Excerpts From: The Messenger |
|
|
A Hope and a Future
“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
The Lord be with you. With summer behind us we are all set to tackle Fall activities. Last month I shared some thoughts on miracles and how God who works through the seen and unseen fills our heart with His love. This time around we shall undertake one of my favourite themes “Hope.” We live in a world that sometimes seems void of hope. Wars, famine, pollution, recessions, etc. can cause us to become easily discouraged when we look at the prospects of our future. Discouragement can lead to depression, and depression can lead to hopelessness.
When we are feeling hopeless, we see our circumstances and surroundings through a filtered lens that can cause us to continue to spiral downwards in our emotions and our attitudes. While the economy may be saying one thing to us, God is saying another. While your circumstances may cry out hopelessness, God says that He has a plan for you, a plan that will prosper you and not harm you, a plan that will give you hope and a future. While we don't know what the future does hold, we know who holds the future. We can trust in the goodness of God to care for us in the midst of situations that seem hopeless.
Since the foundation of the world, God has had a plan and purpose for each of us. That plan and purpose was never intended to harm us. I've heard it said that the future is an opportunity yet unmet, a path yet untraveled, a life yet unlived.
How our future will be lived depends on the priorities and purposes of our lives today. The direction we take right now determines where we will end up in the future.
We might be frightened by an uncertain future, but as Christians, we don't have to be afraid. As each blessed day passes we can anticipate what God will do in us and through us. Our future as Christians is as bright as the promises of God. At least that is what I think.
Our hope is not in our circumstances, but in God our Father. This does not necessarily mean that life will always turn out the way we expect, but it does mean that we can always trust in our God to love us and watch over us. If we commit our lives into His care, we are guaranteed an everlasting perspective, that we will have an incredible future filled with hope awaiting us, that will last forever. For those who commit all to God will see God’s hands in every thing.
Years ago, during one of the most difficult moments in my life and ministry, I was so discouraged and withdrawn in my little world. One morning I went down stairs to my study and on my desk was a note that read: “There is no expiry date on God’s promises” signed by my wife, Susan. Oh! How true that is… There is no expiry date on God’s promises to us, His blessings are renewed every morning and GREAT is God’s faithfulness.
If you have ever felt as though you were forgotten by God,
If you have ever felt that God was against you,
If you have ever been frightened about your future,
then God's words to Jeremiah applies to you : "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart"
(Jeremiah 29:11–13). Search for God. He has a future and a hope for you too. Be blessed!
God’s Peace,
Pastor Samuel King-Kabu
Rjukan is a Norwegian mountain village of 3,600 inhabitants. It is situated in a valley where the mountains prevent the sunshine from reaching the village, so that it is dark five months of the year. The town is now about to realize an idea that had its genesis 100 years ago. A mirror of 100 square meters is to be mounted on a machine which is programmed to follow the path of the sun. The machine would turn the mirror horizontally and vertically, so that the light would be aimed at the town hall square. The mirror and the machine would weigh about 14 tons. The difficulty is to build the system so that it can handle the pressure from wind and snow, and at the same time avoid vibrating light in the square from the movements of the mirror, says Jan Valinov from the firm Devotek in Kongsberg, a company that works on advanced product development.
An expert proposes that this would help people with SADD, a winter depression. The psychological benefits would be very important.
The politicians have given the green light of two million kroner to proceed with the project, which will
cost five million kroner. The remaining three million will come from private investors. Similar projects
have seen the light in the Italian Alp village Viganella, and in Arizona.
- Frede Lauritsen
Web Page prepared by:
Roger Kenner
& Jette Blair.
Content-New Topics Last Updated: 2014/03/04
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal