For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
“God’s plan for the exiles (Israel, exiled to Babylon) is welfare (shalom), not evil, or ‘calamity.’ Having sought Babylon’s shalom, the exiles will receive God’s shalom in the form of a future and a hope in their homeland… Eventually, God will respond to His people’s prayers for restoration… ‘You will seek Me and find Me.’ This amazing promise from the infinitely righteous, holy God to sinful people echoes a promise in Deut. 4:29 and remains true even to the present day (John 6:37).” (from the ESV Study Bible, pg. 1424)
God’s faithfulness to, and forgiveness of His people should never cease to astound us! Are you trusting today in the God who has good, hope-filled future plans for you? Are you calling upon His name in prayer? Are you seeking Him with all your heart?
This Sunday I will be speaking on “Seeing the Son of Man” from Revelation 1:9-20. This is an amazingly powerful vision that John experiences while he was in exile on the island of Patmos. I hope that you will prayerfully read it before Sunday and come prepared to hear from Him, to see Him, and to fall down in worship before Him!
Men, don’t forget our Men’s Breakfast this Saturday at 7am! We will be blessed to hear from a couple retired pastors as they share the word with us.
Saturday, October 25 at 6pm, Tim Watson and the group “Spasenie” from Belarus will be in concert at FBC. There will be a love offering received for them to help with expenses. Come be blessed by the music and their testimony!
Trunk or Treat is 15 days away! Please be in prayer for this outreach to our community. We are still looking for vehicles to join in the fun, and of course the candy collection contest is going strong. Keep bringing it in (and you’ll be on the pastor’s good side if you put it in his orange bucket!).
Let’s be seeking Him together with all our hearts!
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael