Responding to Change

According to my calendar, I should be in Phnom Penh Cambodia today.  However, I write this from Anchorage, Alaska.  If events went as planned, I would be sitting with a group of pastors and teaching them various ways to grow in their skills as pastors.  Events have, for obvious reasons, not gone as planned.  My time with the pastors will happen even though the timeline has changed. 

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What plans of yours have changed?
In what ways has your calendar altered?

Whatever your answers to those questions, you and I face another question.  Namely, how should I respond to the unforeseen changes?

Rather than provide one appropriate answer to that question, I will share some Scripture verses that will help you formulate your own answer.  Read the verses and come to the conclusion to which they lead.

James 4:13-15 (NIV)
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Think about such things and respond to your unforeseen changes.

#ordinarylives