A Greater Plan

 From the time I was a little girl I hoped for two things: to have a family and to be in ministry. The Lord has taken me on quite the journey since those dreams first began. After graduating high-school I knew I wanted to help people and do so as an avenue for ministry. Through a process the Lord led me to social work.This semester will have spent 200 hours at my practicum agency where I work with women in crisis pregnancy situations. This past week as I drove home from practicum, I was broken for my hurting clients and the challenges they face. God's love for people is SO great! I know it is only because of the love He has poured into my life that He gives me the passion to do social work. That day the Lord confirmed in my heart that He knew years ago that He would call a little girl who grew up in an ideal home to one day share His love and hope with His broken and hurting people.

Beyond the Lord's call to social work, He has given me a tremendous passion for discipleship and church ministry. You know how when you're little, you don't have a great sense of days of the week? Well from a very young age, my favorite day was Sunday because we'd get to go to church. I knew it was Sunday when I would awake to mom practicing piano for Sunday morning worship. Well my love for church has not ceased :) This summer Alex's dad (before Alex and I started dating) asked me what my plans were after college graduation. I had a hard time answering him because I knew I had a passion for social work but also for church ministry. At that point, I wasn't sure how the Lord would combine both of those callings in my life. An answer came just a few months later :)

Yesterday, Alex played acoustic piano at one of our college chapel services. I absolutely love hearing him play! He is so talented and has such a passion for worshiping the Lord. Hearing him play took me back to memories in highschool when we'd go to the kids church room after youth group and listen to him play on the acoustic piano there or when he would play and I would sing with him at his piano at home. God placed a strong calling on Alex's life from a young age to become a pastor and minister through music. It has been a complete privilege and joy to encourage and help him throughout his ministry in highschool and college. I am amazed how the Lord has led both of us on journeys that led us to each other. God has fulfilled my desire to be in church ministry by allowing me to minister along side Alex!!

This week I was reminded of a funny conversation I had with Alex when we were teenagers. I remember how strange it was to hear such a young guy telling me about how serious and passionate he was about taking care of, protecting, and providing for his wife and family one day. Now, I'm extremely thankful for that passion of his.

So God has fulfilled both of my childhood dreams to be in ministry and to have a family. I couldn't have written a better story for myself. God's plans for us are always greater than our own plans!

Alex playing guitar in chapel worship

Alex and I spent a beautiful fall day together at the park