God’s Plan
Did you know God has a plan for your life? How amazing and beautiful! The Creator of the universe has a unique plan for your life! Sometimes It may be difficult to trust in His plan when life’s struggles come. Still, we must remember He has “plans to prosper us, and not to harm us, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). He has a great ultimate plan for our lives; perfect happiness with Him for eternity. We must stand firm and trust in His plan for us and His way of getting us there, through the great joys and also the sorrows of life.
Below are some helpful videos, podcasts and blogs on God’s plan for us. They also cover topics such as 'how to discern His great plan for our lives.' These resources will help you with planning your next youth meeting. Happy planning!
Videos:
Father Mike Schmitz offers some clarity regarding God’s will in our lives. He directs us to the story of Israel’s desert wanderings in the Old Testament and the Annunciation to Mary in the Gospels, describing how even the tribes of Israel and Mary had to be content with the uncertainty of God’s will at times. Father Mike also teaches how we can discern God’s will even in the silence.
Today Fr. Mark-Mary is joined by Sr. Maria Regina, S.V. the Vocations Director for the Sisters of Life, to talk about the foundations for discernment. (This is Part 1 of a 3 Part series on discernment.)
Sister Maris Stella tells the story of how she found her vocation with the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville. Beforehand she had a comfortable life with many friends, was in college and had a boyfriend. But when she chose the religious life, she began the greatest adventure of her life.
Podcasts on God’s Plan:
This broadcast is a part of Sheen’s series “Peace” and the talk is entitled “Peace: Trust in God’s Plan.”
This is NOT a How to Discern episode. It’s much closer to the foundation. What does the “will of God” even mean? What about “surrendering my life to God”? Discernment isn’t a calculation or program or roadmap, it’s not a “do this and do that and God’s mystery in your life will be revealed.” It’s wanting to trust in this relationship with God, and, through that, wanting to let go of our own preferences. It diminishes our selfish desires.
Blogs on God’s Plan:
"Lay all your cares about the future trusting in God's hands, and let yourself be guided by the Lord just like a little child.
- Saint Edith Stein
Youth Group Activity Idea:
Set-Up:
- 1 roll of masking tape (or use cones)
- An assortment of items can be used as obstacles, such as chairs, desks or cones.
- 1 blindfold
Course Set Up:
- Create an obstacle course and mark a start and finish line with the tape (cones or rope can also be used). Items used as obstacles should be spread out and kept away from anything that could potentially cause risk to the active participant (such as walls, and tree branches).
Method:
- One team member is selected to navigate through the obstacle course. (Note: You may wish to demonstrate the path at this point). The team member will be blindfolded and totally dependent upon teammates to complete the course.
- Teams are given 3 minutes to discuss and develop a non-verbal communication (such as 1 clap means turn right) that will guide the blindfolded participant safely through the obstacle course. Give blindfolded participants a maximum of 3 minutes to successfully complete the course before switching.
- If a blindfolded participant touches an obstacle, they must stop and return back to the start point and switch with another person in the team. To increase the difficulty of the challenge, after each unsuccessful attempt or completion to cross, move some of the obstacles around resulting in a new course.
- You can do this activity as one big group or you can split the team into smaller sub-teams and get them to race against each other (with a maximum of 3 on the course at once). The team who’s blindfolded participant completes the obstacle course first, wins the challenge.
Use this game as a teaching lesson to the youth: Sometimes we don't see where God is taking us, but "we walk by faith, and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)." Although in the moment we can not see where we are headed, He will guide us along the way: God and His Saints guiding us on the path of life.
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