The Alternative Plan

This book aims to encourage anyone who feels unsettled and is looking for fulfillment in life. I want to assure anyone who has backslidden or has lived a compromised lifestyle that God's plan for him or her will never change. The Alternative Plan is my testimony. Even though I was a renegade, God restored me after I had spent years running away from Him to pursue an independent life. The early influences that shaped my outlook on life were based on poverty, a fear of failure, and a need for affirmation, security, and love. As a backslider, I relied heavily on my intellect, rationale, and professional accolades to succeed. I spent years wearily pursuing an empty, meaningless lifestyle based on ambition, self-reliance, and self-focus. But the Lord, in His goodness and mercy, led me through many difficulties to a secure place of complete trust in His lordship.

The initial stages of the backsliding process are subtle and often characterized by seemingly reasonable or logical compromises. A backslidden person cannot pinpoint exactly when the process began because it often happens slowly. This book is for those who feel trapped, those who feel like they have lost themselves, or were disappointed in their search for success, security, and stability. The optimum path to success is Jesus Christ.

All age-groups and young immigrants can benefit from my story. Culture shock and the sometimes fast-paced, high-pressure business world can certainly present a challenge of faith to immigrants trying to find their way in a new country. This book is a testimony of how God's mercy and love powerfully pursued and fully restored me after years of living self-governing life in a great country that affords many freedoms, the USA! If God can do this for me, He can do the same for you!

No matter how much one has messed up, moved away from God, made mistakes, or poor decisions, God, has a tremendous, individualized plan that was laid out way before being born. The Apostle Paul says, "for we are God's handiwork, His workmanship recreated in Christ Jesus, born anew that we may do those works which God predestined planned for us that we should walk in them," Ephesians 3:10, AMPC. God's will and desire for each person accomplish their predestined plan. God did not design plans for failure, cycles of adversity, lack, sickness, stagnation, or misery. God desires for us to prosper in all things. The promise in Jeremiah 29:11, NLT, says, "I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. God has the perfect plan for your life, health, prosperity, happiness, success, family, marriage, and fulfillment. If you think you are beyond salvaging, God is ready to redirect you back to the path He meant for you. As you read this book, accept God's restorative grace, knowing that He receives us in any condition, and He longs to restore fully to your designed purpose.

According to His plan and destiny for each person, God's desire for everyone is to be successful in life (See 3 John 1:2). He wants our lives to shine with His love and glory. No matter how many mistakes you have made or how far you have walked away from the Lord, God has not changed His plans for you. God can still realign your life to fit the plan He intended for you.