My story goes sorta like this… I was back in Chicago this past weekend for our family reunion and while I was there I heard basically the same phrase three separate times (listening to the radio, reading the newspaper and watching TV)… "God laughs the loudest when you tell Him your plans." That phrase struck me for the simple reason that I think we all every once in awhile say: "Hey God… this is MY plan… revolve around me? Ok? Just this once…" I’m the first to admit that I’m guilty of this one. Big time.

The road to Philly for me was a long one. Sometimes it felt like a trek beyond epic proportions. Sometimes it felt like I was there and not 450 miles away thinking about being there. At other times, I never gave it a thought, but I raised an ear whenever I heard it mentioned in conversation trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening. You see, a new church was being planted from the Columbus, Ohio Vineyard and it was happening in Philadelphia. I first became aware of this four years ago and actively pursued anything and everything Philly for the next couple of years. I loved God, I was passionate for Him, and I knew the right people… I was set…or so I thought. "God laughs the loudest when you tell Him your plans." Anyway, to make a long story really short, God wasn’t on His throne but Philly and I were (an example for all you Campus Crusade folks). God stopped my planning with one long talk around a parking lot one April afternoon in 1998. When He stopped my planning, He started His healing. Again, it’s all too long to recount here. Let me just say that we serve and I will continue to serve an amazing God for all of my days.

Flash forward to 2000. Decision time. Coming to Philadelphia again was an option...but so was Chicago, Washington D.C., and Indianapolis. Then again, I could stay where I was. I was rooted into my small group and church. I was teaching Sunday school to 3 year olds (and learning a myriad of uses for pipe cleaners!) and was deeply in love with what God was doing with Joshua House (Columbus Vineyard’s young adult ministry). Needless to say, after all the fanciful thoughts were flushed out, I moved to Philly. Now I sit here wondering why I’m in Philadelphia. And then it hits me…God knows and that’s all that matters. He got me here and everything will be worked out. This I know and this is His word: "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2.10). He knows exactly what I’ll accomplish or won’t accomplish, who will become my best friend, and most importantly He’ll know what bank will hold my money.

Friends, this stuff is so ingrained in us it’s almost not worth hearing and that’s exactly why we need to hear it again. Let God run your agenda. Take a step back and talk to your Dad (in heaven) and ask him what he thinks. Personally, I’m in awe of what God has done in my life these past two years. For me it took Him yanking my passion totally away from me to get my attention. My prayer for you is to not wait that long. Eric Pickerill, the pastor of Joshua House, has this saying (and my apologies to Eric...because I’ll get this wrong)…be used like spare change in God’s pocket. He can use you any way He wants.