Just Breathe

Let Go of the Door Knob

What do you picture when you think of God's plan for your life?  Do you picture finishing school, getting married, having a family?  I think most of us do.

However, that's not all that God has planned for you.  And so often, we don't follow God's plan, we try to follow our own. This is when God begins closing doors and opening new ones.

Many times we pray to God for what we want, but we forget to pray for what God wants.  Things might not always go as we planned, but it doesn't mean it's over.  When God "closes a door", He opens another one; a better one.  We just have to trust Him.

I believe that sometimes God closes doors because it's time for us to move on, but He knows we won't move unless our circumstances force us to.  We should thank Him for closing doors we're not strong enough to close and for opening doors we're not strong enough to open.

Nothing that has happened to us is a surprise to God.  He will still get us where He wants us to be.  If He wants a door open, He will open it.  If it doesn't open, then it's not our door.

If God shuts a door, stop banging on it!  Trust that whatever is behind it wasn't meant for you.

"If you want God to close and open doors, let go of the door knob."
Toby Mac

Just Breathe

I Still Have A Plan

I was inspired by a quote that I saw this morning by Christian artist, Toby Mac.  "When we think it's too late, God whispers, "I still have a plan".

This made me stop and think.  Often I sit and think about my past mistakes, my failures.  Yes, I know, we're not supposed to do that; we're not to dwell on the past.  Unfortunately, this is something I have a problem with.  Therefore, I frequently regret things I've said, things I've done.  I feel like I've wasted my life on these mistakes.  Needless to say, I sometimes feel like "it's too late".

You know what I'm learning though?  It's never too late.  The mistakes we've made along the way were not failures, they were lessons.  We were meant to get back up again.  We were meant to try again.  If you haven't seen your dreams come true, then make new ones!  Start again!  Don't give up!  God hasn't, and He never will.

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
C.S. Lewis

Talk To God

Each morning I wake up, brush my hair, freshen up, and I escape to "my own little beach" with God.  I meet Him there at the ocean's edge, and we walk hand in hand as we talk.  I start each day off talking to God.  I couldn't even begin to make it through my day without Him.

I didn't always do this.  I didn't always take the time to be with my Lord like I should have.  I was too busy rushing around and planning for the day ahead.  But a couple of years ago, I started reading Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling".  It's a great devotional, by the way, if you haven't read it.  It's like Jesus is actually talking to you. I don't really remember how or when it happened, but I started getting up every morning to read this devotional, and I really started praying to God.  Oh yeah, I always prayed, but not like this.  This became the biggest part of my morning "ritual", and now...I can't even think about not talking to God before I do anything else.  My day just isn't the same.

I encourage you to take the time to talk to God, just to be with Him.  I promise you won't regret it, and you'll find yourself getting closer and closer to Him each day.

"Prayer is a conversation with God, and God is my friend."
Joyce Meyer

Just Breathe

First Day In Heaven

Have you ever sat and wondered what your first day in Heaven would be like? I have...

"Welcome Home"
Danny Hahlbohm

I imagine myself at the foot of a long and winding stairway ascending up into the clouds, and there waiting at the top of the stairs is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I can see Him with arms opened wide, ready to receive me
into His arms and His home forever.

The joy that I feel as He embraces me is like nothing else I've ever felt. I can finally truly look into His eyes and touch His beautiful face. I feel so safe and secure...such peace, such joy, such love.  Tears stream from my eyes as I look into His. I'm finally home. It's been a long journey, but it's been worth it...just to see His face. I've imagined it so many times throughout my life. But nothing I've imagined can ever compare to this!

And when He speaks "Welcome Home" to me, I just melt at His feet.

Have you ever imagined what your first day Home would be like?