When Change Comes. . .

Greetings dear friends! I hope this finds every one doing very well—did you have a blessed Christmas? We did and will.. . .Momma and sister were out of town on that special day and so Daddy, brother, and I spent the day fellowshipping with each other in a simple enjoyable way. When my family is wholly together, we will have an official Christmas. Some may be sad that we did not have a “true Christmas,” but I am thankful for this experience. It has taught me that Christmas is not a day--that celebrating the birth of Christ is something that can and should be done on any ordinary day. Christmas is far more than gifts, decorations, and family; Christmas is making the time to praise God for sending his Son. God is so good!
In a few days a new year will begin and with that many plans will be made. If you do not know me, you probably do not realize that I am a planner. I enjoy dreaming up plans—plans for my future and plans for my current days. I LOVE plans! I consider plans to be a good thing; plans allow for organization and preparation. But plans also have a downfall especially if they are not based on God’s plans. A few of you may remember that I was planning on moving to and attending a university three hours away; I had hoped to quickly gain a teaching degree that I may one day use on the mission field. A lovely plan? I thought so.  But God’s ways are not mine. After asking the proper authority, I found out that I would not be able to wear my head-covering on most of the campus. Some of you may be able to imagine the shock that overwhelmed me when I discovered this news—in very plain words heart broken could be used to describe my condition.  It took some time to be comfortable with the idea that my plans were not going to happen.  You see, I had it all planned out—I was going to work diligently through my studies, shine brilliantly as a student, remain single for at least 3 years, finish school, find a mission field, get a good job, . . . but those were my plans.

“For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8,9

Sometimes Often God’s plans differ from our own. I was so sure that I was in the will of God—I had my parent's blessing, the school was affordable, my reasons honorable. But the quote of Mrs. Elizabeth Elliot says it best, “When ours are interrupted, his are not.  His plans are proceeding exactly as scheduled, moving us always (including those minutes or hours or years which seem most useless or wasted or unendurable) toward the goal of true maturity.”  The same Creator who formed me in the womb, the same Savior who died and rose again, the same heavenly Father who daily loves and forgives me of my sins is the same God who plans my step.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 5:8

You may ask what I have learned from this experience. . .simply put, I’m still learning. However, I can say that I am learning that God is good despite our circumstances. Also, I have learned that God’s will does not always equal my will and warm fuzzy “I’m right” feelings.

^“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to . . . to comfort all that mourn; . . . to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah  61:1,2,3

Please keep me in your prayers as Daddy, Momma, and I decide what I should do with the time Christ has now given me. While I do look back on the could-have-been with some sadness, I look to the future with a hope and a smile! :o) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us strive to be the kind of Christian God wants us to be. . .even when every thing we have planned falls apart.

May Jesus bless you!!

With love,

Frannie