My Great Adventure

I want to share with you about my great adventure.  Many years ago as a young woman I had a deep desire to teach and speak to ladies about what God is doing in my life.  Sadly, I tabled that desire because I felt useless.  There are other people much wiser, funnier, prettier, popular, and smarter already out there.  About two and a half years ago I spent a day with the Lord.  He had something to tell me, and I was finally ready to listen.  I got my pen and paper and sat down at my kitchen table.  What follows below is from my journal, written on April 13, 2009. 
     "Since doing the Believing God Bible study I have felt Him tugging at my heart.  Gently telling me He wants me to speak to women.  My response was - OK, but they will have to ask me, I'm not going to volunteer.  This morning God just told me to prepare.  Get ready.  I believe with all of my heart this is from God.  I have felt so insecure and beatten down that I know I don't desire to pursue this.  If it is His will, I will follow.  So, now I prepare." 

Then I wrote this: (Think about a train ride as you read.)
Ticket, please.
     I don't have one.  You see, I really don't know where I am going.
Then you're in the right place!
     I am?
Sure!  Welcome to God's Great Adventure Tours.  No one here really knows where they are going.  We just all climb on and go wherever He takes us.
     So you don't know where we're going either?  I thought someone here 
     would tell me.
On, no.  You just have to be willing to go with God.  How's your faith?  He may make some stops you would rather not make, but everywhere I've been I have seen God in ways unexplainable.
     It's scary.
Sure it is!  You're not in control of this trip.  Just leave the driving to Him.  Your job is to be ready when He says it's time.
     Time for what?
Who knows!  That's the Great Adventure!

After that I went through a period where God taught me to examine my passions.  I had to determine what my goal was.  Was it to serve Him faithfully wherever He led?  Was it to do what I thought I could to serve Him?  Was it really to bare my soul, interact, learn from, and teach women?  I finally was able to say, "Wherever He leads, I'll go."

In July of that same year He led me to teach a class of two and three year olds.  Odd.  Not exactly where I thought I was headed.  Still, it was a calling that was heavy on my heart.  This is in my journal from that time.  "I am stepping off the train for this little adventure.  You never know where your ticket is going to take you!"  I have to tell you that I felt led to go to this class of little girls, but I told God that He had to be mistaken.  Wasn't it just a short time ago that I had such a strong desire to teach women?  Yes, and that desire was stronger than ever.  Then I heard Him say - "Do this.  I have something planned for later, but I need you here right now."

Did I hear you shout Glory?!  Well, you should!  The next summer God opened the door for me to teach a ladies Sunday School class at my church.  I went into the class still feeling inadequate.  Despite those feelings, I knew this was where I was supposed to be.  We have been a class for one year now.  There is no way to describe the blessings I get from my wonderful friends.  God has taught me far more than I can ever convey to them, but I try.  I pray that we ladies grown stronger in our walk with Jesus and that we become a powerful force in our community for the cause of Christ. 

I want to encourage you today.  God has a plan for your life.  It might not be the same as your plan, and it may even require a detour or two before you get there.  Follow Him.  Walk with Him.  The old song says it best.  "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

I would love to hear from you - what has your adventure been like? 
Vicki