Today's an unusual day--again.  By definition unusual means "not usual."  The question one might ask is, "What is a 'usual' day for a pastor?"  The answer  to that question is not so easy to answer.  In fact, very few days are ever the same for me.  Yes, there is worship EVERY Sunday morning at 8:45 and 10:15 a.m. There is prayer walking EVERY Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. The weekly Bible study at 3:30 p.m. every Tuesday does take place EVERY Tuesday.  From September through March Men's Fraternity meets every Wednesday evening (7:00-8:30 p.m.) and every Thursday morning (5:30-7:00 a.m.) but beyond that every day is somewhat different than another.  That would drive some people crazy, and would fit others to a tee.  For me, it's a great life. While I generally have a plan for every day and every week, some days and most weeks end up different than the plan.

For example, at the beginning of this week, I had no idea I would be officiating at a service of witness to the resurrection (a funeral) tonight at 8:30 in Mars, PA.  That's part of what makes today an unusual day for me--again.  I also didn't know that when I got home from worship set up (which also takes place every Saturday, and for me nearly every Saturday morning) that I would immediately receive a request to make pancakes.  The request doesn't come very often these days, and really doesn't fit my paleo eating plan, but I love the two folks who requested it with smiles on their faces (Nancy and Emmy!), so we made pancakes, sausage, peach topping and various types of hot tea, and enjoyed a morning repast together in the best of company.   That put me off my "schedule" for the day, but I wouldn't trade it for anything, and the nice thing about my "schedule" is that while it's quite full, it's also usually quite flexible as well.

Next, came an important decision:  I've been struggling with a cold all week.  When I woke up this morning the symptoms were returning.  Should I plunge in to the rest of the day's schedule, or schedule a nap, to give the body the opportunity to rest and heal?  I opted for the nap.  So, here I am, writing a post I was scheduled to write yesterday afternoon, and then it will finish the message for tonight's funeral, review tomorrow's message, take care of a few other matters that I ought to have done earlier in the week, and hopefully, be in bed by 10:30.  (I like to get to bed by 10:00 on Saturday evenings, but that's unlikely to happen tonight, with the funeral in Mars at 8:30!)

So what does all this have to do with "preparing for worship"?  Everything.  My life has unusual days, and unexpected events---not just like every pastor, but just like every person!  I don't know what your  "schedule" is for today, but it's likely to have unanticipated events--welcome and unwelcome ones--and you will (or have) respond (responded) to them in a way that glorifies God or not, that prepares you for tomorrow's time of worshiping with brothers and sisters in the Lord, or potential brothers and sisters in the Lord or not, and which actually can be part of worshiping Him today or not.  How we respond to life depends on whether we have committed to seeking God first or not.  This week we've been focusing on how to maintain hope in times of grief.  I have the opportunity to help some people do just that tonight at 8:30 in a very real and tangible way.  Maybe you've had opportunities to do that this week, too, not necessarily by going to a funeral, but by helping folks you know to remember that this life is not all there is, and that one day all of us will be going to see Jesus or not, and the hope for those who will is unstoppable.

Tomorrow's the last day in our Hope: When Life Hurts Most series.  The message title is "Plan B."  The point is when our "Plan A's" don't work out, God has a "Plan B" for us.  That's a great comfort to me, since most days my "Plan A" doesn't work out!  I hope you'll join us tomorrow at 8:45 or 10:15 a.m. at the South Butler Primary School on Knoch Road in Saxonburg, as we praise and worship our amazing God, celebrate the Lord's Supper together, and focus on God's plans for our lives!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for being there in every moment of our lives.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may live your will no matter what happens to our plans.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.