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).
He had my attention at “prosper.”
That’s what He said His plan was.
He’d turn my adversity into a hope and a future.
No more bondage.
No longer dogged by a shameful past.
Just the sure promise – it’s gonna get better.
Then He threw me a curve.
“Be always ready,” He said.
Ready for what?
“Ready to share the hope that’s in you with gentleness and reverence.”
What?
Share?
Isn’t prosperity for consumers?
“No,” said the Gentle Whisperer.
“Prosperity is the fruit of those who have set apart Christ as Lord. Hope and futures are for sharing.”
Are you ready?
But make sure in your hearts that Christ is Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have. Be ready to give the reason for it. But do it gently and with respect (1 Peter 3:15, NIRV).
Brilliant insights arrive in sets of three, and generally this is because the “insighted” is too dim, selfish, or busy to notice the brilliant insights during the first two waves. So by the third time the same insight comes around, any intelligent person should take heed of the words. Your post, and more directly the Jeremiah 29:11 verse, is the third time in a week I have been blessed by these words. It is a tough business not being in control of one’s life and having faith that God will do what He says He will do. Faith is tough, but then again, so is life. It gives me some unexplainable peace to know that there are in facts plans laid out for my future and I do not actually have to be in control. It give me peace yes, but peace does not turn your future into a cake-walk by any means.
Ready to share the hope . . . Yes! Now, to share on Facebook! 🙂
Blessings, Andy!
Martha Orlando´s last blog post .."It’s Been a Long, Long Time Coming, but I Know a Change Gonna Come . . ."
Jordan,
It’s encouraging and exciting to see where your faith and vision is being stretched. Isn’t God’s promise (29:11) and compass (3:15) a wonderful place to start that walk?
Marsha,
Thanks again, friend!
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 NIV Greetings to you my brethren in Christ Jesus, the family and the church there.Iam from Kenya in Africa blessed to be in the service through ministering to many thirsty people here of the word of God.I have gone through your web and felt moved And touched to write to you as to request for assistance and affiliation . i am a spiritual leader of a group of 30 members fellow-shipping under the shade out in the open humbly requesting for your prayers, spiritual encouragement and assistance to enable us grow and enable others to grow in the kingdom of God.I am also blessed with caring of 10 orphans under my care whom i have rescued out of great anguish and agony of neglect by the community. i am blessed to be the caregiver of the orphaned children and 5 widows and have adopted a management committee to help me manage the orphanage..
I operate out of good will of well-wishers,to enable give the children and women widows a hope for the future in supplying the basic needs to them.we are registered by the Kenyan Government.
Having been touched and moved by your mission and your focus to make the love of God be felt in all corners of the world,i have taken a step of faith to partner with you to enable us be assisted with basic needs to assist the increasing number of orphans who are constantly crying for my help while the resources hear are uncertain and few while we Most orphan children are convinced no-one loves them and find it almost impossible to believe that God loves them. In their way of thinking, if God really loved them, they wouldn’t be orphans. Christian families who adopt are the missionaries best qualified to bring God’s love to orphan children in the form they can understand and accept – “The gospel of Adoption.” (Gal 4:4-5 and John 1:12) Adoption is the best and often the only way to reach orphan children with the gospel. Countless thousands of Christian families have already answered God’s call to adopt, but they cannot afford the cost. We help families raise funds for adoption, and plant “Adoption Ministries” in churches (world wide) which focus on teaching local congregations to view adopting families (in their own congregations) as missionaries, and to send (Rom 10:15) and support (Matt 10:10) those families just as the church sends and supports any other evangelists. We are calling for a paradigm shift from orphan sponsorship to adoption sponsorship, from institutional care to the care and nurture of a loving Christian family. Not all are called to adopt, but anyone can love and minister to orphans in a practical and meaningful way by helping other families adopt. Instead of sponsoring a child to keep them in an orphanage, why not sponsor their adoption so they can grow up in a loving Christian family? learn more from you so as God`s love may be felt in all corners of the world including Kenya.
Thank you in advance as i look forward to reading from you as you may be directed by God through the Holy Spirit.Thank you and be blessed. Kindly i remain,
dougras
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