If you are like me and you didn't grow up in a Christian home and you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior later on in life. When you hear "God has a plan for your life", your not sure what to do with that. Especially, if you have already accepted life for what it is and you have settled that you have missed your opportunities to have something better. But, as I began to allow the Lord to move in my life and clean me up, I became more and more curious and open to finding out what that plan was.
My view on life started to change and what was once important to me, no longer took priority in my life. My relationship with the Lord started to matter and I wanted to be more closer to Him. My marriage and children became more of a priority and I was INTENTIONAL when it came to being a wife and a mother. Through this process I recognized how important accountability was; being accountable to the Lord and my pastor when it comes to Biblical principles, being accountable to my husband when it comes to submitting and being a support to him and being accountable to my kids when it comes to loving and nurturing them. Now! someone may say, "does it take all of that?" YES!!! When you get to a place where you hit rock bottom spiritually and naturally and the Lord gives you a glimpse of what He is going to do in your life, you will do everything in your power to get that and hold on to it. You see, I remember where my marriage was before the Lord stepped in, we were headed to divorce. I know the pain that my kids and I felt when I couldn't give them what they needed in a mom. So I became intentional in changing my behaviors and confessions and I became accountable for the sake of my life being restored.
Because pride was one of the biggest stones that I had to kick over, it was there that the Lord started first in my deliverance process. As you have heard me share before, my identity was wrapped up in it. As things on my career path started to change, the Lord shared with me one day that He was not going to put me back in a position where I would make a lot of money like I was making before...WHAT!!! I didn't know what to do with that. I was scared, angry and my emotions were all of over the place. The Lord minister to me and showed me how I had elevated my job and salary over Him. But even after that, all I could do was think about what could I possible do and be happy with doing if I wasn't making a lot of money? But God...
As things changed for our family and our 3rd child joined us, things were different. As a family we were different and our priorities continued to change to fit the needs of the Lord. I was given the opportunity to teach at my children's school. I had experience with being a substitute teacher, but never really had the itch to get my teaching degree. I like variety and project management, so the thought of me teaching primarily and doing the same thing over and over wasn't ideal for me. But, I will be the first to tell you that God's plans are always better than ours. I accepted the opportunity and the next 3 years of my life changed.
As I prepared for the new school year, the Lord ministered to me about why I was going to be there teaching and what He needed to get done through me and assured me that He would guide me all the way. Before I set the stage of this and it seems like I was this life-changer, let me tell you, that, it was MY LIFE that was changed the most. Teaching was the smaller portion of the assignment. Daily I found myself being encouraged and encouraging students, parents and coworkers in the things of the Lord. Prayer with students became common. The Lord taught me how to SEE the need of every student individually. I learned that, for many of my students, they just needed me to greet them in the morning and tell them how good it was to see them and they were going to have a good day. The girl who struggle with low self-esteem needed to see her true beauty and learn how to be secure in that...the Lord was moving! The young-man who was put in Christian school because his parents wanted better for me, needed to be convinced that he could still beat the odds and the Lord hadn't cancel Him out. Students just wanted to be able to share with a teacher and not be judged, laugh with a teacher and be themselves, and cry with a teacher and see that teacher cry with them! The student who was an un-believer needed to see a picture frame of true Godly character and Christianity, so when she graduated this year, her greatest testimony was that she had accepted the Lord, Jesus Christ into her heart and life alone in her bedroom...TO GOD BE THE GLORY! The parent who became a friend and opened their live and home to me, just needed to know and see, she wasn't the only parent believing for her child to surrender to the Lord. There wasn't a day that didn't go by that the Lord did not move.
I worked long hours, not because I needed to or was getting paid more (because I wasn't) but because I wanted to. I was a tool being used by the Lord and everything I needed, He provided. This job didn't require big business meetings, up-scaled presentations and work trips. There was no commission or bonus at the end of the day. My bonus was paid out when a student finally passed a test, mustard up enough courage to stand up for their self and or receive the opportunity introduce new experiences to students... and it was more than enough! Never once, did I ever wake up in the morning and not want to go to work. Salary didn't matter, because I wasn't working, I was serving and I understood, who I was serving...God's precious children. Every need was being supplied and the thoughts of being without were no longer there. This job was packaged far better than any other high profile position with a prestigious company. When I added up all of the benefits, I was blown away. I was ministering, mentoring and encouraging. The Lord had given me Godly influence and He was becoming real to so many who were without hope. And at the time when opposition came, He still got the Glory!!!
