Plan Ahead

Practically Speaking 

By C Wayne Childers

Plan Ahead

Someone years ago gave me a cross-stitch mural for my office wall the stitching read; "Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark." We have all seen the sign with the words "Plan Ahead" getting to the edge of the page and the letters "ad" appearing on the next line. Ran out of room. Where we start in the plan determines where we end up. 

The guys building rafters this morning on a new house across the street from me are looking down the edge of that first board because it will determine the strength and straightness of the roof. They have plans. 

My plans today are to mow the grass when it dries and pull the carbon filter smog unit from my 2002 Honda Civic. I have never pulled one before but I have YouTube. I will also put the final touch on my sermon I will preach at the 40th anniversary service of my first church. I am nervous/anxious about the latter. 

Speaking of the sermon, I am saying something from Philippians 1 that I want to say dogmatically but I sometimes doubt so I am trying to reinforce myself to say it honestly with at least some conviction. I am going to say that "God has a plan." Doubt? Yes, I have to admit that there are times I doubt that. It is usually when I weigh the burdens people bear, the unforeseen events that happen, and the pure evil that comes out of others and sometimes me. This church lost all of its buildings in the tornado at Bridge Creek. I am still swept away by that reality. 

The text says that God started a work in these people and that He is going to complete that plan with their help. Ok. I guess I have to take that on face value. God is at work. God has a plan. We join with Him in that plan. So, we start or start again each day. 

Faith says God says what He means and means what He says. I choose to believe today with His help. The Bible guy said it right; "I believe. Help my unbelief." So I choose to believe today that God has a plan and that He finishes what He starts. 

It is really all about if you believe the plan book is really the one and only plan. I do today. I have since age 10. I doubt but always seem to land back on my feet on the God's plan side. That is extreme for most to stomach. 

What is God's plan for me today? I don't know. I have plans and He is welcome to change them. He might. However, His plan and mine may just be a blend. We will see. Writing this was not in my plan book for me today it just happened as I watched the guys build the house across the street and their referencing the rolled up house plans. I got an idea and put it on my iPhone notepad.  A God deal? Yes.

He plans ahead. We join Him. He finishes. We follow. A nice arrangement.