Romans 15:22-33

Romans 15:22-33
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  Plans.  We all make them.  Paul was planning on traveling to Spain, and on his way he was going to stop in Rome.  Romans is written as Paul's introductory letter -- he wanted to introduce his theology before he visited the church there.
  We don't know if Paul ever made it to Spain.  It's likely that his life concluded in Rome, but no one is sure.  What we know is that he sought to glorify God in all he did, always looking forward but more importantly, looking up to God and then looking around to the people around him.
  I make lots of plans.  You make them.  They're important -- without them, we'd be in trouble.
  But don't let your plans get in the way of enjoying God's gift of the present, and don't become so wedded to your plans you forget that our very lives dependent on the free gift of grace.  As we make our plans, may we remember to look up to God, and look around at the people God has placed around us, rather than getting caught up looking ahead in anticipation or backward in regret.