Tag Archive: Jeremiah 29:11


“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”   1 Corinthians 2:9

I attended a conference this past weekend and while I was there I went to a session in which a married couple shared their love story.  An engaging and beautiful story about how God brought them together and how they trusted Him for their relationship.

The speakers were Eric & Leslie Ludy, authors of the top-selling relationship book:

When God Writes Your Love Story

I was in awe of this incredible story.  When I left the session, I was pumped about how God works in lives.  I have seen Him time and time again provide similarly in my life through His provision with finances or His great protection but I never really thought about how, if we only trust Him that way in every area, of course He would reveal Himself in amazing and awesome ways.

But what shocked me was the feedback I heard from others who attended the same session; some youth as well as other leaders… saying it’s “unrealistic.”

Why is so it unrealistic?  I thought.  That is exactly how God works!

Instead of continuing to take things into their own hands, the Ludy’s completely trusted God to provide their future spouse and He totally came through.  God provided exactly what each of them wanted, like He will do and has done so many times before for those who fully trust Him!

Just imagine how we take things into our own hands, like with our finances when we use credit cards to purchase things.

“Don’t use credit cards?!”  You think…  “Unrealistic!”

kissing card

But what if??

When we use credit, we are controlling how we get things.  Many times, I would say, it is for something we don’t truly need but even when there are times of “emergency,” using a credit card to pay for said “emergency” is taking it out of God’s hands. That “emergency” has been filtered through God’s loving fingers; it’s a test…a trial… and how we respond to it can easily take away an opportunity for God to work in an amazing and awesome way and also says a great deal about what we are truly placing our trust in.

Had I borrowed money for groceries or gas at one of the many times we had nothing left in our account or in our pockets, I would have missed God ringing our doorbell or pushing our car.  God works in amazing and wonderful ways and His intent is for us to experience exactly that in this life He has planned for us.  How many other times have I missed an opportunity to allow God to work in my life because I decided, like Sarai, to take matters into my own hands?

My way or the highway

Like Eric and Leslie’s story, God has been working in love lives for ages… read the story of Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 24:14-20) or how God intervened to be sure Sarah was not defiled by Abimelek…

“Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.”   Genesis 20:6

Why don’t we fully trust God?  Because it’s hard.  Sure, it’s hard.  It’s supposed to be hard!!  If it wasn’t hard, it wouldn’t be called faith.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”   Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

What would happen if we truly trusted God for every aspect of our lives?

Just imagine it… what life could truly be like, how easy it would be to see God working, how our lives would be changed and lives around us affected!

“Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number.”   Job 9:10

Is there something you need to give up control of?  Is it time to trust God’s plan for your life?  God wants what’s best for you, He always has.  Give it to God and see how He responds.

 

 

Remember last year when I went to my office Christmas party and God provided an iPad?  Have I not shared that story with you yet??

Wow.  That’s one of my favorites.  Ok, I’ll have to post it…  iSpy God.

But I digress.

Last year I won an iPad at my Christmas party.  Yes, seriously.  Awesome company to work for, right?!!  Well, I never expected to win again this year.  Sure, I was hoping… but never imagined I would.

I was wrong.

I won a … well here, let me just show you!

JVC 42" LCD TV

A 42″ LCD TV of all things!!  Oh my word, talk about shocker!!

I won and won big!!  Again!

I’ve only been working at DHA for three years now, and won prizes at two of the Christmas parties and not just any prizes… the big ones!!  Now why did I win when my co-workers, some of whom have worked there for more than 20 years, haven’t won squat?  I don’t know.

What I do know is that God is a little bit crazy and when He provides for us, He does it in ways that are inconceivable, unconventional and surprising otherwise we wouldn’t notice or make a big deal about it.  Sadly, many of us don’t anyway.

Did I need that tv?  Absolutely not.  So what did I do with it you ask?

Well, I sold it.

whaaaa??

Whaaaa??

Yeah.  This has caused some problems, apparently, at work with people being upset that I sold the prize I won.  Well, with Christmas coming up and a bank account that’s negative, I felt it was a smarter plan than hanging that thing on my bedroom wall.  Granted, had I been a better steward of my money my account would not have gone negative, that certainly is not the way God wants us to be responsible financially… but I praise Him for providing a way to help.

I’m not able to buy lots of gifts now so no, selling the tv didn’t actually help a whole lot as far as Christmas goes, but my account is no longer in the red and that is glorifying to God.

Yes, God allowed me to win an awesome prize and I agree with Lisa from this past season of Survivor when she said…

“I don’t think God cares about who wins Survivor, has a favorite football team, favorite country…  I think He cares about us each individually.  Does He care that Denise won?  Yes, because He cares about Denise.  Does He care that I didn’t win?  Yes, because He cares about me.”  -Lisa Welchel

God loves you.  He loves how you’re feeling, what you’re doing, what you’re winning and what you’re not.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”   Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Don’t underestimate God’s love for you…

God's love

Have you ever wondered; “Why am I here?”

I have.

I do.

I know God made me for a reason…His Word tells me so  (oh, doesn’t that just take you back to singing a kid song at Sunday school?!!)

