Thankful for a Plan

I'm currently sitting in the spare bedroom at my parents' house. I say the spare bedroom because there is no doubt in my mind that I will always have a place in my parents' house and I will always be welcome to come home, however I no longer really have a bedroom of my own here. Therefore, this room is not really mine. It just happens to be the one I'm claiming this week.
As I sit here, I can not help but think about tomorrow being Thanksgiving Day. This brings to mind the question that so many are asking, "What are you thankful for?" There is no shortage in things I am thankful, including the opportunity to be in Pennsylvania and spending this time with family. However this year, one thing seems to stand out above the rest. I am thankful that God has a plan that is bigger and better than my own.
Now, this is a concept I've known for years. I have said, written, and even taught about how God has a plan even when it may seem like everything is falling apart. Yet, this has become more real and evident to me recently than ever before. You see, I am also a planner. As a junior in high school I could have given you a ten year plan for my life. I was going to finish high school continuing with a handful of extra curriculars, active church involvement, and a part time job. I would enroll at Johnson Bible College for a Bachelor's degree in youth ministry. After graduation I would work in a medium sized church with teens. Somewhere along the way I would also get married and start a family.
If you're reading this, I must assume you've kept up on my life. You probably know that some of this played out just as I had planned. I did go to JBC, graduating with a degree in Youth Ministry in May 2011. That is about the place my plans fell apart. For four years of college, I said I would never do children's ministry. All the girls did children's ministry and it felt almost like a cop-out. I also never experienced children's ministry for myself because I didn't grow up in the church so I steered clear.
Don't ever try to tell God what you won't do. I began working with the children's ministry at Abundant Life CC in Sevierville my freshman year at JBC. I was still convinced this was just where I was serving during college. That all changed in the spring of 2011 when I joined the staff at ALCC as the Children's Director.
Each and every Sunday now, I realize that my plan was flawed. I did not have a clear vision of my skills and experiences as God had given them to me. I could not see the full path that He had laid before me. Children's ministry was never meant to be the stepping stone where I served until I "grew up" or finished school. On the contrary, children's ministry was right where God was and is calling me.
Even more so, God has made it evident that His plan is big and better than my own by providing a ministry for me to serve at full time in Ohio where I will begin in January. He opened this door when I was not looking or expecting it.
And before many of you ask, no I'm not getting married or starting a family any time too soon. However, I do trust that God will provide that, too. Yet I am sure He will do so in His timing not mine (probably when I least expect it).
So this year on Thanksgiving amongst all of the thankfulness for friends, food, and family, I must say that I am thankful for a great, big God who has great, big plans for me that are better than I could have asked or imagined.
*Dream Big Dreams. Pray Big Prayers.*