GET TO CLASS!

"OK, I love that plan!!" "Sounds GREAT!! Where do I sign up!?" "I'm totally ready to go... I want your promises and I want them NOW!" These are a few of my many thoughts about God's Plan for my life. I have even gone so far as to try to give them a little boost start by planning to move, telling others about the promises given to me so they could help God get things done in a 'little more timely fashion'.. But, what exactly is a timely fashion when it comes to God's plan?

"It seems to me the plans God has for me can't possibly be fulfilled in my rather small City so I should move.. Maybe go to Christian College in the United States, or down south to a mega church, I don't know... Just AWAY!" He hasn't let me get anywhere yet... At times it all seemed to fall into place, but when it cam down to the moment of opportunity, nothing "felt right". I cried to God; argued with him; tried to convince him how and where to get this started; and reminded him of my existence and frustration about where I had, as of yet, not been placed. All the time God kept me. He Kept me in a church when there were no more than three people my age there. He kept me alive and sane through a family being torn apart by divorce, death and hatred. He kept me close to his side even when I drove spears of my rebellion into his flesh. "Thank you Lord for loving me when to everyone and anyone else I would be unlovable!"

I had all but completely given up on the dreams he so carefully, thoughtfully and lovingly put in my heart. I stopped believing in the God who fixed my life being able to make the future he promised (to all who are willing to follow him) tangible. Philippians 1:6 (New International Version) "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."

My tattered hopes and faded dreams were now just a nagging memory on the back burner of my mind, something I thought I had long ago thrown away but everywhere I turned there were reminders of who I was supposed to be. So I decided to sit down, shut-up and let him teach me, change me, mend me, break me; whatever he had to do to help me undo what I'd become.

1st lesson, you're not all you can be until you are willing to let go of everything and everyone He asks for. Sometimes he keeps the sacrifice you offer and consumes it in a burning fire but other times he just wants to know you are willing and provides another sacrifice so you won't have to give back what you love. (reference Genesis 22:1-13) I gave up my best friend in the world, I knew by the way things went down it was a God thing, and worth all the doors it opened to be able to pour myself into other relationships and teach people how to deal with unexpected situations... The sacrifice still hurt but there was something freeing in knowing I could give even that to God.

2Nd Lesson: Look for people to encourage in the ways you lacked encouragement. Nothing made me feel better than helping someone else, whether in private, anonymous ways or public. The reward that comes from knowing you helped change or shape the direction of some one's day is amazing! Not to mention, call it karma or whatever you would like, every time you help someone else God makes sure you get the help you need.

3rd lesson: Search yourself (and if you have someone you trust to help ask them to search you), be honest and look for things you should be changing to be a better person... Oh do I ever sound like Oprah now lol.. But seriously, try checking out your motives and values there's probably something you can work on and you never know, maybe by changing you will open the door to your destiny!

4Th lesson: God's right. Accept that maybe it's your own timing that is off, accept that maybe the only thing you think you want at the moment wouldn't be that great for you after all and let go of the things that hold you back.

5Th lesson: "Don't talk about the mess in your neighbors back yard until you've cleaned up your own" T.D. Jakes, I believe, forgive me if it's wrong... Basically mowing your grass is a permanent chore (unless you have AstroTurf and we all know how classy that would look covering you whole back yard... Really, unless you have a pool... OK, I'll leave that one alone ha!) so what makes you think that the first time you decide to clean up the mess in your life means you never have to look at that again or plant something nice? If you do have everything under control and you're just maintaining and you feel you have time on your hands why don't you try adding to your already charming qualities or do something nice for your neighbor instead of making another mess to clean up by talking about them... Yeh, I know that one can step on your toes a bit, but that's good, it means there is something to work on there :o) And if you're angry that I have the nerve to say that don't be I'm working on me as well and if that doesn't quite work for you blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alpha & Omega lol..

6Th lesson: "You don't have to believe in my dream" also T. D. Jakes... and if you have time to listen to that sermon you should, it will help you! Basically, who are you trying to please, God or people? And if I promise you an ice cream (and I have a record of fulfilling promises as good a God's) then why would anyone other than you have to believe me? If others didn't believe would that stop me from giving you the ice cream I promised? (let me help you with the answers... No they wouldn't and No it wouldn't) The only thing is, if you don't believe it and keep talking like it's never going to happen to everyone around then avoid me because you're mad I won't give you the ice cream (which I would) it may tick me off to the point I will give your ice cream to someone who asks for it.. References Jeremiah 29:11 "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." Matthew 7:7-11 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death..."

I know this one might have sounded a little preachy, probably mostly because I am talking (typing) to myself... It may be influenced by the family of preachers I seem to have ha! But Whether you're Christian or not I think it applies and if you're not and you try it I promise God will meet you at the point of your faith (if you are trying it you have a little faith that it might work) and you will see that he loves you and since he loves you he wants the best for you and since he's God he can and will make sure that, in the end, you will be in your destiny.

The surprising thing to me... I am still here, in my small town that I wanted so desperately to leave, and now I realize that this is the place where God is leading me to my destiny, I am exactly where he wants me and, even when I get antsy, where he wants me is where I want to be.. I may not be looking back saying he fulfilled every promise yet but that's because I am watching him work in the present and looking ahead to where he is taking me. I'm still in God's classroom in many ways but I know he's preparing me to go into the 'work field'... So get your butt to class, he's pretty good about excusing you being late as long as he knows you're there to learn.