Many Plans

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."  This is one of my favorite verses from the book of Proverbs, and over and over again, I see just how true it is.  This year we have so many plans for how we want to minister.  At this very moment we are working on starting a youth group, and planning a men's retreat, an open-air evangelistic crusade, Vacation Bible School, and a short-term mission trip to Belize.  Those are just some of our plans, some of our strategies to spread the Gospel so that more people may come to know Christ.  However, through all the planning, we are continuing to PRAY as individuals and as a church body.  We pray for our town, for our homes, and for our nation, among other things.  We pray and ask God to work...and He does!  New people have arrived at the church this week, and people have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior for the very first time!  We can't take the credit for those new believers.  Maybe they have been influenced by our love for them.  Maybe they have even enjoyed our classes, programs, and events.  However it is not our projects that have made the ultimate difference- it is the work of the LORD.  Our plans are many, and some of them are very good plans, inspired by God's work in our lives, but it is always the Lord's purpose PREVAILS!  Thankfully the Lord's purpose is to draw each of us into relationship with Him.  If we think we are ecstatic when people come to know Christ, how must He feel?  Our lives are busy here in Michoacan, and our ministry is growing and changing,  but it is the Lord's purpose that is prevailing! We are so grateful to be a part of the plans that the Lord has in this place and for these people.