Maybe you remember that 80’s TV show “The A-Team”. It depicted the antics of a wrongly-accused special forces squad who escaped military prison to become a team of do-good vigilantes. Every week, when victory was in sight, their fearless leader Hannibal would find the time to smile and declare, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

My past few days seemed to carry a planned theme I feel I should pay closer attention to. It all began the end of last week when Ron and I took a short overnight trip for his birthday. This was the same benchmark birthday that I celebrated two months ago. (Yes, he married an older woman!) Now, more than ever, we’ve been reminded in a variety of ways that none of us are getting any younger. We are rethinking how we spend our days. 

Last Saturday night, we enjoyed listening to the Black Jacket Symphony perform Fleetwood Mac’s music, and we felt young again. Sunday afternoon, I attended the funeral for the son of a sweet and precious friend and was reminded that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Then Monday, we took grandson #3 on his “birthday date”. (That’s why this post is a tad late.) Being with my grandchildren reminds me that the influence I have on them will play just as an important part in their lives as my grandparents’ influence played in mine. I need to keep the main thing the main thing!

Ron and I want to live lives that matter. Though it is a cliché, we do want to keep the main thing the main thing. Loving God and accomplishing His will for us is our greatest desire. However, becoming more intentional with friends and family is not always easy. Yet, we have learned that our greatest victories have always come after our greatest struggles. God works ALL THINGS out for our good when we put His agenda ahead of our own.

I planned to write something different this week, but it will have to wait. I do, however, believe that today’s post fits in perfectly with this series on “Beginnings”. God began a good work in each one of us, and He is not finished yet. (Philippians 1:6) He has graciously given mankind many opportunities to begin again and again. He loved each of us enough to provide a way back to Him even when we didn’t keep the main thing the main thing. Because of the grace Jesus offers, we get to start over every single day. We look forward to what is in store for us here on earth and, most especially, when we finally join Him in Heaven. I had planned to write about Heaven this week, but maybe I needed a few more reminders of how the things of this world just keep us longing for that heavenly home. 

I sincerely hope and pray that the reader who sent me several comments last week will someday come to know that God is NOT an “imaginary sky-daddy with an imaginary sky-son”. I hope she gets the chance to begin again, so that she can experience all the love, joy, mercy, and peace all believers get to enjoy. I hope she gets a glimpse of victory in the life of someone close to her and suddenly realizes that she wants and needs what they have. 

I’m holding these words closer now because I know I am constantly beginning again: “Finally, brothers and sisters, aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:11-14 ESV) THAT’S  how to constantly begin again! Life is changeable, because God is good – and real – and powerful. His love sustains, Jesus’ grace motivates, and friendship with the Spirit empowers us to live our best lives.

I love it when a plan comes together!

“I know the plans I have for you, 
declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, 
to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, 
and I will hear 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, and I will restore your fortunes and 
gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, 
declares the Lord, and I will bring you back 
to the place from which I sent you into exile.” 
(Jeremiah 29:11-14 ESV)