I

GOD HAS A PLAN

For I know the plans that I

have for you, declares the

LORD, plans to prosper

you and not to harm you,

to give you hope and

a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

I'm sure my ladies Sunday school class would tell you a statement I often make and that is that God always has a plan in our lives.  I recall seeing teenagers go forward at invitation time of a church service desiring to know God's will (plan) for their lives, especially in the area of ministry.  For some reason, as we age, we lose sight that even where we are in live that God always has a plan for each of us.

That plan we once thought to know when younger could have been to know one's future occupation, college to attend, person to marry, where to live, etc.  All of those, many of us have already hurdled.  We tend to forget or perhaps ignore the fact that God has continuing phases of His plan for us.  Some of those revealed plans we may like or not like, but it's still His plan.

We should consider that God's plan and planning is always perfect,  We might highly disagree with that when we find ourselves in some difficult places, but He's correct in every way, every time in His planning.  We must also believe that His plans are right on time, according to His own schedule and timeliness in our individual lives.  His planning for us isn't just when we are seeking in our youth what we want to be when we grow up.  God's plans are ongoing no matter our stage of life.

We may not understand (disagree) with God's plans for us at times.  When working six years in a slum area in a Christian center, I couldn't figure out why one day, like a clap of thunder, I knew I had to leave that position that I thought I would spend the rest of my life doing.  It hurt and I had NO means of support in making that move.  In a little over a week, I had a new job, apartment, close to the chuch I attended, and almost next door to a Kroger store.  In six months, I had my first date with Brian.  There's no way, I could have anticipated how God was going to work His own plan for me.

I have known folks out of jobs with no work in sight.  They've done everything to apply and go for interviews to the point almost of insanity.  In it all, where is God?  Even in the hardest of times, God has a plan for each of those lives.  Nothing may make sense in the moment, the God is in charge and knows what He's doing despite our discouragement.

We've all gone through the serious illnesses of family members and friends.  God seems to be almost silent, especially if one such person passes away.  We may ask our questions about it all but we don't stop to consider that the greatest plan God can work in our lives is to take a loved one or even ourselves to be with Him.  That's what I would call THE divine plan of all time.

In times of figuring out God's plan or in being a part of it, we are to do what we can to stay close to the grand Planner through being in His Word, being people of prayer and staying active spiritually.  Our spiritual walk, despite missing a loved one, not having a job or just facing life's difficulties will keep us strong and learning more about trusting the One who knows and loves us best.

Dear Father, there's so much to this life that at times makes no sense.  Even when we know that You know best in all things, our trust may tend to waver.  May Your Spirit work a strength in us that is unbelievable, giving us a stronger hope as we contemplate future days.  We love You so much.  In Jesus' precious name...Amen

TEACHERS PAST

Train up a child in the way he

should go, and when he is old

he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

 A friend and I were talking today about past Sunday school experiences.  She taught children 30 years in Sunday school and loved it.  I had another friend prior to our move who had taught in a Sunday school department so long, she was then teaching the children of some of the students she had taught in time past.

The older I get, the more I tend to look back to my own Sunday school days and the dear ladies who taught me through those primary years and others on through high school.  I especially now like looking back to those times  those teachers who taught me and my friends.

I'm sure they had their times when they were weary in well-doing but still showed up to try to tame some wild children.  They couldn't have envisioned what some of those children would become in later life with lessons learned that helped shape young lives.

I've spoken of a dear lady who even encouraged me to help her with VBS when I had outgrown it in age.  She had me teach memory work to about 25 restless junior girls and boys.  I found that I really liked doing that and that teacher friend knew I had enjoyed it.  At the end of that week, she came to me and simply said that she felt someday I would be a really good Bible teacher.  Didn't sound possible at the moment but for over 65 years, that's what I've been doing.

I think we fail to look back at folks who invested themselves in our lives and got very little thanks for their dedication.  They may have wondered some days if it was worth the effort.  After all, even Sunday school teachers are human.  I see how each of those folks had an influence in my life.  I couldn't tell you one single lesson they taught that I now remember.  However, they left in me a love for the B-I-B-L-E and I received love and care from them they could never have known I needed.

I wish I could send them a note today of gratitude but they are all in Heaven now.  Their faithfulness to the task I hope has rubbed off on me.  You and I owe such folks a debt of gratitude for their investments.  We are left to carry on in whatever service for the Lord we have been called to do..it would delight those faithful folks if they could see for a moment that they DUN GUUUD. 

Thank You Father for those teachers whose every name I recall.  Through them, I came to love You and others in the Bible.  I learned principles through them I couldn't have received anywhere else.  Thank You for that church basement where all the classrooms were and for that wonderful smell  in it that I'll never forget.  In Jesus' precious name....Amen

 

GUARD YOUR HEART

It's amazing, especially as one ages how we are reminded often to take care of our hearts.  There are any number of things that can affect these human hearts of ours.  Conditiions can begin very small, almost so small, they can be ignored.  Any number of things can occur with the heart from a healthy tick all the way through the negatives to even a heart transplant.  We are told the things to do to insure heart health from diet, exercise to even some prevention-type medications.  If we want to continue living and breathing, we are careful and alert.

The odd thing is that spiritually, at times, we don't even consider the condition of our spiritual hearts.  We begain asking Jesus to come into our hearts.  That's what I was told when I got saved.   Even at age 10, I knew there wasn't going to be a man climb into my heart, but the joy of Jesus in my heart, couldn't just stand still.  With ongoing maturity, it still feels at times like my spiritual heart wants to burst with joy and love for Jesus.  

Problem is, we can end up with some pretty serious conditions in these hearts that can stunt our spiritual health.  Scripture tells us that what comes out of mouths is the result of what is going on in our hearts.  We live in a culture that has led us a long way through the years regarding sin and the damage it can cause.  As the world goes, so will go our hearts if we aren't alert to any "infections:" that might take place.  Mark 7:21-23 reminds us:

 For from within, out of the heart of men,

proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,

fornications, murders, thefts,

covetousness, wickedness, deceit,

lewdness, an evil eye, pride,

foolishness.

All these evil things come from within

and defile a man.

Mark is reminding us  that what comes from our words, has its source to be found in the heart. Praul would remind us of those things to put in the place of all that rot.  He speaks of a worthy goal for all of us that would contribute to keeping a clean, spiritually health heart.  He speaks in Galatians 5 of the delightful fruit...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, godness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, that can take the place of the debilitating sins Satan presents.

We probably get our hearts checked when we go to the doctor.  We can stay home and keep an honest check on our spiritual heart condition.  The Holy Spirit will be happy to help us back to the spiritual health He desires for us.

Father, may our heart's desire through the empowering of Your Spirit to be people who desire to have clean hands and pure hearts that honor You in every way.  May we serve You well with love and purity.  In Jesus' precious name...Amen