Finding God's Smiles

Hello Emmanuel,

Well, the weekend is over.  It’s a weekend that the family has been looking forward to for almost a year… or a decade.  Our oldest daughter, Leah, married her high school sweetheart, Zach, after dating for almost 10 years.  Lots of details went into the planning.  It went great, if I do say so myself.  It rivaled even the best of weddings that I’ve seen over the years.  No one passed out.  The best man didn’t forget the rings.  The pastor didn’t get the names wrong (whew!).  And the bride’s mom didn’t give the pastor a hard time.

What are you planning for?

Think about it.  Most wedding ceremonies are around 30 minutes.  At most, a service might last 1 or 2 hours.  Still, the planning that goes into one is measured in months or years.  Would anyone consider that this is a bit over-the-top?  It could go unsaid that some evidently put more time planning the ceremony than they do planning the marriage.  Some of the most beautiful ceremonies could be had to celebrate a marriage that dissolves within a few years.  In my mind, something isn’t right with this.

What are you planning for?

There are aspects of life that God says is more important than others.  Do your priorities match God’s?  Weddings are important in God’s mind, but marriages or infinitely more important.  Funerals are important in God’s mind, but living is much more important.  Having church is important to God.  Being the Church is much more important to God.  Feeding the hungry is important to God.  Feeding the soul is more important.  Having clean clothes for your kids is important.  Having healthy relationships are more important.

What are you planning for?

I think that some just don’t know how to plan for the important things.  Maybe it is because they were never taught how.  Or maybe there is too much fear behind the planning—that if things go wrong it will hurt too much.  I encourage you to plan for the things that are important to God.  I won’t promise you that life will be better, but I will promise you that the substance of life becomes more meaningful.  And when things go well, it will be thicker and richer and more fulfilling. 

Blessings in life are found in places where God’s smiles are also found.  Go look for God’s smiles.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe