Unplanned, Planned Events

The blessing of living more than sixty years is that I’ve had the opportunity to witness God act in some very unexpected ways. So many times I have been astounded by how certain events unfolded. There were times I questioned God, but his wisdom proved right in the long run. When I read Esther 6, […]

Your Role in God’s Plan

You have a role to play in God’s plan for humanity. He created you for this purpose, His purpose. Yet sometimes it is hard to grasp that God has a plan for your life that will impact people beyond your lifetime. Like Abram in Genesis 15, when God reveals His plans to us, we often […]

When Change Upends Your Life

Change can be hard, particularly if it is something you did not plan on. You may feel like the Israelites in Jeremiah 29 who have been sent into exile in Babylon and forced to live in a place that is very foreign to them. Perhaps you, like the Israelites, had your own plans and ignored […]

Focused on Fear Instead of God

Sometimes God calls us to do things that seem overwhelming and scary. Even though he assures us he wants good things for us, there may be things we have to do along the way that are difficult and hard. Yet if we refuse to follow God’s plan, we should ask ourselves what we might miss. […]

Christmas Plans—Part 2

What do you do when you’re faced with an unexpected change in plans? Will you abandon your plans and follow God’s lead? See how Joseph handled the unexpected.

Christmas Plans—Part 1

You have your holiday all mapped out, but what do you do when God suddenly changes your plans? Will abandon your plans and follow God’s lead? See how Mary handled the unexpected.

I Can Fit You In Next Tuesday At 6 a.m., Jesus

As followers of Jesus Christ, how often do we make plans that include his will for our life? In 1 Corinthians 16:5-9, I am struck by how committed Paul is to following the Lord as he made his plans.

A Message in Upended Days

Have you ever had a day when it seemed nothing went as planned? By the end of the day you find yourself frustrated, annoyed that your day was upended. Rather than entrench in the frustration, it may be good to take a moment to reflect on why the day did not go according to your […]

Planning An Unknown Future

At the end of 2019, the 2020 calendar lay empty. Soon dates were filled in with plans and the year began much as the previous year started. Then the pandemic emerged and suddenly everything stopped.

Morning Praise — God Expects the Unexpected

This moment is all I know. The future is uncertain. I make plans for the day as if I know they will come to fruition, yet the unexpected awaits to thwart my plans. In the emergency room this week I lay on the bed thinking how this wasn’t in my plans for the day. It […]