in a far away pl
ace, lush and tropical, perhaps Africa in the jungles...
where there breeds in great proliferation such specimens like these...
As she grew up, her heart for the Lord grew, and another role model loomed in the tiny figure of ...
yes, Mother Teresa, caring for the poor and sick...but, something happened as she grew up into young womanhood. Whenever she saw or smelled signs of disease, or even food gone bad, she turned this...
...and sitting in her front yard, she raised her feet in great dismay ...there were ants crawling on the grass!
(From L->R, my sister, nephew, Mom, Dad, and me worrying about those ants!)
Yes, her father was quite amused at his 'missionary daughter'.
And even now, as I look back, "What was I thinking?!"
Noble plans and thoughts from a little girl's heart, But God knew...
Her present life is not what she envisioned. In fact at times, when she sees missionary presentations, she sees other people living out her life, what she thought it would be...
Currently, she is an urban housewife, with 2 sons. Her life is being written by God who has a plan for her, to be transformed into His image, to advance His kingdom in the lives of others as well as in herself....in a different way. Her love for God and humanity has not changed but has been given different venues for expression...
Suffering has been the keynote of that 'transformation', but inexpressible joy has been interspersed to give her a glimpse of her final destination, heaven, reunited fully with her King, her Creator, her Bridegroom, her Heavenly Father.
Dear sisters in blogland, what a day it will be when my Jesus I shall see...and you who love Him too...a grand reunion!
Isaiah 55:8-11 (The Message)
"I don't think the way you think.
The way you work isn't the way I work."
God's Decree.
"For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
and don't go back until they've watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They'll do the work I sent them to do,
they'll complete the assignment I gave them.
12-13"So you'll go out in joy,
you'll be led into a whole and complete life.
The mountains and hills will lead the parade,
bursting with song.
All the trees of the forest will join the procession,
exuberant with applause.
No more thistles, but giant sequoias,
no more thornbushes, but stately pines—
Monuments to me, to God,
living and lasting evidence of God."
Sing with me, Lord, Reign In Me...You are the Lord of all I am...
9 comments:
Sita, this is so good. I was in tears earlier today thinking about some unfulfilled dreams I had/have. Hard to surrender them at times, especially as we watch others achieving "our" goals.
Desiring His plans above all,
Joy
Hi Sita,
I love that Bible passage - that is something we really need to keep in mind. God's thoughts and plans for us are as high above our own, as the sky is above the world.
Loved the post too, the way you weaved the pictures with the story of a child who's dreams did not turn out the way she wanted them to, yet that was fine because God has His own plans.
Reminds me of my life as well. (Though not the bit about hiding from ants - I've always enjoying studying bugs except for roaches and 'piders...eeewh! But hey, it's a guy thing, perhaps?)
Having a burden for Asia, I wanted to be a pastor and a missionary in Thailand, and even went to Bible college as well as a short stint in the ministry. Depression, epilepsy and deafness shot that plan down in flames. But, God had His plans and brought them to pass. I married a Japanese girl and have spent most of the past fifteen years serving the Lord in my city's only Japanese Christian church.
What a creative way to share your heart. I was misty eyed as I read the end. God has given you a path through suffering my dear Sita. What you are being shaped and molded into far outweighs them all...
God blessed me today through you, thank you.
Love
Lidj
Joy, Peter, Lidia,
3 of you have something wonderful in common. I know that all 3 of you have had your 'plans' gone awry, noble plans that made so much sense in light of the need around us, yet God's plan overrode and you submit to His Providence, all-knowing, all-loving.
You are all an example to me. The principles you have all woven into your posts as you share honestly and with anointed power what He is allowing, has allowed, in your lives.
Thank you so much. May God pour His grace abundantly on you. And I appreciate the prayers too!
Praise the Lord Sita. He is using you the way He wants to. Your family photo is really nice.
Thanks, Amrita and I also can include you in my last comment.
Blessings,
Sita
You have such a gift for sharing your heart in inspiring ways, like you did with this post. Beautiful.
I guess it is only human to cry over unfulfilled dreams. But God always wipes our tears and shows us the true picture of the ultimate dream - life in Him, living for Him and life with Him forever.
Thank you, dear Cheryl...all He wants us to do is offer Him our dreams..our broken dreams...our messes, our successes...to take, cleanse, blow away the chaff, and return to us an anointed plan...that satisfies...
love you, girl!
I loved the song. I realize I heard it before, but this time, with the lyrics, and the context of your story, it really should be the song we are singing everyday!
God will continue to enlarge your borders and your sphere of influence, Sita! All those childhood dreams are not wasted!
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