Never Say Never

Have you ever said…I will never (you fill in the blank)? I have said this way too many times only for God to prove me wrong in time.

I said I'd never put my kids in public school. Did! I said I'd never fly. Did again. Said I'd never have another dog. Double did! I now have two. Of course God is also full of surprises. Whoever thought I'd be a chicken lover? Not me! Or feeding cow candy to the cows. Farmer me? Never! Ha, wrong again!

When I was seventeen, I was asked to lead the toddlers ministry. I lasted maybe a month before stepping down and asking to be removed from the rotation completely. I remember saying…I will never work with kids again. I am not cut out for this!

At that time, I was also praying for God to put me in His perfect will. Well, low and behold, His will was for me to minister to kids for eighteen years as a Christian educator, administrator, and children's ministry leader. For an entire season, little by little God put me in places I would've never put myself. I developed gifts and talents I didn't even know I had. See it wasn't what I could do, but what God could do through me.

Now I'm at the door of a new season. Praying once again for God's perfect will. I see that my prayer has changed from put me to show me. Maybe I'm a little scared to pray 'put me' because in my older years I feel the need to be clued in with what He has for me to do.

When God answers my prayers, it's never what I expect? God has put a burden on my heart. He's beginning to show me my purpose for this new season. Why He placed us in Hico. Guess what my first thought was…I WILL NEVER do that! I can't. Me? No way! Then I'm reminded. It's not about me and what I can do. It's all about Him. What He can do through my obedience.

This verse. Powerful! God knows me better than I know myself. I'm finding that when I say never, God responds with whatever. He continues to lead me in the way of everlasting. A way only He knows. He dares me to dream. He dares you to dream.

"Nothing happens until somebody starts dreaming. God cannot help you reach your goals if you don't have any goals. He cannot fulfill your dreams if you don't have any dreams. He cannot exceed your expectations if you don't have any expectations." - Rick Warren

No more NEVER. It's time to dream. Set goals. Accomplish great things for God's glory!