Hello again. The Warrior's Table is set once again after a brief delay. It may be another few weeks for another posting, but, for now, let's dig in.
In April 1989, my parents and I visited the campus of Huston-Tillotson University (it was College back then) and figured it was the next step in my educational path after I graduated from Brookhaven that May with my Associate's Degree. But then my parents ran into some challenges when it came to how this was going to be possible financially. I remember my mother coming to me on Sunday, August 6, 1989, sad to tell me that I might not be able to go to HTC in the Fall, but in the Spring. But Gregory Forster, Jr. was not going to take this lying down, not if Matthew 17:20-21
had anything to do with it. I went to fasting and praying from that point, believing God was going to work it out. Monday, no new news; Tuesaday, no new news; Wednesday, no new news. I still was determined to go to Austin, Texas and have this new experience. Thursday came, with no new news, but that Friday, August 11,here comes my mother to tell me to pack! We leave for Austin in the morning!
Let's fast-forward 20 years to see this same individual about to graduate with his Master of Arts in Teaching from Dallas Baptist University. He had plans to teach some aspiring 5th graders who needed to master English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) in their educational pursuits. I felt like I built good rapport with this age group and this would be my entry into the same educational arena from which his grandparents and aunt. Besides having to find an internship at a school somewhere to complete certification, all I had to do was to pass the practice test with an 85% or better, both in the ELAR arena and Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) area. I passed the PPR without a problem, but thatr ELAR test kept defying me. The highest score I was able to get was 74%, and that was at the 4th atrtempt. My score was MUCH lower on the 5th and last try. I fasted and prayed like I did in 1989 to move that mountain out of my way, but then it came to me: you REALLY DO NOT have the proper countenance for these type of kids. You get easily irritated with the way most behave as 10 or 11 or 12-year-olds, you know, natural tendencies. Uh, no, sir. You have the ability to teach others, yes, but not 4-8 ELAR. God showed His faithfulness to me (Proverbs 3:5) by making me "fail" the practice test for ELAR so as to avoid making myself and those boys and girls miserable, possibly making the school focus on me at the next round of layoffs.
Take a look and see if there have been many challenges in your life that either caused you to lean on The LORD and grow or that might hav come about because you continue to fight for something that GOD doesn't want you to have. Either way, folks, He gets ALL the glory because of His goodness. He wants us to go down the right paths that benefit you and your family, even your own company. Look at what Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." And if we say we trust Him, we need to know what is happening in our day-to-day lives. That is why we need to be in His face EVER' day so that we hear His voice (Psalm 61:8, Psalm 68:19, Isaiah 58:2) and know that, uh, yeah; He knows what IS best for us. I ever will go as far as to say that He even will put us in a situation so that Satan know who truly does have a relationship with Him and will not renounce their faith in Him, no matter what, just like in Job 1. And when we do make it to the other side, we give Him praise... and the devil a black eye.
So take assessment, ladies and gentlemen, and really look at things. What things are sharpening your faith in Him? Then look at the things that "aren't working". If you really think about it, filtering the "obstacle" through Proverbs 10:22, how does it play out? Would their be too many things sacrificed or taken away that adversely affect you and the family? How would it affect your health, especially your spiritual health? If you hear that Holy Ghost "No." or "Not yet", don't fight it. Accept it, then let Him take you doen the right path
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