Wow...you would think that this was the first time I was ever able to sit down in front of my computer...sadly..it isn't!
So some of you are probably wondering what is happening in Joelle's world...some of you are just curious what I am up to...sadly enough...life is normal for me! Ok...some of you are sitting there falling out of your seats...rolling on the floor in laughter! or just seriously injured yourself! (disclaimer..I am not responsible for your injury)
So the last few months I have gone on a journey...a journey of figuring out what I want. You would think that I would know exactly what I am looking for in life, the perfect job, where to live, what to do, and where to go. I sadly enough loved the fact that I live for the day...each day is new and with that I am going to embrace that day and see what surprises and things can come my way.
Then God tried to change that...he started putting things in my life that I had to plan, I had to make choices and I couldn't procrastinate. And I started to see how God wasn't going to give up on that. He started throwing at me everything and anything and said...whatcha going to do now? I thought that the more I just said yep, and continued on my merry way these things would just be forgotten about and left behind. God didn't want me to forget anything.
I thought I was doing good, and perhaps my motives where selfish when I thought that I was doing things for myself, keeping busy, and avoiding life. I started working a part time job, that kept me from planning, from thinking and wondering. I had been offered several new positions at the church, and not sure how I felt about changing up things. I didn't want change...I didn't need change...I was happy trudging along in life.
Do you ever wonder if making a change...is what God wants...and not what you want?
this was a question that I struggled with...when you see what God wants or don't see...don't you wonder what if? So, something that made me stop dead in my tracks was God opened my eyes to a new concept in my life. That perhaps you don't think you need change, but I think you need to trust ME and see what I have in store for you. I sort of sat back and wondered... why if I love what I do and have a passion to serve in ministry would God change things up for me? Well...things are a changing...if you want to hear more about the ministry I am moving to...send me a personal message! I will post more later...
So as God continues to have me learn to trust Him, surrender, and to know that He is in control, that I can't avoid life as it happens, that I need to focus on what is there before me and when I am where I am...it isn't a mistake and it isn't the worse thing that can happen. He has a plan...how I decided to be in that plan...is up to me and not to think avoiding it...selfishly...will get me further in life.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:8-12
I heard this passage this morning at a funeral, for friends that lost their newborn baby, what faith can do as I have learnt over the last couple of years, is move mountains, heal the sick, and comfort the hurt. God has ways and thoughts that we don't ever imagine but how and when we should never question. He knows...
Today for me is a sad day, a day that I say see you soon to my brother and his family taking off back to Kenya to RVA. I am happy for them but saddened to see my family that I have grown so close to leave. In some ways I thought this would get easier...this time seems the hardest. But I know that God's plans for their lives is different from my own and I can't change that...
So that is where I am at...where God wants me...at a peace....a surrender....a place of trust...and firmly standing with my Faith to know that God loves each and everyone of us and takes care of us too!!!