Tuesday, September 12, 2006
The Beauty of Beginnings & Endings: I will Accomplish all my Purpose
It's my birthday today, so it's an ideal time to consider what God has done for me, in me and through me in this last year and where I hope to be this time next year. Inspired by this week's Carnival of Beauty on Beginnings and Endings, I want to reflect on the work that he has begun in me and where he has shut doors. In all this, I know that I can trust in a God who is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient, yet who loves me, Keziah, despite knowing me and my failings more than anyone else and more than I allow even myself.This year, God has used me, through the guidance of some godly women, to start a Bible study group for young women. Just last night, we met together for a wonderful time of fellowship and encouragement sitting round Scripture. I am learning so much from our time together and am so thankful to God for the work he is doing there.
He has taken me to a new job that I love. I actually sit there and think to myself, "I have SUCH an interesting job" and really believe it! He is teaching me and reminding me every day that this is my mission field for now and that this is where he wants me to be his servant and ambassador. While on call this last weekend, I was able to have some really interesting chats with a couple of Muslim colleagues. They will return to a land hostile to the Gospel next year, a place where it would be too dangerous for me to work, never mind visit as a missionary, so I am conscious that, right now, here is my opportunity to share the Christian faith with that people.
God also has seemed to close doors for me over this year, sometimes inexplicably. I had hoped to spend some time supporting student ministry, but the funding to allow me to do this was not available. I had hoped to go into research, but the funding there was not available either. A good friend expressed his interest in me, so we began to talk more purposefully about our future and if marriage was part of that. After much prayer and discussion, I knew that this was not the case. While I know it was the correct and right decision, it stills saddens me to consider all that might have been and what now might never be.
God also has seemed to close doors for me over this year, sometimes inexplicably. I had hoped to spend some time supporting student ministry, but the funding to allow me to do this was not available. I had hoped to go into research, but the funding there was not available either. A good friend expressed his interest in me, so we began to talk more purposefully about our future and if marriage was part of that. After much prayer and discussion, I knew that this was not the case. While I know it was the correct and right decision, it stills saddens me to consider all that might have been and what now might never be.
All through this, I know that I do not worship a fickle God, but one who is constant and steady. I know that God has his plans for me that he has had since before the beginning of time, purposes for me that will prevail and cannot be thwarted, plans for wholeness and not for evil, plans to give me a future and a hope, and that he knows both the beginning and the end. As I begin another year of my life, this is in what I can trust and rest, so, instead of being scared and nervous, I am excited to see what this next year will bring!
Remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, 'My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
Isaiah 46:9-10
Labels: biblical womanhood, carnival of beauty, mission, work
10 Comments:
Sounds like a year of up's and down's... but all with a God who is constant... who never changes!
Happy Birthday to YOU! :-)
Happy Birthday to you :). Sometimes the doors that shut seem really perplexing...I have experienced that myself these past few months. It has been through trusting that God must have something different (even if it seems less exciting) in store for me that has enabled me to keep pushing on instead of sitting and wondering why. I hope this next year is one of real belssing to you.
Susanna
P.S- my Meez has the same skirt as yours ! :)
www.sleepingbabe.blogspot.com
Birthdays are a great time for reflection. It is so reassuring to know that God knows each beginning and ending, open window and closed door, and is in control of them all.
Happy belated birthday. Hope it was blessed and completely joyful!
Just found your blog and wanted to say Happy Birthday. When God is in control we can let go of the reins. Blessed thought !
I love those passages in Isaiah, like the one you quoted, which emphasise the supremacy of God. I have memorized some of them, but not this one. It is a blessing to read of your trust in God with your ends and beginnings. I am praying for greater trust myself, with what God chooses to bring or take away.
Thank you for all the birthday wishes!
Isaiah is one of my favourite books of the Bible - you just need to read chapters 40 and 43 to be blown away by the wonder and majesty of God.
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