Plan B Before Dawn

OK everybody up! Rise and shine! Good Morning to you…. Is  this going to be a great day?  YES! How do I know that?  Because God made it and I’ve decided to make it a good one.  It’s before dawn and I’m already working on Plan B; as I write this, it’s barely 5:00 am.  Plan A – a friend and I were heading outdoors to walk and talk together, just like old times … and I woke up to just like old times … rain! Bonnie, Brenda, and I used to walk in the morning before work. Tim called us the Walkie-Talkies and I guess he was right. For an hour we walked and talked – If you need a therapist, try the daily walkie-talkie club.  It’s free and effective.
I was at a Hallmark store a few weeks ago and read the inscription on a card or calendar created by Blue Mountain Arts.  “Life is all about how you handle Plan B”  How many times in a week do we say “Well that didn’t work!” and have to move on to the next idea – Plan B or maybe Plan C or H.  I’m thinking the fact that there are so many versions of a plan is biblical.  Psalm 94:11 “The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.” So what do you think?
How do we handle things that get in our way of ‘the plan’.  Remember Job?  He was a wealthy man.  He must have had a lofty Plan A, then losing out on that, he moved on. Who knows how many letters he passed B, C, D.  Notice in Job 17: 11-12 though, he was already deep in his loss and still look what he says “My days have passed, my plans are shattered.  Yet the desires of my heart  turn night into day; in the face of the darkness light is near.” Do you think Job had a positive attitude?
If you read Psalms you will notice the many laments of David over choices he made – Plan A, Plan B, Plan C … but still he was called a man after God’s own heart.  1 Chronicles 29:19-20 is a comforting passage about how David acknowledged God’s leading. ““All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.” David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” How many plans did it take for David to realize the “Lord’s hand”? A lifetime. During a time of battle, David comes through with his prayer for his people in Psalm 20.  Psalm 20:1-5 “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress… May he give you the desire of your heart and allow you to fulfill your purpose. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Do you think David needed to be flexible and refuse to become defeated? In fact, David had to be the leader and the cheerleader.
There are days when attitude is everything.  It makes a difference in how we progress through our day.  Do you ever wonder why the Bible covers so many topics and do you ever wonder how we get so many practical snippets of wisdom from a few strung together passages? I’m going to take a wild guess that part of that answer is found in Romans 15:4-6 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  What do you think?  Could today be the day that you find encouragement to go on? You find settle on finding that sliver of hope maybe in Plan H?  Here’s a beautiful passage I came across this morning.  I hope you know it comes from my heart, aimed at yours. Psalm 122:8 For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.”  Attitude, my friends.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pInEvToQKro

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