It's 4 o'clock in the morning and I cannot sleep so here I am sharing my thoughts and heart. What is ahead for me in the year 2020 and on?
This year I am semi-retiring from work. That is one of my plans for this year. Come July 1st, I plan on only working about 15 hours a week and some of that will be done right here from home. My job with the urban renewal agency entails a lot of computer work and I should be able to use a computer here at home for that. I know there are many people who telecommute these days for their jobs. In the meantime, there are many changes coming for the city and I am in the middle of much of it. My work load will be heavy for the next couple of months while the city hires a new City manager, a new City Recorder, moves the offices of the City, get the budgets for the upcoming year prepared and finalized, and all of the other major things that need to be completed prior to the end of the year which is June 30th and also my semi-retirement date. That is the work plans.
I also have plans to clean out my house once I retire. There are many closets, a garage, and a shop that I have piled full of things for the past 30 years. It is so hard to believe it has been 30 years since we built our dream home! I did such a good job filling it up. I am a person who keeps things. I know I don't need to keep a lot of the things that I do, but that is just who I am. Paper is probably one of my biggest downfalls but I blame that on working in professions that are office jobs and paper related. Time to purge all of the paper.
I also plan to get outside and clean up the flower beds and cut down the bushes that have gotten out of control in the past 30 years. This is one of those plans that depend on the weather. Here on the Oregon Coast we get a lot of rainy days so I will need to be diligent if this plan is accomplished. The plan is to work outside on the dry days and then work inside on the wet days.
So there you have it. My main plans for 2020 and probably into 2021. Throw in some trips to Colorado and Washington to see family, our annual trip to Eagle Crest in Central Oregon, maybe a couple of fun sight-seeing trips, along with my community service involvement with the scholarship fund and the county fair, my Sunday church service attendance, and my Power of Twelve ladies group, that should pretty well keep me busy. I will still have plenty to do when I am semi-retired.
Of course these are my plans and we all know that the Lord may have other plans for me. When the brain tumor showed up in July of 2018 it was not in my list of planned activities. When planters fasciitis showed up the following year in my left foot, keeping me from walking without pain, that also was not in my plans. All of those kinds of plans pop up without being considered in anyone's plan. We all have those times when all of our hopes and plans are dashed on the rocks of life. Sometimes they are far worse than we could ever imagine.
Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV)
A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
Most of us understand our plans are not always His plans. Most of us are aware in the back of our minds that plans change. Most of us have a bit of fear of tomorrow and what tomorrow can bring. Most of us try to keep and open mind and an open heart regarding tomorrow.
Jeremiah 29:11 (GNB)
I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.
I have a plan to finish this book, these chapters of my life and move on to something else to write about. There comes a time to change and move onto a different path. My thoughts are that this chapter of my life needs to close and I need to prepare for the next one. Did I ever think there was going to be a brain tumor chapter of my life? Of course I did not. Remember, up until that time my physical health had been "unremarkable", as the nuero-surgeon doctor had said in my medical report. I never thought I would have any kind of foot problem that would prevent me from walking. I loved taking nice long walks! Now I wear supports in my shoes and the foot doctor told me to stop going barefoot! For goodness sakes, I'm a barefoot girl! Sad to say that is hardly me at all anymore.
Things change. We all need to be prepared for the changes, good or bad. We all need to make our plans, but prepare for tomorrow and whatever it my bring. God has a plan. God knows what our tomorrow will bring. God is always with us and will always keep us planted on his rock of life.
II Corinthians 4:8 (GNB)
We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair;
II Corinthians 4:8 (NASB)
we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
II Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We have a God who loves us. He is on our side until the very end. We remain in his care and he is faithful to walk with us and help us through the day. He is also there to help us through tomorrow.
Psalms 107:29 (NIV)
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.
This Psalm was spoken hundreds of years before Jesus came onto the boat with the twelve disciples and calmed the storm. They screamed, "Help us, we are going to die." He said, "Have faith! You are not going to die." By following Jesus the Savior, none of us will die. We will be saved and spend forever with him in the new heaven and the new earth. He promised. He said so. I believe in him and I believe what he said. I know in my soul that God had a plan then and he has a plan now. When we place ourselves into the hands of the Lord we are safe. We can safely make plans for tomorrow and we can safely say,
"Not my will, but your will be done, my Lord, my God. Amen."
