The Master Planner

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Last week was one crazy mess!  There was not a day that I had more than an hour at a time without something scheduled.  After my lovely peaceful, quiet, slow paced summer last week felt like I had been tangled up in a tornado!  As I sat down last Sunday night to look at the events of the week ahead I thought I might hyperventilate or croak!  Well, I’m happy to report that I not only survived but I can say it was a terrific week!  Ya wana know why? I gave the week completely to God. 

Sometimes I get a little sassy with God.  Last Monday morning I told him we had a serious problem that I couldn’t manage.  I told him I needed help.  As I sat in quiet prayer, the words that came to my mind were…thank you for the invitation Sheri, but I don’t need your help at all, give the week completely and totally to me.  Of course I argued with him a little and in my sassiness I remind him that the week included finishing my classroom, an all-day meeting, an all-day volleyball tournament, overnight company, a parent conference, cleaning the house and garage to host a party for a few dozen guests, a prayer meeting, a book club meeting, an eye exam, a family wedding and several other events sprinkled in just for fun!  As I lifted it all up to him I can’t even explain the feeling of complete peace that washed over me and blanketed me all week.

Here are some of the highlights.  Two high school students showed up one morning out of nowhere to help me work in my classroom.  The all-day meeting was great nourishment for my soul.  The volleyball tournament was one laugh after another with some really great other moms.  The eye appointment that was supposed to take more than an hour was done in 25 minutes.  Band practice was cancelled the night we had an overnight guest so I had extra help from Shannon with dinner and entertaining.  The overnight company was so much fun and filled the time with laughter, prayer and excellent conversation.  The prayer and book club meetings were full of blessings.  Some car trouble made it necessary to change the location of the prayer meeting to our house.  I got home and had an hour to get the house tidied and make a dessert.  I decided to make a chocolate chip bar cookie and discovered nearly the entire bag of chocolate chips had been eaten but then I spied a bag of forgotten M&M’s in the back of the pantry!   I stood in awe as one thing after another just clicked perfectly into place.  There was not one minute of struggle or stress the entire week.  He even took care of a major wardrobe malfunction.  As I was getting ready for the wedding; the zipper in my dress wouldn’t do its job and close the back of my dress…not a good look! As I was jamming it back into the closet and searching for something to wear a hanger fell to the floor containing a skirt that I hadn’t even considered.  As I bent to pick it up, I hit my head on the shelf and off tumbled a top that I had never worn with that skirt. I had the perfect necklace lying on the dresser so I was ready in a flash in what seemed like a totally new outfit.  We got home from the volleyball tournament more than an hour before the party guests arrived and the weather was perfect and the laughter and friendship was great.  He took it all!

I have to let you in on a little secret though.  My part of the deal was to make sure that no matter how busy the day was, I had to make sure I didn’t cheat him out of any of his minutes during morning prayer.  One morning when I was tempted to cut it short to get moving a little sooner, the person I was supposed to meet with that morning called and said they would be running about 30 minutes late.  He even made sure we had time to be together. I believe God multiplies time and I’ve never felt so loved! 

A Seed To Plant:  Give him your schedule and your to-do list…really give it to him and be prepared to be loved and amazed!

Blessings on your day!