by Pastor Rick Watson
May flowers also mean grass cutting, car washing and vacation planning. The month of April flew by for me. Each day there was a promise of Spring but…one day it was 80 degrees, the next day there would only a high of 37! We seemed to be on a “roller coaster” up and down, hidden curves, lots of surprises. But isn’t that what life is like?
Did you know that the word “May” is used 14,936 times in the Bible? Interesting tidbit of information but this word has strong implications in life planning. When we use the word may, it implies that we have choices; “I may do this” or “I may do that.”
I saw on the Woodrow Wilson sign that prom will soon take place. That means that graduation will soon follow. I will often ask high school seniors “What are you going to do when you graduate” Some of these young people have their whole life planned with where they will go to school, post-graduation work and where they hope to work and live. While others answer with “I don’t know.”
When I was 18 I knew exactly what I wanted to do; go to college, play football there; graduate, get a job, buy a house, get married and settle down. None of that happened! As I have said before, God has a sense of humor… I met Nancy my senior year of high school, we dated and fell in love (That was not in my plans)! I asked her to marry me, she said “not till you join the church, so I did. (also not in my plans – FYI God got hold of my resistant heart and I was saved).
Proverbs 16:9 says “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
I did not attend church on a regular basis until I met my wife. So I didn’t know much about the Bible, church or God. For instance, Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know that plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” I didn’t know God had a plan for my life!
If I could say something to young people I would say “Look to the Lord for your future!” The plans that I had, none of them came true the way I thought they would!
If you are reading this you are probably not a high school senior but rather you are a “life senior” I am one of those now and we make plans, too. In retirement, I am going to go and do all the things I couldn’t do while I was still working” Oh really??! If retirement, no life, has taught me anything it’s this – start each day with the Lord, read His word (Jeremiah 29:11 is still there!) and as I close my prayer I say” Lord, what’s the plan? How can I best serve you?”
Matthew 6:33 tells us “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”. Our goal together should be to seek, to find and to serve. Are you serving the Lord” There are many opportunities! Hope to see you Sunday.