Hi. :) A strange thing happened. I checked the mail the day before yesterday and discovered that my Ensign subscription did not end; I just got the January Ensign at the same time that I received the February Ensign. :o Don't know why, but I'm glad I got that January Ensign because I need the messages (I devoured several of them immediately since I hadn't gone on line to read them). One article really got my attention - since I just posted a blog post a few days ago titled "God's Plans for Our Lives." It is titled "The Book of Mormon and God's Plan for Us." Seriously... is this God's humor? Why did my Ensign come a month late and two days AFTER I posted an article with nearly the same title? For what ever reason, I'm thankful for them both.
This was a learning experience for me because as I compared content of the two articles (which are, by the way VERY DIFFERENT) I came to realize that I know some things so completely that I almost disregard mentioning them simply because I assume that everyone else knows them too... :o
For example, in my post I never even mentioned WHAT GOD DOES PLAN FOR US! (Ironic, really, since that is the name of the post); I merely wrote about how He has plans to help us accomplish our own plans. But what about the plans HE has for us? That is where this article comes in to remind me that I wrote an incredibly incomplete post which needs to be completed! After all, though God DOES desire to help us accomplish our own dreams for ourselves, He also has plans and desires for us; and honestly, as good as our own plans get I really don't think they can compare to His! :)
So, what are God's plans for us? I don't believe in re-inventing the wheel, so I'll refer you to what has already been written on the subject by way of a couple links at the end of this post. But first I wish to point out a few of my own observations about His plans for us...
First, His plans are all very small and simple, so simple one would never expect life to be so sweet as a result of such simple acts. My plans for myself are often overwhelming and big, but God knows that "by small and simple means are great things brought to pass."
Second, I noticed that His plans for me have one goal - to make me happy... This is why his plan for us is often called The Plan of Happiness, also known as The Plan of Salvation.
Third, I noticed that the greatest happiness that I have received in my life has come from doing the things which I knew HE planned for me; and the joy I receive from accomplishing my own plans is magnified by accomplishing His plans... Because I trust Him and know that He wants me and my family to be happy, I strive to do the things He counsels me to do. There have been times when I struggled to follow His plan for me, and times when I followed His plans with near exactness; the times when I followed His plans were the times when my life has been most filled with peace and joy. (He really does know what He is doing!)
There are some things which most of us know He wants for us; we know He wants us to read His words from the scriptures and pray to Him. We know He wants us to live for Him and love Him with all our hearts, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. But there is so much more He plans for us that many of us take for granted and doing these simple things helps us to be in tune with Him and accomplish the rest as well...
Are there things He has planned for you that you are not aware of? Would you follow His plan for you if you realized the plan? What specific things do you know in your heart - He desires for you to do with your life?
Links:
*The Book of Mormon and God's Plan for Us
*The Plan of Happiness - (several links here - for more information on the plan of Happiness look for a missionary near you)
*The plan of Salvation - there are several links at the bottom of the page this link takes you to...
UPDATE: *See comment section for more! :)
Also, a THIRD part was added to the topic of God's Plan for our Lives - briefly highlighting The Family: A Proclamation to the World; you can view Part Three here if you wish...
This was a learning experience for me because as I compared content of the two articles (which are, by the way VERY DIFFERENT) I came to realize that I know some things so completely that I almost disregard mentioning them simply because I assume that everyone else knows them too... :o
For example, in my post I never even mentioned WHAT GOD DOES PLAN FOR US! (Ironic, really, since that is the name of the post); I merely wrote about how He has plans to help us accomplish our own plans. But what about the plans HE has for us? That is where this article comes in to remind me that I wrote an incredibly incomplete post which needs to be completed! After all, though God DOES desire to help us accomplish our own dreams for ourselves, He also has plans and desires for us; and honestly, as good as our own plans get I really don't think they can compare to His! :)
So, what are God's plans for us? I don't believe in re-inventing the wheel, so I'll refer you to what has already been written on the subject by way of a couple links at the end of this post. But first I wish to point out a few of my own observations about His plans for us...
First, His plans are all very small and simple, so simple one would never expect life to be so sweet as a result of such simple acts. My plans for myself are often overwhelming and big, but God knows that "by small and simple means are great things brought to pass."
Second, I noticed that His plans for me have one goal - to make me happy... This is why his plan for us is often called The Plan of Happiness, also known as The Plan of Salvation.
