How I Learned God’s Plans Are Better Than Mine

This last month, I had some incredible moments.

Young men and women singing “Melody of Change” on an impromptu stage in Slovenia.

Melody of Change Slovene Style from Kevin Gregg on Vimeo.

A few days later, I was looking at my wife and son who had arrived in Slovenia to see the student’s performance. It felt like a dream come true to see them talking with students during our final get together picnic.

A few days after that, I was standing in the St. Peter’s Basilica and looking at the glorious presentation of the stained glass window depicting The Holy Spirit.

I got to ask myself the question, “How did I get here?”

Ten years ago, I read Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life.”

It’s an amazing book that really moved me. One of Warren’s call to action is to take part in The Great Commission that Jesus gave his apostles and disciples before the Ascension.  To go out and spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Matthew 28:16‭-‬20

Warren says that a way to take part in The Great Commission is to go on a mission trip.

I knew that I would do it at some point in my life. But where I lived and what opportunities were available to me, I thought that would mean a trip south of California into Mexico to see if I could help families build houses.

Little did I know that a decade later I would be completing my second mission trip to Slovenia helping spread the Gospel in a Performing Arts Camp with young men and women.

With these incredible experiences, I remembered something that author Jon Acuff had written.

Through a fundraiser with his online followers, Acuff was able to build two kindergartens in Vietnam. As he stood there during the opening ceremony in Vietnam, he thought to himself “How did I get here?”

We all need these moments in our life. A moment where we can take a step back and see there are much greater plans that God has in store for us. Something that is better than any we could imagine for ourselves.

How do you get an experience like that in your life?

It begins when we give. Not just our money, but our time, our energy and our skills to those who can benefit from it.

Not just our money, but our time, our energy and our skills to those who can benefit from them.

Because as Rick Warren’s opening statement in “The Purpose Driven Life” says, “It’s not about you.”

I’m so proud of these young men and women and the lessons that they taught me. Including one young woman who heartily encouraged me to use my abilities and skills for God’s purpose.

So now on my next journey. Helping others so that they can use their skills and talents. Because those talents all point back to Him.

Find out where you can help. I promise you, it’s your first step so that years from now you will have a moment where you will stand back and say with wonder, “How did I get here?”