“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
This scripture has been going through my mind and heart a lot lately. Our youngest, Ryan who is 26, is moving back to St. Petersburg Florida. He went to college there and has been wanting to go back to make his life there ever since he came back home to California. He has worked here at a couple of jobs, however not full time or not in his chosen field of Marine Science. While he doesn’t have a job back in Florida that he is going to, there have been openings that he would be perfect for but seeing California on the application has not been helping him get a job in Florida, so off he goes with a good amount of savings, and hope.
Ryan is stepping out on faith in a way that boggles my mind, worries, and makes me proud of him all at the same time. He believes that he is called to make the world a better place by helping us take care of our oceans and marine life. He trusts that God has put that call on his heart for a reason and is going for it. We can learn a lot from our children, even when they are adults.
We are so blessed to be in relationship with God. A God who loves us so much that he gave his own life up to show how much he loves us. During this time of Lent when we focus on what Jesus went through to try to get us to understand the true nature of God, it is so important to remember that all those events happened because we didn’t get what Jesus was trying to show us and God loved us anyway. The idea that God, who created the vast universe; created us, knows us, loves us, and wants us to thrive in life is utterly amazing, awe inspiring and humbling. As we approach Holy Week, we need to remember that Jesus went through all that to show us the love that God has for us. Our God has plans for our world and our lives and those plans include us working together to help bring God’s kingdom here on earth. Something that we say every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer. During this season of Lent let us take the time to listen to God and to try to discern it the way we are trying to go is God’s way or our way. Let us try to align with nature of God grace and love, that Jesus tried to teach us about while he was physically here.
Blessings,
Suzanne
Gracious & Loving God, We are so blessed to be called your children. Create in us a heart that the courage to trust in you and listen to your will for our lives. Help us to realize that we need you in our lives to save us from ourselves and humanities selfish tendencies. Create in us a clean heart and renew our spirits that we might live more fully into your plan for our lives and for our future.
Amen