I know the plans!

We have been going through a study about blessings, at church, on Sunday evenings. I have received such a blessing, myself, getting to be the facilitator in the class. I love hearing the stories about family from the attenders. Especially from the more mature gentlemen. The sacrifices made by their parents to make sure their children had a better life than the life they led, during the depression, is so inspiring. 

In this class we have been reminded that all of us need blessings from the ones we love and the ones we love need to hear blessings from us.  These positive words of love and encouragement help make it easier as we move forward in this life. They give us courage, confidence and the knowledge that there is someone who believes in us.



No matter what your circumstances with your family did you know that there is someone who is waiting to give us more than just words of love. He wants to help us find our way in this life. God wants us to know that our future is bright because He has already made some pretty wonderful plans for us ........ 



Jeremiah 29:11

Common English Bible (CEB)

11 I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.

It has always amazed me how much we are loved by our God. I guess it shouldn't, because we were made so that we could spend our days with Him.

He certainly has our future as His first priority. He also is here to make sure that we have the tools we need to help us get to these wonderful plans....

Philippians 4:19-20

The Message (MSG)

You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity.

So we, as Christians, can know, without a doubt, that our lives and our future will be full of promise. With the thought of this I certainly feel ready to face this world and all that comes from living here, don't you?

With this confidence and the peace that comes because of it, we most certainly will want to help our loved ones feel this same confidence. God supplies the person in our lives who gives us our blessing, so maybe He is supplying their blessing through you!

Don't miss the chance to help your family and friends to feel as secure as you know you are!!


Blessings to you Dear Friends!!!

Memories of you

 

 

 

But Timothy has come to us just now. He has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have happy memories of us. He has also said they you long to see us, just as we long to see you.

II Timothy 3:6

 

 

As I was reading this verse today it reminded me of my past week in Israel. All of us that toured over there are having happy memories, this day, of all that we saw, felt and learned. I know that I am counting the days until Rodney and I can go again. I am sure the others are feeling the same.  

 

As much as I loved being where Jesus walked I kept thinking of our family and friends we left at home. I kept wishing that all of you could be there with us. I would see things that would remind me of you. For instance, Rodney's sister's family and some wonderful friends from Minnesota are very devout, loving Catholics. When we were in the Church of the Annunciation and saw this beautiful statue of Mary. All I could think of was "I wish Amy and Anne could see this". I especially thought of Anne when we were in St. Anne's Church. (This is the church home of Mary's mother.)

 

When I saw how the women of Israel dressed, worked, loved their children and worshipped our God, I kept thinking of the ladies of our Bible Studies. I wished that you all could be there to see for yourselves how much we are alike in living our lives.

 

Our group loved to sing hymns whenever we were in the different churches. The accoustics in these buildings was amazing. Everytime we sang I knew Rick and all of our choir members would haved wanted to be there to sing with us.

 

And of course we thought of our boys all the time. Whenever we saw the Israeli soilders we thought of our Phillip. How he loves and protects our country like these military people do theirs. We thought of Riley as we walked past music stores. The words were different but the beat was exactly what Riley loved. We brought some of it home for him and we were right, he really does enjoy the music. We also thought of Riley whenever we ate. We kept catching ourselves saying "Riley would want to eat this!"  

 

So as much as we relished walking in the footsteps of Jesus we loved how the thoughts and memories of  our family and friends kept coming with us, reminding us of how lucky we are to have you in our lives.!!

 

Blessings!!

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