Photo courtesy of Rawich
You may have noticed you’re getting this blog post a little early. There was a change in plans.
It all started when I spent two days last week, setting up a new work schedule for the days I’m home. With my tendency to be unorganized and unfocused, I could see that I needed a plan in order to help me stay on top of the many projects currently going on.
So with this being the beginning of a new year, last week I studied my projects and the time they were going to require. I figured out a system to try to cover each project with a sufficient amount of time each week. I rewrote the schedule and refigured and rewrote it again. Yesterday it was ready. I copied it out and put it right out front where I could see it. I couldn’t wait for Monday morning so I could get started!
Then my schedule got thrown out the window. I got an email from our own Eddie Snipes stating there was a problem with my blog Home Page. A quick check revealed that–of course–it wasn’t anything I could take care of. On top of that, my webmaster was out of the country. But even though he was out of the country, my wonderful webmaster came through with a solution: post my blog early and that should take care of it. (I hope it works. We’ll find out as soon as I post this!)
So my best laid plans for part of Monday was out the window and instead of receiving this Tuesday morning, I guess you’ll get it about midnight on Monday.
It’s not a big deal. It really isn’t. But what I want us to see is that even though I had a really good plan, a well thought-out, all-for-a-good-reason plan…I was stopped from working it.
Paul had a good plan, too. And his plan WAS a big deal. According to Acts 16, Silas, Timothy, and Paul were planning to head into Asia, but verse 6b says they had “…been kept by the Holy Spirit [emphasis mine] from preaching the Word in the province of Asia.”
Then, verse 7 says, “When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to [emphasis mine].” It’s clear from God’s Word that Paul and his team had prepared well and were prayed up. After all, they were carrying the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles, to those who were not Jews, God’s chosen people.
But the Holy Spirit stopped them. And not once, but twice. It was a huge change in plans.
That night Paul had a vision of a man telling him they were needed in Macedonia. Some scholars say this was Paul’s second encounter with Jesus, the first being his encounter on the road to Damascus. Others think it was merely a dream, but either way, Paul went, the Gospel came west to Europe, Lydia was baptized, and Christianity eventually arrived in America.
All because of a change of plans. And it was good.
So with the dawn of 2012, as we’re setting our goals and making our resolutions, let’s not forget that God may have a different plan. Yes, we can organize, we can figure and refigure the best route to get wherever it is we feel God wants us to go–and we should! But the truth is, God may change our plans.
And if He does, it will be good.
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9
(Photo courtesy of Rawich)
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Who Wins the THREE Dianne Neal Matthews Books?
Winner #1: Susan Panzica
Winner #2: Vanessa
Winner #3: Lynn Nester
Congratulations, winners! Just Contact Me with your mailing address and you’ll hear from Dianne with directions.
Thanks again, Dianne, for a wonderful, informative interview…and for your most generous offer of THREE books! I pray God continues to bless you and all your projects!
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I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
