{"id":3423,"date":"2013-02-07T06:28:35","date_gmt":"2013-02-07T11:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=3423"},"modified":"2013-02-07T06:28:35","modified_gmt":"2013-02-07T11:28:35","slug":"remember-where-you-are-going","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2013\/02\/remember-where-you-are-going.html","title":{"rendered":"Remember where you are going"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"climbing<\/a>Each of us has been given a plan for our lives. \u00a0For most, that blueprint remains a mystery and a puzzle. \u00a0We wander back and forth unsure of our footing or grasp. \u00a0Much like a mountain climber who has no safety rope or pick, we inch our way through life fearing each move. \u00a0There is challenge and fear because we know that one wrong move will plunge us to a certain death.<\/p>\n

Yet, there is little doubt that God has a plan for our lives. \u00a0It is an inexpugnable promise that glares from every page of the scriptures. \u00a0God\u2019s direct intervention our lives is a glorious road map that leads to an abundant life. \u00a0It remains a mystery to me why we so often forget the guiding Hand that desires to nurture, lead and guide us, falling instead before the idols of selfishness, doubt and uncertainty.<\/p>\n

\"roadmap\"<\/a>God\u2019s plan for our lives must be the destination of our travels. \u00a0Twenty years before I was asked to be on staff at The Special Gathering, which is a ministry within the mentally challenged community, the Lord told me his plan. \u00a0I was reading Corrie ten Boon\u2019s book about the ministry she had before the war. \u00a0Dante Corrie was the pastor to people in her community who were mentally challenged. \u00a0God spoke to me as I read, \u201cThis is what I\u2019ve called you to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Twenty years of training lay ahead of me before I was to do this work; yet, He never forgot his plan for me. \u00a0I must admit that I tried to bring about God\u2019s plan and failed miserably several times. \u00a0Then after 15 years or so, I decided that I had missed the Lord and would never be able to fulfil God\u2019s true plan for my life. \u00a0I put the plan on a top shelf and forgot. \u00a0While still following God\u2019s direction, I forgot the plan. \u00a0But God didn\u2019t. \u00a0He continued my training.<\/p>\n

When His time came, I was introduced to Rev. Richard Stimson, founder and executive director of Special Gathering; and I came to the ministry to write a book for him. \u00a0From the moment I walked into my first chapel program, I knew that I\u2019d come home.<\/p>\n

The book was never published; but I never left. \u00a0After a few months, the Lord gently spoke to my heart, \u201cRemember. \u00a0I told you this is what I\u2019d called you to do.\u201d \u00a0I feel the Lord allowed me to forget that calling because when I remembered, it was another firm confirmation that I was walking in God\u2019s plan for my life.<\/p>\n

\"direction<\/a>Counselors are told that the best thing you can do is to allow a troubled person to talk. \u00a0In so doing, the person discovers for herself\u00a0the true reason from her distress and the answer to the problem that lies deep inside of each person. \u00a0Of course, as Christ followers, we desire to know God\u2019s plan for us and not our capricious way. \u00a0But we each know. \u00a0It may be hidden and lost in the training. \u00a0Perhaps, in frustration or fear of failure, we put in on a shelf, waiting for God\u2019s timing.<\/p>\n

But God does not forget. \u00a0If we are desiring to follow him and we love his ways, God will continue to direct us into his plan..into his way. \u00a0Then at the right time, he will nudge us and whisper into our spirits, \u201cRemember where you are going. \u00a0This is the way. \u00a0Walk in it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Each of us has been given a plan for our lives. \u00a0For most, that blueprint remains a mystery and a puzzle. \u00a0We wander back and forth unsure of our footing or grasp. \u00a0Much like a mountain climber who has no safety rope or pick, we inch our way through life fearing each move. \u00a0There is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,20,3,40,186,49,16,8,4,41],"tags":[690,21,688,7,699,654,715,701,694,689,57,641,652,653,6,687,700],"class_list":["post-3423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-intellectual-disability","category-mentally-challenged-community","category-simple-truths","category-spirituality","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-faith","tag-gods-plan-for-your-life","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disability","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-prayer","tag-remember","tag-remember-where-you-are-going","tag-road-map","tag-simple-scriptural-truths","tag-simple-truths","tag-spirituality"],"yoast_head":"\nRemember where you are going - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Remember where you are going - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Each of us has been given a plan for our lives. \u00a0For most, that blueprint remains a mystery and a puzzle. \u00a0We wander back and forth unsure of our footing or grasp. \u00a0Much like a mountain climber who has no safety rope or pick, we inch our way through life fearing each move. \u00a0There is…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2013\/02\/remember-where-you-are-going.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-02-07T11:28:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/specialgathering.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/02\/climbing-without-ropes.jpg?w=510\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. 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