Acts 20: 1-4 "After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia."

I am one that likes to make plans for the future, like I am the one in charge. The past two weeks have been quite the challenge for Vicky and me. Most know us as PE teacher and day-care provider, but we are also rental property owners. James has taught us a lot about being patient and how to "Count it all joy, by brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1: 2-3. These two weeks have been producing a lot of "steadfastness".

Back to Acts, this weeks reading pointed out to me that even Paul had to adjust his plans from time to time, and did it with no complaints; only looking for more ways to share the Gospel in the new plans designed by a Sovereign God. Vicky and I have had a lot of "plan changing" going on and are looking forward to how God is going to use these changes to glorify His Kingdom. One of our recent trials has allowed us to get to know a young couple that lives near one of our properties and develop a relationship with them. We pray that God will continue to use trials to place people in our lives that need to hear the Good News.

Sometimes we just want our bad circumstances to be removed from our life. Our prayer is that God will give us the wisdom not to waste the opportunities God is giving us to mature.

Randy Smith