Happy New Year!!!!

Since this is the first post this year, I (Catherine) wanted to start off with one of my favorite, if not my favorite, Scripture passages:

Jeremiah 29:11, 13
"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. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (NIV)

For a New Year tradition, I always read one of my favorite Scripture verses or passages as we count down till the new year. Then, I can start off the new year by reading the Bible, and what better way is there to start it off? (It's also fun to say "I've been reading this passage since last year! :) This year, I read Jeremiah 29:11, 13, and I wanted to do a quick "looking" at it.

The first phrase "For I know the plans I have for you", really speaks for itself, but slow down and think about it. This is God talking, and HE- all powerful, creator of the universe- pays attention to what you are doing and the wonderful things HE has in store for you! That's amazing when we stop and think about it, isn't it?! :)

But, we get blessed more than that! Not only does HE know our plans, and the plans HE has for you, HE also has made the plans that will prosper you and not harm you! Prosper means "to be successful or fortunate, esp. in financial respects; thrive; flourish" (from Dictionary.com). Basically, you want to prosper! I wish people who where worried about the economy would read this verse. Now, I don't believe that God will make us all rich, powerful, and famous (then none of us would be if all of us were!), but the plans HE has for us are the best ones that we could ever have, and so, since they are the best plans, they will make us the most content with our life, our family and friends, the money, and the earthly things we have. We will also have the blessing of knowing HIM more! How many other people can promise (and carry out that promise) that much?

Hope is something that I couldn't imagine living without! We see this on movies a lot. The hero (or heroine) always "hopes against hope", and their hope is almost always rewarded! And why do we see our favorite characters on the TV shows and movies hope against any hope? Because the movie directors- although they can stumble in other areas- know that we as humans need hope; it gives us a will to live on, and that's how HE made us! We all know what future means, and HE is giving us that! It may not be the future we humans think of- a long and peaceful life on earth- but I believe it means that we will have a future to look forward to in eternity! Heaven; an eternity with the LORD! Now, for some of us it does mean a long a peaceful life, but only HE knows what our lives will be like (remember the first phrase).

Now, moving on to verse 13. People often quote verse 11, but don't read far enough down the page to verse 13. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." This verse is a great one to bring up when someone questions you about whether or not God is a personal God. This seeking and finding is a personal seeking and finding, and then HE says we will find HIM when we seek with all our heart. God is someone we can know. Did you know that? :)

Okay, this might not have been as quick as you were expecting, but still! :)

May the LORD give you a blessed New Year!!!

Princess Catherine ~*~