Plans have a way of changing on us. I can vividly remember standing on the freshly cured cement of my home congregation's brand new church. I was with my pastor at the time and while we were happy that the new church was going up, he was bothered by something. It turned out the church had been laid out incorrectly becuase the concrete had been pour out wrong. Whoops! But it was too late to tear things down and start over. So, the plans for the building had to change.

But you know what? That church still stands today. God's word is being proclaimed faithfully. Babies are being baptized. People are growing in their faith. And I doubt anyone cares that the concrete was poured incorrectly.

When plans change in your life, can you take that kind of attitude? Or are you too focused on yourself to see that God is still with you, even when your plans change? It's easy to do that! It's easy to get so wrapped up in what we feel are the important things, when the most important thing is still happening: God's love is getting proclaimed.

It's really just a matter of focus. If you're focused on yourself, your plans will only serve you. But if you are focused on others then you'll never be worried that your plans don't work out; instead, you'll be wondering how you can change your plans to meet the needs of others.

You can have that kind of attitude when Christ lives in your heart. When you see what Christ did to serve you, how he bled and died to make you right with God, then your attitude begins to change. You don't need to be served by others becuase Jesus took care of your greatest spiritual needs. Now you can focus on living for Jesus and to do that, all you have to do is look into the eyes of the people that are around you and serve them.

Then when plans change--which they will--you won't throw your hands up in frustration. Instead, you will marvel at the opportunities to serve that you never knew were right in front of you the whole time.