The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Not What I Planned" for Friday, 16 December 2016 with Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-13

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Not What I Planned" for Friday, 16 December 2016 with Scripture: Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not my ways,” says Adonai.
9 “As high as the sky is above the earth
are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For just as rain and snow fall from the sky
and do not return there, but water the earth,
causing it to bud and produce,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth —
it will not return to me unfulfilled;
but it will accomplish what I intend,
and cause to succeed what I sent it to do.”
12 Yes, you will go out with joy,
you will be led forth in peace.
As you come, the mountains and hills
will burst out into song,
and all the trees in the countryside
will clap their hands.
13 Cypresses will grow in place of thorns,
myrtles will grow instead of briars.
This will bring fame to Adonai
as an eternal, imperishable sign.
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My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.[Isaiah 55:8 (NRSV)]
For years, I dreamed of serving on a mission in another country. When I heard about a week-long mission trip to Haiti, I was excited! But then I was told about the vaccine requirements. Since I have an autoimmune disease, the vaccines posed health risks to me. I was disappointed, but I knew that God would provide another opportunity for me to serve.
Later, I learned about a trip to a disaster-relief supply depot in Salt Lake City to pack kits of washcloths, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and bandages. I soon made arrangements to go.
In the four days my team was there, it felt great seeing five truck pallets get piled high with over four thousand kits that we packed. I was glad to know that my work would make a difference to four thousand people devastated by floods, monsoons, mudslides, or earthquakes.
The friendships I made with my team were an unexpected blessing. Together we talked, sang, and laughed as we packed the kits, dedicated each pallet, shared meals, took turns giving devotions, went sightseeing, prayed, and celebrated Communion on our last day there. Today, I often see the team members who live near me. Through this experience, I unexpectedly fulfilled my desire to serve God through mission work.
Read "The Pallet Prayer" and see a picture of Jennifer, here.Link2Life for December 16, 2016

The Pallet Prayer

Upper Room author Jennifer Fenn
The Author: Jennifer Fenn (California, USA)
Thought for the Day: God will always provide opportunities to serve others.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for planning wonderful things for us! Keep our hearts open to see them and respond. Amen.
Prayer focus: PEOPLE WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES-------