I can't talk only about how their lives changed and not share how the the lives of my children and I changed. My daughter and I grew closer. She seen me minister to her friends and be an encouragement to therm. I would also take moments to have lunch with her and minister to her. She learned more about me as she saw me sacrifice my will for the lives others and hers. She helped me in class when a lesson was challenging to teach. I learned so much about her and began to see her gifts and talents, which made me believe and sacrifice more for her total surrenderance to the Lord! My sons, felt secure and looked forward to stopping in my class for a quick hug or to get a snack. They were surprised every time when I popped in on their recess. We enjoyed our rides to school and home together; we had a prayer regiment that strengthen us. Things were being worked out, just because we were together!
You see, I was distraught when the Lord shared with me that He had different plans for my life and they didn't include financial prosperity. For me, what other prosperity could it be? I was discouraged because, I felt like a high-profile job with a good salary and benefits was my ticket to living a fulfilling life. And always wondered if I would ever use my degrees again. I honestly thought teaching would only be for 1 year, never would I have imagined it would be for 3 years. The same 3 years that I was going through deliverance and the Lord was restoring my life, my marriage and my family. I learned to be content and grateful and a good steward over who the Lord had placed in my life and what He had given me. I learned to trust Him and be in harmony with Him. I finally got to the place where I surrender my will and went after His. So when this season came to an end, I knew what was next...
I want to encourage you today, as you continue to find hope and believe again for better. The Lord knows and has the plans for your life. They are not packaged how you want them to be, they are better. With His plans, there is life-changing benefits, unimaginable bonuses and the reward is far greater than "employee of the month." My life changed because I humbled myself and trusted the Lord on so many fronts. And never in a million years would I have thought that I could be as happy and secure in where my life is headed. Maybe you have given up hope and doubt has gotten the best of you. Go back to the first thing or instructions that God told you...it is there where you will find the plans that He has for your life. It is never to late when we choose to operate in God's timing. At times my life seem so surreal and I am in awe when my good days out-weigh my bad days. It no longer matters and I no longer feel like I am behind because I am 36 years old and I finally have found out the plans that God has for my life. I am encouraged by the scripture "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." 1Corinthians 1:27 NIV
I have not shared with you yet, the plans that God has for my life. Stay with me, as the Lord has me pen all that HE has done and given.
Remember, surrender all...
Tynisha
My view on life started to change and what was once important to me, no longer took priority in my life. My relationship with the Lord started to matter and I wanted to be more closer to Him. My marriage and children became more of a priority and I was INTENTIONAL when it came to being a wife and a mother. Through this process I recognized how important accountability was; being accountable to the Lord and my pastor when it comes to Biblical principles, being accountable to my husband when it comes to submitting and being a support to him and being accountable to my kids when it comes to loving and nurturing them. Now! someone may say, "does it take all of that?" YES!!! When you get to a place where you hit rock bottom spiritually and naturally and the Lord gives you a glimpse of what He is going to do in your life, you will do everything in your power to get that and hold on to it. You see, I remember where my marriage was before the Lord stepped in, we were headed to divorce. I know the pain that my kids and I felt when I couldn't give them what they needed in a mom. So I became intentional in changing my behaviors and confessions and I became accountable for the sake of my life being restored.
Because pride was one of the biggest stones that I had to kick over, it was there that the Lord started first in my deliverance process. As you have heard me share before, my identity was wrapped up in it. As things on my career path started to change, the Lord shared with me one day that He was not going to put me back in a position where I would make a lot of money like I was making before...WHAT!!! I didn't know what to do with that. I was scared, angry and my emotions were all of over the place. The Lord minister to me and showed me how I had elevated my job and salary over Him. But even after that, all I could do was think about what could I possible do and be happy with doing if I wasn't making a lot of money? But God...
