About Kathy Cheek

Kathy Cheek writes uplifting faith-filled devotions, inspirational stories and poetry, and is published in various Christian magazines such as LifeWay’s Journey magazine and Mature Living, and writes for church curriculum resources through Standard Publishing and David C Cook. She also contributes to several devotional and ministry sites. She invites you to visit her blog Devotions from the Heart at www.kathycheek.com

When Life Doesn’t Track According To Plan

August 7, 2017 By Kathy Cheek 10 Comments

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There have been many times my life did not track the way I thought it would according to my list of plans, dreams, and goals. (I am guessing I am not alone in this!) Instead we find that following God is not a straight line between Point A and Point B. Some of us are still between A and B, trying to find our way.

Experience has taught me this valuable truth:

When life doesn’t track according to my plan, that doesn’t mean it isn’t God’s plan.

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Yet, when I watched my life take twists and turns that did not seem to add up to any expectation of what I perceived to be God’s plan for my life, I wrestled with how to deal with the perplexing turns my life was taking.

I know God is in the business of changing, molding, shaping, and testing us. There will be unexpected twists and turns in the events of our lives that will make us wonder what God is doing, and the answer won’t seem clear at all. That is part of the test to see if we are serious about the work He has called us to do. It is also part of the test to see if we are willing to be changed, molded, and prepared for what He has planned for us in His perfect timing, perfect way, and in His perfect will.

I don’t know if the perplexing part of my journey was God changing me, preparing me, testing me, or the enemy assaulting me, or if it was all of those. If God was changing me, I am definitely a different person now. If He was testing me, I want to pass the test. If He was preparing me, I am thankful for the work He is doing in me. If the enemy was attacking me, he failed.

God is building something out of our lives, and the beginning product does not look like the finished product.

God is the one with the blueprint and the ultimate plan.

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Not us.

While God knows exactly what He is doing, we often find ourselves frustrated with uncertainty for what He hasn’t yet revealed. He asks us to wait and trust and keep doing what we know to do as we continue to follow Him along this path we call our lives.

There will be disappointments we must endure as we know in our finite hearts that we cannot see the big picture that God sees.

When we keep our eyes on Him and strive to move forward in our faith and on our journey, we will see unfolding events that slowly reveal the plans He has for us. Ultimately, God’s will is being accomplished in our lives, and that is the best track of all.

A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Shared by Kathy Cheek

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We Are All Gifted

March 27, 2017 By Kathy Cheek 12 Comments

Each one of us is gifted by God.

We all have talent that God has placed in us. From one individual to another it will look different. It always amazes me to hear one person express how they love to work with teenagers in their church group, and someone else will say they could never work with teenagers but love teaching the little ones in preschool. Then, someone else admits they don’t work well with either age group, but they enjoy helping to plan a ministry event and making sure all those details come together.

I once heard a lady sadly declare that she didn’t think she had much talent, but when we pursued the subject, she admitted that she loved coming up with the ideas for the centerpieces for various women’s ministry events and other church wide functions. Together, we recalled the different centerpieces we had seen and assured her that she, indeed, did have a gift, and we helped her to see herself as an artist.

She had not ever seen herself that way before, but her face brightened when she realized that she had something special to offer.

Some of us are good at crunching numbers while others are good at nursing or photography, teaching, leading, cooking, counseling…and the list of varied skills goes on. All are God-given, and the wide range of diversity is reflected as soon as you talk to a group of people and discover their talents and interests.

God made us unique, and the gifts He gives us are part of His design to bring our lives purpose and satisfaction.

They are also the evidence that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

God-sized Dreams is a place where we can help each other develop and grow our gifts. Our stories and encouragement provide ongoing support through the ups and downs, the open and the closed doors, the stumbles and the successes.

But the most important truth we need to remember is this:

We are each individually gifted because we are wonderfully made by God.

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I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)

I am a writer. In fact, I am one of the new additions to the team this year. I want to encourage others to see themselves as God sees them and to walk by faith as they live out a daily relationship with the Lord. I will admit, my writing journey has looked like the sentence above…open and closed doors, stumbles and successes.

How about you?

Are you like the lady who didn’t think she had much to offer, yet she did; or, are you living out your God-sized dream in real time?

Are you just getting started or are you stuck trying to get started?

Are you weary from the journey or celebrating a joyous victory?

Whatever your answer, I hope you believe you are gifted because you do have much to offer!

Shared by: Kathy Cheek

An InLinkz Link-up