A new month, a new ramble

A new month. Can you believe it is August? If you are a teacher, like Penny, you probably are very aware that it is August. If you are a student, you are moaning about it being August already. This last weekend, I asked each of our college students when they were heading back. Without fail, it was within the next week and a half to two weeks. They were going to be back at whatever college they are attending, getting ready for another year. Here at St. Paul's, our teachers report back here in this month. With younger kids, school is exciting and uplifting. For older students, there is a bit of dread that comes with it (though they too may be excited but don't want to admit it).

For a pastor, things change. The pastor is busy all summer, whether he is at a church that has a school or not. Things don't stop at a church just because the school is on summer break. There is still plenty going on. With the start of school, this pastor does get busier since not only do I teach confirmation 3 days a week (then after Labor day, the Wednesday class begins), I also begin to lead chapel weekly, and get into each one of the classrooms once a week to teach one of the religion lessons or to read to the preschool classes.

What did you do this summer? Penny and I were talking about that this week. We didn't do the things we wanted to do. Why not? It seemed like there was too much going on. Matthew and Chelsey's wedding. VBS. Doctor of Ministry class. Call to Antioch, IL. We did get a 4 day weekend away this summer. During that time we made it to a Cubs game. That was fun. But we didn't make it to the zoo or the Museum of Transportation. We didn't get to do the Friday drives like we wanted (Friday is my day off). Like you, like your family, there was just too much going on.

This teaches us a lesson. We make our plans but like James writes: Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring....Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."  (James 4:13-15 ESV) Yes, Penny and I approached the summer with the thought, we would like to do this or that. But we also approached it with the thought, "Lord willing, we will do this or that."

Each day, we trust in the Lord. Each day is in His hand. each day is guided by Him. And I thank His holy name that this is the case. He knows much better what my life needs than I do.

Lord, I pray that you will guide me through the month of August, whatever it holds for me and my family. Lord willing, I will do ________________ today. (Fill in the blank.) Lord, I am Your child, lead me.