God’s Plan- HIS Purpose By Matthew Fenn

God’s Plan- HIS Purpose 

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, “God, I do not know what I’m doing. It seems no matter where I turn I don’t know where you want me?” This was a question I asked myself, and to be pretty honest, still ask myself in my pursuit of God’s will for my life. 

A commonly quoted passage in scripture is Jeremiah 29:11-14, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back from the place I have sent you into exile.” 

We more or less hear the beginning verse in reference to the future. During the time of the Israelites they were living in a time where there seemed to be no hope. To explain the Exile, to elaborate on it would be the equivalent of where you live being over-taken and taken away from you, not only that but you yourself are taken away from your home. The Exile was a time of loss, pain, and sorrow for them. Yet in spite of that God is talking about a restoration, a time where He will not only bring them out of the Exile, but that they will be restored. We look at our lives sometimes and think, “what am I doing, where am I going to be used?” This passage is beautiful because if you read the portion of Jeremiah different versions use “prosper you” in place of “welfare.” When we think of the word prosper our first thought is, well I hope God prospers my bank account. God could do that but there is a deeper meaning behind this word in Hebrew. 

The word prosper is oriented in the Hebrew language not to mean material wealth, but a form of prospering as a result of a relationship. So if we look at the first word we begin to discover that God is talking about prospering us by not just giving us materials, God is saying I will give you myself. He is telling us that our future is a memory to Him. He has got it all worked out. There are many plans but only one purpose. To illustrate this point better think of this. A parent has a young child sitting at the table, and yet also has a dog. The parent’s goal is to feed the child. The parent instructs the child to not feed the dog. The child begins eating their meal, and disobeying the parent, drops food and the dog eats. Now, the parent said not to do this, but the parent’s purpose was fulfilled. This is how it works with God. God’s plans are never foiled, Proverbs 16:9 says, “ The heart of man plans his way, BUT the Lord establishes his steps.” The child disobeyed the parent and yet the purpose was established. We understand that God is giving us Himself, He will prosper us through a relationship with Him (Because He is the best), He will establish our steps, and not only those but if we obey God we then do all things for his glory. 

That is an amazing thing. God is saying, DO NOT FEAR, I AM WITH YOU, I AM ESTABLISHING YOU, MY GLORY WILL BE KNOWN, AND I WILL USE YOU TO DO IT. He has restored you, Jesus is the final restoration, and the appropriate response is of a God-lived life that truly matters. Though the question is still there, “What do I do?” We all ask that question and the answer is to pray, seek God, read his word. Scripture, just the word “Scripture” sounds like “Script- your”, it’s your script! Christians! Look to your word! If an actor attempts to be good in his profession he or she takes a look at their script. They memorize it, they let to make them into the person they are supposed to be! Chase after God, because He has already given you Himself. What an amazing thing! God has everything planned out for his purpose. The one purpose that really matters, the one that will remain when nothing else will. God’s purpose is to use us to establish that. 

So pray, read, make good fruit, and move where God is moving you. If you do not feel him moving, look to scripture and move with the distinct understanding that God is with you. Psalm 33:11 says, “ The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of HIS heart from generation to generation.” Jesus changed the world by coming onto this earth. Because we love him we have faith that we can be used to bring glory, glory to the one who is already worthy of it. Prayer: God please give us the understanding that you are involved in everything in our life. You are leading us, and that you give us the opportunity to be leaders in our lives. You set in us our desires, and that you will bring them into fruition if we follow you, and it brings glory to you. Help us to give ourselves as you have us. -Amen

Forever in His Hands

Forever in His Hands
By J.R. Fields

Psalm 140:4
Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from violent men,
Who have purposed to make my steps stumble.
There is an adversary who longs to see you fall.
That is his purpose, & he makes it his highest goal.
But you have a Father who will teach you how to walk in His ways.
Not only will He teach you, but He will also lift you up every time you fall.
He is the source of strength & of support, always ready to help.
His hands will guide you in all of your steps …
My Father, how comforting it is to know that You hold my life in Yours hands.
Where would we, your children, be without your guidance. Thank you that you seek to make us more like your Son, even though at times it may feel You have forsaken us, Your Word says that You would never do such thing! How wonderful is the comfort of Your Presence. Thank You for your promises, exalt Your name for Christ’s sake. Amen!

Standard Psalms

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A Trustworthy Refuge - JR Fields

A Trustworthy Refuge
By J.R. Fields

Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He care for those who trust in Him…
When trouble engulfs you & doubt is the only thought that resides in your mind, you need to be grounded on the fact that God is good.
He is the place of comfort and relief in times of trouble.
Like a loving parent comforts a child when he is hurt, so God comforts those who call on His name.
Peter tells us “to cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” [1 Peter 5:7]
The LORD is good indeed!
Put your trust in Him & discover juts how extreme His love is for you.
Father, what a joy it is to know that You are our strong tower.
How great is your love for us! May Your name be our source of joy.
Bless your Name, for the sake of Your Son. Amen!

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Perpetual Love - JR Fields

Malachi 1:2 – "The LORD said, 'I have loved you.'”

God’s love never ceases.
The love of God never fails.
Whether we spurn, disobey, or ignore Him, His love will remain.
He doesn't love us more when we are good.
Our evil cannot diminish His love.
Whether we suceed or fail, His love will not change.

Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My God, indeed your Name is majestic in all the earth. Your grace & mercy captivate my heart & leaves my soul in awe of who you are! I bless your Name for it is Holy. Your Word is truth! And by it you have set me free. I love you for who you are and for what you have done. I praise you in Christ’ name. Amen!


