Core Scripture: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Message: Time for a check in.  We are nearly through March and into April.  Way back in January I chose my word of the year: TRUST.  It is time to ask some important self-reflection questions …

Do I still trust in Him?  Am I listening to His voice as I live my life?  Am I using the opportunities He gives me to spread His glory?  Am I growing or just staying stagnant?

I chuckle a bit at the absurdity surrounding me.  I mean, here I am, a well-educated veteran teacher of over 20 years, and the Lord is utilizing me in an Amazon warehouse.  From a worldly perspective, that seems rather crazy, but for God???

He is up to something.

I am blind to His plan, but I feel His plan being worked out through me.  As I finished my last shift of the week on Thursday and looked around, there was no other place I wanted to be. 

There were six of us feasting on Dave’s Hot Chicken, laughing, teasing, just enjoying living life together.  Three white boys and three black brothers, all bonded through a meal and life at Amazon.

All our stories are different, yet God somehow meshed us all together.  Through these relationships I have built over the past few months, I see a new story being played out.  None of it is what I expected, but if there is one thing I have learned through my life, it is this …

Never question God’s timing.  He has you in the right place at the right time.  Always.

There are days when I long to be back in the classroom.  There are days I miss my former students and colleagues.  There are days I wonder if I can physically make it through another exhausting shift, but that word above—that glorious, all-too-powerful word—it means something to me.

Trust.

Never before have I been able to share my faith with others who so desperately need hope in their lives.  God knew exactly how to challenge me beyond anything I had ever imagined, and I am loving it. 

I still want to guide Logan through his newfound faith.  Jay is on my heart, as he inquired about attending Easter services with me.  I want to peel the layers off, digging deeper into Vaughn and Warren, finding out what makes them tick.  And I want to continue being a light to other lost souls, loving on them as Jesus would do.

How?  How does He do it?  I am baffled, yet I should not be surprised.  God is leading me down a path I had never expected, and I am loving every minute of it.

Do I trust Him?  With my whole heart, YES!  Am I following His nudges, building relationships to share Jesus with others?  You bet.  Am I growing in my faith and embracing the new story God is writing?  Slowly but surely.

I am by no means perfect.  There are days I go through the motions.  There are times I complain and don’t take advantage of the opportunities He gives me.  I realize these downfalls are only small reminders that I need to trust Him even more. 

God, I love You, and I do trust You.  My heart for You and need for You is growing more and more each day.  I cannot do this battle alone.  You are my everything. 

I want to encourage you all that if you are questioning God’s timing or feeling burned out or just need to rise out of the waters you are drowning in to take a much-needed breath, God is with you!  He has you exactly where He needs you, and He is moving mountains before you. 

Embrace this overwhelming love.     

Challenge: What word did you choose for 2025?  How are you doing in living out that purpose?  If you are a new follower to my blog or don’t know what I am talking about, go back and skim through my post entitled “Do You Trust Me?”  Journal your feelings as I did above about how you are living out your word for 2025.

Song application: “God, Turn It Around” by John Reddick

He is up to something
He is up to something
God is doing something right now
He is up to something
He is up to something
God is doing something right now

He is healing someone
He is saving someone
God is doing something, oh, right now
He is healing someone
He is saving someone
God is doing something right now (right now)

He is moving mountains
Making a way for someone
God is doing something right now, right now
He is moving mountains
Making a way for someone (yeah)
God is doing something right now, right now

Just for fun: My oldest son filled out a March Madness bracket.  For every game chosen, he wrote in Lakers, and for the National Champion, he wrote Lebron.  Not sure he is going to win it this year.

Prayer: God, I love you.  I know You are working in my life, and I want to embrace Your word for 2025 even more.  Help me trust in Your perfect plan.  Amen.