Guided by God

This past weekend was fairly mundane at our house. My oldest went out to a movie with a friend while my youngest, my husband and I stayed in and watched one. We did housework, church, and a youth leaders leadership meeting where we walked away feeling refreshed and excited for the changes that are soon to take place at church regarding the teens/youth center/youth ministry. It is a privelage to be a part of such servants and I am humbled by how many of these people have a willingness to serve and let God lead. It gave me pause to reflect on what the Lord might want me doing in that ministry this coming year. I have been focused on my youngest child and her needs and thinking how nice it is to have a 14 yr old who is so independant and not needing me so much. But....while this is all true, she still needs to see me taking an active role in her church life as well. So, after some speculation and conversing with other youth workers (staff and volunteers), I walked away with a new purpose and goal: to be at the Welcome Desk or Teen Cafe once a month, the last Sunday of the month. An easy goal and it is serving in the Center where Courtney will see me and yet not feel as though I am "watching" her. But....will I like this? I don't "do" teenagers! My thing is prek kids! Yet.....
I started thinking of some verses I read this weekend in Numbers (9: 15-23) on the topic of God's sovereignty. I am enjoying my devotional times again. For so long I felt as though that too was mundane. I was reading about how the children of Israel followed God, in cloud form, by day and stopped when the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. Then they would follow God, in fire form, at night. They only moved when God led them. He did the guiding and the children of Israel did the trusting.
What a great example of how we need to be: following and trusting. God is sovereign. He knows which path we need to take and when we need to take it. He knows the plans He has for us. Jeremiah 29: 11, in the New International version, says: "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.". God is there waiting for us to follow him. He is patient with us and we need to be patient with Him and let Him do the leading/guiding. Of course we no longer see Him in a cloud or fire form......rather, we have the Holy Spirit to lead us on our walk through life. Are you letting Him guide you? What kinds of things do you need to give over to the Lord and allow Him to lead in? I know for me, it will be a big step to get out of my comfort zone of just working with little ones and get my self into the Youth Center where the teens (sometimes as many as 125 at one service!) are congregating. But...this is where He is leading me right now. I need to heed the call no matter how I feel about it. (and quite frankly, it could be a lot of fun getting to know these teens!...hey...I don't have to teach them, just welcome them and help feed them!). Is God calling me to give up my career with preK/K children? NO! But...He wants to lead me into a new area of ministry and I need to let Him guide me. It might not always "feel good" or be easy, but He is in control. I like the following poem that was in my Bible. I believe it is written by Cynthia Heald.

God in the wilderness in the cloud by day,
covering His tent or leading the way.
God with His children in the fire by night,
bringing comfort and bringing light.

There is no cloud for our journey today,
no fire at night to light our way.
The presence of God now dwells within
to guide each one who invites Him in.