Best Laid Plans

Have you ever planned an outdoor event just to have it postponed or canceled due to inclement weather?  Or perhaps you have had to change a lunch date with a friend because of an illness in the family or an unexpected work-related appointment.  No matter how meticulous we may be in orchestrating our monthly calendar; our plans often take a backseat to something that was completely unplanned.  But even when our plans change, we can always rest assured that God will work all things together for good (see Romans 8:28), according to His perfect will.

I am reminded of something one of my friends always says when she is making plans.  She prefaces the intended plan with the words, “Lord willing and the Creek don’t rise.”  In the 1800’s, people often used these words instead of responding with an affirmative yes, in accordance with James 4:15.  This scripture states, “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’”  The second part of the phrase, “the Creek don’t rise,” also originated in the 1800’s.  Back then, there were 19 tribes of Native Americans who formed the Creek Confederacy.  If they were to have another uprising, a person’s plans may have been interrupted.  In the same way, things happen today that are beyond our control.

In fact, our plans sometimes change drastically, without warning.  Recently, a colleague was in a car accident when they hit a deer on the way to work one morning.  One friend of mine is battling breast cancer and another is facing brain cancer surgery.  There are so many similar stories out there of people enduring seemingly insurmountable struggles.  Life is an extraordinarily fragile and precious gift.  There is no guarantee of tomorrow.  But we can take comfort in the truth that lies within the words of the beloved song that says, “Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand.  But I know who holds tomorrow.  And I know who holds my hand.”

From personal experience, I can tell you that life does not always go as we plan.  My mom, three siblings, three grandparents, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends are in Heaven.  While I am so very happy for them to be rejoicing around God’s throne, I miss them greatly here on earth.  Nevertheless, I trust God’s will completely, as I know His ways are perfect.  When I pray, I have faith that He will work all things out according to His will, not my own.  Sometimes, His answer may be yes, sometimes no, and other times, He may ask me to wait patiently.  If you’re like me, it’s often hard to wait patiently.  We live in a society that wants everything now.  From fast food to high-speed internet, this world has conditioned us to get what we want without delay.  Yet many times the one thing we need is to slow down and watch God’s hand at work in our lives, for His timing is impeccable.

The Bible says the Lord considers a day to be like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day (2 Peter 3:8).  Therefore, we need to try to realize that everything we go through on earth is somewhat temporary.  2 Corinthians 4:17 says it best: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”  Although we encounter some very dark days on this journey called life, we can rest assured that something better awaits us.  Whether we are in a state of tears or triumph, we can take comfort in the fact that God has a perfect plan for us.

God loves us more than we could imagine.  God loved us so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, so our sins could be washed away.  Jesus rose again on the third day and is sitting at the right hand of the Father, interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:34).  One glorious day, a trumpet will sound and everyone who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will be called up to meet our Lord in the air.  Everyone who believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life in Heaven (John 3:16).  The things on this earth will pass away, but Heaven will be our forever home.

So the next time someone asks you to make plans for lunch or dinner, or a myriad of other engagements, be sure to include God’s will on your calendar.  While you may not comprehend the way things work out, you can find sweet rest in the knowledge that God has everything under control.  He knows where we should be, when we should be there, and who we should be with at all times of the day.  His calendar is not measured in days or months, but in lifetimes throughout eternity.  Put your trust in Him today.  For the best laid plans are not made of times and dates, but of the eternal hope we have through Jesus Christ!

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

Keep Your Fork!

As a young teenager, I remember hearing my dad share a story he once heard that simply reminds us to keep our fork.  Even in recent years, I have heard my dad tell this story on more than one occasion.  The message in it is so simple, yet the meaning behind the message is so profound.  The story tells of a man who was told to “keep his fork,” while attending a dinner on the grounds at church one Sunday.  When he asked why, another church member responded, “For dessert.  The best is yet to come!”

What would the world be like if Christians everywhere held on to this attitude in our everyday existence?  Instead of griping and complaining about every twist and turn our lives may take, what if we simply held on to the promise in God’s Word that the best truly is yet to come?  Just as the man was instructed to keep his fork, we should keep our faith.  The Bible tells us to stand firm in our faith.  Yet we often find ourselves floundering, uncertain of our future, wondering if God can even hear our prayers.

We get caught up in whether or not the new flowers on the communion table match the sanctuary.  We grapple over the choir director’s choices of songs each Sunday and we debate over which deacon should lead the offertory prayer.  From paint colors to upholstery and cleaning products to hymn books, individuals in churches tend to focus on the things that are insignificant.  More important focal points would be whether or not the people of the church were seeking God’s will in every decision they make, not only in the life of the church, but in their own lives as well.

