Transcript – God's Plan, Not Ours
(Note that all transcripts were created from audio recordings, and therefore any mistakes are the transcriptionist's, not the speaker's.)
Filename -- GodsPlanNotOurs_InvitedToCollegeLectureship_purpose_ConsoleBitterFiredMan_Atchley_transcription.doc
TRANSCRIPT – God’s Plan, Not Ours
College Lectureship and the Bitter Fired Man
Rick Atchley
Some years ago, I got an invitation to come speak at a lectureship. I had never been to this college before. Probably one you’ve not heard of. But I thought, “Well that would be a new experience, they asked me like a year in advance to come.” And I anticipated a large crowd and a chance to preach. They assigned me the story of Joseph not getting bitter about being thrown in jail. I thought, “Man, of all the things I’d want to preach about, that’s not what I’d choose first.”
Well I get there, and first off, it’s a very small crowd, and I have to confess having a little bit of a poor attitude. Thinking, I’ve taken two days away from church and my family, to come preach a text I’m not excited about, to a very small group of Yankees. They didn’t put me in a hotel with ESPN and a hot shower. They told me to stay with this couple that were brand new Christians.
Well I go to stay with them. It turns out that man had just been fired unjustly at his job. He had just moved into his house because that school district had a program for his disabled child. The paper that day had put his name in it and listed him as being fired. And he’s just a brand new Christian. So when we got home that night, do you think he wanted to talk a little bit about bitterness? And I realized, over one year ago, this family who weren’t even Christians, who didn’t live in that house were going to be there. And God knew where I needed to be. And that’s why I was sent to Detroit, not to give a talk to a college.
Now here’s the thing -- when you learn to live this way and you look each moment for WHY does God want me right now here in this moment, and then you SEE why! That fills up your courage tank. The scripture says in Proverbs 3, “Trust in the Lord with all your Heart, do not depend on your own understanding, seek his will in all you do, and He will direct your paths.” He’ll direct your steps as we follow His leading.
Now remember though, God doesn’t usually tell you the destination until you’ve arrived. You just follow God and then every now and then you’ll stop and He’ll say, “I want you right here, and you’re about to see why.”
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