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Imitators of God - Roosevelt Leggett

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

Recently, I experienced a deep expression of love from my mom. I’m a 24 year old male living on my own so this experience was unexpected. I came home from a 4 day conference with flu-like symptoms. On the way in, I called my mom and told her I was almost back to my house. During the conversation, she told me I should come home and spend the rest of new years day with her. I did not tell her that I was sick. The last thing I wanted was her expressing her nursing expertise on me.

I ended up going home. Within in an hour of my visit, I asked her to retrieve the thermometer. Once she found out my body temperature, was 102.2, her motherly traits kicked into overdrive. She gave me medicine, fixed me food, and cared for me like a loving mother would. I almost neglected all of this.

We have so much love at hand according the riches of Christ! But, we have to realize that we’re sick and need the healing love before we see the deepness of His love. As it says in Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

The problem is that our pride gets in the way of us experiencing all that he has for us. It tells us that we can handle it on our own. It tells that this situation will pass in due time. It tells us that we really shouldn’t care. Essentially, it’s saying that Jesus isn’t enough. The truth is that we are beloved. God wants us to run into his loving arms so that we can experience all that He has for us. I would really encourage you to discover all that he has for you day by day. Let the great physician heal your heart!

Run the race - Matthew Fenn

Run the race: Acts 20:24 

I remember going to a summer camp many years ago that would be the defining moment in my decision to pursue Christ. You see at a young age I had accepted Christ, and made a proclamation of faith. It was until summer camp I began to realize what pursuing God really meant. The theme of this years camp was "Running the race," and this fit perfectly with me, because I ran track in high school. 

Throughout much of my high school years, it was rough because my family was going through issues, such as the possibility of a divorce looming overhead. I lived with my grandma because of it. I remember praying to God, asking him to help me in this situation. I would spend nights crying and praying for certainty. I remember this verse because of track which I became involved with. When I ran, I was decently fast, but more importantly, it allowed me to gain character and be able to understand Acts 20:24 better. 

You see, when you run you can't just jump out and run 3 miles and then flip off a switch. It takes time, kind of like our faith, God puts us into situations for our benefit. I tell you I prayed more than I ever had and God worked a miracle. Like many things from our hearts, to our physical bodies we have to build them up to take more. In track there are so many ways you can give up, and overall it is mental. Tell yourself you can do it, and the awesome thing about our lives is that like a coach cheering on a runner, Jesus is cheering us on. He can identify with the track we are running. He finished the race, and knows how to encourage us. 

When you run, never look anywhere but forward or towards the finish line. When your legs get tired start swinging your arms to pull you through it. When your legs are tired you know all you need to do is push and you'll get over the wall that you are facing. God gives us so many tools through which we can be encouraged. He cheers us on, even when the race is tough, and we feel like we can't finish, there is nothing more satisfying than passing the finish line. Paul makes that comparison in Acts 20:24, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish the course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." 

When we are living Gods word, and telling others of how he's helped us and how he's encouraged us to run the race we do it all for his righteousness. I love this comparison because to remain healthy in our physical and our spiritual lives we run to increase the muscles of our hearts, and over-all both aspects of our bodies. As we run we may develop muscle, but as we run with Jesus we develop Godly character and are better able to represent Christ for it. 

God has transformed my life in so many ways, he does not always promise the road will be easy, but that he will always be with us. We fear all the time that we wont make it, but we have someone constantly cheering us on, even when we want to give up or lay down when we are out of breath. He truly as given me an understanding of the race we run, and how he is using every detail of our lives to bring glory to Himself. We may not always see where the track may go at the moment but with great expectation we know that that end is Jesus.

His mission: To destroy - By Charley King

1 John 3:7-10

Do you ever get the picture that Jesus is just some weak guy who loves everybody and seeks peace and harmony? We talk a lot about the love of Christ but rarely do we understand the mission of Christ. 

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. (3:8)” 

Destroy... what? Yea, that was his reason, his mission, to destroy. Rarely do I realize this wartime mission. Obviously we can’t deny the love of Christ but this verse makes me think of him more as a wartime commando, a Special Forces soldier, or maybe a Marine! His mission is to infiltrate and destroy the enemy with violence of action and to rescue those held captive. My savior and God has one mission: to free me from what is holding me captive and to destroy it. That feels good. 

It would be easy to read this passage as yet another Scripture telling you to stop lying, be a good person, obey your parents, or whatever, but that’s not what it is. It is a wartime plea warning us that the enemy has put on our uniforms and is pretending to be friendly. They are just

waiting for us to put our guard down before they strike and before we know it we are fighting for the enemy. The writer, John, knows this all too well. He was there when Judas turned from a friend of Jesus to the enemy, and he is warning you to be careful or it will happen to you.

So I get two things out of this passage. 

First, I am at war alongside my Lord Jesus Christ. We envy Marines and Special Forces guys because of the serious training they go through. I need to put myself through that kind of training to be prepared to serve. But also, I need to recognize that my enemy is everywhere. I have to be on my feet and ready, and I must not be deceived. The enemy will do whatever it takes to win me to their side, but I am a soldier and will never forsake my God! 

Second, I know if I get captured, if I am a Prisoner of War in this deadly battle, I have a God who will do whatever it takes to organize a rescue mission, save me from the enemy, and destroy that enemy. I can rest easy and fight hard, because my God will not abandon me!