||Of new beginnings and closed chapters||

Dear Friends,

I would think that all of us come to a place in our life where we are faced with crossroads. Multiple choice questions, in other words... 

It's like you spend all your teen years dreaming of what life will be like on your own and then suddenly... whoosh, you are swept out of the nest and into the real world. It's frightening... and for the first time you realize just exactly how big the responsibility is. You are not living in the shadow of your parents anymore. It's your light now that will make the difference. Only you can decide whether you are going to be a flickering candle or a lighthouse at the top of the hill. 

Then will come the crossroads. The place in life where you are faced with decisions. They will tell you that you have to make them now... or risk failure in the future. So you pray... make up your mind, and then they tell you that it isn't a good idea. People will tell you that the decisions you have made aren't wise. That maybe you should be doing this or that instead. They will pull you in two different directions and you will have no idea of where to turn.

And for that moment it will seem as though the whole world is one giant mess of loud voices and arguments. It will feel like you are standing alone in the middle of nothing but noise ... but you aren't. I promise.

See, the reason I know this, is because I have come up against one of those crossroads. It was one of the most terrifying experiences that I've went through yet, and I know that it is not over, but in all that noise... of everyone trying to tell you what to do, or what not to do, I found that it is very difficult to keep your ears open to that still, small voice. All you want to do is make yourself heard above the noise and show everyone what it is that you want to do... 

   The thing is, that I got caught up in me. What I wanted to do... that I lost all focus of what it was that God wanted me to do. I became overly sensitive to people's opinions, and I felt that everywhere I turned they were standing there... judging. It became not only, all about me, but all about them. When it should have been about Christ.

 I can't say that I really know what my future holds... I have plans, sure, but I know God has plans as well, and those are the ones that are going to come to life. This is a new beginning for a me... a closed chapter, if you will.  

And if I made it through the crossroads (at least part of them); you will too. Because we don't walk alone. HE is guiding our footsteps. 

...and the LORD, He is the One who goes before you.

He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you;

Do not fear nor be dismayed.- Deuteronomy 31:8

Your sister in Christ-

     

     Amy Jane

((all pictures via my pinterest))