May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Psalm 33:11
But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
In church Sunday, we sang My Testimony by Elevation Worship. One of the phrases in the song says something like this, "if I'm not dead, then you aren't done."
As songs often do, this one got me to thinking. I pondered about God's plan and how I fit in. I have a t-shirt that says, "He has a plan, and I have a purpose."
The phrases from the song and the shirt remind me that no matter how old I am, I
have a purpose in God's plan. That thought can be applied to how young, whether by age, or by new life in Christ, a person is. He wants us to be
part of His work in this world.
My mom lived to be ninety-five, my Grammy ninety-two,
and my dad eighty-seven. I remember talking to mom on visits
as she grew closer to the end of her life. Due to her arthritis, she couldn't
do as much as she used to, but she continued to address and send cards for her Sunday
school class even when she couldn't attend. The cards her hands touched and
prepared blessed the sick, elderly, shut-in and whoever the class reached out
to. Grammy taught piano to students until the day she passed, and she prayed.
She lifted every family member, friend, and acquaintance to the Lord in prayer
every day. Dad encouraged his grandkids and until he couldn't
anymore, he fixed everything for everybody. All three of them allowed God to
continue to work through their lives and touch others in His name.
I have been blessed by many children and young people who
love Jesus. I'm thankful for every one of them. Not to mention the folks who
are young in Christ and share an enthusiasm that reminds me not to take my
faith for granted.
No matter how long I live, I want to continue to follow God's plan for my life.
Don't give up, instead ask Jesus what you can do.
I remember, as a young person, helping Grammy snip peonies and irises.
Then we wrapped a glass jar in aluminum foil, filled it with water, and added the flowers. We placed the simple remembrance at the graves of my grandpa,
great-grandma, and my great-uncle, Walter Smith.
Walter died during the Great Influenza epidemic in 1918,
while he served at a camp in Chillicothe, during WW 1.
I don't visit the graves anymore, but I want to offer honor and thanks
to those who have served our country and lost their lives for our freedom.
Thank you to the families who have lost loved ones to war. May God bless you.
Psalm 128:1
Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk
in obedience to him.
Obedience to God is an act of faith.
For as long as I’ve walked with God on my writing journey, He’s
only asked one thing of me—to be obedient. With every word I’ve typed, class I’ve
taken, conference I’ve attended, He has opened doors for me to walk through.
Mind you, I didn’t have to step through any of them. The free will He gives us
to choose our own adventure could have kept me from the journey He planned. And
at times, I know I stepped off the path, but He waited patiently for me to turn
around and seek Him again. You see, I had a dream to be a writer, and I prayed
about my desire. I had no idea where the journey would take me, but I knew God
walked with me.
He’s my writing partner. The One who knows my every thought
and prayer. He understands my heart’s desire and He’s given me the tools to follow
my dream. I know this because He’s the one who placed the dream on my heart
from the beginning.
Scott and Lori Conley had a dream to provide food to
children, offer scholarships for camp, and provide pillows to kindergartners.
They prayed about the possibility of beginning a ministry to empower children and
provide for their unmet needs. Lori and Scott got the program off the ground
with much prayer, and Empower Youth soared. Since then Lori has made her way to
heaven, Scott remarried, and the dream has continued. Even though Lori is in her
heavenly home, Scott has remained obedient to God’s call.
We don’t know where our passions might lead. I pray my words
encourage and bring hope. I know Empower Youth feeds the hungry both physically and
spiritually.
My question now is, do you have a dream, a desire, a passion
you want to pursue? Is it something God has placed on your heart? Pray, read
the Bible for guidance, and seek people who will encourage you and give you
wisdom, and be obedient.
Have faith in the One who created you for your adventure.
Are you gathering your beach reads? Maybe your sit by the pool reads? Or summer reads under a shade tree. I hope you'll consider Home Away from Home, set in the summer on an island.
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