November 16, 2014

The Shepherd's Corner

During her first visit to Japan, Corrie ten Boom committed a blunder. At the end of a meeting, she asked a man to close with prayer.  The man declined so she said the prayer herself.  After the meeting, the man approached her and told her that the reason he had refused to pray was because he was not a Christian.  Corrie ten Boom had mistaken him for another man.During her first visit to Japan, Corrie ten Boom committed a blunder. At the end of a meeting, she asked a man to close with prayer.  The man declined so she said the prayer herself.  After the meeting, the man approached her and told her that the reason he had refused to pray was because he was not a Christian.  Corrie ten Boom had mistaken him for another man.

But, that gave her a chance to talk to this man.  At the end of the conversation he accepted Jesus as his Savior.  Corrie ten Boom writes, “My blunder of mistaking one man for another had been used to give me the opportunity to bring that man to Jesus!  God has no problems, only plans.”

We all want to have a perfect . . . everything.  We want a perfect husband, we want a perfect wife, we want a perfect child, we want a perfect job, we want a perfect home, we want a perfect friend, we want a perfect health, and we want a perfect church.  But, we know nothing on earth is perfect.  There are times people make mistakes but there are times, we, too, make mistakes.  And, there are times life just doesn’t go the way we want it to.

God has no problems, only plans.  It does not mean that life in Jesus promises a problem-free life.  It promises that His plan is not going to be impeded or stopped by problems.  God can use any problems to bring us into His plan.  Our part is to hear the word of God and to obey it.  Once we do, we will be aligned to His will and perfect plan.

Whatever happens, in reality it is not about us.  It is about God—His will and His plan.  He appoints us to be “there” so He can carry out His plan and fulfill His will.  So, let His will and His plan be done!

Pastor Paul
But, that gave her a chance to talk to this man.  At the end of the conversation he accepted Jesus as his Savior.  Corrie ten Boom writes, “My blunder of mistaking one man for another had been used to give me the opportunity to bring that man to Jesus!  God has no problems, only plans.”

We all want to have a perfect . . . everything.  We want a perfect husband, we want a perfect wife, we want a perfect child, we want a perfect job, we want a perfect home, we want a perfect friend, we want a perfect health, and we want a perfect church.  But, we know nothing on earth is perfect.  There are times people make mistakes but there are times, we, too, make mistakes.  And, there are times life just doesn’t go the way we want it to.

God has no problems, only plans.  It does not mean that life in Jesus promises a problem-free life.  It promises that His plan is not going to be impeded or stopped by problems.  God can use any problems to bring us into His plan.  Our part is to hear the word of God and to obey it.  Once we do, we will be aligned to His will and perfect plan.

Whatever happens, in reality it is not about us.  It is about God—His will and His plan.  He appoints us to be “there” so He can carry out His plan and fulfill His will.  So, let His will and His plan be done!

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - July 2, 2023
On Tuesday, Jesus Our Lord came and took Oom John Oey home.  He has now moved into his new and better home, prepared by Jesus Himself.  John 14:2-3 records His promise to us, His children, “There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this unless it was true. I am going...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - January 7, 2024
Every year we wish each other a happy new year knowing full-well that it may not happen. In fact, we know that it will not happen.  At its best this year—like the years before—will only be a mixture of happy times and gloomy times. Nonetheless we still say it; and this shows that not only [...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - August 18, 2019
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Last Thursday, Jeanne Obadja, a friend in ministry, went home to be with the Lord. I knew her when we both served together as faculty members of a seminary in Jakarta 25 years ago. Since then we never had the chance to serve together but from time to time we bumped into [&hel...
Read More