8-13-2015

Good Morning All!!

           Jeremiah 29:11; “I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.”

    Last night we had our grandchildren for a little while.  We ate supper and then 3 yr. old Blake went outside to help me with the garden.  He likes to pick tomatoes because “I can tell red from green.”  He helped me pull the garden hose to the tomatoes and I went back to turn the water on.  As I was coming back, he was running up to me with a wild look.  “Grandpa! Grandpa!, it’s a disaster!!”  Now he is only three but, for a second or so, that is still a little unnerving.  “What is wrong?” I asked.  “All the lettuce is gone!!” was his answer.

    Given that it is in the warm part of summer, our lettuce had become bitter and then had gone to seed.  My wife and I decided to pull it and then we would re-plant, hoping for a second crop later this fall.  Of course, neither of us thought that we would have to inform our grandson of our plans.  We didn’t think it would matter to him or that he would even know.  We had a plan and that plan was to give us fresh lettuce in a few weeks.

    There are many times when we are like my grandson.  God makes a change and our immediate response is that it is a disaster.  Our immediate thought is that this is the absolute worst event that could occur.  This event has total catastrophe written all over it.  These last few sentences are usually how we feel and react.  Yet what we need to keep hold of is that God has a plan for us and that plan goes forward.

    Many of us have experienced what we see as a “disaster.”  We have seen loved ones die; we have had health scares; we have had career setbacks; we have experienced life.  These events are difficult; don’t ever think they are not.  Yet God uses these events to mold you and to shape you into the disciple that you are.  He sometimes uses these events to shed things that are becoming false gods to us.  Sometimes, he has a different path for us to follow so we have to move on from some of the people we are with now.  There are lots of reasons that God does what he does but in the end, they come down to the plan, the plan for our salvation.  This is always God’s plan to unite you with him in the eternal loving relationship that he desires for us. 

    The plan is to return us to the joy of living in his perfect garden; the garden that he is restoring and fixing.  It is with great hope that we look to that garden.  It is with great hope that we look forward to when all things will be perfect; that is the plan and you are part of it.  We may not always see it or understand it but we are part of God’s plan for restoration.  Remember this; for this is his promise to us- life eternal with him.

Father, there are times when I question things that I do not need to question.  Teach me to trust.  Teach me to follow your Word and to know that it is truth.  Guide me by your wisdom and grant me the peace and patience to go as you lead and to trust the path ahead.  In your hands I am safe; give me the strength to persevere.  In the precious name of Jesus I pray, amen.

 God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret