If I have heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times, "Time sure does fly by fast." Yes, it sure does. It seems like it was just yesterday I was playing on a playground in Elementary school, and before I knew it, I was all grown up! The time seems short from when I began my job at Whitehaven Baptist Church as their Pastoral and Financial Secretary, but it was actually over twenty-three years ago! At that time, my children had just started attending school. That was when I received a call from a dear friend about coming to work at her church. Now, on my list of things that I wanted to do with my life, being a church secretary was not one of them. Veterinarian, photographer, author, and many other aspirations were on the list, but God had other plans. Over time I learned so many lessons that I don't believe I would have ever learned had I followed through with any other desire, mainly because when we follow through with God's plan for our life, he orchestrates things to fulfill our purpose. People who have touched my life, made such an impact on me, helped me grow spiritually, and supported me through so much, may never have been found in "my plans." I never had to wonder if there was going to be joy or fulfillment in my work, because God desires that for His children. I have never had to wonder if my work was going to be enough to provide for me, because God has always given me everything that I have needed. Were there times of frustration? Yes. Were there times that I struggled? Oh yes. Many times. However, being faithful to the plan that God laid out for my life has seen me through more than I could ever explain. One of the most well-known scriptures in the Bible states that God knows the plans He has for you "...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) That scripture alone brings such a relief, because even if the direction of our life doesn't follow the "plans" we have made, we can know without a doubt that God's plan is far better than our own. For those who love God, there is His promise that "... all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) If within your heart, there is a desire to love the Lord and submit to His will, the plans that He has for your future will unfold and wonderful things will He do in and through you. I am a testament to that fact, and I plan to continue in that same manner as God moves me forward into the next chapter of my life. Tomorrow I will retire from the job that He placed me in so many years ago, and while I don't know all of the plans he has for me, I trust Him that it will be what is best for me, according to His word, knowing that gratefulness and joy are always the results of a life lived in the will of God. My encouragement for you today is found in the words of Henry Blackaby, to "Remain faithful in what God has told you to do, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it may appear." God will do great things through YOU!
