Plans......... Mine or God's 'Surprises'...?

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

Have you ever heard of someone who spent years of preparation for one vocation only to end up doing something completely different........? 
Perhaps this could also be said of you as of me.... 
Quite often we have in our minds what we believe we want to do only to have a course correction. 
Often the course correction comes through a major crisis that forces us into an area that we would never have considered.

Such was the case for Samuel Morse. 
Born in 1791, Morse grew up desiring to be an artist, and he eventually became very talented and internationally known. 
However, it was difficult to make a living as an artist in America during that time. 
A series of crises further complicated his vocational desire when his wife died; then his mother and father also died soon after. 
He went to Europe to paint and reflect on his life. 
On his return trip aboard a ship, he was captivated by discussions at dinner about new experiments in electromagnetism. 
During that important occasion, Morse made the following comment, "If the presence of electricity can be made visible in any part of the circuit, I see no reason why intelligence may not be transmitted by electricity." 
In the face of many difficulties and disappointments, he determinedly perfected a new invention, and, in 1837, applied for a patent that became what we know today as the telegraph. 
He also created Morse code. 
It was only later, after many more setbacks and disappointments, that his projects received funding.
Samuel Morse later commented, "The only gleam of hope, and I cannot underrate it, is from confidence in God. 
When I look upward it calms any apprehension for the future, and I seem to hear a voice saying: 'If I clothe the lilies of the field, shall I not also clothe you?' Here is my strong confidence, and I will wait patiently for the direction of Providence." 


Morse went on to create several other inventions and can be recognized today as the father of faxes, modems, e-mail, the internet and other electronic communication. ["Glimpses," Issue #99 (Worcester, Pennsylvania: Christian History Institute, 1998).]


God's plans may not always seem to follow our natural inclination....... 
Perhaps God has you (like me), taking a path that may not lead to His ultimate destination for you. 


Trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all you do, and He shall direct your path ( Prov. 3:5-6). 



If we are to be effective in anything we do for the Lord, the Lord must be in the midst of it. 
Unless the Lord's power is seen among us, we will be just another person who has religion.
 Unless we manifest His life to others, they will see only good behavior that is easily counterfeited by moral people. 
Moving out in presumption will end in failure and frustration. Ask the Lord today to assure you of His presence and power in your activities. 
Then you will be assured that you will be distinguished among all the other people on the face of the earth


Shalom