For the past several months I have been planning a conference with a team of 7 other women (and many more advisors) called Great Expectations!. The conference focused on aligning our expectations with God's expectations for our lives. The conference was today and I feel like my heart in a million places right now. Processing will be occurring for weeks to come I'm sure.
On Thursday, the leadership team had dinner with our main speaker. One of the things she mentioned was that she did not do 3 point sermons. If there were 75 people there, she wanted to have 75 points ;). We joked about how my point might be point #37, Missy's might be point #12, Julia's mightbe point #56, etc. Well, she's right, she doesn't do three point sermons. And today my point was point #1: "God has a WONDERFUL plan for your life!" I have heard that phrase multiple times in my 24 years of life, but today I needed to really hear it. I mean REALLY hear it. You know, the penetrate straight to the heart kind of hearing.
As many of you know, I'm moving in a week to Cleveland, OH with my parents. This was not my expectation for this year (or ever). Tears roll down my cheeks as I'm writing this. I'm moving. These past 9 months have been some of the best months. I grown to love these people and love this church. I want to see these friendships continue to grow as we continue to get to know each other. I want to be able to worship at Hershey Free. I want to be able to drive 2 minutes and be at Hershey Park. Or meet people at The Lodge for coffee. Or go for walks in this town. Moving to Cleveland was not in my plans and wasn't my expectation for this year.
When I leave for the race, I wanted it to be my Hershey friends to throw the going away party for me. And I wanted it to be my Hershey friends who met me at the airport after I arrived back from 11 months on the field. It was not in my expectation to have to try to make new friends, find a new church, find a new coffee shop, and share my story with new people before the race and it certainly wasn't my plan.
My expectations are not God's expectations. He knew I would be moving. He knew that my time in Hershey was temporary. He knows how everything will play out. He has a plan and a purpose. And because it is His plan, it is WONDERFUL. God has a WONDERFUL plan for my life. Not matter how difficult and sad this seems right now, I know that He has a plan in this. While this move is a lot tougher than I thought it would be, I find comfort in point #1. While I can't see the bigger picture, I find comfort in point #1. His plans, His purpose. And when I align myself with Him, I can be confident that he will do excedingly more than I could ever imagine.
Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
Prayers are very much accepted for this transition!
PS- Thank you Chrissy, Missy, Megan, Sarah, Julia, Kara E., and Kara T. for planning such a wonderful day.
