Discover the New Door!

Scripture: Revelation 3:8

THE AVERAGE LIFE

I was in my 50’s and life, was going great!  I worked full time as an Administrative Assistant to a local Chamber of Commerce, cleaned a residential and commercial business on the side, and was very involved with my church.  I was a licensed Lay Minister and did a lot of public speaking.  I loved engaging with people!  Every day was planned and busy as I met deadlines and fulfilled duties from being a wife and mother.

Does this sound familiar to you?  I am sure most who read this study live by lists and are involved as much as I was.  It gave me a sense of accomplishment to check each item off hopefully completing them all by day’s end.

I enjoyed conducting Bible studies and thrived when asked to be a guest speaker at mother-daughter banquets or ladies’ conferences for the church.  Filling in as a guest minister from time to time when the Sr. Pastor was away, to me, was the ultimate.

It was summertime, and my husband and I had gone out for an ice cream cone when visiting loved ones in a nearby city.  I was walking a little ahead of him when I felt my head kind of shake quickly from side to side.  I dismissed it and went on enjoying the evening.  I shared it later, and he said he did notice my head shaking from time to time.

Once again, I tried to put it in the back of my mind, until one day I noticed my left hand have a little tremor.  This got my attention because as a teen, I used to write for my daddy who suffered from tremors. His hands and voice were most noticeable to me. I didn’t think much of it as a teen because my dad was old enough to be my grandfather, and I just thought it was something that happened with age.  

I did a little research and the word Parkinson’s Disease came up, so I knew I had to see a neurologist who could figure out what was going on.  Going to see a specialist for shaking, I discovered, makes you shake more, and sure enough, I was diagnosed with essential tremors.  

I was determined to keep it quiet for as long as I could, and life went on as normal. 

“I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”  Revelation 3:8

You and I may be organizers and planners, but we must keep in mind that our plans may not always work out! Here I was teaching and preaching about faith, about healings, about open doors, and suddenly I had to practice what I was teaching.

CAN YOU RELATE?

As we continue this study, I will be transparent about my feelings and how I handled the life I never expected.  Whatever you are battling, be it a disease or a chronic illness, God wants you to know that He can work through you even when the door you planned to walk through, closes!

WHAT WE LEARNED IN TODAY’S STUDY:

• Every individual has ideas of how their life should go!
• Most people are extremely busy just doing life!
• The unexpected can happen.
• Sometimes our plans get thwarted.
• God knows you individually, and He has set before you an open door!

Scriptures: Matthew 7:7-8, John 10:9

OUR PLAN MAY NOT BE THE BEST PLAN!

In yesterday’s study, we learned that our plans may not always work out the way we had hoped.  It is so important for us to realize that our plans may not be the best plan!  In our human mindset, we tend to always think we know what is best for ourselves, but many times we miss the mark.

When things go wrong that alter our plans, we often become discouraged, and take on a woe is me pity party, which plays right into the enemy’s hands.  There is nothing the enemy wants more than to tear us down and make us want to quit.

After my diagnosis, I went on living life for many more years before the tremors became very noticeable to other people.  

Even though I was involved in several types of ministry, I kept asking God about my purpose as I still felt I wasn’t fulfilling it.  I knew if we are doing the will of God that we are in His purpose, but somehow, I felt there was more for me.

“Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will notice Him. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them.”  Matthew 7:7-8

Verse 7 is Red Letter Edition, which indicates these are the very words of Jesus!!  That is a powerful sentence.  What are you asking for?  What are you searching for?  We are told to be persistent in asking and in searching.  I am 75 years old, and it was just recently that I felt I finally discovered my purpose in life!!  Whatever you do, no matter how long it takes, don’t give up just because your plans in life have changed!

“I am the door: by me, if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”  John 10:9. 

When we seek and ask God to open the door, we are asking for Jesus!  We are inviting Him into our life! We are inviting Him to be a part of our plan, whatever that plan evolves into. The key to knowing what the perfect plan is for our lives.  

CAN YOU RELATE?

Something is inviting about a door!  It can open and it can close. In today’s scriptures, we are told to ask God to open a door for us. We are told to seek Him because without Him, we can’t have a perfect plan, and we can’t have a true purpose in life!  In our study tomorrow we learn about a door that closes.

WHAT WE LEARNED IN TODAY’S STUDY:

• When things go wrong, our human side goes into pity mode.
• Our minds tip toward depression and wanting to give up.
• The enemy loves when our plans are altered.
• God tells us to knock on His door and to seek Him!
• Scripture tells us to be persistent in knocking.
• The door in the scripture is Jesus and with Him, a new door will open!

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 16:9

EXPECT SOMETHING GREAT, EVEN WHEN WE FEEL OUR WORST!

