"Interrupted" Plans

 "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 hope and a future.-Jeremiah 29:11

Today is my last day in my position as an Instructional Coach.  My position was dissolved and I am going back into the classroom.  As I reflect on my journey the Lord led me to a quote from one of my daily devotionals. " Friend, God's plans need to be our plans....even if His plans seem to "interrupt" our plans."  Those words leapt off of the page for me because I need to look at my new journey the way God sees it and not with my limited vision.

It may not have been my plan to go back to the classroom, but it's His plan and His plans for me are good. He even worked it out where I get to go back to my beloved Columbia High School. My alma matter and place where I taught for 13 years. There is a purpose for me in the classroom and I will be obedient with joy because it's His plan and He knows what is best.  My mind is racing with all the possibilities and opportunities I will have to share Christ with my students and colleagues.  I'm being sent to an old field that's ready for a new crop.  I am the servant sent to sow or either reap what He is or has planted.

 God 's word says in Romans 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. All things work for the good, but its according to His purpose.  Not my plan, but His and again His plans are good for me.

How do I know this?  I know this because He says it in His word.  "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 hope and a future.-Jeremiah 29:11  I know this because I have witnessed His faithfulness. So what may appear as an "interruption" may actually be a course correction to get me where I need to be and I want to be in the center of His will.

I think about all the blessings that come with being a classroom teacher and I move to a heart posture of gratitude.  I am move to gratitude because He cares about me enough to guide me on my journey.  He has blessed me with an opportunity to take what I have learned and grow into a stronger individual; into a woman who walks by faith.  A woman who trust in God.  One who is willing to take the test in order to have a testimony so that He may get the glory.

Father, thank You for Your Spirit that speaks to me.  Thank You for being all knowing for You know just what I need to hear at the right time.  Thank You for my journey and Your guidance.  Order my steps.  Keep me obedient to Your will for my life. Keep me humbled and bowed before You. May I be a blessing to others.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Burden Bearer

 

Psalms 68:19 NIV

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

The dictionary describes a burden as a load that is generally heavy,  Life is changing for me and questions swirl in my head.  Burdens of will I be "good enough" and  how will I adjust financially plague me.  Yet, even as I type these words I hear God saying "I got you. You are good enough because You are mine.  I will and have equipped you for the task that lies ahead. So tears come to my eyes as I read  and reflect on this Word from the Lord.  Just to know that I am not alone. That I am not without help brings me comfort and joy.

Perhaps you are carrying a burden and you have been trying to carry them by yourself in your own strength.  Well there is good news, we don't have to because the Lord God our Savior daily bears our burdens.  He daily heeds our call.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30 to "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” When we are yoked to Jesus we can draw upon His strength.  We can find rest for our souls, for our inner man.  We just have to trust Him and rest in Him.

Lord, thank You for daily bearing our burdens.  Thank You for showering us with such compassionate love.  Let us look to You and trust in You. Forgive us when we doubt and try to carry burdens on our own. Let us rely on your strength and not our own. We love You Lord.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Shout for joy

 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.~ Psalm 100:1-3

Today I feel good! I have a profound joy and I owe it all to Jesus.  My circumstances are the same, but so is He.  He is a mighty God.  An all knowing and powerful God.  He is Lord!

 I actually packed up my office today. Cleared away the clutter and prepared for what's next.  Income levels will change, but it is okay because my cup runneth over (Psalm 23:5). God is the good Shepherd and He is good to me. His blessings overflow and my heart is filled with gratitude.

He woke me up this morning and put an extra pep in my step. He let the sun shine on my skin and feel me with warmth. He started my day with purpose fulfilled and excitement about the days ahead.  He is doing a new thing in my life. The old will become new and I am full of expectation as I watch Him move in my life. I thrilled about what He is going to do in me.

It's a popular thing to say "Thank God it's Friday."  Keeping it real I am thankful that it's Friday, but even more thankful that there is a God. This is the day that He has made and I rejoice in it (Psalm 118:24).

If you are feeling down remember God loves you.  Take a moment to think about all the many blessing, however small they may be that God has endowed you with and look up. Give Him thanks.  Give Him praise. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever( Psalm 118:1).

Lord thank You for this day. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for your joy.  Thank You for being God.  Bless your people and in turn may we give You the praise due to You and shout joyfully unto to You, Father.  For we are Yours and that is a very good thing. Forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Help us to seek You first. In Jesus name.  Amen

Be intentional

 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ~Romans 12:11-12

The dictionary defines zeal as  having a great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.  Fervor is defied as intense and passionate feeling.  I have to examine myself and ask myself if i have lost this zeal or fervor,  Am I serving the Lord with enthusiasm and intense passion or am I just going through the motions?  The answer is sometimes yes and sometimes no.  Don't like the answer, but the truth will set me free.  Free to be intentional in my demonstration of love for Christ and His people.  Intentional about letting even the routines things and doing of my day be about serving Him in some way.

Life is changing for me and I must be joyful in the hope of what God is going do next in my life.  Joyful in the preparations He has already made for me and in me.  Joyful  in the hope of growth in the Lord that is going to take place.

I also have to be patient in affliction.  Patient in the grind of the day when I don't see any change I have to know and believe that He is working behind the scenes on my behalf. Patient when things don't go my way because I know its going His way.

And I must be faithful in prayer.  Faithful in my communication with God.  Faithful in being still so that I can listen to His voice and not just do all the talking.  Faithful in prayer so I can know the next step that He wants me take.  The next hand He wants me to hold or person He wants me to encourage  Faithful in prayer so that I can have continual zeal and fervor in serving Him, Christ my Lord.

