What's next...

In our lives we get to a place where we wonder... what's next? Our faith is expanded as we trust in the mighty hand of God and know that He will take care of us but still we wonder what's next. I was moved by a statement made by Brother Richard Wittmeier during a Q&A of Launch Your Ministry at our Youth Convention this winter. He said "I am getting to a place in my life where I am looking to retire which will be a big change in my life but it doesn't mean that my ministry is over... it just means it will change. In ministry our work is always changing and will never get to a place where we feel like we have arrived".

Of course that was not word for word but what he was saying came down to the last statement, "in ministry our work is always changing no matter what age we are. We will never get to a place where we feel we arrived". There will always be a time in our lives when we feel like... what's next? Not in a way of always look to the future but knowing that in everything there is a season.

The word says " To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time to war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3

No matter where we are in our lives we will be at a place where we can say... What next? A place when we look to the sky and can truthfully say in our hearts... God what do you want from me?

Recently in my life I've been brought some very difficult decisions ones that truly only God can direct me in. I know that no matter what is next that God will help me through it and help me put away my own fleshly desires to be in the right season at the right time. Sometimes getting to a place where I don't get what I want is a good thing which brings to me the importance of fasting in my life. Not always will I get what I desire and not always is it good for me to get it.

I share this with you today in deep conviction. Is my life truly a testimony of what God can do and will do or is it a testimony of what God could have done and didn't do? My prayer today is this... life comes our way and situations make it change with time. Dream, dreams and make plans but don't allow yourself to feel like you failed when God sends you on a different path.

Don't fear the season of your life nor the path that God is taking you on. I truly can say that no matter what the season and no matter what is next it is all worth it. There is a reason for everything in your life and sometimes it is a matter of you just enjoying what is the here and now.

I believe in love...

As I sit here thinking about choices, situations, consequences, and just plain life. I'm reminded of the scriptures that state if we just believe on Him and trust in His ways that He will give us all we need. Sometimes in those scriptures we are forced to think that as long as we believe that "He is" that we are okay to live life in the way we choose but really what are we choosing?

Love is such a strong emotion that even the body reacts. Heartbreak feels, sorrow wallows, and even passion thumps at the very reaction. I tell you I believe in the power of love.

For Christ so loved the world that He gave His life... No greater friend then a friend that would give up his life.

On Sunday as I listened to the dramatised scripture reading of the cross and the resurrection of Christ. I found myself feeling the love of Christ all over again. The same feeling I felt when I first stepped into the presence of God. A feeling of warmth and security a place where tears just filled my eyes at the very thought of that love.

As a child I remember this feeling when I sat in a hospital bed under a plastic tent receiving a breathing treatment. I was unable to get enough air and was so afraid that I wouldn't live. How do you explain to a four year old that she's going to be okay when all around her is plastic and nothing but a cold hospital bed to keep her warm? I wanted to feel the warmth of my mom's embrace and the sound of my dad's soothing voice.

As children of God we desire the same thing. We want to feel the embrace of the mother (the church) and the sound of the father's (God) voice. How do we get that? The embrace of the mother is really through the love of the Holy Ghost.

When I felt God the first time there was no one who was praying for me. It was in the middle of worship and the only thing I felt was the warm embrace of the spirit of God. I felt the love of the Holy Ghost and I felt that through the worship of the church.

Our love shows through our worship and the love of the God shows through the Holy Ghost. A person who really loves will show that love and live that love. I want for every person to feel this love and believe in the love of Christ. I believe that no matter what the embrace of the Holy Ghost will comfort any heart and wipe away ever fear. That through the Holy Ghost people will experience a love that is deeper then that of a parent.

I look back now and I see how the love of the Holy Ghost was with me in that hospital room. That the prayers of loved ones many miles away helped me feel the true love of the Father. I want to pray more then ever that I maybe used to show the love through worship, prayer, and a daily walk.

I believe in the power of love and that is because I believe in the power of the Holy Ghost.