the PLAN better than mine...

Sometimes, I wonder...

What would have happened if I was a little

later or a little earlier...

when coming to a particular event.

Not necessarily WHAT would happen...

but more like WHAT I would miss...

Let me explain...this past weekend, I went to Casper, WY (6+ hours drive) with my mother-in-law to attend a Beth Moore conference.  We had planned our trip since late Spring of this year.  On our way out to Casper, we made several stops...and at each one, we got back into the van just AMAZED at how God had just orchestrated the stop! 

You see, my mother-in-law travels almost every weekend across the nation welcoming home veterans.  To them, she is known as Lil' Sis.  She has a really neat pin that she gives them as she welcomes them home and thanks them for their service to our country.  Most of those dear men can hardly speak to her because they are so overcome with emotion.  (I cry even thinking about it...)

When I started out from my home, I had an hour to travel to meet my mother-in-law.  I had told her that I thought I would leave soon after dropping off my two blessings at school, and that I should be at her house shortly after 9AM.  Usually, my dear husband and I ride together to drop them off...it gives us a little more time together.  This morning, after our boys were at school, we ran by the bank to deposit a check, stopped at the gas station to fill up the van, ran to the car parts store to get replacement windshield wiper blades, and waited on a train.  Needless to say, I was at her house closer to 9:40.  YOIKES!

On our way, we decided to make some stops in North Platte.  About an hour later we had picked up her wedding ring at the jewelry store, some shirts that she had done at a neat vintage store.  We had also visited the Pink Poodle (a 50s restaurant) for a cherry coke and a chocolate soda.  AND we had stopped by the Christian radio station to talk with John Townsend.  Oh, and on the way out of town, we got cheese frenchies. (I hadn't ever had those before...YUM!)

When we stopped for a break, it was in Sidney, NE.  Out of the several restaurants, we chose Arby's.  Upon walking in, we saw over 21 soldiers dressed in their camo!!  (If I had been on time, we would have missed them completely!)  She was able to give medals to the soldier in charge for all of them...God's timing is just nothing like ours!

We found that out more than once on our trip...prepare, prepare, prepare, and then go with grace with what God brings.  His plan is so much better and more exciting than ours anyway!

Job said to the Lord, "I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted." ~Job 42:2

"May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." ~Psalm 20:9

"But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations." ~Psalm 33:11

"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done.  The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." ~Psalm 40:5

"Do not those who plot evil go astray?  But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness." ~Proverbs 14:22

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." ~Proverbs 19:21

"The Lord Almighty has sworn, 'Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.'" ~Isaiah 14:24

"But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands." ~Isaiah 32:8

"From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill My purpose.  What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do." ~Isaiah 46:11

"In Him, we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him Who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will." ~Ephesians 1:11

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Thank You, Lord,

for going before us

each day...

for placing us

in just the right place

at just the right moment

to be a blessing

to anyone

we meet.

You are good

and You have a good,

good plan.

Please help us to

be ready

for those opportunities

and moments of grace

in the lives of anyone

we meet.