Lord, I confess that sometimes I am just going through the motions, running on my strength which is fumes. That I lack luster in serving You the most wise God.  Forgive me and fall fresh on me so that I can be about my Father's business.  Let me do Kingdom work.  I want to hear You say well done thy good and faith servant.  Help to e to be joyful  in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.  Help me to do these things so that You will get the glory.  I thank You for the doors that You open and opportunities You present to serve You, to tell other of your goodness.  I thank You for the test so that I can have a testimony. In Jesus name.  Amen

Walking by faith

 For we walk by faith, not by sight. ~2 Corinthians 5:7

Stepping out in faith.  Easier said than done, but is it?  I think about how much trust I put into my car and driving ability to get me from A to B. I get into the car and crank it up, expecting it to crank.  I don't open the hood of the car and check the engine.  I don't walk around the car "kicking" the tires.  I get in and I drive.  I drive most days on autopilot because I am going to a destination that is known. One that is built into my muscle memory.  I have faith that I will get there.  If I can trust a car, created by man and myself taught to drive by a man.  Surely, I can trust God.

The NIV translation says that we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  We move and have our being trusting in the One who knows it all and sees it all.  We step out each day in faith moving towards the destination that He is taking us. Like GPS we get one set of directions at a time.  The Holy Spirit is our vehicle or operation.  He will guide our steps if we trust and obey.

This is where peace is ushered in. Even in the midst of a storm.  We have God to safely guide us through, by faith.  We trust His promises and His word.  And like a friend shared with me today.  He calms the storm or calms us in the midst of it.  For He is a good and faithful Father.

Walking by faith is a choice.  One we must make moment by moment.  We tell ourselves that when we are afraid of the unknown we are known to God.  He knows what we have need of and He will step in.

Lord, thank You for being a God that we can trust.  Thank You for Your Spirit that leads and guides us.  Help us not to lean to our own understanding or base or decisions on what we see with the human eye.  Help us to remember that there is so much more to You and You are working it for our good.  Help us to walk by faith.  Give us courage and strength to do so.  We will be careful to give You all the glory and the honor.  We love You Lord.  In Jesus name.  Amen

My Journey-lessons learned

 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.~Psalm 107:1

My last post was eight months ago and it is fitting that I use the same scripture.  Eight months ago I was placed back into the classroom because of teacher shortages.  I was assigned to teach a grade level that I had never taught before.  I was walking into a classroom full of children who had been with substitute teachers, but I was not walking in alone.  God was with me everyday.  

God blessed me with a team of teachers and administrators who were supportive in every way.  I was in many ways a guest in their school, but they made me feel like one of them. The never got impatient as I asked questions. They never made feel like I was alone.  Meanwhile, my work family from my actual position also kept me lifted.  They included me where the could and kept me abreast of all the changes occurring in my other position.  I had support on all sides and I know this was God.

Being transparent, being in a classroom again was not where I wanted to be.  I wanted to be coaching.  I had gotten comfortable with having an office and making my own schedule, but God had different plans and those plans were and are for my good.  He was preparing for what was to come.  I knew this assignment would not be temporary, so God gave me wisdom to accept that I would be here until the end of the year.  I took one day at a time and asked God for help each and every day.  He answered and was with me every step of the way. He gave me a measure of patience and strength.  He taught me to lean on Him and to trust Him with my days.

Like I said, He was preparing me.  My job actually got dissolved and I am being placed in the classroom again.  God already knew so He had prepared me for dealing with youth again.  Teaching me to build relationships again with students I inherited.  Teaching me to love even when its hard.  Reassuring me that I still have the calling to teach on my life.  Reassuring me that I could do it.  

I will be back at home next year with my Alma Matta. God set that in motion too.  He had the right people in the right place for such a time as this.  I will be going back to the familiar,  teaching seniors and content that I love. I will also get a well needed break after five years of working year round.  I don't know why God wants me in the classroom, per haps it is my ministry field.  But I trust Him and will stay in the center of HIs will.  

I made it to the end of this school year with God's help because He is a good God and amazing Father and I give thanks.  I don't know who else has had unexpected twists and turns in their life this year, but I am witness that God keeps His promise of never leaving or forsaking us. He keeps His promise of HIs grace being sufficient.  He keeps His promise of love.  So hold on and choose faith over fear and praise over grumbling because God's got you just like He has me.

Father, I thank You for love and strength.  I thank You for being with me through it all.  I thank You for the courage to face  a new path or revisit an old one because I know even in that You are doing something knew.  Thank You for being God.  Bless all the teachers and educators out here.  Bless those who are going through changes and having their lives interrupted.  Let us remember that Your plans are for our good.  In Jesus name. Amen

Thanksgiving

 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.~Psalm 107:1

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. A day in this country where people pause to give thanks.  I propose that every day is a day that we should give thanks to the One who gives us so much.  May we position our hearts each day in gratitude to the One who is good.  To the God who saves.  

It is an awesome thing to know that we have a Savior who loves us with an eternal love.  It’s humbling to know that God looks beyond our faults and sees our needs, for that I say thank you.

God is good.  He is gracious and kind.  He is merciful and abundant in His love.  It’s His love that spurs praise.  It’s His love that gets us out the way so that we can focus on Him.

I thank You Lord for the breath in my body.  I thank You for eyes to see and limbs that move.  I thank You for a chance to fellowship with love ones.  I thank You for You sweet Jesus.

Regardless of circumstances and in and out of season I say thank You.  Keep me humble before You Lord and my heart overflowing with thanksgiving. Bless this nation and may we give You thanks for things both big and small.   In Jesus name Amen.