God of the Plans

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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 a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

God of the Plans

To understand the plans of God and walk the way He said
Had always been a hope for me
Since I was just a kid

But life's great complications
Like children, bills and wife
And all my dumb decisions
Left me in a mess of strife

I couldn't seem to get a grip
Of God's great plan for me
And live a life like saints of old
Who always seemed to be
Accomplishing a lot for Him
Who died on Calvary

My struggles swept me far from shore
Till I felt lost at sea
And then I heard my Savior say
Just trust and follow Me!

God of the Plans by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright 2021 all rights reserved

“Far better to trust in the God of the plans than to struggle to know the plans of God” Peter Caligiuri

Hope on the Horizon

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And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8 ESV

Some of us may feel hopeless as we see a political scene where the value of an unborn child is worthless, the purpose of a family is useless and freedom to worship God is considered dangerous. But God sees things differently than us. Because if politics could have changed a single heart, Jesus would have run for office. If money could give happiness and contentment, He would have built a business and lived in a mansion. If entertainment could soothe away fears and calm a world at war, He could have multiplied bread every Monday, walked on water on Tuesdays and turned water into wine for the rest of the week!

But instead Jesus came and gave His life so we could be forgiven. He sent His Spirit to fill us and teach us to love our enemies, wash the feet of our friends and give our wealth to the poor.

Then – not because we deserve it but because He loves us, we find ourselves in a kingdom whose ruler never leaves office. We receive an inheritance of contentment and an eternal home. And most of all we begin to experience true peace as we discover that through the blood of Jesus; God has adopted us as His sons and daughters. So I see real hope on the horizon, because Jesus is still in charge and has a job for us to do. Now what could be more hopeful than that?

Jesus Knows Our Name!

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“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” John 9:2

Does it bother you if people forget your name? Are you offended if people point and say, “Hey you over there, come here!”?  It is interesting that though our blind man receives a longer and more detailed story than anyone else in John’s gospel (except of course Jesus), yet we are never told his name. The disciples asked if he were a sinner and his neighbors just referred to him as the blind beggar. His parents came closest when they confessed him as their son but the Pharisees named him; someone born in sin.

Maybe this blind man felt invisible, anonymous and rejected. But no matter whether we know his name the most important part was that Jesus knew. In the following chapter as Jesus begins explaining what it means to follow him I can’t but believe that the blind man was still sitting at his feet. Just as Jesus had individually come to meet him, he now learns that Jesus was calling his name.

And today, just like that blind man we can know that no matter our sins or weaknesses Jesus has come for us. In spite of the denial and rejection of others, Jesus wants to spend time with you. If not even one single person on earth remembers us, Jesus has not forgotten. He is calling our name. If you can hear His voice trust Him because He leads us to green pastures and makes us rest by quiet waters.

Photo by Valeriia Miller on Pexels.com

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  John 10:3 NKJV