Then and now....God's plans!

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

The picture above popped up as a Facebook memory on today. On this day seven years ago, I was in the library at Phoenix Seminary writing my final paper before my graduation two weeks later. In the post above the picture, I shared my reason for going to seminary...OBEDIENCE. I didn't go in pursuit of a specific title, or position. I wasn't desiring to "become" something. I just wanted to please God with my obedience. That was my only motive then, and that is still my only motive now!

Then...
On this day seven years ago, I had no idea what God's plans were for me next. I didn't know a few months later He would send me on a short mission to Turkey. I didn't know after that, He would send me on a mission back to my hometown to live with and care for my mom for a year and a half until she passed away in 2015. I had no idea the year after that, He would send me on a mission to Abu Dhabi to live on an island where I would teach Arab-Muslim students for 3 years and have an experience with Him that would prepare me for where I am today...physically and spiritually!

The only thing I did know on this day seven years ago, was that I was where I was suppose to be at that moment. I knew God sent me there to study His word. I knew God had provided my needs during my season there. I knew God would reveal to me the plans He had for me next, and I knew I would obey...no matter what.

Now...
On this day seven years later, I am in a place I once again had no idea God would send me. But when He told me He was sending me here, again I obeyed. And I do know I am where I am suppose to be at this moment. Today God reminded me (through my journal entries and a messenger) that He has seen my obedience now just as He did then. As the facebook memory above says, still all I want "to be" is OBEDIENT!

As I wait for God to reveal to me what's next, I know I must continue to be obedient with my current assignments. I know He has great plans for me! For His Glory!

I AM HIS,
FAITH WALKER

8 =New Beginnings!

God always keeps His promises!

Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3 AMP)


Today (4/17/2020) marks 8 months since I transitioned to Oklahoma City! While some may have thought me moving here was a bold move, I was actually filled with fear. I didn't know the details of my assignment here, but I knew I had to be obedient to what God told me to do. And now 8 months later, God has delivered me from the fear I had upon my arrival here.

In my first journal entry after arriving in OKC, I reflected to the morning when I left my mom's home. I wrote these words...

"Before leaving, on my way out the door, I had a moment with my mom. Her picture was facing me as I walked out the door. I could hear her telling me, 'If that's what God told you to do, then do it.' (As she told me long ago when I was a little girl and I came home from church and had experienced hearing God give me instructions for the first time.) The tears fell knowing she would be my #1 supporter if she was still here. And she would be proud of me walking out my journey of faith."

Even now, my eyes are filled with tears as I think of my mom and how she always encouraged me along my journey. Just last month, God reminded me of a letter I had inside one of my old journals. It was a letter I had written to my mom 23 years ago when I lived in Dallas in 1997. She had kept it in one of her drawers with her important papers. I found it after she passed away. In the letter I was sharing some things about my life in Dallas and things I was beginning to experience in my relationship with God. In the letter I wrote these words...

"I have surrendered to Him and I am obeying Him. I couldn't be any happier. I have committed to doing His will."

Reading these words, God reminded me that I am still doing what I told my mom I was doing over 23 years ago. The only difference is she's not here with me and I can't share with her the details of my journey. But I know she is smiling down on me!

About a month ago when the world began to "shut down" outside due to the pandemic, God had me to "shut down" inside. For two days, I turned off my phone and television, deactivated Facebook and uninstalled instagram so that I could be undistracted and just hear from God. He already knew the matters of my heart, and wanted to manifest His presence to me. As He spoke loud and clear with His still small voice, I listened and received! As a sign to me, He set a rainbow in the sky (something He uses at very specific times to personally speak to me along my journey)! This was my first rainbow sighting since being in OKC (pictured above). And since that weekend, He has continued to speak and reveal specific things concerning His purpose and plans for my life.