God’s Word says that without faith, it is impossible to please God.  If we micromanage every aspect of the church and never consult the true Head of the church, then it is certain that all efforts to succeed spiritually will fail.  We must put our lives and our ministries in God’s hands.  We must pray and seek His direction.  We cannot throw our fork on the tray every single time, expecting that a new one will be at our disposal.  We also cannot assume that dessert will be served with every meal.  Sometimes, we must delve deeper into the main course first.  In this case, we are talking about spending more time in prayer and less time waiting for the next blessing to ascend.

There will be many times in our lives when God says, wait.  He may not answer our prayers the first or second time we seek His will for our lives.  He may be preparing us in advance for a greater work beyond our imagination.  But whether we see the hand of God move in our lives instantly or years down the road, we must have faith that He is working on our behalf.  Just like the man who was told to keep his fork, he sat in expectation that dessert would be served.  He didn’t complain about the slow service or the fact he would have to eat it with a fork that he had used to eat his main course.  He just sat and waited patiently, with the knowledge that the best truly was on its way.

In Ecclesiastes 7:10, we read that the best is yet to come.  It simply says that it is not wise to ask if the old days were better.  We must focus on the days ahead.  You may be going through a trial that seems insurmountable.  Recently, I learned of an entire family who perished in an accident.  I cannot imagine the grief that their loved ones must be going through.  But even for these individuals, who are overcome with sorrow, I can tell them with a calm assurance that I know the best is yet to come.

God’s will is greater than our own will.  He always knows what is best.  While many things in life cannot be explained in this life, you can rest assured that God works all things together for good, to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.  One day, we will reach our Heavenly home.  The trials of this life will be a distant memory.  Everything will become as clear as day.  So keep your fork; the best is yet to come!

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

The Mountain

“If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” – Mark 11:23

A few summers ago, my dad and I traveled to Washington State. Following a picturesque cruise to Alaska, we planned to visit Mount Rainier National Park where we would spend a few nights at Paradise Inn. Built in 1916, this lodge is designated as one of the “Great Lodges of the West.” The only thing more beautiful than the lodge itself is its surroundings. For this particular lodge sits in the shadows of Mount Rainier, a majestic mountain that is crowned with a snow covered cap year round. No matter where you stand in and around the lodge, you are captivated by the 360° views of mountain vistas. The lobby is adorned with gorgeous woodwork, hand-painted lampshades, and enormous stone fireplaces. The dining hall serves succulent dishes that would satisfy the taste buds of the most discerning palette. But of course, the main attraction will always be the mountain.

The first time I laid eyes on Mount Rainier, I felt as if I was one step closer to Heaven. The atmosphere is so clean and fresh, with the smell of Evergreen trees permeating the air. The views are so breathtakingly beautiful, like a National Geographic postcard. The location is aptly named because it truly does feel like you have stepped into paradise. I’ve been blessed to travel to several locations in my life where I felt entirely safe, where I was utterly stress free, and where it seemed like the peace filling my soul could never be jolted, even for a moment. While our entire stay at Paradise Inn certainly fit this description, we encountered a major interruption on the way to the airport. For this seemingly perfect day that started with a huge smile on my face would transform itself into one where my face was streaming with tears.

As we were driving between Mount Rainier National Park and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a mother deer charged toward the front fender and bumper of our vehicle. We swerved, braked, and did everything we could do to avoid hitting the deer. We did all we could do. But it was no use. When we finally came to a complete stop, I looked back at the deer in the middle of the road. Although my first thought should have been one of gratefulness for our safety, I happened to notice a couple of fawns standing on the other side of the road in the grass, looking toward what appeared to be their mother lying there, still and unmoving. The fact that they would have to go through the rest of their lives without their mother overwhelmed me. It was at that very moment that tears began to stream down my face.

You see, it wasn’t the deer for which I was primarily grieving over. I saw myself in those precious fawns. One moment they were walking with their mother, having a perfectly good day. The next moment, their life turned upside down. The shock, the sadness, and the disbelief all came back to me in a wave of emotion. I had cried before, but this time I let the tears truly flow. I couldn’t control them anyway. But somehow, someway, I feel as if God used these tears to cleanse the sorrow that seemingly overshadowed everything I did, including the bittersweet feelings I had whenever my dad and I visited a new destination. Through this moment filled with shock, God showed me that life does go on. He showed me that even though life would never be the same, we could truly find a new normal, something I thought was not even possible up until this time.