A lot of people are into blaming God for disease, illness, death, and so on, but God does not deserve to be blamed; rather we should glorify God if we are battling a disease or have experienced loss in death!  Why?  Because disease and death came upon the earth because of sin.  Before Adam and Eve gave into temptation and sinned, there was no death; there was no disease or illness.  Mankind brought it on himself, but God, in His generous mercy, has a way of opening doors even when we think some have closed.  

Do we think for a moment that God is looking down over the earth and enjoying what He sees when a servant of God falls ill, or when He sees the heartache brought on by the death of a loved one? No, I believe with all my heart that God sees potential and growth through all things!!  Knowing this, we should be expecting something great even when we feel our worst!

In yesterday’s study, I mentioned how life continued for years without much of a glitch.  I shared with you my line of work and the things I was involved with in ministry, but I didn’t mention that from time to time I enjoyed picking up my art brushes to paint on canvas and drag out the ink to do some calligraphy.  It wasn’t something I did very often simply because my days were filled with other activities.  I mention this because it will contribute to glorifying God later in this plan!

Even though I have always been a deep thinker, I never wondered about what God does all day in heaven until after I was diagnosed.  2nd Chronicles 16:9a says,

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a

Quick backstory on this scripture:  King Asa rid the land of idols and false gods, but he also had a massive million-man Ethiopian/Libyan Army as a threat.  Hanani, a prophet, spoke to King Asa of Judah and rebuked him for relying on the King of Syria.  King Asa was a good king, but this shows us that we can let our human side interfere with God’s plans.  He didn’t put full trust in God, but he did rely on him at times, and God seeing his heart gave him grace in victory.  The prophet then spoke the verse above to the king to let King Asa know that God does see our every move on earth and rewards us accordingly.

I used this illustration because many times in life our plans are not in line with God’s.  My heart was right in that I wanted to minister to others for God, but I was sure it was going to be through my vocal cords and my involvement with lots of people!  

CAN YOU RELATE?

It is easy to succumb to feel disappointed when things don’t work out as we anticipated.  If you are going through a health issue, I want you to begin to realize that there is always more than one way of doing things and there is always more than one door!

WHAT WE LEARNED IN TODAY’S STUDY:

• Especially during health issues, we need to glorify God rather than question Him!
• Sickness and disease came because of the fall of man.
• God is sad when His loved ones suffer, but He has a way to pull the good out of every situation!
• God’s eyes are constantly searching the earth, and He knows the heart of each person!
• Just like King Asa, we can allow our human side to rob God of the trust He deserves.

Scripture: Revelation 3:7

IF IT ISN’T GOD’S PLAN, WOULD WE WANT THE DOOR TO REMAIN OPEN?

The more I aged, the more this diagnosis was becoming real to me.  I guess I first realized in my heart that others were noticing when I wasn’t the one being asked to speak at an annual work presentation.  I had done the presentations for years prior, but this particular year, everything I normally did was assigned to others.  

I felt a myriad of emotions that night.  I could understand why I had been replaced, yet I was disappointed, hurt, and inside I was angry.  I began to dread going to meetings, especially the board meetings where I would have to speak because when under stress my head shook more, and my voice trembled.  I can remember crying all the way home after the meetings and my neck being so tense and my chest tight that I just couldn’t wait to get home and put a heated neck wrap on to get some relief.

My husband heard every reason under the sun why I wanted to just quit, but deep inside I loved the people; I loved my job, and it made me feel like I was contributing to the community.  Yet I could feel the way I contributed was changing, and I didn’t like that at all.

I loved speaking at Mother’s Day banquets and women’s conferences, and slowly that all ebbed away.  Within my head were lots of plans.  I had always thought I would write a book or devotional book.  At one point I wanted to write a children’s book.  If I couldn’t speak any longer, I could still write a book! Plans, plans, and more plans!  The problem was they were my plans.

“These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”  Revelation. 3:7

I didn’t plan for cancer to take my husband’s life although he battled it for years. In 2017 he was diagnosed terminal, and I resigned from my job to spend his remaining days together.  I put all plans on the back burner.  He died in August of that year, and in October I got an offer to co-author a book on heaven.  My self-esteem began to come back, yet due to an outright attack on my co-author and his family, our plan to write a book ended.

“Changes in our life often change the course of our plans!”

Oh, how true are the words of Revelation 3:7!  If a plan is truly God’s plan, no one or thing can shut the door to the plan, and if He shuts the door, no one can open it.

CAN YOU RELATE?

It is so important to be open to change in plans.  After all, if they aren’t God’s plan, would we want the door to remain open?  

WHAT WE LEARNED IN TODAY’S STUDY:

• Health issues cause stress.
• Change in plans often causes emotional trauma.
• It is okay to have plans, but we need to be sure God is in the plan!
• Changes in our life often change the course of plans!
• If God shuts a door, no one can open it!
• If God opens a door, no one can shut it!

Scripture: Isaiah 26:3-4

GROW ME GENTLY LORD!

