Discover the New Door!Sample

GROW ME GENTLY LORD! A change in plans is often difficult to adjust to.  Every change becomes a challenge, but we know that we can’t move forward if we aren’t open to the door of change. I was determined that just because I had some shaking problems and difficulty with my voice that I was still Norma.  Yet the plans Norma had were being slowly shut, and I could see a door closing.  I was at the point where I either had to believe what I preached for years or feel that my life didn’t count.  Thankfully, I chose to believe what I knew to be true! If I wasn’t going to be active in speaking, I was going to increase my writing.  I had written an inspirational column for years for a Michigan Periodical, as well as writing a daily devotional that can be found at www.facebook.com/eternitymatterswithnorma. > “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself is the Rock eternal.”  Isaiah 26:3-4 We know that COVID stopped a lot of plans, and the periodical I wrote for ceased publishing, so yet another door was closing. That being said, I focused all my attention on the daily devotional and had enough time to pick up my art brushes.  I discovered that due to the tremors, my painting lacked, so I played with watercolor which is more forgiving, and even dabbled with watercolor pencils and markers.  I was pleasantly surprised when I made a few greeting cards that people seemed to enjoy the artwork!!  Could a different door be opening Lord?  I could feel peace begin to return as I trusted God with this new door! I thought about packaging and selling the cards, but soon felt that it should be a card ministry more than anything.  It was another way of encouraging people throughout the year and bringing a smile to their faces. At the beginning of last year, I asked God to "grow me gently,” and I wasn’t sure what that would mean, but as I look back over time, I see the door I desired to walk through closing and a brand-new door slowly opening!! CAN YOU RELATE? If you are anything like me, a change in plans is hard.  We get our minds so set in stone that to change our way of thinking is like moving concrete.  Yet to walk fully into the plan God has for our lives, we have to let go of our ideas and openly welcome what God has for each of us! WHAT WE LEARNED IN TODAY’S STUDY: * Change is difficult. * We must believe what we know to be true! * To go through a new door we have to allow God to lead us! * As we trust God with His plan, peace will come with the plan! * We have to be willing to change our mindset, to let God work in our life.