Just Me...

What do you think of when you think of your purpose? Do you think of it in terms of what you want to do or what makes you happy?  Or, do you think of it in terms of God's purpose for your life.  His vision uniquely created just for you? Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version (NIV)* 11  For I know the plans  I have for you,” declares the  Lord , “plans to prosper  you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Time and time again, I go on a "search" cycle for my vision...what am I to do next...what is wrong about what I am doing that I want to change into something that is "righter" (yes, not a word, but funny just the same).  This morning I realized that I am looking at this the wrong way.  My vision doesn't matter at all.  It is God's vision that is most important.  Instead of looking for books and articles that will help me explore my future, I am going to let God tell me what he has planned for me....

Have you heard of Inductive Bible Study?  I first heard about it in a group I am in for clergy spouses.   Inductive Bible Study is an "investigative approach to the Bible using three basic components:  Observation, Interpretation and Application" ( http://precept.org/know-gods-word ) I was seeking a new way to study The Word that would bring me some further insight into the Bible itself v. just reading a story.  I had tried several times over the year to read the bible cover to cover.  I have several One Year Bibles and so many "plans" it is obnoxious.  The latest I ever got was to Psalms.  Recently I realized that there were so many things I had read in the Old Testament but because I start at Genesis every time, I never got to Proverbs, the Prophets or anything in the New Testament.  And, although I have done studies that cover these areas of the Bible, I just didn't have anything really in depth. This was troubling to me....

Some things are the same...some things are drastically different. Some days I roll with the punches and embrace the new....some days I feel like a fish out of water. Some times I am confident...some times I am unsure if I have what it takes. Some moments are all talk and no action...some moments are all action and not talk. I try to think things through without getting overwhelmed.  I work to remember that God has this and that He has big plans for me that involve this path.  That He will equip the called and that I don't have to know everything to step ahead to the next stone in the path of life.  I get attacked by the enemy... a lot!!  I see victory in this because it means that when I am doing things they are things that God has planned.  But it hurts...it is hard...some days I just fall short and succumb to the unfortunate nagging of the devil himself.  I rebuke him...cry out to God to put up a shield... I must remain strong even when I don'...