A change in plans is often difficult to adjust to.  Every change becomes a challenge, but we know that we can’t move forward if we aren’t open to the door of change.  

I was determined that just because I had some shaking problems and difficulty with my voice that I was still Norma.  Yet the plans Norma had were being slowly shut, and I could see a door closing.  I was at the point where I either had to believe what I preached for years or feel that my life didn’t count.  Thankfully, I chose to believe what I knew to be true!

If I wasn’t going to be active in speaking, I was going to increase my writing.  I had written an inspirational column for years for a Michigan Periodical, as well as writing a daily devotional that can be found at www.facebook.com/eternitymatterswithnorma.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself is the Rock eternal.”  Isaiah 26:3-4

We know that COVID stopped a lot of plans, and the periodical I wrote for ceased publishing, so yet another door was closing. That being said, I focused all my attention on the daily devotional and had enough time to pick up my art brushes.  I discovered that due to the tremors, my painting lacked, so I played with watercolor which is more forgiving, and even dabbled with watercolor pencils and markers.  I was pleasantly surprised when I made a few greeting cards that people seemed to enjoy the artwork!!  Could a different door be opening Lord?  I could feel peace begin to return as I trusted God with this new door!

I thought about packaging and selling the cards, but soon felt that it should be a card ministry more than anything.  It was another way of encouraging people throughout the year and bringing a smile to their faces.

At the beginning of last year, I asked God to “grow me gently,” and I wasn’t sure what that would mean, but as I look back over time, I see the door I desired to walk through closing and a brand-new door slowly opening!!  

CAN YOU RELATE?

If you are anything like me, a change in plans is hard.  We get our minds so set in stone that to change our way of thinking is like moving concrete.  Yet to walk fully into the plan God has for our lives, we have to let go of our ideas and openly welcome what God has for each of us!

WHAT WE LEARNED IN TODAY’S STUDY:

• Change is difficult.
• We must believe what we know to be true!
• To go through a new door we have to allow God to lead us!
• As we trust God with His plan, peace will come with the plan!
• We have to be willing to change our mindset, to let God work in our life.

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

THAT NEW DOOR IS ABOUT TO OPEN!!

I will be the first to admit to you that I dread these tremors that battle me daily.  I belong to two groups that deal with tremors—one, being a research group.  I am being very transparent with you that to date the healing I desire has yet to come.  Doors that I so wanted to walk through closed, but early this year my daughter suggested I submit my writings to the You Version Bible App.  

I played with the idea, but honestly never thought they would consider partnering with me and it was as if a light bulb went off in my head.  “Norma, your desire is to reach multitudes for Christ.”  I have had that desire for decades, but any door I planned just seemed to be like a revolving door going in circles.  I submitted my first plan, and in April of this year was approved to be a partner!!!

“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.”  Jeremiah 29:11

The back story on this familiar verse that is spoken by many and appears on signs as home décor has great depth.  Jeremiah spoke these words to God’s chosen people when they were in the captivity of the Egyptian and Babylonian Empires.  Jeremiah told them that they would be living in Babylon for at least another 70 years before their freedom came.

WOW! WOW! WOW!  

Did this speak to me!  God’s chosen were going to have to live another 70 years in captivity.  Do you think they wanted to hear that?  Don’t you think their prayers were to be released immediately?  Just like we want immediate healing from chronic illness or disease, the Jews suffered and faced powerful cultural pressure, living in a strange land, yet through it all, they kept their national spirit.

The 70-year period was between the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the rebuilding of it after King Cyrus brought them up out of captivity.  The people had not been obedient to what they knew was true and did not follow God’s plan for their lives.  As I ponder on this and the rebuilding of the temple, I can’t help but realize that you and I are the temples of God!  Our bodies house the spirit of God, and sometimes we have to be held captive by something to allow God to open new doors that reveal His plans!!  

Do I think for a moment that Essential Tremors or any disease is caused by God? No, but in reviewing what Jeremiah told the chosen people in Jeremiah 29:11, I realize that God will use whatever is needed to get us to walk through that new door!!

CAN YOU RELATE?

We can wallow in self-pity of what we are going through with our health or give God full reign.  Whether I am healed or not, I want my spirit to walk forward in change and in the perfect plan that God has behind that new door.  Won’t you allow and trust Him to open your door?

WHAT WE LEARNED IN TODAY’S STUDY:

• Be honest with yourself.
• My healing hasn’t come yet, and maybe yours hasn’t either, but God has a plan!
• The door I planned closed, but one I never dreamed could open, opened wide!
• Jeremiah told the Jewish chosen that they would be in captivity for another 70 years.
• Just as we have yet to be healed, doesn’t mean we have to remain in captivity.
• Even in captivity the chosen people kept their national spirit!
• It takes time to rebuild a temple!!!  Wow!
• You and I are the temple of God, and it takes time to rebuild us spiritually!
• Sometimes we have to be in captivity to get us to the point that we allow God to open new doors!