet you are all wondering if all the things I set out to do and become have come to pass.  My answer to that question is "not quite".  Here is what actually happened.  I graduated from high school number one in my class, went to college at Oklahoma State University but didn't actually graduate from college until I was thirty-six.  I got married and divorced and then married again.  Instead of being a teacher I ended up working in Human Resources and teaching got pushed to the back burner.  But instead of being disappointed by things not turning out the way I planned, I am glad for everything that happened in my life. God had a master plan.  It just took me a little longer see it. Better yet it took me a little longer to ask Him what that plan was.  As I look back over my life I find that only when I stopped being true to the person I knew I was did I stray away from the path God had for me.  I haven't yet fully arrived but I am a bit wiser. I realize now that 'God's thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are His ways my ways'  (Isaiah 55:8)   And even with this knowledge I still don't always asked God for His input in the major decisions in my life. To be honest I don't even always ask Him about the less important decisions in my life either.  (You would think that I would know better by now.)  And because of this I find myself in situations I could have avoided or at least handled differently. My life could be considered a primary example of the phrase that says, 'we plan and God laughs'.  All too often it takes us longer than necessary to arrive at the place God intended for us to be at all along.  Now this is not a place devoid of storms but it is a place full of love, grace and mercy, shelter, refuge, peace and joy because through it all God is with us.  He will never leave us nor forsake us. Walking in His will and according to His plan for your life is the best place to be. 

The Bible says 'If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5) So why do we avoid asking God to direct our paths?  I can't answer this question for you but I can tell you why I avoid asking God at times.  Mainly because I don't really want to hear what He has to say.  There are some things I know that He is going to tell me not to do or not to say but at the time the decision feels right.  I'm going to take that job because it pays the right amount of money even though it keeps me away from my family and church. I am going to keep dating that man or that woman even though the more I hang with them the further away from God and the church I seem to get.  In fact I would much rather be laid up on Sunday morning than driving across town to church.  If I go to church, he/she may leave me.  I'm going to continue to hang with that friend who is not a positive influence because if I don't I won't have any other friends and I don't trust that God will bring people of a 'like mind' into my life.  Someone who will encourage me to be a better person, who will be honest with me and call me out on my mess. And plus, I may miss out on all the latest gossip. So I continue on with my plans, ignoring the voice of the Holy Spirit trying to steer me back on the right path. 

Now I know that I am not alone in this.  Many of us don't know any other way but to do it our way first and then allow God to whoop us into submission.  Today I want to give you something to think about - a new way of doing things.  Instead of doing things your way and making your own plans, try asking God first.  And when He responds contrary to what you have already planned just go with it.  This may sound a little crazy at first because maybe you think your life is working just fine doing things the way you are currently doing them.  Or maybe you are afraid that your life is about to completely change and you are afraid.  I read something the other day in the book 'On Mission with God - Living God's Purpose For His Glory' by Avery T. Willis, Jr. and Henry Blackaby and that 'You might not get to the destination you first had in mind, but you will get to HIS destination for your life - a far better arrival point then you had planned'.  And here's another secret that I will share with you, as you read His Word and allow it to change your life you will find that what you want for your life falls more in line with what God wants for you as well.  Funny how it works out that way.  Which is why I believe He says in His Word to 'seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL these things shall be added unto you' (Matt. 6:33).  God stands ready, willing and able to not only meet your needs but also give you some of your wants.  We only have to trust Him.  I will tell you one thing I know for sure, the longer you avoid seeking God first you will continue to take the long way around to where God wants you to be. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father:

Thank you for loving me and caring enough about me to allow me to come boldly before you asking anything, knowing that You will always answer me.  Right now I come to you seeking direction and guidance as I continue along this journey called life.  I know that I haven't always come to You first but I want to change all that.  I want to be all that you desire for me to be and on this day I surrender my all.  Help me to walk according to Your will and Your way.  In Jesus' Precious Name I pray Amen. 

My Tribute

'How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me; things so undeserved yet you gave to prove your love to me...' Andre Crouch

These words are the first to lines in the song My Tribute.  As I sit and reflect on my life a year ago, the words of this song keep running through my mind.  It makes me think about how precious it is for someone to care enough about you to be concerned with your spiritual life.  To want nothing more than to see you become more spiritually mature in Christ.  I have been fortunate enough to have several people who have poured into me spiritually. My parents were very instrumental in this during my childhood years.  But on this day there is one person who was the most instrumental in growing me up in the Lord during my young adult to adult years..  That person was none other than the late Pastor A. G. Woodberry.  He gave all he had to me and so many others and I will be eternally grateful.  I can't help but say 'To God be the glory"!

 

So many times I have questioned God in my life, wondering why certain things had to happen.  I have tried to live a pretty decent life.  Yes I messed up along the way a few times but overall I've been okay.  I remember as a child how much my parents poured into me the Word of God.  Scripture after scripture.  Sometimes I was like, "Will it ever be enough?"  But it wasn't until I begin to have my own set of tests and trials that the Word became alive.  I began to understand what it meant to pray Psalm 91 over myself and my family.  How many days the only thing that kept me going was 'dwelling in the secret place of the Most High'.  Getting to the point that I recognized my enemy for who he is - Satan - and because of that being sure to put on the whole armor of God everyday.  However those things only got me part of the way.  It was when I became a member of the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church that I developed a hunger that went from Sunday morning worship to Wednesday night Bible Study to Fall Revival all the way to my living room, my bedroom, in my car, throughout my day.  I wanted to know more.  So much so that I started teaching. 

