“Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all” (Matthew 12:15, ESV) There are interruptions in life. One of the things I noticed as I read the gospels is that Jesus was often interrupted. There were times when he planned to rest, but the crowds would follow him. There were other times he was traveling, but people would stop him … [Read more...] about When Life Does Not Go as Planned: Embrace the Interruption
Devotions
When Life Does Not Go as Planned: Trust
We have been talking about when life does not go as planned. We have shared to remember life will never go as planned, practice gratitude, and pray. Today’s thought is to trust God. Trust is a funny thing. Trust comes when there is doubt. Trust does not mean the absence of doubt. Our eyes and ears may tell us one thing. But trust is to know something different in our heart … [Read more...] about When Life Does Not Go as Planned: Trust
When Life Does Not Go as Planned: Pray
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. (Psalm … [Read more...] about When Life Does Not Go as Planned: Pray
When Life Does Not Go as Planned: Practice Gratitude
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, ESV) The holiday of Thanksgiving is over. But Thanksgiving is more than a holiday. It is a habit of the heart. That is a big reason I want to talk about gratitude today. I don’t want you to let go of it now that the holiday … [Read more...] about When Life Does Not Go as Planned: Practice Gratitude
When Things Don’t Go as Planned
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV) This is the last week of the church year. Next week we begin Advent. As you think back to the past year, did you accomplish the things you hoped to accomplish? For many of us, this past year did not go as expected. Some of us got … [Read more...] about When Things Don’t Go as Planned