"What do You Want to be When You Grow-Up?"

      I don't remember the first time someone asked me that question. But I know I've been asked. Over the years, my answer went through same changes.
      "I want to be a mommy when I grow-up!" The curly-headed five year old proudly announced.
       The nine year old girl said,"I'm gonna raise horses."
       "I'd like to write for a living,"The thirteen year old answered calmly; "I enjoy it and can do it from home."
        Yeah, those were some of my answers over the last fifteen years.There were plenty of others too; just ask my family. But notice the first word in every answer. I. It's all about what I want, what I plan. Me, Me, Me.
        Umm.... That doesn't sound right. If I gave my life to Jesus Christ, He is in control now.I have no power or authority in this or any matter.Jesus has a plan for my life. I know He does, and it's a really good plan too.I mean, we all know that verse from Jeremiah. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jer. 29:11,NIV)                                                                                                                                   He knows. So do I need a plan? 'Cause if the Creator of the Universe, who made things so wonderful that they hurt my head, is planning every single second of my life, I can't wait to get started; and I certainly don't want to mess it up.
        I'm not saying to not dream or plan.I'm not telling you to sit around, doing nothing and expect God to instantly fulfill His plan you someday.If you do that, chances are, you'll do that for the rest of your life. And that's not God's plan for you. I firmly believe God wants us to dream, and you have to makes plans for somethings. Just seek God's will, and follow His plan. It'll make things a lot easier.
         For a long time I skipped the first part of Jer. 29:11 and went to "plans to prosper you". I believed that whatever choice I made, God would make it prosper. Which sounds great, but isn't true.
         Besides, God's definition of prosper is very different from most. To God, prosperous people are people like: Stephen from Acts 6&7, Paul, Amy Carmichael, Hudson Taylor, and Billy Graham. These are people who gave their entire lives to God and His work.
         You know something else these people have in common? Their plans were changed by God. Paul wanted to rid the world of Christians originally. Amy wanted to be a missionary to China, not India. But in the end,His plan was For the best.
          What's God's plan for me? I don't know right now. It could be one of my answers, or even more than one of them. His plan might not be any of them.But whatever it is, God's promise from Jeremiah 29:11 will be fulfilled perfectly. Maybe not the way I think it will, but perfectly nevertheless.
           So, what do you want to be when you grow-up?