Eleventh Post

Wow, I feel inspired to live! I just read one of Donald Miller's blog posting's on God probably not having a specific plan for your life. Sounds a little sketchy at first glance, right? But it makes sense. Here's a link to the post:

http://donmilleris.com/2010/04/29/does-god-have-a-specific-plan-for-your-life-probably-not/

The reason this stuck out so much to me is because I could be the one sitting around waiting for God to tell me what to do if it weren't for one quote my brother, Carter, shared with me. "Love God and do what you want."
After much prayer about whether or not I should go to Australia and volunteer on the Pacific Link medical ship, I still didn't have an angel knock at my door and tell me that it was the right thing to do. Nor did I have God speak to me directly. Nor did I have everything working out perfectly, yet. It was still all up in the air. But I guess you could say that phone conversation with Carter nudged me over the edge. "Love God and do what you want." I want to go to Australia, I want to volunteer on this ship, and I love God. So I decided to go for it. And everything is working out! Why?
Because God loves me, and He loves that I'm following after His heart, so He's opening doors. It's not cocky for me to write that last sentence, it's Truth. God loves me. There is not an atom of hate in Him towards me. I heard the definition somewhere that to hate is "to wish death upon," but God wants life for me! He WANTS to see me prosper. He WANTS to see me content. He WANTS me to be joyful. He WANTS me to live an adventure. He WANTS to fulfill the desires of my heart. He WANTS to be my sole provider and foundation. And He is more than capable to do all of these things.
When I write "me," I mean "us." All of this applies to you -- ...unless you are an animal. I don't think He sent Jesus Christ to reconcile animals to Himself. But seriously, do you want joy, prosperity, contentment, adventure, fulfillment? My Father in heaven will provide.
I decided to draw with my crayons, and God is blessing me immensely. I say this before I have even departed on my adventure. How much more will I feel blessed when I'm living it?! Psalm 37:4-5 says " Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act..." Take my story as a testimony to God's faithfulness, please. This is what I have done, and what I am doing: I am delighting myself in the Lord as best I can; he is giving me the desires of my heart, regardless of my failure to delight in him completely. I have committed my way to the Lord as best I can, albeit my commitment to him is nothing compared to his commitment to me. Now, I am trusting in him by deciding to go to Australia, essentially without any money or 'sure sign' from him. And my gracious, loving, proud, honorable Father in heaven is acting. He is cheering me on, faithfully providing through the loving hearts of YOU. If you are supporting me in prayer, finances, or simply good favor, you yourself are a testimony to God's faithfulness in my life. So I thank you, and I thank God!

Live a little. Stop limiting yourself, and God. Go for it. If it's a desire of your heart, try it; see what happens. If it doesn't work out, maybe that's your 'sure sign' that it's not God's will right now. Delight yourself in God, commit your way to him, and then trust him to act in your best interest. Draw with your crayons!