God's Day Planner - Jul. 3, 2008
Posted in Inspirations
Have you ever wanted to get a peak at God’s Day Planner? Just a little peak. I’m not talking about finding the date of the Rapture or stock prices for next week or even who’s going to win the next Rays game. I’m not that much of a global thinker. I just want to know if it’s going to be raining at 1:30 today. You know me. I like to keep things simple. All I want to know is if I need to take the bus at 1:00 or the bike at 1:30. This is what the latest schedule change has reduced me to. I only want to know what's going to happen in the next few hours. Don’t worry about remembering the schedule; it’s all going to change anyway. It’s been that kind of summer. Anyone who says that the Titanic can’t turn on dime hasn’t lived in my house recently. Let me explain.
Way back at the beginning of the year, our churches began preparing for summer camps. Our family had to make some decisions. Which camps could we budget and for whom? Truthfully, none were in our budget, but there are usually plenty of fundraisers to partake in. Therefore, the bottom line was not who went to what camp, but rather how thin was Mom willing to spread herself across fundraisers, homeschooling, and work? So, in the interest of maintaining peace, harmony, and Mom’s sanity, we opted for Colleen to go to BigStuf for the very first time and Jared to go to Cub Scout Day Camp for the very first time. Although BigStuf has a large price tag attached to it, Cub Scout Camp did not, especially after my dear husband volunteered for the week. (Side note for husband: Have I told you how proud of you I am that you did that? Well, I am. But, I digress.) Anyway, the decision was made, the kids were signed up for their respective camps, and I stood ready to flip pancakes, wash cars, and set up yard sales. Here’s where that peak at God’s Plan would have been helpful.
You see, in my mind, plans were set. Little did I know, more plans were in the works. Unfortunately, the big picture was still hidden from view. We only got to glimpse a piece or two at a time as everything fell together…or apart, depending on your perspective. So, while I was admiring the pretty little piece in front of me, God was busy moving others behind me. Colleen found a wrangler program and added four more weeks of camp to the schedule. However, because of her weekly baby sitting during church staff meetings, she earned a scholarship to BigStuf, which eliminated all but one fundraiser from the calendar, but it was too late to jump into the fundraisers for Jared to go to KidsCamp. So, by the end of May, the new plan was for Colleen to go to horse camp for four weeks and BigStuf for one, and for Jared to go to Cub Scout Day Camp for one week. I can work with this.
Unfortunately, because of a series of unfortunate events at the horse camp, Colleen came home early and the other three weeks were removed from the calendar. However, a scholarship opened up for Jared to go to KidsCamp with the church. Oh, and did I mention that we are going to
So, here I sit, looking at my planner filled with cross-outs, and scribbles, and last minute changes, and I have a choice to make. I could rebel against this season of change. I could let all of these changes overwhelm me to the point where even changing my clothes would be stressful. Or, I could just lean on God a bit more and wait it out. His ways are so much higher than my ways, and I know that my very human mind may never comprehend His ways this side of heaven. But I do know that by leaning on Him, I will be better on the other side of this season. Psalm 23 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Did you ever notice it doesn’t say that He walks us around that valley? No, He walks us through the valley. Not around, not over, not under, but through. And it doesn’t matter if your valley is at this moment truly the “valley of the shadow of death” or just a season of chaos, there is nothing to fear. He promises get you through. And remember the encouragement in James 1:2-5 which tells us that our trials mature our faith. So, if you are having the same chaotic summer I am, let me know so we can pray for each other and lean a little more heavily on the Lord together. We can’t get that little peak into God’s Day Planner for us, but we can encourage each other to trust Him and His plans a bit more.
Thanks for stopping by today. It was nice to have a little company. Tom’s at work, Jared’s at camp, Colleen’s at the movies, so it’s just me, the dog, and the chickens. More tea?
Betty
Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 1Peter1:2b
Comments
Jul. 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Canadagirl
All I can say right now is....WOW.
I am glad amongst all this that you are looking to the Lord. I pray all the pieces fall in place.
Blessings and ((HUGS)) in Him<><
-Mary
