A man will plan his way...but the Lord directs his steps.
I sang a concert of original songs Sunday at God's Resort (a neighborhood that God is rebuilding in our city). Gary and Jason played with me. We went through some of the songs they hadn't heard once. They are great musicians, so on some of the others we just flew by the seat of our pants with just the charts. I love doing that. Sometimes church can be so planned out (so that nothing goes wrong...theoretically) that it can be refreshing to taste a little spontenaiety. You know...see what comes, listening to those promptings to go a different way than you expected...enjoying flowing in the Lord. He puts all kind of stuff on your heart to share in the moment. It's like being in the writing room and the rush of an idea propels you forward.
It's not that I don't like to be prepared...sometimes you just don't know what to expect and you want to be able to work with whatever opportunity the Lord sends your way. I even wonder if the Lord likes that vulnerability in us so that we don't leave Him out of the process. The experience in Alaska reminded me once again that you can't foresee all the things that will happen when you go to minister...but don't stress! The Lord has been there a long time. He knows what they need and has a reason for you being there. He will enable you to do what he asks.
My dad once told me that many of the things he strategized to do for the Lord, like going as a missionary to China or painting a picture that would reach the world...somehow didn't work out and yet the Lord used him in tremendous ways he hadn't foreseen, touching the lives of thousands.