You have a plan. God has a plan.

Beloved,

How wonderful it was to see so many of you this past Saturday and Sunday! I am truly happy that as we are in this season of celebration of graduations, elevations, and transitions, we can celebrate with and for each other. May we look forward to more such opportunities as a church family.

While much that we pursue may be by chance, most of what is truly noteworthy comes from planning.

We plan our days, weeks, months, years and lives.

When we are young, our parents and other adults plan for us.

As we get older, we begin to take over that role.

Do we ever take the time to think that we are only playing a part in a plan that is bigger than we are?

Do we ever step back and think that somebody else has a plan for us?

Do we ever realize, that as children of God, just as when we were too young to plan for ourselves, that God, our Heavenly Father, has a plan for us?

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-10,

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."

Beloved, the Apostle Paul is saying that God has a plan for each one of His saved, redeemed, adopted into the family under the blood of Jesus children.

God has a plan for you.

Each sinner who becomes a saint, or better said a redeemed sinner, no longer has to operate according to their own plans which have risks and frustrations associated with them in pursuit of what we think will make us happy.

No, the blessed joy and peace that we can expect in life comes from surrendering our lives to the God who not only saves us but saves us to work out the plan that He has in mind for good works that will bring Him glory and allow us to be blessed.

You think. God knows.

Is there not a great deal of anxiety, worry and doubt that leaves you when you know that things are taken care of with little to no effort of your own?

You have this blessed state of being when you trust yourself to God and know that He is working everything out for you.

Beloved, I pray that you will desire to place your life in God's hands and let Him lead and guide you year by year, month by month, week by week, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second, moment by moment.

Trust less in you and trust more in God.

God has a plan and His plans never fail.

And, know that this God, our God, loves you and I love you too!

Be blessed,

Rev. Cain

(P.S. Remember that we do not have our regularly scheduled H.O.P.E. Wednesday...but we will forever have hope in God through Christ Jesus as guided by the Holy Spirit.)