ApprehendingGrace.com

I’m sitting in the library before my last class of my last course working towards my Master’s degree. Because of Phil’s heart attack, they’ve been gracious enough to give me extensions on a couple papers, so I still have 2 papers to write and 1 book to read…but attending my last class is still reaching a major milestone. I was thinking as I drove here today about priorities. If you had asked me a few years ago, before I returned to finish my Master’s, I would have told you that I didn’t have time in my schedule to miss one day a week of work and spend most evenings and Saturdays studying and/or writing. But then God put the desire into my heart, my husband encouraged me, and I took the big step. And today is my last class.

One thing this has taught me is that “I don’t have time” is a pretty poor excuse for not following dreams that God has put in your heart. I didn’t think I had time. But I re-arranged some things, I dropped some things, and I let some things slide (like housework – that’s always the thing I let slide!).

Another thing it’s taught me is the need to take action when we feel the nudge of God. I’ve wanted a Master’s degree for about two decades! I’ve looked into them before and always been discouraged because of how much time they would take and how much money they would cost. But this time, it was more than just me wanting something. It was a God-nudge that prompted me to action. And I’m so glad I responded. It’s pretty easy to ignore a God-nudge sometimes. Don’t do it. God nudges us toward our dreams because if we’re following after Him, He’s the one who has put those dreams in our hearts. He wants us to pursue them as much or more than we do.

A third thing is to not make assumptions or decisions based on the lack of earthly things – i.e., “I don’t have time, money, talent”…God provides. Don’t dismiss what seems like unachievable God-given plans because of lack. He provides.

 People often see me as “having it all together” and not being intimidated easily. That’s not always very true – I just put up a good front. For me to return to school alone was a real challenge for me. I’m afraid of driving long distances by myself, but every class I had to drive over four hours just to get to and from school. I’m easily afraid when I’m by myself at night, but every class I had to drive home over deserted country roads between 10pm and midnight. And I was very nervous attending classes alone (because I really am shy at heart). I don’t share these things to say “look at me, I overcame all this.” No, I share it to say YOU can overcome whatever is holding you back to pursue the dreams God has put in your heart.

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
               Philippians 4:13, NLT

You may have noticed that Thursday is a day that a blog usually appears – they were written from this library as I would read Scripture and pray as a transition between my work life and travel to getting ready for class. Guess I’ll have to find a new Thursday hang-out spot for writing blogs!

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 5th, 2009 at 5:11 pm and is filed under God's Faithfulness, Our Priorities, Trusting God. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.