Waiting for a Sign...

Our culture seems to expect young people to have their life planned out by the time they graduate high school. Once the senior year rolls around -- and even before -- the reoccurring questions seem to be, "What college are you going to?" "What do you want to major in?" "What are your future plans?" With all of the huge, significant choices that life brings, it's easy to get overwhelmed with the fear of making the wrong choice.

Lately, I've found myself wondering, how do I know what God wants me to do? What if I chose the wrong thing? I just wish I could know God's will for my life! When I, or most other people, talk about the "will of God," I think they're usually looking for a specific sign from God, or an "open door" for God's specific plan for their future. In Scripture, however, God doesn't often reveal a person's life plan to them in advance. Abraham, for example, left everything he knew to follow God... without knowing anything about his future.

So here's the thing about the will of God: you can't always know it.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD (Isaiah 55:8).

I think some of us have this notion that we can "mess up" God's plan. We become paralyzed with the questions and decisions of life. The fear of making a wrong choice keeps us from committing to anything. So we sit. And wait. We want a specific answer from God before we move forward.But when I don't know God's will, how do I know what direction I should take? Maybe the question isn't What is the will of God? but rather What should I be doing right now so that God can lead me? Instead of waiting for a "sign," I should be moving forward. Stepping out.

God may not verbally reveal His plan, but He sure does guide. Take the time to read Proverbs 3:5-6 (and really read it): Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. If we trust in God's sovereignty, He promises to direct our paths. But God can't direct our paths if we aren't moving forward.

It's okay not to know the future. Although God doesn't always give us our life story in advance, He does require us to step out in faith and move forward in confidence. So do something. Develop your skills and talents. Pursue your interests. Look into all of your options. You may find something that God wants you to continue doing.... Or, He may shut the door in your face. But either way, don't just stand around doing nothing.

Instead on focusing on the great unknown future, find a way to follow God now. God is sovereign. You can't mess up His plan. Move forward and trust that He will lead you exactly where you need to be.

I will move ahead, bold and confident

Takeing every step in obedience

While I'm waiting

I will serve You

While I'm waiting

I will worship

While I'm waiting

I will not faint

I'll be running the race

Even while I wait

.

I Cannot Believe It!!!

I can remember the night when I asked my mom if I could start a blog. It was thrilling to think that I was going to have my very own sight where I could post anything I wanted! I had so many plans, ideas for making it unique and insightful. I created my blog so carefully...I wanted everything to be perfect! After much thought, I named my blog and posted the first post. Exactly one year ago, Blooming In Christ began.

Okay. Hold on while I let out some excitement.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOOMING IN CHRIST!!!  =)

I can't help but smile when I think about how God uses the simplest things to grow me, like my blog. I originally began it with the purpose of encouraging others in the Lord. But, of course, God has used it to grow me. I thought that it might be fun to take a look back where Blooming in Christ has been over this past year....



My "whys" of starting a blog. Ahhh, good memories.

I began my posting in October of 2009 with a study I had done on the roots of Halloween. I'll admit - it wasn't the lightest topic, but it was something I wanted to know because it is a controversial holiday among Christians. There were four posts in this series, and if you'd like to read them, go to the posts in the month of October in 2009.

Then there's November. Yes, each November another page of my life is turned. That year was a special time for me.

Oh yes. The waffle. I never will forget that one!

My life seems to be destined for embarrassing moments. This is proof.

God is so good. Whenever I begin to doubt His sovereignty, I can go back here, to a record of His amazing faithfulness!

Good times with family! That is definitely something I love to share on my blog! =) I love pictures too!

Wow. I started playing tennis last year. That seems ages ago! lol

How could I forget the disease? You know, Affluenza. That video was a huge eye-opener for me!


There's not a ton of posts. I'm not the expert in grammar. Humor is something I lack. Sometimes I get busy and don't post. My blog is not perfect, but it is a journey. God is the guide, I am His follower, and I will go wherever He leads. I pray that this blog will be a testimony to God's goodness and faithfulness as I record what He is doing and how He is growing me.

