Back in the 80’s there was a popular show on TV called
the A-Team. These four x military turned
mercenaries would be hired by someone who was in trouble or need to be rescued.
After they couldn’t get any help from the police, these guys would come in to
save the day. The leader of the group, named Hannibal Smith always said in the
show “I love it when a plan comes together”.
Anyone who watched this show would soon pick up on the fact that the
first plan always didn’t work. Somehow
the heroes would get captured and they would need to come up with another idea
to escape and defeat the bad guys. I
don’t know about you but I always seem to get caught in the same predicament.
We have so many ideas, plans, dreams that when first thought up look really
good and the potential for success inevitable, only to have to start all over
with a new strategy.
Before I became a
minister, I wanted to be a firefighter. And I did what was right. I included the LORD in my plan. I prayed, I had
long conversation with Michelle. I researched, so I would know what I would have
to do to accomplish the goal. And for a while I felt like this was what the
LORD had planned for me. I was the oldest student in class and passed the
physical exam, I was quick at learning the physical side of fire fighting,
faster than many of the younger men. I
was making quite the impression on the younger cadet and the instructors; they
started calling me Pop’s. It was half
way through the academy when it all caught up with me though. Now I never was a
good test taker and as my test scores started to slip I became
discouraged. I was working a full time
job and serving as a deacon at the church and I was a Husband and a Dad. My instructor told me “Chrane, you gotta
dedicate more time to your studies” and my thought was “I don’t have any more
time!” I needed to give time to my wife and my children, I needed to be give
time at my job so I could support my family, and I more importantly I needed to
give time to my church (didn’t matter if I was a deacon or not). So the next day I went to turn in my gear and
told the instructor just that. He smiled
and said he hated to see me leave but respected and understood. Then he said “I
wish more of these young men and had your heart and dedication to what was
important. You have the heart of a
firefighter.” At that time, I admit, that
was hard to hear. I thought I had the heart of a looser and quitter.
I soon realized where I made the mistake. I tried to
include the LORD into my plan instead of including myself into the LORD’S.
For
I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you
will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will
seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the
LORD,…” Jeremiah 29:11-14
Weeks later Michelle and I were in town and we pulled
over to let a fire truck pass. Michelle asked me “Do you regret leaving the Academy?
Do you miss it?” I smiled and said
“Nope”. I knew that GOD had something
better planned for us. Months later I started working in full time ministry as
a youth minister which now, has brought us here to Franklin. Yes it’s good to have plans and dreams and
goals. But it’s even better to be on the
same plan that GOD has for us.
Grace & Peace
Blan
