Day 2 of Blessings or Lessons Illustrated Faith Devotional Kit
Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
I am a planner.
My family is in ministry.
My family has moved a LOT.
We never plan on moving.
Sometimes the moves were easier than others, but each time was always because we fully, 100% knew, it was what God wanted us to do. It was a part of His plan.
When we got married this life was never in our plan.
Serving the church yes, but willing to leave everything behind to do so… no.
TRUSTING God so much that we would give up all of our earthly possessions for His plan??? Let me explain.
When our first born was about 6 weeks old, the Lord whispered ever so softly, “Show Mark NWA.” The Lord didn’t have to explain why, in my soul I already knew, and I was at peace with it. We ventured out west to go “visit my parents” as thats what I told Mark the reason for the trip was. At this time in our marriage I thought he might think I was completely crazy that I thought I heard God speak to me. (Now we know I’m crazy and they both (God and Mark) still love me anyways!)
A few days after we came home, Mark said he needed to talk to me. I already knew what he was going to say. “Ashley, I think we are supposed to move to NWA.” I simply replied, “Okay.” The confusion on his end was deep y’all! He was wondering why I so calmly accepted his suggestion AND AGREED with it. (I’m stubborn, I don’t agree to anything!) I went on to explain what the Lord had revealed to me in my heart about making this next step in our life.
Soon after we had a yard sale and sold everything we possibly could, and I mean everything! What was left fit in a 5×8 uhal trailer, and we headed to my parents to live in their travel trailer setup in my hometown’s grocery store parking lot and work for a month at my family’s greenhouse. (y’all I am NOT even kidding, this story sounds CRAZY … because it is!)
Thankfully the Lord provides and we didn’t have to stay in that trailer long. Mark found work, and we moved into an apartment in Springdale, AR. At that time we were this new family on our own. We had set out on this grand adventure with God, having nothing more than a word from HIM, and it was all a part of HIS PLAN FOR OUR PATH.
James 4:13-17
Boasting About Tomorrow
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
I won’t make this post any longer than it needs to be, there is more to the story and that path didn’t stop there in that little apartment, but thats another post for another day.
If he would have told me then what that plan was and showed me my entire life played out I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO BEAR IT then.
I wasn’t strong enough… I’m still not, I only hang on the Words and the calling He gives me… because really that’s all we have in this life as to what’s next.
REMEMBER: We can plan out our life all we want but its HIS PURPOSE that will STAND.
Supplies Used (Affiliate Links):
ESV Journaling Bible // Illustrated Faith Paint // Illustrated Faith Homespun Alphas “Apple of my Eye” // Illustrated Faith She Blooms Washi Tape // Illustrated Faith Stickers
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