RESPONDING TO THE UNEXPECTED

Church family,

Yesterday was a different day. I got up and came to the office, ready to go! Some things were on my schedule, but I still had some flexibility. It didn’t take long for things to be thrown off schedule.

We’ve all had those days. Maybe more often than we’d like! The question is how do we respond to them? Do we let the sudden, unexpected, and ‘unplanned for’ take control of us? Or do we make the best of things and remember there’s a faithful, omniscient God who made this day?

Yesterday the Internet was out at the office! If you rely on the Internet to do a portion of your work and being online is a necessity, it can throw a wrench into your day! Well, I can tell you what we did. We made it a ‘snow day’ or ‘Internet day’! Honestly, we flexed with things well. The ministry staff had their meeting, shared, and laughed a little more!

We ate lunch together, prayed together, and did what we could. I had the chance for a couple of good conversations with folks who came by the office. Did our initial agendas get done? Nope. But we got to know each other a bit better! Connections were strengthened.

We all need these types of days. Days where we take time getting to know others. Times when we open up our hearts and lives. Times where we laugh with and at each other.

How do you see the ‘Internet’ days that come your way? It may not be the loss of the Internet, but it could be anything that is ‘normal’ in your life. When your plans are interrupted, or the normal happenings get temporarily rearranged, do you remember you have a Father in heaven who knew about it way before you did? You might say. “The Internet isn’t a big deal.” For most of us, I would agree. Any interruption, no matter how large or small, temporary or long term, can change our day/life. We all have these God-ordained interruptions in our lives. How do we respond to them?

Psalm 46:1-3 (NLT) God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

This day, this year, and this life are not all there is, if you are a child of God! There’s a grander future ahead, one that will be amazingly perfect and free from interruptions! A promised future that we will enjoy forever, with our Savior and our brothers and sisters in Christ!

Remember to keep the bigger picture in mind and make the best of the unexpected things that interrupt your lives! Nothing that comes our way comes apart from God’s hands.

Walking with you,

Pastor Brian