As I prepared for the new school year, the Lord ministered to me about why I was going to be there teaching and what He needed to get done through me and assured me that He would guide me all the way. Before I set the stage of this and it seems like I was this life-changer, let me tell you, that, it was MY LIFE that was changed the most. Teaching was the smaller portion of the assignment. Daily I found myself being encouraged and encouraging students, parents and coworkers in the things of the Lord. Prayer with students became common. The Lord taught me how to SEE the need of every student individually. I learned that, for many of my students, they just needed me to greet them in the morning and tell them how good it was to see them and they were going to have a good day. The girl who struggle with low self-esteem needed to see her true beauty and learn how to be secure in that...the Lord was moving! The young-man who was put in Christian school because his parents wanted better for me, needed to be convinced that he could still beat the odds and the Lord hadn't cancel Him out. Students just wanted to be able to share with a teacher and not be judged, laugh with a teacher and be themselves, and cry with a teacher and see that teacher cry with them! The student who was an un-believer needed to see a picture frame of true Godly character and Christianity, so when she graduated this year, her greatest testimony was that she had accepted the Lord, Jesus Christ into her heart and life alone in her bedroom...TO GOD BE THE GLORY! The parent who became a friend and opened their live and home to me, just needed to know and see, she wasn't the only parent believing for her child to surrender to the Lord. There wasn't a day that didn't go by that the Lord did not move.
I worked long hours, not because I needed to or was getting paid more (because I wasn't) but because I wanted to. I was a tool being used by the Lord and everything I needed, He provided. This job didn't require big business meetings, up-scaled presentations and work trips. There was no commission or bonus at the end of the day. My bonus was paid out when a student finally passed a test, mustard up enough courage to stand up for their self and or receive the opportunity introduce new experiences to students... and it was more than enough! Never once, did I ever wake up in the morning and not want to go to work. Salary didn't matter, because I wasn't working, I was serving and I understood, who I was serving...God's precious children. Every need was being supplied and the thoughts of being without were no longer there. This job was packaged far better than any other high profile position with a prestigious company. When I added up all of the benefits, I was blown away. I was ministering, mentoring and encouraging. The Lord had given me Godly influence and He was becoming real to so many who were without hope. And at the time when opposition came, He still got the Glory!!!
I can't talk only about how their lives changed and not share how the the lives of my children and I changed. My daughter and I grew closer. She seen me minister to her friends and be an encouragement to therm. I would also take moments to have lunch with her and minister to her. She learned more about me as she saw me sacrifice my will for the lives others and hers. She helped me in class when a lesson was challenging to teach. I learned so much about her and began to see her gifts and talents, which made me believe and sacrifice more for her total surrenderance to the Lord! My sons, felt secure and looked forward to stopping in my class for a quick hug or to get a snack. They were surprised every time when I popped in on their recess. We enjoyed our rides to school and home together; we had a prayer regiment that strengthen us. Things were being worked out, just because we were together!
You see, I was distraught when the Lord shared with me that He had different plans for my life and they didn't include financial prosperity. For me, what other prosperity could it be? I was discouraged because, I felt like a high-profile job with a good salary and benefits was my ticket to living a fulfilling life. And always wondered if I would ever use my degrees again. I honestly thought teaching would only be for 1 year, never would I have imagined it would be for 3 years. The same 3 years that I was going through deliverance and the Lord was restoring my life, my marriage and my family. I learned to be content and grateful and a good steward over who the Lord had placed in my life and what He had given me. I learned to trust Him and be in harmony with Him. I finally got to the place where I surrender my will and went after His. So when this season came to an end, I knew what was next...
I want to encourage you today, as you continue to find hope and believe again for better. The Lord knows and has the plans for your life. They are not packaged how you want them to be, they are better. With His plans, there is life-changing benefits, unimaginable bonuses and the reward is far greater than "employee of the month." My life changed because I humbled myself and trusted the Lord on so many fronts. And never in a million years would I have thought that I could be as happy and secure in where my life is headed. Maybe you have given up hope and doubt has gotten the best of you. Go back to the first thing or instructions that God told you...it is there where you will find the plans that He has for your life. It is never to late when we choose to operate in God's timing. At times my life seem so surreal and I am in awe when my good days out-weigh my bad days. It no longer matters and I no longer feel like I am behind because I am 36 years old and I finally have found out the plans that God has for my life. I am encouraged by the scripture "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." 1Corinthians 1:27 NIV
I have not shared with you yet, the plans that God has for my life. Stay with me, as the Lord has me pen all that HE has done and given.
Remember, surrender all...
Tynisha
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