Bible Study - Matthew 2

Read Matthew 2

God already has a plan for your life. And it's a darn good one, too! Because Joseph trusted God, and listened to him, God's plans for Joseph, Mary, and Jesus' life were fulfilled. 

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11

God is not going to tell you anything that will harm you. It may hurt at the time, and you may not understand it, but God is always working for your future.

I have a friend who shared his testimony with me the other day and it goes something like this:

"God gave me a job that payed less than my last one, working once a week, so that I can go to Ecuador and minister this summer. And my wife, her dream is to be a nurse, but God has given her a job in a daycare. Where her co-workers pray for her trip to Ecuador, and offer support. I didn't understand it at first, but now I see that even though I may not be completely comfortable now, He has put me in a position to do what I really want to do; love."

God is Always With You

Last August, I decided not to play volleyball(something that I have been doing for my whole life), so that I could focus on missions, school and track. I had been really disappointed all Summer that I was unable to attend any open gyms with the team. After the fact, I realized that my not being there was the opportunity the other girls needed to develop the needed skills to take over my position.

"And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

In September, I got a concussion. Since just a few weeks ago I have been able to start competing, and getting back into life. Through this process, I have learned so much! One of the biggest things I have learned is that God is ALWAYS there, even when you can't see Him. There were so many times that I just wanted to give up. But God would put someone or something in my life to remind me not to. To remind me that I can be the person I know God has called me to be. To remind me that this is only a setback, and that I will get through, and be so much stronger than before.

God is always with you, working towards your better future. It's hard not to know what is happening. It's hard to feel like you will never be whole again. But when you hold onto the promises God has given you, you know that you will exceed any previous, or outside expectation that was thrust upon you.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, ' plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11

Bible Study - Acts 26

Read Acts 26

I love how much I can relate to Paul right now, and how God is using Paul's story to affect my life 2000 years later. Even though Paul has been locked up for the greater part of three years, he never gives up faith in God. 
Paul holds on to the promise that he was given when this all started;

Acts 23:11 

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

As God has promised Paul, God has promised me. Because of His promises, I know that I will prosper, and that I have a hope and a future;

Jeremiah 29:11 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Paul knows these things, and he knows that it is only through his faith in God that he has come this far. That is his testimony, and mine. I know that I have only come this far because I have faith in God. And because of this, He has already started to use me to affect those around me for good. 

Acts 26:22

But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike.

As much as it may never look like it, God is always by your side, preparing you for battle, and fighting it with you. He is always up to something good in our lives, even when we can't see it. That is where faith comes in. We have to trust Him enough to know that He has not left us, and that He will keep his sacred promises with us.

The Olympic Dream

Two years ago, during the 2012 London Summer Olympics, God told me that I would be there one day. Many a tear was shed as I watched records be broken, and metals being placed around the neck of U.S. athletes. I mostly watched swimming and gymnastics, neither of which are my sport. I really didn't ever watch any of my events, but that doesn't matter. 

At this point in my recovery from my concussion I feel as if I will never get back to my normal self. That I will never really be able to compete again at a high level. On Friday night I was reminded of God's promise as my family and I watched the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. It was a very emotional evening for me, and there were some tears. But I now have hope, a bigger reason to believe that I will again be who I once was.

I know that God has huge things for me in the future, and that gives me something to look forward to as I am training both physically and spiritually.


Jeremiah 29:11
 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

It is so good to know that this not only applies to my sports life, but also to my life in general. Every season of my life, God will bring me through, and I will be stronger each time.