Today I'm grateful that God changed my plans. Here's just one example why...
Whenever I prayed about my plans, I heard God speak to me about entering a ministry training program instead. It was called Master's Commission and I was not interested at all. But as much as I wanted to go off to college and graduate in four years, ultimately, I wanted to be obedient to God more. I (somewhat grudgingly) started looking into Master's Commission programs and found one close to home, just 45 minutes away in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. I had never heard of the church that hosted the program - Freedom Valley Worship Center - and I tried to find every excuse not to go.
Funny story: when I saw the pastor's last name was Stoltzfoos - a name that seemed so funny and unfamiliar to me - I even tried to use that as an excuse to not go to the program… 3 years later, I ended up marrying his son and became a Stoltzfoos myself!
So every time I looked into a different program or a different location, it was like my mind was instantly pulled back to Gettysburg. I knew that was the place where God was leading me. With a big heavy sense of surrender, I said yes to God. I dropped my plans for college in Florida and chose ministry training in Gettysburg. That was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Fast forward again, four years and three days to today, August 25th, 2014. Here I am, sitting on the couch in the sunny apartment I share with my husband on the campus of Valley Forge Christian College, where we came to be students together. Our sweet baby girl is quietly snoring as she sleeps propped up against my leg. She is the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen. Luke and I are approaching two years of a wonderful, love-filled and faith-filled marriage. All the way since that day I said 'yes' to God, it has been an amazing journey.
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| with the girls on my master's commission team on a trip to Tulsa Oklahoma |
This past May, when many of my friends from my high school class graduated college, it hit me a little harder than I expected. I guess I was just reminded that my original schedule had not panned out. The truth is, I'm still not sure when exactly I'll finish up my bachelor's degree - but that's okay. When I look at Luke, and I look at Bekah, and I look at those amazing years in Gettysburg and our life here today- it is such a powerful reminder to me that God loves to guide our lives for our good. And the other stuff will work out. :)
How have you seen God change your plans? I love these verses from Ephesians… He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask for or imagine!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21
Love,
Bonnie
Thank you so much for this. I loved learning more about your story and to be honest, this what exactly the encouragement that I needed today. So, thank you for this. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome!!! Hilarious that you ended up marrying the pastor's son. People who don't think God has a sense of humor are crazy! :) This is such a sweet story, thanks for sharing and for linking up today, Bonnie! :)
ReplyDeleteGod wrote our story goooooood. :)
ReplyDeleteI love this! Being thankful for God changing our plans is such a great thing to think about! I had my whole life planned out a few years ago and now it looks nothing like my plans. Sometimes I am so angry about some parts, but even at this time, I cam see hoe God's plans for me were better than those that I had for myself!
ReplyDeleteHi Summer! Thanks so much for reading - I love that it encouraged you! :) Hope you had a great first day of classes!
ReplyDeleteThanks Emily! It is so cool of you to read all these posts in the link up :) Really appreciate you stopping by and reading! <3
ReplyDeleteMhm! Love ya! :)
ReplyDeleteGod's plans are always so much bigger than we could possibly imagine. What a wonderful story!
ReplyDeleteI love this! It's always funny to look back on my life and see how God changed my plans for the better. I'm always so stubborn and think I know what I want, but now I can see how he knew better all along.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love this! I think about how God has changed my plans throughout my life all the time! We always think we know what is better and we try to stay on the path we created for ourselves but trusting in Him is key and taking a look back and seeing where that path could have taken me, makes me laugh! He is so good!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean... I felt so frustrated when I realized that I wouldn't be graduating with my highschool friends when they graduated college. That was a big hurdle for me to get over. That one kinda worked itself out, but there are definitely things that happen in life that just feel confusing and upsetting... I am always thankful God can take my questions and emotions and guide me through them to peace and (some sense of) understanding. I guess one day we'll see the full picture, huh? :) thanks for reading, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteThanks girl! Yeah - that stubborness sounds familiar ;) He is so good.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah! I'm with you - I have definitely found myself laughing at the plans I was so determined to follow. :) it's just so cool how when you commit to just walking with Jesus and being obedient, your perspective gets a lot more clear! Thanks for reading, lady!
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