Live Oak — You made it! Congratulations to the graduating class of 2012. Graduation marks the celebration of a long-awaited accomplishment, as well as the beginning of a new challenge: “What will I do with my life?” Some of you have carefully mapped out plans, while others are still struggling for answers. In your search, consider the words of Jeremiah 6:16:



“This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look: ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls…”



You now stand at one of the biggest crossroads of your life. Graduation is the end of a path that began years ago as you left Mom and Dad to climb onto the school bus and walk into the classroom on your own.  Now is the time to celebrate…with an eye to the future.

Stand at this crossroad and look. An intersection is a place where you must make a decision about which way to go based on where you want to end up. Consider what you have learned about life and about yourself, and look for the good way that leads to your future. The right path for living is marked out by God, but it requires a careful search to uncover. The popular, easier path is always going to be offered and it will be tempting, but know that it leads to a dead-end life…when we ignore God’s map we lose our way.

Walk in it. Once you get a glimpse of that good way, don’t get frustrated if you can’t see the whole plan right now…start with one step…it may be that you find the directions for the next step on the way.  Get going…a tiny rudder can turn a huge ship, but only if it is moving. Be confident that God has a plan for your life. In Ephesians 2:10 the Bible tells us “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” That word “workmanship” also means “masterpiece”…one of a kind! God created you uniquely for a specific purpose…to do good works. The kicker is that He has prepared them “in advance” for you to do. All we have to do is follow His map to find them!

Find rest for your souls…Of all the things I could hope and pray for you…this is it. In a world full of unrest, strife and lack of peace, having rest for your soul is priceless, and it only comes from being in right standing with the One who created you. Notice that this rest comes as a result of standing, looking, asking, and walking…with Him. Your life consists of the time between your appointed birth and death…how will you spend it? Choose carefully…because your heart and your life matters!  



Congratulations and Blessings!  Angie

Heart Matters is a weekly column written by Angie Land, Director of the Family Life Ministries of the Lafayette Baptist Association, where she teaches Bible studies, leads marriage and family conferences and offers Biblical counseling to individuals, couples and families.  Contact Angie with questions or comments at angieland3@windstream.net