Join us sundays at 8:00 & 10:30 AM

Monday, August 17 - Devotional from Pastor John

August 17, 2020 by Rev. John Hartman

“God’s Plans”

“Well, it was inevitable.” “It had to happen sometime.” “It couldn’t go on forever.” “Don’t forget, this is Pennsylvania!” These were just some of the thoughts and comments that I heard yesterday morning, as the heavy rain forced us indoors for our 8:00 am service. This was the first time that bad weather had chased us inside on a Sunday morning since we began meeting for in person worship, back on June 14. Of course, I was disappointed. Of course, I missed seeing the people who I have grown accustomed to coming out on the lawn, or those sitting in their cars. Yes, we still had our 8:00 service indoors, and yes, many of those people came for worship. I just missed the outdoor experience that I have come to appreciate and enjoy. Naturally, this was also a morning when there were absolutely no Amish buggies coming past the church on the Chestnut Level Road! I am thankful for everyone being able to pivot and adjust in a short period of time, as the 8:00 service went very smoothly, even with a last minute change of location. And, it was also great to see more folks come at 10:00, and more people log on and worship on Zoom or Facebook Live then in previous weeks.

I guess I look at it as a person of faith, I can see that God had other plans for us yesterday, -- and God’s plan is always superior to ours. There is that wonderful passage in Jeremiah 29 (11-13) where it says, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.”

If we are open to God’s plan, then it is His plan that we are seeking, -- and not our own, which means our agenda goes from the top of the pile to the bottom of the pile. That’s especially difficult for all us Type A, compulsive planners. One of my favorite riddles is “How do you make God laugh?” The answer is, “Tell Him your plans!” And so, we always need to be asking, “Is this God’s plan, or am I baptizing my own agenda?” You see, God does not send out his divine guidance on a risk-free, 30 day trial basis which you can pack up and send back if you don’t like it. We have to be willing to shift our will into neutral -- and allow God to grab onto the steering wheel of our lives.

Beyond looking for sunshine on a Sunday morning, do you want to really know God’s plan for us? It’s what Jesus said. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” God’s will for you is that accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and that the Holy Spirit comes into your life and empowers you to live as Jesus lived and love as Jesus loved. It’s his desire that you will be a champion of the underdog, -- the lost, the last, and the lonely. It is in His plan that you will give generously and joyfully, and that you will give your life to telling others the good news of Jesus Christ. My friends, this is God’s plan for you. May you know and follow the plan of God every day of your life.