From the Home Place

May 20, 2026

Starting today at 28 degrees, looking at 63 for a high. Cloudy and breezy. Perhaps a bit of rain on Thursday and Friday, a lot of rain would be just fine!

Today, I will be shoveling dirt most of the day. I had a plan for a beautiful, lush lawn in front of our house. The folks who owned this place prior to us, hauled in 10″ of fines, which has packed like cement and has no possibility of growing grass. Miss Deb has developed a great looking plan to Xeriscape the front yard of our house. So, we are going to haul in lots of dirt so we can put in perennial plants and then surround those plants with decorative rock. When it’s done, I’ll try to remember to send you a picture.

Here’s the life lesson from all of this: When circumstances prevent one process (planting grass in this instance), we need to be creative and do something that will be attractive and permanent. (Xeriscape). Spiritually, when the Holy Spirit prevents our plan from working, we need to be flexible and adapt to His plan. You see my friends, too often we develop a plan and expect the Holy Spirit to bless our plan so that it works exactly as we want it to. However, we seldom pray over our plan before we start, after all it is “my” plan, so it has to be perfect, right? NO, remember, God’s ways are always better than our ways, especially when we haven’t sought His guidance in the first place.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 15 that he was “prevented” from doing exactly what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it, so that God’s work would continue in a different area. I wonder how often the Holy Spirit has to re-route our plans so that we don’t miss out on fulfilling His plan???

Miss Deb and I are in the midst of praying over such a situation. On one hand, we are presently involved in several ministries that appear to be producing good fruit. Yet, the Spirit seems to be guiding us toward a temporary change of plans so that we will be available to help another church family in another town. We are seeking what He wants, not what we want, for we have learned that God does not always give us what we want, but He is always faithful when we follow what He wants.

As such, as our Heavenly Father opens doors, we will do our best to walk through those doors, even though His plans will appear to interrupt our plans. Yet we know, God’s ways are always higher than our ways. In Deuteronomy we read these words, “what does the Lord your God require from you, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Did you notice how often the word “all” shows up in this verse? Kind of reminds one of the old hymn, “I Surrender All” doesn’t it?

You see my dear friends, God asks for our “all” when we desire to serve Him. “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Just grab a complete concordance and note how many hundred times the word “all” appears in the Bible. In most instances, the word “all” deals with giving to God or doing for God. You see, God doesn’t want part of you, nor part of what you have, He wants it all!

Is God greedy, no God is good. His goodness compels Him to request that you give all you are and all you have to Him, so that He can press it down and return it to you, receiving more than you ever gave up. When we give up, He blesses up! That is, when we give up that which God is asking us to give to Him, He takes our little sacrifice and gives us His great blessing.

So, what is our Lord requesting you to give up? Whatever it is, He wants it “all.” Don’t ever attempt to give God part; just ask Ananias and Sapphira how that works (Acts 5). It seems that when we give our all to God, we receive His all.

Please, join us in praying that we will continue to follow His plans, not just ours. Pray that we will be willing to give up that which is comfortable for that which is the most impactful. Pray that we will keep our eyes “upon Jesus” not upon our plans. After all, serving God isn’t about what I want, it’s about what He knows to be the best. Thanks for your prayers, you are a blessing.

Surrendering “all” to Him with you, Neal