There will be sheep...

A few years back, I was looking at people's lives on Facebook. Sometimes I'd see smiling faces but knew their stories personally. Others would post there unhappiness or attitudes right there in plain sight. I'd also see their empty "good times" and knew what that night was really like because I had just had one of my own! In my soul I knew I didn't want to keep down this road. I just couldn't. 

We've all heard the saying about taking the road less traveled and I knew I had to take it! I knew setting out on this path wasn't going to be easy but it was going to be worth it.

I also knew being vocal about it and my decisions to live life a different way then most, was going to raise a few eyebrows and held the possibility of losing "friends." But I was willing knowing the real ones would stay. 

I wanted good, healthy people that surrounded me. I wanted to have people who would take me to new levels of thinking. I wanted to go higher! Our days are numbered and I personally wanted to look back and say I gave my all with what I had. And at that moment in my life, I was giving very little. I was focused on "self" and was just getting by in my relationships, getting by with my job, getting by with friends and family and wasn't contributing much to society other then the money it cost to shop for weekend outfits and dinner/bar tabs. There had to be MORE! 

The good new is- there was! When I began to search for more, God was right there giving it me! It started with books that seemed to fall off the shelves asking me to read them. Then a woman who just seemed to appear out of no where that said she wanted to mentor me. Then not long after that, new people started to show up in my life that contributed to society by serving homeless shelters, drug centers etc. But they also wanted real, faithful, encouraging relationships like me. And in the midst of all of it God was speaking to me telling me my purpose. My life truly came together. 

But as all stories go, there are bumps in the road. God was giving me what I needed, exactly when I needed it but there were and still are things that try to come against me. The enemy wants nothing more then for us to fail! He uses people, situations, money etc, to keep us from our destiny. Jesus even told us in the bible that when we choose to follow him, we will come against opposition. But he promises to be our strength and overcomer. The bible says, "when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame" and "if you are insulted in the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." Do you understand what this is saying? God will not only defend you but he will also bless you in front of your enemies! 

So when you choose the path of greatness, faith and righteousness, know you will come against things but the reward is far greater! Be bold like a lion and don't be threatened by the opinions of sheep. Like Luke 6:27-28 says "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless and pray for those who mistreat you." Because no matter what, in the end, you are still the blessed one. 

GPS- Gods Planning System

I remember when turning a year older was such a scary thought. I kept keeping myself on these crazy time constraints. Like, "I need to get married by this time and I need to have kids by this time, I need, I need, I need." I remember waking up on my birthday a couple years ago and hysterically crying because I was in a relationship that I knew in my heart wasn't going to last, and that meant I still "needed" to break up with him, meet someone new, AND get married to finally have kids! I was a wreck thinking how long all this would take! Have you ever been there? 

Well, something major changed all that. My faith. As I got into the word, I read all these verses like "Gods timing is perfect." "God is my rock." "Wait on the Lord." "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." "He is doing a new thing in you." These verses were speaking right to my heart.  I began to realize I didn't need to be married by a certain time or need kids at a certain time. What I NEEDED was a firm foundation. A rock. I needed to realize that I was being worked on. And that Gods timing is perfect for my life and that I just wasn't ready for what "I" thought I needed! I would have married the wrong guy had I adhered to all the time tables I created for myself! I wouldn't have been the best mom I could be had I rushed into what "I" thought I needed! 

Instead of being scared of time, now I wake up every day excited for growth. I'm like a little kid again, excited for another year and all it will bring! God has plans for all of us. But you have to let him lead. His timing is perfect. God allowed me to find out who I was before He brought anyone else into the equation permanently. And I'm forever grateful for that. 

When you think you should have something and you still don't- trust in the Lord! He knows your desires and just like a good father, he wants to give them to you! Have faith that God knows best! I heard a saying once that I always remind myself of whenever I start to lose hope. It makes me laugh and puts things back into Gods hands. It says, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans!" I love it! 

So moral of the story, have hope and trust in your creator. Let God lead, he's the best navigation system out there!