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The Perfect Plan
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Pocket Full of Quarters Trek 2012
The Perfect Plan
By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
"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." Jer 29:11 NIV
I’m a planner. I help people, businesses, and ministries write life and business plans. I believe God gives us the ability to plan and we have an obligation to use it. Having said that, I know that the only way to be a part of the perfect plan is to listen to God and have the courage and discipline to act. I begin each day asking God for knowledge of His will for me and the power to carry it out. When I listen and act, the results are amazing.
I had plans for last week. I was going to look for places to live and pack for leaving on a trip the following week. Then I got a call from the Sojourner, Ron Fuller.
“Riley is going to be in Kennesaw, Georgia for the Big Shanty Festival. Why don’t you make that the first stop on your missionary journey,” Ron said.
Ron and Amanda Fuller run the Sojourners Fellowship out of Manchester, Tennessee. Over the years, we have ministered together and they have become mentors and family.
A few years back, Ron had introduced me to Riley Stevenson, head of Global Evangelism, for Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Riley is a laidback Texan who has a special anointing for evangelism. When I join his team for evangelism events, I am blessed to be caught up in the whirlwind of that same anointing.
Wow. Spending time ministering with Ron, Amanda, and Riley sounded wonderful. The problem was, Bob and I were looking for somewhere to move next and still had not found anywhere. Bob and I prayed about it and I felt that special “drawing near” that I have come to recognize as the Holy Spirit.
I started planning. My plan was to drive to Manchester, spend a night with the Fullers, and head together to Kennesaw, Georgia. At the last minute, that plan changed. Duty called and the Fullers needed to minister locally. They couldn’t go to Kennesaw. Knowing I still hadn’t found a place to live, Ron suggested that maybe I should stay home and house hunt. I was certainly “off the hook” about leaving a week earlier.
Again, I prayed. Since I have a habit of always doing the hardest thing, often when I realize God is giving me an easier way, I feel relief. I waited for the relief but it didn’t come. On Monday, I set out, not completely sure where I was going.
What an amazing week. A few hours into the journey, my best friend, Nancy Edwards, invited me to her house. She is an hour away from where Riley was going to be. A few hours later my friend Kathy Tolbert, invited me to her house. She lived on the route to Nancy’s house. God had amazing plans for me – plans to fellowship and to minister. I felt so treasured. I left those 2 houses feeling cherished and filled up.
I arrived Friday night at the Big Shanty Festival. Only hours after I arrived, we went to a mall where 10 people with me prayed to receive Jesus. On Saturday, 19 people honored me by allowing me to lead them to Jesus. On Sunday another 15 people said yes to Jesus. As I expected, Riley led an amazing evangelism event. 542 decisions were made for Christ. What an honor to be a part of such an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
On Sunday night, I drove to Manchester and spent a night with Ron and Amanda. They were disappointed at having to miss being with Riley but they had an incredible week in ministry that included a salvation.
The week was different than any of us planned but it was the perfect plan. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by people who listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. It is the only way I know to be a part of the perfect plan.
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