Third, I noticed that the greatest happiness that I have received in my life has come from doing the things which I knew HE planned for me; and the joy I receive from accomplishing my own plans is magnified by accomplishing His plans... Because I trust Him and know that He wants me and my family to be happy, I strive to do the things He counsels me to do. There have been times when I struggled to follow His plan for me, and times when I followed His plans with near exactness; the times when I followed His plans were the times when my life has been most filled with peace and joy. (He really does know what He is doing!)
There are some things which most of us know He wants for us; we know He wants us to read His words from the scriptures and pray to Him. We know He wants us to live for Him and love Him with all our hearts, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. But there is so much more He plans for us that many of us take for granted and doing these simple things helps us to be in tune with Him and accomplish the rest as well...
Are there things He has planned for you that you are not aware of? Would you follow His plan for you if you realized the plan? What specific things do you know in your heart - He desires for you to do with your life?
Links:
*The Book of Mormon and God's Plan for Us
*The Plan of Happiness - (several links here - for more information on the plan of Happiness look for a missionary near you)
*The plan of Salvation - there are several links at the bottom of the page this link takes you to...
UPDATE: *See comment section for more! :)
Also, a THIRD part was added to the topic of God's Plan for our Lives - briefly highlighting The Family: A Proclamation to the World; you can view Part Three here if you wish...
My patriarchal blessing talks a lot about this topic ( God's plan for me) and since I received it I have been really striving to figure out exactly what God's plan is for me. There have been times in my life when I am more in tune with what He wants for me, and other times when I feel like I am drifting aimlessly (my own fault, of course). When I pray to know His will, and then am mindful to listen to the Spirit, I am able to feel meaning and purpose. Thanks for the reminder to buckle down and find out His will for me!
ReplyDeleteI loved that article! I had this topic in my mind so much last year when I was trying to decide if Homeschool was for me or not. I gave a talk about God Perspective or View of our lives and found so many great quotes. I posted it here. http://thethingsilovemost.blogspot.com/2010/08/gods-perspective-or-view-of-our-lives.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post!
Corine, I don't know what God's plan for us is but I do know that the sands have shifted in a positive direction in my life. I decided to go back into self-contained and there have three postings in our school district. My husband lost his job and began a small marketing company to market my book and so well, it's all great!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for reminding me!
Becca, thank you so much for your comment! I LOVE that you mentioned your Patriarchal blessing! This is one of the places I have gone to search for answers when struggling to know God’s will for me and it has been a tremendous light. This is also why I LOVE TO BLOG! I really appreciate the views and additional insights of others in the comment section. Your comment adds to my own, and I love it!
ReplyDeleteNow, in answer back to you, I would love to share with you something I did after going through my PB (as well as after much prayer and discussion with the Lord to find His will for me and my life). I would like to share with you what I have done with the answers I have been given to help me to not let these precious answers be forgotten; what good is direction or the pointing of a path if not taken? I have used my knowledge of God’s will for me and made it to help me life a life of purpose… I think the ideas there will be of use to you, so here is the link to this post which tells of how I did this:
http://corinesmiles.blogspot.com/2011/08/living-with-purpose.html
Thank you again – SO MUCH for your comment (and all of them)! :D
Tracy, you're welcome, and yeah! :D I'm so happy things are great in your corner! :) Isn’t it great the way even when we don’t know God’s plan for us – WE STILL KNOW HE HAS A PLAN AND THAT IT WILL ALL WORK OUT! :) Your comment is a reminder of this… I feel SO BLESSED to have such wonderful friends who add so much to my blog and are THERE FOR ME by way of commenting here… Thank you so much! I really appreciate your insights and blog friendship! :D
ReplyDeleteKendra, I read your post, and it is yet another FABULOUS addition to the small collection or writings here referencing God's plans for our lives; thank you! I had not mentioned here His plan for us to go through and grow from adversity... how fitting and important to point out!
ReplyDeleteHugs to us all... :)
Corine :D
I love both posts on the topic. It is something that I have been thinking about too. I have always wondered if I was doing with my life what Heavenly Father wants me to do. Even though he doesn't show me the big picture, he never fails to show me the very next step I need to take, even if he only shows me right before I have to take it so that I have to show my faith.
ReplyDeleteWow! Another amazing comment! That is another one of God's plans for us, isn't it ...to learn to live by faith? :) Thank you, Valerie! What an awesome comment!!!
ReplyDeletePS. I love my blogging friends! :D