Oh, The Places You Will Go
As we approach graduation time I think of Dr. Seuss' book, "Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” As my daughter just received her Master’s last weekend, I think of the places she will go. I decided I needed to add some things to Dr. Seuss’ book to REALLY show graduates (and all of us) where we can go!
“Congratulations! Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!”
We know that because of Hebrews 11:13, "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."
“You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes
and you can steer yourself any direction you choose!"
Revelation 3:8, "See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut." Life is full of tough decisions. Some people don’t like making decisions mostly because they are afraid of making the wrong one. If we trust God to guide our decisions we will not have to stress!
"You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on. You'll be left in a Lurch.
You'll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then, that you'll be in a Slump."
We know that in this life we are going to have slumps and unpleasant bumps. John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” "Un-slumping yourself is not easily done." We were made to lean on God. Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." God will give us peace. Philippians 4:7, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
"You can get so confused that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place. The Waiting Place..."
Psalm 143:8, "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." 1 Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace..." (ESV) The waiting place - we will spend much of our time waiting for God's perfect timing but this is not wasted time. Ecclesiastes 3:1, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens..." While we think we are “just waiting” God has a purpose for all that we are going through....even the waiting! The only way we can trust in God’s perfect timing is through spending more time with Him. As our relationship with Him grows, we will have the ability to be patient, still and obedient.
"You'll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.
With banner flip-flapping, once more you'll ride high!"
Remember Jeremiah 29:11, "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." His plan is to prosper us and give us hope and a future. I call it "showing off." When we trust God with our life He will give us something so much better than we could ever imagine! He exceeds our wildest imagination! He will align our path with what we are meant to be doing, not what we expect we should be doing.
"And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on."
You will never be alone! God has told us He will never leave us. Hebrews 13:5, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." When we feel too scared to go on we must remember Deuteronomy 31:6. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
"KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So... be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places! Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting."
Matthew 17:20, "He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'” Nothing is impossible when our faith is in God. We can move mountains!
"You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know.
You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act."
There will be many times we are mixed up and have to watch our steps. Mark 11:22, "'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered." A lack of faith is simply not trusting that God will keep His promises, not believing that He can do the impossible or that He wants what is best for our life. In faith, we know that somethings are not His will and we know there are some things God will not do for us because He knows better.
"And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)"
God had created each of us for a purpose and many of us do not know what that purpose is, but if we allow God’s word to speak to us, allowing more of Him and less of ourselves, we will find that purposeful path! Do not rely on yourself, rely on God! Proverbs 16:9, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."
With God guiding us, nothing is impossible! “Oh, the places you will go! So...get on your way!"
This wonderful banner greeted the recent Wee Care kindergarten graduates on May 22, 2019.