Do you ever feel sorry for yourself because life hasn't turned out exactly as you had planned? Sometimes I do. When I was young I had this "idea" of how my life was going to be. Or should I say...how I wanted it to be. Well, I'm pretty sure it never came close to what I imagined or wanted. In fact, none of my major plans ever happened and I am learning that it's really okay. I can truthfully say that my life right now is going in the direction that GOD has had planned for me always and I'm happy about that. God's plan for my life is what's really important and it's what really makes me feel alive! I believe today I took a first step in the direction that GOD wants me to go. I have known for quite sometime some of what I should be doing but didn't really know where to start. I'll tell you about it...
Today I met some great people that would probably tell you that their life hasn't turned out the way they had planned either. These people didn't have cars...homes...food...chairs to sit on...nothing! They were sitting, or standing, on the sidewalk. All were asking for food. One couple had a baby that was 2 or 3 months old, another couple had a son that was 19. There was something they all had in common...they were homeless. Some of them were staying in shelters at night...while others were just sleeping somewhere outside. Some had been drinking, but others had not. Some of them had been on the streets for a long time, while others probably not so long. There was something about all of them that really hit me...they enjoyed talking with us. In fact...they were all smiles and told us thank you for coming and talking and praying with them. Not one person turned down the opportunity to have us pray for them about what they needed. In fact some of the people asked us to pray about specific things they needed. Jobs was a big one. After we would pray they would just be beaming and thanking us for coming. They really grabbed my heart and if you know me that's not easily done.
The LORD cares about everyone of us...homeless or not. HE loves the homeless just as much as HE loves us. I pray that the people I met today will feel HIS love tonight when they lay their head down to sleep...wherever that may be...and that HE takes special care of them.
As I was trying to say at the top of this post...GOD has a plan for our lives. If we listen to HIM, and follow HIS direction, our lives will work out and we will be happy. We might not have everything that we thought we were going to have in life...we will have more! My plans are to keep going back and I can hardly wait until the next time.
Jeremiah 29:11
New Living Translation (NLT)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Matthew 16:24
New Living Translation (NLT)
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.
Linking up with Tracy for Winsome Wednesday.
10 comments:
Hi Chelle,
A few years ago I was going out with a church group witnessing and feeding the homeless. It was an amazing experience. I would have liked to continue going, but a change in work schedule kept me form going.
You are right, listen to Him and follow His direction and everything will work out. There is great joy in doing what God has called us to do.
Blessings,
Ken
Whatever your hands find to do--do it with all your might. Good verse when put into practice. I love that God's plans always include helping others in need.
Wow, I can totally relate to this post. I have finally become confident my life is going in the right direction after so long. I know that God has something great for me to do. Thanks for the encouragement!!! www.questofthenocturnalbaker.blogspot.com
I am loving how you pour your heart out sis,. God bless you for this post because we all can identify with it.
For we all have our cross to bear don't we, and the best thing is Jesus goes right along with us. We are never left to ourselves, no matter how painful it might be.
As former homeless man Denver Moore said, "We is all homeless, just working our way towards home."
(Same Kind of Different as Me)
I'm so glad you went and met these people Chelle. They just want kindness and love like the rest of us. I know you were a blessing to them!
Hi Chelle - great post and great reminder that although we have all these 'plans' for our lives, God has better ones and to follow Him and fill our hearts and minds with Him, is the only way to go!
God bless
Tracy
Great post as always :) God's direction for our lives is definatly rarely quite what we thought we had in mind that's for sure!I guess it doesn't exactly help when we don't listen to him and head off in our own direction, forcing him to take drastic action to grab our attention and get us back on track!
Awe Chelle, that is so awesome! Good scriptures. I will pray for your contunued ministry with the homeless. It's too bad anybody has to live on the streets like that.
~God Bless You~
Lisa (Never Forsaken)
i find you again..my blog has cliches this is my second blog..hope this work now trying to find my friends back has being really problems with internet too..
Nice post...looking for to visit more..thanks for sharing...blessings
Hi Chelle. Just wanna say thanks for following my blog! And also thanks for posting... Really reminded me that God has bigger and greater plans for me and I should learn to yield to Him :)
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