Since that day, I have realized several things that were not apparent to me in the midst of those circumstances. First, God sent His angels to protect us, bringing our vehicle to a complete stop. Neither my dad nor I received any injuries. The air bags did not even deploy. How much worse it could have been. The volunteer fire fighter we spoke to before heading back to Seattle said a local family could use the venison from the mother deer and he was hopeful that another deer would adopt the two orphan fawns. While none of these things on their own made this a “good” experience, I see now that God did take this unfortunate situation and turn it around for good. Through this detour on our journey, food was put on a family’s table, and my dad and I were reminded that God has not forgotten us. For no matter what we are facing, I know for certain that God never fails.

What about you? Are you struggling to find emotional healing from a detour in your life? Is there a mountain that you just cannot seem to climb? I want to encourage you today. Jesus will help you move that mountain out of your way. All you have to do is have faith and believe. No matter what you are going through, Jesus Christ is the answer. He will pick you up, dust you off, and give you a brand new beginning. Do not let anything or anyone stop you from living your life. Get back on the road of life, keep your eyes on Jesus, and keep on driving. You can’t change the past, but you can find a new future. Jesus wants to give you hope and life eternal. Whatever you are suffering from, whether it is drug or alcohol addiction, verbal or physical abuse, grief over the loss of a friend or family member...whatever it is, Jesus will meet you right where you are. He loves you more than life itself. That’s why He gave His life for you. Call on the name above all names, Jesus Christ, today. Then watch that mountain move!

In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer

God Is With Us!

This past Sunday morning at approximately 1:30 a.m., the doorbell rang.  Chills ran up and down my spine.  Questions filled my mind.  Who was it?  What did they want?  Why were they here?  I was genuinely scared.  Immediately, I began to pray.  While I didn’t have an answer for the questions racing through my mind, I knew that God had everything under control.  I had the reassurance that God was with us.

My dad went to see who was banging on our door violently and ringing the doorbell repeatedly.  An individual who was under the influence of either drugs or alcohol had flipped their car and landed in a neighbor’s field.  This person had come to our house for help.  We called 911 and soon they were being attended to by the EMTs.  I prayed that they would be alright.  And I also thanked God for standing beside us, protecting my dad and me, and giving us His wisdom and peace even in an uncertain situation.

Sometimes, it is difficult to have faith that God will be with us through every trial in our lives.  I cannot tell you that it was easy to trust God while someone was beating on our door in the middle of the night.  There are times when we will be frightened to the point of trembling.  In these moments, our human nature tries to take over and tells us that everything is not okay.  But if we listen closely enough, we will find that there is a still, small voice saying, “Child, I am with you always.  Everything is going to be alright.”

Other times, it is so easy to trust God completely.  Last weekend, I attended a church ladies retreat.  At the retreat, we laughed and enjoyed a lot of delicious food, including delicious, fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and copious amounts of fresh strawberries straight from Plant City, Florida.  Most importantly, we were fed spiritually.  By Sunday morning, we were on cloud nine.  Right before the communion service, we received news that our retired pastor’s cancer was in remission.  At this very moment, God seemed so very near.  Trusting God was so simple.

On Monday morning, I learned that Pastor Jim had gone on to be with the Lord, having stepped through Heaven’s gates peacefully in his sleep.  He was such a kindhearted man of God, who was humble in every way.  He loved his family, his church family, and most important, he loved Jesus Christ with all of his heart.  We prayed for Pastor Jim on Sunday, just as we had been doing for months.  And on Monday, our prayers were answered.  Only it wasn’t the answer that we were praying for.  You see, we don’t always understand God’s answers, but we can always be assured that He knows best.  When we are on top of the mountain, trusting God comes easily for us.  But when we are in the valley, it becomes much more difficult to trust that God has a perfect plan.

I want to encourage you today.  This valley that you are going through will not last forever.  Sometimes you have to go through a storm in order to enjoy a rainbow.  Even in the sunset, there’s sunshine awaiting you.  Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”  Don’t rely on what your human mind can or cannot comprehend.  Rely on God.  God knows exactly what you are going through.  He is right there with you and He will walk every step of the way right by your side.  The Bible says that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).  Things may not make sense to you right now, but a day is coming when everything will be made clear to you.  God will show you His plan for your life in His timing.  Trust in Him.  Follow His steps.  Take comfort in the fact that God is always with you!

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer