What I've Learned About God

If there is one thing I have learned about God is that He is unpredictable. That may seem like an odd thing to say, especially when the Bible describes God as faithful, unchangeable and true. God does what He says. We can count on it. While life may overwhelm us, God meets our challenge head on and reminds us that nothing is impossible with God. This year we mark the 30th year of Pleasant Hill Christian School. By all accounts, this school should not exist. It began as the brainchild of Janlyn and Mary Jo, along with Pastor Heath and Darryl and Margie Hurst. The school began with just a few students, meeting in one room of our current school building. The other rooms were used for storage and housing for the apple ranch workers. Yet the school began to grow. God met the needs of the school more times than we could keep track of. Each circumstance reminded us that God does things His way and in His timing, and not necessarily when we think it should be. God is unpredictable. Which brings me to another thing I’ve learned about God. His timing is always perfect. The school has gone through some tough times during the last 4 or 5 years. The economy has taken a toll on everyone, including Pleasant Hill Christian School. Yet God has perfect timing. Just as the economy began to sour, our school received the largest amount of donations in its history. These donations carried the school to the present time. Several years ago, we did not have one kindergarten student signed up. We wondered, “What is God up to?” Some began to wonder if this was it. That perhaps the school would close down. The next year saw a full kindergarten class enrolled. We wondered, “What up with that? What is God doing?” This year is no exception. The current school budget was supposed to completely use up all of our reserves. Now that we are at the end of our school year, it looks like we will have about $15,000 remaining. We wonder “What is God up to?” While we are concerned with finances, God has been busy doing other things through the school. Parents worked hard on our annual Apple Blossom Parade float for which we received the highest award possible. A huge trophy now greets everyone entering our school lobby. Each year our 5th and 6th grade students participate in Sonoma County’s History Day. All of our students researched and put together displays in keeping with the National History Day theme. Nine students went to the county level to compete. All nine students won and are at the State competition now. At the time of my writing this, the 4 6th graders were finalists. They are in the top 9 presenters in the State. In preparation for this, 2 of our students interviewed someone and led them to faith in Jesus. Just when we wonder what God is up to, God intervenes and uses us to accomplish something that we never thought possible. What’s up with that? I’ve quit trying to second guess what God is going to do. I just rest in the thought that God ‘s ways are unpredictable, but always right on time. And God always accomplishes what He sets out to do. In the meantime, we can praise God through whom all blessings flow. Blessings, Pastor Pete