Shocking, Yet Not All Surprising...

A couple weeks ago, my pastor stated that God's plans are not always our plans. Sometimes God chooses to change the direction we're going, and, sometimes, He doesn't give us the heads up first.

This morning's service at church was unlike any other church service I've ever been to. It was going pretty normal. It was a Canada day service, plus I was in nursery with 2 other ladies and 5 little kids.

After the last song, we thought the service was over. Little did we know, Pastor was going to be making an announcement. We were confused as to what he was going to say. There was nothing in the bulletin about a special announcement.

Pastor started speaking about when he first became pastor of the church 5 years ago. I didn't really catch most of what he said. All I remember is one of the sentences he spoke which made everyone gasp and freeze: "I am resigning as pastor here."

My pastor resigned! To say I was shocked when he said this is an understatement. I was beyond shocked. I couldn't understand it. This was not something I was prepared for, nor was anybody else in the church. I just stood in the nursery doorway, watching the other 2 ladies I was with, and fighting the tears that eventually spilled down my cheeks.

My pastor and his family are wonderful He's an awesome teacher, his wife is amazing, and their kids are the sweetest. They will still be at church for another 4 weeks, which takes us to the end of July. After that, nobody knows what will happen...

When my family was driving home though, I remembered what he said a few weeks ago. God has other plans. We may think we're somewhere where we're comfortable and have no plans on moving, but God says, "Wait a minute. I have other things for you to do."

God does that. We're happy with our lifestyle. Everything is going fine. Our life seems perfect. But it really isn't.

I've learned a lot from my pastor's teaching. I think I've learned more today, though, seeing it all play out. It's not something he wants, but God is giving him no choice in the matter.

He can choose to disobey God, but he won't, because he knows God has a plan. That plan may be anything in the world. From just staying in the town, or moving far away to be a pastor somewhere else.

Whatever happens, though, I'm glad that I can keep in touch with them through Facebook and email.

Whatever it is, though, God will show them. He's big enough to move a mountain, He's big enough to show His plan.

If there's anything I've learned in the last year, it's that God will make any situation that we don't understand at the time, easy to understand in time.

Top 10: Learning

I have learned many things in the last 2 weeks. Here are 10:

1) I don't know as much about the Bible as I thought I did.

2) I learned that there were 3 men who doted on King David after he was kicked out and did everything in their power to be closer to him. (2 Samuel 23: 13-17.) We need to be like that with Christ.

3) There was a man named Shammah who fought off an army just to protect his peas. (2 Samuel 23: 11-12.)

4) My pastor is an amazing teacher and I just want to learn more from his teaching. (I've known this for a while but thought I'd add it because I keep thinking this after every sermon/lesson he teaches. The 2 above are this and last weeks youth lessons.)

5) I have an awesome family and not so many people are as blessed as I am.

6) I need to be more of a lighthouse and shine so people know I live for God alone.

7) My church family here is amazing. They have welcomed my family like we've been coming for years. My pastor is super, his wife is awesome, and their kids are so sweet!

8) When Madagascar 3 comes out, I pretty much have no choice but to see it and make my pastor come over and watch it.

9) I need to trust God more.

10) I have so much more I need to learn. From the Bible and in my life.

My family is rich. But not because we have a lot of money. We are rich because we have made a choice to live for Christ. By living for Him, we have more than we can every ask for.

Here are the 4 things about Shammah from the lesson:
1) He had purpose.
2) He defended his ground.
3) He won the battle.
4) God got the glory.

We need to be like Shammah and here are the 4 for Christian's:
1) We have a purpose, which is is to tell others about Christ and live a life glorifying to Him.
2) We need to stand up for Him, even when no one else is, or we feel like no one is.
3) We can't win every battle, but we can win some.
4) We WILL give God all the glory, no matter what. God gets the Glory.