The number 8 represents new beginnings! It symbolizes a resurrection. On last Sunday, we celebrated Resurrection of Jesus! And because He lives, all my fear is gone! I declare and decree on today, that God has resurrected me from fear and today is a new beginning of my journey in Oklahoma City! I've been transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose.🙏🏽 More faith walking coming soon! ❤

I am His, Faith Walker!

No fear in love!

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18a (ESV)

Once for every day of the year! 

A few days ago, February 14th, the world put their love on display by celebrating their love for special people in their lives with gifts, chocolate, flowers and social media posts. For those who don't have "significant others", this may be a day they feel lonely or forgotten. Some may feel unloved. Some may fear never being loved. But these are all false arguments about God's love! God's word tells us, there is no fear in love!

Yesterday (February 17th) marked 7 months since I transitioned back to the U.S. from Abu Dhabi, and 6 months since I transitioned to Oklahoma City. In my previous blog post (after being here 2 months), I stated that the process of my transition had really tested my faith. Little did I know how much more my faith would be tested and stretched in the months that followed.

In a conversation I had with my sister about how I was doing in my transition, I shared with her that moving back to the states was more challenging for me than moving half way around the world to Abu Dhabi. She was surprised to hear this. Her immediate reply was "Really? It seems like moving back home would be easy." Nope! Not at all for me! While most were happy for me to be back in the states and closer to home, what many didn't know was the fights I had to have with fear on a daily basis! While I had fear of the unknown upon moving to Abu Dhabi, it was nothing like the fears I had moving back to the U.S. More specifically, moving to Oklahoma!

When God told me He was sending me to Oklahoma City to "serve", I was not sure exactly what that would look like. He didn't give me the details (as He often does not). He just told me "You are only responsible for obeying my instructions. I am responsible for the outcome." So I took Him at His word and came in obedience to Him. However, it wasn't as easy as it may sound. While, obeying God is something I delight in doing, this assignment seemed to be the most challenging thing God has ever asked of me thus far in my walking by faith journey. There are more specific reasons I felt this way, but primarily it was because of some fears from my past. Some fears I had disguised with my faith, but God wanted to set me totally free.

In one of my first journal entries after returning to the states and moving to OKC, I wrote the following private and transparent thought after receiving a word from God through a message I heard.

**Journal entry excerpt from 10/28/2019**
"While I don't doubt God sending me to OKC, I struggle with the doubt of receiving the harvest God has promised me. Pastor (Mike) said these bad seeds show up when you are about to reap a harvest. They have definitely shown up and try to consume my thoughts daily. God reminded me in Pastor's message on yesterday that I have to antedote those doubts with the Word of God!"

The Word of God is what I have had to tightly cling to (like never before)! Over the past 6 months, God constantly told me, "Do not fear!" Each time He told me I felt Him stretching my faith! Each time He told me, His voice began to drown out any doubt! Each time He told me, my faith became greater than the fears! And seven months later, I can honestly say God has removed the fears I had at the beginning of my transition. Time and time again, He has assured me that He is responsible for the outcome of my obedience to Him. I still don't exactly know what His planned outcome is, but I do know I am no longer a slave to fear! I also know that I am right where I am supposed to be. Doing what I'm supposed to be doing!

In my previous post (from December 2019) I shared I was waiting for God to manifest the employment He had for my provisions here in Oklahoma City. I knew it was connected to what He already had me doing with serving Faithful Services Sober Living, a faith based program that I began serving with as soon as I got to OKC (in obedience to God). I am currently working as a Case Manager for a non-profit organization that provide services to persons with addiction recovery and mental health needs. I originally applied for the position back in November after relocating here, but God didn't open the doors for me to get the job until the latter part of January. In the meantime, He needed to stretch my faith in Him a little further, and prepare me for what was to come! (Will share details on another post.) Once again, I'm in awe of His ways and His timing!

So, as the world was putting their love on display, God was once again displaying His love for me, like He does everyday! God IS love, His love IS perfect and His love definitely casts out the false fears I had! I will never doubt God's love for me! And I WILL NOT BE AFRAID!

I am His,
Faith Walker!