Hello Kathryn,

Today we celebrated my husband’s 50^th birthday. Yesterday we threw him a surprise birthday party at which he was completely surprised. He is so observant and asks so many questions it is hard to surprise him, but we were able to pull it off.

He has said for many years I am going to retire when I turn fifty. I am going to fish, play golf and slow down. He has lived a fast-paced life working as much as he can to save all that he can so that he can relax at fifty. Well fifty is here and the Lord is changing his plans.

It reminds me of the verse in Proverbs 19. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

We are living that out day by day right now. What we thought we were going to do in 2023 and beyond the Lord is changing those plans and accomplishing His purpose and not ours. It really brings to light how much our flesh wants to control our own destiny and our own lives but what the Lord requires is surrender. If we are going to be blessed by God, we must be obedient to His voice.

I have learned in this transition that not everyone will see or discern the purpose of the Lord. We all have opinions about how the Lord should do things and how He works and what His will is. But you know how opinions are…everybody has one.

I encourage you to seek out the Lord for yourself in your life. Yes, we can have plans in our hearts but those that will be greatly used by God must be able to make a decision against oneself. Right now, my husband and I are living that out. We are putting our plans on hold and following the voice and direction of the Lord.

Just like my husband told us this morning, His plans are better.

We must have faith to believe that His plans are better because we trust that He is eternally good. Because of that steadfast faith and great love for Christ, we will walk in His will and not our own.

Please pray for us in this season of transition.

Until next time!