Tag Archives: God’s Plan

Faith, God’s Love, Write 31 Days Challenge 2019

Day 19 in God’s Love- He Has A Plan

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This post was originally written a few years ago, but I have adapted it for the 31 days in God’s Love series. God loves us and has a plan for each of us to enable His work to be carried out.

I think it’s safe to say most of us, if not all of us, had a dream of what we would be when we were older.  A nurse?  A firefighter? A princess? A footballer?  

My dream was to be a teacher.  I use to sit in my room and pretend I was teaching my teddies, and sometimes I even roped my brother into playing!

For years I had this longing I wanted to help other children to fulfill their potential.  I completed pre-teaching courses at college and did a number of work experiences at local schools.  I enjoyed every minute of it and I passed with flying colours.

When the dream doesn’t happen

My dream didn’t quite turn out as I had planned. I only just got through college with my A-Levels and I never went to University.  The government changed the way University fees were to be paid and it was just too much for me to even consider.  

So, yes, I wasn’t even going to get a degree!  Trying to sort out what I was going to do with my life was hard, especially when I didn’t have a degree.  I found the options open to me very limiting.

I decided to take a year out to do some voluntary work to try and get some idea of what I wanted to do with my life.  It was only by chance I ended up working with the Church Army in one of their Volunteer programmes and I moved to London.  Now, 19 years later, I have a lovely family with a wonderful husband and five gorgeous children.

What about the dream?

Maybe, some of us still have that dream though?  What do we do?  Do we give up?

I think there are a few options we can do.  Firstly, we can do something about it by planning how we can live our dream and go for it. Or secondly, we can sit here and accept what has happened.  

Well, I have planned out what I wanted to do…and started it…but it’s just not going anywhere.  I’m not the type of person either to sit around and accept things.

So, maybe there is a third option?

Maybe, it’s not my dream that I should be following. Maybe, this is God’s dream and God’s plan.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  Isaiah 55:8 

What God wants with me and what He wants me to achieve is probably, and most likely, different to what I would like to do.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.  Proverbs 19:21

It’s hard to keep this in mind as a positive perspective though when situations don’t go as well. Especially when family and friends are gone, homes are lost, dreams are shattered…the list goes on.

How do you keep going in the work you are doing then?

I keep this in my mind…

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus Philippians 1:6

God has started something in our lives, and He’s not about to stop now. Our life is not over until He says it’s over, despite how we may feel and no matter what we are going through. Our best days are not what has happened in the past. With God, our greatest days are yet to come!

God has started something in our lives, and He's not about to stop now. Click To Tweet Our best days are not what has happened in the past. With God, our greatest days are yet to come! Click To Tweet

Wherever God leads us, He will provide for us, and He will meet our needs. We just need to remember it’s not the things that matter — our job, our house, or what we achieve.

We are God’s product, and we are made up of the moments that make an impact for God’s Kingdom – the moments are the situations we are going through now! Hang in there. Your work you are doing now is in God’s mighty plan.

Something to think about…

Are you in a place where you feel you shouldn’t be? Try and keep in your mind that it may not be for our benefit why we are there. It may be we are impacting someone else’s lives without realising, and it will be for a greater good…God’s amazing plan!

Prayer

Lord, I have no idea what you have planned for my life right now and what work you want me to do to fulfill your bigger picture. I ask that you send your Holy Spirit to fill me with strength to help me through the times when I find it hard to see what your plan may be. Help me to realise that whatever is happening, it is for your greater good. Amen

Faith, Five Minute Friday

When all is lost, don’t lack patience

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I snapped at a friend once. Straight away I apologised for the use of my sharp tongue. I was getting frustrated and impatient at situations and I just ended up lashing out. 

Anyone ever done that? 

She looked at me graciously and told me not to worry. She thought I was one of the most patient people going, considering I had 5 kids and a ton of things to do. 

I probably would agree with her on that point. I think I am quite patient with people. I tolerate a whole heap before I end up biting someone’s head off. It’s usually with people I am close to that gets a whip of my tongue! 

The reason I am patient with people is because I can see them. I can gauge, more or less, how people may respond and how I would need to respond back accordingly. Plus, I may never see a certain person again for a while, so being patient with them in the moment is easier. 

However, when it comes to situations I find myself in where I am waiting for something to happen, I find myself being like a little girl in a sweet shop wanting what she wants…and now!

At first, I am ok. Slowly though as time progresses and I am still waiting for answers and situations to resolve, I find myself getting restless. When it doesn’t go my way or how I planned, I start to feel angst. I feel I lose control. 

That’s when I start to snap with people. Not because of them, but because of what I am going through. 

I am impatient!

I forget at these times who has me when I lack patience. 

The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! Psalm 22:26

In these moments, I forget who walks by my side when I lose my patience. 

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 forget in these situations who I can turn to when I feel anxious.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

This is what I need to remember next time I lack patience in a situation which does not go my way:

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. Psalm 37:7-9

This was written for the Five Minute Friday Community, where a number of writers gather for a weekly writing challenge around a single word prompt and write to our hearts content, but only for five minutes (or there abouts).

This weeks word prompt is ‘lack’. Click here if you want to see what other people wrote. You can also have a go yourself. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘lack ’?

Faith, Five Minute Friday, Write 31 Days Challenge 2018

Day 15 – When?

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The one question I always get asked, surprisingly, is when are you due? You might as well ask, “When is God going to turn up?” Well, how long is a piece of string? In other words, I have no idea when the babies will come…or when God will turn up!

My official due date is 16th January, but I have been advised we’re going try and get me to 37 weeks. This makes my due date Boxing Day…of all days! The most loveliest time of the year, but yet the most frantic one. Let’s just say I already started buying presents and wrapping them a few weeks ago.

I don’t know when the big day will happen. It could be tomorrow (hopefully not though), or it could be Boxing Day. I don’t know when God will turn up either. (Notice I said when God will turn up and not if God will turn up). I know for sure in my heart, that just like these babies will be born, God will surely be there too!

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14

You are reading day 15 of the Write 31 Days Challenge in conjunction with The Five Minute Friday Community. Today’s word prompt is ‘when’.

Faith, Five Minute Friday, Write 31 Days Challenge 2018

Day 4 – Why?

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Today is National Poetry Day, so I thought I would write something different for my Write 31 Day Challenge.

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When life doesn’t go the way I planned,

I try to make sense and understand. 

Why is it I’ve been dealt a bad hand?

 

When life goes down a different path,

I’m now left with the aftermath.

Why is it I feel it’s your wrath?

 

When life doesn’t turn out quite right,

And I feel like I’ve lost the fight. 

Why is it you don’t hear my plight?

 

When life seems to pass me by,

Problems seem to intensify.

Why can’t you hear my cry?

 

When life feels like a heavy load,

My mind is going to explode. 

Why can’t you help me unload?

© Lynne Cole

You are reading day 4 of the Write 31 Days Challenge in conjunction with The Five Minute Friday Community. Today’s word prompt is ‘why’.