 

That is what this life is about.  Giving back to others.  Encouraging one another.  Putting others before ourselves.  I thank God for every opportunity I have to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. In fact my daily prayer is "Lord let your light so shine that others may see YOU in me and help me to see the unspoken need that I will be able to minister to those I come in contact with."  I wish that everyone would be saved and receive all the wonderful things that God wants them to have.  Stop wasting time.  Make each day count.  And when you give - give your all.  That is what Pastor Woodberry did.  I cannot remember a time when he did not give his ALL.  Even up until the day of his departure.  He cared enough about His flock to want us to see that no matter what was going on in your life (sickness to the point of daily pain) that God is still God!  He is sitting on the throne.  That our praise has nothing to do with our we feel.  All of these things are still helping me as I face trials in my life.  And I am grateful.  That is why I can say "To God be the glory!"  This is why I continue to serve the Lord.  That is why some days when I think things are so bad in my life and I think about him or hear his voice, I start to praise God through my pain. How many times have you heard that when you focus on God instead of your problem, the problem starts to get smaller?  Maybe you have heard it but never tried it.  Today I dare you to try it!  I'm not telling you what I heard but what I know.  Even as I type these words with somewhat of a heavy heart, I start praising God, humming 'I still have joy', knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that EVERYTHING is going to be alright. 

 

 Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Right now I don't know how to put into words what I'm feeling so I just want to say Thank You.  Thank you for thinking enough of me to place people in my path that encouraged me to grow spiritually.  Help me to be the kind of person that gives back to others what You have so graciously deposited in me.  In Jesus' Precious Name Amen. 

 

 

 

Press

...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13b-14, ESV

Some days no matter how hard I try it is difficult to move forward.  My entire life I have been harder on myself than anyone else could ever be.  So when something is out of order in my life or doesn't go according to plan, I struggle.  There...I said it.  Yes me, the Encourager, writer of this blog, struggles. I'm that one they talk about smiling on the outside while crying on the inside because I don't always know how to deal with the challenges that I have to face. I struggle to be all that God wants me to be, often times falling short.  The difference though in my struggle is that I choose not to give up.  Instead I continue to PRESS.  You see, I have an objective.  A goal ahead of me. My ultimate goal is heaven.  But in the meanwhile my goal is to continue steadfast in the ministry God has purposed me for. 

As of late this has been a little more difficult.  My life seems to be a constant battle of ups and downs.  For a while things seem to be going along well and then a shift in the wind occurs and I'm in storm once again.  And the hardest part for me in this storm is that I know that it is just a test.  God is taking me through to pull more out of me to be used for His glory.  It doesn't mean I like it though.  Sometimes in the midst of my storm I feel like I'm all churched out. (Tamela Mann - Take Me to the King).  I just need a minute to breathe.  Now I know there are some saints who may read this that may say this is not a very Christian response.  But I beg to differ.  Jesus Christ, when on the eve of the cross, when to His Heavenly Father, in agony asking 'if it be possible remove this cup from me, nevertheless, not my will but thine be done'.  God never said that it would be easy.  But He did tell us that we could make it through.  By leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus.  By trusting in His Word.  There are times when I am afraid that this trial is going to be the one that finally overtakes me.  Yet I find a way to make it through.  I continue to PRESS.  I make a conscious decision to stay my course.  Through every disappointment, difficulty and discouragement - Heaven is my goal. 

How do I PRESS?  Mainly with praise.  These past few months have taught me that through every trial God is still good.  And once I begin praising Him I can't help but feel better.  I become a little bit more determined to continue on.  To finish my race.  Life happens.  Obstacles come.  But I don't have the option of stopping short of my goal.  I may be a little weak at times but that is when I begin to meditate day and night on my treasure chest of scriptures.  Verses likes II Corinthians 4:16-18, 'Therefore we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentatry afflictions are achieving a far greater worth in glory, so I fix my eyes not on what I can be see but what I cannot see that is eternal' when I can't see past the hear and now.   Jeremiah 29:11, 'For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future' when I start to feel like the situation is hopeless.  II Timothy 1:7,  'For God has not given me the Spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind' when the devil tries to play tricks on my mind. A good friend of mine shared with me this statement.  "The devil would like nothing better than for you to feel defeated without a fight". But didn't you know the devil's already been defeated at Calvary when they hung my Savior on the cross, put nails in His hands and feet, a crown of thorns on His head, pierced Him in the side, and buried Him in a borrowed tomb.  But thank God this story doesn't end there because three days later He got up with ALL POWER. And you and I can stand on this power.  We don't have to live a defeated life.  We just have to go to God and admit that we are weak, knowing that it is during our times of weakness that God shows Himself mighty and strong  Keep pressing on towards your goal and remember you are not alone.   

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Life for me lately hasn't been much fun.  It appears to be one struggle after another.  I've been close to giving up and throwing in the towel.  But then I remember that I am not in this by myself and You only want what's best for me.  And sometimes You have to push and poke and pull to get out of me what You have deposited in me.  So Lord help me to press on through every trial, praising Your Name all the way through.  In Jesus' Precious Name I pray Amen.