Finding The Right Path

Finding the right path is something you figure our in high school or college, right? That is what I thought, but when it came right down to it, even after nine years of college, I settled into my field. I was not passionate about it. Someone said to be why don’t you major in computers and so I did. There was never a fire there for the things I was learning or the job I was doing. I was listless and everything seemed mundane.

Then I switched gears and pursued teaching. For the past 16 years that is what has defined me. I was the computer guru who taught unruly, unwanted high school students. However, with the rules and regulations changing, the field of education has become more of a diploma mill than an actual learning environment. I started experiencing burn out and I had not wanted to continue after last year, but I stuck with it.

My dissatisfaction has grown exponentially since August and I think it is time to switch gears again. The path that seemed so right 16 years ago is becoming overgrown and difficult to travel. So, I come back to the question; how to find the right path? Where do I belong? Am I following the Lord’s plan for my life?

After a heated, condescending phone call from the Human Resources Director at the school district I am currently employed, I took time to pray and study the Word of God. Every morning I dread getting up and going into the viper pit – that is my nickname for the school district. It is eight hours of insolent, defiant and down right rude co-workers chirping in your ear about this person or that one. They make me question my sanity sometimes! Then it is the needy, clingy students who make it all worth it. Not a day goes by that I do not pray for those students who have touched my heart.

If I could be in a district where I could hand pick my co-workers I would be in heaven! But, alas, we live in a fallen world and must interact with these vipers who are clamoring for superiority. I take that back, we are called to minister to and show the love of Jesus to these vipers.

I have veered from my original thoughts again! Seeking your path at any age can be frustrating, more so when you have meandered down so many that had to be “the right one”. As I combed through the Scriptures regarding trust in the Lord for your future, I came up with over 70, there was a sense of hope and peace that enveloped me. As long as God is in control, how can something be wrong? He knows where I belong and if I diligently seek him, He will reveal it to me.

I knew there had to be a reason why the thought of stepping back from teaching did not send me into a frenzied terror. There was a calm understanding that another transition was close at hand. The Lord has not yet revealed what my new direction will be or where He is leading me. But I am trusting in Him that my eyes will soon be opened and I will find enjoyment and fulfillment wherever the Lord leads me. 

I will praise the Lord in hard times and in good times!

~Rev. Michelle

www.prayersandpromisesministry.com

God Hears My Plea

We have been experiencing some pretty harsh weather lately. Severe cold and nasty snow have blanketed the region. My dad (gotta love my invincible dad), decided that he needed to go to Home Depot (kitchen remodel not going as expected) at 6:00 p.m. in his well-loved van. The temperatures were beginning to dip, the weather prediction for that night was -2.

My phone rang at about 7:00 p.m. It was dad and he was stuck on the side of the road, in the dark, with a flat tire and a deflated spare tire, After searching his shed for his portable air compressor and coming up with nothing, I took off with my emergency air compressor and found him trying to jack up the big old monster.

After trying to re-inflate the tire that was currently on the beast, and getting nowhere, I began to earnestly pray for the Lord's hand to be on us as we froze in the frigid night air while trying to get this big beast back on the road and headed home. The jack was not working well, but as I called out the Lord, my dad was able to get the jack working. What a testimony!! The Lord heard my plea and was there with us on the side of the road in the super cold weather!

Using my emergency air compressor, we were able to get the spare inflated and functional. The Lord did not leave us as we struggled with the weather, the dark and less than ideal working conditions. He stayed right there with us, protecting us and helping us when we could not possibly do it ourselves.

It may seem like such a small thing, a flat tire. But without our trust in the Lord and His love, we would not have been able to get the flat tire off the big van or the spare inflated and onto the van. He was there with us, keeping us safe and ensuring that we made it back to the house, a little chilled, but without any lasting ill-effects.

My God is true and faithful. He is there in my time of need and I will forever praise Him!! I will praise Him in times of distress just as I praise Him in times of happiness.

~Rev. Michelle
www.prayersandpromisesministry.com

Little Blessings Uplift Me

After a week of the stomach flu and then a weekend of playing "catch-up" on my work, I have to say that was feeling down in the dumps on Sunday. Then my good friend, Kristy, calls me to tell me that her mom was diagnosed with cancer. This is Connie's third battle with the dreaded "C" word and that family is feeling the grip of Satan tightening on them.

Taking time to pray with Kristy and share her mom's needs with my prayer chains, I went back to figuring out things in my life and getting the ball rolling on a few projects. The ho-hum of the daily grind was starting to get to me last evening and I took a few hours to spend just sitting with my family and enjoying time with them. That was the first little blessing that lifted my spirit and gave me the ability to rest well through the night.

This morning, the dreaded Monday, I felt refreshed and ready to face the day. Even though I was somewhat dreading having my 1999 minivan inspected and emissions done that afternoon, I was feeling optimistic and happy. I took that feeling and reached out to an old friend who has been heavily weighing on my heart. I am prayerfully waiting for a reply.

Then I called Kristy to let her know she was in my thoughts. She was feeling down and depressed, I remember the horror I felt when my own mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. We spent about 10 minutes talking and praying. I told her that the Lord was in control and that He would knock Satan's discouragement from them so they could focus on His healing love. She did not seem overly open to believing that, which saddened me because she always seemed so strong in her walk with the Lord.

Feeling somewhat discouraged, I drove my slightly stubborn minivan to the garage for its inspection. It choked and sputtered a little on its way there and I prayed. Once the inspection was over and the mechanic handed me my paperwork, I praised God right then and there. I am sure that the mechanic has never had a woman throw her hands in the air and thank Jesus for His love and protection! Brian, the mechanic took it in stride and told me to have a blessed day.

Even though I have gone through some interesting trials this past week, there have been little blessings along the way that I was too blinded to fully see. Connie being diagnosed with cancer was not a blessing, but Kristy being currently unemployed and in the position to help take care of her mom through treatments is a blessing. My getting ill was actually a blessing because it showed me that in the rat race of life, time must be set aside for family, friends and a deeper relationship with the Lord.

My ill-tempered car is sometimes not a blessing, but the fact that it behaved and passed inspection was a true blessing and as funny as it sounds, Brian the mechanic witnessed someone praising the Lord over just a small thing in their life. It was a testimony to him about the love that the Lord has for me and the love that I try wholeheartedly to return.

So, as you walk through your day, take a moment to think through where you have been and who you have seen. What blessings have been staring you in the face today?

In darkness we will praise Him and in light we will praise Him. Do not be afraid to lift up your hands in thanksgiving no matter where you are!