There’s a saying which states, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans!”  I am pretty sure I have kept God laughing throughout my life.  Quite often I have marveled at how wonderful my life has been in spite of all the ways I tried to work my plan, with very little regard for God’s.

At the core of my faith is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” NIV.  This scripture has guided, comforted and given me hope when things are going as I planned and when not as planned!  After encountering the Resurrected Jesus, Saul of Tarsus decided his plans needed to take a back seat to Jesus’.  He had been a very purpose driven religious leader, but after his new birth in Jesus Christ he realized God’s plans for his life were not in his control.  Paul writes, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NIV This is a bold statement of faith which says because of what Jesus did for humanity on the Cross even when circumstances don’t go as planned, we believe  God is still working things out for the greater good.  In order to see God’s plan, which is perfect, I have to loosen my grip on my plans and trust God is at work for the greater good.

When a person begins to walk by faith and trust God is at work in the world and in a person’s life, it impacts the way we plan.  I come from a long line of planners and people who like to have control of their life.  Somehow, even at a very young age I had I began to see some of my plans aligning with God’s and some not so much.  At times it was frustrating, but over time I grew to have more trust and peace with God leading my life.

At an early age, I thought I would follow my father’s step into engineering.  In High School I did well in Math and Physics and as I entered college, Math became my declared major.  There was always this lingering thought I might be called into the ministry, so I minored in Religion and Education sort of as my backup plan.   When I graduated, I wasn’t really sure of the direction I would go, but an opportunity to teach Basic and General Math in a school which had become a Ninth Grade Center.   Though it was never a part of my plan, I was prepared, and I gained a lot of experience and confidence which would help me throughout my life.

After a year and half of teaching, I accepted an Assistant/Youth and Young Adult pastor position at First United Methodist Church, Haines City, Florida.  During that year, I felt a pretty strong call to begin the process for being Ordained Minister in the United Methodist Church.   Fortunately, I had all the educational requirements to enter Seminary and to pursue this path for my life.

For years, I always had small doubts about my gifts for the ministry.  In many ways, I was more equipped for engineering.  I like solving problems and building things.  I like finishing projects.  Unfortunately, the ministry rarely fulfills those needs.  People are always a work in project.  Even though you may prepare and preach a message, there was always this feeling I needed to spend more time and it wasn’t going to measure up.  I often commented to people I thought God had got it wrong.  Over the years, I discovered God got it right.  Though I did struggle with the ambiguities of ministry versus math, I found a purpose in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ I would never have found in just adding 2 + 2 and knowing the answer was 4.  

After college, many of my friends were getting married.  I dated several girls during and after college, but none of the relationships seemed to bloom.  Quite frankly I wasn’t ready, and God had a plan for me to wait until Sassy and I were at a place and time to date, become engaged and get married.  When it comes to relationships, it really takes a lot of faith and trust.  Most of the people I had dated would have been great partners, but none would have led me to the path I think God fully intended.  Even when I didn’t know it, God was leading me to the person who would influence so much of my life.

Throughout my life, there were doors which would open, but also doors which would close.  Sometimes I was slow to walk through the open doors and was quick to try and knock down the closed doors.  I am certain there were open doors I missed and closed doors I pried open and entered.  What is amazing to me is God somehow found a way to keep me on a path which always brought me peace and joy.   The process wasn’t always peaceful and joyful, but the end results were.

So many times, I tried to plan the course of my life and it would lead to a dead end.  I would have to circle back and find my way again.   The older I got, the more time there would be in between doors opening and closing.  Over the years, patience became a greater part of my planning.  

Isaiah 40:31 NASB
31 Yet those who [a]wait for the Lord
 Will gain new strength;
 They will [b]mount up with wings like eagles,
 They will run and not get tired,
 They will walk and not become weary.

This is a great scripture which serves as a reminder we need to be on God’s time, not ours.

Now, don’t think having faith means just sitting and waiting for God to show His plan. Throughout my life I did a lot of preparation.  I tried to be available to God! When I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, I would pray and ask God to show me the direction.   Actually, it was during those periods of darkness I learned what it really meant to walk by faith.

A time of great darkness and sorrow was the death of my mother.  She had just turned 62.  It had been several years since she had been in good health, but her health took a nosedive and ovarian cancer would lead to her death.  It was the first death of someone for whom I had such love.  This was not the life I had planned.  She never lived to see me become a father.   She didn’t get to see the birth of CrossRoad Church and share the joy of what God would do in this congregation.

For almost six years, Sassy and I struggled with infertility.  It was not the life we planned.  As I have shared earlier, our infertility would lead to the adoption of your mother.  I have to believe the detour our lives took, led to a wonderful plan for your mother!   If it weren’t for this detour, I wouldn’t be writing to you now!

In many ways, none of plans ever came to fruition.   I never received a Grammy or became a famous musician.  I didn’t make it to the PGA tour or ski on the World Cup tour.  Quite honestly, I don’t think I would change much about my life.  Here’s probably the most important thing to know.  He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 NIV

In just a few weeks I will turn 70.  I have a lot of mileage, but I still think I have some fuel in the tank and some tread left on the tires.  With each year, I have a greater appreciation for Paul’s words!

Rom 8:37-39 NASB But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.