You belong to God; He holds your right hand. He guides you with counsel, leading you to a glorious destiny.

I want to say how thankful I am that I belong to God and that He is the one who leads me. He is the one who has laid out my life, has a plan and is more than competent to walk me through every part of it. What a journey! Even my wildest dreams and aspirations cannot compare to the life God has for me.

This scripture says He holds our hand and guides us. This implies an active and intimate involvement in our lives, but it doesn't show some spectator sitting up in the grandstands barking out orders over a megaphone. Nor does this say He puts a leash on our neck and pulls us everywhere He wants us to go.

"Holding our hand" means He wants to be close and help us along and allowing us freedom of movement. I am seeing a picture of my child skipping along next to me, singing and dancing, all the while, holding my hand, hearing my voice…in relationship. I want to live out my journey with God this way. I as I am growing in my understanding of Him as my loving, gentle Father, it is becoming more natural for me to follow Him side-by-side, step-by-step like this. But it hasn't always looked like this.

In Week 2's devotional, I alluded to "surprises" from God. In this case, I was referring to one that came when I assumed I knew where God was headed with our second child, took off in that direction and left Him to follow me. Oops! Similar to our first, I had an urging about who our next child would be. Though, truth be told, there was far less detail and direction. But me and my "type A, plan-out-everything" personality, took this "little bit" of understanding and ran with it!

I sensed God saying the "seed of Judah" was in me. This had to have meant that I was having a boy and his name would be Judah. While pregnant, I even signed our Christmas cards, "Love Neal, Karen, Caleb and Judah". God said it, I was going to have a boy…done deal, right!? Not exactly.

Naomi Elizabeth, our beautiful baby girl, was born in June of 2001. And for the record, I am so thankful God didn't change His plan based upon my interpretation. Even reading her name causes me to well up with joy and pride! She has meant more to Neal and I than we ever could have imagined. We are excited to continue hand in hand with God and see where He takes her.

Thank you Lord in Isaiah 55 (paraphrased NLT) you remind me that, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Help me to stay right beside you, holding your hand all the way and enjoying the journey.