 

 

Great verse and certainly great reminder…

“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'”   Jeremiah 29:11

But doesn’t it just seem so pointless sometimes??

As I sit here praying, asking God why I’m here…what do I have to offer…why did He make me…I am reminded that I know three things for sure.

  I am here to glorify Him.

“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”   Romans 15:5-6

 

  I am to love God.

“AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.”   Mark 12:30

 

  I am to love others.

“YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”   Matthew 22:39

 

I know all of those things, and long terribly to honor God with my life, to give Him glory, to live for Him…but nothing happens.

Why has He given me such a desire to write, but no direction?

Why did He send me to a writer’s conference, then leave me hanging?

So, where has God placed me?  I am a mother and a wife and if I’m not doing those jobs well, why would I be given more responsibility?!!

“So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”   Luke 8:18

Bloom where you’re planted.

 

Oh Lord, please show me how to love my husband and my family better.  Help me to glorify You through how I love them.  Please remove my selfish desires and help me focus on You. 

“…Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”   Matthew 25:40

 

 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”   Jeremiah 29:11-13 (niv)

I often hear people ask and wonder so often myself;
“What is God’s plan for me?  What does He want me to do?  What will bring Him the most glory?”

Ever since I returned from the She Speaks writers conference, I have been struggling with the direction I feel God has for me.  I have an unsettledness inside me to continue writing, but see no real path.  I long to glorify God through whatever it is I do, and if writing isn’t where God wants me, I want to know…I don’t want to waste mine and His time if this isn’t the path He wants me on!

I was talking with a friend about this and God spoke to me through her when she said;

“I think we get stuck because we want to do the right thing, but end up doing nothing because we don’t want to do the wrong thing.  Just remember how MUCH God loves you and that His desire for others to be ministered through the gifts He gave you, is greater then your desire to use them.”

So what do we do, how do we know what path to take?

Stop.

It’s time to have a talk with God.
Let Him know what you’re struggling with and ask Him for direction.

“I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.”   Psalm 17:6

“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”   1 John 3:21-22

Listen.

Stop with the noise!
God speaks quietly.  In fact, many times it’s a longing or desire He places within us.
So, what moves you?  What are you passionate about?  What is it you think you want to do?

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”   Psalm 37:4-6

Take a deep breath.

Stop doubting!
God has a plan for us and even had it planned long before we were born!  As long as we stay in His will, He will not fail to show us what that plan is.

“For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'”   Isaiah 41:13

Take a step.

God responds to faith…and sometimes He waits for us to take that first step before He acts.
Move in the direction you think is right.
Trust that He will lead you and know that if it is not the right path He will change your direction.

“I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”   Revelation 3:8

“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.”   Proverbs 3:5-6

 

“Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

God’s timing

god's timing

[IMAGE CREDIT]

When the time was right,

the sea parted,

the walls fell down,

the lions went hungry,

the sun stood still,

the waves were calm,

the stone was rolled away,

the clouds were parted,

the Lord ascended…

And when the time is right,

the King of Kings will return.

 

God is never early and He’s never late —

He’s always right on time and His plan for you is good.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”   Jeremiah 29:11


Originally printed in my 2011 Dayspring calendar

I Spy a promise

As I drove to work on this overcast, dreary, drizzly day, there were brief flashes of light.  The sun winked teasingly at me through the blustery clouds then scampered off to hide playfully.

You know those times; you finally succeed at pulling your sunglasses out and put them on, just as the clouds envelop the bright rays.  You hear stifled sounds of laughter emanating from the brightness as you are caught sitting in the shadows sporting dark glasses and looking quite absurd.

You can imagine my relief as I turned the car onto a long stretch of road where the sun, if it dare show its beaming face again, would be forced to remain in my rear-view-mirror …and not place me in its blinding glare!

Many miles ahead I could see quite a storm transpiring.  As I gazed at the bands of falling rain, the sky behind me opened, the bright rays cutting through the darkness and settling upon the falling rain, exposing  a vast rainbow, and as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.

I almost wondered if anyone else had seen it.  It was not a magnificent rainbow; it appeared almost wisp-like, vaguely revealing color or arch, and unveiled itself at only a specific angle, direction, for a few fleeting moments…

But as I stared, I considered these words:

 “…he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion….”   Philippians 1:6

As I reflected upon that verse, I found it quite odd that it came to mind in the presence of this rainbow.

I have seen many rainbows in my lifetime, and have been in awe at the amazing beauty and creative genius of my Lord and Savior.  And every time, have been reminded of the promise God made to Noah;

“I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.”   Genesis 9:13-15

…but not this time.

I didn’t think of Noah.

This time it was a promise to me; a promise that God has a plan for me, for my life, for my passions and desires.  He has given me all the tools I need and as long as I seek Him and His will first, He promised He will finish what He has started in me.

Perhaps when a rainbow is seen, it’s not just a reminder of what God did for Noah, but maybe it’s a promise for someone special.  Maybe He’s speaking directly to someone’s heart.

Maybe He’s speaking to yours.

“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.”   Jeremiah 29:11

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