God's Plan is not always what you've planned

It is very easy to get lost in the whims of this earthly world and try to plan out every second of every day. 

For the past two years around Easter, God presents me with what I would consider a challenge of testing my faith. Two years ago I slowly started coming back to strengthen my relationship with God. Started out well, but then I met this guy, Shawn, who, yes, stole my heart. That guy is now my husband and father of our beautiful daughter!

Last year, at Easter time, I was not practicing my faith and my relationship with God had taken a back seat because I thought my relationship with Shawn was more important. Which, in a sense, was pretty true because low and behold God was working in a very mysterious way! About four weeks after Easter had passed Shawn and I found out we were expecting. The funny thing about the whole situation is that I had told Shawn that if I got pregnant then God must have thought that he was "the one" I was meant to be with. I was also struggling with a lot of personal problems, such as learning patience, to be more selfless, and to take better responsibility of my life. Well, for these first three months of our daughter's life I have slowly begun to learn those valuable life lessons!

God's grace has worked in the most joyous and peculiar ways over the past year and this year, on the day before Easter, I felt like the Holy Spirit was walking around inside of me banging pots and pans--parading around, if you will--to give me somewhat of a "wake up call" to go back to growing my relationship with God and Christ. Shawn and I watched "The Ten Commandments" (2006 version), "Noah's Ark" (2015 version), AND "The Passion of the Christ" (Mel Gibson). I have never felt a message be so clearly announced to me by God in my life! So, needless to say I have taken that message and I am living my life through Christ and following God's plan for me and my family to the fullest!!

The photo I shared above cannot describe how God works any simpler! Trust in Him and do not fret because His timing is IMPECCABLE!!

#LoveOneAnother #TrustHim #WalkingAlongHisFootprints

And so my journey begins...again!!

I have gone back and forth repeatedly between my binges of selfishness and then my rediscovery of The Lord numerous times, but this time I have made a promise to myself and my Lord that I will never turn my back on Him ever again. Too many times I have fallen and stumbled when I try living my life on my own terms and that has only led me down a path of disappointment, loneliness and depression. Staying on this new path with God helps keep the bad distractions out of my life and just makes life more joyful--plus everyone else enjoys being around me a lot more than when I'm selfish and bitter.

I attended church for the first time in almost a year this past Sunday and the theme of the service was "Choices & Character," which I eventually found to be a great way for me to get started back on my relationship with God again. The pastor that spoke for this worship service discussed Ruth chapter two when she returns to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law after they have both lost their husbands. It shows that Ruth, who has no concern for what people say or think about her, just lives life by the word of The Lord. I read the book of Ruth yesterday and although it was short I really enjoyed it! Needless to say a great quote I remembered came to mind: "what everyone else says about you is none of your business." It is so very true! The choices we make whether by ourselves or surrounded by others truly shapes who our character is and becomes. This has helped remind myself that the longer you live life making better choices, the easier and more natural it becomes. I strive to be a good, humble Christian, but I have made this difficult for myself over the past several years because I have chosen to put myself before God time and time again.

After attending church Sunday, I attended a wonderful gathering with the church's Women's Ministry whose theme and discussion was titled, "I'm in Love!: Dating & Marriage Preparation." I feel I got more out of the group discussion part rather than watching the video. I felt the video was geared more towards people/couples actually preparing for marriage, which I am very far from. I may have a past filled with old boyfriends, but I have co e to realize I never gave myself a chance to grow and find myself on my own. It's unfortunate and sad to say that I honestly have had a revolving door of boyfriends since I was 15 with MAYBE a one- or two-month "single" time period in between each of them. Now, I'm not proud of this, but I'm not ashamed either. I'm glad I'm finally on my way to learning more about who I am and how strong I am on my own without a boyfriend! I am glad to have joined the Women's Ministry group because I feel that will help me a LOT! I'm also planning on becoming part of their Bible study group as well because I want to learn more about the Bible as I have never taken the time to study and understand it.

Well, I am off to bed now as I have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow, but I look forward to sharing more of my journey with whoever is reading this out there! May The Lord be with you if you so choose or if you're seeking Him and may God bless you! :)