When Our Plans Don't Work Out!

Plans.  We all make them. Seek to implement them.  Hope to realize them.  But often our plans don’t quite work out the way had we hoped.  When I was a senior in high school, my plan was to go off to college and major in chemistry and become a chemist.  Gladly, that plan did not work out.  When Sharon and I got married, our plan was for me to work our first year of marriage while she finished college.  Then she would work full-time while I attended seminary, after which I would seek a pastorate.  Only then would we begin a family (God willing!).  That plan lasted ten months.  Our first born, Emily, came along during Sharon’s spring break of her senior year.  I could go on … but I think you get my point.  No matter how well thought out our plans might be – there are no guarantees that they will come to pass.

Not so with God’s plans!  His plans are set in granite. What God purposes WILL happen!  No ifs, ands or buts about it!  In Psalm 33:11 we read, “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”  I don’t know about you – but I find a lot of comfort knowing that God’s plans for this world (and for me!) will one day be a reality!  Why?  Because when you read the finally chapter of the good Book – you will see that in the end, “Jesus is going to win!”   So in the midst of this world’s ongoing turmoil, take heart in that!  A better day IS coming! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

 pj 

Snow Geese and God's Fingerprints!

Yesterday my wife and I drove up to the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. It is a preserve located on the Lancaster/Lebanon County line. Each year at this time, the preserve is visited by thousands of snow geese as they travel back to the Arctic and their breeding grounds. According to figures on Middle Creek's web site, there were some 65,000 snow geese in the preserve yesterday. It was quite the sight!

Now what amazes me is that these geese can fly thousands of miles between their winter habitat south of us and their summer home in the artic and never get lost! How do they find the Middle Creek rest stop year after year? Some people I know get lost even when following a gps!  The migration of these water fowl is truly incredible.

Those who choose to believe in the theory of evolution (and note that I wrote "theory" because that is all it is) might simply write this off as some sort of evolutionary instincts at work. I choose to believe that an intelligent designer (you can read "Creator-God" here) has wired these geese to know when to begin their migration and how to get where they are going. The created realm and all of its creatures certainly have the designer's fingerprints all over them!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Forgiven!

Recently I was talking with a friend about how easily people complain (and we Christians are not exempt from complaining!). During our conversation, I mentioned to him a truth that I had recently read. The author said something to this effect: "Why do we (he was referring to Christians) so easily and so readily complain about this life when our names are written in heaven?"  Ouch! Got me on that one!

This morning I was again reminded of the glory of being forgiven as I was reading the prayer of an unknown Puritan of yesteryear. The final line of the prayer read: "O Lord God, without the pardon of my sin I cannot rest satisfied."  (Or to state in positive terms, "O Lord God, with the pardon of my sin I can rest satisfied!")

How about YOU? Have you been forgiven? (If you are wondering how you can be forgiven by God, click here) If you have .... then focus on the fact that your name is forever written on the very foundation of heaven. Not because of anything you have done ... but because of EVERYTHING Christ has done!  And rest satisfied!!!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

I Will Fear No Evil!

In his book, Spectacular Sins: And Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ , John Piper says the following about evil:

"The all-important pivot of human history, the worst sin ever committed served to show the greatest glory of Christ and obtain the sin-conquering gift of God’s grace. God did not just overcome evil at the cross. He made evil serve the overcoming of evil. He made evil commit suicide in doing its worst evil." 

Stunning!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Thursday A La Carte

Here are this week's offerings ... enjoy!

1. We can benefit greatly from spending time with those who have traveled life's path with God before us. One such godly man is J.C. Ryle ... an English pastor back in the 1800's. This man knew God's Word and put it into practice (see Matthew 7:24-27). You may want to check out his 25 greatest quotes! 


2. In honor of two presidents who had birthdays this month (Lincoln on the 12th and Washington on the 22nd) here is an interesting article on the faith of these two men. A very good read! Also as a bonus ... have you ever wondered which of our presidents was the wealthiest? Here are the answers! 

3. Ever hear of this growing fear: Nomophobia? Nomophobia is the fear of being without your cell phone ... and it is on the rise! Here is an article about this growing threat to one's personal peace!

4. The Church is not perfect ... but it is precious. I like what Chuck Swindoll has to say about the Church.

5. On a lighThanks for stopping by . . .
pjter note . . . one of the best of this year's commercials! 

The Abomination of Sin

This morning as I was reading Jerry Bridges new book, The Transforming Power of the Gospel, I ran across an illustration that got me really thinking. In the context, Bridges is writing about God's hatred of sin. He references such passages as Habakkuk 1:13 and Proverbs 6:16-19 which clearly demonstrate that God thinks of sin in a lot worse terms than we almost do.  It is in the context of God's hatred of sin that he shares the following illustration:

"Suppose you want a new rug to cover the wooden floor in your living room. Being of modest means, you go the local discount store and pay three hundred dollars for a rug. I come into your house with a bottle of black indelible ink and spill that ink on your rug. I have just ruined your three-hundred-dollar rug. But suppose you are a wealthy person and you pay thirty thousand dollars for an expensive Persian rug. If I spill ink on that rug, it is an entirely different matter. Why is that true? It is the same act on my part. In both instances, I have spilled black indelible ink on a rug. The difference, of course, lies in the value of the rug. This is the way we should view the enormity of our sin. God’s holiness cannot be compared to even the thirty-thousand-dollar rug. It is infinite. It is immeasurable. Furthermore, we do not accidentally “spill” our sin on God’s holiness. For the most part, we rather pour out our sin; that is, we choose to act out our pride and selfishness, our judgmental attitudes, and our unkind words about others. And when we do that, we deliberately pour out our sin on the holiness of God. That is why our sin, be it ever so small in our eyes, is always an abomination to God."

I must confess I often lose sight of just how abominable my sin is to God (and if you are honest you would certainly have to confess the same for your self). This is not hard to do given that we live in a society of people who, for the most part, look at what the Bible labels sin and simply shrug it off as "no big deal." However, it is a big deal to God. My prayer for you and for me is that we would learn to see sin as God sees it ... and to strive to put it off ... and to put on God's righteousness in its place (Ephesians 4:20-23; 1 Peter 1:13-16). I also pray that as we learn to view sin as God does, we will grow increasingly thankful for the cross. For in it ... we right now posses freedom from the penalty and power of sin ... and one day we will bask in the freedom from the very presence of sin! Oh what a day that will be!!!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

A Lesson from a Bird Feeder

During the winter months (if you can really call this season we are in "winter!"), I like to keep the bird feeder that hangs outside my office window at home full of birdseed. Once the birds realize the food is there for the having, there's no keeping them away! (If you fill it ... they will come!)  From sun up to sun down the birds come and go as they seek to satisfy their hunger.

As I thought about these birds ... I was saddened that I was not more like them. I am not thinking about my need to be visiting my fridge more often, I probably do that too much now! But what I need is a greater hunger for God and for his Word! I need to be like these birds who are all about going to the place where they know they can be fed. And not just once a day ... but throughout my day!

When the apostle Paul showed up preaching Christ in Berea, the Jews that were there "received the word with all eagerness" (Acts 17:11). Is that how I receive God's Word?  Am I eager to hear it? Do I keep going back for more?  How about you? Are you like these birds who continue to return for more food? If this does not describe you (or me) ... then what is wrong with us? That, my friend, is a question that only we ourselves can answer!  I encourage you to give some thought (and PRAYER) to this. The health and welfare of your soul depends upon it!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj