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Trusting That He Knows

    “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  God has a plan for us. It is a plan for our good. His plan includes prosperity and hope. Is it enough that we know that He knows what the plan is? Do we insist on knowing all the details in advance? Knowing that He knows and being okay with not yet knowing ourselves is choosing to walk by faith. By its definition, faith includes an element …

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What’s My Purpose?

    If I ask you today, “what is your purpose in life?,” what would you say? You might say, “I have no idea” or you may tell me exactly what you think your purpose is. God created each one of us with a purpose in mind. And, ONLY God knows the answer to this question. If you’re unsure, or really have no clue, just ask Him. God listens to His children and He never dismisses the desires of our hearts. Just make sure when you ask ‘what is my purpose?’ that you’re ready to do what His will is …

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Women Show Their Love to Jesus

  Mark 16:1-5, 9  “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting …

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Talent to Serve

  John 12:26 “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me” Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 1 Samuel 12:24 “But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” Jesus washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:4-17); a very unusual action on his part at that time …

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Plans

For many, the year of 2020 halted plans. Vacations were cancelled. Future moves and careers were put on hold. Our lives transitioned into something none of us had ever experienced. Was this God’s plan? Are you blaming God for the pandemic that touched every part of our world? Did He get your attention? I can’t speak for God, but I do know that He has plans for me and you. Life is a journey, not a marathon. We must persevere through the difficult times. But we must recognize that we can’t do this on our own. What about you? Is …

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No Turning Back

Roadways often have on-ramps to allow access to the highway. These on-ramps are not to be used to back off of the highway, but I’ve done it before. I know it was probably illegal but I was desperate. As I was backing down the on-ramp, desperate to get off the bridge that was backed up for miles, I prayed I could reverse my decision and go in the other direction. I managed to back off the main highway and turn around in the other direction, possibly escaping an hour delay in my trip. As it is in life, I often …

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He’s Still Working

My granddaughter told me something that reminded me that God is still at work in my life. There have been times in my early years when I’ve felt alone, abandoned and even neglected. My first memory of these feelings was when my dad died suddenly, when I was only ten years old. I didn’t understand it. I went to Sunday School. I learned about God. But, what I learned and what was happening just didn’t add up. My world had suddenly collapsed without reason. Looking back I can see how God was working in my heart, even then. He saw …

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A Place of Preparation

  No training, correction, or discipline seems pleasant at the time it is being administered to us, but afterwards we come to appreciate it. (Hebrews 12:11)   Have you ever found yourself in a place where you didn’t necessarily want to be? Often times when God wants to take us from where we are, to where He wants us to be, He’ll place us in certain situations that will truly test our faith. He rarely takes us to where He wants us to be without training, correcting and disciplining us. He takes the good and the bad, the ups and …

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You Can’t Hurry God, You Just Have to Wait

      “Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house and heal his little girl” (Luke 8:41-42).   Jairus was desperate and we are told that he repeatedly begged Jesus.  If there ever was a time for Jesus to hurry, perhaps getting to Jairus’ house was one of them.  However, Jesus agreed to Jairus’ request so they set out toward his home. While pressing through the crowd, Jairus’ request was delayed by the interruption of a courageous and desperate woman who also needed healing.  Time was not a factor …

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Backup Plan

    I think you’ll agree that our world has taken on a whole new landscape this year. Our visions and plans of 2020 have been disrupted at the very least. As 2020 arrived, most were planning a new year with great expectations. And then, Covid19 hit the world, and life as we knew it changed. So, some are thinking, “what’s the backup plan?” Well, in a pandemic of this sort, there is no immediate backup plan. There’s no one suggesting, “well, let’s just do this or that.” They’re telling us that this is the new normal. There is no …

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Count Your Blessings

  It’s hard to be thankful when nothing is going right in your life.  I know that God is faithful.  He’s our guard and protector from the evil things of this world. God’s plans and His timing are always perfect.  I have so many things to be thankful for. I have so many blessings poured out to me every day.  I have a family, a home, a job and friends.  I can serve God without being persecuted, and I can praise God openly and not worry about being shot or ridiculed for my faith. I do thank God each day for my blessings.  Friends, God …

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Are Your Plans, God’s Plans

        Psalm 127: 1 – “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”   Have you ever made plans for something and nothing happened? Or, have you desperately wanted your life to go in one direction, and it went down a totally different path? I have, many times. It’s tough when you try to do your best and be good to people, but when things keep getting worse, you’re left to wonder why even try. Looking back on life always brings wisdom. We learn from our mistakes. …