I’m having bunches of fun with my Bible study. I’m researching and studying the meanings of words using the Bible, Webster’s dictionary, Bible study references, and Greek and Hebrew definitions.

Yesterday, I examined one of my favorite verses… Jeremiah 29:11.

“‘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 NIV).

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT).

“‘For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome’” (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP).

Some of the definitions are:

Plans = Thought, design, purpose, to determine. A series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished

Prosper = Peace, safety, prosperity, well-being, intactness, wholeness. Peace can have a focus of security, safety which can bring feelings of satisfaction, well-being, and contentment 

Hope = The general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled. Expect with desire

God has a design. He knows the steps that need to be taken to carry out the ultimate goal for our lives. His plan is good, peaceful, safe, prosperous, leads to well-being, wholeness, and contentment. His plan is not evil, harmful or disastrous. His plan gives a desirous expectation in our final, future outcome. 

Isn’t that neat? There are treasures just waiting to be found. Pray and ask for understanding, dive deeper with God and His word, and enjoy the amazing depths of His love. 

Some quick and easy reference links… 

www.BibleGateway.com -- The Bible Gateway is a tool for reading and researching scripture online -- all in the language or translation of your choice! It provides advanced searching capabilities, which allow readers to find and compare particular passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference. 

http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/ -- Webster’s Online Dictionary         

 11:41 am cdt

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’

And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8 NIV).

 Charles Swindoll wrote… 

“We all have excuses to disqualify ourselves from God’s service. 

I’m not physically well.

I’ve got this temper problem.

I can’t speak very well in public.

I don’t have a lot of education.

My past is too raunchy!

You see, I’m a divorcee.

I was once in a mental hospital. 

And on and on and on…. But God is bigger than any of these reasons. He specializes in taking bruised, soiled, broken, guilty, and miserable vessels and making them whole, forgiven, and useful again. You see, God’s perspective is much broader than ours.” Charles Swindoll

 Swindoll, Charles: Wisdom for the Way, Nashville, Tenn: J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2001, p 263 

The band is playing again! Cyber-fireworks are exploding in the air!
The fans are cheering! We have another winner!  

Nancy R. is the winner of the April giveaway!

Congratulations, Nancy! 

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Additional blogs are found in the archives.