God's Plans

When we wake up each morning, we usually have our plans for the day laid out. For example, if we have children, we know they have to eat and be taken to school, there's a house that needs cleaning, and errands to be run.

If you work outside the home, there's a schedule you have to adhere to as well. A time clock that needs punching, tasks that need completing and a boss to which you have to answer.

So pretty much each day for us is the same, with something a little different now and then.

We all have our "plans" for our lives. We have dreams and visions of what we want to happen. We go about our business of accomplishing and attaining our goals, and if you are focused and full of perseverance, you'll get there.

After all, isn't that what the Miss Dream Big always says? Yes, I do. LOL

It's true! You can accomplish anything that you want in life with hard work and dedication.

BUT, what happens when God steps in the middle of it all?

Then what do you do? What happens when He tugs at your heart and bids you to follow Him?

And what happens when you do follow Him? What happens when you are shown that your plans and dreams are not what He has for your life?

How do you deal with that? How do you put aside what you've wanted and accept His will for your life?

How do you say goodbye to the vision you had and go with what He wants you to do?

Well, I'll tell you (as I smile).

It's not a bad thing. It's a good thing, actually.

I can only speak for myself when I tell you this, but I think it may be true for most.

I was moving along in my life, doing my thing, and looking forward to a way of life that had been brought to me by phenomenal circumstances. I had my plans for my future, I already had my next three years planned out to a "T", because that's how I operate. I am a planner, I have to know what's going on, I have to have a schedule to stick to or I'll fall apart.

So I knew that I'd be living in LA for at least two to three years, working on my movie, then my plan was to move to Nags Head and write for the rest of my life in the genre of adult romance/fiction. That was, seemingly where my talent lay. I have been told that I have a real knack when it comes to writing that type of book. So I went with it.

My book, Ultimate Betrayal was successful after all, and the demand for another one was there. It's funny how you can allow yourself to be carried on a path that you weren't really meant to take, but it happens. Let me stop here and say that I'm SO thankful for my loyal following of readers and supporters. They have made my books a success and have moved me to the place I am today, so I don't discount what they've done for me at all. I appreciate them more than they will ever know.

But I have to say that although I have a knack for writing that type of book, I've come to realize it's not what I'm meant to be doing.

It seems that I do a gift, but that gift is to be used for the One who has given it to me. That gift is meant to bring encouragement to others, especially women who are dealing with the same things I've been through in life and maybe don't know what to do.

So, having said that I want to say this. When God comes in and changes the path of your life, when He changes the direction you are heading, if you will just trust Him, you'll have peace about it all.

I have found for my life that He has completely turned it all around. He has moved me from a place I pretty much understood I was going to be with writing the adult books, to a place where He wants me. That's what happens when you accept Him and give Him every bit of your heart. It's then you'll find that your will and desires will line up with what He wants. I know that although the topics I write about now are very different, I trust that He has good things in store for me. Jeremiah 29:11 has always been one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". What more could you ask for in a loving Father? God is FOR us, God wants to help us, He wants to give us good gifts and a good life and outcome.

If things feel as though they've been turned upside down by circumstances that are out of your control or if you've been knocked down by life, remember to trust Him. That's all He wants is your trust and love. Proverbs 3:5 is a great verse to quote always. "Trust in the Lord with all heart, and lean not unto your own understanding." I remember many times in the past when I was getting prayer, the pastor used to whisper this scripture in my ear. I wasn't sure at the time what he meant by always telling me the verse every time I got prayer, but it became ingrained in my spirit. I always knew that verse had special meaning in my life, and now that I have come to a crossover in my career and my life's journey, it comes back to me as if he was whispering it again.

That's what happens when we have the Word in our hearts, it comes back to help us at the right moment. Psalm 119:11 sums it up perfectly by stating, "Thy words have I hidden in my heart so that I won't sin against thee". If we have His word in our hearts, we are more likely to trust Him when our lives are turned upside down or our paths veer from our will to His will.

I'm including a beautiful song that will help you to understand what it means to trust God in times of crisis, sickness or hardships. Please listen to it and really hear the words.

I love you all and my prayer for you today is that you will trust God in times of the unknown. That whatever life hands you, you will turn to Him and allow His Spirit to bring you peace. And that you accept His will because he does have our best interests in His heart. He loves us so much and would never hurt us.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart"!!

Much love,

Christy