God, plans and steps

Today: Isaiah 13-17

I'm a planner. Perhaps it's fitting that as part of my day job, I am a project manager. When I plan a product launch or a crisis communication plan or anything...I know that unforeseen obstacles may come up and shift the course of the project. Sometimes I will pad extra time into schedules to account for such events. In some cases, projects are entirely derailed or cancelled--and for good reasons. Things do not always happen as I plan.

In my work, I know this is absolutely true. Yet in my heart and in my day-to-day life, it is hard to swallow. I don't know about you, but I've had a few breathtaking moments where my life has taken unexpected turns for the best. However, I've also had times of frustration where I've hit roadblocks and find myself praying, "Come on, God--I really don't want to be in this place. I was supposed to be doing ABC in my life by now and it just hasn't happened. What's up with that?!?"

In these freak-out moments, I try to remember some of the things I know for sure...like this verse from Proverbs 16:9:

In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.

Combine that an excerpt from today's passage:

God-of-the-Angel-Armies has planned it.

Who could ever cancel such plans?

His is the hand that's reached out.

Who could brush it aside?

It's comforting and reassuring for me to know that God has a plan at work for this planet...and a plan at work for every single person on it (including me!). I think God likes us to pray and plan and go after the dreams He's given to us. However, He's the orchestrator of every good thing that happens in our lives. Here are few ideas to consider:

• God brings people together.
  
  God created all the people in this world and has certain relationships in mind for us. I'm not just talking about your husband/wife...but friends, family, mentors and more. Although God brings people together, we have to put effort into building and maintaining healthy relationships.
  
• God brings provision into our lives.
  
  God is the source of all we need--ultimately, He provides our homes, food, jobs, cars, etc. He gave us talents and time, but we often have to take tangible steps to use them. God may have a great job waiting for you, but you may have to first go to school and then apply for it--it's a partnership.
  
• God gives us wisdom.
  
  God hears and answers prayer. I think one of his most favorite prayers to answer? A prayer for wisdom (see Solomon's story for more on that one). God is always willing to give wisdom--but we have to ask for it, look for it and live in it.
  
• God changes us from the inside-out.
  
  I think God is the ultimate Transformer--He can take an ordinary life and shape it into something absolutely incredible. Often, His transformations are from the inside out. When we allow God to change inside things like our thoughts and our desires, our previous plans may shift--because our steps have been re-ordered.

The generation gap

Today: Judges 1-2

As reluctant as we are to (sometimes) admit it, most of us inherit traits from others. Perhaps you've inherited your mom's sense of direction and your dad's sense of humor. Maybe you and your best friend share the same catchphrases. Possibly you've inherited passion for coffee from a former colleague or college roommate. And you're probably wearing clothes with style that didn't start with you--your style may have been influenced by a magazine, a commercial, a rockstar or fashion from the past (hello, leggings...).

Have you ever thought about how your faith in God (or lack thereof) has been influenced by others?

My parents, for example, didn't know much about God until they were in their mid-twenties. Both of them had encounters with religious people growing up. My dad went to Catholic mass off and on until his father passed away (when my dad was seven). My mom's family never attended any kind of church regularly. However, after her parents divorced and things were tight financially, she remembers visits from Mormons who reached out to help her mom.

It wasn't until they were in their mid-twenties that they really heard what it meant to have a personal relationship with God. They didn't know how much Jesus loved them--and that He gave His life to save them. They didn't know they could talk to Him directly and expect Him to listen. And before meeting a great co-worker and friend, they didn't know that a Christian could be normal--and actually fun to be around.

But what would have happened if they chose not to go to church? What if they didn't read the Bible? What if they raised my sisters and I with a parenting style that said, "Our kids can believe whatever they want to believe. Their faith is their choice..."?

The short answer? We wouldn't know God. We wouldn't know anything about His love.

That would have been a sad story, but it's happened many times throughout history. Today's passage describes Joshua's death and the death of his generation. Read on:

Eventually that entire generation died and was buried.
Then another generation grew up
that didn't know anything of God
or the work he had done for Israel.
The People of Israel did evil in God's sight:
they served Baal-gods;
they deserted God,
the God of their parents
who had led them out of Egypt;
they took up with other gods,
gods of the peoples around them.
They actually worshiped them!
And oh, how they angered God...

This is a really tragic passage because it describes a huge generation gap. The generation that witnessed God's miracles--the parting of the Red Sea, the Exodus from Egypt and tumbling the massive walls of Jericho--failed to pass on a legacy. They didn't help the kids of the next generation know anything about God...or more importantly, to just know God.

Interesting stuff. This post isn't just about parenting. It's about sharing God's love with people--so that they know He cares about them. You don't have to physically have a child to do that. You can influence others in your generation and those younger, too.

A generation gap is an epic fail. Close the gap. Live out God's love so that it's clear and obvious to the world around you.

Tomorrow: Judges 3-5

One verse

Today: 1 Corinthians 5-8

Today I'm highlighting one verse that says a lot (and illustrates why I'm not writing much today):

We

never really know

enough

until we recognize that

God

alone

knows it all.

Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 9-11

You know my heart...

Today: 1 Corinthians 1-4

In high school, I was a writer and editor for our school newspaper (I know--shocker, right?). For one story assignment around Valentine's Day, I interviewed married teachers and staff members about their spouses, how they met, fell in love and all that mushy gushy stuff. I don't remember most of the stories. But I do remember one.

"What do you love most about your husband?" I asked an administrator.

She paused. Then she replied simply, "He knows me best and loves me most."

It's been over 10 years and I never forgot that. I don't why exactly. Maybe it's because I'm still looking for that guy, for that kind of love. Perhaps it's because I still need to be that kind of person--to have the ability to love someone that way.

"He knows me best and loves me most," is a pretty powerful statement when you think about it. I can barely imagine a guy who knows me better than anyone--seeing me in the morning before Frizz-Ease and Bouncy Cream tame my hair and Starbucks makes me...conscious. To think that same guy could see me at those moments and when I'm sick, moody, or selfish...and still love me--still choose me--above anybody else?!? That pretty much proves love is a miracle. :)

The amazing thing is that God's love is even beyond that. Even when I marry that guy, he won't be able to read every one of my thoughts, motives, and attitudes (and that's probably a good thing for both of us!)...but God does...and still loves me more than any one person ever could. Here's what the Word said in today's passage:

For who do you know

that really knows you,

knows your heart?

And even if they did,

is there anything they would discover

in you

that you could take credit for?

Isn't everything you have

and everything you are

sheer gifts from God?

So what's the point of all this comparing and competing?

You already have all you need.

You already have more access to God than you can handle.

All right, so the part of this I didn't address earlier is the fact that you and I can't take all the credit for the good stuff that's in us. I didn't make my eyes, voice or mind--so I can't take full credit for anything good that comes from them. I've been given everything I have and everything I am--that doesn't mean that I should walk around with an arrogant attitude like "God's given the world the gift of Me! Muah ha ha!" (In the words of Whitney Houston, "Hell to the no!!!") :)

In this passage, I believe Paul's encouraging people to be confident...but at the same time, humble, thankful for what God has done and more importantly, for who God is. He knows our hearts inside and out...let's just try to get a glimpse of His.

Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 5-8