Christian Living

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A New Year's School Year



Don't you just love shopping for school supplies with your children? The cost of papers,pens, and pencils among a host of other new 'cool' and 'mandatory' items, is a small price to pay for restoring some structure and routine in our children's lives after the lazy days of summer.
The sound of the youthful lament, "I'm bored", will be but a distant memory as children and parents launch into homework battles.
For now, before the actual work begins, students excitedly assemble all their fresh new supplies, in anticipation of new learning and growth. Growth in knowldedge, skills, and abilities is accompanied by maturation of their character, hearts, and personalities.

As I experience this fresh new start of students, I am oddly reminded of New Year's Eve. All kinds of adults making all kinds of resolutions and plans for new activities that will mature and grow them into the people they yet dream of becoming in the coming year. The human need to 'become' is powerful. We all seem to go through life feeling like roses desiring to bloom so bad, that we miss the fragrance of our beautiful life in the process. I am one guilty rose!



As lives are drawn to new learning adventures at this time of year, I feel drawn to examine my own life direction. Another summer is over, and where am I headed this fall? What can I do to grow and mature my God given potential this year? Maybe God could give me a few hints as to what this potential in me is? There, I go again, missing the fragrance of my life.

Like my children, it seems it's time to expand my horizons too and take some new steps in maturing into the person God has planned me to be. I have no idea where God, my Teacher, will lead me and what He will show me.

Looking out ahead of me sometimes I try to get ahead of Him and think that I need to get there; wherever 'there' is,somehow, someway in my own strength and knowledge. I need to be reminded that I can rest in the knowledge that My God knows the plans He has for me, and they are very good plans. Plans that are perfectly suited for me. He planned and created me to walk in these works He had preordained before the creation of the world.

As I ponder this amazing truth, I realize that I often begin questioning myself, instead of trusting Him. How I will grow into the fullness of Him and be the person He has planned me to be? What do I need to do? Can I do it? Thankfully, the answer is, "no I can't do it myself!".

What a relief! It's exciting knowing that we can trust Him and surrender our entire lives into His loving grace and care. He will guide us and strengthen us by the power of the Holy Spirit for whatever challenges lie ahead of us. We can confidently know that He will supply all our needs and lead us in the perfect path - His path.

The path for you after all was designed perfectly by the One who knows you perfectly. Nobody can or ever will be able to walk your path as successfully as you. You can place all your confidence in Him for all things and you will be successful and victorious always.

As we continue to bloom, let's confidently sit back and rest in our Teacher's care, and inhale the fragrance of our life in Him.

2004 Hisgrace

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