Blooming in Christ.



The Cure

A terrible disease has been sweeping the nation - and the world. It's affluenza. And like I said in my previous post, it's a disease that God hates, and it strikes the most u8nexpecting victims. What exactly is affluenza? It is derived from the words influenza and affluence. You're probably familiar with influenza, but possibly not affluence, which means "an abundance of material wealth and possessions." Affluence itself is not a disease in itself; but when it becomes dissatisfaction and a constant desire for more, that's when it becomes sin. It doesn't just end with a want for more possessions, however; affluenza is the whole sense of entitlement to comfort, luxury and convenience.

Why is this? Why can't "enough" be "enough?" Maybe it's because our perspective is distorted. If we actually set our minds on things above, not on earthly things, our personal comfort will have little value to us. Ouch! That is convicting for me! In a world that feeds us lies and tells us that we need more, it's hard to live a life focused on storing up treasures in heaven! That's why we need the cure. You guessed it! Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that we are dead when we are living for our own pleasure. Jesus wants to be our sole satisfaction. As John Piper said in his book, Don't Waste Your Life, "[God] is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" (36). I will ask you a question that always convicts me: Am I satisfied in Jesus? If He asked me to give up everything I have, could I do it? glorified

"Jesus Christ reveals Himself to those who follow in His steps. He draws near to those who build their entire lives around His pattern. If we feel far away from Him, it is very likely that we aren't truly building our entire existence around Him; that we are living far more for self than for the glory of His name....The moment that we actually deny our self, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus Christ...is the moment we are surrounded with the power and presence of His Spirit - not just every once and a while, but every moment of every day" (Leslie Ludy from Set-Apart Femininity, 68-69).

For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. (Psalm 107:9.)



When Jesus is our All-in-All, we don't need anything else. Is He your All-in-All? Is He more than enough?

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24.)

"Carrying the Cross Around the World"

"The cross is a reminder of God's love for all people. It is at the foot of the cross where the best of God meets the worst of mankind." -- Keith Wheeler

Keith Wheeler felt God's call in 1985 to carry a 12-foot wooden cross through the streets in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Good Friday. Sounds crazy? Keith Wheeler thought so too. But these words kept burning in his heart:

"Anyone can carry a cross--think about Simon of Cyrene; he carried Jesus' cross. Anyone can die on a cross--think about the two thieves on either side of Jesus. Only One, however, could die for the sins of the world ... and that was because of love. I want you to take the cross and identify that message of love along the roadsides of this world."

Since carrying the cross in Tulsa that Good Friday, Wheeler carried the cross to Oklahoma City and then to Arkansas, then eventually overseas. He has now walked with the cross for 25 years, nearly 20,000 miles, and through more than 185 countries on all seven continents.

Keith has carried the cross through Rwanda, Bosnia, Chechnya, Nicaragua, El Salvador, all throughout the Middle East - Iraq, Iran, even Antarctica!!! Though most counties welcome him, he has been arrested many times and jailed (none for crimes). He has also been held at gunpoint, beaten and left for dead, accused of being a spy for the CIA, run over and stabbed.

Keith obeys God no matter the cost, and God has continually provided for and protected him. In Kieth's own words, "When God called me to the mission of taking the cross to the nations of the world I felt His instruction was to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness …" (Matthew 6:33). I felt that He said that if I pursued His Kingdom, His righteousness, and His purposes that He would meet all the necessary needs. I have been amazed at God's grace and mercy as He has provided for and watched over me as I have gone with the cross, and the message of God's love into the world. I can truly say Jesus has done it all!!"

Mark 8:34: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."






This video is about 20 minutes, but please watch it. This is one of the most inspirational videos I have ever seen. You have to see it! Keith shows what it really means to follow Christ.




For more information about Keith Wheeler, visit his website at http://www.kw.org/index.htm, or see these articles:


http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100403_18_A1_KeithW827779&archive=yes


http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12249438