Intentional Plans

I am having a ton of fun with my new watercolor computer art program. I can't make it do what I want it to do...but I am having wonderful surprises as I play with it. In fact, I think that what I am creating by accident is probably better than what I could do on purpose. And this is just one more reason why I am not God. Everything He does is on purpose, nothing is an accident. The only thing that mars the perfection of God's plan is our defiance of His will. His plan gives us a future, hope, straight paths, good results, guidance, satisfaction, and strength...to name just a few promises in the Bible. So why do we spend so much time trying to go our own way, define our own truth, challenge His program?

As I was driving with my vanful of teens to ski, I was listening to Christian radio. The speaker quoted Philippians 4:8, one of my favorite verses:  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

One of the teens said, "Notice that verse says 'whatever is true' not 'whatever is true for me'." 
God's absolutes, God's plans, God's "paintings"will be infinitely more beautiful and perfect than ours. Meanwhile, I am watching tutorials on my art program. I want to create more intentionally, instead of hoping to stumble on beauty and perfection by accident.
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Jeremiah 29:11 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Proverbs 3:5-6 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Romans 8:28 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

Isaiah 58:11 

And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.