As I sat on the plane, staring out the window at the mounds of clouds, my eyes begin to fog up with tears. 

I was completely overwhelmed. One of my greatest desires is to travel the world, but I never thought it would happen so soon (that is without going into an excessive amount of debt). Here I was on a return flight from Australia, a trip completely ordained for me by God. Six months earlier my plan for July 2016 was to travel domestically to Washing D.C and Nashville but for a reason I could not understand, the Holy Spirit urged me not to. 

I'd saved so much vacation time from the previous year and desperately wanted to travel during the summer. I couldn't understand why God was telling me not to go on these trips ( one was a family re-union and the other for a Christian concert/gathering). 

It wasn't until April when i was presented with the opportunity to go to Australia that I realized what God was doing. He had told me not to those good opportunities because he knew a better one was coming, one i would not want to miss out on. 

This trip came together in just 8 short weeks with very little planning on my part. It was, in  a sense, presented to me. That may sound crazy, but all things are possible with God right?

Had I not listened to the Holy Spirit and abandoned my plans, I would not have been able to go on my first trip down under.

For the first time in my life I saw the pieces coming together per God's plan.

When I embarked on this journey with Jesus I had no idea what it really entailed.  Living fully surrendered to God's will is an every day struggle.  Many times in the last 5 years I felt like my life was being turned upside down. Now I see that it was actually being turned right side up. 

For me the trip was a a testament of His love for me, his understanding on my desires, and glimpse of the incredible things He wants to do for me and through me.  This thought reminded me of Ephesians 3:

What this experience has taught me is that God's plans for us greatly exceed the any we create for ourselves. 

I wholeheartedly believe that everyone is meant to experience a life that exceeds their wildest dreams. One that brings more joy and adventure than you could have ever imagined. Through Christ, you can find fulfillment previously thought to be unbelievable. 

Your dreams and desires may differ from mine but the God we serve is the same. It doesn't matter how financially poor or well-off you grew up, or whether you came from an ideal family structure or a less traditional one. Education, race, ethnicity, and geographical location cannot limit God's power.

 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:10)

But it is only when we our abiding in God's will that we'll see Him do exceedingly more in our life. Had I ignored the prompting of the Holy Spirit and went ahead with my original travel plans, I would not have had the means to travel abroad.

Every thing that God does for us is not ultimately for us.  Each blessing we receive and good work we are graced to do is for His glory. 

God didn't gift me with a trip to Australia so I could boast about getting another stamp in my passport book. He saw fit to take me across the world to grow me and give me a fresh vision for my life so that I can better serve Him (and you).

God chooses to make his power and love known by doing the impossible, miraculous, and unimaginable in our life. Though the cross was enough, he doesn't stop there.

When he meets and exceeds our plans we are made aware how intimately he knows and cares for us. Moreover, He's adding to our testimony so that we can make known to others all that He can do. 

Surrender. Trust. Follow. --- He is faithful. 

Much Love,

Tiffanie